*d2mini's new 200g Reeftastic Build*

[d2mini]

I know it's already been said but really a well thought out and executed set-up. I rushed thru and maybe I missed it but do you vent the equipment room? With what arrangement?
P.S. Your's is the first FTS I've ever gotten a positive reaction from my wife, not a reef geek, she was really blown away. Nice job.

Thanks!
The fish room has an ac vent and return, tied into my home's hvac. So that will help pull out humidity just like it does with the rest of the house.
I'm sticking with that for now and will see how it does. If I need to, I can drag my dehumidifier in there but I'm trying to avoid that.
It's winter so the heat is blowing in now. It's warm when I walk in but I can't really tell if it's all that humid. Nothing seems damp.
I should probably grab a humidity monitor on amazon, just keep forgetting.

From what I understand of bio pellets, doesn't the output need to be close to the skimmer intake? Some even mod their skimmers so the pellet output line connects directly to the skimmer intake.

I could be wrong tho.....

I think I saw that too, which is why I was considering running it to the skimmer section. I need to do more research on it before adding it to my system. It's not a priority at this time. Next up is getting the refugium running!

 

[Saltydrip]

You can grind a pair of DIKEs flat with a grinder too. I did that befor spending $50 on a pair.

 

[shaggss]

Hey Dennis

What app are you using for your Foscam? I have tried the original app and get get a picture on my home network but not outside? Other paid apps I can't even get it working on the home network??

 

[BrettH]

Also finished hooking up my CaRx complete with the Cole-Parmer dosing pump.
The pump speed is set to "2" which is giving me continuous fast drip, almost a steady stream.
It's pretty quiet at this low speed. Audible but, barely. At least with all the other noise in the fish room.

[/QUOTE]

Dennis....awesome thread and rebuild! Looks great.

What Cole-parmer pump are you using and what dosing rates does it give you?

I have a GEO 818 and I have been considering ditching it for dosing pumps etc. But I hate to give up up on it, I'd rather not have to buy Ca and Alk every couple of months/refill containers. My max dosing rate would probably be 20ml/min and I am doing about 8ml/min right now. The GEO 818 is oversized purposely for my systems so I can carry a higher PH in the reactor, to produce the same Alk a smaller reactor would produce at a lower PH - It's meant for 850gallon+ systems and I have about 300gals.

I like the cole-parmer solution because it is a rugged, dependable unit. But I am not sure I really need it since my CaRx is so oversized and I can probably get away with lower dosing rates, i.e. I don't think I need to run a doser continuously and therefore can use a GHL Profilux. Any thoughts?

By the way, are you using the GHL Profilux Dosing pumps for your AWC?

Love your system!:thumbsup:

 

[d2mini]

Hey Dennis

What app are you using for your Foscam? I have tried the original app and get get a picture on my home network but not outside? Other paid apps I can't even get it working on the home network??

Right now I'm just using the foscam app. I can get it to work anywhere, but it says I have to be on a wifi network. Won't work over cellular.
Have you figured out how to send someone a public link to view in their browser?? Like if I wanted to post it here?

Dennis....awesome thread and rebuild! Looks great.

What Cole-parmer pump are you using and what dosing rates does it give you?

I have a GEO 818 and I have been considering ditching it for dosing pumps etc. But I hate to give up up on it, I'd rather not have to buy Ca and Alk every couple of months/refill containers. My max dosing rate would probably be 20ml/min and I am doing about 8ml/min right now. The GEO 818 is oversized purposely for my systems so I can carry a higher PH in the reactor, to produce the same Alk a smaller reactor would produce at a lower PH - It's meant for 850gallon+ systems and I have about 300gals.

I like the cole-parmer solution because it is a rugged, dependable unit. But I am not sure I really need it since my CaRx is so oversized and I can probably get away with lower dosing rates, i.e. I don't think I need to run a doser continuously and therefore can use a GHL Profilux. Any thoughts?

By the way, are you using the GHL Profilux Dosing pumps for your AWC?

