CADlights 39g Pro build thread

[timdanger]

of course you can turn them down. but, why spend the money on mp40s when you could get mp20s to do the same thing? you're going to be turning them down anyway. and, you'd probably be turning down the mp20s, too, wouldn't you?

the mp40s give you upgrade flexibility, for sure -- but if you're talking about something for a 39g cube, wouldn't you agree that you're buying more than you need and more than you can reasonably use. if money is no object, maybe that's a different story, but when is money not an object? i'd rather save the $100+ per unit and spend it on frags.

Good comment above as to the flow pattern on the 10 vs 20. The same applies to the 20 vs 40.

Yes you can keep fish in a 39 with 2 X 40s', its called turning them down and alternating patterns. ie: waves!!

I am not trying to be smart but I want flexibility with everything I do. The more flexibility one has the better off we are.

 

[reeftivo]

timdanger,

I checked out the sump you're selling and it looks good. I don't need it but some one could just put some liquid acrylic filler right on that tiny crack and fix it right up. Did you get another stock sump, or did you go with a berliner or something like that? There are a few (not many) 24" options out there but the stock sump actually works really well. IMO the fuge chamber is too narrow for a DSB to be effective but works well with a good chaeto ball and maybe an inch or so of mud or sand. I removed my mud because while it was working very good, everytime it would get disturbed by a crab or fiddling it would cause a mild sediment cloud in the fuge which would always affect my skimmer for a while. I'm just running chaeto in there now and have O trates and phos so I'm very happy.

I'm finally done with my stinking redslime algae and diatoms which were started a while back after I broke my skimmer. The red slime was from lack of skimming and the diatoms were from my RO/DI unit. All is good now and ready for more goodies.

I really love this tank! It's so clean looking. I have it to the left of where I sit in the living room and my wife usually sits to my right when we are talking or watching a program. She is getting annoyed now because when she comments on something we are watching, she looks over and sure enough there I am watching the tank and not paying any attention to her. Oops my bad! What were you saying honey?

 

[reeftivo]

Good comment above as to the flow pattern on the 10 vs 20. The same applies to the 20 vs 40.

Yes you can keep fish in a 39 with 2 X 40s', its called turning them down and alternating patterns. ie: waves!!

I am not trying to be smart but I want flexibility with everything I do. The more flexibility one has the better off we are.

I have an MP20 and a MP10 on mine and I would recommend the MP20 on the side (or a 40) if that's the option you're thinking of. If I didn't have the MP10 I would have my 20 running off the side and not the back. I have my 20 at 2/3 and my 10 at 3/4 right now and thats my best flow for what I'm keeping. I have mine off the back wall. I have my lower flow critters on the MP10 side because it's a bit slower off the bottom. Nice to have options. IMO the Vortechs are a great investment!

 

[timdanger]

Thanks for the praise for the sump!

I didn't replace it -- I actually like it just fine. This was the first one that Cadlights sent me. It cracked during shipment, and Eddie said that he couldn't sell it so I could just keep it to either repair/use or sell myself. Good deal for me!

I am torn on the DSB in the sand bed -- a user on another reefing website has recently commented on the surface area in the fuge as not being worthwhile as a DSB. I certainly have similar concerns. Having said that, I have always measured 0 nitrates, 0 phosphates. However, I have been dealing with some cyano and hair algae -- I think it's due to flow/dead spots, though -- i don't have any supplementary flow in the tank right now, much to my detriment/chagrin.

