-
******* To read about the changes to the marketplace click here
Clarisea SK-5000 holy crap that's a lot of parts
- Thread starter mvallee
- Start date
+1 I love to tinker
OP
OP
mvallee
Non-member
well the assembly was not terrible, a little tedious but they have a good assembly video on their website. The install and plumbing will be the next step and that is going to stink.
I have to move my skimmer into the refugium section, cutting back on the fuge space, a glass panels will need to be removed to get the plumbing to where this will be sitting and then the fun part of plumbing it in, not my strong suit, especially with RedSea's non standard plumbing fittings
Probably going to tackle the actual install tomorrow
I have to move my skimmer into the refugium section, cutting back on the fuge space, a glass panels will need to be removed to get the plumbing to where this will be sitting and then the fun part of plumbing it in, not my strong suit, especially with RedSea's non standard plumbing fittings
Probably going to tackle the actual install tomorrow
OP
OP
mvallee
Non-member
luckily went well. We'll see how the plumbing goes 
OP
OP
mvallee
Non-member
Still have not gotten this plumbed in, the non standard RedSea reefer plumbing has me stumped and after spending an hour in Lowes I think I might have figured out how to get the 32mm down pipe connected to the 1" plumbing of the clarisea.
This is a 1" to 1" coupler but it tightens down on the 32mm plumbing very well so I could cut the downpipe way back and place this above the water line. then coming out would be a piece of 1" PVC that I could do with as I need.
Anyone use these in their SW reef tanks, thoughts concerns?
My concern is the impact saltwater would have on the rubber inside and if it would breakdown over time causing issues in the tank. Although it would be out of the water, it would be very close and when I turn off the return pump the sump would fill to about halfway up this coupler.
I do like the idea of this because it would make a union that I can disconnect as needed to clean unit and change out paper.
This is a 1" to 1" coupler but it tightens down on the 32mm plumbing very well so I could cut the downpipe way back and place this above the water line. then coming out would be a piece of 1" PVC that I could do with as I need.
Anyone use these in their SW reef tanks, thoughts concerns?
My concern is the impact saltwater would have on the rubber inside and if it would breakdown over time causing issues in the tank. Although it would be out of the water, it would be very close and when I turn off the return pump the sump would fill to about halfway up this coupler.
I do like the idea of this because it would make a union that I can disconnect as needed to clean unit and change out paper.
BRS sells adaptors: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/metric-to-standard-pvc-adapters.html
OP
OP
mvallee
Non-member
After some rearranging in the sump and removal of a baffle I have it mounted and plumbed in.
It is bigger than I thought and the only way I could make it work was hanging it on the front but it works.
I did use the union pictured above but will probably redo it with the adapters @BiGGiePauls33 mentioned above.
Here are a few pics. Putting pics of your sump up feels a bit like airing your dirty laundry but we all have them
Plumbing pic
Probably going to have to move the skimmer over a bit and not too sure I like it in the refugium part of the sump, might need to create a glass partition for it, we'll see if the snails and Bristle worms stay out.
Other than the amount of assembly this feels like a good piece of kit, motor is very heavy, aesthetically pleasing and a seemingly well thought out design, we'll see how often I have to change out rolls before I get too excited but way better than nothing which is what I had as I took the sock section out a long time ago and way better than washing socks.
You know what they say about sometimes it's just the simple things, well this one thing, orienting the plug transformer so it plugs in side by side into my DJ switch with everything else made my day. I hate those sideways plugs so much.
From here time will tell if the expense and work was worth it but so far I am pleased.
time to crack a beer and do a water change now
It is bigger than I thought and the only way I could make it work was hanging it on the front but it works.
I did use the union pictured above but will probably redo it with the adapters @BiGGiePauls33 mentioned above.
Here are a few pics. Putting pics of your sump up feels a bit like airing your dirty laundry but we all have them
Plumbing pic
Probably going to have to move the skimmer over a bit and not too sure I like it in the refugium part of the sump, might need to create a glass partition for it, we'll see if the snails and Bristle worms stay out.
Other than the amount of assembly this feels like a good piece of kit, motor is very heavy, aesthetically pleasing and a seemingly well thought out design, we'll see how often I have to change out rolls before I get too excited but way better than nothing which is what I had as I took the sock section out a long time ago and way better than washing socks.
You know what they say about sometimes it's just the simple things, well this one thing, orienting the plug transformer so it plugs in side by side into my DJ switch with everything else made my day. I hate those sideways plugs so much.
From here time will tell if the expense and work was worth it but so far I am pleased.
time to crack a beer and do a water change now
Looks good and who cares what the sump looks like. It's the heartbeat of the system, lol.
OP
OP
mvallee
Non-member
Quick video, I did my normal water change and stirred the sand bed up a bit to see how this piece of equipment would work. It is pretty neat how it works, Raw water comes in the middle of the unit and as the filter media gets dirty the level rises setting off a float switch to advance the paper, as you can see it advances about a 1/4" every time. when the tank was real murky it was going off every 20 seconds, now an hour later every 90 seconds or so and the tank is clearing nicely.
When I first switched everything on after the water change
50 minutes later
and here is the video of it working
When I first switched everything on after the water change
50 minutes later
and here is the video of it working
Blader1234
I want a bigger tank.
Hows the smell? Seams like it would smell like low tide all the time. I love the concept though.
OP
OP
mvallee
Non-member
haven't noticed anything yet, only been a couple hours though but I could see where it might. Probably no worse than skimmer but we'll see
OP
OP
mvallee
Non-member
after almost a week I have not noticed any offensive smells, the material is like a nylon and dries almost as soon as it rolls up and out of the water. The first day when I really stirred up the substrate there was a slight smell like when you first open the skimmer but since then nothing.
Blader1234
I want a bigger tank.
Nice
OP
OP
mvallee
Non-member
One more observation
I marked the filter material with a marker just as it came off the spool and measured how long it took to get to the take-up roll which is about 24" of travel. This took 27 hours. I only did it the one time so not sure it would be like that everyday but I don't see why not.
So with that, each new $34 roll being 137 feet long should last 76 days. not bad for not having to deal with socks
I marked the filter material with a marker just as it came off the spool and measured how long it took to get to the take-up roll which is about 24" of travel. This took 27 hours. I only did it the one time so not sure it would be like that everyday but I don't see why not.
So with that, each new $34 roll being 137 feet long should last 76 days. not bad for not having to deal with socks
OP
OP
mvallee
Non-member
Quick update, 6 weeks in and still on my first roll of filter material. Much better than I was expecting and the roll that came with it is not as big as the one you purchase separately. I expect to get 2 months from a replacement roll which would make it about $17 a month to not have to deal with filter socks, good deal!
I find the water to be clearer as I was running sockless before and no detritus buildup in the sump plus front glass on DT is much cleaner for longer.
I find the water to be clearer as I was running sockless before and no detritus buildup in the sump plus front glass on DT is much cleaner for longer.
Similar threads
