Setup and Operating Instructions
Vibe Setup and Operating Instructions ver. 1.2 12/10/14
Introduction and Setup Maintaining cleanliness of filtration media is critical for efficient water purification, and ultimately, overall water quality of the aquarium. The Vibe accomplishes this by automatically agitating granular filtration media on a periodic schedule. This agitation prevents accumulation of detritus in, and water channeling through, nearly every type of granular media. The vibration also causes bacterial coatings on the media particle surfaces to dislodge, improving efficiency by allowing water through tiny pores which would otherwise be covered. This effect is particularly useful for larger particle media, such as zeolite stones, since periodic agitation is an important procedure in their use in marine aquaria. Installation is straightforward when compared with a standard fluidized media reactor. There are a few differences to note though. Most importantly, the Vibe is external only; do not submerge the base! 1.
Install the four black screws in the Vibe base by threading them in from underneath the top plate, so they protrude upward. Then install the four nuts onto these screws, and finally, press the four rubber grommets over the nuts. This will act as the noise cushion between the Vibe base and chamber. Place the Vibe chamber on the base and gently secure with the four black wingnuts.
2.
Remove the chamber's lid, rinse out, and with the down tube set in place and appropriate sized media screen in position over the acrylic media plate, add your media to the reactor. The amount the reactor will hold will vary depending on the size of the media chamber, but the max level is always approximately 2 inches (5 cm) from the lid. As you fill the reactor with media, keep the down tube centered in the reactor body.
3.
Place the lid back onto the reactor, ensuring that no media grains are on the o-ring. Wash o-ring if necessary, and optionally apply a light coating of silicone grease. The EPDM o-rings in pre-built reactors come pre-lubricated. Tighten down the lid using the thumbscrews until you see a positive seal created by flattening the o-ring against the lid.
4.
Install the supplied tubing and connect a suitable water pump to the center union fitting. Connect a piece of the included tubing to the output fitting and route back to your sump. Note that the tubing inner diameter is 3/4” (19mm). The reactor is designed for slow water flow through media as prescribed by the zeovit protocol. The slow flow, typically around 100-200gph (375-750 lph), is also ideal for carbon and granular ferric oxide (GFO). There is no need to vigorously tumble the media; the periodic vibrations will ensure no clumping or channeling occurs. Therefore, there is no top media plate to prevent runaway media grains from escaping. This top plate is unnecessary when correct water flow is applied.
5.
Plug the Vibe into a simple wall timer or a port on your aquarium controller, and program it for one minute of operation twice per day. Feel free to experiment with the number of Vibe runs each day to optimize for your preferred media. There is no limit on how frequently the Vibe may run. Our experience is that twice per day is usually sufficient.
6.
Plug in the feed pump and check o-ring seal for leaks. Optionally, run the Vibe and rinse carbon and GFO by routing the effluent tube into a bucket and running old tank water through the media until it turns clear. Do this during a water change so that you save a few gallons of the water that you are removing to flush through the media.
Part #
Qty
1
1
LID
2
2
BARB UNION
3
1
O-RING
11
1
FLANGE
15
1
COUPLING
18
4
1" PAN HEAD SCREW
19
1
MEDIA PLATE
20
1
REACTOR BASE
25
1
CHAMBER TUBE
27
2
THREADED FITTING
29
8
1" THUMBSCREW
9
1
DOWN TUBE
Vibe
Part Name
Media Chamber 2
29
27
1
3
11
15
9 25
18 20
19
Part #
Qty
Part Name
Part #
Qty
Part Name
4
1
BASE TOP
22
1
MOTOR SHROUD
5
4
SPRING
23
1
BASE BOTTOM
6
4
SHORT RETAINER
24
4
1.5" PAN HEAD SCREW
7
1
MOTOR
26
4
LOCK NUT
8
1
SET SCREW
28
1
CORD GRIP
10
4
STANDOFF
12
4
WING NUT
13
4
LONG RETAINER
14
4
RUBBER FEET
16
1
WOBBLE BAR
17
4
RUBBER BUMPER
21
4
NUT
VIBE Base 12
17
4 21
Additional items included in kit (not shown): Power cord Zip Tie Wire nuts Craftics #33 cement Weldon #4052 cement and applicator Chip brush Silicone adhesive Soft tubing Antelco control valve Mesh media screen
24
26
6 5 7
10
13
8 16
22
23
28
14
Introduction and Setup Maintaining cleanliness of filtration media is critical for efficient water purification, and ultimately, overall water quality of the aquarium. The Vibe accomplishes this by automatically agitating granular filtration media on a periodic schedule. This agitation prevents accumulation of detritus in, and water channeling through, nearly every type of granular media. The vibration also causes bacterial coatings on the media particle surfaces to dislodge, improving efficiency by allowing water through tiny pores which would otherwise be covered. This effect is particularly useful for larger particle media, such as zeolite stones, since periodic agitation is an important procedure in their use in marine aquaria. Installation is straightforward when compared with a standard fluidized media reactor. There are a few differences to note though. Most importantly, the Vibe is external only; do not submerge the base! 1.