I was hoping to sell the stock sump/skimmer/return pump for money with which to buy a vortech... but, I haven't had any deals that have actually gone through. I've had several people inquire about shipping. One person agreed to buy the skimmer, but then backed out (he sent me a PM agreeing to buy it at like 11pm -- i didn't get back to him until 9am the next morning, but because i hadn't immediately responded to him, he said he just decided to buy a different skimmer at like 2am that night -- absurdity). another person said they were going to buy the whole package, but then they got banned for mouthing off to moderators the next day, so i have no way to get in contact with them. sigh. oh well.

timdanger,

I checked out the sump you're selling and it looks good. I don't need it but some one could just put some liquid acrylic filler right on that tiny crack and fix it right up. Did you get another stock sump, or did you go with a berliner or something like that? There are a few (not many) 24" options out there but the stock sump actually works really well. IMO the fuge chamber is too narrow for a DSB to be effective but works well with a good chaeto ball and maybe an inch or so of mud or sand. I removed my mud because while it was working very good, everytime it would get disturbed by a crab or fiddling it would cause a mild sediment cloud in the fuge which would always affect my skimmer for a while. I'm just running chaeto in there now and have O trates and phos so I'm very happy.

I'm finally done with my stinking redslime algae and diatoms which were started a while back after I broke my skimmer. The red slime was from lack of skimming and the diatoms were from my RO/DI unit. All is good now and ready for more goodies.

I really love this tank! It's so clean looking. I have it to the left of where I sit in the living room and my wife usually sits to my right when we are talking or watching a program. She is getting annoyed now because when she comments on something we are watching, she looks over and sure enough there I am watching the tank and not paying any attention to her. Oops my bad! What were you saying honey?

 

[reeftivo]

Flow is the problem! The cyano is always present like diatoms and they just wait for the opportunity to start multiplying. I wouldn't worry about it too much unless it is creeping up off the substrate and threatening the sessile stuff. Until you can get a vortech just get a turkey baster and blast it (cyano). It doesn't like to tumble and grows best when affixed to something. Your cleanup crew should help with the diatoms. Ceriths and nerites love that stuff. I unfortunatley had too many hermits in my tank and not enough shells for them so they killed most of my ceriths. The hermits had a taste for the good food and were not to interested in the diatoms. With the addition of a few more snails and infrequent feeding, they got back on track and grazed on the diatoms.

That sucks that you had that sale set up and got stiffed! Hang in there and count your bucks until that vortech comes in. You'll be fine!

 

[timdanger]

Flow is the problem! The cyano is always present like diatoms and they just wait for the opportunity to start multiplying. I wouldn't worry about it too much unless it is creeping up off the substrate and threatening the sessile stuff. Until you can get a vortech just get a turkey baster and blast it (cyano). It doesn't like to tumble and grows best when affixed to something. Your cleanup crew should help with the diatoms. Ceriths and nerites love that stuff. I unfortunatley had too many hermits in my tank and not enough shells for them so they killed most of my ceriths. The hermits had a taste for the good food and were not to interested in the diatoms. With the addition of a few more snails and infrequent feeding, they got back on track and grazed on the diatoms.

That sucks that you had that sale set up and got stiffed! Hang in there and count your bucks until that vortech comes in. You'll be fine!

ya, i definitely think flow is the problem. i'm just trying to fight it with basting while i wait on a solution. i'm trying not to get stuck in a situation where i have to buy koralias for "in the meantime" flow, but we'll have to see how things go.

just to add to my 'forum classifieds' pain, i bought what was supposed to be a tunze 1073.040 from a guy on another forum, paid $82 for it, received it, and it is NOT a tunze 1073.040. it says "tunze" and the model number on it, but it's not like any tunze 1073.040 pump i can find anywhere on the internet or on forums, and the wattage (based on the 115 volts x the 0.87 amps) use calculates out to 100 watts instead of the advertised 42 watts. so, i think it must be a counterfeit, so i tell the guy and although he disagrees that it's a counterfeit (with no evidence to the contrary, other than "it says tunze on it"), he agrees to refund the money, but then i lose another $10 in the shipping process. sigh.

