New 230
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: DIY
Forum Description: Do it Yourself
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34666
Printed Date: August 01 2026 at 1:33pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: New 230
Posted By: Chevmaro
Subject: New 230
Date Posted: August 11 2009 at 2:08am
|
So im setting up my 230. Its looking great so far. I got water in it tonight. I have a question though. It appears my floor is not perfectly level. The water in the back of the tank is about 1/2 inch lower then in the front of the tank. Is this going to cause any problems down the road? Another thing. I have this Iwaki 100 RLT pump is there any way to quiet it down some? It sounds like im running a jacuzzi in my living room. |
Replies:
Posted By: chk4tix
Date Posted: August 11 2009 at 2:18am
|
My 120 was a little off level in my old house, never seemed to cause a problem for the 2 years I had it running. I am still using the same tank in my new place and it doesn't have any problems that I have found. As far as the Iwaki goes, they are pretty noisy pumps, for mine I placed a small rubber pad (kind of like a mouse pad but thicker) under the foot of it and it quieted down a bit. However, the fan on those pumps still makes a good bit of noise. Also if the main shaft is going out, they can squeal pretty darn loudly as well.
------------- Original Crappy Reef Club Member #2 |
Posted By: Chevmaro
Date Posted: August 11 2009 at 2:39am
| I dont hear a squill and the pump seems to run strong. ill try placing something underneath it. |
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: August 11 2009 at 9:20am
You can level your stand with shims to compensate for an uneven floor... You would need a prybar to carefully place under one of the back corners your stand and slowly lift up to raise that corner. Place a bubble level on the top of the tank. Lift until the level is... level... then place a shim or 2 under the stand, next to the prybar. When you remove the prybar the shim will hold the stand level. Repeat the process for the other back corner.
Works best if you have a 2nd person to help out watching the bubble level and placing the shims for you.
My own 225 is off level by 3/16" side to side (right to left)... I have not attempted to level it because IMO 3/16" is not enough difference to warrant a correction. If it was 1/2" I'm not so sure I would leave it as is - I might look into correcting the condition if it was that much of a difference.
------------- - My Current Tank: 50g Starfire Cube Reef * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Chevmaro wrote:Posted By: Shane H
Date Posted: August 11 2009 at 9:36am
|
Many places will have this problem. Cedar shims work great and should be installed before the tank is placed on the stand. Since you are already wet, I would follow Bob's advice and carefully level the tank as instructed.
Although it will likely not be a problem, it will certainly look better if the water level is consistent.
Good luck!
|
Posted By: Chevmaro
Date Posted: August 11 2009 at 11:31am
|
The look of the tank does not bother me. I didnt even notice it until I used the tape measure on all four corners. Side to side it is level and with the difference front to back it wont be seen with the canopy on. If it is just a visual defect im not going to shim it. I just wanted to make sure my tank wont come crashing down.
How about this pump? It is so loud. I live in a townhome and im sure my neighbors are not happy with the noise. Is there a different pump I can try? Maybe sell this one and get one that is quieter? I do like the power of this pump though it has alot of flow.
|
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: August 11 2009 at 11:47am
|
One other thing you may want to consider is that if the back is higher than the front it may have implications for your overflow(s) - assuming you have the standards overflow(s) in the back of your tank.
How far below the waterline currently are your overflow teeth openings? ------------- - My Current Tank: 50g Starfire Cube Reef * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: Chevmaro
Date Posted: August 11 2009 at 2:14pm
| Its up and running now. The overflows dont seem to be a problem. The water level looks good. Both the front and back of the tank water level is above the black rim at the top so you cant even tell it is uneven. |
Posted By: snoyce
Date Posted: August 11 2009 at 2:18pm
|
Do you have a flexable pvc, or tubing comming in and out of the pump, if you are all hard plumbed with PVC you will have more vibration noise in the system, other than using flexable material to lessing the vibration and a good pad under it I don't think you can do much more to quite it down.
