[SCETT316]

Hi Everyone:
I know it's been quite a while since I have posted, even though I have visited every now & then. Hard to believe my tank will be up for almost 4yrs soon. At any rate due to the personal current events in our lives the past couple of years time has been very limited. For one my beloved father was diagnosed with Cancer and passed away. I was extremely close to him so it was very difficult. I remember when I 1st set my tank with the help of so many wonderful ppl I met in this board, the first time my Dad saw it in awe he said it was Majestic, I laughed took him to my computer & showed him a few pics of some of the tanks of the members of this board and said This is Majestic & someday hopefully mine will look half as good as these. Well now that things have finally started to level out we have been trying to give our tank the much needed attention it deserves/needs.
I have a couple of ?? & hopefully I can get some help. I have a 2 1" sea swirls that I ran for only a couple of months a while ago using an AMP3000, but decided to remove them since my sump is not very large and I was getting more micro bubbles into the tank than I allready have with my LG pump alone. (something that makes me nuts ) I do need the added circulation, so I reverted back to adding 2 MJ1200 ph. My question is: I have 2 overflows can I somehow plumb the returns from my overflow to the SS?
Also I have in the tank the following fish: Yellow Mimic Tang - Percula Clown & a Mandarin. Could I add a Foxface Rabbitfish? I have a small hair algae situation as well. My tank is 168gal w/o taking into actt. rock & dsb displacement from what I can remember I believe taking that into actt I was left with about 124 gal. incl the 20 gal. from my sump. I think.... I honestly don't remember exactly.
BTW I love the upgrade to the site. Sorry for the long post it's been a while.
TIA
Susan

[scubadude]

Very sorry to hear about your grandfather That is very kewl that he used the word "Majestic" to describe your tank.

As far as using your overflows to supply your 2 seaswirls, I cant remember the size of your overflows? They will be dependent on how much flow you can utilize through them. The AM3K is currently drawing water from your sump or tank? I do think that 2 MJ1200 will not even come close to replacing the flow of your two SS's.

[SCETT316]

Hey Rocky:
thx for replying.

Originally Posted by scubadude

Very sorry to hear about your grandfather That is very kewl that he used the word "Majestic" to describe your tank.

Thx My grandfather passed around 20yrs ago. It was my dad that passed recently.

Originally Posted by scubadude

As far as using your overflows to supply your 2 seaswirls, I cant remember the size of your overflows? They will be dependent on how much flow you can utilize through them. The AM3K is currently drawing water from your sump or tank? I do think that 2 MJ1200 will not even come close to replacing the flow of your two SS's.

I am not using the AM3K I am using the LG which I believe is 1200 gph it is drawing the wtr from my sump. The LG has a T & flex tubing going to ea. return. I think ea. overflow is 2" I wanted to try and use the 2 SS + the 2 MJ I have now if possible.
Thx
Susan

[Reefland]

Might just try one of the SS for starters to see how it works out and to get it mounted. I am guessing that the returns from your overflows come up through the overflow right? Might be a bit challenging to get the SS mounted unless you can bring the return over the back of the tank.

[SCETT316]

Hi Scott:
thx. I have scrathced that idea due to the reason you stated.
I do however get much more circulation & elimanate my mico bubble problem if I close one of the return valves that is T off from my LG pump. I can understand getting more circulation but the getting no micro bubble in the tank I can't seem to figure out. I have checked every piece of plumbing fitted to the pump to make sure no air is somehow getting in to no avail.
Since I do have the AMP3K I was thinking I could have the LG just for one return & the AMP3k for the other. I am sure I would have to throttle them back, but would that be overkill? Help pls.
Thx
Susan

[Reefland]

Is it possible to open up this valve and close the valve to the other return side (basically flow the water through the return that is currently off) to see if you get bubbles or not? Just trying to see if it is something with the plumbing on this one side. If you can turn this one on and the other off and not get bubbles, I'm not sure what to say but if you do that and get bubbles, then it's definitely something wrong with the plumbing for that return.

[SCETT316]

Closing either side will eliminate bubbles. That is why I needed opinions on having ea. return running on independent pumps. I appreciate suggestions.
Thx

[Reefland]

Wow that is weird? Are there any noticable bubbles in the sump when you have both opened? I am hesitant to suggest adding the second pump because what is happening doesn't make since?

[SCETT316]

Originally Posted by Reefland

Wow that is weird? Are there any noticable bubbles in the sump when you have both opened?

Ok I just went to triple check and yes when both valves are fully open I get some bubbles in the last chamber of my sump. Would it be ok to only use one return?
Thx for all the help.

