Austin goes Rimless - Dudester's 203g mixed reef
- Thread starter Dudester
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jnarowe
New member
I fully understand the issue with having the Vortech motor and cable viewable and that is not an issue for me since my tank is in-wall. I fully respect that point and probably would do a closed loop on a in veiwing room install.
As far as look of these two, I don't like seeing either one in my tank. As far as I am concerned, they are ALL visual pollution. In fact, when I re-aquascape my tank in the next few weeks, I will be moving the MP-40s below the sight line.
And as far as being a test subject, I feel your pain Dudester! :lol: Lucky for you there are all sorts of people willing to take the risk. I am intrigued by the wave box myself, but I just can't picture them having a sizable impact on my water volume. If I were to employ a wave machine, I think it would have to be some sort of DIY 50 - 100g deal, and I don't want to do that because of the coast-to-coast overflow that I employ.
I know from what I have seen that the Vortech will produce a very realistic reef surge when set up properly, and I am installing Penductors on my return lines for mid-water column flow. I am just not sure what I will do about surface flow. If the Vortechs are deep in my tank, they may have no impact on the surface at all. Anyway, stayed tuned as I am going to give her all I got!
As far as look of these two, I don't like seeing either one in my tank. As far as I am concerned, they are ALL visual pollution. In fact, when I re-aquascape my tank in the next few weeks, I will be moving the MP-40s below the sight line.
And as far as being a test subject, I feel your pain Dudester! :lol: Lucky for you there are all sorts of people willing to take the risk. I am intrigued by the wave box myself, but I just can't picture them having a sizable impact on my water volume. If I were to employ a wave machine, I think it would have to be some sort of DIY 50 - 100g deal, and I don't want to do that because of the coast-to-coast overflow that I employ.
I know from what I have seen that the Vortech will produce a very realistic reef surge when set up properly, and I am installing Penductors on my return lines for mid-water column flow. I am just not sure what I will do about surface flow. If the Vortechs are deep in my tank, they may have no impact on the surface at all. Anyway, stayed tuned as I am going to give her all I got!
Yo MJ-
You're gonna love the wave box. Its bad *** man. Plus living in austin, if something goes wrong which inevitably does with any brand of aquarium equipment- drive over to rogers and get a replacement. Can't beat service like that!
Here is the verdict-
Vortechs are cool for inwall setups.
Tunzes are cool for on-wall setups.
Marcus
You're gonna love the wave box. Its bad *** man. Plus living in austin, if something goes wrong which inevitably does with any brand of aquarium equipment- drive over to rogers and get a replacement. Can't beat service like that!
Here is the verdict-
Vortechs are cool for inwall setups.
Tunzes are cool for on-wall setups.
Marcus
KingfishJohn
New member
The thing for me that Mike touched on, is that I have yet to see the Vortech wavemaker on any practical tank working. I say "practical tank" because a small cube full of water, with no overflow, live rock, etc., is not a good demo for me. I want to see the 2 vortecs on a larger tank and see if they can dial in the resonance of the tank then.
I also agree that comparing a Tunze nanostream to a Vortech is like comparing a Kia to a Mercedes. They just aren't anywhere near the same level.
As Marcus mentioned, Tunze USA is located in Austin which also makes the choice a little easier.
My experience with the wavebox so far is that it can help every application that it is used in, but looks ugly in the process. Mike's office tank wouldn't be close to the same tank without the wavebox, and now that I feed out of it, I don't think it detracts from the look of the aquarium as everytime you stand by it fish zoom out of the rockwork.
And to end it, Fishypet's Vortech SUCKED. It was hot, noisy, and stopped working. I'm POSITIVE they improved the Vortech since that 1st gen model but I don't want to be part of the "testing" phase.
I also agree that comparing a Tunze nanostream to a Vortech is like comparing a Kia to a Mercedes. They just aren't anywhere near the same level.
As Marcus mentioned, Tunze USA is located in Austin which also makes the choice a little easier.
My experience with the wavebox so far is that it can help every application that it is used in, but looks ugly in the process. Mike's office tank wouldn't be close to the same tank without the wavebox, and now that I feed out of it, I don't think it detracts from the look of the aquarium as everytime you stand by it fish zoom out of the rockwork.
