Coral Tank from Canada (1350gal Display Tank)

[Ken_Baird]

Mr. Wilson, we have two electricians remapping the boxes to the outlets per John's instructions..........I didn't know what to tell them about the pumps.....
They did say the could change the plugs. They also didn't think the 50 60 cycle really mattered ( I still thinkl it does). I have not asked them to change the plugs over. Your call on that.


Peter

Sorry to jump in as I have been trying to follow this build carefully but it is moving too fast! I looked back a few pages to find the details on your pumps but no luck (at work so don't tell anyone! :fun5

I have missed the 50 / 60 pump configuration you are talking about, will you be using a 50 HZ pump / motor with an inverter?

If so you are ok as long as the inverter is made to work on 60 Hz, as when you set up the inverter you will set the parameters to match the motor. If the inverter is 50 HZ then you will need to check with the manufacture to see if it compatible, some inverters will work 50 or 60 Hz and some will not like 60 Hz and just blow up! It's a big bang followed by smoke so you can't miss it.:blown:

If you are running just a straight 50 Hz motor on 60 Hz it will run at a faster speed, about 18% faster then rated speed, so for example a 50 Hz motor will run at 1,500 rpm but the same motor connected to 60 Hz will run at 1,800 rpm. This some times is a problem, my findings with this over the last 20 years is generally the motors life will be cut in half. Some 50 Hz motors will take it better then others.

http://www.elec-toolbox.com/Formulas/Motor/mtrform.htm

By the way the setup is really coming along nicely, glad to see Mr. Wilson is along for the adventure, his vast knowledge is not getting wasted on this setup! Congratulations to your whole team it is really coming together nicely!

Let me know if you would like any help on this as I owe Mr. Wilson a favor or two for helping with my last build.

 

[mr.wilson]

In regards to the touch screen, I am waiting for more info today on this.

I rarely wash my car so you can't blame me for being the guy who makes it rain, but every time I buy a computer or phone they release a new one the following week

Seriously, I would imagine that the new touch will take some time to make it to market and work out the potential bugs. You can count on an upgrade from Peter just before GHL releases the Touch II

 

[mr.wilson]

Sorry to jump in as I have been trying to follow this build carefully but it is moving too fast! I looked back a few pages to find the details on your pumps but no luck (at work so don't tell anyone! :fun5

I have missed the 50 / 60 pump configuration you are talking about, will you be using a 50 HZ pump / motor with an inverter?

If so you are ok as long as the inverter is made to work on 60 Hz, as when you set up the inverter you will set the parameters to match the motor. If the inverter is 50 HZ then you will need to check with the manufacture to see if it compatible, some inverters will work 50 or 60 Hz and some will not like 60 Hz and just blow up! It's a big bang followed by smoke so you can't miss it.:blown:

If you are running just a straight 50 Hz motor on 60 Hz it will run at a faster speed, about 18% faster then rated speed, so for example a 50 Hz motor will run at 1,500 rpm but the same motor connected to 60 Hz will run at 1,800 rpm. This some times is a problem, my findings with this over the last 20 years is generally the motors life will be cut in half. Some 50 Hz motors will take it better then others.

http://www.elec-toolbox.com/Formulas/Motor/mtrform.htm

By the way the setup is really coming along nicely, glad to see Mr. Wilson is along for the adventure, his vast knowledge is not getting wasted on this setup! Congratulations to your whole team it is really coming together nicely!

Let me know if you would like any help on this as I owe Mr. Wilson a favor or two for helping with my last build.

Yes, Ken we may call on your engineering skills at some point in time. Don't worry, I'll get back my time

The pumps have brushless DC motors so the separate power supply unit converts the frequency to something other than 50 or 60 anyway. The engineer from Venotec who make the pumps gave it the green light for 60hz operation. I also checked with a frequency converter manufacturer and he concurred...

"According to your spec, your equipment will work with both 50Hz and 60Hz. Most of the DC motor controllers work with both frequency. You don't need to worry about motor because motor speed is controlled by controller (pump PDF) and you can set the RPM with it."

 

[nineball]

I have been following along since the beginning and all I can say is wow.

We are in Ontario ourselves in Stratford and would love sometime to come to Oakville and check out this amazing set-up.

