*d2mini's new 200g Reeftastic Build*

[d2mini]

Nice video. Is tumbling required for Cheato to thrive?

Thanks.
Yes, chaeto should tumble, especially as it grows.
Otherwise it gets too thick and you'll get new growth on top, but what's shaded at the bottom will die.
But you don't want to tumble it too much and bounce it around or it will break up.

Dennis: Awesome pics. What camera + lens combo are you using? Do you cut the flow before taking pics? Also are you using any type of flash?

Thank you.
Camera info is in my sig. Nikon D800 and Olympus EM1. That last batch was all the nikon with the 105mm macro.

Wow very nice setup you have there.

Question is where is that parastaltic pump getting fed from? It its from the sump? That hose goes above the height of pump and down into the sump? Did you have to prime it?

Thanks!
I'll assume you are talking about the pump feeding the CaRx.
It's fed from the sump.
There is a white 1/4" water line that is the return going from the reactor back to the sump.
I have it set up so that it's pulling from the sump and pushing into the reactor.
No priming is necessary. Just hook up your tubing and turn it on.

 

[jason2459]

I have to repeat what's been said many times over. Amazing pictures!! Very impressive and always enjoy seeing more.

 

[worm5406]

Dennis what do you think if the Lifereed CaRx?

I am looking and wanted to get a better idea on your opinion.

 

[shaggss]

Dennis what do you think if the Lifereed CaRx?

I am looking and wanted to get a better idea on your opinion.

Allow me Dennis:

Originally Posted by fishresponse View Post
Dennis - What LifeReef Calcium Reactor model do you have?

Also, I think you've mentioned it before how easy it was to setup and the qualify of their units, but anything you find irritating or any regrets on going with LifeReef? I'm in the market for buying a Ca/Rx and want to be sure this is the last/only one I buy.

Thanks,
Andy


It's ok.
It's built well. Same as his skimmers.
I had a really hard time getting it dialed in, running a really low pH, and I ended up having to pull out the coarse ARM and replace it with Two Little Fishes REBORN media. Couldn't get the ARM to dissolve. Had a separate thread in the equipment forum that when on for months. Now it's working well.

One thing I really don't care for is the placement of the pH probe. It's there so it doesn't awkwardly stick out the top and possibly break, but if I ever need to recalibrate it, I have to empty the whole thing.

And the quick disconnect fittings he uses are cool, but the one on the input feed kept clogging. I had to remove it and replace it with a John Guest fitting. No problems with the output fitting.

 

[d2mini]

LOL, thanks Shaggss.

 

[worm5406]

Ahh well... interesting.. I did not know you had a pen / ghost writter. HAHAHA

So. that blows lifereef out of the water in the running then. Thanks.

 

[d2mini]

Ahh well... interesting.. I did not know you had a pen / ghost writter. HAHAHA

So. that blows lifereef out of the water in the running then. Thanks.

haha.
Yeah, it's working well now that it's all setup and I've got the Reborn media in there, which honestly I would use anyway. I started with the ARM only because that's what came with the reactor.
So really, my only complaint right now is the ph probe location.
It's been very stable/consistent, no clogs, easy to fill/clean, etc.

Unfortunately, it's my first CaRx so I can't offer any comparisons to anything else on the market. GEO would probably be the closest competition at the same price point. I think the flow is the opposite direction and the ph probe port is in the lid.

No matter which way you go, I highly recommend either the Aquarium Plants Carbon Doser or a higher end custom setup like seen in this thread
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2461771
The needle valve that came with my reg from LR was another major PITA. You could blow on it and it would change bubble rate drastically. I'm sure this goes with any cheap reg. The AP doser is soooooo much nicer.

 

[d2mini]

I think this HPS grow light is working. :lol:

Cheato when i first put it in.
The size of a softball, and pretty dense.

And here it is ELEVEN days later.
It has opened up quite a bit from the gentle suspended rotation, but it has definitely grown.

I also got my filter canisters this week, so i got that manifold plumbed in and have carbon running in one of them.
I also added some RGB LED strip lighting above the sump.

 

[rEeFnWrX]

That grew fast!!!

Let me know when you need to get rid of some Chaeto!

I will be setting my tank up finally when I come back from vacation next weekend

 

[avasquez01]

Wow, thats impressive!

 

[worm5406]

[play 60's music]

Thats the way.... uhh huh...

[end 60's music]

 

[SPotter]

Hmmmm...I wonder if i put my head under that light if it would help with my hair line or lack of hair line!!!!

 

[worm5406]

It might but if you stop pulling at it, would really help a lot more.

 

[SPotter]

It might but if you stop pulling at it, would really help a lot more.

that would be no fun!

 

[SPotter]

Dennis...is that the floralux mini and how many hours a day are you running it?

 

[d2mini]

That grew fast!!!

Let me know when you need to get rid of some Chaeto!

I will be setting my tank up finally when I come back from vacation next weekend

That's what she said!
Cmon over. I want to see how big it will get before it stops rolling, but I can give you a sandwich baggy worth. It's full of pods, too.

Wow, thats impressive!

See above comment.

