Myka's 69 SPS Tank 2015

[gobytron]

Originally Posted by Myka

So I sent some fair bit of mula via EMT to some random dude on Kijiji. I'm hoping to receive an ATB 840 protein skimmer in return.

I'm interested to see how it compares to the Bubble King that's in the aforementioned Royal Exclusiv bag. I imagine the ATB will end up being my backup skimmer. If the pump ever dies on the Bubble King, I'm probably too cheap to replace it.

You are one brave lady...

Though they say fortune favors the brave.

[duncangweller]

I'm definitely following this one. I sent an email to concept a couple of days ago for almost exactly the same tank.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by gobytron

You are one brave lady...

Though they say fortune favors the brave.

I hope so! There is a box waiting at FedEx for me to pick up, so I'm excited to see if there is an ATB skimmer in it!

Originally Posted by duncangweller

I'm definitely following this one. I sent an email to concept a couple of days ago for almost exactly the same tank.

Oh ya? Cool! Did you get your quote back yet? Did your order the black glass (rather than black acrylic) too? If so, be ready for sticker shock. The black glass option was more than the Starphire option. I almost pooed my pants, guffawed for a week, then I ordered it anyway. How does yours differ from mine?

[Myka]

So I got a FedEx box from aforementioned "random Kijiji guy". There better not be a Dell in there!


I opened the box, and found this inside:




It is an Austrian-made (not US version) ATB 840 Econo Small with Eheim 1260 pump. Compared to the skimmer inside the Royal Exclusiv bag, this ATB doesn't look very impressive - though I can see the design is smart. The very large bubble plate and smooth skimmer body all the way up to the top of the skimmer appears as though is should provide as non-turbulent flow as possible, so this is promising. This is the first ATB skimmer I've ever seen in person and I'm interested to see how it performs as some people claim it rivals the Royal Exclusiv skimmers.

The sump on my 50-gallon tank isn't big enough to accommodate the ATB, so it's having a vinegar bath right now. Maybe I'll haul it down to the shop and put it in one of the FO tanks and see what it does.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Myka

it's having a vinegar bath right now.

You'd think the seller could have done that

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

You'd think the seller could have done that

I knew someone would say that. I'm going to give any "new to me" submersible piece of equipment a vinegar bath because I'm paranoid of contaminants, so it's really no skin off my teeth.

[Myka]

New toy for the 69...





The ATB sure comes apart nicely for cleaning!




Here are a few critters that will be making the transfer into the 69...

[Myka]

I made a few modifications and decisions to the final design of the tank. The order is in now, so no going back!

- 3 side low-iron PPG Starphire glass
- trimless
- the 3 bulkheads are grouped in the center of the overflow now rather than the two ends, and decided to have the return drilled for 3/4".

So far, I'm still happy with my sump V3.1 design, but haven't had the time to figure out measurements for the glass. It looks like life has settled down a bit now (I hope!) so I plan to get this ordered up this week and work on the sump this weekend.

I am building new kitchen cabinets for the house this year. The lower kitchen cabinets will be low-gloss slate grey (uppers are gloss white), and I'm building the tank cabinet to match, and will add a drink ledge for beer made of rough sawn walnut to match the flooring.

[gregzz4]

Toys are always kool

[Scythanith]

Haahaa I thought you would have avoided GHL like the plague... Didn't get enough of it yet eh?!

This is a quote from Dave on RC. It made me laugh out loud when I read it.

"Scott, you are the only person I recall ever say anything positive about the Profilux or trying to program it. Glad you have it covered."

Glad the tank's in the works now!