I myself just started my first salt water tank a few months ago after 3 years of researching on RC. We ended up haveing to move it about a month and a half after we got the first fish in the tank because of an unexpected move to a bigger place (already planning the upgrade). Though I still want to add another piece or two of nice LR to replace some more of the crappy base rock that i have. (very dense rock, so heavy and not much surface area for bacteria to grow on)

Thank you very much m_wonnacott. I have rock left over but I am not keeping the surplus 'live'. It is in salt water but there is no heat, circulation or skimming taking place (its outside in a kiddie pool). I figure if I ever want it I can use it and seed it with my existing display tank live rock. Having said that there is more than enough to give you whatever you need if you want some good rock to work with. If you are out this way PM me and drop by. As everyone knows I will be at the MACNA but other than that I am usually home.........except maybe my trip to Bangkok to visit with ChingChai to see his tank and learn all his secrets!!!!


Peter

 

[nineball]

(I know, but every superlative has been used)

One of many things that fascinate me about this build is the opportunity to showcase different technologies, especially lighting. With such a large system employing best practices throughout, it creates a perfect R&D environment.

For instance, a current challenge in LED lighting is the creation of an optimal spectrum for growth (easy) and coloration (HARD.) You've created a perfect environment (including perhaps the coral section of your MARS system) to take the theoretical and apply it in real life with side by side, controlled environment comparisons. The bonus being light customized to your needs, compact size, energy efficiency and very little heat signature (not that the latter is a concern with your environmental controls.) Here's a great example...

Manufacturers have begun releasing a plethora of LED options, some of which are essentially "plug-n-play" (including spectrum and optics.) This allows the purchaser to easily customize the output, not only to their tank dimensions, but to the specific needs of their tank inhabitants (i.e. SPS/LPS,softies, Z/Ps tide pool or duplicating a deep-water spectral environment in just inches of water...)

I see this as an opportunity to not only create a not-to-be duplicated homage to the masters, but to also advance the art and science to a point that future best practices directly reference discoveries made through the "Nineball build"

Thanks again for allowing us to tag along Peter.

Thanks for the info Tom. Thanks also for the support. I suspect that Mr. Wilson and I will drag everyone through the trial and analysis phase of our search for the perfect light. Part of the underpinning of any legitimate effort to achieve best practices in any discipline is to share and make public the process of selection. You folks actually help to influence and certify the result as a best practice. The pay ain't so great but job is a lot of fun, so hang in there.

Peter

 

[drpo21]

Apparently someone at GHL was listening Mr. Wilson...

According to GBD, GHL is introducing the Profilux Touch at MACNA. No details have been released yet, including wiring orientation but at first glance, it appears to be what you're looking for.

This is cool. btw, they mixed up the "z" and the "y" in the QWERTY board. :hmm3:

 

[Jimbo7]

Haha, how did you possibly notice that.

Any more pics Peter? I would love to see some of the pumps on.

 

[nineball]

This is cool. btw, they mixed up the "z" and the "y" in the QWERTY board. :hmm3:

That is waaaaay too cool. I hope it's not the programmer who did that otherwise this is this is going to be a loooong system life cycle to get this thing into full production.

Peter

 

[nineball]

Haha, how did you possibly notice that.

Any more pics Peter? I would love to see some of the pumps on.

No Jimbo, no pump pics yet......we are still fitting up the plumbing infrastructure before we connect them. Also we need to take a number of German as a second language courses to read the manual for the pumps and the controller. As most of you know by now Mr. Wilson is a very slow learner and if I translate them for him he will never learn!!!


Peter

 

[Elliott]

To help answer the question about the GHL control - There is an add on called the PLM-ADIN this is an analogue and digital input card that can be programmed with multiple sensory devises.

One user set this up for a flow meter, another for a PAR input. The guy to contact who has really opened this cards uses up is luisagos might be worth dropping Luis a pm

In regards to the touch screen, I am waiting for more info today on this.

thanks for the info

who do I contact regarding getting Par readings into the controller?

 

[MarkusII]

Hello,

btw, they mixed up the "z" and the "y" in the QWERTY board.

this is the German key board order of letters; I guess there is also an English version/switch available.

regards

Markus

 

[Jgrimm]

Thanx
My appologies to "The Shimoda Bro's", thinking they were more Brothers Grimm!
Congratulations to the four of you for a "JOB ONE", well done!
"the best practice with the putty is to do it with your bare hands, but to avoid the tender fingers you could use some sort of padded glove for the careful transport of the rock."
I had erroneously assumed it was a burn reaction to the putty.