And to end it, Fishypet's Vortech SUCKED. It was hot, noisy, and stopped working. I'm POSITIVE they improved the Vortech since that 1st gen model but I don't want to be part of the "testing" phase.
Dudester
Premium Member
I almost didn't see this amongst the wavemaking discussion. Thanks a lot, mate. Cheers!<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10799730#post10799730 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by new_world_disor
love the tank so far mate. gd work. really like the aquascaping !
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thedude15810 - Word. :smokin:
erics3000
Active member
I love thoes vortecs that look awsome I hope to get a couple down the line. I was looking at that awsome thread where everyone and marc has been posting photos from macna. Did you see the tanks that has a bok in the middle with a hole in the bottom so they could put vortechs in the center of the tank..sweet..
Dudester
Premium Member
Finally, something to talk about
Finally, something to talk about
The tank's just been percolating for a while, without much action at all. That finally changed. I mentioned I had lots of copepods on the glass, and now I'm seeing a ton of amphipods crawling all over the aquascape. The sand is developing worm tunnels, along with an ugly coating of film on the surface. But more importantly ...
I'm now officially a ZEOvit dude! I chose to use this form of filtration due to the glowing results I've seen in many of the European tanks, particularly those lit with T5's, as I intend to do. The corals just seem to have richer, purer coloration than most other systems, in my opinion. I also like the fact that it's a fantastic method to keep phosphates under control, which seems to be a hastle even for many of the more experience reefers out there.
I received my reactor late last week but didn't have time to begin setting it up until yesterday. It's a GroTech reactor and came with an Eheim 1250. Here's how it looks.
The reactor didn't come with a manual, and you wouldn't believe how difficult it was for me to figure out how to get it situated and running. First of all, being a German product, all of the plumbing is in metric sizes. This mattered because the Eheim puts out 317 gph, and I need to run only 150-170 gph through the reactor. I wanted to dial down the flow from the pump but instead thought I'd try to dial it down from the effluent plumbing, which is closer to 1", in order to conserve space in the sump. When I dialed down the effluect flow with the ball valve I installed, it simply flooded the top off of the reactor, rendering this option a dud. So I looked around my tank supplies and happened upon a MaxiJet600 which, as fortune would have it, puts out 160 gph. Perfect! I rigged this up to fit into the 20mm reactor inlet plumbing by wrapping the MJ outlet with teflon tape, and I squeezed this into a segment of 1/2" nylon tubing. This was secured with a plastic hose clamp, and the assembly was inserted into the 20mm plumbing. Here's how it looks.
It's now running in the sump, although it takes up more room than I had anticipated. Once I add the gate valve to the Eheim pump, I'm not sure I'll have room in the sump for this.
Finally, something to talk about
The tank's just been percolating for a while, without much action at all. That finally changed. I mentioned I had lots of copepods on the glass, and now I'm seeing a ton of amphipods crawling all over the aquascape. The sand is developing worm tunnels, along with an ugly coating of film on the surface. But more importantly ...
I'm now officially a ZEOvit dude! I chose to use this form of filtration due to the glowing results I've seen in many of the European tanks, particularly those lit with T5's, as I intend to do. The corals just seem to have richer, purer coloration than most other systems, in my opinion. I also like the fact that it's a fantastic method to keep phosphates under control, which seems to be a hastle even for many of the more experience reefers out there.
I received my reactor late last week but didn't have time to begin setting it up until yesterday. It's a GroTech reactor and came with an Eheim 1250. Here's how it looks.
The reactor didn't come with a manual, and you wouldn't believe how difficult it was for me to figure out how to get it situated and running. First of all, being a German product, all of the plumbing is in metric sizes. This mattered because the Eheim puts out 317 gph, and I need to run only 150-170 gph through the reactor. I wanted to dial down the flow from the pump but instead thought I'd try to dial it down from the effluent plumbing, which is closer to 1", in order to conserve space in the sump. When I dialed down the effluect flow with the ball valve I installed, it simply flooded the top off of the reactor, rendering this option a dud. So I looked around my tank supplies and happened upon a MaxiJet600 which, as fortune would have it, puts out 160 gph. Perfect! I rigged this up to fit into the 20mm reactor inlet plumbing by wrapping the MJ outlet with teflon tape, and I squeezed this into a segment of 1/2" nylon tubing. This was secured with a plastic hose clamp, and the assembly was inserted into the 20mm plumbing. Here's how it looks.
