Recirculating Mod on Euroreef - Page 5

duke62 · 03-18-2007, 12:26 AM

is there any way to mod a kent nautilus.and if so an someone PM me and tell me how

Pedro · 03-20-2007, 03:00 PM

Duke62, i'm not familiar with that skimmer but im sure you can apply the basic principles from this thread. Post a picture of the skimmer so i can see the dynamics.

Pedro · 03-20-2007, 03:06 PM

Ok, today was part 2 of the modification. This one is more for performance action. It's the recommended way for recirculation skimmers and Fred and others talked me into it. So here is the new drain plumbing. The 1/2" ball valve is for maintenance only, the small green valve is used for controlling the water flow. Also the elbow by the 1" valve is for support. I like using unions, as you can see. The more the better. Anyways here are the pics. I must say that i am glad i did it. It started skimming almost immediately after i cleaned the collection cup.

Pedro · 03-20-2007, 03:51 PM

Might as well show something else i did to the sump. I used filter socks for a while and it just became a pain to keep cleaning them. Besides if you don't clean them daily or every two days, it's causing more harm than good. The stuff trapped breaks down so much faster in the oxygenated water. That's why they say that they must be cleaned so much. This in a way works against the skimmer because once the stuff get's broken down in the sock and turned to nitrate, the skimmer becomes less efficient. But let me say that filter socks do work, BUT they must be cleaned religiously which is something i don't have the time to do.

So i decided to go this route. This is much easier for me to clean out and it keeps things in suspension as well. I use an 802 powerhead with the micron filter. It keeps things stirred up in the sump while also catching it for removal. Since i installed it, my sump has cleaned up well. The replacements are pretty cheap, much cheaper than the socks. My goal is to keep things from settling anywhere in the tank. So here it is in action.

My next modification will be to make a filter reservoir for the reactor pump. It will be housed in a 4" pvc coupling with either a sponge or some other material on top to keep debris from clogging up the inner foams of the reactors and reducing their useful life. I just need to find the right foam to fit the coupling.

skatezen · 03-31-2007, 02:45 PM

What kind of hole saw did you use? Where did you get it? Got a pic?

Pedro · 03-31-2007, 05:15 PM

I used a regular bi-metal holesaw 1 1/4" from Home Depot. Make sure the shank is 3/8 if you have a small drill.

Pedro · 04-12-2007, 01:31 AM

I removed the airtap to get more air. Next i will mesh mod it to get finer bubbles. Running on the wet side right now, might dry it up later on. The skimmate is just over 24 hrs.

fritz · 04-12-2007, 01:35 AM

How's the turbulence in the neck? Do you find the drain introduces a lot of bubbles? From the pics it looks like it may. How high up the skimmer is the feed hole?

Edit-
On second inspection maybe not. Looks like it's probably the bubbles combining. Honestly that much air in such a small chamber just rocks.

Pedro · 04-12-2007, 01:38 AM

In the neck itself the bubbles are like marching ants, they just shoot straight up. The bubbles from the drain are very minimal, and that's cuz i have it open full way. If i choke it some, then there's no bubbles from the drain.

The only turbulence i see is the air in the main body coming from the pump which is normal i think, lol.

Pedro · 04-21-2007, 02:34 PM

I joined the mesh club!

03-20-2007, 03:06 PM	#43
Pedro Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Queens Posts: 1,971 Reefer Ratings: (21) Friends: (0)	Ok, today was part 2 of the modification. This one is more for performance action. It's the recommended way for recirculation skimmers and Fred and others talked me into it. So here is the new drain plumbing. The 1/2" ball valve is for maintenance only, the small green valve is used for controlling the water flow. Also the elbow by the 1" valve is for support. I like using unions, as you can see. The more the better. Anyways here are the pics. I must say that i am glad i did it. It started skimming almost immediately after i cleaned the collection cup. Last edited by Pedro; 08-13-2007 at 06:59 PM.

03-20-2007, 03:51 PM	#44
Pedro Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Queens Posts: 1,971 Reefer Ratings: (21) Friends: (0)	Might as well show something else i did to the sump. I used filter socks for a while and it just became a pain to keep cleaning them. Besides if you don't clean them daily or every two days, it's causing more harm than good. The stuff trapped breaks down so much faster in the oxygenated water. That's why they say that they must be cleaned so much. This in a way works against the skimmer because once the stuff get's broken down in the sock and turned to nitrate, the skimmer becomes less efficient. But let me say that filter socks do work, BUT they must be cleaned religiously which is something i don't have the time to do. So i decided to go this route. This is much easier for me to clean out and it keeps things in suspension as well. I use an 802 powerhead with the micron filter. It keeps things stirred up in the sump while also catching it for removal. Since i installed it, my sump has cleaned up well. The replacements are pretty cheap, much cheaper than the socks. My goal is to keep things from settling anywhere in the tank. So here it is in action. My next modification will be to make a filter reservoir for the reactor pump. It will be housed in a 4" pvc coupling with either a sponge or some other material on top to keep debris from clogging up the inner foams of the reactors and reducing their useful life. I just need to find the right foam to fit the coupling. Last edited by Pedro; 08-13-2007 at 06:59 PM.

04-12-2007, 01:31 AM	#47
Pedro Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Queens Posts: 1,971 Reefer Ratings: (21) Friends: (0)	I removed the airtap to get more air. Next i will mesh mod it to get finer bubbles. Running on the wet side right now, might dry it up later on. The skimmate is just over 24 hrs. Last edited by Pedro; 08-13-2007 at 06:59 PM.

04-21-2007, 02:34 PM	#50
Pedro Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Queens Posts: 1,971 Reefer Ratings: (21) Friends: (0)	I joined the mesh club! Last edited by Pedro; 08-13-2007 at 06:59 PM.

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03-18-2007, 12:26 AM	#41
duke62 TANK DRILLER Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: long island Posts: 1,831 Reefer Ratings: (20) Friends: (8)	is there any way to mod a kent nautilus.and if so an someone PM me and tell me how

03-20-2007, 03:00 PM	#42
Pedro Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Queens Posts: 1,971 Reefer Ratings: (21) Friends: (0)	Duke62, i'm not familiar with that skimmer but im sure you can apply the basic principles from this thread. Post a picture of the skimmer so i can see the dynamics.

03-31-2007, 02:45 PM	#45
skatezen If You pick it, Flick it! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 151 Reefer Ratings: (6) Friends: (0)	What kind of hole saw did you use? Where did you get it? Got a pic?

03-31-2007, 05:15 PM	#46
Pedro Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Queens Posts: 1,971 Reefer Ratings: (21) Friends: (0)	I used a regular bi-metal holesaw 1 1/4" from Home Depot. Make sure the shank is 3/8 if you have a small drill.

04-12-2007, 01:38 AM	#49
Pedro Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Queens Posts: 1,971 Reefer Ratings: (21) Friends: (0)	In the neck itself the bubbles are like marching ants, they just shoot straight up. The bubbles from the drain are very minimal, and that's cuz i have it open full way. If i choke it some, then there's no bubbles from the drain. The only turbulence i see is the air in the main body coming from the pump which is normal i think, lol.