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25-11-2017, 02:49 PM #1
Ready to fit my new Solum 25 drum
Had this drum sitting in the garage for nearly a month now while i made a tank for my mature k1.
Made from 18mm hardwood ply three coats of 450 mat fiberglass and two of top coat held together with 60 three inch screws and angle brackets on all corners so it isnt going anywhere.
Enjoyed doing it all and hopefully got all the heights correct before i disconnect the nexus 300 and put these in its place which i will hopefully be doing on Monday,got everything i hope rubber boots pipework etc just my luck something will go wrong.Attachment 22352Attachment 22353Attachment 22354Attachment 22355Attachment 22356Attachment 22357Attachment 22358Attachment 22359Attachment 22360
Looking forward to the Solum 25 Dracodrum doing its job,will put more pics up when up and running.
A nexus 300 will be up for sale soon.
John
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25-11-2017, 07:51 PM #2
looking good, whats the volume ?
I have to admit, the mind boggles what some folk pay for a chamber to put k1 in, talking about hundreds of pounds as if its cheap.!
All it is, is an aerated chamber, with a little imagination and a bit of work you can make something just as good for peanuts in comparison.
David
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25-11-2017, 07:53 PM #3
- Join Date
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You rock at DIY ! If i tried that then the wood would splinter when the first screw went in, then i'd get annoyed and smash it up.
Much like my skimmer. I converted mine to 4 inch quite well by my standards. I carefully cut receses into the skimmer. Then carefully glued stainless steel bars into the recesses to make a skimmer guard. I made sure they were flush, so that the face plate would sit against the skimmer still.
Yet for whatever reason, no matter how many times i tried, the face plate wouldn't screw down. I was covered in the black stuff and after a good 45 minutes of trying, my legs cramping and my back aching from cramping my giraffesque legs into a tiny gap while leaning over the pond wall at the same time, my body contorted in multiple painful directions, i got so vexed i threw the skimmer at the fence. It fell down next to one of the filters and i went inside in a huff.
The skimmer remains next to the filter....because due to all the black stuff all over it, it's now glued to the side of the filter.
Much love for your DIY moving bed box mate. Top marks. I was going to suggest making those grooves in the 4 inch pipe a bit wider but if its after your drum then nothing should trap in there.
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25-11-2017, 08:29 PM #4
Thanks for the replies,David i think it is 80gals not the biggest but i havnt the room but it wasnt that cheap when you tot up all the bits,and yes really it is just a box but i enjoy doing it all the time now retired.
Thanks Andre,the grooves are fine any bigger and the k1 will be a problem.John
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26-11-2017, 07:57 AM #5
John1, I will be watching this thread carefully as I have just got the Solum 16, and I am scratching my head a bit about levels. Why did you not have the drum feeding the nexus, was it just down to space. I only ask as I am planning to have my drum feeding my nexus 220?
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john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
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26-11-2017, 07:58 AM #6
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26-11-2017, 09:58 AM #7
Gary it was really down to space as i have a manhole in the garage next to it all and i cant cover that,connecting to the nexus would have been a lot easier and you could use the vortex part as a bio,there are some good deals on the Solums at the moment i intended going for the 16 but i got a good deal on the 25.
Thanks Fred,hopefully all done tomorrow be an all day job disconnecting nexus and dragging it out of the garage and connecting all the new up,only hope all my calculations are right must have checked them 100 times.John
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26-11-2017, 02:42 PM #8
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26-11-2017, 04:56 PM #9
John, after reading the Solum installation manual, I am a bit puzzled as to how to figure out the water level in the moving bed tank (or nexus is my case) in relation to the drum? Any advice or pointers?
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26-11-2017, 06:45 PM #10
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26-11-2017, 08:01 PM #11
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john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
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26-11-2017, 08:58 PM #12
Gary,i havnt got the instructions here but the top of the drum has to be 16cms or whatever it says higher than the top of the nexus or media tank nothing to do with water levels.I was a bit confused myself and spoke to Tony who confirmed it,so the drum has to be scaffolded up a fair bit!!!
