Matt's SCA 150 repair and redesign

[crusso1993]

I just checked my TDS:
Tap: 86
Before membrane: 140
After membrane: 15

I will be ordering an new membrane today!

I'm a little surprised your tap is so low but good call on a new membrane!

 

[Matt Carden]

It's probably bad prematurely from running it as ATO direct instead of filling a reservoir weekly and topping off from reservoir ATO.

 

[Matt Carden]

I'm reading this book by Forest ROhwer: "Coral Reefs in the Microbial Seas". I now have an answer for a question I posted about my Carribean Rose Coral (RIP) before my move. I wondering why there was so much more color:

I now know the answer. When a coral is in a nutrient limited environment it controls the growth of it's symbiotic zooxanthellea. When the coral is in a nutrient enriched environment the zooxanthellea can use the excess nutrients to grow out of control of the coral animal. This appears to be why the Rose coral has excess green coloration. My PO4 was in excess of 6ppm for at least 4 months prior to the 2nd picture.

 

[Malifry97]

Following!

 

[Matt Carden]

It's been 4 weeks since I filled the rebuilt SCA150. No leaks.

I have all the glass cut for my sump. I started silicone today. I am starting to get the hang of this.

 

[Matt Carden]

So I've been getting one joint done per day given the space I have to work with. The long piece is the barrier to my Cryptic chamber. The main flow will go through the small (vertical) piece with the 4 holes. Hopefully minor flow will go through 2 of the holes on the horizontal piece and back out the other 2 holes:

This is my Under Over before the return.

The following horizontal piece is both the first chamber baffle and last. The side with 6 holes is the overflow chamber baffle. Then the other side with the notch cut out is my Under before the return pump in my under over under. The vertical piece is the divider. The top of that piece goes to the outer wall:

I designed my sump to flow in a U from the overflow side back to the overflow side. The cryptic chamber is on the far side of the overflow with the main flow turning back to the return pump path the Cryptic bulkhead in the Hope's that some of that flow will want to go through the 2 holes going into then 2 holes going out of the Cryptic chamber.

 

[crusso1993]

So I've been getting one joint done per day given the space I have to work with. The long piece is the barrier to my Cryptic chamber. The main flow will go through the small (vertical) piece with the 4 holes. Hopefully minor flow will go through 2 of the holes on the horizontal piece and back out the other 2 holes:

This is my Under Over before the return.

The following horizontal piece is both the first chamber baffle and last. The side with 6 holes is the overflow chamber baffle. Then the other side with the notch cut out is my Under before the return pump in my under over under. The vertical piece is the divider. The top of that piece goes to the outer wall:

I designed my sump to flow in a U from the overflow side back to the overflow side. The cryptic chamber is on the far side of the overflow with the main flow turning back to the return pump path the Cryptic bulkhead in the Hope's that some of that flow will want to go through the 2 holes going into then 2 holes going out of the Cryptic chamber.

Coming along nicely and it appears you're getting good at it!

 

[Matt Carden]

I started dosing Lanthanum chloride to my holding tanks in hopes of bringing down my PO4 before I add my live rock and sand back into the system. I tried filtering through sand but the flow was too restricted so I switched out the sand for some course, medium, and fine poly filter media.

 

[crusso1993]

I started dosing Lanthanum chloride to my holding tanks in hopes of bringing down my PO4 before I add my live rock and sand back into the system. I tried filtering through sand but the flow was too restricted so I switched out the sand for some course, medium, and fine poly filter media.

Where did you get the poly material?

 

[Matt Carden]

I also started building the sump with the bottom panel with the first pre assembled baffles.

 

[Matt Carden]

Where did you get the poly material?

From ebay its some canister filter refills I cut into 2" circles to stuff into the chamber in the pics

 

[Matt Carden]

I had the day off work today so I got some work done on the upgrades. One more section of baffles in. This is the Under Over Under closest to the camera:

I also did some work on my plumbing Sunday and Today:

I have most of the plumbing cut going to the sump from the BeanAnimal drain and the dual return lines. I need to cut the side panel and reinstall then I can glue the plumbing.

I spent some time running LaCl3 through the first holding tank. Also blowing off the rocks to try to remove my excess PO4. I think i will start the other holding tank tomorrow with LaCl3 and blowing off the rocks with a powerhead.

I also started laying out the drain channels for the bottom of my stand. In case of leak the water will flow through the channels to a 1" drain that i plan to be flush with the bottom of said channels. More details to follow.

 

[Matt Carden]

I set the last of the internal bulkheads of my custom sump today. Just the 4 outside panels left to silicone.

 

[Matt Carden]

I made a little progress on the sump this week. Front and back panel installed.

 

[Johnd651]

I cut the notch today to be the weir over which water will flow into the external overflow box. It's not beautiful but it will perform the intended function. Truth is there are alot of scratches inside from sand blowing around. I think I even have scratches where a piece of sand was wedged under a snail.

Its probably because im tired and am missing it... but how did you cut that notch?

 

[Matt Carden]

A 2" diamond rotary saw blade powered by a Walmart drill.

 

[Matt Carden]

Well it's been a little over 7 weeks since I filled my DT for leak/structural integrity test. I drained and cleaned it today. I have to do a little more rework to the base of the stand to support the sump so I had to drain the tank to give access to all sides of the stand.

 

[Matt Carden]

My custom sump is finally complete and in position. I will fill it in the next couple days to test.

I routed some drainage channels in the floor of my upgraded stand to deal with the inevitable spills and overflows.

 

[crusso1993]

My custom sump is finally complete and in position. I will fill it in the next couple days to test.

I routed some drainage channels in the floor of my upgraded stand to deal with the inevitable spills and overflows.

Sump turned out great!

 

[Johnd651]

Looks great. What is the direction of the flow?