Well got the tank moved and up and running fish/corals in a bin while water clears and warms properly.
While moving things I replaced the DSB in my fuge when I added new sand back I added a plenum in the process I broke the damn baffle so now sand will go into my baffle and the DSB will not work properly? I cannot tear down the entire setup to much work and to much stress to system and me. How can I repair that baffle now? Looking for any and all suggestions.
if its just cracked you could always silicone a piece of glass or plexi over the crack, kinda like a patch, not exactly sure on the situation but it may work
Sand is already passed through into the baffle... can't silicone it is under water... it is a pain in the butt... :( on top of that it is an in stand sump 30g under a 75g sump is 36" and stand 48" no reall room to do much.
Actually.You can silicone underwater.
http://www.aquarium-munster.com/index.php?con_lang=2&con_cat=187&con_art=126
Could be a option for sure. Will just have to take out all the sand from that chamber... :( Is it available in Canada?
That sucks Dan. I like Jims product suggestion....
Yes its available in Canada.Im just not allowed to say where.lol.
Well, maybe any sponsor who can provide this could post in their forum?
Loophole or simply helping Dan out, not sure...
Quote from: jimskoi on April 14, 2011, 09:37:03 PM
Yes its available in Canada.Im just not allowed to say where.lol.
I got ya Jim... ;) but I am not sure saying it would be a fowl? :) heading to some sponsors forum... ummmm wonder which one? LOL
1. OK let's say I get some of this magic glue... ;) How the hell do I get all the sand out of this in stand sump without shutting everything down?
2. How long before the DSB starts to build up SO2? I do not want to leave it so long it does develop SO2 then distrub abd crash my tank possibly.
3. If I shut down the entire sump will this effect my DT long enough for the glue to cure.
4. Jim any idea on the safe cure time for fish/corals?
Any tips on this repair is greatly appreciated I cannot mess around a lot the livestock is already stressed won't handle any more I wouldn't imagine.
If it was me I would replace the broken baffle.Either way your going to have to shut the sump down for a 24 hours(for curing).
Or,shut down the sump.Clean of the area that is cracked and silicone it with another piece of glass.
Why not build another sump install the baffles etc let it cure.
Then you only have to shutdown the sump for a short time when it is replaced?
Just a thought...
Quote from: bitterman on April 15, 2011, 09:01:12 AM
Why not build another sump install the baffles etc let it cure.
Then you only have to shutdown the sump for a short time when it is replaced?
Just a thought...
Yes.Thats a good idea.Then fix the old one and you could sell it.
It's been over 2 weeks since I moved the tank and broke the baffle in my sump the baffle needed repair sand was finally getting into the return chamber. Today with my arms through the 18" opening under the stand I drained the fuge and spooned out the layers of sand. I was lucky my design puts my return chamber in the middle fuge on one side skimmer chamber on the other. When I designed the sump on the skimmer side of baffles in the return chamber the baffle is purposely lower than the baffle on the fuge side of the return chamber. This enabled the fuge to be shut down. I have a Tee on the return pump that diverts water to the fuge the flow is controlled by a ball valve. With that shut off it was easy to take the fuge off line.
Once I scrapped and nicked most of my knuckles the fuge was empty. Then with a razor blade cut out the broken baffle. It took a lot of elbow grease to clean up, dry off and make sure there is no remaining silicone. Tomorrow I will get a new baffle at the 'Glass Shop' on Kylde then silicone in - let it gas off for a day or so. After that will add back the components to the fuge which is a 4" DSB with a new plenum - adding the new plenum is how I broke the baffle it fit to tight. :(
I believe there will be no issues I had the sand in 2 layers the 1st on top of the plenum was araginite approx. 1.5" deep with a screen on top then 2" of sugar sand. The screen in the middle prevents anything disturbing the anaerobic layer or the plenum it's self. The sand was only in place for 2 weeks it was brand new sand but I still put it in a bucket with my LR rubble on top of it with the snails I had and it is being heated plus a MJ 900 for circulation. the lower layer of araginite would not have had anything built up in it by that time but will rinse it before adding back to fuge. All my cheato was stuffed into the skimmer chamber for now hope my pods and other critters survive the repair?
As a final precaution I will run the fuge off line for a few days and test the water just to make sure it is not a toxic soup. You'd figure with the snails in the sand now adding them back and they all live it should be a sign it is fine?
In conclusion what a freakin' drag breaking that damn baffle was it created a ton of work. ::) Repair will cost $6 for a new piece of glass plus the gas to pick it up which will be more than glass likely... >:( LOL
Picked up the piece of glass ($5) and installed it this morning just waiting for the silicone to set. What a task sealing that in place!!! Holy Crap... :o Hoping fuge will be back online latest by Friday.
So the refugium is back online ahead of schedule. :)
When I moved since the fuge was emptied I decided to add a plenum for the DSB. I'd researched it before but decided not to add it to the DSB the first build. After talking with RedBelly he said if you're going to use a DSB (he doesn't like them) then for sure add a plenum. His advice has not failed yet so I followed so the plenum was going in. The glass broke adding the plenum in the 1st place the fit was to snug.
OK so cut out the broken baffle cleaned up the area then picked up a new baffle - $5 from The Glass Shop on Clyde Ave.; great place they do all my glass work. Below are some dirty pics - of the rebuild/repair process.
1st - shows the new baffle siliconed in then held with tape
2nd - is the plenum made with 3/4" PVC, 1/2" egg crate & covered with nylon screen; the screen doesn't allow the 1st layer of DSB (araginite) to slip into the plenum space
3rd - plenum placed in refugium
4th - 1.5" deep layer of araginite; on top nylon screen to prevent anything disturbing the lower level of the DSB and help keep sugar sand from mixing with araginite
5th - last layer of DSB sugar sand - total DSB approx. 4" not counting plenum, on top LR rubble and cheato macro algae; there is sort of a CUC with mixed snails in the fuge; the water is still cloudly
6th - the fuge is cleared up and back online; there is a power head and small heater in front but the cords were moved
Before putting fuge back online I tested the water for NH3 & NO2 it was all zero. It sat in buckets but was all new substrate only in place for 2 weeks. In the buckets were heaters and PHs plus snails they all lived so was quite sure things would be fine. Also replaced 1/2 the water so was like a small w/c ahead of schedule.
Bottom line it all went pretty well but would not want to do this again. I wish I had a closet behind this wall or basement directly under the tank I'd have a killer sump setup with remote DSB and fuge for sure. My son's room is behind this wall maybe he wouldn't mind giving up that wall and 1/4 of his space. ;)