A Reef Tank in the Desert - +/- 1,400 gallon system
- Thread starter danfeig
- Start date
danfeig
.Registered Member
Thanks Joe!
I have a 1,000 gallon propane tank that runs our three water heaters, ovens and furnaces. I have considered a propane generator as we use less gas in the summer months and most of our electric storms (monsoons) occur in the summer.
My wife is in favor of solar and since she has added her two cents to the topic, we'll be getting some ideas and quotes from a couple solar companies.
danfeig
.Registered Member
The ozone is working well with one exception. The tank is looking fantastic! The water is definitely "clearer" and my skimmer is working very, very well. However, I have blown 2 fuses in the Del Ozone Generator in the last 72 hours!
I contacted the manufacturers on Thursday and they didn't have a good explanation. They instructed me to install a new fuse, which I did and it working for +/- 24 hours. I have to call them Monday morning again.
Again, the tank is looking really good. The fish and corals don't seem to show any negative effects. The water itself is definitely clearer/lighter.
danfeig
.Registered Member
I didn't. Unlike my former RedSea Ozone Generator which was hooked up to my skimmer, I purchased a separate Ozone Reactor and Carbon Media Reactor from Avast Marine Works for this system. The Del Ozone Generator came highly recommended by Dave (o2manyfish) and I received positive comments on it from Justin at Avast.
Everyone that I spoke with felt that with the size of my system and my current bio-load, it would be difficult to raise my ORP very much. I was able to get it into the 420's before I started to have the "fuse" issues and assume that once this is corrected, I should not have any problems.
Unfortunately, I did not have time today to install the EcoTech Pro Fixtures. After watching Arizona crush ASU in basketball, we ended up going out for dinner, a movie... hopefully tomorrow after my sons basketball practice!
Newbie Aquarist
Reefing is my middle name
Do you thinks that you might be having some form of electrical spike going to that system or within the system?
danfeig
.Registered Member
Thank you montiporalova!
danfeig
.Registered Member
I don't. Not sure why the fuse keeps blowing. I did drop the unit when I was first hanging it, but it appeared fine. It is plugged into one of my EB-8's on my APEX that is mostly filled with low voltage items...air pumps, power heads, etc. I will plug it into to a direct socket that has its own dedicated circuit and see if that makes a difference.
HunterBryan
New member
Your tank is amazing! I've been in this hobby for almost a year now (I know I'm a rookie) and I've learned alot through ur build man! Great work
Newbie Aquarist
Reefing is my middle name
Yes I was going to suggest that as a probable idea.
danfeig
.Registered Member
EcoTech Marine Radion Pro's
EcoTech Marine Radion Pro's
So I installed the four new Radion XR30w Pro fixtures this afternoon.
Piece of cake!
To swap out the fixtures took maybe 30 minutes. I just needed to replace the hanging kits on my old fixtures and attach them to the new units.
I spread the four lights out. Two in front and two in the rear. Can I visually tell the difference? Nope. The lights were certainly cleaner and brighter when I first installed them. Once I synced them with my existing fixtures, they blended right in. I placed one of them directly over my clams and am anxious to see how they respond. Time will tell.
My four older units were placed in the same cartons and will be shipped back to EcoTech tomorrow morning. They included prepaid return labels. Hopefully my next set of four will be sent as soon as these ones are received.
I am going to have Griffin come out and shoot some before and after tanks shots as soon as the balance of the fixtures are installed so I can have a new basis to measure growth.
EcoTech Marine Radion Pro's
So I installed the four new Radion XR30w Pro fixtures this afternoon.
Piece of cake!
To swap out the fixtures took maybe 30 minutes. I just needed to replace the hanging kits on my old fixtures and attach them to the new units.
I spread the four lights out. Two in front and two in the rear. Can I visually tell the difference? Nope. The lights were certainly cleaner and brighter when I first installed them. Once I synced them with my existing fixtures, they blended right in. I placed one of them directly over my clams and am anxious to see how they respond. Time will tell.
My four older units were placed in the same cartons and will be shipped back to EcoTech tomorrow morning. They included prepaid return labels. Hopefully my next set of four will be sent as soon as these ones are received.
I am going to have Griffin come out and shoot some before and after tanks shots as soon as the balance of the fixtures are installed so I can have a new basis to measure growth.
danfeig
.Registered Member
Achilles QT Update
Achilles QT Update
So my two Achilles are doing fantastic! No more spots and both are eating very well. They are back together and take turns chasing one another when they are not grazing on algae. They are kinda fun to watch. The bigger one will start to chase the smaller and they will go in a circle like a dog chasing its tail. All of a sudden its the smaller one chasing the larger.
