Motivated or what--The rebuild of the 300

[charlie]

Wow this thread really blew up and I can see why. All that hard work is definately going to pay off. Everything looks great

Thanx man, it was one heck of a day, that is for sure. I haven't been that tired and sore for a long time. I hope it works out!!!
I do know that I am really looking forward to getting those "colored sticks" going again.

[Ramer]

Lets see a few pics of the clear version .

[charlie]

I will try and get some tomorrow nite when I get home from work. If it would stop snowing, I would have a little time to do something else besides blow snow off the freaking driveway. Plus the fact that I kept running into these large lumps of frozen sand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ramer]

Last I looked your Ford was 4WD . And if you make enough tracks back and fourth Lorie will be fine in the car . Problem solved . You want to cut firewood this weekend? I'll let you run the saw

[charlie]

Last I looked your Ford was 4WD . And if you make enough tracks back and fourth Lorie will be fine in the car . Problem solved . You want to cut firewood this weekend? I'll let you run the saw

How's about I watch you and drink beer?

[Ramer]

Thats kinda what I thought. I will follow doctors orders and take it easy this weekend. I have propane also. I dont see those pics yet tonight.....

[SouthBayPhoto]

<and the chant starts deep in the background> Pics!, Pics!!, Pics!!!

[charlie]

Hey guys, sorry about that!!! Just real busy, this weekend for sure!!

[charlie]

Glad to here you are actually going to utilize the sump as it's meant to be used

Well, I think I might have figured out the microbubble problem. I think that if I keep the water level in the sump so that I do actually utilize that last baffle, that is what's causing the bubbles. I was checking it out last nite, and there are a ton of bubbles in the last section. When I topped off this morning, I filled it to close to the level I had been keeping it at before, and there aren't as many bubbles in the section. Anybody got any ideas? I know I have enuf room in the sump in case of a power outtage, so why can't I keep the level higher.
That area may become a settling area for detritus, but that will be easy to siphon, so I don't think that will be a problem.
I don't want to have to use any type of cover for the intakes to the skimmer and the main return pump, those would be worse crap traps than letting it settle in the sump, right????
Any ideas will be appreciated, TIA!!!!!

[Ohgee]

Hey Charlie,

I have a fix that should work for you but I want to see the pictures first

Seriously though, you might leave it like it was before as it worked out pretty good for you for a long time, but you might also try putting either a 45 or 90 on the intake and getting it as close to the bottom as possible. It should help eliminate the bubbles being sucked in.

You might also try putting a wrench on the shutoff valve. When we first found the major problem I did tighten things but never got a wrench on it. maybe it could take a little more tightening.

GL
Duane

[charlie]

Already go the wrench part covered there Duane, but thanx anyways. The 90 sounds like an idea. I had planned to be dinking around with the tank tomorrow and Sunday, so the pics will show up then, ya gotta believe me. I have to run out to meet Rob in the AM, I can run by the store and pick up some 90's then. I hope someone up here has them.

[charlie]

As promised, I got to take some pics today after I did a little work on the main returns, I think they look a little better!!!

[Ohgee]

LOOKING GREAT CHARLIE ...... Wish I were there to see it in person but everything is looking much much better.

Is it me or are most the microbubbles gone?

hows the settling doing, were you able to figure out how to keep everything in suspension.

DA

[charlie]

They are only showing up when the sump levels get to low. I am going to up the level in the sump at least 2" tomorrow when I get to do the first water change for the new baby.
I did stop the surging in the left overflow by drilling a couple of holes in the longer drain pipe.

[Ohgee]

Well like you said ..... you have more than enough room in the sump so do what you need to to make things clear

how did your tests come out?

DA

[charlie]

Alk was at 3.6 meq/l and Ca was at 370, Nitrates at about 10. I am gonna continue with the weekly water changes, and I am going to have to get in there with a siphon and powerhead to blow some of the crap out from underneath.

Nice shot

[scooterman]

Boy that sure is some beautiful fish you got there Charlie!

[Ohgee]

I know you have a mag or two laying around .... To start with thats what I used with about 6' hose to get where I needed to blow the crap around.

Maybe that will help.

I always aim for the heart

[charlie]

Good lord, You are everywhere

A buddy of mine wants to give me his Sailfin too, that should get real interesting!!!! He says it is alot smaller than the Naso, so I don't know.

[charlie]

I know you have a mag or two laying around .... To start with thats what I used with about 6' hose to get where I needed to blow the crap around.

Maybe that will help.

I always aim for the heart

That is doable, for sure. As long as I get the smaller stuff up in the water column.....................
I can also readjust the Tunze to get underneath there!!