IM 100 EXT with control board build

[TeeSquared1214]

I now have the return set to 70% to minimize the humming sound of the return pump while maintaining a completely silent flow thru the filter roller.
So happy with the way things turned out.

I've been wondering, but haven't fiddled with it enough at what percent the humming would stop. Went down to 80% and that seemed to do the trick. What did you end up replacing your flow nozzle with? Looks like an AI Orbit Cross-Flow?

 

[nickng]

I've been wondering, but haven't fiddled with it enough at what percent the humming would stop. Went down to 80% and that seemed to do the trick. What did you end up replacing your flow nozzle with? Looks like an AI Orbit Cross-Flow?

I would say around the 80% the humming from the octo varios 8 becomes minimal. At 70% totally silent, even sticking my head in the stand I don't hear it.

As for output nozzles, standard factory issue from Innovative marine. And for wavemakers I am using the Ecotech MP40 just to keep the wires out of the tank.

 

[Summitwynds2]

How do you like the VarioS 8? I just bought one, but having second thoughts. Thinking it might be overkill and that I should have gotten a VarioS 4. My tank is the IM 112INT with one 3/4" return. The VarioS has a 1" output or 3/4" barb output. I'll have to step the 8 down from a 1 1/4 to 3/4. I haven't gotten it wet yet, so I could exchange it.

 

[nickng]

How do you like the VarioS 8? I just bought one, but having second thoughts. Thinking it might be overkill and that I should have gotten a VarioS 4. My tank is the IM 112INT with one 3/4" return. The VarioS has a 1" output or 3/4" barb output. I'll have to step the 8 down from a 1 1/4 to 3/4. I haven't gotten it wet yet, so I could exchange it.

Hi, I like the varios8 a lot. In fact finally settled on running the pump at 45%. I can go higher and the overflow will still be silent. The reason for keeping the pump no more than 45% is because I’m using a 6 inch roller fleece filter and want to be able to use one roll for 2 months.
Another thing is noise, at 45% the varios8 is absolutely silent even with cabinet doors wide open, not even a hint of vibration or hum.
The other option that I considered was running 2 varios4 pumps ie one pump for each return pipe

 

[nickng]

How do you like the VarioS 8? I just bought one, but having second thoughts. Thinking it might be overkill and that I should have gotten a VarioS 4. My tank is the IM 112INT with one 3/4" return. The VarioS has a 1" output or 3/4" barb output. I'll have to step the 8 down from a 1 1/4 to 3/4. I haven't gotten it wet yet, so I could exchange it.

Also plan for an adjustable manifold in the return pipes for attaching a UV unit. Wish I added one before running the tank. Even better if Innovative marine included a manifold ready made.

 

[TTipsyDragon]

How were you able to fit it in there without any modification of the sump? Arent the filter cup holes to small for it to fit in there? I have the NUVO RFS 27 and would love to have a filter roller in but really don't want to dermal the sump and void the warranty.

 

[nickng]

How were you able to fit it in there without any modification of the sump? Arent the filter cup holes to small for it to fit in there? I have the NUVO RFS 27 and would love to have a filter roller in but really don't want to dermal the sump and void the warranty

Need to take out the acrylic piece that holds the filter cups. In the RFS39 it's just a rectangular plate with three 4inch holes for the filter socks. The fiji cube ARF20 drops straight into the rectangular opening. You need to make 2 acrylic extension pieces to adjust the height of the fleece rolls. That's the only mod. No need to drill/dremel or cut the original RFS39 sump. Reference post #31, #32 and #50 for the actual dimensions of the acrylic piece. In hindsight, I should have used HPDE instead of acrylic for the extensions, HPDE will not warp when exposed to moisture

 

[TTipsyDragon]

