Pete's 210 build

[P.Kelly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12856812#post12856812 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by KMP
that's incredible pete. so building the sump...is that the way it's done; build with the edges over extended and then router it down flush? i've been tempted to try this.

Kenny, thank you! I learned most of the approach for sump building by deconstructing what Melev wrote on his website:

http://www.melevsreef.com/acrylics/sumps/chvy/chvy_sump.html

http://www.melevsreef.com/tools.html

It wasn't all that easy to figure out, but I also used the Acrylic how-to thread in the DIY forum.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=169326

It really wasn't TOO hard, but takes quite a bit of patience.

You have to plan very carefully, as the pieces of acrylic must be sized in certain dimensions, perfectly, and the edges need to be very smooth. The kerf from a tablesaw blade leaves a rough edge that needs to be cleaned up with a jointer, router or block sander. I opted for the router.

I'll try to post a more detailed how-to on the big sump, now that I've got the process down a bit better.

 

[P.Kelly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12856844#post12856844 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Balgie
Impressive sump you got there!

Ben - thank you. It's a bit overkill, being 1/2" and all for a 15" tall, 20 gallon sump. It is incredibly heavy, but I needed the thickness for the larger sump for the main tank, so what the heck. It's only money, right?

 

[bladeruner143]

Pete, don't be so modest! For a first attempt, that thing looks amazing!!! Now when you plan on upgrading the 210 to a 360, you can build it yourself!!! (ok, maybe not there yet huh?!)

 

[Underwaterparadise]

Good stuff! The sump looks really nice.

 

[P.Kelly]

Rudy and Rob, thank you very much. I'm enjoying this a whole bunch, even if it does mean working on it from 9:30 - 10:30 in the evening after class. But, I can't wait to get the system up and running.

 

[JRaquatics]

Great job on the sump. Did you ever get the Reeflo 200?

 

[P.Kelly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12859086#post12859086 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JRaquatics
Great job on the sump. Did you ever get the Reeflo 200?

It should be waiting for me when I get home. Mike even said to call him tonight. Top notch customer service. Seriously, better than I could possibly ask for so far.

 

[P.Kelly]

July 1, 2008 - Shall hence forth be known as Skimmer Day

I called Mike at Reef Specialty on the way home from work to make sure I had the correct PVC cement. I ended up not glueing the skimmer tonight, after all, but that is another story.

I walked in the door after work tonight and was greeted by two very lovely boxes, and my wife, and sleeping daughter.

Opening boxes is always fun. I love opening things.

Packaged nicely, if not a little well worn on the packing material. But hey, I guess that's what it is for.

This is one big skimmer collection cup.

The body is none too shabby either.

Hmm, won't fit.

Well, actually it will, but you have to take the cup off. Interestingly, whomever measured these things for the specifications, 14.5x17.26 was smoking something funny. This bad boy is 27.5" tall. Good thing that leaves me a whole 1.25" inches of clearance to get the cup off...

Wheew...

Cat's like fish, but skimmers?

 

[P.Kelly]

Oh, another box.

Ah, the skimmate storage container, making getting that collection cup off a "little" less important.

What's this? Another box?

Ah, the skimmer pump. A Reeflo Dart Gold. What a monster!

Back to the skimmate storage container.

Silicone greese for all the fittings, courtesy of Mike.

Adding the carbon filter to the container.

The coralvue auto shutoff switch. This bad boy, with the mod by Mike will shut off the recirc pump in the event that my skimmer collection fills up due to either me being lazy, or a skimmer gone wild. Not to be confused with girls gone wild. Not even close to the same thing.

The modified switch, to detect the skimate height in the container.

Installed in the lid.

 

[P.Kelly]

All assembled and ready for some crap... literally. No, I'm serious.

At this point I moved on to the skimmer. A quick call to Mike after I couldn't find any instructions concluded with the fact that even had there been any instructions they weren't very good. Unfortunately, given that this thing is pretty intense on the assembly side, instructions are a required part of the product. -1 Reeflo. That said, the sheer bulk of this skimmer is pretty cool, and the packaging was pretty decent. +1 Reeflo. Score: 0

Even though I'm joking around about the score, I bought this from Mike at Reef Specialty because he has a reputation for excellent customer service. I can now vouch for that reputation.