Install the four black screws in the Vibe base by threading them in from underneath the top plate, so they protrude upward. Then install the four nuts onto these screws, and finally, press the four rubber grommets over the nuts. This will act as the noise cushion between the Vibe base and chamber. Place the Vibe chamber on the base and gently secure with the four black wingnuts.
2.
Remove the chamber's lid, rinse out, and with the down tube set in place and appropriate sized media screen in position over the acrylic media plate, add your media to the reactor. The amount the reactor will hold will vary depending on the size of the media chamber, but the max level is always approximately 2 inches (5 cm) from the lid. As you fill the reactor with media, keep the down tube centered in the reactor body.
3.
Place the lid back onto the reactor, ensuring that no media grains are on the o-ring. Wash o-ring if necessary, and optionally apply a light coating of silicone grease. The EPDM o-rings in pre-built reactors come pre-lubricated. Tighten down the lid using the thumbscrews until you see a positive seal created by flattening the o-ring against the lid.
4.
Install the supplied tubing and connect a suitable water pump to the center union fitting. Connect a piece of the included tubing to the output fitting and route back to your sump. Note that the tubing inner diameter is 3/4” (19mm). The reactor is designed for slow water flow through media as prescribed by the zeovit protocol. The slow flow, typically around 100-200gph (375-750 lph), is also ideal for carbon and granular ferric oxide (GFO). There is no need to vigorously tumble the media; the periodic vibrations will ensure no clumping or channeling occurs. Therefore, there is no top media plate to prevent runaway media grains from escaping. This top plate is unnecessary when correct water flow is applied.
5.
Plug the Vibe into a simple wall timer or a port on your aquarium controller, and program it for one minute of operation twice per day. Feel free to experiment with the number of Vibe runs each day to optimize for your preferred media. There is no limit on how frequently the Vibe may run. Our experience is that twice per day is usually sufficient.
6.
Plug in the feed pump and check o-ring seal for leaks. Optionally, run the Vibe and rinse carbon and GFO by routing the effluent tube into a bucket and running old tank water through the media until it turns clear. Do this during a water change so that you save a few gallons of the water that you are removing to flush through the media.
Part #
Qty
1
1
LID
2
2
BARB UNION
3
1
O-RING
11
1
FLANGE
15
1
COUPLING
18
4
1" PAN HEAD SCREW
19
1
MEDIA PLATE
20
1
REACTOR BASE
25
1
CHAMBER TUBE
27
2
THREADED FITTING
29
8
1" THUMBSCREW
9
1
DOWN TUBE
Vibe
Part Name
Media Chamber 2
29
27
1
3
11
15
9 25
18 20
19
Part #
Qty
Part Name
Part #
Qty
Part Name
4
1
BASE TOP
22
1
MOTOR SHROUD
5
4
SPRING
23
1
BASE BOTTOM
6
4
SHORT RETAINER
24
4
1.5" PAN HEAD SCREW
7
1
MOTOR
26
4
LOCK NUT
8
1
SET SCREW
28
1
CORD GRIP
10
4
STANDOFF
12
4
WING NUT
13
4
LONG RETAINER
14
4
RUBBER FEET
16
1
WOBBLE BAR
17
4
RUBBER BUMPER
21
4
NUT
VIBE Base 12
17
4 21
Additional items included in kit (not shown): Power cord Zip Tie Wire nuts Craftics #33 cement Weldon #4052 cement and applicator Chip brush Silicone adhesive Soft tubing Antelco control valve Mesh media screen
24
26
6 5 7
10
13
8 16
22
23
28
14
