A Smart? Aquarium in Taiwan...

[shaggss]

I probably should start explaining why I put a title as a "œsmart" aquarium...

As you may find out... I use complete Apex control system. I think that is a significant step to help reefer be smart ;-) and able to take "œsome" vocation somewhere, sometime"¦Hahaha

But this is not good enough. My friend Elton (especial Elton) and I, sometimes have family migration period from 3 weeks to 9 weeks (Taiwan/US, or Taiwan/China)"¦. All SPS additives may just stop temporary and SPS still maintain ok color and grow, Ca and Mg can shift a bit without hurting Coral, but Alkalinity (KH), I think it has to keep less than 5~10% fluctuation all the time.

Yes, I may skip Calcium reactor and using a GHL dosing system, but I still don't know my KH value when out of town, and no way to correct it. Asking a friend to do some minimum maintain work per week? Yes, maybe, but when build a complicate system, then I got to find a friend with equal knowledge to do it to avoid collateral damage, that is hard.

I put my hope on Mindstream for a while, but then realize they have big delay and all updates are around other water parameters, no KH update so far.
Then we talk to another friend in Taiwan, Dr. Bridge (a nickname I call him"¦Haha)

(DR. BRIDGE....)

He then invented a prototype for KH auto test, monitoring, and correction daily or hourly.

(A LAB TANK WITHOUT ANY MANUAL KH CORRECTION for 9 MONTHS)

Above is his tank running with the prototype, absolutely no manual KH test and KH correction for 9 months, and his KH daily log show less than 10% fluctuation all the time.

Stay tuned...

If the good Dr has perfected this, he will be a MILLIONAIRE over night. Good luck and wish you both great success.

PS. Great tank build too!

 

[shih87]

Sorry if my post was confusing, USA humor, OCD stands for obsessive compulsive disorder, meaning someone who likes things very neat and tidy. I am a fan of this way of thinking in reefing. Your friends ALK automation is the HOLY GRAIL of reefkeeping, I hope he can perfect it for sale to hobbyist.

Hahaha...No wonder I enjoy watching Monk TV series a lot....:lol2:

你不明白我说的呀。我说我看你装的，不小心高潮了。太棒了

Ha... Then now I know you speak fluent Chinese. 謝謝你啦...

What clean build, inspiring stand and set up! Looking forward to seeing the tanks progress.

Welcome any comments and feedbacks...

I'm interested to know more about the kh monitoring and dosing system!

If the good Dr has perfected this, he will be a MILLIONAIRE over night. Good luck and wish you both great success.

PS. Great tank build too!

Here is the prototype #1 and #2...... It is a 15 cm X 15 cm X 25 cm in size and weight 1.5Kg for now... He is still waiting his IP to get approve (almost there) so sorry I have to mosaic the most critical part for now....

Anyway, I am excited to get his toy on my tank soon....:bounce1:

A separate link in DIY section will explain more there....http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=23420654#post23420654

 

[biggles]

That looks like a bloody good invention i must say mate, i also like the secret spy pics..........:thumbsup:

 

[shih87]

My very first time out of town for weekend....

Forget to turn of light on sump...:headwallblue:

Apex APP turn it off

Done...

Thanks to smart aquarium technology....:celeb1:

 

[reefmutt]

Show off!
I like it!!

 

[psidriven]

Very nice. I got a similar gate valve from the states too. Too bad taiwan doesn't stock it. I like the automation. Will you do an auto water change system too?

 

[shih87]

That looks like a bloody good invention i must say mate, i also like the secret spy pics..........:thumbsup:

Thank. All Alk auto test and correction tool discussion can be continue in DIY section.

Show off!
I like it!!

Is it really that obvious!?:eek1: Hahaha"¦
Ahem"¦.what I really want just document most of my activities on reefing and RC forum sounds a perfect place. Plus I may get some bonus as receiving reefers excellent advices.

Very nice. I got a similar gate valve from the states too. Too bad taiwan doesn't stock it. I like the automation. Will you do an auto water change system too?

For water change, I don't do it automatically. Flooding is my nightmare so... I always do water change at night manually.

 

[biggles]

Why do you do your water changes at night mate ?

 

[shih87]

Why do you do your water changes at night mate ?

No particular reason, but most of weekends I leave home to visit my mom, and get home after 7:00 pm on weekday....However, water change at night has one big advantage, which I always stay at home at least 8 hours after water change, that help to find and fix any mistake on time.

 

[shih87]

First front side shot. These corals added in tank 2 and 4 days ago. Some are still in dark color (I got to get my blue color SPS back:facepalm, but so far all looks healthy enough.

None of them glue on rock yet, so my turbo snail knock them off a few times already…

Stay tuned….

 

[tfp]

shih, are there many sps hobbiest in Taiwan? If life goes to plan, I will get to visit Taiwan the last week of April .

 

[sahin]

Looking great already. This is going to be awesome! Cant wait to see your reef develope.

 

[shih87]

shih, are there many sps hobbiest in Taiwan? If life goes to plan, I will get to visit Taiwan the last week of April .

Welcome. Yes, there are quite a lot reefers in Taiwan. If you dig, you will find lots of fun of reefing here. Let me know if you need my help.

Looking great already. This is going to be awesome! Cant wait to see your reef develope.

Thanks for always support me here.
Here are some more coral and fish pictures.....

Very normal and common algae all over my rocks since death rocks are used to fresh start a tank

Some full tank shots

 

[shih87]

some more.....

 

[ryanrid]

progressing well

 

[glaukos]

+1!
Great pics too!

 

[sahin]

Very nice. I started with dead rock like you. In about 3 months they are clear. Only my large place rock still has probably about 25% algae, but it is disappearing each week.

I really like the aquascape:

The open area with the blue coral in the center is a very cool idea. A few clams in there would look very nice.

 

[reefmutt]

+1
Looks great!
Fantastic start.

 

[shih87]

progressing well

Thanks for the kind words.

+1!
Great pics too!

Thanks. I am still not figuring out photo shooting skills, but the new CPL lens did help to avoid most light reflection when shoot top down..

Very nice. I started with dead rock like you. In about 3 months they are clear. Only my large place rock still has probably about 25% algae, but it is disappearing each week.

I really like the aquascape:
...

The open area with the blue coral in the center is a very cool idea. A few clams in there would look very nice.

It took three months to clear them :bigeyes:
Ok, at least now I have the mind set right.

The blue coral is actually a friend's new buy, but temporary stay in my tank since he is building new tank now. Looks like I should ask for a frag. Hahaha...

Clam... hmmmm.... You may see one soon in my tank....
Thanks for the great idea

+1
Looks great!
Fantastic start.

Will try hard to keep and improve from this point....

 

[shih87]

Looks like I got to refresh my memory for water change SOP ;-(

I did my first true water change two days ago, but totally forget the new tank is 30 cm wider than old tank, so when added fresh salt mix water, with a new and stronger pump, it pull lots of bottom stuff into my tank. I was wonder why tank become cloudy, but did not pay much attention....

Day 2, I checked my water parameters and KH pop-up reading at 9.5 dkH, which is 2 dkH higher than my normal reading…. I did a emergency water change for 10L, and turned doser off to expect a gradualtguy drop in next couple days.

Day 3, when I was in office, text message from APEX poped-up and warmed me that water temperature is under 70oF… What!!! but then why my heater did not turn ON!?

I then immediately drove home and found I forgot to put my temp/PH/ORP probes back to sump when pull them up yesterday for water change….

I hope my ph/orp probe won’t damage by stay in dry air 18 hours, so far it look ok....