Love your system!:thumbsup:

Thanks!
That particular pump is the 77521-50 with 7518-00 easy load head.
I don't recall the specs off-hand but right now I'm pumping somewhere around 35 ml/min and the dial on the pump is set to around 1.5 out of 10.

I can't use the GHL doser for AWC because of two problems. First, it won't let me dose enough times per day to negate the second problem which is that my changes would cause the pumps to run too long and the plastic roller would break down. You can only run them for about 10 mins at a time. After that they get too hot. That goes for any cheap peristaltic pump, which is why I got the Cole-Parmer. I have a cheaper low-flow, non-adjustable one for my ATO and I just yesterday received a digital one for my AWC, but I still need another head.

 

[biecacka]

Dennis, I too have read that one needs to have the return line of pellets dump back into the skimmer. Like mentioned prior, most people mod their skimmers to put it directly into the skimmer, but I would imagine dumping it back into the skimmer chamber would suffice.

Corey

 

[d2mini]

Dennis, I too have read that one needs to have the return line of pellets dump back into the skimmer. Like mentioned prior, most people mod their skimmers to put it directly into the skimmer, but I would imagine dumping it back into the skimmer chamber would suffice.

Corey

Cool. It'll be awhile before I need to worry about it but good to know.
Thanks!

 

[BrettH]

Thanks!
That particular pump is the 77521-50 with 7518-00 easy load head.
I don't recall the specs off-hand but right now I'm pumping somewhere around 35 ml/min and the dial on the pump is set to around 1.5 out of 10.

Do you have any idea how little it will dose per minute?

I can't use the GHL doser for AWC because of two problems. First, it won't let me dose enough times per day to negate the second problem which is that my changes would cause the pumps to run too long and the plastic roller would break down. You can only run them for about 10 mins at a time. After that they get too hot. That goes for any cheap peristaltic pump, which is why I got the Cole-Parmer. I have a cheaper low-flow, non-adjustable one for my ATO and I just yesterday received a digital one for my AWC, but I still need another head.

Gotcha (that was my concern, thanks for confirming) So what digital pump are you using for you AWC? And how are you automating it? I have been looking at the stenner pumps.

By the way, are you going to use Bio-pellets again??!! I thought I read somewhere in your thread they caused you cyano problems? I used them and then it was game over--cyano ended up winning and I tore my tank down about the same time you tore yours down. But I think I used them a little too early in my tank's life cycle i.e. I didn't have enough nitrates built up, nor enough bio-diversity to keep the bacteria produce by the bio-pellets in check. Just a thought.

 

[jason2459]

AWC FTW. I just ordered a stenner 100series dual head 70gpd fixed rate. I calculated out which fixed rate one will allow me to run as short as possible for as many times through out the day as possible for the gpd I want to target which for me was 2gpd. I'll be plugging it into my controller outlet and running it for 2minutes at a time on the hour 21 times. That will get me just a hair over 2gpd.

I went with the stenner as it was a dual head on a single shaft to reduce any drift in calibration having two separate drives. Also if one drive goes out the entire thing fails which in this scenario that's a good thing. Also found getting parts for the stenner is easy and available at a lot of places. Seems to get great reviews for reliability from pool people. [emoji1]

 

[BrettH]

AWC FTW. I just ordered a stenner 100series dual head 70gpd fixed rate. I calculated out which fixed rate one will allow me to run as short as possible for as many times through out the day as possible for the gpd I want to target which for me was 2gpd. I'll be plugging it into my controller outlet and running it for 2minutes at a time on the hour 21 times. That will get me just a hair over 2gpd.

I went with the stenner as it was a dual head on a single shaft to reduce any drift in calibration having two separate drives. Also if one drive goes out the entire thing fails which in this scenario that's a good thing. Also found getting parts for the stenner is easy and available at a lot of places. Seems to get great reviews for reliability from pool people. [emoji1]

That's exactly what I have been considering for the exact reasons you stated. Thanks...

