Sump and Skimmer Install -- WoooHooo

[snowstar]

Ok --- I know I have sooo been talking about it --- but I finally got to install the sump and skimmer on the 180! So here goes....

After the First sump arrived cracked :( --- dratted shipping company ---- we were all about taking pictures of the box and the packaging materials used. We took a ton of pictures of the first sump also - we just did not have any pictures of the initial unpacking and sliding out of the box. David packed both sumps really very well --- unfortunately the shipper did not take the greatest of pains with the first sump!

Opening the top of the box.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/snowstar1/Aquariums-180/5b2e9fab.jpg

Sump is slid out of the box and the extra foam insulation and all the packing peanuts cleaned up.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/snowstar1/Aquariums-180/ca5808f8.jpg

Finally unpacked!

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/snowstar1/Aquariums-180/dhu4tr4j.jpg
Sump deminsions are 40"x18"x15". This view of the sump is with the back of the sump facing you. The sump feeds from the tank are in the upper left corner. The first set of red acrylic stand-offs are for a drawer and below the drawer is an area for bio-balls or live rock what ever I decide to use to break up bubbles. The water then flow thru a second settling area where I can install probes, flows thru some over unders and then goes into a large area where the pump that feeds the skimmer and the refugium. The ~10 gallon area on the far right is the refugium water flows from it back into that central area. From the central area it flows through a second set of over unders to the final setteling area to be returned to the tank. Oh, and all of the other red acrylic stand offs are for "egg crate" so that I can place media, sponges, filter pads throughout the sump if I need to.

Now on to the skimer!

Anyone up for a puzzle?
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/snowstar1/Aquariums-180/798b15e6.jpg

Completed assembly...
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/snowstar1/Aquariums-180/c376bd0b.jpg

Like the sump it is a custom design / size -- the overall height of the skimmer is 28" tall to the waste colletctor drain. There is no cup with this skimmer and to be honest, I was a bit worried about it to start with --- "change frightens me" :D but after seeing it in operation for only 3 hours I'm sooo glad I went with this design - it really maximizes contact time.

Anyway more to come...

[bneal3]

WOW! Nice job!

[snowstar]

Now the installation begins.

First we needed to remove one of the braces on the back of the tank in order to slide the sump in place. I forgot to take pictures of the entire process but here is the brace removed and a temporary support in place.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/snowstar1/Aquariums-180/7b1c2556.jpg

Now the sump in place.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/snowstar1/Aquariums-180/d3d3aa23.jpg

I need to skip ahead ---- I though that I had all of the plumbing pics --- but they do not seem to be on my machine to upload.... So here are a few of the water flowing and the skimmer skimming.

Refugium and center section of the sump.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/snowstar1/Aquariums-180/14ec0e7c.jpg

Right side of sump with the return to the tank in the front and the input from the tank in the back --- flowing through the drawer and then thru some rock.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/snowstar1/Aquariums-180/ngjt8ryr5.jpg

Finally a full shot of a very full tank stand.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/snowstar1/Aquariums-180/lkj34lkj.jpg

This is a shot taken after about 10 hours of operation. The skimmer has already pulled out about 2 1/2" of black gunk, and all that is in the tank is the live rock and the DSB....the fish and corals were temporarily moved to the 125 and the 20 until we can complete this project, and also add the closedloop and manifold.


I can't say enough about the skimmer.... the pictures do not do it justice... It's still in a break in period. I have the gate valve wide open so the water level in the column is less than halfway up with the air off. I have not tweaked the air levels either - they are wide open so the bubble production at this point is not the best --- way to big of a bubble size toward the top of the skimmer - yet it is still pulling some stinking crud out of the tank. After about a week I'll adjust the water and the air and this puppy should really skim at that point!
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/snowstar1/Aquariums-180/e7d65a58.jpg

[Shikaroka]

That's awesome. I'd love to see that thing in person!

[firefish2020]

This is IMO a work of art, WELL DONE :)

[WayneL333]

Beautiful Sump!!! I'm actually looking to buy one too. Is that your custom design? Do you mind if I ask where you bought it and how much it cost???

Thanks,

~ W

[snowstar]

Hey Wayne --- thanks!
I can't take credit for it.... It's all David's (Trigger Systems) design and his skimmer design also... You can purchase them through premium aquatics. Jay at premium will work with you and David to get you what you want if you need custom sizing.

[WayneL333]

Thanks for the info!

[snowstar]

Update on Sump & Skimmer....

I have cleaned the skimmer after the week of break-in. Here's what that looked like.
The SkimmerTop:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/snowstar1/Aquariums-180/c0172b9c.jpg

Inside of said Top:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/snowstar1/Aquariums-180/d1e88be5.jpg

Skimmate:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/snowstar1/Aquariums-180/00bbb7ce.jpg

So I have now cleaned out the top and emptied the waste container. After tweaking the skimmer levels, so that the water is taking up approximately 80% or the column.. (it's at the bottom of the Triggersystems lable)... here is what was collected after only 3 hours --- yes I've set the skmmer to run a bit wetter...:rollface:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/snowstar1/Aquariums-180/86dd2a27.jpg

Funny thing is ... it's still just as black... Man my water must have been really dirty! In the last two weeks I've done over a 50 gallon water change on the 180 and in reality the 180 probably only has maybe 150 gallons in it given the water displacement....Hmmm maybe my other skimmer wasn't so good after all. Wait till I tell Sonya we need to up-grade the 125!

[snowstar]

Thought I'd throw this in as well --- the shots are not so great, but here is the manifold we have been working on for the 180.

Back side of tank... showing the 1st pump (Sequence Hammerhead) and the feeds for the pump (1" bulkheads drilled thru tank wall) 2 per pump.... yes there will be a second hammerhead added later.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/snowstar1/Aquariums-180/a1457e79.jpg

Now the actual manifold, it's 1" reducing down to a mix of 3/4 and 1/2 loc-line. The piece that runs along the back of the tank is resting on top of the tank trim - the other three sides are undet the tank trim. There are a total of 20 nozzels on the manifold currently 15 have loc-line plumbd in and 5 are plugged. I may reduce this to 12 over the next couple of days....

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a142/snowstar1/Aquariums-180/e5233894.jpg

You can easily see the nozzels on the back -- the nozzels for the front are a bit harder, the only part visible is the pvc T.... I'll try to get some shots from the front tomorrow.

[MattG]

looks like its pulling out some nasty stuff!