sandalscout
New member
I've not run chemiclean, but many chemicals will either make a skimmer freak out like that, or stop bubble production all together. Carbon is a good idea.
My 125 Re-Build
- Thread starter MVlk
- Start date
poolkeeper1
New member
This Is normal after using Chemiclean, It will subside In time You can adjust the water level to compinsate for this If you want. No sense In wasting good foam!!!
MVlk
New member
Andy to the rescue. He let me purchase his dual Bulk Reef Supply reactor. Ran over an picked it up this evening. Have it running with just carbon for now as my phosphates are 0. I will see how this works on the over foaming issue. Needed to get one anyhow so it is a win win.
Here is an updated shot of the sump setup. Quite One 9000 is still louder than I would like, but not too bad. I will leave it as is for a while and in a year or so, upgrade to a good external.
I finished out the manifold with a end valve that I hook my water change hose to. Have done three changes with this so far and I really like it. makes water changes very quick.
Only bad thing for now is the primary shut off valve for the tank returns has broken. The handle has always been hard to turn, but stuck more so over the past few days. On Friday, it stuck bad enough the handle broke off. So, I went for the classic vise grip TV tuner knob replacement. Thought this would be fine for now, but tonight I discovered the thing is leaking from the handle port. Will need to replace it soon. Not much room left in that section of pipe so I may need to get creative.
Here is an updated shot of the sump setup. Quite One 9000 is still louder than I would like, but not too bad. I will leave it as is for a while and in a year or so, upgrade to a good external.
I finished out the manifold with a end valve that I hook my water change hose to. Have done three changes with this so far and I really like it. makes water changes very quick.
Only bad thing for now is the primary shut off valve for the tank returns has broken. The handle has always been hard to turn, but stuck more so over the past few days. On Friday, it stuck bad enough the handle broke off. So, I went for the classic vise grip TV tuner knob replacement. Thought this would be fine for now, but tonight I discovered the thing is leaking from the handle port. Will need to replace it soon. Not much room left in that section of pipe so I may need to get creative.
sandalscout
New member
Man, I really like your setup, the more I see, the more "user-friendly" it looks. Do those 2 heaters work enough, or do you imagine you'll need more once it cools down some?
Good luck replacing that valve, you are going to have fun figuring that one out.
Good luck replacing that valve, you are going to have fun figuring that one out.
MVlk
New member
Thx. I am really liking the setup so far. Of course have 50 plans for improvements in my head. Proper electrical cabinet for my Am DJ strips. Beefy shelf above my sump to hold top off water/limewater and eventually a frag tank... the list goes on.
There is actually a third near by. 2 x 250 and a single 400. I believe this is over kill for now. Since this is in a basement, my temps fluctuate very little. I should be good even in winter. I will see of course.
There is actually a third near by. 2 x 250 and a single 400. I believe this is over kill for now. Since this is in a basement, my temps fluctuate very little. I should be good even in winter. I will see of course.
Looking good Michael!! One thing on that carbon reactor: A Maxi 1200 is enough to get that carbon moving and vibrating, so tone it down as it appears you have the valve wide open. The goal is not to move was much water through as quickly as possible..it is to move water through and allow enough contact time so the carbon absorbs the material. 
Just an observation 
Just an observation 
MVlk
New member
1 week after the finish of the Chemiclean treatment and it looks like the over-bubbling issue has cleared up. Now to dial the skimmer back in.
I picked up a 2" bulkhead from the Critter today. Will get the rest of the plumbing parts to prepare for the new (used) Barrecuda pump. Hopefully it will arrive tomorrow, but most likely early next week.
Luckily I still have my old stock tank to drain the water from my sump into while I install the bulkhead. I think I will leave the current one in place as there is a raised section around it on the inside that will prevent anything larger than the existing 1 1/4" one form seating. There is a nice flat section just on either side that should work well.
I picked up a 2" bulkhead from the Critter today. Will get the rest of the plumbing parts to prepare for the new (used) Barrecuda pump. Hopefully it will arrive tomorrow, but most likely early next week.
Luckily I still have my old stock tank to drain the water from my sump into while I install the bulkhead. I think I will leave the current one in place as there is a raised section around it on the inside that will prevent anything larger than the existing 1 1/4" one form seating. There is a nice flat section just on either side that should work well.
MVlk
New member
Thx dborowsk.
Slow Sunday today as far as progress. Saturday evening I found the leak in the bad ball valve had increased dramatically. Found this out when I checked on the tank and found the tank dark. So much water had leaked into the temp container I had to catch it that it tipped over and tripped my GFCI.
Did not have the energy to rip out the plumbing after company left so I mad a little slide for the water to drip down back into the sump. Used one of those disposable paint tray liners with a hole cut in the bottom.
This morning I reattached my Quiet One 3000's to my returns. I am glad I did not cut up the hose I had been using. I ripped out the old plumbing and got the spare 100 stock tub cleaned up to use temporarily.
Hopefully tomorrow I can switch the 100 out for the 150 so I can install the bulkhead and start the re-re-re-plumbing. 4th time is a charm I hope.
Slow Sunday today as far as progress. Saturday evening I found the leak in the bad ball valve had increased dramatically. Found this out when I checked on the tank and found the tank dark. So much water had leaked into the temp container I had to catch it that it tipped over and tripped my GFCI.
Did not have the energy to rip out the plumbing after company left so I mad a little slide for the water to drip down back into the sump. Used one of those disposable paint tray liners with a hole cut in the bottom.
This morning I reattached my Quiet One 3000's to my returns. I am glad I did not cut up the hose I had been using. I ripped out the old plumbing and got the spare 100 stock tub cleaned up to use temporarily.
