Tom@HaslettMI Posted March 19, 2019 Author Share Posted March 19, 2019 Finally got the sump swapped out... before look how filthy the display is! after still need to clean up tubing and wires and put all the other stuff back! Thanks for looking! Tom 3 Quote Link to comment
mitten_reef Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 The new sump looks really nice. R u using a filter sock or any mechanical filtration at all? Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted March 19, 2019 Author Share Posted March 19, 2019 7 minutes ago, micoastreefing said: The new sump looks really nice. R u using a filter sock or any mechanical filtration at all? Thanks! I’m looking forward to a sump with better flow through it. The old sump was a de-rimmed 10 gallon with no baffles. There were a lot of dead spots in there. I don’t use any mechanical filtration. Tom 1 Quote Link to comment
mitten_reef Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 14 minutes ago, Tom@HaslettMI said: Thanks! I’m looking forward to a sump with better flow through it. The old sump was a de-rimmed 10 gallon with no baffles. There were a lot of dead spots in there. I don’t use any mechanical filtration. Tom Ok, looking back to your empty sump pic, it makes sense now. (So I think). The drain comes in to the skimmer compartment thru that tube in the back. I was wondering what that tube was for when u posted it. Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted March 21, 2019 Author Share Posted March 21, 2019 New-to-me toy just arrived! This will be a long-term project, as it requires some rebuilding and modification. But it is exactly what I’ve been dreaming of getting. More to come as I make progress. Tom 1 Quote Link to comment
Christopher Marks Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 The suspense!!! What's in the box! 👀 Awesome sump upgrade, that's a nice improvement! Putting it on a raised platform is a nice touch as well, bonus storage space! 1 Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted March 22, 2019 Author Share Posted March 22, 2019 2 hours ago, Christopher Marks said: The suspense!!! What's in the box! 👀 Awesome sump upgrade, that's a nice improvement! Putting it on a raised platform is a nice touch as well, bonus storage space! Thanks. The new sump is working well so far. I’m a little concerned the return pump section is too small to get the Mame overflow running the way things are currently set up. I’ll run some trials this weekend and tweak water levels and float switch heights as needed. Here’s hint on the box surprise... Thanks for looking! Tom 1 Quote Link to comment
mitten_reef Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 17 hours ago, Tom@HaslettMI said: Thanks. The new sump is working well so far. I’m a little concerned the return pump section is too small to get the Mame overflow running the way things are currently set up. I’ll run some trials this weekend and tweak water levels and float switch heights as needed. Here’s hint on the box surprise... Thanks for looking! Tom Not a very subtle hint with the fan logo 🤣. 1 Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted March 24, 2019 Author Share Posted March 24, 2019 9 hours ago, micoastreefing said: Not a very subtle hint with the fan logo 🤣. Oh, you noticed that huh. Still working in cleaning up the hair algae but just realized I have not posted many livestock photos. This war coral was 4 browned out polyps I noticed on a piece of LR at the LFS. I think it paid off... top-down FTS Top down left side Thanks for looking, Tom 3 Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted April 1, 2019 Author Share Posted April 1, 2019 Still working on clearing out hair algae and getting kalk dosing to maintain alk. Went to LFS to find a new male Banggai but they only had tiny babies... Mrs. Gibbles (my son named them) will have to wait for a new man. Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted April 1, 2019 Author Share Posted April 1, 2019 The surprise in the box is a four bulb ATI T5-only Powermodule. It has two dimmable channels using built-in pots or connecting to 0-10v controller. Most importantly for me is the curved fixture. I think it looks so much better than the angled front and back on the Sunpower. Here’s a pic the seller sent From what I’ve read these were discontinued in 2013 in favor of the hybrid Powermodule. My plan is to use my Nanobox Duo to turn it into a hybrid fixture. This will be a slow process, but I will document progress as I make it. I got it for a great price ($170 shipped). Probably due to a few issues it has... one channel doesn’t dim and it is missing the power supply for the fans. Tom 1 Quote Link to comment