I removed the smaller Moorish Idol from the tank and placed him with a couple of melo Blonde Naso Tangs that I have in another QT. It is not doing well. I am offering it a ton of live brine shrimp, but, it just does not have a good appetite. I am hoping it will eat more in this different environment. I am hoping that this tank is less stressful for it. The other Idol is rockin'.
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Achilles QT Update
So my two Achilles are doing fantastic! No more spots and both are eating very well. They are back together and take turns chasing one another when they are not grazing on algae. They are kinda fun to watch. The bigger one will start to chase the smaller and they will go in a circle like a dog chasing its tail. All of a sudden its the smaller one chasing the larger.
I removed the smaller Moorish Idol from the tank and placed him with a couple of melo Blonde Naso Tangs that I have in another QT. It is not doing well. I am offering it a ton of live brine shrimp, but, it just does not have a good appetite. I am hoping it will eat more in this different environment. I am hoping that this tank is less stressful for it. The other Idol is rockin'.
o2manyfish
o2manyfish
Dan,
I have been using the Del Ozonizers for 10+ years and previously had 2 running when I had my FO tank. I think I have changed a fuse maybe once or twice in that time. And that was on the unit on the outside system, after it was exposed to rain.
Switching to the Relay Latched outlet on the EB8 might do the trick.
For the Moorish Idol, have you tried placing it with the other idol doing well. In my experience with them I always found that they play follow the leader well and once you get one eating the rest of the group will follow - I always had them in groups of 3 or 4.
Dave B
Dave B
I have been using the Del Ozonizers for 10+ years and previously had 2 running when I had my FO tank. I think I have changed a fuse maybe once or twice in that time. And that was on the unit on the outside system, after it was exposed to rain.
Switching to the Relay Latched outlet on the EB8 might do the trick.
For the Moorish Idol, have you tried placing it with the other idol doing well. In my experience with them I always found that they play follow the leader well and once you get one eating the rest of the group will follow - I always had them in groups of 3 or 4.
Dave B
Dave B
david00061
New member
Dan your tank IS looking great
danfeig
.Registered Member
HunterBryan,
Thank you for the compliments! The best part of Reef Central is learning from everyones builds. If I can be of any assistance to you, don't hesitate to ask. I am constantly seeking advice from fellow reefers!
danfeig
.Registered Member
Thanks Joe. I am really pleased with them. I am going to have two new acclimation boxes made (large) that I can hang in my main display so that their future roommates can get used to them. And vice versa... I am only worried about one of my Purple Tangs. She can be a real Bit..!!!!
It has been suggested that perhaps I add a couple Guinea Pigs, a Yellow Tang or two at the same time I introduce the Achilles. I have two yellow's that came as gifts with orders from Blue Zoo Aquatics. I removed them because one of the Purples was harassing them. They don't seem to bother my other Yellow's though. These have also gotten significantly bigger.
Once the Achilles go into the acclimation boxes, I will have two small Sohal Tangs sent out to me.
degibson84
New member
OK i just read about 20 pages and i just need to see a current FTS. I am just getting started with a 220 gallon build
danfeig
.Registered Member
Thanks Steve!
The Clown Tang is also doing well and has been with me now for a little over a month now. He is about an inch smaller than the one that went over my overflow.
. I may place him in the main display this weekend and see how he gets along with my other Clown Tang. With my Achilles and Moorish Idols, I haven't thought much about moving him or my Blonde Nasos.
danfeig
.Registered Member
Dave (o2manywomen),
Always good to hear from you my friend!
Let's see. I had the Ozone Generator plugged into the relay outlet of my EB8 and had the same issue. After spending time on the phone with Del customer support, it was determined that my unit is defective.
So, I have ordered a new unit, should arrive on Thursday and will be returning the old one for my money back.
With regards to the Moorish Idol, for close to 3 weeks she was with her fellow Idol along with the two Achilles and a Clown Tang. Perhaps there was too much excitement, but, she just has not been eating as much and has been acting "eh."
I have her in my other QT with a pair of Blonde Naso's and unfortunately does not appear to be doing any better. I have added a large piece of live rock to her tank with a lot of sponge on it, been feeding a lot of live brine ship and a variety of other frozen foods soaked in both garlic and selcon. Hopefully, she will pull through.
How are things with your system?
