CADlights 39g Pro build thread

[timdanger]

welcome back, tivo! we missed ya!

re: turbulence/foam head drops, i have definitely experienced these things, but there's no denying the results. i'm not really sure what to make of it. i wonder if an airline control valve would improve this? i know nothing about skimmers (been trying to read up on the stickies in the advanced topics forum -- those have been interesting/helpful). tuning it may also make a difference. i ran mine at 'max' for the first 3-4 days, and very slowly tuned it down to about 3.5, at which point it quickly began producing thick, dark goo.

 

[Gillundr]

I get the rise and fall of bubbles and the turbulence as well. I figured it was either the pump or how the skimmer is designed. It does a good job of skimming though. I'm not sure what's going on now but my skinmate went from dark goo to tea colored after I turned the skimmer. I do have it adjusted right I just thought maybe because I have a pretty light bio-load it had caught up and turning the skimmer around was just a coincidence? It's not making any more skinmate than it was it's just a lot lighter color. Thought maybe because I did a 10g water change and was feeding light and all that it caught up to the load. I'm not sure though. Weird. The foam does rise and fall though and that's sort of different as well. I thought it was just how this skimmer did things, still need to do some playing with it. I feel like with it turned so the pipe is in the back right corner the hose from my tank has a tendency to push on the skimmer and it doesn't sit maybe totally level but it might be my imagination. I do like being able to see the numbers a little easier but like I said I didn't use those much anyways more for posting on here than anything else and mine is turned at about 4 now. I'm thinking maybe I might turn it back the way I had it to begin with. I still need to find a pump that will work with my stock skimmer. I never did get a working one of those lol. I tried two of CADs and sort of gave up on it when I got this skimmer. The first one seizes up after about 30 secs of running, the second one works off and on. It will run for a while then stop for a while, then start back up for a while etc lol. So I would like to get a pump the original skimmer works with to have as a backup anybody have any suggestions on one that will work?

 

[timdanger]

Gill- After I overflowed my first cup of skimmate during a water change (oops), it took a day or two to "re-regulate" itself. during those couple of days, i got only "green tea" colored skimmate, and not much of it. i ended up tuning it to about 5 for dryer skimmate to try and let it "catch up with itself" or something for a day or two, then tuning it back down to 4, and now it's back to producing the syrupy-black skimmate. as an added bonus, the foam that's rising up the riser tube in the collection cup is a lot denser than the foam I had produced during the skimmer's first week of operation, and the bubbles that are above the red piece on the body of the skimmer are super-fine. so, it seems to be improving the longer i use it.

bottom line on the turbulence for me = if it's still pulling that kind of skimmate, i'm not that worried about how it does it.

as far as the rising/falling foam head, i suspect that a fluctuating water level in my sump is contributing to that, at least in my case. i desparately need an ATO system (anyone have an extra one they want to sell me for cheap? ). i have no immediate reason to blame the pump, at least that i'm aware of. again, i'm no expert.

 

[reeftivo]

welcome back, tivo! we missed ya!

re: turbulence/foam head drops, i have definitely experienced these things, but there's no denying the results. i'm not really sure what to make of it. i wonder if an airline control valve would improve this? i know nothing about skimmers (been trying to read up on the stickies in the advanced topics forum -- those have been interesting/helpful). tuning it may also make a difference. i ran mine at 'max' for the first 3-4 days, and very slowly tuned it down to about 3.5, at which point it quickly began producing thick, dark goo.

Thanks timdanger!

Good to be back!

The air numbers on my skimmer are fluctuating too much. I get readings from 220 to 280lph and I think it's either the pump or the venturi. After unplugging the pump, the foam started rising much much slower than before but nice and dense. The fluctuating slurp and gurgle surges from the air intake are making me think it's the pump. The air pull should be constant and smooth on these so I will have to tinker a bit to figure things out.

I'm really stoked that you guys are having great results and those skimmate pics look sick. Your dark skim should not weaken unless you've changed things, it will just lessen as you catch up with the system production.

 

[Gillundr]

I most definitely agree with it improves the longer you use it. I think it's still sort of "breaking in" and just takes a little bit of fine tuning. I just switched it back to the way I had it before and it's already making nice thick frothy Latte foam =). For some reason it just seems to sit better and work better for me sitting like that. Lots better.

 

[reeftivo]

Is your pump facing the front just next to the divider in the first chamber?

 

[reeftivo]

It probably performs better like that because the pump doesn't have to work as hard. The raw water is forced under the divider directly into the pump and with it towards the back, the pump intake works a little harder to pull water because the direction of flow is toward the bubble trap and not the pump intake.

Just a thought!

I turned mine last night so I'm looking forward to seeing the production tonight!!

