*Need Help (Pics)*

[chatyak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14421992#post14421992 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Whys
Well, the more I look at it the more I like it, what ever that's worth. I know nothing of spray bars, but I certainly see what you're thinking.

I wouldn't be surprised if you decided to use a sock tho. Which might leave you wanting to remove the pane between the "intake" and skimmer section. Honestly, if all your thinking is bubble-trap, I'm just not sure it's necessary. You've gone with a lengthy design and a good baffle setup. That should do most of the work removing bubbles and chances are your skimmer is going to produce a few of its own anyway.

It looks like a pretty smart setup. I'm not sure how you intend to setup your spray-bar, but all I can think is a lot of the flow from the "pods" section will want to whip around the corner without interacting much with the chaeto corner, make for a bit of a dead spot except for the spray-bar. You will have to reach to the back to trim the chaeto.

The design appeals to me.

Your pump would be drop-in, as in drop-in to the sump. An external pump is inline with the plumbing. Some prefer external because they generally add less heat to the water column.

Don't forget if you put a sock in you will need to reach over the skimmer.

Good points indeed Whys. I just got 15+ coral today so I was just putting them in the tank... I broke the monti cap argh!!!!... I will take pictures later.. I also siphoned out a ton of dinos and diatoms today and did a partial water change.. skimmer going hard...

Updates soon...

 

[chatyak]

I'm going to modify the design a bit. I think I have a better idea... also going to make it smaller in width so I can set it up without having to tank away the sump I already have.. plus that will allow me to walk around the new sump 360 degrees.

 

[chatyak]

I definitely have dinoflagellates and diatoms... skimmer is going full force, changed about 40 gallons past 2 days. Hair algae is disappearing... and the stuff SMELLS AWFUL when you pull it out of the tank.

I have a question for everyone... what do you do with the algae once you rip it out of the tank? Where do you dispose of it and how? I dump it in the sewer grate on the road.. but I don't think that's where it is supposed to go..

 

[chatyak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14429339#post14429339 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chatyak
I definitely have dinoflagellates and diatoms... skimmer is going full force, changed about 40 gallons past 2 days. Hair algae is disappearing... and the stuff SMELLS AWFUL when you pull it out of the tank.

I have a question for everyone... what do you do with the algae once you rip it out of the tank? Where do you dispose of it and how? I dump it in the sewer grate on the road.. but I don't think that's where it is supposed to go..

bump

 

[chatyak]

New design... please share your thoughts.

 

[Whys]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14430030#post14430030 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chatyak
please share your thoughts.

Mean people suk.

 

[Whys]

That's a roomy sump.

This design makes better use of the lighting over the chaeto. But why not extend your pod section to meet the chaeto section, let it spill from one to the other, then into the return area? Main flow: inlet => skimmer => return. Slow-flow: pods => chaeto => return. Otherwise the flow on your chaeto is going to be pretty minimal.

Just a thought.

 

[chatyak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14430092#post14430092 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Whys
Mean people suk.

Wise whys strikes again.... haha

I made the tumbling chaeto area a bit wide and easier to work with... the return is... well I haven't made dimensions yet, but it should be the same... There is no longer an issue with water spilling into the chaeto compartment from the pod area. The pod area also flows into the return area only.

 

[chatyak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14430130#post14430130 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Whys
.... Otherwise the flow on your chaeto is going to be pretty minimal...

Hmm I'm not sure. Wouldn't the spray bar shooting water on the chaeto be enough to make it tumble? That's a pump with a spray bar in my design.

 

[Whys]

I've never used a spray bar, so I can't say. My only point is that your spray bar is going to be the only flow that section gets. But that may not really matter and this way you don't have to worry about gunk coming down the drain and getting caught in your chaeto, so it's all good.

A lot of different designs can work. That's what makes this process a fun expression of style and creativity. I'm just trying to get a feel for what you're going for.

So you said you wanted to put substrate in the pod section. You thinking a shallow bed of sugar-fine for copepods, or possibly a DSB for nitrate reduction?

 

[chatyak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14430213#post14430213 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Whys
I've never used a spray bar, so I can't say. My only point is that your spray bar is going to be the only flow that section gets. But that may not really matter and this way you don't have to worry about gunk coming down the drain and getting caught in your chaeto, so it's all good.

A lot of different designs can work. That's what makes this process a fun expression of style and creativity. I'm just trying to get a feel for what you're going for.

So you said you wanted to put substrate in the pod section. You thinking a shallow bed of sugar-fine for copepods, or possibly a DSB for nitrate reduction?

Yea I'm not sure what pump to use for the spraybar. I'll need some advice. I have a spare Mag 250 laying around I could use.