[play 60's music]

Thats the way.... uhh huh...

[end 60's music]

:lol:

Hmmmm...I wonder if i put my head under that light if it would help with my hair line or lack of hair line!!!!

[jumps in car and runs back home...]

Dennis...is that the floralux mini and how many hours a day are you running it?

Yep. Running it 13 hours from 6pm to 7am.
I was initially worried about the low kelvin. I think it's around 2500k. But man, it's doing great and no nuisance algae growth... yet.

 

[SPotter]

that looks like a great light! I just set up a 40b as a fuge and playing with different options for lighting. I wonder if this would have enough spread.

 

[d2mini]

that looks like a great light! I just set up a 40b as a fuge and playing with different options for lighting. I wonder if this would have enough spread.

Not really sure man.
But if you don't need full intensity from edge to edge, i think it would work.
I have the 24" cebu over my 40b frag tank.
The single mh is working well. All 4 t5's are the Hamilton actinics that came with it.


I also figured I'd give an update in the Maxpect Gyre which is the only flow in my tank right now, other than the returns.

I still don't know how i feel about the flow in my 7' long tank.
It seems strong in some areas and dead in others. It's one think to have an empty tank and see the flow pattern with beads, but in reality, with 7' of rock structure... i'm not feeling it yet. I need another for the other side of my tank, but I have real reservations about getting one.
And we still have no real controller or battery backup.
The build quality seems questionable, too.
After seeing others attempt to clean it, I'm not looking forward to it.

At the same time, I don't really want the mickey mouse ears of the vortechs and my 60's weren't exactly silent. Especially while pulsing. Plus I'd like to be able to point them where i want.
Tunze 6105's maybe?

So i'm currently at a crossroads as to how I want to handle the flow in my tank.
All i know is, i just can't bring myself to buy a second gyre right now, and the money has nothing to do with it.
But I really need more flow.
Might have to throw an mp60 back on for now.

 

[anbosu]

Not really sure man.
But if you don't need full intensity from edge to edge, i think it would work.
I have the 24" cebu over my 40b frag tank.
The single mh is working well. All 4 t5's are the Hamilton actinics that came with it.


I also figured I'd give an update in the Maxpect Gyre which is the only flow in my tank right now, other than the returns.

I still don't know how i feel about the flow in my 7' long tank.
It seems strong in some areas and dead in others. It's one think to have an empty tank and see the flow pattern with beads, but in reality, with 7' of rock structure... i'm not feeling it yet. I need another for the other side of my tank, but I have real reservations about getting one.
And we still have no real controller or battery backup.
The build quality seems questionable, too.
After seeing others attempt to clean it, I'm not looking forward to it.

At the same time, I don't really want the mickey mouse ears of the vortechs and my 60's weren't exactly silent. Especially while pulsing. Plus I'd like to be able to point them where i want.
Tunze 6105's maybe?

So i'm currently at a crossroads as to how I want to handle the flow in my tank.
All i know is, i just can't bring myself to buy a second gyre right now, and the money has nothing to do with it.
But I really need more flow.
Might have to throw an mp60 back on for now.

I am using mine in conjunction with 2 WP40s. While it's a nice pump, it isn't enough for a long tank with major rock structures (and really what pump is).

 

[SPotter]

Not really sure man.
But if you don't need full intensity from edge to edge, i think it would work.
I have the 24" cebu over my 40b frag tank.
The single mh is working well. All 4 t5's are the Hamilton actinics that came with it.


I also figured I'd give an update in the Maxpect Gyre which is the only flow in my tank right now, other than the returns.

I still don't know how i feel about the flow in my 7' long tank.
It seems strong in some areas and dead in others. It's one think to have an empty tank and see the flow pattern with beads, but in reality, with 7' of rock structure... i'm not feeling it yet. I need another for the other side of my tank, but I have real reservations about getting one.
And we still have no real controller or battery backup.
The build quality seems questionable, too.
After seeing others attempt to clean it, I'm not looking forward to it.

At the same time, I don't really want the mickey mouse ears of the vortechs and my 60's weren't exactly silent. Especially while pulsing. Plus I'd like to be able to point them where i want.
Tunze 6105's maybe?

So i'm currently at a crossroads as to how I want to handle the flow in my tank.
All i know is, i just can't bring myself to buy a second gyre right now, and the money has nothing to do with it.
But I really need more flow.
Might have to throw an mp60 back on for now.

thanks for the info dennis on the fuge light.

As far as the gyre goes, i picked mine up because I had to send my closed loop diverters back for seal replacements. The concept of the pump is great but really struggles on my 8ft tank and getting around the rocks. I picked up a jebao wp60 and an rw-20 to compare them. I have to say the RW-20 kicks but, its not as bulky looking and moves and incredible amount of water and quiet. As you know, I had significant snail issues with my gyre and have had to replace the props 3 times now so the grye is off of the big tank. So you might want to take a look at the Jebao RW-20 or step down to the 15. I only run the RW-20 on half speed and have thw wp-60 on the other side of the tank half speed as well and get great flow. Fortunately my diverters have arrived and I will be able to be powerhead free once again!