 

[reeftivo]

ya, i definitely think flow is the problem. i'm just trying to fight it with basting while i wait on a solution. i'm trying not to get stuck in a situation where i have to buy koralias for "in the meantime" flow, but we'll have to see how things go.

just to add to my 'forum classifieds' pain, i bought what was supposed to be a tunze 1073.040 from a guy on another forum, paid $82 for it, received it, and it is NOT a tunze 1073.040. it says "tunze" and the model number on it, but it's not like any tunze 1073.040 pump i can find anywhere on the internet or on forums, and the wattage (based on the 115 volts x the 0.87 amps) use calculates out to 100 watts instead of the advertised 42 watts. so, i think it must be a counterfeit, so i tell the guy and although he disagrees that it's a counterfeit (with no evidence to the contrary, other than "it says tunze on it"), he agrees to refund the money, but then i lose another $10 in the shipping process. sigh.

Sounds like the tunze master 1073.090. Big pump!

 

[reeftivo]

Does it have the nautilus looking volute cover?

 

[reeftivo]

I don't think it's a counterfeit, just the 090. It probably said only 1073 which is confusing-even to the seller.
If thats the pump I'm thinking of it will pull the water out of the sump and overflow your tank before any comes back to the sump from the overflow-2100gph. I don't know if thats the pump or not but if it is, you got a great deal on it. Those suckers are expensive.

 

[timdanger]

no, it actually says "1073.040" on the pump. it doesn't look like the 1073.090, either. it was also only rated for like 780gph or so, as I recall (I can't remember exactly how much, but it wasn't the same as the 1073.040's advertised 792gph, and it was far less than the 1073.090's much larger flow rating).

i really do think it was a counterfeit. there was nothing that indicated the place of manufacture, either (and, with something made in germany, you'd have to think that would be indicated on there, wouldn't you?).

 

[timdanger]

it also only had one barb (for "output") on it rather than 2 (such that it could be run in water or out of water), like the 1073.040 or 090 have.

 

[reeftivo]

what does the power cord look like? Does it have a ground prong? It may be a Euro pump that has been modded .

 

[timdanger]

as i recall, yes, it had a ground prong.

 

[reeftivo]

Then you're most likely right about it being a fake. You didn't care for the 20F hyperflow pumps? I have two of them and they have never given me a problem. They are noisier than other pumps initially but if you remove the filter batting in the intake cover and keep them from the walls they are pretty quiet. I like the low wattage, super low heat transfer and compact size.

 

[timdanger]

in order, i'm looking for:
1) reliability
2) silence
3) low heat transfer/wattage


I know you've said you've had good luck with the Rio pumps, but I feel like a lot of people are not fans of Rio products. My LFS has said I'd be wasting my money if I spent it on a Rio pump, and I think Premium Aquatics is similarly critical of their products based on complaints they have had (see, for instance, their product description for their Ocean Runner 2700 pump, where they specifically say that the pump is meant to replace rio pumps that have been the subject of complaints).

 

[reeftivo]

10-4.

Just a note though on the rio's. I am not a fan of the 1000 series pumps but I am a fan of the hyperflow pumps because they have never let me down. Three years with 17F hyperflow on my 90 and 2+ years with the 20F on my nanos. I ran a 20F for 2+ years on my previous nano and was going to use the same pump for this one but purchased a spare instead and am running that now.

But I hear ya anyways!

Good luck!

Tivo

 

[Gillundr]