Need to take out the acrylic piece that holds the filter cups. In the RFS39 it's just a rectangular plate with three 4inch holes for the filter socks. The fiji cube ARF20 drops straight into the rectangular opening. You need to make 2 acrylic extension pieces to adjust the height of the fleece rolls. That's the only mod. No need to drill/dremel or cut the original RFS39 sump. Reference post #31, #32 and #50 for the actual dimensions of the acrylic piece. In hindsight, I should have used HPDE instead of acrylic for the extensions, HPDE will not warp when exposed to moisture

Any regrets with it? I have read lots of complaints about the roller its self should I wait for v2 of it? Why did you switch out the motor controller? I have a 3d printer and wondering if you have that model you drew up in cad, ill 3d model it and share it with everyone if I decided to do this mod.

 

[nickng]

Btw on average

Any regrets with it? I have read lots of complaints about the roller its self should I wait for v2 of it? Why did you switch out the motor controller? I have a 3d printer and wondering if you have that model you drew up in cad, ill 3d model it and share it with everyone if I decided to do this mod.

No problem with the roller. A single roll of fleece last me about 2 months. Or even 3 months+ if I put filter floss/sponge before the water reaches the fleece roller. I have one modification to try out, but really, I don't have much motivation to tinker since it's working well as is.

Did not switch out the controller in the end. It works ok. I was thinking of some way to get my apex controller to manually adjust the fleece to only advance a little every few hours so that I can maybe make the single roll of fleece last much longer than 2 months. I wish Fiji cube made the motor housing detachable so that it's easier to replace the motor when it wears out.

 

[TTipsyDragon]

Btw on average

No problem with the roller. A single roll of fleece last me about 2 months. Or even 3 months+ if I put filter floss/sponge before the water reaches the fleece roller. I have one modification to try out, but really, I don't have much motivation to tinker since it's working well as is.

Did not switch out the controller in the end. It works ok. I was thinking of some way to get my apex controller to manually adjust the fleece to only advance a little every few hours so that I can maybe make the single roll of fleece last much longer than 2 months. I wish Fiji cube made the motor housing detachable so that it's easier to replace the motor when it wears out.

Finally got mine in the mail and got it set up.i managed to just toss it in there and it's just balancing in there pretty firmly and working. I took the nice foam that came in the package to block off the sides to direct the flow better too. Now the only problem I have is, I can't find anywhere to buy replacement rolls. Do you have a place where you get them or know of another brand that fits and works in it?

 

[nickng]

Finally got mine in the mail and got it set up.i managed to just toss it in there and it's just balancing in there pretty firmly and working. I took the nice foam that came in the package to block off the sides to direct the flow better too. Now the only problem I have is, I can't find anywhere to buy replacement rolls. Do you have a place where you get them or know of another brand that fits and works in it?

Looks like another way to fit the filter. Interesting that the way the spindle is secured is different from mine. Is your filter the 2.0 version? I believe mine is the ver 1.5. As for replacement rolls I got a bunch from BRS when it was on discount. For some reason, one or two of the filter rolls only lasted about 3 weeks, while the rest last for a little more than two months. Since the rolls are exactly 6 inches wide, it’s possible the filter rolls for bubble magnus roller filter may fit.

 

[nickng]

Btw here’s another example of using the Fiji cube ARF20 in the RFS sump. Also someone on that tread mentioned that IM is coming up with a roller filter for the RFS sump in future. Sure hope so, I like the RFS sump with the large space reserved for refugium.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/r...tive-marine-100-ext-with-rfs-39-sump.1086008/

 

[TTipsyDragon]

Looks like another way to fit the filter. Interesting that the way the spindle is secured is different from mine. Is your filter the 2.0 version? I believe mine is the ver 1.5. As for replacement rolls I got a bunch from BRS when it was on discount. For some reason, one or two of the filter rolls only lasted about 3 weeks, while the rest last for a little more than two months. Since the rolls are exactly 6 inches wide, it’s possible the filter rolls for bubble magnus roller filter may fit.