Tivo

 

[Gillundr]

Yeah, I bet your right on the way the pump is faced and all that. Good theory. I actually pulled mine out yesterday and took a couple of measurements so now it's making wet light green stuff again LOL. I vowed to leave it be for a while and let things calm down. I know I will need to adjust it again and get it tuned in, but it seems like once you move it around or do something drastic with it, it takes a couple days to level itself back out and make good skinmate...at least for me it seems that way. I also do need to get an ATO that may help, but I have been home all the time and manually top off a few times a day so it's never too far from my line. I've been home too much lol I have too much time to fuss with stuff.
Another topic. I have only had this setup for about 6 or 7 weeks now so I'm starting to get used to it but I'm wondering about the lights and was hoping a few guys that have had theirs longer might chime in. I haven't ever used 150w MH. Do you guys think sps will do well under these lights? I have a couple of easy ones in there and they have grown and encrusted onto rock and all that, but I'm talking about some of the nicer stuff like yellow torts, Oregon Torts, Lukanis, etc. I just put about 8 nice frags in there tonight. I made the frags on Sunday and put them in there. I took a few rocks out last night and drilled/dremeled some holes and spots for some sps stuff up top. I hope they do ok. I did put a couple of frags down in the bottom half like the lukani and a couple others. I put an aqua stag down in the bottom half because in my other system it grew up so fast I wished I had put it lower. I can move it up if I need to, it's not permanently attached but was hoping it would do good there. It will look really nice if so. I put a couple of Millies mid tank for the same reason and some nice nice stuff up in the very top along with my not so pretty stuff that was there for my first test. It's still nice stuff but not the really great stuff that makes you say ooohhh lol. I'm hoping these really nice sps frags will grow and stay colored up. I really don't want to upgrade these lights. I was hoping somebody might give me some words of encouragement about it or some reassurance. I'm not looking for super fast crazy growth I know that's not going to happen but a nice steady pace and keep colors without having to upgrade to 250w would tickle me to death. I know I have seen pics of people with the RSM130d (the smaller red sea max 34g) and they put in sps and all that. They claimed they were all doing good and that's all under T5 lights. Unfortunately you see pics of peoples tanks only when they set them up and not like a year or 2 later. Same with in this post. All the original guys that started out here never post here anymore so I'm wondering. I know people keep sps reefs under T5s but normally it's a bunch of them. Can you keep sps under 4 54watt T5s in a 40g breeder? Maybe...theoretically I suppose it's possible. If you keep them up high. I know some of the stuff is easier but I'm talking Acros and Millies and not just browns. I wonder how well this 150w halide with the T5 actinics is going to do. I know water quality and all that play a roll but all that aside. Strictly talking lights. I know lots of people argue T5s are just as good and MH is best etc. I know people use both types. I'm just new to the 150w range and was hoping some people who have had theirs for a while would help. Sorry for the blabbering long post.

 

[timdanger]

Gill, for what it's worth, I asked Eddie the same question, and he said "definitely good enough for SPS and clams"

Of course, he is the guy selling the product, so... :bounce1:

 

[reeftivo]

Hey guys! hope all is well!!

I'm no lighting expert by any means but from what I read, it's all about PAR. Thats why they have to cram so many T5's in to get sps growth. IMO the Stock Cad fixture is fine but could use a better ballast. I ran a 20k radium for 5 months on a 28hqi jbj tank and the intensity was awsome. That same bulb on the Cad was half the intensity. I changed to a 15k XM and started to get more base growth on my two acros but not much. I now run the 14k prism bulb and base growth is growing rapidly. I think 10k or 14k is the best for this ballast because the intensity is better but if you go into the 15k or 20k range of bulbs you lose too much intensity.

I think a good ballast would solve this, but if you do that then why not go for 250?

Oh BTW, my tanks been up since the end of august and I never regret my decision on buying the cad over the Elos.

On another topic, I have temporarily given up on the Magus skimmer because of the pump so until I get a new one I have crammed my ATB insump and may just stay with that. That was a huge trick to get it in the sump. I'll post a pic shortly.

 

[reeftivo]

atb pics

atb pics

ATB is temporarily in sump because I haven't had good skimmate since my stock cad skimmer broke.

Here's a couple pics,

I made a poor attempt last night to cover the sump while dremmeling the wier for the return so a bit of ground acrylic is all over so I need to clean that all off tonight.

 

[reeftivo]

I know I will need to adjust it again and get it tuned in, but it seems like once you move it around or do something drastic with it, it takes a couple days to level itself back out and make good skinmate...at least for me it seems that way. I also do need to get an ATO that may help, but I have been home all the time and manually top off a few times a day so it's never too far from my line. I've been home too much lol I have too much time to fuss with stuff.


Gillundr,
You're right about the production effect when we fiddle with skimmers. There is a slime coat that developes in these units that is actually current sensitive. It developes on the skimmer walls and when we change the position of the skimmer or turn power on/off, the slime coat is affected by the changes and needs to adjust. Placing hands, new equipment and feedings will have an effect on surface tension of the bubbles and that will also cause a temporary loss of production as well.

These things are extremely sensative so thats why everyone says leave it alone (hard to do-LOL)-Gotta love them though!

