Blog Comments

Yeah the algae turf scrubber seems to work great and with all my algae problems maybe that's what I should go with. I have info on it, let me see if I can find that.

Actually I'm just slow. I typically have half a dozen projects I'm trying to work on at once. Also, I've just had a change in plans, I was going to add a separate refugium tank, but now I'm going to try an algae turf scrubber instead.

My old 20 gal nano tank was infested with turf alage, which was a constant battle since I couldn't find anything small enough for a nano tank that ate it. Tangs apparently love the stuff. But even in a nano like that, my nitrate and phosphate were always undetectable, and the pod population incredible even without a refugium, so the turf scrubber concept has always interested me. I picked up some extra PVC fittings and $0.39 sheet of plastic canvas, I already have a small maxi-jet pump I planned to use for the refugium. I'll document that in a separate blog post, the big push now is to get this overflow and sump up and running.

Ahh ok, fun stuff huh! I don't know if i'm going to try a design from Melev's Reef or use a 10 gallon tank for my sump. Can't wait to see the pics of ya project. But, its good ya taking ya time and doing it right.

Not quite yet, I built some reinforcement for my equipment cabinet and spent some time playing around with some Acrylic making a holder for my auto top off float switch. and I'm waiting for someone in town to get some 1" unions in stock again. Grrrrrr.

How did it turn out Phil? Did you get it set up on ya disply tank?

Cut the return line off to the point that it's only 1/2" under the surface in the sump, that made it much less sensitive to adjustments. At this point I think the noise level is tolerable, and hoping it's completely quiet down once it gets a good coat of bio-slime in it.

Ah, that would be my main problem then. Darn it, now I have to get dressed again and go down stairs to try that out. And here I thought I was going to get a good nights sleep tonight.

Thanks Marc.

Saltwater is vastly quieter.

Drain lines should only be submerged 1" max. Any more causes burping in the overflow plumbing / box.

Yes, I'm still testing with freshwater. I realize that things will behave a little different with salt, but at least I can test the theory.

The drain in the sump is about 8" under water.

I'm still getting a little bit of a trickling sound, but at least it's not slurping and gurgling any more.

Were you doing this test with freshwater or saltwater? Was the drain into the sump submerged more than 1"?

OK, I think I got it tweaked up and running right. Of course I'll have to re-adjust it once it's on the display tank, but at least now I know what to expect. It's very sensitive to height changes.

I may play with the design a bit to try and come up with an easier to adjust one. I'm thinking slots, instead of holes in the inner vertical, and a threaded adjustment for the outer sleeve. I'll be sure and post anything I come up with.

I made my holes a tad bit bigger. It does take some patience to set. The best way is very small adjustments then let it run for a few. The adjustments are very subtle, but make big flow changes. Once you get it gurgling a little try and adjust the tube to quiet it down. I'm not sure about the difference between salt and fresh, but there might be a factor at play??????

Thats cool you are hooking up a sump. I want to build my own some day. Can't wait to see how yours come out.

I just tried it, but can't seem to get it adjusted right, either there's too little flow and the back box slowly fills up, or there's too much and it starts gurgling again.

I'll try it again tomorrow with smaller holes in the vertical, that should give me a little bit finer adjustment. Also, is the setting any different between fresh and salt water? I'm testing the system with fresh water before taking it into the office.

I use a HGB in my HOB overflow, works great, and around $5 bucks to build yourself.....

Rayk, thanks, but since this is an existing tank, I'm going to go with a hang-on overflow box. I considered trying to drill it in place, but decided it was too risky. Next tank...

MeVsTheWorld, that may work, but the space is pretty tight. Off to the plumbing store!

If you have an hang-on overflow you can use the hofer gurgle buster http://home.everestkc.net/jrobertson57268/HGB/ Totally adjustable.

Hrm, beananimal.com may not work. You could look at glass-holes.com. And yes, their web site is real, and just as funny as it sounds.

Display is a 50 Long. My pump is rated for 275 gph at this head pressure.

What size tank is the display tank? Look at beananimal.com