Building Big Bertha: 800G

[jnarowe]

Ben,

Rick has his act together for sure. I just picked up some of his Algae Dozer Scraper pads and they work extremely well on coraline algae without scraping the acrylic. After two years of screwing around with scrapers, pads, etc. I am happy to report these friggin' things rock!

 

[bbrantley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11720525#post11720525 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
Ben,

Rick has his act together for sure. I just picked up some of his Algae Dozer Scraper pads and they work extremely well on coraline algae without scraping the acrylic. After two years of screwing around with scrapers, pads, etc. I am happy to report these friggin' things rock!

Yes, he is quality through and through. I generally try to run the magnets daily or at least every other day, and with low coraline growth to date, I only use the aggressive scraper every now and then for really tough stuff. It works great. I like that there is a nice continuum of scraping aggressiveness, so it makes it more predictable to work with and really helps reduce the likelihood of a scratch.

Ben

 

[mlandrigan]

Ok, you begged for it... What about a closed loop, Ben?

- Matt

 

[H20ENG]

What is the scraper material for the coralline?

 

[bbrantley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11722279#post11722279 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mlandrigan
Ok, you begged for it... What about a closed loop, Ben?

- Matt

I was afraid of a closed loop, in fact. How would I know where to place the holes? What if I didn't like where I put them?

It seemed like something that would be irreversible and require a lot of intuition up-front in the design process -- both big no-no's for this reefkeeping beginner. I reasoned that, despite the hassle of having pumps inside the tank, I would find the trade-off in flexibility worth it. Today I believe that's true, especially as pumps and controllers get better and better. It also really helps to have a deep tank with a black portion that "hides" the pumps and wires pretty well. I do think if you really know exactly what you'll need flow-wise and topology-wise, though, that closed loop is probably better. (Of course, I also think surge systems are probably even better... but good luck with that!)

 

[jnarowe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11724893#post11724893 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by H20ENG
What is the scraper material for the coralline?

I really don't know. It looks like some kind of polymer. Haven't cut it up to check it out either.

 

[bbrantley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11724893#post11724893 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by H20ENG
What is the scraper material for the coralline?

The aggressive scraper has some kind of triangular plastic-ky material. It is soft and subject to wearing down, because the instructions explain that it may be necessary to resharpen it from time to time. (I haven't used it enough to warrant that.) I'm not sure what it's made of exactly... it's very weird looking, like some kind of composite. It also looks like it has longitudinal striations, which might be the result of how it's made.

Jonathan has a picture of it on his thread; he and I both brought this equipment up at almost the same time in our separate posts. Weird, huh?

Ben

 

[H20ENG]

I'll have a look, thanks.

It almost sounds like fiberglass or phenolic material the way you describe it, but that would scratch the acrylic. Maybe just PP or PE. That stuff is easy to sharpen (if you have a tablesaw) and glides right over acrylic.

 

[H20ENG]

Ben,
Youve got room for this in your little 800g tank No closed loop needed. 500GPM @0.5HP. Its camoflauged to blend in with the rockwork of the coldwater tank its going in. We can throw some aragocrete on it and it'll be reef ready

 

[jnarowe]

what the heck is that, and where do I get one?

 

[H20ENG]

Jon,
A 500GPM circulator with a faux rock base to keep it from blowing around the tank. Its only half horse too. It'll be used as a small "powerhead" in a 335,000g tank

 

[jnarowe]

how do you keep fish out of it?

 

[bbrantley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11725495#post11725495 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
how do you keep fish out of it?

Yeah, and how do you take it out for maintenance?

I'll, err, keep thinking about it.

B

 

[erics3000]

That is a sweet poo blower

 

[Harleyguy]

I Like it.... Can I get 10 for my tank???? It will look like a post apocalyptic reef

 

[OnlyCrimson]

pssssshhh i got like 10 of those in my tank

 

[H20ENG]

Sorry Ben, lol. cant wait to see your mag mounts! Watch your fingers!!

 

[kar93]

sooooo, Did anybody get an FTS would really like to see one?

 

[bbrantley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11730142#post11730142 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kar93
sooooo, Did anybody get an FTS would really like to see one?

Your wish is my... command:

 

[Jar*Head]

Your aquascape look awesome.