250 Gallon Starphire SPS tank

melev said:
Well, now you have me wanting to make one. :lol:

That one can only stir one liter, according to the information on the page.
Click to expand...

I know..still seems like the easiest way to make one is just a powerhead in a jug though...not pretty though () : )

I don't know about the ratings..but the one on the BARR has to be the 190...looks like it works? () : )

Cheers,

grimmjo
 
The stirrer on my KR1220 is a HM-190M and it works just fine. The stirrer on the KR3020 is much bigger and I'm not sure what model it is. The only thing I'm looking at doing is getting a 'cross-hair' stirbar to replace the standard 'straight bar' style, as they are suppose to stir even better. I currently run the stirrer for 3mins, 5 times a day and it's doing the job so far.

I own 4 things by Barr Aquatics and I haven't seen anything yet that compares to the quality. (My Custom 62g Sump, Kalk Reactor KR1220, Protein Skimmer SK1620 w/ Waste Collector WC220) His products are definately worth the wait and price.

I like many, are not the DIY type. The plumbing on my Aquarium was enough of a challange, and there wasn't even that much to do. So I definately don't mind paying alittle extra for a 'pro' to do it for me.
 
Well I've had the skimmer running for a month now and I'm very pleased with it. I had a few problems at first, but they were mostly due to my inexperience with becketts. (and impatience) Since then, things have been good. Pulls alot of dark skimmate out, and air adjustments are a snap with the air flow meter. I'm going to start running ozone here in a week or so, so things might get alittle hairy for abit while I iron out the tweaking.

Here's the thread detailing my initial hiccups and there's some pictures as well.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=679753
 
Looks like a nice skimmer.

So that air flow meter works pretty good hey?

That meter would be a good indicator of how dirty your beckett is.
 
Yeah, after using this airflow meter, I wouldn't go without one. And you're definately right about it letting you know when you need to clean your beckett.
 
Psyire said:
Yeah, after using this airflow meter, I wouldn't go without one. And you're definately right about it letting you know when you need to clean your beckett.
Click to expand...

I would love to have an air-flow meter. Right now I clean my beckets once a week, sometimes they have a snail caught in them, sometimes they are dirty, sometimes they are clean.

It would be real nice to actually know.
 
Just looking at BARR's site and I really like how their skimmers come apart so easily, just a twist!

I am not a big fan of their beckett housings though.

My housing is much smaller and the top screws on like a union, very easy to take apart, and very strong and durable.
 
Yeah, most of their equipment now is just twist off. Very easy and simple to work with. I don't mind the beckett housing, you just have to loosen the 4 thumb screws and give it a twist and it's off. I also really like how the air silencer/filter, ozone, & calcium effluent ports are standard.
 
melev said:
Hey, would this part work for the needle valve after your new kalk Stirrer? I'm thinking about making one now that you guys suggested it. :)

http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/8317/cid/2120

Or is there a different / better kind?
Click to expand...

I already own three of those needle valves. They are the best. Nice thing about them is they can be gotten with different ends (barbed fittings, Male Pipe Threads, etc...).

I am using the valve BEFORE the kalk stirrer so it only sees RO/DI water, much less likely to get clogged that way.
 
Bigger is better right?

This week I am picking up an 18 inch extension to my skimmer.:p

Now my skimmer will be huge, comparable to a MRC-7, that Andy rates as good for up to 1500 gallon tanks!:D Should be about right.

One of the major reasons I am doing this is my pump seems to be just slightly over-powered for my skimmer (Blueline HD 100). It works very well, but I have to be very careful adjusting the air inlet, or it can easily overflow. It is a little difficult to get it to wet skim the way I want w/o overflowing. I think it will be much easier to regulate with the 18 inch entension.

I am also hoping it will skim so well that I can run my skimmer for only half days. My skimmer pump (390 watts) costs more to operate per month then all of my VHO, T5 and halide lights combined. I guess I will see how it goes.
 
LittleBlueGT said:
Bigger is better right?

This week I am picking up an 18 inch extension to my skimmer.:p

Now my skimmer will be huge, comparable to a MRC-7, that Andy rates as good for up to 1500 gallon tanks!:D Should be about right.
Click to expand...

Pretty soon you will need to cut a hole in the floor above. :lol:


The thumb screws are a pain on the becketts, but I believe Jayson mentioned it keeps the cost down, compared with the large unions.
 
Putting it before the stirrer... Let me know how that works out. I would think it is safer after the stirrer. I told Brent how you plan to run it because of my fears, and he confirmed that it was a good plan. He had his needle valve before <i>and</i> after the stirrer. He also mentioned he's not using his anymore because alk got to high in his tank. I'm sure this will be tricky, but I could really use the pH boost.
 
Flatlander said:
Pretty soon you will need to cut a hole in the floor above. :lol:


The thumb screws are a pain on the becketts, but I believe Jayson mentioned it keeps the cost down, compared with the large unions.
Click to expand...

Might have to upgrade the house for a bigger tank!:D

The thumb scres are a pain. On the top of the skimmer I only use 5 thumb screws instead of all 10, no problems so far.

I am hoping that with a larger skimmer I will be able to run it wetter (consistently) and then it will stay cleaner longer.
 
I agree, thumb screws are a PITA. That is the one thing I won't miss about my beckett.

I can see why you think your pump is overpowered for your skimmer. I was suprised when I saw a pic of the water level in your skimmer. I couldn't believe how low you have to run it. I bet the extension will make a big difference. Is it a riser tube extension or a reaction chamber extension?
 
Travis said:
I agree, thumb screws are a PITA. That is the one thing I won't miss about my beckett.

I can see why you think your pump is overpowered for your skimmer. I was suprised when I saw a pic of the water level in your skimmer. I couldn't believe how low you have to run it. I bet the extension will make a big difference. Is it a riser tube extension or a reaction chamber extension?
Click to expand...

I believe it is a reaction chamber extension. The water level will be up inside the new addition. I will have pics in the next couple of days.
 
I got the new bulbs in today!

I wonder if I can just use them right away or if I have to acclimate the corals to the different spectrum?

I know the Pheonix bulbs have a very high peak in the 450 Nm area.
 
IMO, it is always better to be safe than sorry. I feel that it is just as stressful for a coral to acclimate to a different spectrum as it is to acclimate to a different intensity.
 
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