d2mini's "Essential Focus" Mixed Reef Build

[d2mini]

No, all i knew was there was brown snot.
I still have some diatoms on the sand bed, and I've heard that sometimes other algaes can resemble dinos, so not really sure.

 

[drummerboyevil]

No, all i knew was there was brown snot.
I still have some diatoms on the sand bed, and I've heard that sometimes other algaes can resemble dinos, so not really sure.

I remember seeing some brown snot in one of your pictures a while back on some rock that looked identical to my ostreopsis when it was at its worst. Weird thing is mine seems to be extremely low toxicity... I've only lost like 1 snail.

 

[Grayhead]

D2mini, I'm glad to see things are turning around.
How well is your macro growing now? Mine was like yours at one time.able to harvest every few weeks. It's completely stalled now. I wonder if something have changed with the LEDs over the fuge

 

[d2mini]

D2mini, I'm glad to see things are turning around.
How well is your macro growing now? Mine was like yours at one time.able to harvest every few weeks. It's completely stalled now. I wonder if something have changed with the LEDs over the fuge

It's coming back. The cheato isn't growing yet but that one red macro seems to be doing well. At least it's not all dying now.
I briefly thought about a spectral change with the leds but I doubt it. Too much other stuff going on in the tank that I think was all kickstarted by the lack of nutrients.

 

[Grayhead]

I have wondered about the shift as well. I am having no issues with my system, outside of an ick outbreak. My fuge did have an outbreak of cyno for a bit, but it has since cleared. Hopefully yours kicks in and starts rocking soon.

 

[d2mini]

GHL Flow Meter installed this weekend. Installed on the return line.
It's the thing with the orange wire coming out of the top.
Now I know that I'm getting a disappointing 600gph out of my Ecotech Vectra L1 running at 100% power. :debi:

I've also changed out probably the entire volume of water of my tank over the past week, split up over 3 separate water changes a few days apart.
Trying to get all the junk out of my water from the DinoX and Fluconazole treatments.
Lost some urchins, a couple stars, a few sps not looking so hot, one of my anemones moved.... that stuff ain't no joke.
But the good news is, no sign of dinos or other algae in the display other than what looks like some diatoms in a few spots.

 

[saf1]

600 gph? Seems rather low compared to what they are advertised for. And you haven't had it for that long of a time.

Any calibration for either the pump or the meter?

 

[d2mini]

600 gph? Seems rather low compared to what they are advertised for. And you haven't had it for that long of a time.

Any calibration for either the pump or the meter?

It's the restriction from 5' of vertical head, several barb connectors for the silicone tubing, and downsizing to 3/4" pipe in areas.
I knew it was pretty low. I could tell by the drain into the refugium.

 

[ClownsRCoo]

What's your return plumbing look like? I see 1 90 right off the pump but what else do you have? According to the pump curve you have about 15' of head which I find pretty surprising.


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[d2mini]

What's your return plumbing look like? I see 1 90 right off the pump but what else do you have? According to the pump curve you have about 15' of head which I find pretty surprising.


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You can see the majority of it in the pic above.
There is a barb connector coming out of the 1" outlet of the L1 pump to connect that arc of silicone tubing. On the other end of the tubing is a right angle barb that goes into the 1" ball valve. Then it goes down to 3/4" at the flow meter. After the meter it goes back to 1" pipe. Then into a 45 elbow as it starts heading up to the overflow. Then into another barb connector and more silicone tubing, and through the final barb and into the bottom of the overflow. Once in the overflow I don't know what is happening, but it does split into two separate outputs into the tank.

 

[Reefer525XL]

Im sure you did but did you change the calibration of the meter to 12.40 ml/pulse? Thats assuming you got the 9000 meter.

 

[d2mini]

Yep, its set to 12.40.

 

[janci]

GHL Flow Meter installed this weekend. Installed on the return line.
It's the thing with the orange wire coming out of the top.
Now I know that I'm getting a disappointing 600gph out of my Ecotech Vectra L1 running at 100% power. :debi:

Always surprising to see how much head loss there is.
Get a 2000gal pump and yu have only left the half at the end.
It is wise to choose your pump controllable and oversized.

 

[Green Chromis]

It's the restriction from 5' of vertical head, several barb connectors for the silicone tubing, and downsizing to 3/4" pipe in areas.
I knew it was pretty low. I could tell by the drain into the refugium.

:fish1: Hi d2mini, are these pumps, pressure rated like the big Iwaki pumps. I would love to get them to replace my 2-70, and 2-100 rlt's on my system. I need pressure rated pumps, as I have a lot of head pressure on the pumps. :fish1:

 

[d2mini]

Always surprising to see how much head loss there is.
Get a 2000gal pump and yu have only left the half at the end.
It is wise to choose your pump controllable and oversized.

LOL, yeah... it's a 3000gph pump.
Thought I'd have plenty of flow with some in reserve.

 

[d2mini]

:fish1: Hi d2mini, are these pumps, pressure rated like the big Iwaki pumps. I would love to get them to replace my 2-70, and 2-100 rlt's on my system. I need pressure rated pumps, as I have a lot of head pressure on the pumps. :fish1:

I was about to say... i don't think they are.
Might just be in my head but I've noticed this issue before with dc controllable pumps. At least the cheaper ones.

 

[biecacka]

They are NOT pressure rated pumps. I hear that is the trade off. DC controllable use, less electric, but less flow.

corey

 

[d2mini]

They are NOT pressure rated pumps. I hear that is the trade off. DC controllable use, less electric, but less flow.

corey

Thanks for confirming, Corey.
I thought that was the case but didn't want to outright state it without being 100% sure.

I once bought a waveline pump to feed my chiller and was astounded at how much head loss it had.

 

[choss]

GHL Flow Meter installed this weekend. Installed on the return line.
It's the thing with the orange wire coming out of the top.
Now I know that I'm getting a disappointing 600gph out of my Ecotech Vectra L1 running at 100% power. :debi:


I had read similar reports from other reefers on the Vectra. Its one reason I ended up going with a Reef Octopus Varios DC pump.

 

[mikeatjac]

I wonder how much the flow meter affects the flow.