On checking once again and for the last time before the fit tomorrow i think i have made a blunder,i have done the water level to midway up the waste shute as instructed but i have done it static water and it should be running water level,anyway i am leaving it and hopefully i will be able to adjust it with the probe if not it means cutting a bit off four 4ins legs,so read it well Gary.
Dave,i had hoped to get 200ltrs in as that is what i have but if not i will get what i can in.John
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27-11-2017, 07:23 AM #13
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john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
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27-11-2017, 07:42 AM #14
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27-11-2017, 07:59 AM #15
yeah gary when my draco got installed. i ended up buying new pumps. lost all my hair. haha. thought my original pumps where to powerful. as nexus just emptied real fast.so bought a new pump. it took two days to work out the problem.
what it was. the mesh had a protection coat on it. so once blasted with pressure washer. it started to work ok. apparently the last part of mesh has protection on it. for when they transport the rolls of mesh.
did me a favour though as the new pump was less cost to run. so it has probably paid for its self now. so good luck when you get round to it. at least john will be there for advice. all the best fred
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27-11-2017, 04:59 PM #16
Well i havnt finished the install yet,had enough for today i know if i carry on i will make mistakes.
Everything is connected up just to finish one pump,had to move the interior tap as i didnt like where it was so that set me back a bit luckily i had all the bits,so it will be finished tomorrow.
Got a right thirst on,so will have to rectify that now,will take some pics tomorrow.John
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28-11-2017, 05:35 PM #17
Attachment 22386Attachment 22387Attachment 22388
All up and running ok now,first wash was 15mins inbetween now on 19mins is that ok?
Gary,apparently the static water level should be nearly overflowing the waste but when running it should be about half way up the waste,my water is a bit low in the drum but if i put more in the pond it will overflow seems to be working ok though.
Only have one pump pulling at the moment as thats what i normally have in the winter,so come spring i will use larger pipe on the skimmer and get that going.
If you notice i put a T on the waste so that i can look down and see what crap im getting rid of,only because i had one spare really.John
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28-11-2017, 07:33 PM #18
John, it's all starting to look good now. As regards to wash cycles, I believe depending on the clarity of your water, you really need to let it run its course for a couple of days to settle itself down, before starting to take much notice of the time between cycles.
Is the drum on setting 1 on duration?
Can you gauge how much water is used each flush?
Have you a picture of what the drum is sat on, to sit at the right level.
Moving bed is looking good, you must be happy with that.
Is there any words of warning, or do's and don't ?
Reward yourself with a couple of cold ones tonight.
Keep the info and pics coming pls.
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28-11-2017, 07:55 PM #19
Thanks Gary,yes its set on duration 1 and it doesnt seem to be on long for a wash i thought it would be going like the clappers.
Its basically sat on a frame Gary,i bought a 4"x4" tanalised fence post for the corners,if you look closely at the drum as it has a curved bottom it stands on its own corners,so i used the post for the corners then used 3"x1" to join the corners together its very strong,i also made a small lip round the top to stop the drum sliding off in case of any accidents.
Only thing i can advise is use rubber boots,e/a are quite cheap believe it or not and free del over £25,to join to your nexus you are going to do an S shape pipe run a few bends needed.
I got my bends on ebay can give you the link used 4ins pushfit.
You will be fine Gary,plan it well and i will help if you need it.John
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28-11-2017, 08:12 PM #20
John,
Much appreciated for the info and the offer of advice. Everything is easy once you have done it.
Yes I planned to use rubber boots for connecting, for when.......oh no I mean just in case I make a mistake!
Cheers
Gary
Aquaforte Dm vario 20000 pumps
Still for sale. Postage available for cost Sent from my SM-S901B using Tapatalk