MRC Club
- Thread starter gregt
- Start date
- Status
nunez1980 said:Ixthys,
the main pieces are pvc, there are unaffected, the issues is just the JG, over time it cracks, and if you try to remove it, it "crumbed like old bread "
I added a another sump, to my setup, I think I getting steve's "adding more water volume every t..." symptoms
and put a cheap power head with a venture to mix ozone and all the output of that tank when it falls into the main sump, is filter with carbon,
like it better this way
Creetin, I hear you, and I got my raiser on its way, sweet
sam
Cool! When i upgrade tanks i'll add another 12 inches, or have andy make me a 24 inch extention and get a second beckett with a new iwaki 100 rlt. Thats a ways off though.
What pump are you using now? I love my iwaki 70 rlt on this thing. It did take some getting used to for noise. I dont even notice it now. LOL
samsfishnchips
Premium Member
Creetin,
the extension is the same you got, half off and shipped, I said why not
I'm running pcx-55, like it so far, not much noise, performs, and cheap, doesn't get better than that
If only we could get used to the tank, too that would be sweet, every time I look at my tank, it gets smaller and smaller
bond007069, yup, just check the pvc piece, just like new, the JG is the issue there
sam
the extension is the same you got, half off and shipped, I said why not
I'm running pcx-55, like it so far, not much noise, performs, and cheap, doesn't get better than that
If only we could get used to the tank, too that would be sweet, every time I look at my tank, it gets smaller and smaller
bond007069, yup, just check the pvc piece, just like new, the JG is the issue there
sam
Ixthys
Premium Member
Creetin said:
I am using a Blueline 70 on an dual beckett MR3. I think it is too powerful for the size of the skimmer and I throttle it back with a ball valve. I've tried forever to control it by decreasing the air to the becketts, but I end up adjusting it every day. Plus, it seems counter-intuitive to me to decrease the air to the becketts!? So, my solution is to order a riser add-on! (that better work)
So is the bluelne 70 like the iwaki 70rlt? The iwaki is 1500 gph
1250 at 4 ft head. I mainly went with iwaki because it runs really cool alot cooler than my 2 pcx 40's i have for my eductors.
I couldent take too much more heat.
I bet the riser works for you. I have my air needle about 3.5 revs from closed and i get a medium dark skimmate.
I bet your getting alot of extra air from the dual becketts.
Did you keep them on seperate needles, or mod to a single needlevalve?
1250 at 4 ft head. I mainly went with iwaki because it runs really cool alot cooler than my 2 pcx 40's i have for my eductors.
I couldent take too much more heat.
I bet the riser works for you. I have my air needle about 3.5 revs from closed and i get a medium dark skimmate.
I bet your getting alot of extra air from the dual becketts.
Did you keep them on seperate needles, or mod to a single needlevalve?
samsfishnchips
Premium Member
thx Ereefic, owed you one
sam
sam
beachroadbum
Premium Member
Hey All,
Ok figured I would give an update on my very first nightmare plumbing experience...
The needle valve came today from Andy. Major plus! I attempted to run the skimmer and I got two leaks...where the tubing joins the union at beckett and then a leak at the male slip to 3/4 thread into beckett....so by now obviously I am just laughing at the whole thing beacuse if I didn't laugh I would probably go insane...
So I said...screw the braided tubing let me try and get some of the flex pvc steve68 showed in his picture. I found the "spa flex" tubing at lowes. I just finished gluing the parts to the spa flex.
So I will give it two hours or so to dry and then start her up again...this time with spa flex and a working needle valve. My friends...lets hope this works :rollface:
You think two hours is enough to let the pvc cement cure with the spa flex? Spa flex is the correct tubing right steve? This wont be prone to leaks like my other tubing?
whew...thanks again to steve,sam,,xythis,hop,ereefic...the whole crew for getting me through my first plumbing experience. You guys are the best.
take care,
Jared
Ok figured I would give an update on my very first nightmare plumbing experience...
The needle valve came today from Andy. Major plus! I attempted to run the skimmer and I got two leaks...where the tubing joins the union at beckett and then a leak at the male slip to 3/4 thread into beckett....so by now obviously I am just laughing at the whole thing beacuse if I didn't laugh I would probably go insane...
So I said...screw the braided tubing let me try and get some of the flex pvc steve68 showed in his picture. I found the "spa flex" tubing at lowes. I just finished gluing the parts to the spa flex.
