thatguys 120g build.

[ac7av]

That’s why I was referring to an electric valve or solenoid to operate the air instead of a pump. If you have a air pump it would definitely have to be one with a piston type compressor or it will allow air to be pulled into the pump intake when its off. A cheep vibrating pump would not work for this. Ether way you need an electrical device to allow air or pump air into the system. Since the quiet one pumps that I have come with an intake exactly like the one on the pump for my skimmer I just figured I could do the same thing to the intake of the quiet one that is on the skimmer pump. Drill it and install a tube the same way. If its too much air injection a manual valve could be installed to reduce the air intake. The question I mainly had was is it important to have a air pump for some reason, or would allowing the water pump to draw air into it like a skimmer pump do the same job?

How would a stuck valve put water on the floor if connected to the intake of the pump?

 

[thatguy559]

well i use a cheap air pump from petco for about 4 years now and never had an issue. i used this because i dont have the time or the money to go buy a electric solenoid and all that i need to make that work....you are making it a lot harder then it really is erik. if you want it to draw air in then you need to manually shut the valve off and what if the valve leaks then you will have micro bubbles all the time so the ease of a small air pump works for me and a lot of other from my last reef club.

here is what my return pump intake screen looks like and all it did was make a small hole in it and shoved the air line into it.

 

[ac7av]

What kind of pump are you using then. I cant think of any that plumps that pump out much air like what was shown in the tank of the month article. That’s some serious air.

 

[thatguy559]

he uses a 2 small air pumps as well the reason why it looks like a ton of air is because 1 its his closed loop and 2 he has penductors to up the flow in the tank. thats why it looks like a ton of air i have seen this tank in person and all it was 2 simple air pump that fed into this acrylic box that attached to the intake side of his closed loop. here is his video on youtube. YouTube - Reef Tank Air Injection he now uses a single air pump that has 2 outlets

same as this but i have an older version of it

 

[ac7av]

I see!

I did some checking on the small electrical valves and they only run $5 to $10 bucks for what I would need to feed the intake of my return pump. One even says it will run for years on 2 D batteries. I image on a closed loop you would need to pump the air in but I don’t have one. I do however have an extra quiet one 4000 and flow accelerator tips I may be able to build an over the tank closed loop like I saw on Melev’s reef. I think the 4000 at 0ft head pumps around 1100 gph. I wonder if this would work?

 

[tat2z_21]

A stuck solenoid valve could cause your pump to have to much air build up and therefore not pump as much water to the display as the display is putting into the sump. Therefore if you are pumping 3/4g water and 1/4 air and your over flow is dropping a full gallon the end result is not what you would want

 

[thatguy559]

borrowed a par meter today during the meeting. i need to get a new glass for my light i think its blocking some light because of the orange uv tint. i coulnd take pictures because the battery was dead =(
Plasma readings as follows:

20" from the bulb just at the top of the water line = 896

mid tank 36" from bulb = 390

44" from bulb bottom of the tank = 230

 

[thatguy559]

new additions

 

[tat2z_21]

Dude that is the worst tank I have ever seen, All that life and color. And those amazing corals, what the heck were you thinking. :0 (Jealousy)

 

[thatguy559]

1 more addition came today from crashfirejoe

elegance

 

[thatguy559]

was going through all my pictures and noticed how different my tank looks

and now

just look at the orange cap growth, the hydnophora coral in the first pic on the right and the same coral on the top left not as bright green as before but a ton of growth.

 

[NWDiver]

The Copper band looks like he is enjoying the new digs!
How much does the injected air effect your softies?
I rather like the idea, and I can't think of an easier way to do it than you have outlined, very nice.

 

[thatguy559]

they slime up just as much as all the corals do even my clams get in on the action

 

[2Sunny]

Gonna be cool!