Need a little help. As usual.

[dnorton1978]

I finally recieved my ASM G3, and this thing is huge!! I had no idea skimmers were even this big. It does not fully fit into my sump. It can fit, but does not leave enough room to release the water into a safe place.

What does inline mean? Can I install it next to the sump with an extra house running back into the tank? Any idea's would be great.

I did see the dimensions of this rior to buying, but just did not picture it being so big. I guess I goofed a bit

I do not want to get rid of skimmer, or my sump. I like them both. Thanks guys, and gals..

 

[dnorton1978]

Oh just in case anyone needed to know the pump that came with it is the sedra 5000

 

[bleedingthought]

Do you mean a refugium when you say a safe place? If so, just don't include it in your sump. If you still want it, plumb another tank for the fuge.

 

[Unarce]

You might have issues with leaking. Not just because it's meant to be an in sump skimmer, but because ASM's are made of molded plastic.

Can you take a pic of the skimmer in the sump. Perhaps you could DIY the output in a way so that it can work.

 

[Len]

I know some people who modify their ASM with a gatevalve so that it can be used inline (out of the sump). Here is a thread link to Michigan's reefkeeping society where the guy describes his mod:
http://www.masm.org/Forums/tm.asp?m=173 ... key=&#1737

ASMskimmers.com used to have kits and instructions for this DIY but they are no longer in business.

 

[dnorton1978]

as far as safe place I meant like next to the sump. I do not have a refugium yet, but will eventually.

As far as a pic in sump, no can do, the fit was so tight, I took it out, and will not attempt that again.

What does inline mean, and will that help my situation?

 

[Len]

Inline basically means plumbed "in line" and out of the sump.

 

[dnorton1978]

Thank you very much, a mod seems easy on this skimmer.. Will try and see if I can flood the house..

Do i need to worry about ph levels during cycling?? Just checked it a few miutes ago, and it is around 7.8. I filled with Instant ocean salt, but my salinity is only around 1.023 right now. I am slowly bringing it up to 1.025.

 

[bleedingthought]

It can fit, but does not leave enough room to release the water into a safe place.

You mean that the fit is so tight that the water splashes out of the sump when it comes out of the output tube, then? If so, like Karl said, you can plumb it so it delivers water where you want it to. The gate-valve mod shows one of the ways you can plumb it and if you want to, just skip the actual gate-valve.

Here's the link that Len was refering to from ASMskimmer:
http://www.asmskimmer.com/mod1.htm

Also, I would not want to run my G3 externally due to the fact that I would not trust it to be sealed tight. Also, if your skimmer is mis-adjusted and goes a little while, you can end up with your fish tank on the floor. JMO.

 

[dnorton1978]

What about the ph level? Should that be a concern this early or not until the cycle is amost complete??

 

[Anonymous]

Do not run an ASM externally. They are not totally watertight. They leak at every removable seam. Plumbing an added sump or getting a bigger one is best IMO.

 

[Anonymous]

I would not worry too much about the pH levels yet. It will drop during your cycle. Also, the skimmer will help raise the pH.

 

[dnorton1978]

You know, just when you think you researched enough, research more. I thought I had plenty of room for the dang blasted thing, I dont want to mod it, so I am left with one last idea..

I want to keep it. What if I buy a 20 gallon tank, and put the skimmer in there? Can i make it into a small refugium as well, or should you not put a skimmer in a fuge.

I feel like an idiot, and most of you are probably reading this saying, yup.

Well, now that I am feeling itty bitty, i will close and say my new tank is looking pretty darn good so far. I have been working on the aquascaping periodically for the past couple days. Slowly but surely.

 

[Anonymous]

My G3 is in a 20 gallon. Putting it in with the refuge is fine.

Not an idiot, just some rookie mistakes. I still make some of those now and again. That is why we are all here. Can you imagine how frustrating it was years back before these BB's existed? It was horrible. I think of all the money and livestock I wasted just because I did not know any better and had to rely on , mostly idiots, at the LFS.

Good luck

 

[dnorton1978]

http://www.carib-sea.com/pages/products ... onite.html


I wanted a very natural look to my new tank, and chose the sugar size sand. My bed depth is about 2'', and it look great. Did I screw up by using this sand?

 

[Anonymous]

Nope, should be fine.

 

[dnorton1978]

Nope, should be fine.

Thanks Wazzel

 

[dnorton1978]

The new tank was set up Tuesday of this week. I checked my levels today, and noticed everything is normal. There is a small trace of amonia, and nitrate. Nitrite is normal. My sg is stable as well. Ph is looking great.


By no means am I planning on putting fish or anything in yet, but just wondering if this is normal in the cycle.

I am cycling with live rock(about 60lbs) and 20lbs of live sand. Other than that i have about 90lbs of sugar sand from the above link.

I also decided to send back the ASM G3 today, for a full refund. I decided against any mods, or anything else.

Tank is looking good though. Everyone is already making good compliments.

 

[bleedingthought]

No ASM? I'm surprise you decided not to keep it. Very nice skimmer...

 

[dnorton1978]

I agree, it was a very nice looking skimmer. I just would have had to change out to many componets to make it work. I am looking for a new one. I will have one next week.