J
jstdv8
Guest
Dang, that was some fast growing stuff, must be working, good stuff!
turf scrubbers
- Thread starter d-man
- Start date
gill again68
Active Member
I am going to try to finish my setup this week end. I have worked on bits and pieces. I need a pump. Do any of you have yours under a cabinet above a sump? For some reason I am having trouble getting a good idea on an install and easy removal from above my sump. I may have to just have the screens much shorter and not sticking below the top of the sump. But why should I work so hard on ideas if you have already thought of it.
J
jstdv8
Guest
Gil, are you planning on having a mandarin, sixline or other pod eating fish?
The reason I ask is I'm not sure you will hav the benefit of the mass amount of copepods from the screen if the screen isnt touching the water on the bottom.
When you say above the sump, you mean outside of it with no walls around it?
If that's the case I'd reccommend something enclosed instead, much more costly, but usually nicer looking.
If you simply mean have the lights outside the sump pointed slightly downward and have the spray bar just above the rim of the sump and then the screen extend down into the sump then that is pretty much how most peoples are, thats how mine is as well.
go to the scrubber site and look up all the different designs there and see if one of those won't work for you.
The reason I ask is I'm not sure you will hav the benefit of the mass amount of copepods from the screen if the screen isnt touching the water on the bottom.
When you say above the sump, you mean outside of it with no walls around it?
If that's the case I'd reccommend something enclosed instead, much more costly, but usually nicer looking.
If you simply mean have the lights outside the sump pointed slightly downward and have the spray bar just above the rim of the sump and then the screen extend down into the sump then that is pretty much how most peoples are, thats how mine is as well.
go to the scrubber site and look up all the different designs there and see if one of those won't work for you.
gill again68
Active Member
Well I have a mandarin already. The problem with my sump is the water height. If I am go have a screen then it will be above the rim of the sump anyway. The thing that I worry about is having the screen below the edge of the sump and trying to get it bent back out of the the tank. I will probably post some pics this weekend of what I am trying to do.
J
jstdv8
Guest
ohh i see. well, you could always change your scrubber spray bar so that you remove the whole bar like i do and bring the top bar and the screen to the sink all together. that way it goes straigth in and straight out. maybe that would help?
gill again68
Active Member
Thats exactly what I am looking to do but I haven't figured out how to hang that. I was thinking to place the spray bar in a larger PVC pipe. So the smaller PVC spray bar slides in and out. The worry of that is that water would eventually run out the ends of that pipe.
Another worry I have is this. I split my PVC for the screen. Now its split all the way so when I put the end cap on it fits very lose. I would imagine that silicone would fix that. The other end with the slip fitting for the hose would then be a problem. My original thought was to be able to slip that end on and off and take the whole thing to the sink like mentioned above but these 2 small things have me at a stand still.
Suggestions?
Another worry I have is this. I split my PVC for the screen. Now its split all the way so when I put the end cap on it fits very lose. I would imagine that silicone would fix that. The other end with the slip fitting for the hose would then be a problem. My original thought was to be able to slip that end on and off and take the whole thing to the sink like mentioned above but these 2 small things have me at a stand still.
Suggestions?
J
jstdv8
Guest
I had that same problem with my original design, once I slit the PVC pipe it didn't want to hold its shape adn got too small to use.
I'll think about what you've got for a bit...
I'll think about what you've got for a bit...
al&burke
Active Member
gill again I slit my pipe with a table saw blade but I didn't cut it down the whole length. If you look at my picture a few posts back, my straight piece with the mesh is fully removable. I made a cradle that my pipe was in with plywood scraps, two side and one piece the same width as the pipe. nail it together so the pipe sits with three pieces of plywood around it, also on the one end nail an end plate so your jig will push on the pipe. make sure your end piece does not extend past the side pieces. Lower your blade all the way down, set your fence so that the cut will be in the middle of the pipe. Turn the saw on holding the jig and everything, slowly bring your blade up so it just starts cutting, you might have to go forward and back a bit to get your slot cut the right length without cutting right through. I then made a second cut to make the slot slightly wider than the saw blade. Just be careful.
gill again68
Active Member
Thanks, I thought about doing something like that but was hesitant to put that pipe over the blade. I have done cuts like that before but as you know fingers dont grow back. I have thought of an idea to hold the pipes. I have an old closet system made from plastic that has a couple of hooks that hold a hanger bar. It just might be the fix I need. If not the back to the barn for some wood work.
