Inherited 90

[redfishbluefish]

Wow! This is a head-scratcher for me.


My new sump is coming up on its one year anniversary. So I’m doing a little house cleaning today. My skimmer sits up on a plexiglass shelf about six inches above the bottom of the tank. This area below the skimmer is quite dark and therefore I never took much notice of it. So I decide to shine a flashlight under the skimmer. There is a muck field below the skimmer. What I find puzzling is that this section of the sump is where I also have a filter sock. So the water coming in first goes through the sock and then sucked up into the skimmer. You would think this would be pretty clean water. Well it’s not! Where is this muck coming from? Even the heater is covered in it.

With this week’s water change I’m going to get the wet vac and suck up this muck.

 

[fatoldsun]

Wow! This is a head-scratcher for me.


My new sump is coming up on its one year anniversary. So I’m doing a little house cleaning today. My skimmer sits up on a plexiglass shelf about six inches above the bottom of the tank. This area below the skimmer is quite dark and therefore I never took much notice of it. So I decide to shine a flashlight under the skimmer. There is a muck field below the skimmer. What I find puzzling is that this section of the sump is where I also have a filter sock. So the water coming in first goes through the sock and then sucked up into the skimmer. You would think this would be pretty clean water. Well it’s not! Where is this muck coming from? Even the heater is covered in it.

With this week’s water change I’m going to get the wet vac and suck up this muck.

i get the same muck in the same spot. For me it's from the sand that's inevitably in the water column. My GSMC likes to wiggle her tail in the sand about 50x a day. That keeps it pretty well stirred up. Also if I let the sock go a day over its change schedule it will pour over and the muck increases. About once a month my WC consists of pulling and cleaning the skimmer and sucking all that out...

 

[redfishbluefish]

With the water change tonight, cleaned out the skimmer section of the sump.

I guess I’ll have to add this clean-up to the schedule.

 

[Fish Brain]

Wow, big difference!

That's all the stuff that gets through the mesh of the socks. I noticed I started getting this when I switched to the mesh socks, and once a month I go in and vac out the bottom of the sump.

 

[TanksNStuff]

Yea, big difference Paul. It probably is due to the mesh sock (I get it too) but I noticed it got a lot worse once I started running bio pellets. Are you using those too?

 

[redfishbluefish]

I just finished installing a booster pump for my RO/DI unit. I’ve never seen these in action, so this is all new to me. When I run this thing it makes a putt-putt-putt noise and has a bit of vibration to it. Is this normal? Here’s a short video (turn your volume on). Unfortunately the stabilizer function in the camera doesn’t allow you to see the vibration:


[video]http://s419.photobucket.com/albums/pp271/psh54/?action=view&current=MVI_5552.mp4[/video]

 

[jgraz]

Well for some reason I can't see the vid. Mine does vibrate not terrible, and it does make noise. Again not terrible. Best way I can describe it is like one of those small electric pressure washers. Just on a much smaller and lower scale.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Sorry John....I can't figure out how to post a video.



Yea, it's not real loud. Reminds me of the piston action aerator I had on my freshwater tanks back in the 60's. I just wasn't expecting this thing to make noise.

 

[Tazmaniancowboy]

Paul, if it runs continuously and sounds like an air pump. You are good.

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[jgraz]

I think your fine. I will PM my cell number to you. If you have a phone that can do it feel free to take a vid and txt it to me.

 

[redfishbluefish]

John, thanks for your generous offer. I do have a phone that does all that stuff and more. But realize I’m an old fart and only know where that little green button is where I say “Hello.” I believe your response, and the one from Taz, and the fact that I’ve now made ten gallons of good water, makes me happy. The putt-putt-putt has turned into more of a hum with a beat. So I’m happy. Again, thanks John and Taz for making me an expert on booster pumps.

I can’t post video, but here’s a still shot (still need a cover plate on that switch).

 

[Tazmaniancowboy]

The putt-putt-putt has turned into more of a hum with a beat.

Probably working the air out. As long as the pump is not starving for water you will be fine. I'm sure you re making water faster now!

 

[TanksNStuff]

Paul, let me know if that makes water considerably faster than without. If so, I'll think about getting one too.

 

[NyteGTI]

Paul, let me know if that makes water considerably faster than without. If so, I'll think about getting one too.

x2!!!

I just finished filling my 90 & it took days since my water source is ~ 30 ft from the tank so I couldn't just shove the RODI line into the tank & let it go

 

[redfishbluefish]

George and Ryan, here’s the story. I’ve always known that I’ve had low water pressure. We considered a lawn sprinkler system a number of years ago, and the guy said we only had thirty-something pounds of pressure, and would have to put in multiple zones for it all to work correctly.

So years later, I’m now making RO/DI water with low water pressure. All was well in the warmer months, where I was able to make five gallons of good water in about 2 hours and 15 minutes. The problems came when the water temperature got cold. The water production slowed down to maybe four or so hours to make that same five gallons of water. To compensate, I started mixing hot and cold water to get the temperature up into the 70’s. Before you bark at me telling me I can’t do that…..I’ve read the same stories. However, for the life of me I don’t know why heated water would be any different from the cold water, maybe with the exception of a smidge of zinc from the anode in the water heater.

So the reason I got the pump was to stop using heated water during the colder months. I was looking to get back to about two hours and 15 to make my five gallons. Sure enough I’m able to make that five gallons with very cold water in a little over two hours. I no longer run hot and cold water. I also can’t wait till next summer where I’m hoping the production is even better.

 

[jgraz]

Paul
You should be able to adjust the pressure on that pump to make the water faster. Before the pump I was making about 5 gal every 3 or more hours. That was with warmed water. With the pump I completely fill 5 gal containers in just over an hour. I have my pressure Guatemala placed right before the membrane. It usually reads 88psi going in. That may change from time to time depending on my total pressure coming from the faucet.

 

[Tazmaniancowboy]

Adding to what Paul just posted, I'm not sure if you are aware that the membranes are designed to be used under pressure and are more efficient and will actually take more tds out making your Di work less

Having low pressure I would highly recommend a booster pump guys.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[jgraz]

Paul
You should be able to adjust the pressure on that pump to make the water faster. Before the pump I was making about 5 gal every 3 or more hours. That was with warmed water. With the pump I completely fill 5 gal containers in just over an hour. I have my pressure Guatemala placed right before the membrane. It usually reads 88psi going in. That may change from time to time depending on my total pressure coming from the faucet.

Ok I have no idea how that auto corrected to Guatemala but what I ment to say was, I have my pressure gauge placed right before my membrane.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I don’t have a pressure gauge, so I’m flying blind. Maybe my next RO/DI project, where I’m considering adding another membrane to reduce my waste water volume, I might add in a pressure gauge. I’ve been on this “green” kick this past year or so, even though the financial analysis would probably poo-poo it.

 

[jgraz]

Well then boosting pressure would be a bad idea. I'm thinking about adding a second membrane also. The thoughts of making 10gal an hr is very appealing to me.