mitten_reef Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 12 minutes ago, Tom@HaslettMI said: The surprise in the box is a four bulb ATI T5-only Powermodule. It has two dimmable channels using built-in pots or connecting to 0-10v controller. Most importantly for me is the curved fixture. I think it looks so much better than the angled front and back on the Sunpower. Here’s a pic the seller sent From what I’ve read these were discontinued in 2013 in favor of the hybrid Powermodule. My plan is to use my Nanobox Duo to turn it into a hybrid fixture. This will be a slow process, but I will document progress as I make it. I got it for a great price ($170 shipped). Probably due to a few issues it has... one channel doesn’t dim and it is missing the power supply for the fans. Tom great score! I agree that the curve one looks much nicer than the angular Sunpower. Will be following your progress on the conversion 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted April 20, 2019 Author Share Posted April 20, 2019 I finally got the nerve up to pull the Mame overflow off and apart to clean it. It looks much better without 7 months worth of coraline algae growth! Tom 2 Quote Link to comment
DaveFason Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 Awesome updates. That hybrid idea will be a process, believe me. The PM were great units but a royal PIA. Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted May 3, 2019 Author Share Posted May 3, 2019 On 4/22/2019 at 10:05 AM, DaveFason said: Awesome updates. That hybrid idea will be a process, believe me. The PM were great units but a royal PIA. Yeah, so far I’ve only cleaned the fixture up, turned it on, and taken the ends off. It is going to take some work to make it a hybrid. I do have a couple questions I’m hoping you can answer... I’m planning to modify the fixture so I can mount the Duo directly inside. Will wiring the PM fans to the Duo fan channel work? I think the PM fans running would sufficiently cool the Duo, but would appreciate your input on if that’s feasible and/or wise. Thanks! Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted May 3, 2019 Author Share Posted May 3, 2019 The clean overflow inspired me to ditch the stock VarioS float switch for a Mame Sub-switch. still dealing with a bit of hair algae... Can’t not post this top down... And a panned out shot for fun... Thanks for looking! Tom 1 1 Quote Link to comment
DaveFason Posted May 3, 2019 Share Posted May 3, 2019 You wont be able to wire the ATI fans to the Duo for the control. Also fitting the Duo inside will need machine work as the inside body is shaped like the reflectors. Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted May 4, 2019 Author Share Posted May 4, 2019 4 hours ago, DaveFason said: You wont be able to wire the ATI fans to the Duo for the control. Also fitting the Duo inside will need machine work as the inside body is shaped like the reflectors. Bummer on the fans... but not a deal breaker. Roger the need to hack the insides. I plan to take a Dremel high speed cutter to it! 😬 Tom 1 Quote Link to comment
Afropenguin Posted May 4, 2019 Share Posted May 4, 2019 The tank looks great! 1 Quote Link to comment
tanacharison Posted May 5, 2019 Share Posted May 5, 2019 Idk how I missed this one... I wish I still had my mame overflow! Tank looks great! 1 Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted May 6, 2019 Author Share Posted May 6, 2019 On 5/4/2019 at 2:55 AM, Afropenguin said: The tank looks great! 23 hours ago, tanacharison said: Idk how I missed this one... I wish I still had my mame overflow! Tank looks great! Thanks for the kind words! I like the Mame overflow but I’ve yet to get it to actually start a siphon on its own. The only way it works is with a float switch that kills the return pump when the display gets too full. So far that’s always worked and no flooding has occurred but it makes me nervous. 4 Quote Link to comment
DaveFason Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 The side view is perfect. Exactly how I see NanoBox units over tanks. Well done. 1 Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted May 9, 2019 Author Share Posted May 9, 2019 Well, I think I finally figured out my chronic low alkalinity issue. I use an Avast Marine peristaltic dosing pump (APEX controlled) to add saturated kalkwasser. Over the past few weeks I’ve been increasing the dosing duration and number of times a day. All to no avail. This evening I decided to get to the bottom of this. Step 1: check the dosing rate... about 11 mL/minute... not quite the 20 mL/minute the website states. Potential caused by the airline check valve I have to use. But I’ve more than doubled the amount being added so that can’t be the sole reason. Step 2: test alkalinity of saturated solution in mixing chamber... bingo. It tested 2.8 DKH! Apparently Kent kalkwasser really does expire. The tub I was using had a 2016 expiration date. I’d never bothered to look. I just mixed up some Mrs Wages. We shall see if the mystery is finally solved. DIY kalk chamber... tube on the left. Avast dosing pump Thanks for looking! Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted May 9, 2019 Author Share Posted May 9, 2019 15 hours ago, William said: How does your setup work The Avast pump pulls water from the ATO reservoir, through the kalk chamber, and doses it into the sump. The saturated kalk solution provides both calcium and alkalinity to the reef. The dosing pump is turned on and off by the APEX. I reprogrammed it last night to dose for one minute at 1, 6, and 9 am as well as noon and 2 pm. The APEX will keep the pump off if the pH goes above 8.2. I’ll keep a close eye on pH and alkalinity over the next week and adjust the dosing as needed. Tom Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.