I am trying to get to MACNA to hoist a Yard of Ale with Peter and Mr. Wilson

no no, the putty is fine to use with your bare hands, it was the excessive amount of rock handling

and thank you for the aquascape compliments Crazzy, and the rest of you :thumbsup:

jamie

 

[Jgrimm]

I rarely wash my car so you can't blame me for being the guy who makes it rain, but every time I buy a computer or phone they release a new one the following week

Seriously, I would imagine that the new touch will take some time to make it to market and work out the potential bugs. You can count on an upgrade from Peter just before GHL releases the Touch II

Hey Mr Wilson,

I know a couple guys that do car detailing, I could talk to them for you ! :rollface:


jamie

 

[wtac]

Heh, heh...I still have 4 large RM RoughTotes of dried out HI LR...love that region of LR as they interlock super nicely.

It's been too long since we've shot the breeze and catch up on things .

Alas, life and wife these days...so much for the footloose and fancy free days

All the best and great (re)build to see you back in the swing of things :thumbsup:

It's good to have another Wilson on here in more ways than one. I worked with WTAC 20 years ago in an aquarium store. He sold me my first Hawaiian live rock.

I agree, a higher dissolution rate is more important than channeling or clogging. I like the idea of a fluidized bed calcium reactor because there is no channeling, no clogging, fine granules can be used (faster dissolution), more exposure to water flow, and the constant abrasion must aid in dissolving the media. Co2 bubbles can be readily recycled and there are no trapped Co2 bubbles or air locks.

In my opinion the stick/branch media is a shortcut to channeling and clogging that comes at the cost of a dramatically slower dissolution rate. In the end we want to dissolve coral skeletons in the presence of carbonic acid (liquid Co2). When you increase the size of the granules you need to increase the amount of Co2 (lower PH) or increase the size of your reactor.

Even as a worst case scenario, you can use the fine granules and service the unit every 3-6 months to clean the media.

Okay, I guess I talked myself into the standard Arm media I have some dolomite at Peters already tha can make up 10% of the reactor media. Dolomite is Calcium magnesium carbonate, so it adds a little extra magnesium. I was also thinking of adding some dolomite to the mangrove planters. You can buy it cheap as "chicken/turkey grit" at farm feed stores.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

USA version screen will be available. This is just a sketch up also, please expect it to look somewhat different.

I think Mr Wilson was looking at using a different screen? (locked pc)

 

[Ken_Baird]

Yes, Ken we may call on your engineering skills at some point in time. Don't worry, I'll get back my time

The pumps have brushless DC motors so the separate power supply unit converts the frequency to something other than 50 or 60 anyway. The engineer from Venotec who make the pumps gave it the green light for 60hz operation. I also checked with a frequency converter manufacturer and he concurred...

"According to your spec, your equipment will work with both 50Hz and 60Hz. Most of the DC motor controllers work with both frequency. You don't need to worry about motor because motor speed is controlled by controller (pump PDF) and you can set the RPM with it."

I know you do you home work, so not too worried. :bounce3:

A frequency converter is just that, it adjusts the frequency (Hz) and voltage to make the motor run at different speeds so running a 50 or 60 Hz motor is not a problem and shouldn't effect the life of the motor either when setup correctly in the drive. Then the next problem is if the drive is able to run on either frequency, as some simple drives are not and could lead to a catastrophic failure. But seeing you have the manufactures blessing your off to the races.

Like I stated I can't find the details on the configuration so just wanted to provide a heads up.

 

[mr.wilson]

Heh, heh...I still have 4 large RM RoughTotes of dried out HI LR...love that region of LR as they interlock super nicely.

It's been too long since we've shot the breeze and catch up on things .

Alas, life and wife these days...so much for the footloose and fancy free days

All the best and great (re)build to see you back in the swing of things :thumbsup:

Come by Peter's some time for a tour and a drink.

 

[mr.wilson]

Hey Mr Wilson,

I know a couple guys that do car detailing, I could talk to them for you ! :rollface:


jamie

The Impala is a much bigger challenge than doing 50' of rock work. You will lose your finger prints detailing it

 

[mr.wilson]

Hello,



this is the German key board order of letters; I guess there is also an English version/switch available.

regards

Markus

It must be a new German keyboard as there is no scharfes s

 

[mr.wilson]

No Jimbo, no pump pics yet......we are still fitting up the plumbing infrastructure before we connect them. Also we need to take a number of German as a second language courses to read the manual for the pumps and the controller. As most of you know by now Mr. Wilson is a very slow learner and if I translate them for him he will never learn!!!


Peter

There's a German bar called the Musket in Mississauga. I'll go in there for a few Becks and get one of the frauleins to translate it. Ya - Ya.