TIVO!!
I got the Deltec MCE600 today. Thank you so much man. I just got through squeezing it into the sump LOL. Nothing like a tight fit. I'll take some photos tonight or tomorrow and get them up. Now...I've never had a skimmer like this. You adjust it with the collection cup and the air valve? The directions said to run the air valve at the 2 oclock position for a day or two then fine tune it with the air valve and the collection cup. Can you maybe give me a little better direction or maybe a hint or two?
On the Vortec I think I'm going to probably go with the 20...maybe the 10 but I have a lot of sps including Acros so maybe the 20. I have super fine Oolite sand though so no possible way I could put a 40 on there. It just doesn't make sense to buy a 40 or two 40s and turn them down? Why would I spend all that extra money to turn it down and do what a 20 or 10 would do. I would rather spend that extra money on other things I can put to use. I do understand running 2 pumps to get different flow patterns. Thought I would start with one either a 20 or 10 and then see how that goes and possibly put in another. So maybe end up running 2 10s or maybe a 10 and a 20 in the end. I will be starting with just one for now though. I just need to decide on if I'm going to start with a 10 or a 20. It would be cool I think maybe to put it on the side rather than on the back but I will have to see how that looks and play with it all to see where the best spot is with my set up once I get one.
Return pumps..I love my rio 20HF. It does a great job and hasn't ever stopped unlike all these junky skimmer pumps! I can't believe 3 skimmer pumps stopped since the middle of September! UGH.
Thanks again Tivo. I'll PM you too. Plus get some pics up of it all see if it's in like you were thinking.

 

[reeftivo]

TIVO!!
I got the Deltec MCE600 today. Thank you so much man. I just got through squeezing it into the sump LOL. Nothing like a tight fit. I'll take some photos tonight or tomorrow and get them up. Now...I've never had a skimmer like this. You adjust it with the collection cup and the air valve? The directions said to run the air valve at the 2 oclock position for a day or two then fine tune it with the air valve and the collection cup. Can you maybe give me a little better direction or maybe a hint or two?
On the Vortec I think I'm going to probably go with the 20...maybe the 10 but I have a lot of sps including Acros so maybe the 20. I have super fine Oolite sand though so no possible way I could put a 40 on there. It just doesn't make sense to buy a 40 or two 40s and turn them down? Why would I spend all that extra money to turn it down and do what a 20 or 10 would do. I would rather spend that extra money on other things I can put to use. I do understand running 2 pumps to get different flow patterns. Thought I would start with one either a 20 or 10 and then see how that goes and possibly put in another. So maybe end up running 2 10s or maybe a 10 and a 20 in the end. I will be starting with just one for now though. I just need to decide on if I'm going to start with a 10 or a 20. It would be cool I think maybe to put it on the side rather than on the back but I will have to see how that looks and play with it all to see where the best spot is with my set up once I get one.
Return pumps..I love my rio 20HF. It does a great job and hasn't ever stopped unlike all these junky skimmer pumps! I can't believe 3 skimmer pumps stopped since the middle of September! UGH.
Thanks again Tivo. I'll PM you too. Plus get some pics up of it all see if it's in like you were thinking.

Good to hear!

Set the air valve at the 2:00 position and set the bottom edge of the cup down into the foam a half an inch to start-then wait. I stripped all the coating off when I cleaned it but the breakin should only be two days at most since the production oils are gone. That skimmer will work awsome. The only reason I stopped using it is that it is difficult to clean. The venturi nipple off the pump will need to have "hot" water run through it with a syringe weekly. Deltecs design of the venturi is a flush intake and should have been designed with a 45 degree angle into the volute. The flush position lets salt build up quite a bit and the angle would have minimized that. Thats the only drawback of those skimmers. So heat up some water weekly in the micro "hot" and run about 30ml through it to dissolve the salt and your good to go. Leave the air at 2:00 and adjust your foam with the cup after breakin. PM me if you have any questions.

I just ordered a 2009 version reef octo NW110 to try on the cad. I need to get my ATB back in my FOWLR. I'll let you know how it goes.

Tivo

Tivo

 

[reeftivo]

vantec stealth fans here:http://www.buyextras.com/cabinetfans.html

I just received 2 and will try one in the fixture tonight. I plugged one in at the office and wow! are they quiet. I checked around with some computer nerds I know who do mods and they recommended these fans.

 

[jamest0o0]

Would it work if I changed the plumbing in the overflow to have a T send water to the DT and the fuge I want to add to my system? Still not very good with the plumbing and don't want to mess up anything, but I figured this would be better than adding another pump. Any help would be great, thanks.