JBJ makes an affordable well made ATO. IMO the best is the Tunze osmolator but they are pricy. I would rather spend more for piece of mind than have a float valve that sticks while I'm gone and creates a nightmare.

 

[timdanger]

On another topic, I have temporarily given up on the Magus skimmer because of the pump so until I get a new one I have crammed my ATB insump and may just stay with that. That was a huge trick to get it in the sump. I'll post a pic shortly.

were you really not getting any skimmate? that's very unusual. did you try tuning it down to 3 or so? I've been getting dark skimmate almost from day 1 without much of a bioload.

 

[timdanger]

JBJ makes an affordable well made ATO. IMO the best is the Tunze osmolator but they are pricy. I would rather spend more for piece of mind than have a float valve that sticks while I'm gone and creates a nightmare.

the tunze osmolator is certainly a fancy gadget. i think a better way to deal with the issue of a sticking valve, at least in the cases of a tank our size, is to just have a 5g or less ATO reservoir. that way, even if the thing sticks, it probably won't overflow our 12g sumps, right (unless they are running more than half full)?

I was also looking at those autotopoff.com ones -- hard to beat those prices, especially if you get one of the "double valve" ones with snail guards. not fail-proof, but certainly fail-proofer?

 

[reeftivo]

were you really not getting any skimmate? that's very unusual. did you try tuning it down to 3 or so? I've been getting dark skimmate almost from day 1 without much of a bioload.

Hi buddy!

Yes, I was getting practically nothing after I removed the ATB. Set wide open the pump was surging so I unplugged it. After plugging it back in, it then decided to produce almost no micros so I unplugged it again then plugged it back in and it started overflowing then settled back to the constant surging for several days. I had mine set at 3/4 open (4) and It would build head then drop out over and over. I've been playing with skimmers for many years now and have seen good and bad pumps over time. I'm convinced I just have a bad pump so it should be an easy fix. I will try the pump out of the skimmer body and see if the results are similar.

 

[timdanger]

sorry to hear that -- that doesn't sound anything like the results i've had. i guess this is why people complain about the atman pumps, eh?

 

[reeftivo]

the tunze osmolator is certainly a fancy gadget. i think a better way to deal with the issue of a sticking valve, at least in the cases of a tank our size, is to just have a 5g or less ATO reservoir. that way, even if the thing sticks, it probably won't overflow our 12g sumps, right (unless they are running more than half full)?

I was also looking at those autotopoff.com ones -- hard to beat those prices, especially if you get one of the "double valve" ones with snail guards. not fail-proof, but certainly fail-proofer?

You're right buddy! Thats why I have a 5 gal reservior on mine:thumbsup:

ATO.com looks good! I may have to check them out when I'm ready for another. My tunze is 5 years old and occasionally takes a beating (always changing things and relocating-LOL) so I'm surprised it's still functioning.

 

[Gillundr]

Yeah I have been thinking about buying a new bulb for this stock light. Any suggestions on the MH and T5s? I do like the blue of the T5s though so may stick with them but not sure yet. I might go with some a touch less blue. See if that might help a touch with growth too. I should get a different bulb though try a 10k and 14k maybe but 10s are sometimes a bit too yellow. The blue T5s may help that though because these stock ones are really blue.
I still need to find a new pump for my stock CAD skimmer. I never have got that one to work. That's how I ended up with the Bubble Magus. I don't know which pump will fit and still be at around the 295gph or what ever the stock skimmer pump is. I looked all over and can't figure out which one would work. It's hard to find one that will sit underneath and is the correct size outlet and the correct gph. Maybe I'll have to bite the bullet and try another one of these POS ones that come with the CAD stock skimmer. I got 2 of them and neither one works. My pump with the BM skimmer surges like yours does too. I'm going to look around and see if I can find a new pump for that as well. I don't like these no-name pumps. I'm happy with just about everything on the CAD but EVERY pump that it comes with is garbage and needs to be replaced. I would rather pay an extra $150 and now I had quality pumps, now I have to try to figure out what pumps will work on these two skimmers. Going to be a pain because I have been looking and can't find any answers. I guess I'll have to start bringing one skimmer with me when I go out to fish stores and find one there, then switch the skimmer out and do the same with the other one lol.

 

[Gillundr]

did you take out the divider to get your skimmer in that area? I have been wondering about taking out my rock rubble and seeing if I could remove that divider and make a bigger skimmer area. Then I could let the water run in the back of that area and place the skimmer more in the middle to front. Not sure about getting that divider out though.

 

[Gillundr]

Another thing LOL. Tivo you mentioned you are running the 14k 150w prism bulb now and getting good growth. Isn't that the bulb our fixture comes with? I thought it was because that's the one CAD sells so I just figured that's what comes stock in the light. Or is it something different? I was thinking of maybe going with the 14k Phoenix. I haven't used them before but heard nice things. I heard they are as blue as 20k but the intensity is a lot stronger so might be worth a try. Too bad bulbs are so spendy to "try" lol.