Anyone with the JBJ rimless 45? Question........

[abinder]

I'm new to this, so please be patient with me.

Regarding the rear chambers of this 'all-in-one' tank. All of my chambers, including the 2 outside chambers all drop in water level at the same rate that the middle chamber where the return pumps are does.

Aren't the outside chambers where the tanks 'overflows' into, suppose to remain at the same level as the display portion of the tank when the return pumps are operating? Shouldn't the middle chamber be the one that drops in level?

Doesn't anyone that has this tank, have any photos of the different levels in the rear chambers?

Thanks in advance.


Allen

 

[BDeVaney]

Hi Allen,
I have the exact same tank, got it in January. There are two reasons why you are seeing this. 1) You have a lot of water in the tank, you will notice if you tank probably 1-2 gallons out that the middle "sump" area will start to drop in level but the outer chambers will be a higher level. Basically you CAN make it so just enough water flows over the baffles into the middle "sump" area. In my opinion, for this tank, the water level issue you are concerned with doesn't matter. As long as the outside baffle that separates the overflow from the display portion of the tank isn't submerged you will be getting the same effect. Just make sure water is running through your filter media on the outer parts of the back area. Nothing else really matters. Why? Reason 2 for strange levels in the back of your tank: You may have noticed that there are 3 holes about 1/4 inch in diameter drilled in the acrylic divider in your tank. They are just a few inches from the bottom of the tank, one in the middle, two on either side. These are put there as "emergency" holes in case your return pumps started to go dry. Sure that is all nice, helpful, and thoughtful of JBJ but at the same time I feel like it renders the back of this tank useless as a sump.

 

[abinder]

Hi Allen,
I have the exact same tank, got it in January. There are two reasons why you are seeing this. 1) You have a lot of water in the tank, you will notice if you tank probably 1-2 gallons out that the middle "sump" area will start to drop in level but the outer chambers will be a higher level. Basically you CAN make it so just enough water flows over the baffles into the middle "sump" area. In my opinion, for this tank, the water level issue you are concerned with doesn't matter. As long as the outside baffle that separates the overflow from the display portion of the tank isn't submerged you will be getting the same effect. Just make sure water is running through your filter media on the outer parts of the back area. Nothing else really matters. Why? Reason 2 for strange levels in the back of your tank: You may have noticed that there are 3 holes about 1/4 inch in diameter drilled in the acrylic divider in your tank. They are just a few inches from the bottom of the tank, one in the middle, two on either side. These are put there as "emergency" holes in case your return pumps started to go dry. Sure that is all nice, helpful, and thoughtful of JBJ but at the same time I feel like it renders the back of this tank useless as a sump.

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I am keeping my water level in the back just high enough so that left and right outer 'baffles' are barely below the top of the dividers so the water does have to flow downward into the next baffle before going to the middle area. I've decided to purposely keep as much water as possible in the back with the thought that the more water I have in the system, the less likely I'm to get sudden changes in water quality.

It's interesting that you should mention about the 3 holes in back 'wall' of the display portion of the aquarium. I've talked to the guys in the LFS and they also told me about the 3 holes and what JBJ's original reason for them was (just like you stated). I'm going to be plugging the middle hole for now to see what affect it will have and will probably be plugging the 2 outer holes as well. My thought for doing that is the water will only be able to go through the 2 outer baffles, then through the next baffles, and then into the middle area. Basically creating a mini sump.

One side I have the Tunze 9004 surface skimmer in the overflow baffle and on the other side I have the 2 filter 'cartridges' in the overflow baffle.

With this setup, my tank actually cycled in the first week that I had it. That made me very happy and my water quality has been exceptional good ever since. I filled it with RO salt water on July 4th of this year and it's doing really well. I did my 2nd water change of 5 gallons this yesterday (Saturday). My alkalinity is a little low (7.0) for corals with the fish and I dosed it yesterday to see what affect the dosing will have on the alkalinity and calcium levels (I'll check this today when it's been about 24 hours since the dosing). I used the Red Sea solution for the alkalinity dosing and then when I recheck my alkalinity level today, I'll know what type of dosing I should use weekly.

Hopefully, within the next month, I'll be able to purchasing one of the Bubble Magus dosing pumps to automatically dose my setup with small amounts several times a day, each day.

I really appreciate your reply and info for me.

Thanks again!


Allen

 

[BDeVaney]

Plugging the holes

Hi Allen, I have thought about plugging the holes myself. What did you use? Also, be careful and make sure to turn off your equipment when doing a water change so you don't run anything dry. With the holes being plugged the return pumps are at risk to run dry.

 

[abinder]

I got lazy Sunday and didn't do it. When I do, I'll be using the putty epoxy that used sometimes for mounting coral frags and around rocks to secure them. It's pink on the outside and the 2nd part of the mix is grey color on the inside of the pink stuff.

Yea, I make sure that all of the pumps are turned off when doing a water change. In fact if I hadn't been so lazy yesterday, I was going to hook up my ReefKeeper Lite to control the system so when I put the system in standby it will make the return pumps turn off for about 20 or 30 minutes total. That way I can use that for when I do a water change and when feeding the tank inhabitants.


Allen

 

[Touring]

Just to add to this the jbj20 has 2 holes in the back plastic also. They should have included to plugs.....