Hopefully tomorrow I can switch the 100 out for the 150 so I can install the bulkhead and start the re-re-re-plumbing. 4th time is a charm I hope.
MVlk
New member
Today was fairly productive. This morning I broke down the 150 and transferred the water and live rock into the old 100 and a spare 40 gallon brute. The 100 looked puny compared to the 150. Was actually kind of nice how little space it took up. Would have been tempted to leave it in place if the 150 did not leave me so much more room to play.
Once the 150 was empty I began to cleanup the area for the new bulkhead. I was going to put in adjacent to the existing bulkhead, but that area while flat, is not recessed and would have stuck the plumbing out a few extra inches.
I started by trimming off some raised ridges around the old one. At first I used a chisel to cut the extra off. Worked well to a point and then switched to an undercut saw. That worked very well.
To cut the hole I purchased a new hole saw as all of mine were too small. Tried cutting a guide in a board to lay over the desired location since there was a smaller existing hole. No matter how I tried to work it, the kickback just jerked everything around and I would have ended up with a badly nicked surface. Decided to take Andy's suggestion and try my RotoZip. Never really used the thing in 6 years, but it worked like a charm. Drew a circle around the bulkhead with a Sharpie and then zipped around it freehand. Did a nice job in about 30 seconds.
Took it outside and sanded it all smooth. After a good wash down, brought it back in and installed the new 2" bulkhead. For good measure I put a bead of silicone around the inside and outside. Let it dry for a few hours and then filled it with a few inches of water for a leak test. No leaks!
Got everything except for the skimmer back in place. So far the only leak is a few drops of water inside the bulkhead. That is just coming from the temporary plug. Another quarter turn on the plug should fix that.
Hopefully over the next few days I'll get the plumbing hooked up and be ready to fire up the new pump.
Once the 150 was empty I began to cleanup the area for the new bulkhead. I was going to put in adjacent to the existing bulkhead, but that area while flat, is not recessed and would have stuck the plumbing out a few extra inches.
I started by trimming off some raised ridges around the old one. At first I used a chisel to cut the extra off. Worked well to a point and then switched to an undercut saw. That worked very well.
To cut the hole I purchased a new hole saw as all of mine were too small. Tried cutting a guide in a board to lay over the desired location since there was a smaller existing hole. No matter how I tried to work it, the kickback just jerked everything around and I would have ended up with a badly nicked surface. Decided to take Andy's suggestion and try my RotoZip. Never really used the thing in 6 years, but it worked like a charm. Drew a circle around the bulkhead with a Sharpie and then zipped around it freehand. Did a nice job in about 30 seconds.
Took it outside and sanded it all smooth. After a good wash down, brought it back in and installed the new 2" bulkhead. For good measure I put a bead of silicone around the inside and outside. Let it dry for a few hours and then filled it with a few inches of water for a leak test. No leaks!
Got everything except for the skimmer back in place. So far the only leak is a few drops of water inside the bulkhead. That is just coming from the temporary plug. Another quarter turn on the plug should fix that.
Hopefully over the next few days I'll get the plumbing hooked up and be ready to fire up the new pump.
Sounds like you made excellent progress Michael!! And I am very glad to hear of no broken tubs!!
Rotozips are awesome for things like this, glad it worked out. Let me know if you need an extra hand when plumbing. I know how tough it can get sometimes holding a pipe in place in close quarters.
I would have come over but I ended up doing some electrical projects for my neighbor. I ended up installing a ceiling fan and a few 3 way dimmer switches. Of course the builder rigged the junction box wrong using a single wood screw and I had to get creative, but you had more fun LOL.
Rotozips are awesome for things like this, glad it worked out. Let me know if you need an extra hand when plumbing. I know how tough it can get sometimes holding a pipe in place in close quarters.
I would have come over but I ended up doing some electrical projects for my neighbor. I ended up installing a ceiling fan and a few 3 way dimmer switches. Of course the builder rigged the junction box wrong using a single wood screw and I had to get creative, but you had more fun LOL.
MVlk
New member
Had the day off today and family was in town so I was able to get some good progress on the sump today. Finished up the plumbing and got the 'new to me' pump up and running. It is working very well. Has more flow than the returns can handle so I have it throttled back a bit. Flow is very good and even the returns have stopped surging. Sound is a little less than the Quiet One 9000 with a slight pulsing hum heard from the viewing room. I may be able to dampen that a bit. Given its performance, though I do not mind. Even did a water change from the manifold and it took no time at all to drain ~20 gallons out.
I was going to use some Spa Flex before and after the pump, but it just worked out easier to use the regular PVC. All of the turns are long sweep 90's and they do not seem to hurt my performance at all. If anything, I think they add just the right amount of head pressure since in theory the pump works best with a minimum of 10' of head pressure. As stated, I actually still have to throttle the returns down a little.
All tank inhabitants are doing very well and growing nicely. Next I will be hanging the light from the ceiling and cleaning up the electrical.
I was going to use some Spa Flex before and after the pump, but it just worked out easier to use the regular PVC. All of the turns are long sweep 90's and they do not seem to hurt my performance at all. If anything, I think they add just the right amount of head pressure since in theory the pump works best with a minimum of 10' of head pressure. As stated, I actually still have to throttle the returns down a little.
All tank inhabitants are doing very well and growing nicely. Next I will be hanging the light from the ceiling and cleaning up the electrical.
poolkeeper1
New member
Michael, I hope you are not restricting that pump on the Intake side, It will burn the pump up! Any restricting must be done on the output side FYI. I see the valve Is open, Just want to make sure you are aware of this being a problem. Otherwise It looks great, Maybe sometime you could make mine that neat looking.
