Juiceman Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I'm thinking that my current setup is counter productive. Currently my overflows flour into the left side of the sump which is filled with LR, the goes through a baffle into the next section where my skimmer and bio pellets are, then through a foam filter and to the return pumps. I'm running into issues with the skimmer overflowing because of the water level on the right side being inconsistent and possible detritus build up in the LR portion since its prior to filtration. Thinking about moving the skimmer and bio pellets to the left side and the Live Rock to the right. Thoughts?! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I'd say switch it... even leave some rocks in with the skimmer chamber and run the chaeto and whatever other rocks in the 2nd. You'll probably need a stand for the skimmer but at least from this point on, stable water line for the skimmer so you don't have to deal with overflows anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viet'spride70 Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 its not a good switch, since u have inconsistent water lever in uptream chamber affects a next one to cause problem. i would making sure water level for skimmer is right level, if level is high could cause skimmer skim too wet and over flow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juiceman Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 its not a good switch, since u have inconsistent water lever in uptream chamber affects a next one to cause problem. i would making sure water level for skimmer is right level, if level is high could cause skimmer skim too wet and over flow... The inconsistent chamber is the one it's in now. The previous is the consistent one. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viet'spride70 Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 "I'm running into issues with the skimmer overflowing because of the water level on the left side being inconsistent and possible detritus build up in the LR portion since its prior to filtration" i am confuse.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juiceman Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 I edited it. I typed the wrong side. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Sorry Vietspride, I cheated. I already knew his left side was the stable side when we were looking at it last at his house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juiceman Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 I'd say switch it... even leave some rocks in with the skimmer chamber and run the chaeto and whatever other rocks in the 2nd. You'll probably need a stand for the skimmer but at least from this point on, stable water line for the skimmer so you don't have to deal with overflows anymore. It's on a stand already! I'd need a taller stand Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Start cutting that pvc Juiceman! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viet'spride70 Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 np guys... is that seaside aquatic skimmer? if so, a buddy had one (i think SC7) with over flow after few days. i told him to bring water level down to 6" for skimmer chamber, helps out abit. now he tune a gate valve down to 2 or 3....no problem since... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I believe he has a big daddy skimz unit for the skimmer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sascha D. Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I like both filtration styles that you mention and I've used them both. A fluctuation in your chamber two means that the baffle isn't sealed in between chamber two and three. Some people say that having your skimmer in chamber one makes it more effective. I haven't noticed a difference unless you have a very slow turnover rate. Skimmer -> Refugium -> Return This style is known as the Berlin Style sump and is the most popular of the three-chamber sumps. The idea is that the dirtiest water feeds the skimmer and other equipment in the first chamber. Detrius doesn't always end up in the skimmer so you have to run a sock or other mechanical filtration with this style. The first chamber is the most turbulent and has to be followed by a bubble trap to keep the refugium chamber is very calm. The divider between chambers two and three doesn't need a bubble trap and can be a single wall. Chamber three is the only chamber that should go down when the water level drops. Live Rock / Refugium -> Skimmer -> Return This style is referred to as a live rock filter.The idea is that the return water will filter out the large particles and feed the refugium. The live rock and macroalgae break up the bubbles before it gets to the equipment section. A refugium CUC is used to dispose of the material that collects in the first chamber. The second chamber should be pretty clean, but sometimes needs to be siphoned out. In this layout the divider between chamber one and two can be very high giving you more refugium space. The bubble trap is between chamber two and three to remove the bubbles from the skimmer. Again, chamber three is the only chamber that should fluctuate. Skimmer -> Return <- Refugium This is a style that I've seen at Melv's Reef. This layout splits the return between chamber one and three giving both sections the dirty water from the display. A gate valve is used to reduce the flow to the refugium and the rest goes to the skimmer section. The refugium section can be very tall and doesn't require a bubble trap because the low flow doesn't cause any splashing. The bubble trap has to be in between chamber one and two. Chambers one and three will remain constant and chamber two will fluctuate when the water evaporates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juiceman Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 It's a Skimz, the issue is that the return area is only separate by a foam filter so the water line in the entire second half fluctuates Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sascha D. Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Hmm I misunderstood. That is a tough one. I would switch the skimmer to the most stable section or take the sump down for two days and fix the baffles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+brian.srock Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Switching it has my vote. If the skimmer will work better and clean more from your tank so I can buy more colorful frags it's a win/win. Let me know if you need a hand and I can swing by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juiceman Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 I'm wondering if I should move the baffles or the foam filter Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juiceman Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 Or just go ahead and switch where the equipment is... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juiceman Posted February 26, 2015 Author Share Posted February 26, 2015 A few hours and heartache later..... Juiceman's Sump version 2.0! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 What are you going to do with all that space in the 1st chamber now? I say throw the rock in there with the equipment and just have the chaeto in the 2nd chamber. That is if you're still running chaeto. Btw, the hands in the reflection creep me out. 1) Because I'm thoroughly confused how you took that picture with both hands down and 2) because they blend in so well that they look like they are actually in the tank... [emoji15] Glad you got the sump the way you want it now and I'm sure your skimmer thanks you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juiceman Posted February 26, 2015 Author Share Posted February 26, 2015 I may not put cheato back in. I haven't decided yet. It constantly got stuck on the inlet of the pumps, and clogging the filter pad. There was an insane amount of detrius underneath all that rock and cheato. Took me a very long time to siphon it all out. I used a maxi jet with a tube leading to a crown royal back zip tied to the end, and let the bag collect all the detrius and put the water back in the tank. Worked great, just took a while. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I am planning on removing my chaeto myself to reclaim my sump space for a designated frag system underneath. While nice for a refugium media, it made very little impact on nutrient levels in the tank mainly just from the shear lack of size. One ball of chaeto the size of a turkey isn't going to do much against the ample feedings my 20-odd fish are going to require in a 215-gal tank. If I had like a 400-gallon sump full of chaeto, then possibly so. Just a thought, why don't you do the same? Move a bunch of live rock to the skimmer chamber and put an eggcrate stand over the other rock in the 2nd chamber, throw a light over it, and start moving some frags into it. Just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mako Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Perfect time for a small water change, just use a shop vac, then put in fresh mix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juiceman Posted February 26, 2015 Author Share Posted February 26, 2015 I am planning on removing my chaeto myself to reclaim my sump space for a designated frag system underneath. While nice for a refugium media, it made very little impact on nutrient levels in the tank mainly just from the shear lack of size. One ball of chaeto the size of a turkey isn't going to do much against the ample feedings my 20-odd fish are going to require in a 215-gal tank. If I had like a 400-gallon sump full of chaeto, then possibly so. Just a thought, why don't you do the same? Move a bunch of live rock to the skimmer chamber and put an eggcrate stand over the other rock in the 2nd chamber, throw a light over it, and start moving some frags into it. Just a thought. Definitely doable. I don't really have a need for it at the moment, but I already have a single BML Strip under there, so it would be an easy transition 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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