Dennis - Have you looked at the stenners?

 

[d2mini]

Dennis - Have you looked at the stenners?

No, I was able to find the CP's pretty cheap.
The digital unit was only $195 shipped on ebay. Those things go for around $2k when new. This one is a 1-100rpm drive, which at max speed with the L/S 17 tubing it would give me just about 4.5g in one hour which is all i need to change in an entire day. But I would split it up into multiple times per day. Per day, it would amount to just over 100g.

I just need to grab a second head for it which should be around $50-80 depending on what kind of deal I can find. Depending on which head I choose, I have various tubing size options. And being that they are built for heavy duty continual use in the scientific and medical industries, I figure I can't go wrong. Only disadvantage is they are a bit bulky but i have the space.

The one running my ATO is a fixed 20 rpm unit which was only $99 and came with two heads, one of which i will use on the AWC unit. It's much smaller and the speed works out fine for ATO along with my optical level sensor in my sump.

 

[shaggss]

Right now I'm just using the foscam app. I can get it to work anywhere, but it says I have to be on a wifi network. Won't work over cellular.
Have you figured out how to send someone a public link to view in their browser?? Like if I wanted to post it here

There is an option to "connect over wifi only" but when I turn this off, it still will not connect. As for public links, no I have no idea! Sorry. I have down loaded the Foscam Pro app, but the camera is not listed in it. I have sent an email off to the developer so hopefully they will.

 

[d2mini]

Had to completely redo all my drain plumbing today, including the BeanAnimal valves. :debi:

When I originally plumbed it, the main siphon and the emergency drain crossed over the middle section of the sump where my filter canisters are supposed to go. Since I don't have them yet, I wasn't even thinking that the plumbing was going to be in the way of the canisters, especially removing/installing them. I was too focused on making sure I had a nice slope which would allow the siphon to start with no issues. But when talking to Jeff the other day about shipping the canisters this coming week, it occurred to me that we had a problem. Doh! :facepalm:

And on top of that, I wanted to gain a little more space inside the outer overflow box between the two sets of bulkheads. It was very difficult to squeeze the 90 elbows in there, even with the shallow bulkheads. So I flipped the outer bulkheads around so the threads were on the outside instead of the inside.

So it all had to be redone!
More time, more money.

So here it is now.
The two 1.5" white lines are the ones I'm talking about.
The 1" black lines are the drain from the frag tank and the feed to the refugium, which as of last night is finally up and running, btw.
Supposed to pick up some chaeto from someone this weekend.

 

[sirreal63]

Plumbing is usually a nightmare but yours looks great, even if you had to redo it. Come over here next weekend and you can help me lay about 350' of water line in a series of trenches.

 

[r-balljunkie]

1) sealed and A/C'ed room in the garage
2) floralux lighting

interesting.......

 

[d2mini]

Plumbing is usually a nightmare but yours looks great, even if you had to redo it. Come over here next weekend and you can help me lay about 350' of water line in a series of trenches.

Thanks!
And ummmm good luck with that, Jack. :thumbsup:

1) sealed and A/C'ed room in the garage
2) floralux lighting

interesting.......

heh, heh... if the HPS bulb don't grow Chaeto, at least I know it will grow some other plants. :bigeyes:

 

[d2mini]

Been so fraggin busy getting the fraggin frag tank stocked with fraggin frags.
Lots more to frag, too.

 

[liverock]

Been so fraggin busy getting the fraggin frag tank stocked with fraggin frags.
Lots more to frag, too.

That is way cool!

Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com :spin3::spin3::spin3:

 

[shermanator]

Wow, that's an amazing looking frag tank. Nice frags and nice lighting! You are going to need a second one soon.

Is that a 40B? I'm curious to hear why you didn't drill it and used a HOB overflow? Do you prefer the overflow for this use? -- it looks like one of Jeff's, which means it'll be rock solid.

 

[worm5406]

Nice use of the fragging tank. LOL

How are water tests?