 

[abinder]

Yes it would of been nice if the had included some sort of a plug so a person could have the option of plugging the holes.


Allen

 

[abinder]

I just got done plugging all 3 of the holes that are in the back wall of my JBJ 45 rimless. The water level dropped only a little bit, but I do believe that I seem to be getting more water flow into the 2 outside overflow baffles. That's to be expected since the 3 holes are now plugged. My ATO compensated for the slightly lower level with now problems.

I really had no problems with my water quality before. It will be interesting if I notice any difference in the tank after a week.

I used the epoxy/putty for tanks to plug the holes.


Allen

 

[Joey bennett]

Did plugging the holes have any bad consequences?

 

[Evoixjohn]

Any updates on plugging the holes? Was also considering doing this

 

[Bob Escher]

The water level is dependent on high you have it and how strong your pumps are. ( I went to a single pump) but you don't want it too high normally the center section is lower then the other two. Water flows into the outside baskets, into the next two ( in the bottom) and then over the walls into the center section.

I didn't think of plugging those holes. I went to a sump inside of my stand. I plugged the left side overflow. In the left I have filter media ( in a intank basket - see my YouTube video about it ) top basket is filter floss then poly filter, middle basket is matrix and last is purigen. In the right inside basket I have my innovative marine bio pellet reactor. From there the water flows through the center section over to the left. I have a Tunze overflow 7004/2 that not only has a skimmer at the height of the water but also has a tube that goes to the bottom of the basket. The water then flows into the stand into skimmer through a refugium with more live rock and sand and then back up and out of the original nozzles.

But I might plug those holes as well is there two or three?

Here is a picture of my sump

 

[reeferfoxx]

The holes in the back acrylic panel are also to relieve pressure from the main display part. At least that is what jbj lighting was describing.
The idea is to have water from front part of tank overflow or waterfall into the first rear chambers. The back part of the tank should be less water volume than the front.

I only have the 30 gallon. But when I went to fill the tank, I mixed exactly 30 gallons and filled exactly 30 gallons and got the appropriate amount needed to have the tank operate the way it should.
Personally, I keep the center back chamber even lower than the other 4 chambers for evaporation and ATO function.

 

[reeferfoxx]

The water level is dependent on high you have it and how strong your pumps are. ( I went to a single pump) but you don't want it too high normally the center section is lower then the other two. Water flows into the outside baskets, into the next two ( in the bottom) and then over the walls into the center section.

I didn't think of plugging those holes. I went to a sump inside of my stand. I plugged the left side overflow. In the left I have filter media ( in a intank basket - see my YouTube video about it ) top basket is filter floss then poly filter, middle basket is matrix and last is purigen. In the right inside basket I have my innovative marine bio pellet reactor. From there the water flows through the center section over to the left. I have a Tunze overflow 7004/2 that not only has a skimmer at the height of the water but also has a tube that goes to the bottom of the basket. The water then flows into the stand into skimmer through a refugium with more live rock and sand and then back up and out of the original nozzles.

But I might plug those holes as well is there two or three?

Here is a picture of my sump

Did you drill your tank or use a HOB overflow?

 

[Evoixjohn]

I notice more water flows into one of the overflow baffles more than the other. So I thought about covering the 3 holes up. Figureing that might help. I'm kinda stumped on what to do. Maybe upgrading the return pumps to a tunze 1073 single pump,for better flow. I'm quite unsure what's causing this uneven flow or water.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Can you get a picture so we can better see whats going on?

 

[Evoixjohn]

Can you get a picture so we can better see whats going on?

Dunno if you can see it well,one side drains more than the other. I also have a mp10 for some flow. But i turn it off to see if it was affecting the drainage

 

[reeferfoxx]

I see what you mean! I noticed this little phenomenon on my 30. What I did was pop the overflow thing off on the slow side and used a philips screwdriver to create wider holes at the bottom of the inlet? If that makes sense. If i were home I would take a picture. Really I think you just need to widen the slits for better flow on that one side. I didn't do the entire length of the slits just because of the safety for livestock.

 

[Evoixjohn]

I see what you mean! I noticed this little phenomenon on my 30. What I did was pop the overflow thing off on the slow side and used a philips screwdriver to create wider holes at the bottom of the inlet? If that makes sense. If i were home I would take a picture. Really I think you just need to widen the slits for better flow on that one side. I didn't do the entire length of the slits just because of the safety for livestock.

I thought I was the only one experiencing this lol! Too bad jbj doesn't make a slide to adjust the flow of the water. I'll probably do what you did with the philips

 

[reeferfoxx]

I thought I was the only one experiencing this lol! Too bad jbj doesn't make a slide to adjust the flow of the water. I'll probably do what you did with the philips

The thought is mutual I always blamed it on my aquascape or the direction of the outlets. lol.. Anyway, I suggest doing one slit at a time or at least do 3 slits then test it out. I didn't have to do all the slits, to get even flow.

 

[Evoixjohn]

The thought is mutual I always blamed it on my aquascape or the direction of the outlets. lol.. Anyway, I suggest doing one slit at a time or at least do 3 slits then test it out. I didn't have to do all the slits, to get even flow.

thanks for the advice bud!