Flower's Sump/Fuge Build

al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
Watch the video again like meowzer said, give your self a time out and regroup. Make sure everything is full in the CPR before you start that return pump. I would fill the tank to get the water level just to the bottom of the overflow. and make sure the return pump section has water in it above the pump.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Everything is running good, and it isn't loud like I feared. I need to get the skimmer going..wha do I do now?
 
al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
How is your water level in the return section of your sump. Make sure there is enough water there, this is the section for future refrence where you will see evap loss.
I am glad you got it running, I should have stayed at my desk for lunch. Lets see some pictures, and FLower if you have a shop vac they are great for getting water out of carpets.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Congrats, Flower.
Haha...I rushed all the way back to the office so I could get on the computer at lunch. This darned site, everytime they do an update it screws something up and I haven't been able to respond to threads on my phone lately. I could tell from the way it sounded that the overflow hadn't been primed properly and was also going to sugguest double checking the tubes on the aqua lifter.
How high do you have the output on the return pump set? I was going to sugguest half way for the innitial start up and then fine tune it later when everything was running smooth. Out of all of the reviews that I read on that pump I never heard anyone mention it trying to float away. If it persists to be a problem maybe you could use one of those zip ties to ancor it one of the drain pipes from the refugium.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
I would dial the skimmer down an plug it in an keep it dialed back for a day or 2. Trying to adjust the skimmer at this point is pointless and will overskim. As Monsinour stated just plug up skimmer pump and dial the water level down in the skimmer body!!!!
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
After we get the skimmer running and see the amount of water the skimmer pulls, we can adjust the correct water height in the return section and test for backflow when power is out.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/1560#post_3338961
After we get the skimmer running and see the amount of water the skimmer pulls, we can adjust the correct water height in the return section and test for backflow when power is out.
Okay i turned on the skimmer, I have it set with a little bubble of foam popping up..I will keep checking it. the sump is half full in both chambers. The return chamber is about 1 inch lower than the skmmer side. The refugium is not yet set up...where is my sand dog nab it!
Hi Corey! I adjusted the return pump by feel so I have no idea how high or low. I had turned it to lowest settng after it overflowed the one time, I think it's lik half way now. ..The return hose is making noise, if I apply pressure and push it deeper intot he sump it stops...should I add more water to the skimmer chamber, or leave it?
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
Yea, adjusting the skimmer right now would be pointless. Did I miss something and Flower stated that there is no water in the fuge and that we are werking on just the return section as of now?
As far as the tubes for the aqualifter, here is what I have done. I have a black tube on the output of the lifter and that tube goes into the overflow all the way at the bottom near the drain under the round sponge. The other tube goes to the little .... nipple i guess .... on hte over flow and into the aqualifter. I surely wish I had used the black tubing there as well. The algea growth in those tubes are a pain to get out. What i have found that sorta works is a glass full of really hot water and an eyedropper that can suck much water. I stuff the eyedropper into the tube and then squeeze it many times to circulate the hot water through the tube.
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
the skimmer chamber is set at its water level. the only fluctuation will be on the return side. If the skimmer needs to be lower in the water, then you will have to take out hte skimmer stand.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/1560#post_3338965
Yea, adjusting the skimmer right now would be pointless. Did I miss something and Flower stated that there is no water in the fuge and that we are werking on just the return section as of now?
As far as the tubes for the aqualifter, here is what I have done. I have a black tube on the output of the lifter and that tube goes into the overflow all the way at the bottom near the drain under the round sponge. The other tube goes to the little .... nipple i guess .... on hte over flow and into the aqualifter. I surely wish I had used the black tubing there as well. The algea growth in those tubes are a pain to get out. What i have found that sorta works is a glass full of really hot water and an eyedropper that can suck much water. I stuff the eyedropper into the tube and then squeeze it many times to circulate the hot water through the tube.
I don't have any tubes in my aqua filter

I do not have any water in the refugium yet. My plumbing (Thank You for that Corey) has shut off valves for each section of hose...so the hose leading to the refugium is shut off until I add my sand and copepods and water...then I turn the whole system on. My corals are already smiling...I am not kidding, the whole tank looks brighter.
My fish are in hiding. I fed them before I began because I know they won't eat for days now. I have invaded their world.
EDIT:
I am going to wait for the refugium before I adjust the water height.
 
