Sump revamp

[wayne]

I dont have a lot of time right now but basicly im taking out my DSB and turboflotor skimmer to be upgraded with a APF600 and cheato/LR filtration, ive not been happy with the DSB since setup so now its time for the change, all work and plumbing will be done saturday morning so by the afternoon a full spread should be here:D

The first pic is the bluepeter style egg crate thingybob which will replace the whole DSB, first compartment will be for cheato to get full use of the overflow, the overflow will be tapped to gravity feed the skimmer, the overflow from the skimmer will feed the last compartment which will have LR in...making sense? it will do soon:D

Thanks to Eric who showed me how to make a bag stand which will hold the TMC fleece bags, this will be incorparated in the overflow to be used as a free external to remove yet more muck...when i get round to making it :D

The whole unit is raised 2" to maximize flow through the length of the sump

It should work a treat so update in a week

Thanks

Wayne

[Guest]

good idea that eggcrate look good stuff it looks heavy gauge can i ask were you got it from cheers john

[stevieh]

what was wrong with the dsb

[stevieh]

good idea that eggcrate look good stuff it looks heavy gauge can i ask were you got it from cheers john
Aquarius sell it john about 5 quid. hth

[wayne]

what was wrong with the dsb

Collecting way to much crap in my opinion with all the algae in there too, just dont think you need one if there is enough rock in there, which i have and cheato is as good as any for filteration...its outta there :D

John its not eggcrate its koi filter grid, most garden centres sell it cheap and the black colour hides well in the main tank too;)

Wayne

[Guest]

thanks steve , wayne

[Pinkfish]

good luck with the revamp, looks good.

Mike

[moorish]

good luck with the koi filter grid should work ok,thats one of the problems with sandbeds trying to keep them clean.derek

[trik]

Looking good Wayne , if you need a hand mate give us a shout and i will come up for the day.
Richard

[wayne]

Thanks guys, should only take me a few hours richard but you are more than welcome to come and empty the teabag tin mate if you have nothing better on...

Wayne

[trik]

Thanks guys, should only take me a few hours richard but you are more than welcome to come and empty the teabag tin mate if you have nothing better on...

Wayne

Ha Ha :D , ok mate, by the way if you need any live rock for the sump iv got around 80killo still left.

[wayne]

Hectic day with all the rewiring but here goes..

The sump was shut down and all the sand removed, a good clear out all round, didnt realise how much muck a sump actualy collects over a year, must have took 2 hours just to clean down :eek:

The new skimmer was plumbed in and while i was at it i repiped the return, saves me a job later on, a few baffles was also removed as i didnt see any use for them except use space up which was needed.

Basicly the overflow water runs down through a controlled splitter which feed a TMC 200micron filter bag and the other into the skimmer, first chamber looking at the pic is fresh RO for the topup, second is now full of cheato, that took an hour to drag all the blade and caulerpa out :D, third is the skimmer and forth for live rock, i think i can get a few more kilos in there yet.

Also went for a partition under the cabinet for all the electrics, feels a bit better now all the pugs/sockets are in one place.

Overall im very pleased at how clean the water is thats being returned, any surge or movement in the old sump would create a cloud in the main tank...not very pretty looking, and the skimmer is pulling a lot more out than the Aquamedic so another bonus

I will start checking parameters after a few days to see if there is any change, cant see it myself but who knows:D

Wayne

[Gillybaby]

Nice re-fit :D What a job though, wouldn't relish doing this with mine ;)

[moorish]

you done well with the refit and get less crap in the sump.derek

[Tangman]

Welldone Wayne it looks the dogs m8, i see you managed the filter sock holder i think you will be surprised how much crap they take out i cant wait to do my sump refit. We will have to call in next time we are down your way me and Cleggy and Compo:Dplus the new lad Wally:DEric

[mfcfan]

wow wayne you have been a buzy bee looks really good:D

steve :)

[wayne]

Thanks guys
Its only been 5 days now but all parametres are normal as expected, cant say enough about these TMC bags, the crap they pull out is unbelievable and also filled the APF cup just shy of an inch....Cheato is growing under 2 100w energy savers and looking very good..waterborne particals have reduced to near nothing, all in all a happy bunny and glad i did it...
You beauty:D

Right...what next?

Wayne

[mousehunter22]

Glad it all worked out for ya wayne!!

Hope your comin to the meet on the 16th????

[wayne]

Glad it all worked out for ya wayne!!

Hope your comin to the meet on the 16th????


I will be there lee, looking forward to another :D

[Tangman]

Hi wayne glad its all worked out well for you m8, just keep an eye out as it can still alter params a couple of weeks after you have done it. HTH Eric:D

[Tom2006]

Very impressed. No DSB I notice. What made you decide this? I'm going to revamp mine in late June, again too much crud in there. What are these bags people are talking about that catch the sediment?

[Tetley]

Very impressed. No DSB I notice. What made you decide this? I'm going to revamp mine in late June, again too much crud in there. What are these bags people are talking about that catch the sediment?

Hi Tom,

Filter bags, MT has them IIRC, so do Reef Ranch.

HTH

[Tom2006]

Great stuff will call in at MT and get some. Thanks :D

[wayne]

Well its been 3 weeks since the sandbed was removed and all parameters still check out, for some reason the ph is steady at 8.4, never done that since the tank was setup, never got to 8.4 maybe 8.2 and was always 7.9 before lights on wondering if its anything to do with the new sump design or coinsidence? either way dont care:D

Im still having to change the filter bag every 4 days, although there isnt a lot of muck coming out now i think its more me not cleaning them properly, i tried one in the washing machine on a quick wash but still doesnt come that clean so as mentioned i think the old jet wash is the way

I will keep you posted incase anyone is thinking of doing the same:p

Thanks all

Wayne

[mousehunter22]

Im following this with interest as i still aint got anything (except some cheato kindly donated by gilly) in my sump and still dont realy know what to do in there:D

I realy will have to put some idea's together and get on with it:D

[Tangman]

Well its been 3 weeks since the sandbed was removed and all parameters still check out, for some reason the ph is steady at 8.4, never done that since the tank was setup, never got to 8.4 maybe 8.2 and was always 7.9 before lights on wondering if its anything to do with the new sump design or coinsidence? either way dont care:D

Im still having to change the filter bag every 4 days, although there isnt a lot of muck coming out now i think its more me not cleaning them properly, i tried one in the washing machine on a quick wash but still doesnt come that clean so as mentioned i think the old jet wash is the way

I will keep you posted incase anyone is thinking of doing the same:p

Thanks all

Wayne
Hi Wayne glad every thing is going ok m8, i have just ot some 400 micro bags they are all nylon type stuff and dont clog up as much as the felt type ones of 200 microns. If you want to have a look at one i will bring one to the meet to show you. HTH Eric:D