280 gallon tank project has begun!!!!!!

[Travis]

Lunch, you still going to Grant's tomorrow? If you want my turbos you can have them if you are coming down. I think there are about 15 in my tank but I need to find them first. They hide during the day and come out at night. BTW, I hooked up your skimmer to the air meter and it pulls 9 LPM.

[Travis]

Originally posted by otolith

Sorry, I read this right before the split, and I couldn't let it pass.



Travis, I hope you don't hate me for posting that, given that I've only met you once. Hey, I did give you a piece of the CBA, however.

You got me on that one. Should've seen it coming. Worst part is I can't even think of a good comeback.

[Lunchbucket]

Travis - not sure if i'm bringing the clams to Grant's. but i believe i am coming to town for my brothers birthday...we are eating at Sushi Masa. so i could stop by anyhow.

9lph huh....cool. what do you have the beta ER pump running at??

Lunchbucket

[otolith]

Travis--just glad you aren't mad at me. I can get a little carried away at times. Coulda said something along the lines of...well, nevermind.

Lunch--there's a sushi place in SD??? Is it good? Next time you're in town we should go out if you like sushi. We can get some spicey salmon rolls, a little #9, and some spider rolls.

[Travis]

Lunch, I'm running the ER at about 10.5 LPH.

Got a call from Gary this morning. He just wanted to let me know that my skimmer had cleared customs but wouldn't be to their warehouse until tomorrow. He asked me if I was ok with that, otherwise he would schedule someone to go to the airport in Indianapolis to pick it up so they could get it on its way to me. I said that was fine, but it was pretty cool of him to offer. We then talked about what to do for shipping. He said he has had poor luck with UPS and their larger skimmers, which I can obviously agree with. Another option would be to ship the skimmer via common motor freight on a pallet. It would be a little more expensive but Gary offered to cover the extra. Of course, I jumped on the offer as I don't want to take any chances of the same thing happening again. The only thing is that I will have to arrange to pick the skimmer up at the freight dock, which I don't mind at all. And I will have to unload the pallet myself. So the skimmer should be here next Thursday. Just in time for me to get it before I leave town. I guess my mind is going to be a little preoccupied while I'm gone.

[melev]

I'd like to say congratulations, but in all honesty after reading the past 5 pages of posts, you deserve commendation for not ending up on a shrink's couch and a few coupons for the local padded room looney bin.

This is the most rediculous saga I've ever read, and when you put the pricetag on the transaction it is almost impossible to believe. If this was about a good for nothing Sea Clone I could understand all the issues, but not something that is nearly revered by some.

I said it about 10 pages ago, so I won't repeat myself. I just hope you'll be fully satisfied now, and in the future.

I'd put some of those turbos in the sump to clean it up. They'll find some food to snack on, I'm sure.

[LA-Lawman]

Hi, good to hear things are looking up.... i am looking at reefmania skimmer the ps8. I have a 180g system.... arent the ER sp pumps Sedras?

was the RM skimmer easy to install and dial in?

[otolith]

LA-Lawman, I pretty much run RM everything, and I have been quite pleased with the skimmer. Very easy to set up and dial in.

[otolith]

Travis, I agree with melev that this has been a long, drawn out process. Hope the skimmer arrives safe and sound. Then you'll have the dance of the BK 400 running through your head.

[Lunchbucket]

Travis - YIPPIE!! nice that Gary has stepped up and is fixing Scotts screw ups! so it is at the airprot today (sat)??!! that would be awesome if you get a tracking number on monday.

where you having the skimmer delivered?? do you need help carrying/lifting it?

hope you have a new shiney NON-BROKEN BK 400 (right??) in your house on thurday....merry christmas to you!!

Lunchbucket

[Lunchbucket]

LA-Lawman - that is my RM skimmer that Travis is running. he needed another backup till his BK got to him. i had the ps6 on my 58gal tank and it would skim great but never got dark skimmate. i wanted Travis to run it and see what it would do. he gets nice dark skimmate...my system just doesn't have a big enough bioload or waste to make this skimmer run at full capacity. i

when Travis gets his BK all set up i am gonna keep the skimmer for when i upgrade to a bigger tank.

also i have a sedra 3500 laying around. i think i am going to have Bob @ RM put unions on the body to add this pump. then i'll have a sedra 500 and a sedra 3500 on the ps6. should do well IMO

Lunchbucket

[Travis]

Yes, it has been a long drawn out process. Some parts, such as the lack of communication, I probably shouldn't have had to deal with. However, the length of time that it has taken to get the replacement is out of anybody's control, except for Klaus. We are all at his mercy, including Captive Oceans. And from the sounds of things, the delays in this case were not even Klaus's fault, Hagen switched the motors on the pumps and didn't tell him about it. I believe a couple pumps did get sent out that didn't perform correctly due to this. I'm sure once Klaus found out, he had to stop all shipments for a while and change things on all of his pumps at the factory. But I will finally be getting a bright shiny BK for Christmas and can finally see if it performs like the hype says. The skimmer should be at Captive Oceans today. I think they are going to get it shipped out on Monday. I already have a yellow freight tracking number so I will be picking it up at their dock on Thursday if all goes well.

