Need everyone’s advice

[Yates273]

I currently have a 32 cube tank. It’s not your standard biocube. I believe it’s an older version Aio tank. The one issue that has me unsure is where the return pump goes. There are currently 4 trays and the return pump line goes up the middle of each tray and returns back into the tank. These trays can be a pain in the but when I have to change out a pad or clean the pump. What options do I have to change this. Any DIY ideas. Currently the top tray has 2 filter pads. The second tray has a 4” thick sponge filter the third tray has ceramic rings and Purigen and the bottom tray has nothing. Any ideas how to make this better or should I leave it alone. As you can see in the second picture the water comes in from the intake and spills over the top tray. Thank you for any advice you guys may have for me

Here’s a pic

 

[hdsoftail1065]

I'm not familiar with this tank, but we can give it a little "bump" and try to get some eyes on it.

 

[Billldg]

#reefsquad

Maybe someone from the reef squad can help

 

[DSC reef]

Not sure on this one. Typically the return has it's own chamber so maybe this particular tank was modified?

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

yeah sounds like a horrible design. do you have a photo of the entire back of the tank without any obstructions? i have built similar aio designs before but generally for low frag tanks that are meant to be portable.

 

[Yates273]

Ok here is an old pic of that back. Note there are NO bio balls in tank

 

[Yates273]

No mods to the tank this is how it was built

 

[reefwiser]

That is so wrong how they laid that filter out. You want filter pads to remove the particular matter that comes with the overflow. Then it should flow into another chamber where the skimmer and heat and return pump can sit.

 

[Yates273]

I totally agree looking for ideas how to make it better. It’s a dumb design. Currently the skimmer and heater sit in the intake chamber which then flows over the first tray onto that filter pad. There it flows though 4 trays that have holes in them trickle down to the bottom where the return pump is. Originally it looks like it was set up for bio balls where the water would trickle over them and into the pump and back in the tank.

 

[Captain Quint]

That is so wrong how they laid that filter out. You want filter pads to remove the particular matter that comes with the overflow. Then it should flow into another chamber where the skimmer and heat and return pump can sit.

+1 on the layout versus initial intent of construction. And Good info. It also has an exhausted reactor attached. I get what was being done. It was just not kept operating the way it was intended.

Great thread and thanks for sharing Jason Yahr

 

[Yates273]

+1 on the layout versus initial intent of construction. And Good info. It also has an exhausted reactor attached. I get what was being done. It was just not kept operating the way it was intended.

How can you tell the reactor is exhausted? Color of GFO?

Great thread and thanks for sharing Jason Yahr[/QUOTE

 

[Yates273]

Not sure what happened with my reply but how can you tell the GFO is exhausted. Color?

 

[WVNed]

I would make a basket out of something and fill it with live rock or other biomedia and leave room for the pump on the side with nothing above it.

 

[Yates273]

May be able to construct something using egg rate light diffuser to hold rock and maybe put a filter pad in the vertical position before the return pump if this makes sense

 

[Captain Quint]

I currently have a 32 cube tank. It’s not your standard biocube. I believe it’s an older version Aio tank. The one issue that has me unsure is where the return pump goes. There are currently 4 trays and the return pump line goes up the middle of each tray and returns back into the tank. These trays can be a pain in the but when I have to change out a pad or clean the pump. What options do I have to change this. Any DIY ideas. Currently the top tray has 2 filter pads. The second tray has a 4” thick sponge filter the third tray has ceramic rings and Purigen and the bottom tray has nothing. Any ideas how to make this better or should I leave it alone. As you can see in the second picture the water comes in from the intake and spills over the top tray. Thank you for any advice you guys may have for me

Here’s a pic

Not sure what happened with my reply but how can you tell the GFO is exhausted. Color?

 

[Captain Quint]

I apologize because I didn't word it quite right. Not enough coffee yet. argh

It's just that I do not see but a very limited amount of GFO in the reactor shown. The combo with the carbon is excellent. carbon which is great.

I'm used to seeing this in a similar tank size as what you are running.

Again, please excuse me not going into detail.

Below is what I was hoping the previous owner would be running it. I like the conversion of the reactor used shown for GFO in your pic.

 

[Captain Quint]

May be able to construct something using egg rate light diffuser to hold rock and maybe put a filter pad in the vertical position before the return pump if this makes sense

That would be awesome and great thinking Jason.