Silicone goes everywhere. Here is some in the neck, with the compression fitting.

Full Skimmer shot

The union on the outlet tube.

Assembled.

Dry fit the riser tube. I used the too long riser, which I later corrected.

Dry fit the T.

 

[P.Kelly]

Dry fit the wedge pipe.

Silicone lubed and added the drain valve.

The attachment point for the pump stand.

Attached to the body with large black thumb screws.

Part of the pump inlet tube, lubed up.

Added the rest of the inlet tube.

The nylon set screw is designed to keep the whole thing from comign apart? Okay, I hope it works... Seriously, I'm not sure where it would go. The whole inlet tube goes together pretty tight.

Messing with the volute/venturi. This is the one piece I'm not thrilled with. I can't get it to turn past 9 o'clock. From what I can tell, this has been one area of poor and inconsistent build quality. I called Mike back. He suggested more teflon tape. I can't imagine that any amount of teflon tape s going to make up 3/4 of a turn, and without milling the volute, there is no way to make it spin anymore, which is what it needs to do. I'll talk to him and see what my options are. Worst case, I can try to mill it on the lathe.

Installed... a 9 o'clock. Yuck!

 

[P.Kelly]

The pump is now set in place, waiting on the inlet tube.

Inlet tube attached.

Full skimmer shot.

Full skimmer shot with sexy air silencer!

Test fitting under the stand.

Picture from the floor cam of the skimmer under the tank. Not much room to mess around.

Top down shot through the bottom of the tank. This is a never again seen picture...

Clown Tang Update

Continues to eat. Picky, but eating. All things considered, this is going pretty well.



Rockwork Update

I measured and marked for the acrylic pins in the "pincushion method."

And setup a jig to cut 1 3/4" dowels of 3/4" acrylic rod. Something like 100 of them...

 

[P.Kelly]

Then the fun process of adhering the rod started, and went on and on and on. I used weldon 16 for these, as I'm not too particular about the finished look, and it was the fastest to apply.

I had to glue them, you have to at least look at a few pictures. Once these set and cure 'll add them to the tank, and the build up the left side with the base rock in my garage.

Off to catch up on my American Gladiators from last night. More as it develops.

 

[KMP]

thanks for the links pete. looking forward to seeing the next sump build.

 

[jtarmitage]

Wow, Pete. That skimmer looks awesome. As for the pin method for elevating the live rock, it just wasn't worth the effort for me. Looks good though, and everything was very well thought out. Props to Darcy as well, for taking pics of the details. Those little details really help people when deciding how to set up their own systems, and what is actually required to do it. Very well done.:thumbsup:

 

[P.Kelly]

Jeremy - thank you. I'm not sure if the pin method will be worth it, I was just paranoid about putting too much pressure on the glass. Luckily, out of this entire project, that part only took about 30 minutes.

 

[jtarmitage]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12863362#post12863362 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by petes97
Jeremy - thank you. I'm not sure if the pin method will be worth it, I was just paranoid about putting too much pressure on the glass. Luckily, out of this entire project, that part only took about 30 minutes.

That's not nearly as bad as it seems, and I can definitely see the value in it, so consider it 30 minutes well spent!

 

[FishGuy5]

Looks great Pete. Monster of a skimmer too!! I think you made a super choice. Speaking of skimmers, I finally put the ER back in the tank. Plugged it in, and between your fix-it skills and Matt's mod, it works like a champ!! No signs of leaks either. Thanks again for helping me save $400!!!!

 

[little_d]

That skimmer is looking good, very well thought out design. I love that modified float valve on the skimmate storage container and the ability to shut off the skimmer if it overflow. Looks like I'll be ordering one soon.

 

[kdblove_99]

man, that was exhausting putting that skimmer together, or at least watching you do it, nice pics

You sure the height isnt right, just curious if you took into account that syrofoam you have on the bottom of your stand?