Good solid move using GFCI.
75g Lurking danger and Leafy Seadragons
- Thread starter vlangel
- Start date
wvned
Well-known member
Well the 2 electrical people on here dont use them. Everybody else should use them. There are people out there that make companies print all those warnings that come with things like don't use your toaster in the bathtub. Someone reading this could be one of them.
I dont like relying on things to keep me safe. I prefer knowledge, experience and habits. That's just me though.
Long ago, before the mandatory use of three prong plugs I worked at a store and the case of the old cash register was energized. about 4 feet away was an old stainless ice cream freezer. The kind you put large tubs down in to dip out of.
Every time my friend sat on the freezer I would reach over and touch him. He got shocked on the butt. I managed to do this several times before he figured it out.
Fun things the generation that grew up with fireworks and other dangerous things did.
I fixed the cash register so the ladies that worked there wouldn't get shocked. It just needed a new cord. I added one with a three prong plug.
I dont like relying on things to keep me safe. I prefer knowledge, experience and habits. That's just me though.
Long ago, before the mandatory use of three prong plugs I worked at a store and the case of the old cash register was energized. about 4 feet away was an old stainless ice cream freezer. The kind you put large tubs down in to dip out of.
Every time my friend sat on the freezer I would reach over and touch him. He got shocked on the butt. I managed to do this several times before he figured it out.
Fun things the generation that grew up with fireworks and other dangerous things did.
I fixed the cash register so the ladies that worked there wouldn't get shocked. It just needed a new cord. I added one with a three prong plug.
I always recommend the safe approach for all, but the choice is always yours.
GFI is the safer approach.
In my area, no licensed electrician would install a non GFI circuit in violation of the building code.
It’s so easy to install, you don’t even have to change the outlet, there are plug and play in solutions.
It is unsafe to use electronic devices in areas in which water is likely due to waters ability to conduct current, bathrooms and around sinks are prime, all outside as well.
GFI is the safer approach.
In my area, no licensed electrician would install a non GFI circuit in violation of the building code.
It’s so easy to install, you don’t even have to change the outlet, there are plug and play in solutions.
It is unsafe to use electronic devices in areas in which water is likely due to waters ability to conduct current, bathrooms and around sinks are prime, all outside as well.
wvned
Well-known member
I like crabs too. It appears we are incompatable.
How did we not die.
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vlangel
Premium Member
We all as individuals have a tolerance for how much risk we are willing to take regarding all sorts of things and our tolerances are going to differ because we all are individuals. Hey I ride a motorcycle so that tells you something about how much risk I am willing to take! (At least I wear a helmet).
I didn't bring this tragedy up to be controversial, I merely wanted to alert folks that there is some danger and then each person decide for themselves how much risk they are willing to assume.
Very well said.
I’m glad you brought it up!
I learned the hard way
Good reminder to those who may be interested.
wvned
Well-known member
servicing the FX4
The hoses have both valves to shut them off and quick disconnect fittings. A bit of water does come out but ends up mostly on the top.
Undo the white fasteners and take the top off
Lift the media baskets out with the orange handles.
Then I rinse the media in a colander, replace the foams and peat in a media bag. You have to fill it half way before you put the top back on.
Carry it back and hook it up. It does take a while to purge the air. I just turn it off and on until it goes.
The hoses have both valves to shut them off and quick disconnect fittings. A bit of water does come out but ends up mostly on the top.
Undo the white fasteners and take the top off
Lift the media baskets out with the orange handles.
Then I rinse the media in a colander, replace the foams and peat in a media bag. You have to fill it half way before you put the top back on.
Carry it back and hook it up. It does take a while to purge the air. I just turn it off and on until it goes.
vlangel
Premium Member
vlangel
Premium Member
Thank you @wvned. That is very helpful info. How long did it take your tank to get the sponges that dirty? I like the idea of the shut off valve and the quick disconnects. And I like the idea of the water change valve at the bottom of the canister. That is a very nice feature. Has yours ever leaked, (some reviews said theirs leaked)? Also is it fairly quiet? I know you said that it mostly only moves the plants as far as flow, can you guestimate what the flow is? I know it slows down a lot as the sponges get clogged. I would only use the coarse outside top sponges as I am using the canister more as a cryptic area to encourage pods to propagate and sponges to grow. I am hoping to leave the filter in place to clean the top coarse sponge in a bucket of tank water, then close it back up and that's all until next time. I probably would replace the round trays with a mesh bag full of live rubble rock that would only need rinsed in water changed water every 6 months or so. That should help the flow not slow down as much too. I realize this is not capturing a lot of the stuff that most folks want to catch but my softie/macro tank is high nutrient by design so I don't need to catch as much. Also water changes will help and this canister can make them easy. So do you think this can work? Also given that I am using this canister this way, am I better off just buying the Fluval 407 with the prefilter and filling all the baskets with rubble rock?