If you want a pump in that catagory that is close to silent try a reefflo
or if you really want silent and have money to burn a red dragon ------------- Scott Noyce 90G reef ready AGA display basment 20G sump, 29G fuge 4x54 watt T5 retro SLR Octopus NW150 |
Posted By: Chevmaro
Date Posted: August 11 2009 at 3:23pm
| Its half hard line on the return. About 15 inches of soft line goes into the bulkhead on the tank. There is a small hard line piece where I plumbed in a valve and a T fitting for the soft lines. Coming from the sump it is all hard line which I knew would be bad because I have to cut it if I ever remove the pump. Maybe this is causing the vibration noise? I think I'll cut it tonight and make a good portion of it soft line to see if that helps. Is a 100RLT too big for this tank? It flows 2000 GPH that seems like alot to me. I always thought 5x tank cycle per hour was enough. |
Posted By: chk4tix
Date Posted: August 11 2009 at 5:00pm
|
I personally think the 100RLT is over kill for that tank, but everyone on here will have a different opinion. I do think you can get a pump with that flow rate, which will use up less energy and be quieter while running. The 100RLT is a great pump especially if you have a major head issue you have to overcome. The 100RLT has a max head of 39ft, but if you are just running it from under your tank's stand, it is way overkill. I use to run one for getting water from my basement frag tank, up stairs to the main tank with a 30ft run of pipe and a little over 22ft head. With this pump I ran all of my systems off of it, but later switched to a 70RLT to return water to the main display and a mag 7 for the return for the frag tank. The main purpose for this switch was to save electricity compared to running the 100RLT by itself. ------------- Original Crappy Reef Club Member #2 |
Posted By: Chevmaro
Date Posted: August 12 2009 at 2:54pm
|
|
Posted By: Chevmaro
Date Posted: August 12 2009 at 2:56pm
| When I got this tank I didnt imagine it would be this much work. I have been working my but off for the last week and I am very close. See the pic above let me know what you think. |
Posted By: chk4tix
Date Posted: August 12 2009 at 3:14pm
|
That is looking great. Cant wait to see it stocked with corals. Nice job so far, keep it up ------------- Original Crappy Reef Club Member #2 |
Posted By: Chevmaro
Date Posted: August 12 2009 at 4:01pm
|
My AC went out in my house a few weeks ago. It wiped out my 90. Every coral in it was dead. I was so sad. I decided to take a break from corals for a little while. Im gonna just enjoy my fish. I want to add in a few triggers, puffer, eel. Im gonna enjoy FOWLR for a while. |
Posted By: faviasteve
Date Posted: August 13 2009 at 1:14pm
|
If the Iwaki noise is mostly fan noise, the cooling fan can be taken off. You can replace the fan with a quieter "computer" fan that is mounted to the back of the pump (this takes some creativity but can be done) and has its own power cord.
If a bearing is going out, the motor will usually be hotter than normal and there will be some loss of power. I'm replacing the bearings on a 100 RLT today and it's a much more technical process than just replacing fans. ------------- Steve Burton Logan, Utah |
Posted By: Chevmaro
Date Posted: August 25 2009 at 10:58am
| I have never had an Iwaki pump before so I dont know how loud and how hot they normally run. And being as I got this one used with the tank the condition of the pump is really uknown. I do know it pumps water and is strong. But I dont want to take any chances. I thought about buying a new pump but I want to know if there is some place I can take this existing pump and have it rebuilt. I am redoing all my plumbing this weekend. I dont like the way it turned out. So now would be the perfect time to have the pump gone through. Can you guys recommend anyone to rebuild this pump? |
Posted By: faviasteve
Date Posted: August 25 2009 at 12:59pm
|
They normally run warmer than you'd expect but not super hot. Hot enough it's uncomfortable to hold your hand on the hottest part of the motor for 5-10 seconds but it doens't burn you. If it feels like it's burning your hand after 3 seconds it's running too hot. Sometimes the impeller and wet surfaces get covered with bacterial slime or hard water deposits, which needs to be cleaned off. Also check for any foreign material that's partially clogging the inlet. Either of these can put put more stress on the motor and make it run hot.
What type of noise are you hearing- fan noise (wind noise), vibration noise or internal motor noise like whining or grinding?
For fan noise but pump is running well otherwise- remove fan and replace it with a quiet fan or move it farther away from the aquarium so you can't hear it. I realize this might not be an option.
For vibration noise, put a dense piece of rubber or an old mouse pad under the foot of the pump. I sometimes put a piece of wood under the rubber and then attach the pump to the wood with screws. Using flexible PVC helps the vibration not travel into the pipes as much.
For internal whining or grinding or other strange noises, replace the bearings. ------------- Steve Burton Logan, Utah |
Posted By: Chevmaro
Date Posted: August 26 2009 at 1:07am
| Maybe im ok then. Its hot like a cup of cofee. I think most my noise is vibration noise and fan noise that im not used too. Im redoing my plumbing this weekend I think I can get rid of the vibration with your suggestions and maybe ill replace the fan. |
Posted By: Chevmaro
Date Posted: September 17 2009 at 6:20pm
Posted By: tileman
Date Posted: September 17 2009 at 6:22pm
|
I dont see anything.
------------- 335G Reef TOTM. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2015/2/aquarium ReefKeepers TOTM Feb. 2012 http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index....k-of-the-month & |
Posted By: Chevmaro
Date Posted: September 17 2009 at 6:26pm
I added some new livestock to the tank. Tell me what you think.       I put a snowflake eel in there but he was small and became expensive fish food for the lion.
|