It's now running in the sump, although it takes up more room than I had anticipated. Once I add the gate valve to the Eheim pump, I'm not sure I'll have room in the sump for this.
Bax
Premium Member
If the Maxi will give you ample flow, save the room for the RD!
I am very interested to see how the Zeo works out for you. So you're thinking that now that the Zeo is in place, you'll be able to consider stocking in a few more weeks? Sounds like you already had a bit of a cycle too.
I am very interested to see how the Zeo works out for you. So you're thinking that now that the Zeo is in place, you'll be able to consider stocking in a few more weeks? Sounds like you already had a bit of a cycle too.
Dudester
Premium Member
jnarowe - Why yes, yes it is.
Bax - Great minds think alike
. I am definitely keeping the RD internal. Eventually I may have to increase the flow through the ZEO reactor, so I could then change to a MJ 900 while maintaining the same pump footprint. The only reason I'd prefer to change to the Eheim pump is due to its reliability, and I don't think the impeller of the Eheim would seize as readily as the MJ's. Of course with routine maintenance and cleaning I could assure myself that doesn't happen, but I also like the precision of the gate valve to dial in and modify the flow through the reactor when necessary. Last night in bed, a solution came to me as if it were a dream. I could get an acrylic stand to elevate the ZEOvit reactor and Eheim 1250 which would cover only a portion of the RD pump. Now all I have to do is find someone with some acrylic and some Weld-On. Hmm, who could that be?
I've already moved the Eheim 1262 chiller feed pump out of the sump return chamber to make some room, and that pump was placed in the 'work' compartment of the sump, where the calcium reactor and fluidized reactor (for carbon) sit. I initially had the 1262 in the last return chamber since the water goes from the chiller then into the display, and I wanted to avoid microbubbles, but the flow isn't that high through this pump and it sits pretty deep in the 'work' chamber, so I don't think it's going to contribute any microbubbles to the system.
Bax - Great minds think alike
. I am definitely keeping the RD internal. Eventually I may have to increase the flow through the ZEO reactor, so I could then change to a MJ 900 while maintaining the same pump footprint. The only reason I'd prefer to change to the Eheim pump is due to its reliability, and I don't think the impeller of the Eheim would seize as readily as the MJ's. Of course with routine maintenance and cleaning I could assure myself that doesn't happen, but I also like the precision of the gate valve to dial in and modify the flow through the reactor when necessary. Last night in bed, a solution came to me as if it were a dream. I could get an acrylic stand to elevate the ZEOvit reactor and Eheim 1250 which would cover only a portion of the RD pump. Now all I have to do is find someone with some acrylic and some Weld-On. Hmm, who could that be?I've already moved the Eheim 1262 chiller feed pump out of the sump return chamber to make some room, and that pump was placed in the 'work' compartment of the sump, where the calcium reactor and fluidized reactor (for carbon) sit. I initially had the 1262 in the last return chamber since the water goes from the chiller then into the display, and I wanted to avoid microbubbles, but the flow isn't that high through this pump and it sits pretty deep in the 'work' chamber, so I don't think it's going to contribute any microbubbles to the system.
Dudester
Premium Member
Great to see you here, Ace. I met you once at the frag swap held at Marcus and Dallis' house, but it was only a very brief introduction. Thanks for the offer, but if I ask really nicely I might be able to get Brian to hook me up with something. I would like to visit your place some time to check out all of your beautiful tanks. I've been following some of your threads on MAAST (I'm "mojo" in that forum).
bleedingthought
New member
Your tank is looking very nice and I particularly like how tidy things are. Congrats!
Dudester
Premium Member
bleedingthought - Thank you for the kind words, glad you like it.
GMFett - I'm just trying to be like you is all :smokin: . The goodies I got today are for the office tank, so those will be posted in that thread eventually. Wow, word travels fast! I did get some great news yesterday, however, about a package that's now in the mail. Next week is gonna be HUGE for this tank!
GMFett - I'm just trying to be like you is all :smokin: . The goodies I got today are for the office tank, so those will be posted in that thread eventually. Wow, word travels fast! I did get some great news yesterday, however, about a package that's now in the mail. Next week is gonna be HUGE for this tank!
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