This afternoon I set up a AC 500 on my Minibow 7 as a
HOB refugium -- totally awesome.
OK for a little background -- 1st let me say I HATE POWER HEADS --- PERIOD --- no matter how small. I haven't used a power head in the last 5 or 6 tank setups I've had. They are just ugly and clutter up the view --- they can always be replaced by a better method.
2nd I want the flow in the tank to be just a smidgen under tornado status. I want the sand to be just on the verge of blowing all over the place but not quite.
3rd I want the the heater and any other accessories out of the tank (as much as possible)
4th I thought the AC500 at about 250 gph would work just right since the flow would be spread across almost the entire width of the tank. Where the AC300 spread the flow over a much smaller area causing the same GPH to kick up more sand.
5th I'm using a modified In-tank filter body for a
surface skimmer. That is working but really needs an auto top-off so it can be properly adjusted and run at a optimal setting (This is a topic for an entire other post). Currently it is working and can flow at least 300 gph if needed.
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What I found out is the AC 500 actually has two different flow settings (high and low). The High flow setting is using the AC500 as it comes. You can still use the adjustment but you are adjusting within a high flow range.
You can mod the unit for a low flow range: Take out the U-Tube. On the in-tank side there is a black disk adapter. Remove that black disk adapter (it comes off easily). Reinstall the U-tube without the black disk adapter. This gets you to a lower flow range. You can still adjust the filter using the normal adjustment but the adjusting is much finner and you can go from approx 450 gph down to about 100 gph. Now I can truly adjust the tank down to almost tornado status.
Mod number two is for in-filter heater placement. On the AC 500 media basket the side panels come off. You need to push the bottom clips in gently and remove carefully. Take one of the side panels off. Turn it around so the U shaped finger hole it pointing twords the outside. Push it back into the bottom panels but on the 4th set of holes from the outside. This now creates a small heater compartment off to the far side away from the motor. And a Tronic 50 watt heater will slide down into the U shaped finger hole just nicely and that finger hole holds the heater in place at the correct height. Using a dremel you will need to cut a small area away on the top lid so the very tip of the heater and the heater cord has a way of exiting.
I had about 2 lbs of large LR rubble sitting in my big tank tank sump. I carefully added that to the media compartment filling that compartment up. I placed my 100ml pouch of Purigen in the motor compartment. I was very careful to place it alongside the U-Tube and so it would not interfere with water going down into the impeller.
This setup works great and creates enough flow so I don't have to have any Power heads in the tank. I am going to run the refugium for just POD production so there will NOT be a light or macro algae.
How did you come up with the idea of modifying the AC500?
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