Alaska_Phil

Very nice Phil! What materials did you use for your baffles? Did ya see the link for turf scubbers on ya last post? That will give ya a bunch of ideas.

the baffles are 1/4" lexan held in place with lots of silicon on both sides. I took a quick look at that link, I'll be reading more tonight. I want to get the scrubber set up soon.

Yeah I looked at it for awhile. The turf scrubber really seems to work good at eliminating algae. I need that for sure!

Hey was lexan easy to work with? How can you cut it to size? By the way, my tank readings are looking better with these water changes.

I cut it with a table saw and an 80 tooth carbide blade. I've used a hand held circular saw with a cutting guide before too, but the table saw is definitely more accurate. Then I flame polished the top edge with a propane torch. Marc has lots of great acrylic working tips on his home page.

Water changes are simplest way to improve tank conditions I've ever found.

Did you unplug the return pump to make sure the sump can hold all the water? It looks pretty full.

Other than that, I like it. You did a nice job!

Thanks Marc. Yes, I did shut everything down and check, 3 or 4 times. LOL I've got about 3/4" to spare. But I needed the level in the main section high for the hang one back skimmer, and also wanted to add as much volume as possible to the system. However, when I add the scrubber I may have to lower level of the ATO float switch in the return section since there will be a bit more water draining during a total outage.

An unpleasant alternative would be to lower the baffle and place the Bakpak in the sump at the proper depth. This would give you more water-holding volume.

I'm hoping to get rid of the bak pak before too much longer. It does a pretty good job on this tank when everything is tuned up right, it just doesn't hold those perfect setting for more than a day. Hopefully the turf scrubber will eliminate the need for a skimmer as claimed by it's proponents, otherwise I'll be upgrading to a Reef Dynamics (formerly Euro Reef) skimmer in the coming year.

Also, I tested the return pump at low water levels, and I can lower the return section level to where the top of the pump is exposed without loosing any significant flow.

I should note that I am getting occasional micro bubbles out of the return line, but I'm hoping that will stop after a few days of bio slime build-up.

Oh, and thanks for allowing my photos to display full size.

When you add images, it defaults to thumbnails. I guess that's great for smart phone users, but I hate it when I'm using my 24" monitor. All my posts use full size (770 x 512) images. To make them larger, when you are in the editor, run your mouse over the image. Click on the pencil that appears on the image, then click on the size you want them to be and click Save.

OK, I'll try that.

I should also note that the bottom shelf is reinforced to hold the weight of the sump. there are 3 2x4's with 1/2 MDF on top of them supporting it directly off the floor. the particle board cabinet was a quick and dirty solution, but if I was doing it at home I'd build a heavy duty one right from the start.

And one second thought, I may keep the bak pak even if the scrubber live up to it's advertising, just in case I get an event, like a spawning or something.

@ Phil, lol.. Yeah I've read all the article at least twice on Marc's site, some more. I'm just trying to figure out which route to go with on building my sump. Or just by one; cheapest one I've seen for my size tank is 150.00 without the pump.

I'm still getting some micro bubbles out of the return line, and Tuan pointed out that the water cascading into the return section of the sump is generating bubbles. I'm hoping this will go away after everything builds up a nice slime coat.

Also, my toadstool and Monti have both been looking a bit unhappy since I added the sump. I tested parameters last night and everthing was right were I want it. So I'll change out the phosban in the reactor today for a load of carbon, in case some contaminate slipped in during the construction.

Yes, that's a concern with that very long drop into the return section that you are running so shallow. However, there's a way around that. You'll want a few pieces of acrylic or glass that are the width of the sump, but each one is 2" shorter than the last one. Glue them all together into the sump so you create a very narrow stair-step effect. This will stop the bubbles because the water falls 2", hits the little 1/4" ledge, then 2", then the ledge, then 2", then the ledge, then into the water of the return.

The stairs may take up 1" more area if you had to use four pieces.

The leather may just be a coincidence, or perhaps the return line flow has thrown it off for the moment.

Marc, thanks. I'm going to give it a few more days and see how things look. I could probably throttle back the return pump a bit and to help smooth things out too.

I'm also wondering if suddenly removing the surface scum layer is allowing more light through and if it's possibly a reaction to that? I also noticed that adding the overflow box drastically changed the flow pattern in such a narrow tank, so I repositioned one of my powerheads. Time will tell, I've learned to take a wait and see approach when nothing obvious is wrong (ie water parameters, parasite etc).

It might be better water clarity, but more than likely it is change in flow and new stuff introduced in the water from the PVC, cement, silicone of the sump, etc. The coral will adapt when things settle down and the slime coat covers every surface.

Sort of (no really REALLY) off topic but what is that strut and wing-tip from?

That a Challenger II kit plane. I've been very slowly finishing it up for a friend who's health has deteriorated. The plane in the background of the second photo is my Cessna 150.

Ahhh the Cessna 150! That's the plane I took my first "Discovery Flight" in many years ago to see if I wanted to pursue getting my Private Ticket! It was a HOT summer day... Myself (I'm not Petite, 6'4" 250+/-lbs at the time) and the instructor who was short but "thick". We crammed in and he said, "It's not gonna take off quickly or climb like a home-sick angel but just hang tight and we'll be flying before we get to the corn!" LOL! I literally lifted my feet as we went over the fence of the cornfield it was so close (or it FELT close anyway)! LOL!

Man that brings back some memories!