|
04/19/2017, 02:48 PM | #251 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Golden, CO
Posts: 340
|
That makes sense.
I was thinking the black box was measuring flow rate for the wash down. That's really getting scientific when you're measuring rate of flow on a glorified fish-toilet flush. Solenoid valve makes way more sense. |
04/19/2017, 04:18 PM | #252 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Golden, Colorado
Posts: 8
|
[QUOTE=tkeracer619;25052536]I finished plumbing and fired up the skimmer tonight. I'll need to redo the cup drain if I cannot find the other half of the union they used, it's a weird thread so I won't be finding a mating half...
Hard to tell from the picture but look into a PVC threaded or slip union. They use a weird thread. It looks like there are a number of unions in use already. I would guess that you have half of it. If not maybe a compression fitting (also weird threads). They carry both at Home Depot. Greg |
04/19/2017, 04:22 PM | #253 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 17,289
|
I cleaned off some dust and salt creep from the union last night and found that it is a spears union. If I can't find the other half i'll need to order one since I don't know where to get spears locally. The lowes/HD versions don't fit it. I think I know where the other half is but it means a lot of digging. Plan on doing that tonight.
In the end, it would probably be easier to just remake that section than ordering a spears union.
__________________
Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. |
04/19/2017, 04:55 PM | #254 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Golden, Colorado
Posts: 8
|
Quote:
Spears Manufacturing 4880 Florence St. Denver, CO 80238 (303) 371-9430 • (800) 777-4154 I was out there like 25 years ago and bought fittings at the counter. I don't think that walk-in traffic is normal for them but they did sell to me. You may want to call them if you want to keep that fitting. Greg |
|
04/19/2017, 05:03 PM | #255 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 17,289
|
I would have never guessed they had a shop here. I'll give them a call tomorrow, they're not that far from me. Thanks!
__________________
Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. |
04/19/2017, 07:18 PM | #256 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 17,289
|
Found it! 😀. It was at the bottom of a stack of 6 totes.
Now I need to figure out a good waste container. I have a small one that will work for now. I have a 4gal Precision Marine ATO reservoir that would make a good one if I mod the lid for a float switch and vent. I'm not sure I have the room to use a 5gal bucket.
__________________
Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. |
04/19/2017, 07:25 PM | #257 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Posts: 154
|
Quote:
I have a 4 1/2 gallon water jug that I got at Napa that may work well for you. The part number is 817–4089. For size reference, the tank next to it is a 20 long. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
Why does the firefish look so angry? Current Tank Info: 90 gallon display with 20L sump |
|
04/19/2017, 09:52 PM | #258 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 17,289
|
That may certainly be an option. Thanks for the link!
__________________
Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. |
04/19/2017, 09:53 PM | #259 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Posts: 1,430
|
Well, someone was busy today! Put that skimmer to good use
__________________
75 gal, 20 L using as sump, MP40Qd , Eheim 1260 Return,Royal Exclusiv Bubble King Mini 160,Kamoer FX-STP Calcium Reactor Setup, ATI Sunpower 6x54W |
04/19/2017, 09:58 PM | #260 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 17,289
|
I Should Have Cleaned This Months Ago...
I started to clean the collection "cup" this evening and quickly realized it was pointless. It had been neglected far too long and the auto wash down feature not used. This thing had inch chunks of dried poop in it. I took it apart and outside to use the hose.
Here is a good size reference. The skimmer cup is the size of a 5gal bucket Once back on (not something I want to do regularly) and after 5 minutes of adjustment it was already creating foam and skimming! The tank has zero bioload right now but is super cloudy and smells bad. Really bad.
__________________
Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. |
04/19/2017, 10:03 PM | #261 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 17,289
|
Done. I'm covered in year old fish poop
__________________
Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. |
04/19/2017, 10:19 PM | #262 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: South Florida
Posts: 115
|
well. u may not need to seed the tank now haha.
|
04/19/2017, 10:24 PM | #263 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 17,289
|
I think it's good to go. All it needs now is some time.
And carbon, lots of carbon, lots and lots of carbon. Did I mention it stinks? You guys know my style right? This is usually when I skip town and leave the roommate to deal with it. This weekend is no exception. Ultimate crop dust
__________________
Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. |
04/20/2017, 09:42 PM | #264 |
A bit fishy
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 416
|
I noticed you mentioned Fiance a few posts ago and now "roommate" on this last post. I hope the tank smell didn't scare her out of the wedding! lol
Awesome progress. I'd love to see that skimmer working and the wash-down functioning! I'll check back through your thread, I am interested in your aquascape plans, the lighting, and how you will get more flow in the tank (powerheads, etc.) Keep it up! |
04/20/2017, 10:30 PM | #265 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 17,289
|
Quote:
Thanks! After thinking about the auto wash down feature I'm a little nervous hooking up a valve to the house water for two reasons. First it has chloramines and second that's an unlimited supply of freshwater held back by a single valve. I've been pondering about this all day. If I use a pressure tank I can use a plc or timer to fill the tank once per day, limiting the risk of a flood. I could fill this through the pre filters of my RO getting rid of the chloramines. Doing this could also mean an easier automation of the washdown for the inside of the neck as well. Depending on how much water it actually uses it would be just as easy to pull from my 200gal RODI storage tank into a small pressure tank with a booster pump. Not sure I would even notice the increase in water demand.