So I will give it two hours or so to dry and then start her up again...this time with spa flex and a working needle valve. My friends...lets hope this works :rollface:
You think two hours is enough to let the pvc cement cure with the spa flex? Spa flex is the correct tubing right steve? This wont be prone to leaks like my other tubing?
whew...thanks again to steve,sam,,xythis,hop,ereefic...the whole crew for getting me through my first plumbing experience. You guys are the best.
take care,
Jared
samsfishnchips
Premium Member
creetin,
they are a bit apart
Iwaki at 1500gph, and max head ft at 31.8
Blue Line at 1750gph, and max head ft at 39.0
jaredt,
spa flex, I think is the other name they used for pvc flex, does it look like the pic that steve posted?
two hours is fine, but in emergencies I have run it after a few minutes and all was fine, and never hear any negative comments, reports,
keep us posted, good with it,
sam
they are a bit apart
Iwaki at 1500gph, and max head ft at 31.8
Blue Line at 1750gph, and max head ft at 39.0
jaredt,
spa flex, I think is the other name they used for pvc flex, does it look like the pic that steve posted?
two hours is fine, but in emergencies I have run it after a few minutes and all was fine, and never hear any negative comments, reports,
keep us posted, good with it,
sam
beachroadbum
Premium Member
hey now nunez,
yeah looks exactly the same as steves picture.
Ill let you know what happens.
take care,
Jared
yeah looks exactly the same as steves picture.
Ill let you know what happens.
take care,
Jared
beachroadbum
Premium Member
Hey guys,
well I fired it up...working needle valve and no leaks at all. I wrapped tons of teflon around the male one inch slip to 3//4 thread. The spa flex didnt leak at all...
still...tons of bubbles EVEN with the working needle valve all the way off....turns out its gotta be coming from my bulkhead. I went down to see the bulkhead and it was leaking just a tad...i tried moving it...and I was able to move it side to side!!! Moving it too far one way and bam water came out...slide it back over and it was back to just a tiny leak. So I tried tightening it sticking my hand down into the sump...but to no avail... still could slide it around...so I have just drained the sump.
I am really frustrated with my incompetence at plumbing...I am really considering just putting the skimmer in the sump and running a submersible pump so it is fool proof...
Even though I have a gen-x pcx 55...I will lose performance...but at this point I just want the skimmer to work. I guess I can try to tighten the bulkhead the best I can...silicone around the bulkhead and glass...let dry then plumb everything up again and see if that works...at this point I just feel like I will never have complete control over the air input of my skimmer.
take care,
Jared
well I fired it up...working needle valve and no leaks at all. I wrapped tons of teflon around the male one inch slip to 3//4 thread. The spa flex didnt leak at all...
still...tons of bubbles EVEN with the working needle valve all the way off....turns out its gotta be coming from my bulkhead. I went down to see the bulkhead and it was leaking just a tad...i tried moving it...and I was able to move it side to side!!! Moving it too far one way and bam water came out...slide it back over and it was back to just a tiny leak. So I tried tightening it sticking my hand down into the sump...but to no avail... still could slide it around...so I have just drained the sump.
I am really frustrated with my incompetence at plumbing...I am really considering just putting the skimmer in the sump and running a submersible pump so it is fool proof...
Even though I have a gen-x pcx 55...I will lose performance...but at this point I just want the skimmer to work. I guess I can try to tighten the bulkhead the best I can...silicone around the bulkhead and glass...let dry then plumb everything up again and see if that works...at this point I just feel like I will never have complete control over the air input of my skimmer.
take care,
Jared
samsfishnchips
Premium Member
jaredt,
are there any local reefers in your area?
what size bulk head are you using?
its the pump input tubing correctly level with the glass?
is the gasket on the correct side?
check the pic, if the longer piece is inside, the gasket goes outside and the nut goes inside, right?
and no, don't use silicone on the bulk head, they are intended to be use by themselves, and always hand tight it only,
putting it internally, will not solve the main issue you are facing, which is bubbles when the air valve is close,
whats this "the male one inch slip to 3//4 thread"?
sam
are there any local reefers in your area?
what size bulk head are you using?
its the pump input tubing correctly level with the glass?
is the gasket on the correct side?
check the pic, if the longer piece is inside, the gasket goes outside and the nut goes inside, right?
and no, don't use silicone on the bulk head, they are intended to be use by themselves, and always hand tight it only,
putting it internally, will not solve the main issue you are facing, which is bubbles when the air valve is close,
whats this "the male one inch slip to 3//4 thread"?
sam
beachroadbum
Premium Member
Hey Now Sam,
Yeah the gasket and nut are in the correct place. A local reefer drilled the tank for me. I measured the hole and its 2 inches wide...which is the reason I think I can slide it side to side even after tightening it as hard as I could.
the male oneinch slip to 3/4 thread is what I have going form the union into the beckett pipe. Its a simple schedule 40 pvc fitting...i think some call them nipples? the one inch is slip and then the 3/4 end is what I screw into the beckett pipe.