As for the sand, I'm not sure. I think the pods would be ok without sand.. (ordering tiger pods - larger red ones)... but then again.. with my algae battle (it's really frustrating).... I'm all in favor of a DSB. Doesn't a DSB need "x" amount of room for it to work though? How much does it actually reduce nitrates?

Algae grows on nitrates or phosphates now? I just got myself confused. Phosphates fuel the growth, but doesn't chaeto take up nitrates?

Also, why is it important to clean the skimmer cup, if that gunk doesn't go back into the tank? By leaving skimmate in the cup it pollutes your water?

 

[Whys]

Pods will do fine with just liverock and no sand. But copepods make good use of the tiny spaces between sand grains. I've seen them as much as 2 inches under the sand's surface and it makes for a fairly ideal environment for them. Amphipods on the other hand don't really use the sand.

Ah yes, the great DSB debate. There is no proven lower limit for DSB size, but there is little doubt they do much better the more footprint they are given. I keep a 5" DSB in my 37g display tank with an approximate footprint of 26" x 18". A functional DSB will convert nitrates into nitrogen, but a functional DSB requires a healthy sand-critter population to prevent the buildup of toxic gases near the bottom of the sandbed. To keep a DSB functional fresh critters should be added from time to time as their populations will eventually collapse in captivity. The smaller the footprint, the sooner it requires fresh critters. From what I understand, I will need to refresh them about once a year.

Chaeto also removes nitrates as well as phosphates. But inch for inch, GFO will remove more phosphates than chaeto. On the other hand, chaeto provides a complementary environment for pod production. So as usual, it depends on what your aim is.

The skimmer cup needs to be kept clean for proper operation. Captured gunk isn't going to get back into the sump unless the cup spills over, but the reaction chamber (the bubbling fizzing part) will get gunked up and that has an impact on how well all the fizzing works. When you clean your cup, don't just empty it, but clean the surface where all the bubbles rise up the chamber. At least, this is how my Tunze Nano skimmer works. I can't speak specifically about yours.

 

[chatyak]

but the reaction chamber (the bubbling fizzing part) will get gunked up and that has an impact on how well all the fizzing works. When you clean your cup, don't just empty it, but clean the surface where all the bubbles rise up the chamber. At least, this is how my Tunze Nano skimmer works. I can't speak specifically about yours.

Amazing! I never thought of that. Where do you throw your skimmate? Down a drain or in the trash somewhere? What about algae you rip out of the tank?

 

[chatyak]

I also am going to need a powerful pump for water changes. I'm making some pvc to run along the ceiling and all I have to do is turn the pump on and the water drains into the work sink.

9 feet up... 25ish over to the right.... 15 to the left... 8 to the right.. and down.

Rough estimate of course

 

[Whys]

I toss my skimmate down the drain. I toss my old tank water on areas in my yard where I don't want anything to grow, so gates can open and such.

I can't tell you where to put the algae, as I have none. I'm actually getting a little worried for my Emerald crab as there is little for him to eat right now. I guess you could send it my way.

 

[chatyak]

Amphipods on the other hand don't really use the sand.

Are you sure? I saw quite a few critters in the sand when my tank was first getting going.. they were about 1/4" long. Pretty sure it was an amphipod.

 

[chatyak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14430375#post14430375 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Whys
I toss my skimmate down the drain. I toss my old tank water on areas in my yard where I don't want anything to grow, so gates can open and such.

I can't tell you where to put the algae, as I have none. I'm actually getting a little worried for my Emerald crab as there is little for him to eat right now. I guess you could send it my way.

You can always feed him some nori. Tying it on a rock with a rubber band would be fine. Just a thought.

 

[Whys]

Where sand grains are larger and there is space, yes an amphipod will use it, but by and large no, they are too big to get much use from sand, other than crawling around on top of it, and prefer to live in liverock.

When hobbyists used crushed coral for substrate amphipods used it more.

 

[Whys]

At some point I might need to buy some nori, but at the moment I have small liverocks I occasionally rotate between the fuge and DT. They collect some algae in the fuge, then get snacked on in the display. I just worry a bit about my current algae deficit as I have mostly clean-up crew and few fish at the moment.

 

[Whys]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14430369#post14430369 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chatyak
I also am going to need a powerful pump for water changes. I'm making some pvc to run along the ceiling and all I have to do is turn the pump on and the water drains into the work sink.

9 feet up... 25ish over to the right.... 15 to the left... 8 to the right.. and down.

Rough estimate of course

Now that is interesting. Haven't seen anyone else post anything like that. You should make a build thread for it. I'm sure a lot of people would want to see it.