J
jstdv8
Guest
dremel or rotozip cutter FTW. Table saw worked for me, but its quite dangerous and I don't reccomend it.
gill again68
Active Member
Ok so the hangers that I thought were plastic turned out to be metal. So here is the design I will try to go with next. Its bulky but I can custom fit it to my return section of my sump. The next question is what size pump to run 2 screens side by side. I think to start with I will make it a 1 screen design with the ability to add the second. The screen I have is 13x 10 so with a 90 gallon system this should be fine correct? Of course the lights would have to be a 3 light fixture alternating the screens. So can anyone recommend a variable adjustment pump that could handle the project? Approximately 23" lift.
gill again68
Active Member
Thanks but that could just be a big piece of crap your looking at. Not tested yet. The thing with building stuff is trial and error. Unfortunately in our hobby that can mean water on the floor.
I say get started make a mistake and you will be on your way!
scott t
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gill again68 http:///forum/thread/382073/turf-scrubbers/160#post_3337143
Thanks but that could just be a big piece of crap your looking at. Not tested yet. The thing with building stuff is trial and error. Unfortunately in our hobby that can mean water on the floor.
I say get started make a mistake and you will be on your way!
Lol easier said than done, I am not talented with tools at all. Oh, I can use a Hammer and a screwdriver but when you get into all the other stuff with building something with me forget it.. LOL
Originally Posted by Gill again68 http:///forum/thread/382073/turf-scrubbers/160#post_3337143
Thanks but that could just be a big piece of crap your looking at. Not tested yet. The thing with building stuff is trial and error. Unfortunately in our hobby that can mean water on the floor.
Lol easier said than done, I am not talented with tools at all. Oh, I can use a Hammer and a screwdriver but when you get into all the other stuff with building something with me forget it.. LOL
gill again68
Active Member
Ok so start with 450 without head loss? So if I have about 20" to lift then I should have about 5 to 10 gph loss, if I did the calculation right. That would put me in a 460 gph pump?
J
jstdv8
Guest
35g minimum, so just go a fair amount bigger (pumps don't seem to cost too mmuch more per upgraded size)
I'm running a mag 7 wide open on my scrubber and I'm gettting the best growth ive had yet.
Also, the first pump I had was waay off on its GPH rating it was supposed to do about 400 and it came out to actually pump only about 300 with no head pressure. I tested it by counting how many second it took to fill up a gallon container. So just go bigger to be safe.
I'm running a mag 7 wide open on my scrubber and I'm gettting the best growth ive had yet.
Also, the first pump I had was waay off on its GPH rating it was supposed to do about 400 and it came out to actually pump only about 300 with no head pressure. I tested it by counting how many second it took to fill up a gallon container. So just go bigger to be safe.
J
jstdv8
Guest
Sweet Al, prolly time for its first cleaning too.
gill again68
Active Member
I know I am dragging this out but I am so dang busy. Here is the setup as I plan to put it in the sump. Now I have to make it fit, another story. I still have to finish building the light fixture for it and hopefully when I get back from a business trip this week I will have time to do that???? The pump is a 500 and something gph Beckett pond pump. I put a union valve on the PVC for the removal and cleaning of the screen. I am thinking that I will use an even larger piece of PVC to put over the pipe with the screen for a splash guard. Dont know if thats needed but here is where it is. Tell me what you think.
