Upgrading ASM G1-x

[05TurboS2K]

OK...question.

I have a 55gal w/ a 20 gal refuge and 30 gal sump.

I'm using a ASM G-1.

I have a fairly heavy load going and I'm thinking my skimmer isn't keeping up well enough.

Can I do some mods? Or am I better off just upgrading the pump? Or should I do both? I eventually in a year or so plan to get a 150gal tank.

-Greg

[Iraf]

Originally Posted by 05TurboS2K

OK...question.

I have a 55gal w/ a 20 gal refuge and 30 gal sump.

I'm using a ASM G-1.

I have a fairly heavy load going and I'm thinking my skimmer isn't keeping up well enough.

Can I do some mods? Or am I better off just upgrading the pump? Or should I do both? I eventually in a year or so plan to get a 150gal tank.

-Greg

Do the meshwheel mod i believe it's called it helps alot from what I've read but I haven't personally done it.
You may just want to look into a bigger skimmer since your upgrading anyway though, the G3 would do great on a 150

[05TurboS2K]

I haven't done it. I understand its some kinda of mesh layer that goes....somewhere?

I don't see a D.I.Y. instructional link or anything.

I would certainly be willing to do this mod, Ive been trying to hunt for it the last 15 minutes or so. I also am looking at the gate mod but.... I see it only for the G1-X which is the same but w/ a better pump.

[Iraf]

it's some kind of mesh that gets put around or over the needlewheel in the pump, someone else might have a link to what it ends up looking like and how to do it

[05TurboS2K]

hmm interesting. Anyone have a link to a kit with some pictures?

I guess the idea is that the impeller should have been made with far more needles yet smaller in size. So this mesh ends up taking the place of the needles to create more fine bubbles?

Seems to make sense. It's surprising how far behind some of this technology is for the price. I could think of some other ways of accomplishing this same task if I am correct about the theory of the mesh. I would be interested in seeing some home mods done. I think I may experiment later with some ideas.

-Greg

[doog]

i'm running a 75 system with 20 gal sump on an ASM G-1. It pulls a good puddle of junk daily, and nitrates are 0, despite lots of pooping animals (and microbes, i imagine).

the asm people rate their pumps as such: g-1 100 gal, g-1x 150, g2 200, g3 250.

why would you need a skimmer over-rated for a tank system, especially if you're keeping your chemistry in line? (this is a real question, not meant to be as chastising as it may sound)

underlying this question is a larger one i've been thinking about:

is there a formula to tell you how much skimmate you should pull in a period of time (eg 100 ml/day for "moderate", 150 ml/day for "heavy skimming")? This would have to take into account system volume and bioload, as well as other factors. Given this, should we be able to create such a formula so you can tell if you're doing a good job of skimming?

just wondering...

doog

[05TurboS2K]

Much agree with all of that. However I've heard that the ratings are given assuming the tank is VERY lightly stocked, so I never know how much to overshoot that by but I've been told to be 33%-50% above the "max recommended" with an average stock. I'd love to see a formula given for that though (ml per day of skim), I've yet to see one. I've about 10 fish and I'm lightly stocked on coral. I don't overfeed and I do quite well keeping the chemistry in check for the most part. The only thing that is on the constant climb is the nitrates. I feed sparingly and over a few minutes time period to avoid uneaten food due to the fish not eating it before it ends up stuck under some rocks. I do have a lot of little caves and nooks where things can get stuck. Perhaps that's part of my problem. My new setup I'll run some PVC underneath my rock to help with that but for now it's not a project I can start. I have a refugium with a flood light on it as a few people recommended..... I'm thinking there could be a better lighting source for that, perhaps that'd make a big difference right there?

-Greg