[Reefland]

Ok, that makes more since. It sounds to me that when both are opened, your getting too much flow through the sump...more than it can handle. Try to reduce both of the outputs a little bit to see if you can get them to reduced enough to eliminate the bubbles but yet get flow through them both.

[SCETT316]

Originally Posted by Reefland

Ok, that makes more since. It sounds to me that when both are opened, your getting too much flow through the sump...more than it can handle. Try to reduce both of the outputs a little bit to see if you can get them to reduced enough to eliminate the bubbles but yet get flow through them both.

I had tried that B-4 and at the point were bubbles were to min. I was not happy with the flow at all. I just reduced them again now. I also only have 2 MJ1200 as well now.
Any other ideas, or should I just simply resigned myself that I have to learn to live with my setup.
Thx so much for all the help you have no idea how much I appreciate it.

[Reefland]

Well if you feel like your getting stronger flow pushing more water out of one pipe, yet eliminating the bubbles, then that would be the method I took. Obviously, overall flow is not increased by doing this, you have no more total flow than you would running a smaller amount through both pipes but this sounds like your better option. At least until you can figure a way to remove the bubbles from your sump. For that, you could try using a sponge between some baffles knowing it will require frequent cleanings.

[Ninong]

Hi Susan,

Sorry to hear of your father's death.

The LG pump is not strong enough for more than one 1" Sea-Swirl. The AM3K would be ideal for powering two 1" Sea-Swirls. Yes, the AM3K can be safely cut back as much as necessary if the flow is too much. Mount a ball valve immediately above the 1.5" pump outlet to control the flow.

Yes, you can convert both of your 1" plumbed returns into feeds for the two 1" Sea-Swirls. Simply install a 1" plug in the bulkhead outlet from the two corner overflow compartments and then tie the Sea-Swirls directly to the return plumbing coming up through the corner overflow compartments. You will have to couple the new plumbing to your existing plumbing after disconnecting it from the outlet bulkhead in the corner overflow compartment. I'm not positive but I believe you're using flex PVC in there for the returns, right?

You should have no problems mounting the Sea-Swirls to the back of your tank without modification to their existing mounting brackets but if you want to mount them to the sides of the tank, you will have to widen the space between the brackets and drill new holes for them so that they can span the perimeter splash guard at the top of the sides of your tank. I think your side bracing is the same size as mine and I was able to mount my two Sea-Swirls on the side of my tank by opening up the spacing on the mounting brackets. I emailed Eddy at Sea-Swirl first to make sure I wouldn't be drilling into anything if I did that and he said I was good to go.

I agree with you that the LG pump just doesn't provide enough flow by itself. That's all I'm using right now and I hate it. I tried to add a Tunze Stream but it was too much. I think I will change my LG pump to something more powerful so that I can get more flow through my three existing outlets: Two 3/4" Sea-Swirls plus the one plumbed return through my one corner overflow compartment.

Are you still running without a chiller? I remember that you had problems at first with your lighting (which is identical to mine) heating up the water too much but you raised your fixture a little higher above the surface and you said that took care of things. I have been unable to get by without a chiller. I finally purchased one six months ago but I haven't had it installed yet. It's getting close to that time of year again, so I will have to get going on the chiller installation soon.

Regards,

[SCETT316]

Hi Ninong so nice to hear from you.Hope your doing fine.

Originally Posted by Ninong

Sorry to hear of your father's death.

Thx. so much and to think this all started because of my Dad's F/W 20 gal. It was so relaxing to watch that I decided to get into the hobby myself.

Originally Posted by Ninong

Are you still running without a chiller? I remember that you had problems at first with your lighting (which is identical to mine) heating up the water too much but you raised your fixture a little higher above the surface and you said that took care of things. I have been unable to get by without a chiller. I finally purchased one six months ago but I haven't had it installed yet. It's getting close to that time of year again, so I will have to get going on the chiller installation soon.

I am running w/o a chiller, I have not have any temp. issues since raising my lights. In the summer the a/c alone has been enough.

I am thinking of replacing the LG for my AMP3K for both returns hopefully I can then use my SS too. But I am wondering if I will have the same problem with the Micro Bubbles that I presently have with the LG when I open both valves and since it is a more powerful pump would it be worse? I guess even if I trottle back the AMP I would still have more circulation than with the LG.
Pls correct me if I am wrong. This is driving me nuts. Sorry for the many ??? & thx so much for the help.

[Ninong]

Susan,

Can you see if there are bubbles getting into the final return compartment of your sump? Maybe Mitch didn't build it with enough baffles or something?

Ask Scott to offer suggestions on how to fix that because he used to make sumps. Can you post a picture of your sump?

[SCETT316]

Originally Posted by Ninong

Susan,

Can you see if there are bubbles getting into the final return compartment of your sump? Maybe Mitch didn't build it with enough baffles or something?

Ask Scott to offer suggestions on how to fix that because he used to make sumps. Can you post a picture of your sump?

The sump I have is not the one Mitch made for me. That one I had to blast out of my stand. (still can't believe I had my husband do that)

I do not see any bubbles in the last baffle when only one return is fully open. Once I open both valves I see some bubbles in the last baffle in the sump & my tank looks like an alkaseltzer tank. I hate it. I have to then close both valves of each return to a point where I have no bubbles but hardly any circulation at all either.

[scubadude]

Hey Susan

Sorry I meant to type your father....dunno what I was thinking

I have a couple of questions...Does your overflows make any gurlging noises? Do you have air valves ontop of your overflow pipes? And do you have pictures/diagrams of your sump layout so we can analyze this further? If you are for sure that both of your overflows are 2" then there should be no problem with supplying the amount of flow you need.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by scubadude

I have a couple of questions...Does your overflows make any gurlging noises? Do you have air valves ontop of your overflow pipes?

She has either Durso or Stockman standpipes. Or at least she did the day they set the tank up because Joanne (zookeeper) called me to discuss how to make them fit in the space available in the overflow compartments, especially since the drain holes were drilled about an inch off from where they should have been. Susan was too busy trying to keep her husband calm to talk on the phone. IIRC, we even called Mitch on a Sunday to "discuss" things.

If you are for sure that both of your overflows are 2" then there should be no problem with supplying the amount of flow you need.

Her tank is an exact duplicate of Ltspd's tank. His tank was ordered two or three days after my tank was delivered. Both of their tanks are 60"x24"x27" with dual corner overflows each drilled with a 2" drain bulkhead and a 1" return bulkhead. They have a 2" euro bracing on each side and about a 1.5" euro bracing at the front top of the tank. They have a single center cross brace. She originally had Mitch make a sump but I see from her post above that she is no longer using the original sump.

Her overflows can handle much more flow than she would ever want to run because besides the fact that she has two 2" drains, she also has black eggcrate at the top of the overflow weirs, which is less restrictive than the combtooth type. Her problem right now probably has something to do with the design of her new sump.



P.S. -- Susan had a very nice picture thread of her new tank but all of the pictures were lost in the shuffle during one of Scott's infamous software upgrades. New tank pic Rocky, you should remember all this stuff because you were involved in all of those picture threads.

[SCETT316]

Originally Posted by scubadude

Hey Susan

Sorry I meant to type your father....dunno what I was thinking

No problem I know the feeling

Originally Posted by scubadude

I have a couple of questions...Does your overflows make any gurlging noises? Do you have air valves ontop of your overflow pipes? And do you have pictures/diagrams of your sump layout so we can analyze this further? If you are for sure that both of your overflows are 2" then there should be no problem with supplying the amount of flow you need.

No gurgling sounds. I do have air valves. Will take some pics later to post.

[SCETT316]

Originally Posted by Ninong

She has either Durso or Stockman standpipes. Or at least she did the day they set the tank up because Joanne (zookeeper) called me to discuss how to make them fit in the space available in the overflow compartments, especially since the drain holes were drilled about an inch off from where they should have been. Susan was too busy trying to keep her husband calm to talk on the phone. IIRC, we even called Mitch on a Sunday to "discuss" things.



Her tank is an exact duplicate of Ltspd's tank. His tank was ordered two or three days after my tank was delivered. Both of their tanks are 60"x24"x27" with dual corner overflows each drilled with a 2" drain bulkhead and a 1" return bulkhead. They have a 2" euro bracing on each side and about a 1.5" euro bracing at the front top of the tank. They have a single center cross brace. She originally had Mitch make a sump but I see from her post above that she is no longer using the original sump.

Her overflows can handle much more flow than she would ever want to run because besides the fact that she has two 2" drains, she also has black eggcrate at the top of the overflow weirs, which is less restrictive than the combtooth type. Her problem right now probably has something to do with the design of her new sump.



P.S. -- Susan had a very nice picture thread of her new tank but all of the pictures were lost in the shuffle during one of Scott's infamous software upgrades. New tank pic Rocky, you should remember all this stuff because you were involved in all of those picture threads.

Ninong:
I envy your memory The only thing is I have 2 center cross braces (which I hate) next time I would have the perimeter reinforced & no brace if possible. Cleaning is a pain specially since my MH lights fall right above them.
Oh well.