160g Peninsula...
After 3+ years of continuous operation, with no maintenance, my HammerHead pump began leaking.
I was alerted to this issue by a 'nagging' intermittent wet floor alarm (thanks to the floor sensor on my Neptune Apex). You'll notice the distinct lack of a bulkhead isolation valve on the pump inlet...there just was not space for one. So the build decision was that draining a 100g sump would be the approach to maintenance.
You can see the floor sensor hanging from the pump discharge valve.
What to do next...
Started the day by scrubbing the 100g water bowl for the cows, rinsing with bleach, fresh water.
Re-programmed a 150 watt heater, re-located the temp sensor from the sump to the tank, and locked the Wave pumps into 50% flow...shut down the return pump and began draining the sump...re-purposed the Varios-6 skimmer feed pump for the task.
Wire cutters for the tie-wraps, disconnecting unions, and in short order 'found' the leaky pump.
The first step of the build...install a new bulkhead with an isolation valve...the Varios line of pumps require regular maintenance to keep them running well.
A few hours later, likely more blue glue on me than the pipes, and it is all back together. Pumped the water back into the sump. Added about 8 gal of pre-mix salt water to cover water 'loss' for various reasons.
To maintain the Varios pump, disconnect both union nuts and slide to the right and out the gap by the chiller...
Overall journey, 6 months from the first alarm till the Various-8 was running in place of the Hammerhead.
Thoughts?
jdg
After 3+ years of continuous operation, with no maintenance, my HammerHead pump began leaking.
I was alerted to this issue by a 'nagging' intermittent wet floor alarm (thanks to the floor sensor on my Neptune Apex). You'll notice the distinct lack of a bulkhead isolation valve on the pump inlet...there just was not space for one. So the build decision was that draining a 100g sump would be the approach to maintenance.
You can see the floor sensor hanging from the pump discharge valve.
What to do next...
- How much flow is really going into the tank???
- Install a 1" Neptune flow meter ==> 760 gph.
- That's much lower than expected!
- Checked out many pumps
- Chose the Varios-8 as the Varios-6 pumps running on the skimmer have performed very well.
- 750 gph is the 10 ft head pressure for the Varios-8
- There is 5' vertical head between the top of the sump and the top of the tank.
- The Varios-8 consumes 85 watts as compared to the 265 watts which the Hammerhead is pulling.
- Started buying parts... BRS & Lowes... mixing 20g of fresh salt water. I'm optimistic that I'll not 'lose' much water.
Started the day by scrubbing the 100g water bowl for the cows, rinsing with bleach, fresh water.
Re-programmed a 150 watt heater, re-located the temp sensor from the sump to the tank, and locked the Wave pumps into 50% flow...shut down the return pump and began draining the sump...re-purposed the Varios-6 skimmer feed pump for the task.
Wire cutters for the tie-wraps, disconnecting unions, and in short order 'found' the leaky pump.
The first step of the build...install a new bulkhead with an isolation valve...the Varios line of pumps require regular maintenance to keep them running well.
A few hours later, likely more blue glue on me than the pipes, and it is all back together. Pumped the water back into the sump. Added about 8 gal of pre-mix salt water to cover water 'loss' for various reasons.
- Cleaned by soaking in 50/50 Vinegar/water
- The glass housing for the UV light
- Both check valves in the return line
- Added a UV-Chiller bypass line for the purpose of reducing the flow through the UV for more contact time
- Added a 1" flow meter in the UV-Chiller line
- The top right T has a modified pH probe holder with a Apex Temp probe to monitor the Chiller outlet temp...using a PM1 for this purpose...added a safety to shut down the chiller and warn if temp drops below 70 deg F out of the chiller as a result of the reduced flow.
- The wet floor sensor is back on the floor!!
To maintain the Varios pump, disconnect both union nuts and slide to the right and out the gap by the chiller...
Overall journey, 6 months from the first alarm till the Various-8 was running in place of the Hammerhead.
Thoughts?
jdg