Ya I bought the 1.5 but they sent me v2 which honestly seems cheaper build than 1.5. screws were all random sizes, no instructions, parts did not even line up like the picture, etc. The description also mentions a sensor and a float switch, however this version seems to only have a float switch and the cheaped out on the sensor. Does yours have a sensor other than the float switch? There also appears to be no way to adjust the float switches height and my float switch even fully submerged does not float which makes it so it doesn't automatically trigger a roll progression. Contacted Fiji but I'm guessing that's going to be weeks of waiting for a response. I might just make a 3d printed adjustable float switch mount so I can adjust its height to get it tuned in.

 

[nickng]

Ya I bought the 1.5 but they sent me v2 which honestly seems cheaper build than 1.5. screws were all random sizes, no instructions, parts did not even line up like the picture, etc. The description also mentions a sensor and a float switch, however this version seems to only have a float switch and the cheaped out on the sensor. Does yours have a sensor other than the float switch? There also appears to be no way to adjust the float switches height and my float switch even fully submerged does not float which makes it so it doesn't automatically trigger a roll progression. Contacted Fiji but I'm guessing that's going to be weeks of waiting for a response. I might just make a 3d printed adjustable float switch mount so I can adjust its height to get it tuned in.'

Mine came with only a float sensor. Also I inverted the plastic L bracket that holds the float switch so that it sits higher. I'm running 11 inches of water depth in the RFS sump and have no issues with the float switch so far.

 

[TTipsyDragon]

Mine came with only a float sensor. Also I inverted the plastic L bracket that holds the float switch so that it sits higher. I'm running 11 inches of water depth in the RFS sump and have no issues with the float switch so far.

Does yours completely submerged like this before even going up?

 

[nickng]

in my setup it’s touching the water or ever so slightly submerged at the lowest position and then it rises to trigger the filter to advance the fleece. Here’s a picture of the float position after it has triggered the filter and fallen back to the lowest position.

 

[TTipsyDragon]

In my case, the float sensor is just

in my setup it’s touching the water or ever so slightly submerged at the lowest position and then it rises to trigger the filter to advance the fleece. Here’s a picture of the float position after it has triggered the filter and fallen back to the lowest position.

So mine is wayyy shorter I think another cut cost

 

[nickng]

some updates regarding the Fiji cube ARF filter after ~ 7 months of use. During this time I changed out the fleece rolls 5 times Of these rolls, 3 of them lasted 2 months each and one of the rolls lasted only 16 days. I washed that one roll thoroughly (bleach and hot water cycle) reused it and again it lasted for only 18 days.
Somewhere I read that the fleece comes in either 75um or 20um specs.
Maybe one of the rolls I got was a 20um and the rest were 75um. I wish it was labeled as such. Another observation is that the roll that was used up quickly did not get as dark as the other rolls.
I see that clarisea also uses a 6inch wide fleece with 200 um spec. I will get a roll to test it out.

 

[nickng]

So mine is wayyy shorter I think another cut cost

It does look like the float switch is shorter. By the way I read on a different thread that Innovative Marine is developing a roller filter to fit the RFS sump. After all they made one for their AIO tanks

 

[TTipsyDragon]

some updates regarding the Fiji cube ARF filter after ~ 7 months of use. During this time I changed out the fleece rolls 5 times Of these rolls, 3 of them lasted 2 months each and one of the rolls lasted only 16 days. I washed that one roll thoroughly (bleach and hot water cycle) reused it and again it lasted for only 18 days.
Somewhere I read that the fleece comes in either 75um or 20um specs.
Maybe one of the rolls I got was a 20um and the rest were 75um. I wish it was labeled as such. Another observation is that the roll that was used up quickly did not get as dark as the other rolls.
I see that clarisea also uses a 6inch wide fleece with 200 um spec. I will get a roll to test it out.

I just ordered 3 of these and they seem to be the right size. Have not tried them out yet since my first roll is not used up yet. https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...il_item.4.30b0f19czVMUyt&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa