A Smart? Aquarium in Taiwan...

[sahin]

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....

I'm glad it wasnt a disaster! :deadhorse:

I think you should locate the temp/PH/ORP probes in a part of the sump where you dont need to remove them during water changes. It is easy to forget to put things back.

I am definitely going to buy one of these Apex units soon.

 

[shih87]

I'm glad it wasnt a disaster! :deadhorse:

I think you should locate the temp/PH/ORP probes in a part of the sump where you dont need to remove them during water changes. It is easy to forget to put things back.

I am definitely going to buy one of these Apex units soon.

You bet. I am going to use the device below, so it carry sump water to my probes instead of placing probes to sump water.

For Apex, IMO...that is one of the best investment for reefer. If also added IPCam and some DIY device, amazing things can work.

water level sensor, a DIY gift from Dr. bridge

It connect to my Apex I/O breakout box and use its switch control

Once skimmer section water above high level, stop skimmer to avoid overflood; lower then low level, stop return pump to avoid pump damage and fire

I am thinking add a level sensor in Skimmer cup directly like below... but not sure if it is an over kill:headwalls: What is your opinion!?

 

[acesq]

I just added a float sensor to my skimmer cup. Simple and effective and best of all no more smelly skimmer cup overflows to clean up! While they are fairly rare for me, when they do happen, it is a pain to clean up.

 

[sahin]

I would definitely add on. So useful skimmer overflows.

 

[Charlene]

Everything looks wonderful. How do your make and store your saltwater and RO water? Also, you might check out aquaticlog dot com. Its a nice logbook app that interfaces with Apex but it does so much more such as calendar reminders for maintenance and tracking power usage. You can log maintenance and test results via iphone. Best is how easy it is to track all tank parameters.

I'd also really like a pic of titanium heat exchanger in sump and how do your turn it on and off? Is it apex controlled? Can I buy one in US?

Anyways this is awesome build thread!

Cheers!

 

[shih87]

I just added a float sensor to my skimmer cup. Simple and effective and best of all no more smelly skimmer cup overflows to clean up! While they are fairly rare for me, when they do happen, it is a pain to clean up.

Agree completely!!!

I would definitely add on. So useful skimmer overflows.

Although BK skimmer is very stable, but you are right, I will still add the sensor in.

Everything looks wonderful. How do your make and store your saltwater and RO water? Also, you might check out aquaticlog dot com. Its a nice logbook app that interfaces with Apex but it does so much more such as calendar reminders for maintenance and tracking power usage. You can log maintenance and test results via iphone. Best is how easy it is to track all tank parameters.

I'd also really like a pic of titanium heat exchanger in sump and how do your turn it on and off? Is it apex controlled? Can I buy one in US?

Anyways this is awesome build thread!

Cheers!

For saltwater and RO water, I only use two garbage cans (20 gallon each) and plan to upgrade to bigger (50 gallon each) ones soon.
Aquaticlog is a good tool, thank you. The only issue I found so far is add pictures, since it did not take Flickr link, that means I need to upload all pictures again here. Not sure my understanding is correct or not, or do they support flickr?

Titanium hear exchanger is quite effective for Taiwan weather, but I am not sure if that service available in US or not, although I don't see any technical difficulty exist.

Here are some new pictures after I glue my coral, and how I use Aquaticlog so far. Thanks for the information.

2/8 Green

2/15 turn to yellow body with pink tip

shh... try to get all color in one picket, but algae all over dead rock make the look awful...

kick in Aquaticlog :beer:

 

[Charlene]

Very nice!

 

[glaukos]

+1!
It looks very good shih!Don't worry abou the rock too much,it will look purple in no time!

 

[sahin]

Tank is great. Awesome start. :beer:

 

[shih87]

Borrow a PAR reader from friend and here are my readings after KZ coral snow used and cleaned

Observation 1: Just half centimeter, above and below water surface make big different
Observation 2: direct below lights and beyond lights coverage make big different
Observation 3: my fishes seem very interested in par sensor…..Hahaha

 

[sahin]

Ouch those are crazy PAR numbers. Maybe you need to put the fixture higher to reduce some PAR?

 

[Reefvet]

Borrow a PAR reader from friend and here are my readings after KZ coral snow used and cleaned

Are these measured with the Apogee PAR meter or something else ?

Those numbers seem very, very high and I'd question the accuracy.

 

[bdsage]

wow I want to see how this plays out...definitely following

 

[shih87]

Very nice!

+1!
It looks very good shih!Don't worry abou the rock too much,it will look purple in no time!

Tank is great. Awesome start. :beer:

Thanks, guys.... Happy Lunar New Year:dance:

 

[shih87]

Ouch those are crazy PAR numbers. Maybe you need to put the fixture higher to reduce some PAR?

You must sneak in my house sometime....

You are right, I usually move up the fixture another 10 cm. The measurement is try to get what is maximum of ATI can performance. So I measure it with 100% T5 and LED, even right after KZ Coral Snow was used and cleaned.

I did another measurement with same high, just no Coral Snow for more than 48 hours. Water surface is still 1900 reading, but at coral level, the PAR reading has noticeable drop....(around 50)

Sorry, I miss another picture from different view angle, and here it is.

Are these measured with the Apogee PAR meter or something else ?

Those numbers seem very, very high and I'd question the accuracy.

You are right. This is the PAR reader I used (in red box), and I made a holder (in red circle) for easy reading. I did see the reading at each spot fluctuated 25 to 50. I suspect it is the surface wave!? Maybe I should turn off my Tunze...

However, I found my reading are very close to Andrew's (Reef in the sky) reading http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=22055792&postcount=1743with same ATI fixture, if I am not misunderstood his thread.

wow I want to see how this plays out...definitely following

Thanks. For PAR readying, I will take another measurement after 3 months, just for fun and check how good ATI tube is.

 

[ryanrid]

that PAR looks pretty accurate to me

 

[Reefvet]

The measurement is try to get what is maximum of ATI can performance. So I measure it with 100% T5 and LED, even right after KZ Coral Snow was used and cleaned.

If you have the light running at 100% with the LEDS then I can believe those numbers. Thank you for explaining.

What do you run the lights at normally ?

 

[shih87]

Happy Lunar New Year

During these day-offs, I try to run an inventory of my tank, but it is just too hard to complete with correct name:facepalm:. Anyway, thanks to AquaticLog who provide an easy tool to start

 

[Leonardo_]

Happy new year! Really enjoy your build so far, can't wait how it will develop.

Leo

 

[shih87]

Happy new year! Really enjoy your build so far, can't wait how it will develop.

Leo

Thank you, Leo.
Talking about the system build, I think I forget some details below.....

Sincerely appreciate friend's acrylic art for my dosing system"¦.It run well so far, and I may need more now ;-)