LA-Lawman, to the best of my knowledge, I believe the ER sp pumps are little giants.

[otolith]

I do wonder if things would have been different if you bought it directly from Captive Oceans than someone who works there (I believe you bought it used from someone who works there, right?). That said, I think the lack of communication when someone else is holding my $2k is what would tick me off. You got pretty worked up, then things were somewhat better after someone finally talked to you. Regardless, I'm glad to hear things are working out, and that you're getting the "skimmer of your dreams." Heck, I may have to take the 4hr drive out to your neck of the woods to see what all the hype is about this skimmer.

[LA-Lawman]

cool. didn't mean to hijack the thread....

Bob at reefmania has been great. we are trying to make sure the thing fits in my stand.... so it is good to see these things running in tanks not just pics from the website.....

A guy at RDO just got a BK. the thing is awesome.... very very nice... cool red pipes too!

[otolith]

Travis and Lunch can vouch for the vial stuff it pulls out of my tank.

[RGibson]

otolith were can i fine the skimmer you are talking about?

[otolith]

RGibson--

www.reefmania.net

[otolith]

I have the PS8...

[Lunchbucket]

otolith - make the trip out here and you can see two tanks w/ one trip!!

we'll have to go out for sushi next time i'm in the cities...i LOVE sushi

Lunchbucket

[otolith]

I wouldn't plan on going out there to see just one.

Sounds good on the sushi.

[slovan]

Originally posted by Travis
Another option would be to ship the skimmer via common motor freight on a pallet. It would be a little more expensive but Gary offered to cover the extra. Of course, I jumped on the offer as I don't want to take any chances of the same thing happening again. The only thing is that I will have to arrange to pick the skimmer up at the freight dock, which I don't mind at all. And I will have to unload the pallet myself. So the skimmer should be here next Thursday. Just in time for me to get it before I leave town. I guess my mind is going to be a little preoccupied while I'm gone.

Hey Travis,
If Gary ships out your skimmer via LTL(FedEx Freight, Overnite, Con-Way, Roadway etc.) on Monday, you should have it by Wednesday. Terre Haute to Sioux Falls is only two transit days.

If you really want to, you can bring your skimmer with you. I'm sure Ball wouldn't mind if you hooked it up to his tank. Heck, you can hook it up to mine too! We'll break it in for you, so how about it?

[Wayupnorth]

Don't know why but I just started reading this thread and have to chime in and say that I also ordered a BK400 that arrived broken. The whole collection cup lid was basically smashed into about 6 peices. I decided to just glue/duct tape it together and use. When I fired it up and it started skimming - which is very impressive by the way - I found out that the bottom seal on the collection cup was also faulty and I ended up with a bunch of water and skimmate on my floor. I ended up running a bead of PVC primer and glue and silicone around the edges and this stopped it from leaking but does not look good to say the least. Anyway I think the whole process to get my BK here (Canada) took at least 6 weeks and I have been waiting for a new lid and collection cup for another 8 weeks. I am told that they now have them in the States so just have to wait for it get to me - pobably sometime in January. Just thought I would chime in here with my experience.

Ruth

[Travis]

Originally posted by otolith
I do wonder if things would have been different if you bought it directly from Captive Oceans than someone who works there (I believe you bought it used from someone who works there, right?). That said, I think the lack of communication when someone else is holding my $2k is what would tick me off. You got pretty worked up, then things were somewhat better after someone finally talked to you. Regardless, I'm glad to hear things are working out, and that you're getting the "skimmer of your dreams." Heck, I may have to take the 4hr drive out to your neck of the woods to see what all the hype is about this skimmer.

That is correct, I purchased a used skimmer. The lack of communication was pretty irritating to say the least. If you ever do make it out this way you are more than welcome to my home any time.

[Travis]

Originally posted by otolith
Travis and Lunch can vouch for the vial stuff it pulls out of my tank.

Yup, I can vouch. When you drained your collection cup when we were there it certainly stunk up the basement for a while. Not to mention you have an extremely light fish load and hardly feed them anything.

[Travis]

Originally posted by slovan
Hey Travis,
If Gary ships out your skimmer via LTL(FedEx Freight, Overnite, Con-Way, Roadway etc.) on Monday, you should have it by Wednesday. Terre Haute to Sioux Falls is only two transit days.

Cool, I suppose Gary was just guesstimating on the delivery date. Indiana is only a few states away so it shouldn't take too long. Whether it gets here Wednesday or Thursday or even the next week, it doesn't matter much because I won't be hooking it up until after I get back.

If you really want to, you can bring your skimmer with you. I'm sure Ball wouldn't mind if you hooked it up to his tank. Heck, you can hook it up to mine too! We'll break it in for you, so how about it?

2 problems. 1... it won't fit in the car and 2... it wouldn't even fit in Ball's 75, more or less his sump. I'm sure you guys wouldn't mind breaking it in for me though.