Update on tank (Aug 27,2005)

[Krish]

This is the continuation of my previous thread "Alright here we go". This shows pictures of me getting the sump going (without the skimmer). The pics are as follows:

(1) shows spray bar I had to make to distribute water over top tray to evenly distribute water. I have a 260 gph powerhead in the first chamber to suck out the air from my cpr overflow so I just incorporated it there.

(2) Spray bar attached to powerhead

(3) Shows left side of sump with the stand I made out of abs plastic to raise my AquaC skimmer when it comes. It will attach to the elbow sitting on the sump

(4) Shows under my stand with the Magnum 350 (350 gph with use of charcoal) my phosban reactor and the sump without the lid.

(5) Everything besides the skimmer running with the lid.

I will post a few more pics of the overflow and complete tank with stand and canopy.

 

[Marc]

Where is your skimmer going to fit into all that?

Charcoal is for grilling, Carbon is for filtration.

 

[wrightme43]

Picture 3 thats the shelf for the skimmer. Looking Nice Krish. Its going to be awesome.

 

[Krish]

Charcoal is for grilling, Carbon is for filtration

True, very true LOL.

Thanks Steve for your kind comments (hope you aren't just being nice or sarcastic) LOL. Don't make me run out to the beach with my camera and show you all of my real reefs which don't need any maintenece LOL JK. Also, thank you for answering Marc for me. It really doesn't look like much space, but the skimmer will fit if they gave me the right specs. If push comes to shove, I can move the sump and the magnum over.

Here are a few more shots.

 

[Marc]

I didn't relialize you were going to run it externally. Keep a very close eye on it so that it doesn't overflow and provide an exit for the water in your tank. This does happen with external skimmers. If you happen to have an auto top off system hooked up, it will continue to try to replenish water as quickly as the skimmer dumps it out on the floor. If you are using kalkwasser, pH will rise accordingly. If you are using RO/DI water, salinity will plummet.

Now that I've scared you, give it some thought how you can avoid this problem. It can be something as simple as a container or tray that the skimmer stands in, with a bulkhead to pour all accumulated water out of the tray back into the sump. You know, I'd make it out of acrylic, but you can use whatever works best for you.

 

[wrightme43]

No Krish I really like it. I think it looks really nice. Like Marc said you have to be careful with external skimmers. They can dump alot of water on the floor. but then again internal skimmers can dump alot junk right back into your tank.

 

[Krish]

Well Hopefully I won't experience that. I remember one time experimenting with some nozzles and forgot to put a hole in it to break the siphon and flooded the livingroom LOL. So the problem with external skimmers is the collection cup overflows with water? What about using the collection cans that shut off the skimmer when it gets to a certain point?

 

[wrightme43]

I have no experince with those, couldnt tell you a thing about them.

 

[Marc]

That can work if the cup is sealed. I'm almost certain AquaC makes one for their line of skimmers.

 

[Krish]

True true. Thanks alot. Either I'd do that or since I'm using a container anyway for excess water, maybe I can fabricate something that will drain it back into the sump if it gets to a certain point, but first run through some floss or something to catch a bit of the junk.