I will call the local reefer who drilled my tank and see if he can come over to my place and help me with all of this.
Do you think air could seep into the bulkhead enough to the point where I have zero air control over the bubble sin the riser tube? Something just doesnt seem right...I mean with the needle valve all the way off...i see NO difference. I mean we are talking full force turbulence with the needle valve OFF...man oh man
ok thanks sam!
take care,
Jared
Yeah the gasket and nut are in the correct place. A local reefer drilled the tank for me. I measured the hole and its 2 inches wide...which is the reason I think I can slide it side to side even after tightening it as hard as I could.
the male oneinch slip to 3/4 thread is what I have going form the union into the beckett pipe. Its a simple schedule 40 pvc fitting...i think some call them nipples? the one inch is slip and then the 3/4 end is what I screw into the beckett pipe.
I will call the local reefer who drilled my tank and see if he can come over to my place and help me with all of this.
Do you think air could seep into the bulkhead enough to the point where I have zero air control over the bubble sin the riser tube? Something just doesnt seem right...I mean with the needle valve all the way off...i see NO difference. I mean we are talking full force turbulence with the needle valve OFF...man oh man
ok thanks sam!
take care,
Jared
steve68
New member
Jared that sucks !
even if u put ur skimmer in sump i think u will still have bubbles,the air has to be coming from the pipes, in theory when u add a small amount of air to water it starts to bubble up, if u take away the air u get just water flow, u dont need to spring a leak for air to come in, u wont even know it's there cuz it's sucking air in, i used regular PVC cement on flex with no problem the only thing i did was put a lot of it & yes it's the same as spa flex,make sure all the threaded pipes are nice & tight with plenty of teflon tape, how bad are the bubbles in the neck? if u have the air valve closed all the way when u open it does it make a diference? do u hear air getting pulled in?
even if u put ur skimmer in sump i think u will still have bubbles,the air has to be coming from the pipes, in theory when u add a small amount of air to water it starts to bubble up, if u take away the air u get just water flow, u dont need to spring a leak for air to come in, u wont even know it's there cuz it's sucking air in, i used regular PVC cement on flex with no problem the only thing i did was put a lot of it & yes it's the same as spa flex,make sure all the threaded pipes are nice & tight with plenty of teflon tape, how bad are the bubbles in the neck? if u have the air valve closed all the way when u open it does it make a diference? do u hear air getting pulled in?
beachroadbum
Premium Member
hey now steve,
Yeah I do notice a difference when I turn the needle valve open all the way. I do hear the air getting sucked in. The needle valve is working 100%. I hear air getting sucked in when its on and when its off there isnt any air getting sucked in the hole. But as you know the needle valve isnt my problem.
I don't think I would mind not having total control of my air input, but I want to wet skim...and with the size of the bubbles and the amount of turbulance created by the pcx55 without having the fine tuned control of the air, wet skimming will never work for me
I tested the output of the pump. So I turned the pump on and had the output from the pump(the spa flex) going directly back in the sump to see if I still got bubbles. Sam suggested I do this...and so sure enough the water coming out of the tube was full of bubbles. I then tested my mag return pump this way and the water coming out of the tube from the mag was clear as crystal clear water can be.
So does this mean my problem is air getting sucked in somewhere from bulkhead>inlet>outlet of pump?
thanks steve
take care,
Jared
Yeah I do notice a difference when I turn the needle valve open all the way. I do hear the air getting sucked in. The needle valve is working 100%. I hear air getting sucked in when its on and when its off there isnt any air getting sucked in the hole. But as you know the needle valve isnt my problem.
I don't think I would mind not having total control of my air input, but I want to wet skim...and with the size of the bubbles and the amount of turbulance created by the pcx55 without having the fine tuned control of the air, wet skimming will never work for me
I tested the output of the pump. So I turned the pump on and had the output from the pump(the spa flex) going directly back in the sump to see if I still got bubbles. Sam suggested I do this...and so sure enough the water coming out of the tube was full of bubbles. I then tested my mag return pump this way and the water coming out of the tube from the mag was clear as crystal clear water can be.
So does this mean my problem is air getting sucked in somewhere from bulkhead>inlet>outlet of pump?
thanks steve
take care,
Jared
- Status
