Need some equipment advice

[cainchristy]

Hi guys. I am installing a sump under my 92. I went with a 20 gallon tall, and I've added my baffles. I'm waiting on the silicone to dry, which is taking longer than I had hoped. I also bought a ASM G-3 skimmer, which takes up half the sump....but I digress. I am using a Mag 9 as my return pump. I was wanting to get more random flow to the top portion of the rock, due to the acropora and Montiporas up there. Here's the two choices I'm leaning towards:

1.) A 3/4" Sea Swirl. (I am using 3/4" flexible tubing as the return line)

2.) A SCWD. I have read mixed reviews on these, as they sometimes "seize" up. It will only take me flooding living room once for hubby to sell my tank

Any of you use the Sea Swirls? Are they bad to clog up? What kind of maintenance is needed on them?

Thanks so much in advance! Christy

 

[Opiy]

the sea swirl looks like it would be less plumbing to do compared the the squid. Cost you more though.

 

[yoda]

My SCWD would seize up, but when it did, it would just have water flowing from one side only, not switching as it should. I don't think this would ever cause any flooding issues. I didn't have much luck with my SCWD, but I think it was more my fault than the product (I was using it on a closed-loop system.)

You'll get a ton more flow with the Sea Swirl, because it doesn't have any mechanisms that restrict the water flow. I've never owned one, but I've seen them on a couple of tanks. If I ever get back to keeping a larger tank, I would strongly consider one.

 

[cainchristy]

Thanks guys. As far as the plumbing goes, I don't mind what little this will entail. Someone else mentioned a WavySea to me, and I am very intrigued. Looks really nice, but ALOT more expensive than the Sea Swirl.

I'll definitely go with one of these, but I guess I need to research it a bit more. Thanks for the info, guys! I owe you one.

Any more comments are surely welcome!

 

[dsalillas]

Or you could go with an OceanMotions product. I think a Squirt can handle a Mag 9. Cost will be nearly the same as a Sea Swirl but you will get more versatility. BTW I've had 3 Scwds freeze up on me but I think it was cause I was running them on a Mag 12. The ones on my Mag 9's have been running over 2 years now.

 

[H@rry]

I've been using a wavemaker powerstrip with Maxijet powerheads for years and I'm very satisfied with them. No plumbing at all to worry about. Just hang the powerheads over the back of the tank and plug them in. I cut the output nozzles off so they don't always blow in the same direction.

 

[cainchristy]

Thanks for all the great tips, everyone. I sure didn't consider the skills I would need when I first entered this hobby, plumber, electrician, house-cleaner, chemist.....the list goes on and on! Hopefully one day, I'll get my tank "just" how I want it........

See you all around, sometime!

 

[jsrph]

I bought a fourway oceans motion for my 77 and have seen a supersquirt and the 8 way in action all excellent products and will not restrict the pump in any way.

 

[cainchristy]

Another quick question. I installed the baffles in the tank Friday night. I used GE Silicone II, clear sealant. It says 100% silicone on the tube. There were some tubes that said they contained Bio something to prevent mold and mildew. I found a tube that didn't state this ingredient. The tube says it cures in 24 hours. Well, it has been 55 hours and the silicone is still wet. Like I can touch it, and it sticks to my fingers and smears etc. What's up with that? Did I use the wrong thing? It says it will bond to glass, so I am really confused.

 

[j1b1e1]

Humidity plays a role in the curing of silicne, but I've also seen bad batches that didn't cure for some time. The precise cure time depends on the size of the bead and environmental conditions like humidity and temperature. GE Silicone II products provide 6 to 8 minutes' tooling time, 30 minutes before they are tackââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“free, and 24ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“hour cure time (1/8ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ to 1/4ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“inch thickness at 70 degrees F). They say ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œnormallyââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ because humidity affects the curing process and different parts of the country experience varying degrees of humidity. If the product shows some sign of curing, such as a change in original consistency, it will cure. It just may take longer than normal ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Â up to 48 hours under extreme conditions

 

[cainchristy]

Thanks so much for the help j1b1e1. I called the manufacturer, cause the sealant was showing absolutely NO SIGNS of curing, and guess what? It's out of date! I just purchased it Thursday evening, but didn't check the date! Duh! They apologized and are sending me a rebate, and told me to also take it back to Home Depot and get a refund there as well.

I just got the tank and baffles cleaned back up, and so I've got to make another run for some more (in-date) sealant. Thanks again!

 

[8BALL_99]

lol you beat me to it.. I was just reading your post and was fixen to say its out of date!.. I've had that happen a couple of times.. I always check the date now..

 

[j1b1e1]

It's always the simple things that mess the rest of a project up.

 

[Opiy]

I didn't know the stuff could go out of date, how about that.

When I built the sump in the past I just used that silicone you get at pet stores or I think even wal-mart. I felt safer since it had a pic of a aquarium on it

 

[Penfold]

i'm coing in waaay late, but I have been using a SCWD on my 15 for over a year now with no trouble. It is being run in a closed loop with a mag 18 to push it and it has never seized up, but I can tell when it is gummed up a little because it takes a little longer to switch sides.

there is a post on here somewhere when someone modded their SCWD to easily acces the inside whenever it got stuck, but that may be more work then you want to do.

 

[j1b1e1]

How much flow does a 15 gallon nano have with a mag 18 on a closed loop? Sounds like it's blow the little tank apart. Must not have anything settleing on the rocks. I'm guessing it's bare bottom??? LOL

 

[j1b1e1]

Typo's are great, maybe I need the "I support RC" logo so I can get the spell check.

 

[8BALL_99]

If it was me I wouldn't get a SCWD.. They are ok. I have 2.. I dont use either anymore.. To me they just cut the flow down to much.. If your pump is larger then you need then its ok I guess.. But even then your paying for the Electricity and the noise to run that larger pump and not getting flow you should from it.. I would either use something like a Oceans motions supersquirt or a seaswirl. JMO

Will

 

[j1b1e1]

I agree with you 8ball, they're a good idea, but there's better out there. As far as cost to implement one it can't be beat. Like 8 ball said though, it does restrict flow, which makes a larger pump almost a necessity to get the flow you want. Pro's and Con's arn't they great.

 

[cainchristy]

Yeah, that's why I didn't want the SCWD. I'm either going to get a Sea Swirl or a Wavysea. For right now though, I am just going to have a normal return. I'm a bit broke after getting all the supplies for a sump, a new skimmer, Etc...

You just don't know how annoyed I was at that sealant! It was just like smearing Vaseline on the baffles to seal them. I bought some more, and I've got the baffles installed, and this sealant is already dry. I guess I needed my baffles a little straighter anyways, huh?

Thanks for all the help, everyone!