__________________
Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. Last edited by tkeracer619; 04/20/2017 at 10:45 PM. |
|
04/21/2017, 08:41 AM | #266 | |
A bit fishy
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 416
|
Quote:
What if you use tank water for wash down, then replace it with new saltwater. Frequent small water changes, and less risk? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
[url=http://drugstore-onlinecatalog.com/]drugstore-onlinecatalog.com[/url] Current Tank Info: 150g SPS cube |
|
04/21/2017, 09:14 AM | #267 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 17,289
|
Quote:
Skimmer has made about 3 gallons of nog already and the tank has cleared up considerably.
__________________
Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. |
|
04/21/2017, 09:17 AM | #268 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Golden, CO
Posts: 340
|
Why couldn't you just have a small reservoir of fresh water (RO/DI if you wanted) and hook it up to a pump and use that to spray down the skimmer. Do away with the solenoid and pressure tank. Rely on the pressure from the pump to do the cleaning. You could have whatever sized reservoir 5-50gal.
Maybe I'm missing part of the equation? |
04/21/2017, 09:20 AM | #269 |
A bit fishy
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 416
|
I know that there are some valves that take a low voltage signal and 110v for power and work with saltwater, I'll try to find a link, what size is the water feed line to the wash down?
Does that much of the rinse down water make it down the skimmer neck? I'd think 99% of it would end up in the waste line making chloramines a smaller consideration. Glad to hear that it is clearing up and that your wife is not afraid of a good tank cycle! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
[url=http://drugstore-onlinecatalog.com/]drugstore-onlinecatalog.com[/url] Current Tank Info: 150g SPS cube |
04/21/2017, 09:32 AM | #270 | ||
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 17,289
|
Quote:
Quote:
I think it's 3/4" but it could be 1". It has both, internal and external wash down. Internal uses the recirc pump, external uses house water. The internal is manual and if I could convert it over to auto that would be best. What's nice about using RODI from a small tank is that if the valve does get stuck open it's just going to dump 3-5 gallons. That is roughly half of my daily top off, no biggie.
__________________
Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. Last edited by tkeracer619; 04/21/2017 at 09:38 AM. |
||
04/25/2017, 12:46 PM | #271 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 17,289
|
Over the weekend Ammonia went from 2ppm to .25~.5ppm, the smell has calmed down, and the skimmer is now producing extra fine bubbles. I had to adjust the skimmer all the way down and restrict the feed pump a bit to keep it from going crazy, it's back to skimming on the dryer side. It's pulling 2.5 to 5gal a day now. I need to get an ATO on this tank ASAP before I forget to turn off the manual top off
Tank looks clear from the front but still rather cloudy in the 8ft dimension.
__________________
Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. Last edited by tkeracer619; 04/25/2017 at 01:04 PM. |
04/28/2017, 11:19 AM | #272 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 17,289
|
Tank measured out at 0ppm ammonia. Haven't taken the tests past that yet but I did re-dose 10ml of lab grade Ammonium Hydroxide (30%).
Skimmer is running very dry now, probably too dry. I'm going to leave it alone for now though. Other than that I haven't made much progress this week. I'm going to try to get an ATO on it tonight and my focus for next week will be getting the 2nd QT up and running. The tank is also noticeably clearer in the 8ft dimension.
__________________
Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. |
04/28/2017, 01:49 PM | #273 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Iowa
Posts: 9,671
|
I'm loving that skimmer. Everything is looking great so far.
__________________
rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. | 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank |
04/28/2017, 02:34 PM | #274 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 17,289
|
Thanks! The skimmer is awesome! I've been slowly adjusting it wetter by a small turn per day. My only experience with these prior to this one was one model larger from this that didn't have the transparent body so you couldn't see what was going on inside it. The amount of fine bubbles in the body is crazy, they go from about an inch from the bottom all the way up. It may not have the largest air intake out there but it sure is producing very fine bubbles. I'm sure once she's loaded down it will only get better. It did come with an ozone generator but i'm not sure if I am going to use it. I've had a lot of success with biopellets and have a large piece of 8" clear pvc that would make a great biopellet reactor capable of the feedrates.
__________________
Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. |
04/29/2017, 11:21 AM | #275 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Posts: 1,430
|
It's always funny seeing a skimmer taller than I am. Glad to see it's still skimming something..
Any progress on the BTA tanks? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
75 gal, 20 L using as sump, MP40Qd , Eheim 1260 Return,Royal Exclusiv Bubble King Mini 160,Kamoer FX-STP Calcium Reactor Setup, ATI Sunpower 6x54W |
|
|