A pair of EcoWheel tanks in the making

[Putawaywet]

Matt,

Any ideas where that rock came from? From the sound of things it very well could be leaching organics into your water.

Regarding this whole flow thing we've been discussing - I really think it's something that needs to be adressed by each owner on a case by case basis. Being a mid-90's design this system was engineered back in the day when tank turnover in the 10x-15x range was pretty standard. Obviously, that thinking has changed considerably in the last 10 years. On top of that, corals are constantly (hopefully) growing and taking up more space as the months go by so it's no surprise that flow adjustments or accomodations might need to be made.

As to this thread, I don't have any intentions of bailing out so feel free to keep asking questions if you have any. I also imagine I'll be starting a new thread on the new tank (I'll be sure to take lot's of pics) so no worries there. I keep trying to make myself feel better about all of this by concentrating on all the new ideas that I'll get to kick around and all the new skills I'll be putting to use. If nothing else, this project has been one great learning experience.

Brett

 

[matt & pam]

Brett,

I'm using reeferrocks as my base rock, I hope it is not part of the problem. Other than not coming with a live coating of stuff. I believe my problems are primarily from not maximizing calcium and dKH early in the start, and waiting for the wheel to mature. I'm very much a newbie, so hopefully things will improve. At this point, I feel like I've got a few more months of looking at this dinoflagellate outbreak unless a miracle occurs. I suppose if things don't clear up within then next few months, one additional change I'll make is to change 100% live rock. (Still premature at this point).

How much flow do you estimate now in your reef side with the additional pumps?

Matt

 

[piercho]

Matt,
try hunting through the Chemistry forum on dinoflagellates. You might try a multi-parameter search, using "Boomer" (not Bomber) in the user name, and go back a ways. My only advice is to keep your carbonate alk up higher than you might otherwise. The folklore is that higher carbonate alk helps retard dinos. The couple of times I've had some, spiking the limewater with vinegar to bump up alk and Ca++ did seem to knock them out almost immediately. The flip side of using organic carbon (vinegar) in the tank is it may encourage cyano, IMO.

Brett,
happy trails on the new design. I enjoyed this tank, and thought you did some interesting things with it. The quality of your plumbing and electrical work are very professional, and I learned quite a bit from the construction details. The low-light display fabrication was remarkable. Very much looking forward to what comes next.

 

[H20ENG]

So the cats out, eh?

Brett,
No doubt your new setup will look as primo as this one, or better. Let me know if you want to talk controls

 

[Putawaywet]

Matt, I'm using a pair of Tunze 6000's so it has to be easily 3x-4x over the stock flow. Strange that you are having probs with Reefer Rocks as that's who I used for my base rock and I had no probs at all. Keep the faith.

Howard, many thanks, it's always nice when your peers shoot you a compliment. God knows couple years back I barely knew how to spell hydrodynamics and now thanks to some of your posts I actually know a tiny bit about it.

Chris, Yes, I decided to do the deed. There's even a big gaping (well, at least 36" x 84") hunk of bare concrete surrounded by tile in my living room to prove it. I'll be back in touch in a couple months to talk controls. Right now I'm exploring options on stands and trying to find out how many arms and legs SeaClear wants for a tank with museum corners. Stand wise, a custom steel one skinned in wood has my attention.

Brett

 

[Konadog]

Brett, who are you looking at for the steel stand? I need a stand next month for my 225 and am thinking the same thing.

 

[atreis]

For a long time, Newport Aquarium (Newport is on the other side of the river from Cincinnati) had an EcoWheel tank in their reef room. I was just there this week and noticed it was gone. During the behind-the-scenes tour (my wife got me for Christmas) I noticed the EcoWheels sitting back there and asked them about them. They said they didn't really work very well. I didn't ask about specifics, just thought it was interesting.

 

[H20ENG]

I forgot you have a great controls guy right there! Konadog
Cant wait for the new setup!

 

[charles matthews]

I kept an EcoWheel for about three years. I also had a 75 gallon refugium plumbed into the system (this is a seven tank total system of 450 gallons; the EcoWheel is on a 120 that slowly recirculates into the rest of the system which has a skimmer and a three refugia).

I've recentlyh published photos of this observation in Reef Annual 2005. Basically, the Chaetomorpha refugium way outperformed the Ecowheel. I could not get any significant algae growth on the wheel, while the Chaetomorpha grew prolifically. Kent's iron and molybdenum helped the Chaeto but not the Wheel.

I think turf algae requires a closed substrate to do well- one that can trap bacteria and farm their CO2. With the wheel screen turning in the water, you just can't get much growth. Also, Chaeto is much more three dimensional, and apparently will grow on the small amount of light that penetrates the mass. Really, there is a HUGE outperformance by the Chaeto. Additionally, the surge didn't work.

