LUNATIC FRINGE-Duel 500g tanks, 1600g total

[FuzzyZipperbaum]

Let the skimmer wars begin....

On the Gold tank.... Skimz 302 on the Garnett Tank Reef Octopus Diablo 3000int....

2 notes here. First, the Skimz is an external Skimmer being fed with an submersible pump and used basically as an internal skimmer. I had to do this because Skimz customer service sucks. I have 3 seals leaking and had to drop it into the sump because I cant get anyone to respond to me about this problem. The nice thing is that it can be used as both an external and internal... also. for right now, I have the Skimz on the Reef and the Octo on the heavily fed FOWLR. I at some time may change them for a bit but not now.


Skimz Monzter SM302 Protein Skimmer


Top-of-the-range model of the Skimz Monzter skimmer series, the SM302 Protein Skimmer is engineered for unsurpassed performance. Fitted with 3 Skimz ES5000 needlewheel pumps, the SM302 draws an amazing 2,880 litres per hour of air. The incredible skimming performance of the SM302 will surpass the needs of the most demanding reefer and is suitable for tanks up to 4,000 litres. Performance guaranteed!

 

[FuzzyZipperbaum]

And in this corner..... Diablo DCS-3000int

Rated for Aquariums up to 600 Gallons

Footprint: 18.2″ x 13.4″ | Body Diameter: 12″ | Height: 25.4″
Powered by: Diablo DCS 5500 Pinwheel Pump

Max Flow: 582gph / Max Air: 2400 L/H (84.5 SCFH)*

Power Consumption: 53watts


A Benchmark in Protein Skimmer Performance & Control

The Diablo DCS-300 in-sump protein skimmer offers advanced control and maximum performance filtration for aquariums up to a 500 gallons. All the latest skimmer design innovations can be found on this Diablo DCS model including:

- Bubble Diffusing Chamber and Hybrid Cone Body that naturally reduces and stabilizes the foam production; This means less turbulence in the neck area and more contact time for organics to rise and collect

- Oversized Air Silencer for quiet operation and airline mount

- Large Collection Cup with flow directional guide, drain and unit venting

- Precision Control with the easy to turn output flow valve

- Power TheDiablo controllable Direct Current "œDC" pinwheel skimmer pumps are the latest in variable speed flow technology that allows for refined control, enhanced performance and efficiency. The vast majority of skimmer pumps available to hobbyist are alternating current "AC" pumps (the type of power that comes out of your wall outlet). Direct current pumps have several key advantages over traditional AC pumps. Most notably, you can control the rotational speed of the motor, thus electronically control air and water flow rates into the skimmer.

>>> Performance control by a push of a button!!!

Enhanced Pump Control

This controller allows users to select between six preset speeds indicated by six green LEDs. The controller also features a feed/service button. When pressed, the skimmer pump shuts down and will automatically reactivate after 10 minutes. Press the feed/service button a

 

[FuzzyZipperbaum]

WAY behind on updates....I have done a bunch but haven't had the time to post it.... Not that anyone cares...LOL However, I will try and catch this up over the next week...

Skimmer thoughts so far:

First I am a hard believer that you must have your skimmer either in the sump or above the sump. There are some beautiful set ups on here with sumps elsewhere but overflowing one of these bad boys will take down the entire tank... Playing with these 2 skimmers I have woken up too at least 4 skimmer overflows.....which flowed back into the sump.

Which brings me to this new belief.... I would NOT order an internal skimmer again. I would get an external that CAN sit in the sump and feed it with a submerged pump. Trying to get this Octo dialed in with even slight water change levels has proven difficult. I have tried a bunch of things.... I am going to give these two skimmers another week of break in/testing...but right now one skimmer is crushing the other in performance....

 

[Noamurmac]

this is an amazing idea! Are you going to use a sump underneath the tank or are you going to pump to somewhere else in the house?

 

[SPotter]

WAY behind on updates....I have done a bunch but haven't had the time to post it.... Not that anyone cares...LOL However, I will try and catch this up over the next week...

Skimmer thoughts so far:

First I am a hard believer that you must have your skimmer either in the sump or above the sump. There are some beautiful set ups on here with sumps elsewhere but overflowing one of these bad boys will take down the entire tank... Playing with these 2 skimmers I have woken up too at least 4 skimmer overflows.....which flowed back into the sump.

Which brings me to this new belief.... I would NOT order an internal skimmer again. I would get an external that CAN sit in the sump and feed it with a submerged pump. Trying to get this Octo dialed in with even slight water change levels has proven difficult. I have tried a bunch of things.... I am going to give these two skimmers another week of break in/testing...but right now one skimmer is crushing the other in performance....

Nice update! would you consider tapping and drilling the lid of the skimmer cups and then installing a float switch that you can use with your controller(if you have one) to turn the pump off when the float rises. I have that on my ATB skimmer and that has saved me plenty of times. The guys at Avast Marine have the tools you can or you can send them your lid and they will do it for you for a minor additional charge.

 

[blkg35]

Just finished reading the thread. Awesome build.
Did you get the cabinetry completed yet? Any pics of the inhabitants?
What ever became of the light issue with UPS?
Sorry for all the questions but inquiring minds would like to know...

