Empire’s Elos 120xl build

[Empire]

Here are more pictures of the interior of the stand. Still need to figure out what to do with all these ballasts! Suggestions?

 

[Empire]

Picked up an ATO reservoir yesterday, didn’t mount my ballasts, and took a first pass at aqua scaping.

I think I over stacked the right column. Going to take another pass today.

 

[Empire]

Alright finally done with scaping!

 

[Empire]

I can’t get the overflow to be close to silent unless I have it dialed down more than half way. I tried the “s method” for the drain pipe but that surprisingly made the sound worse ‍. The overflow is pretty impressive - I was able to run my L2 on 70% (max) and the overflow kept up.

Back to the noise and the “s method”. Bear with me here - I’m a numbers guy - when I have the overflow wide open and the return on 70%, the tank is very noisy. However, if I shove my drain into the sump so that it hits the bottom and curves up, the overflow sound output drastically decreases - it’s less noticeable compared to my pump at 15% and the overflow at 80%. Downside here is that Splashing has increased in my sump I could probably trim my return pipe which should help with splashing, or seal up one of my sump inputs so that splashing doesn’t leave the input chamber.

I’m going to bother Francois again tomorrow but wanted to see if y’all have any advice? The L2 is probably overkill but it’s too late / expensive now to change out - I’m committed to figuring this out!!

 

[Empire]

Well if anyone is actually reading this, encountered a new issue today. My L2 stopped working. Power supply has a blue LED. Controller won’t power on. Not sure what to do. Any idea?

 

[S.Pepper]

Where are you now with the build? Did u figure out what was wrong with the L2?

 

[Empire]

Where are you now with the build? Did u figure out what was wrong with the L2?

hey! Thanks for asking. L2 controller died. Ecotech sent me a new one. Tanks progressing with some life. redid my plumbing to incorporate reactors, added my ATS - waiting for it to actually grow some life, added 5 benggai, 6 line wrasse who I need to get out, a copperband that is my new favorite fish, and a pair of orange storms.

Been on a collecting spree by adding some torches and zoas. Just added a few pieces of sps - poc, birdsnest, and a monti. Going to pause a little for now and let the tank mature as I just had a diatom outbreak.

 

[S.Pepper]

Great! I have heard that about 6 line wrasse's on more than one occasion. Thanks for responding and continued gl.

 

[Empire]

Few updates. Battling low pH. Just got a co2 scrubber so will install that tomorrow.

copperband didn’t make it. Added a potters and 2 helfrichi firefish. Potters has been a model citizen for about 2 months now. Got Dino around 2/14 and beat it with an UV sterilizer. Will add some pictures tomorrow.

 

[Kjgaeta]

Looking forward to the pictures!

 

[Empire]

I'm so defeated. I cannot get the tank to be quiet. I've tried everything. My only other option is to get a ball valve on the drain but my current sump won't allow me to get the right sized ball valve into the sump without major stress on the flex tube - meaning, the water pressure shoots back out of ball valve in the input size.

I'm thinking about ditching my ATS and getting one of those trigger sumps with the roller mat, however, my drain is 1.5" and the drain on the trigger sump (and most sumps i've come across) is 1". Any ideas?

 

[Albertan22]

How is the overflow plumbed? Is it a durso standpipe?

 

[Albertan22]

I’m having a difficult time visualizing your plumbing. Do you have any pics of the finished product? If you’re going to try a new sump you could just reduce your drain line size. It’s not the best option but a possibility. Odds are you would have the same issues though, it sounds to me like your problem is in the plumbing rather than the sump itself. That or maybe your flow is just too much.

 

[Empire]

How would i reduce my drain line size if I am running flex tube (as per elos)? I'd hate to change out the bulkhead.

Plumbing is pretty straight foward - see picture below

 

[Empire]

Follow the gray into the first chamber. Problem is the filter sock holder blocks any chance of getting a ball valve placed vertically into the drain so right now it’s resting on the filter sock insert.

 

[Albertan22]

How would i reduce my drain line size if I am running flex tube (as per elos)? I'd hate to change out the bulkhead.

Plumbing is pretty straight foward - see picture below

I’ve never run flex tube so take whatever I say with a grain of salt. Can you build hard PVC at the bulkhead that you could connect your flex tube to? Maybe a piece of 1 inch pipe into a slip bulkhead in the sump, other end to a 1inch to 1 1/2 inch reducer bushing then to a threaded fitting or however you connect your flex tube.

Regarding your current setup, can you shorten the flex tube at all to make a straight run where you could install a ball valve?

 

[Empire]

I could - but are you saying have it drain into a barb which goes into the ball valve?

 

[Empire]

Some pictures. Social distancing forced me to buy a new sump so that’s my new project!

 

[Empire]

Update - stripped my nutrients twice. Lost a chunk of my high end sps - blue devil, nice rack mezcal, cherry bomb, fhc fireberry. almost gave up.

then I stopped looking at my tank and now things are rebounding! Learned the hard way to rely on my refugium and skimmer to handle my filtration. I’m done with phosban!!

 

[Empire]

Hello! Well, the tank is looking way better now. I have an acoetl infestation. I’m using flatworm stop and coral booster. The corals love it. The infestation dropped but still see the worms. Added a 6’line wrasse to see if it will help. Here are some pictures.