I recently took out the wheel and filled the illuminated Wheel tank with a tumbling ball of Chaeo. It's growing like mad. I am thinking of going "bare bottom" in the tank, turning off the skimmer, and using the Chaeto alone. It's growing fabulously for me with the Kent addition.

I recommend considering using your old EcoWheel tanks as Chaeto refugia.

 

[Putawaywet]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6376347#post6376347 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Konadog
Brett, who are you looking at for the steel stand? I need a stand next month for my 225 and am thinking the same thing.

Ken I'm looking at possibly having www.socalcreations.com fab one for me. They're up around Montclair area I think, and if so, that's about as local as I think I'm going to get. I've already exchanged a few emails with Randy and plan to call him on Tues to talk specifics. They're a full service place so they can do tanks, sumps, stands... whatever.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6401744#post6401744 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by charles matthews
I kept an EcoWheel for about three years. I also had a 75 gallon refugium plumbed into the system (this is a seven tank total system of 450 gallons; the EcoWheel is on a 120 that slowly recirculates into the rest of the system which has a skimmer and a three refugia).

I've recentlyh published photos of this observation in Reef Annual 2005. Basically, the Chaetomorpha refugium way outperformed the Ecowheel. I could not get any significant algae growth on the wheel, while the Chaetomorpha grew prolifically. Kent's iron and molybdenum helped the Chaeto but not the Wheel.

I think turf algae requires a closed substrate to do well- one that can trap bacteria and farm their CO2. With the wheel screen turning in the water, you just can't get much growth. Also, Chaeto is much more three dimensional, and apparently will grow on the small amount of light that penetrates the mass. Really, there is a HUGE outperformance by the Chaeto. Additionally, the surge didn't work.

I recently took out the wheel and filled the illuminated Wheel tank with a tumbling ball of Chaeo. It's growing like mad. I am thinking of going "bare bottom" in the tank, turning off the skimmer, and using the Chaeto alone. It's growing fabulously for me with the Kent addition.

I recommend considering using your old EcoWheel tanks as Chaeto refugia.

Hey Chip, how's it going? I haven't spoken to you since my system was still on a freight truck. Interesting observations you have made on the difference in performance. How's you work going with Dendro's?

Brett

 

[Konadog]

Brett, I have also spoken with Randy. I found that my welder at work was looking for some "fill work" and he said he would make my stand. Randy is a great guy and has been answering any questions I had about making the stand.

I gota hand it to guys that will help you even though they arenââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t making my stand, they do some quality work over their.

 

[matt & pam]

Brett and others,

One of the local sellers here suggested that I lower the salinity down to 1.017 or so in order to get rid of dinoflagellates I've been dealing. I'm not quite ready for this, but I do wonder if this would have a negative impact on the algea scrubber as well. Any thoughts?

Matt

 

[caevan]

Does anyone have any ideas on the best way to plumb in a chiller with the eco-wheel system.

Originally I was told to use a drop in coil chiller, but these are not readily available in Australia, so I need to somehow plumb in an inline unit.

Currenly I use a room air conditioner to keep the tank cool in summer, but I am thinking it would be more efficient to use a chiller.

Any ideas would be great.

 

[H20ENG]

Pretty tough using only an airlift for circulation. If you modified the evaporator barrel plumbing up to the 2" size of the airlift / tank suction line, it'd work. Put the chiller between the tank suction and the airlift injection point.
Do not try to use the airlift with the small 3/4 or 1" fittings, it could freeze up the evaporator, or at minimum, be very inefficient.
Otherwise you will need a water pump, which somewhat negates the benefits of the pumpless ecowheel (Depending on who you talk to...).
HTH
Chris

 

[simple_joe]

Hello Brett,

I finally received my piling:

Thank you for all your help.

Regards,

Joseph

 

[Putawaywet]

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Glad I could be of help.

Brett

 

[Konadog]

Very nice Joseph :thumbsup:

Brett, any pictures of the new tank and stand???

 

[Putawaywet]

Well..... I do have a few of the stand and sump. Electrical is in.

No tank though, trying to recharge the bank account for my skimmer.

Here's a pic of progress so far to tide you over

Brett

 

[Putawaywet]

Joseph,

I'm envisioning your piling with stuff growing all over it and I think it's going to look really sharp! Is that DLM's work?

Brett

 

[simple_joe]

Brett,

Thank you for the complement. You and Ken have really been helpful. This is actually made by a fabricator in Michigan ( www.thenaturefactory.com )

Do you still have your IceCap Pendant Spotlight? Will you be using it on your new set-up? I have one and would like to get another. Thanks.

Joseph