 

[FuzzyZipperbaum]

this is an amazing idea! Are you going to use a sump underneath the tank or are you going to pump to somewhere else in the house?

One of the skimmers is alrady set up like I discribed. If you go up to post 201 that skimmer is an external skimmer sitting in the sump. IF you look closely you can see an clear off color 1" tube that comes over from the right side of the pic and goes down...that feed is coming from the overflow box next to it....the tanks are upstairs....bean animal feeds the first box that the submerged pump sits....and the extra water can spill over if needed....

 

[FuzzyZipperbaum]

Nice update! would you consider tapping and drilling the lid of the skimmer cups and then installing a float switch that you can use with your controller(if you have one) to turn the pump off when the float rises. I have that on my ATB skimmer and that has saved me plenty of times. The guys at Avast Marine have the tools you can or you can send them your lid and they will do it for you for a minor additional charge.

I am currently researching automation now. Turning the pump off is a good idea and if anyone doesn't have an external in or above the sump...you would have to set it up like you described. For now, if it overflows it just runs right back down into the sump.

What I am researching right now is automation. I want to better understand the controllers, what they can and cant do..... Can they handle two tanks.....do I want them to run kalk, auto tops off etc,...or do I want a different system or use dosing pumps, etc.

On top of that I am looking at float valves and do I need to build in back ups on critical areas like auto top off.....if the float valve sticks, doser screws up.....it can take out the tanks....

 

[BoricuaMojao]

.....

What I am researching right now is automation. I want to better understand the controllers, what they can and cant do..... Can they handle two tanks.....do I want them to run kalk, auto tops off etc,...or do I want a different system or use dosing pumps, etc.

On top of that I am looking at float valves and do I need to build in back ups on critical areas like auto top off.....if the float valve sticks, doser screws up.....it can take out the tanks....

You can definitely set-up the controller to shut off the doser if your pH and/or salinity gets away from your set parameters.

 

[FuzzyZipperbaum]

Just finished reading the thread. Awesome build.
Did you get the cabinetry completed yet? Any pics of the inhabitants?
What ever became of the light issue with UPS?
Sorry for all the questions but inquiring minds would like to know...

Thanks....

Cabinetry....deep sigh.... Love the cabinetry guys work.... as good as anyone I have ever seen. Trying to get him to keep to a time frame is impossible. Really nice guy but he is in heavy demand and just cant seem to be able to allocate time properly. This was supposed to be done 6 weeks ago.....then he was supposed to have some new plans to me 3-4 weeks ago.... The only thing we were still debating was how to lift the hoods using actuators or other mechanisms...but he was supposed to have the bottom done by now.

Lights....another deep sigh. Supposedly UPS finally paid yorgos as he told me...over a month ago. He was supposed to get back with me. I have sent him 2-3 emails and he has yet to respond back. Im going to call him this week and see what happens.

 

[FuzzyZipperbaum]

OK....stop PMing me.... I will picture this up.... lol

buckle up.

[/IMG]

I have a 180g a day spectrapure...has really broken in nicely....but the addition of the booster pump made a BIG difference....most days the house pressure only is on the yellow and the pump takes it right to red...

 

[FuzzyZipperbaum]

I have the waste water from the ro/do draining into the pump about 40 feet always.....hate to waste the water....

My clustered banana tree produced!

from harbor freight...I have about 10 of these and used them for a ton of stuff....filter socks, keeping lines in the sumps, top off holders...etc...

 

[FuzzyZipperbaum]

I built this shelf to put the external skimmer on so it sat about the sump in case of overflow...since I repositioned it in the sump...I use it every day when I am working on the tanks....I am building another one. amazing how often I am working on the sumps and I put tools, supplies, etc on them...I even put the older filter socks on them for a couple of minutes to let some of the water drain off before moving them to the sink.

Garnet pump is for the FOWLR return.... Gold pumps are return and the closed loop that I moved down stairs....

couple of notes here.... The orange pipe comes directly off the closed loop. When I want to do a water change I just open it for 30 seconds per 5% drainage while I am adding new SW to the sump...takes about 5 minutes for a 10% water change. The one thing I am going to add is a second value for each orange closed loop water change....it occurred to me if one of the valves failed.....tank is gone.

I am also going to clean up the pipes...I had a small leak in the pipe where you can see the epoxy...

I am going to finish painting them up when I finish everything the way I want it...

 

[FuzzyZipperbaum]

Random Gold photos...

 

[FuzzyZipperbaum]

 

[FuzzyZipperbaum]

how did that slip in there...cough cough....lol

 

[FuzzyZipperbaum]

Garnet side...FOWLR

I would suggest NOT buying a paddle fin...meanest wrasse I have ever owned...been trying to catch up for a few weeks....

 

[FuzzyZipperbaum]

Every fish I own...even damsels have been in the fish trap except ONE!!!!!!!!

 

[FuzzyZipperbaum]

 

[FuzzyZipperbaum]

This photo was taken a few weeks back...when I get a chance I will get some better full tanks shots....but this is it for now.