al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/1560#post_3338968
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/1560#post_3338965
Yea, adjusting the skimmer right now would be pointless. Did I miss something and Flower stated that there is no water in the fuge and that we are werking on just the return section as of now?
As far as the tubes for the aqualifter, here is what I have done. I have a black tube on the output of the lifter and that tube goes into the overflow all the way at the bottom near the drain under the round sponge. The other tube goes to the little .... nipple i guess .... on hte over flow and into the aqualifter. I surely wish I had used the black tubing there as well. The algea growth in those tubes are a pain to get out. What i have found that sorta works is a glass full of really hot water and an eyedropper that can suck much water. I stuff the eyedropper into the tube and then squeeze it many times to circulate the hot water through the tube.
I don't have any tubes in my aqua filter

I do not have any water in the refugium yet. My plumbing (Thank You for that Corey) has shut off valves for each section of hose...so the hose leading to the refugium is shut off until I add my sand and copepods and water...then I turn the whole system on. My corals are already smiling...I am not kidding, the whole tank looks brighter.
My fish are in hiding. I fed them before I began because I know they won't eat for days now. I have invaded their world.
EDIT:
I am going to wait for the refugium before I adjust the water height.
You don't have tubes on your CPR.
Good going Flower we are proud of you, sounds like everything is coming together.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/1560#post_3338968
I don't have any tubes in my aqua filter

I do not have any water in the refugium yet. My plumbing (Thank You for that Corey) has shut off valves for each section of hose...so the hose leading to the refugium is shut off until I add my sand and copepods and water...then I turn the whole system on. My corals are already smiling...I am not kidding, the whole tank looks brighter.
My fish are in hiding. I fed them before I began because I know they won't eat for days now. I have invaded their world.
lol...sounds good Flower. I have to get back to work here shortly. From here on out for the next couple of days it will just be a matter of making small adjustments here and there. The same thing with the skimmer over the next couple of weeks. I'll be home this afternoon and check up on ya then. I'm so happy it's working. The innitial start up of a new set up like this is always the most critical time because there is alot happening all at once. You'll be a pro in no time...no worries.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Al&Burke http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/1560#post_3338969
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/1560#post_3338968
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/1560#post_3338965
Yea, adjusting the skimmer right now would be pointless. Did I miss something and Flower stated that there is no water in the fuge and that we are werking on just the return section as of now?
As far as the tubes for the aqualifter, here is what I have done. I have a black tube on the output of the lifter and that tube goes into the overflow all the way at the bottom near the drain under the round sponge. The other tube goes to the little .... nipple i guess .... on hte over flow and into the aqualifter. I surely wish I had used the black tubing there as well. The algea growth in those tubes are a pain to get out. What i have found that sorta works is a glass full of really hot water and an eyedropper that can suck much water. I stuff the eyedropper into the tube and then squeeze it many times to circulate the hot water through the tube.
I don't have any tubes in my aqua filter

I do not have any water in the refugium yet. My plumbing (Thank You for that Corey) has shut off valves for each section of hose...so the hose leading to the refugium is shut off until I add my sand and copepods and water...then I turn the whole system on. My corals are already smiling...I am not kidding, the whole tank looks brighter.
My fish are in hiding. I fed them before I began because I know they won't eat for days now. I have invaded their world.
EDIT:
I am going to wait for the refugium before I adjust the water height.
You don't have tubes on your CPR.
Good going Flower we are proud of you, sounds like everything is coming together.
Corey and Shawn have to get back to work..For me it's the middle of the night. You should see my messed up house..LOL. Anyway I do NEED someone to hang around close so when the refugium sand arrives I can have some help if I need it on getting it going..
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
I would try to push the line in the bubble tower as far as I could to eliminate any noise!!!
Monsignor is correct the skimmer section is preset. I doubt the skimmer stand will have to come out due to the recommended operating level. If you set the skimmer to deep you won't have as much or any adjustment on the skimmer.
Flower shut the power off to the return pump and see how much back flow we get from the DT.... Watch it really close. If the return section gets to high fire up the pump right away!!!
 
al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
Flower I am in my office till 3:30 I will keep a close eye on you. I can PM you my cell number after that. WHen you start up your fuge, first make sure it has SW in it all the way up to the overflows, all you are going to do is open the ball valve that Corey set you up with, slowly and it should just drain into the sump return, your overall flow rate should not change.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
True!!!! As Al stated. I just want to make sure the overall water level is set correctly in the sump. Everytime I finish moving a trailer Flower I check in!!!!!
 
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