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wvned
Well-known member
It is quiet. Mine has never leaked. I have not used the water change feature.
I clean it every 2-3 months.
I do not have a good understanding of how water moves through it. When you open it the dirt is equally dirty from top to bottom.
Fluval says it moves 700 mph and that seems accurate when it is clean.
I only run the coarse sponge.
I have no idea if sponges would grow in it. Mine seem to favor low flow paces on the tank.
I clean it every 2-3 months.
I do not have a good understanding of how water moves through it. When you open it the dirt is equally dirty from top to bottom.
Fluval says it moves 700 mph and that seems accurate when it is clean.
I only run the coarse sponge.
I have no idea if sponges would grow in it. Mine seem to favor low flow paces on the tank.
vlangel
Premium Member
I read other folks that put live rubble rock in theirs said that it became full of pods and worms. That is exactly what I want.
vlangel
Premium Member
I kept going back and forth between FX 4/6 and BioMaster 2 850. I heard a few folks say that the Fluval water change valve leaked if it was used so that swayed me toward the Oase. I love that the BioMaster has a prefilter that can be rinsed without opening the canister. I also love that the heater is built into the canister so there is no heater equipment in the tank. I am sure that I would have been happy with either but I had to choose.
Also I put a GFCI on the dedicated circuit for the aquarium where most of the equipment is plugged into. The Carefree Fish wavemaker is plugged into an outlet the shares a circuit with the bathroom outlet that is already GFCI protected.
Also I put a GFCI on the dedicated circuit for the aquarium where most of the equipment is plugged into. The Carefree Fish wavemaker is plugged into an outlet the shares a circuit with the bathroom outlet that is already GFCI protected.
vlangel
Premium Member
The BioMaster came yesterday and we set it up. Oh my goodness, I have never had such a quiet aquarium, EVER! Its moving a lot of water so I am happy about that too. It was a breeze to prime. The input and output are pretty discreet so I don't think that I will get lily pipes after all.
My only concern is the levers to remove the prefilter and the connector for the tubing are very stiff, the one for the prefilter is almost so stiff that I almost can't do it. I am hoping that it breaks in and gets a little easier. I understand that its a valve and needs to be water tight but wow its tight.
Also I did a dumb thing when I ordered the canister. I chose one that did not include a heater, Doh! It can have the integrated heater but now we need to order that separate which we did. The canister is a Christmas gift from my hubby and he told me to go ahead and set it up now. So I will open the heater on Christmas morning! All in all I am really pleased!
My only concern is the levers to remove the prefilter and the connector for the tubing are very stiff, the one for the prefilter is almost so stiff that I almost can't do it. I am hoping that it breaks in and gets a little easier. I understand that its a valve and needs to be water tight but wow its tight.
Also I did a dumb thing when I ordered the canister. I chose one that did not include a heater, Doh! It can have the integrated heater but now we need to order that separate which we did. The canister is a Christmas gift from my hubby and he told me to go ahead and set it up now. So I will open the heater on Christmas morning! All in all I am really pleased!
vlangel
Premium Member
Thank you George!
In fairness to you, your hands have been full with trying to get your aquarium's new placement ready, plus family, plus life happening. There is only so much time and energy to go around. I am sure that you will get things under control when you aren't spread so thin.
Thanks. Yes, we babysat the grandkids at their house for most of the day yesterday and then had to run all our errands today.
vlangel
Premium Member
The tallest of the 2 mangrove's leaves are opening nicely. The smaller one looks like it is progressing toward leaves opening. I spray the leaves everyday to keep them from drying out and to remove salt spray from the leaves.
My vision is that these 2 mangroves will grow and create a canopy over the back corner of the tank. I picture the roots growing down into the deep sandbed so that some of the fish can chill amongst them. The mangroves are a long way off from my vision but hopefully it will be fun to watch develop.
My vision is that these 2 mangroves will grow and create a canopy over the back corner of the tank. I picture the roots growing down into the deep sandbed so that some of the fish can chill amongst them. The mangroves are a long way off from my vision but hopefully it will be fun to watch develop.
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