Sumpless???

[Subsea]

Paul,
With respect to the tube worms as a water purifier, I would consider them as a consumer of bacteria. Instead of exporting bacteria by skimming, your biological filter absorbs them into its biomass.
Just a thought.
Patrick

PS. I have no problems with supermodels, as long as they pay their own tabs.

 

[Paul B]

Patrick, of course we are speculating as we can't easily read the expressions on the tube worms faces. I would imagine they would eat any tiny particle weather it be linguini and clams or bacteria.
Supermodels would eat the same way and about the same amount.

 

[3dees]

my sumpless 120 gal. with softies and lps. hob Reef Octpus skimmer, two Jeboa powerheads, and 150 lbs of live rock. 14 months and so far everything is great. I also don't dose.

 

[Aquarist007]

Patrick, of course we are speculating as we can't easily read the expressions on the tube worms faces. I would imagine they would eat any tiny particle weather it be linguini and clams or bacteria.
Supermodels would eat the same way and about the same amount.

I agree and I am a super model:deadhorse:

 

[Paul B]

Very sexy

 

[Subsea]

Sumpless since 1971. No problems yet

Paul,
I am interested in the substrate that you use over the reverse flow UGF. I am presently setting up two 55G production tanks to grow bubble tip anemone. I am planning on using eggcrate supported by 1/2" PVC pipe which I will use as a manifold to reverse flow up thru substrate. Fiberglass/nylon window screen material covers the eggcrate. With 4 square feet of surface, I am considering 1/2" deep of oolite sand or 1" of Florida Crushed Coral, 1mm-5mm in diameter.
Any suggestion on substrate. Also, what flow rate do you upflow on your 100 gallon tank?
Regards,
Patrick

 

[Paul B]

Crushed coral would be better, I use dolomite but I am not sure you can get it any longer.
Slow flow is best, I run about 250 GPH under the gravel for the entire 6' tank.
A ready made UG filter is between because it has larger holes farther away from the lift tubes and smaller slots near the tubes so the flow is more even.
You can see my gravel here

 

[Aquarist007]

What stops the water from bubbling up through the substrate all over the place?

 

[Paul B]

The water is pumped down the tubes very slow, slow enough that any air bubbles in the tubes rise up to the top. If any get by there is a small hole in the tube just past the bend at the bottom of the tank where the air escapes. Remember I have three tubes going down from a manifold on one side of the tank, then bend when they get to the bottom and go to the 3 filter plates.
Very high tech manifold designed by NASA, You can see the 3 tubes coming out of the bottom. Water is pumped into the thing from that hose on the left.

 

[Aquarist007]

The water is pumped down the tubes very slow, slow enough that any air bubbles in the tubes rise up to the top. If any get by there is a small hole in the tube just past the bend at the bottom of the tank where the air escapes. Remember I have three tubes going down from a manifold on one side of the tank, then bend when they get to the bottom and go to the 3 filter plates.
Very high tech manifold designed by NASA, You can see the 3 tubes coming out of the bottom. Water is pumped into the thing from that hose on the left.

Got yah... Thanks for explaining

 

[Subsea]

Necessity is the mother of invention

Necessity is the mother of invention

For the sake of economy, I used eggcrate with fiberglass screen mesh. A plenum void is made using 1/2" PVC. I made a rectangular frame around the perimeter of the tank. Ten 5/32" holes are drilled evenly spaced around the void. If my engineering calculation is correct each 5/32" hole will have the same flow that should evenly pressure up on entire area of gravel bed. The crushed coral that I used came from an established system and was crawling with micro stars and pods.
I am excited to see how this system works. One 1/2" uplift pipe goes 3/4 of the way to the surface with a MaxiJet 1200 pumping into the manifold. Very econominal natural filtration.
I like it like that.
Patrick

 

[maR1o]

paul, what pump are you using for the UG filter?

 

[Paul B]

I don't know, it is a 30 year old powerhead but I have it turned down very slow so I only get about 150 GPH down each tube