*d2mini's new 200g Reeftastic Build*

[d2mini]

thanks for the video share, dennis. how much flow do you estimate you have going to each or both through the single return? I always had issues with anything but medium flow passing through them as unless they were deeply submerged I would got vortices at the top of the water and introduce air bubbles to the tank. that and when pointed anywhere near the front of the tank water splashing and salt creep over the brace and edges. interested in your opinion with your brief experience as I see yours is just about the same height I prefer to run mine at. do they no longer have anti-siphon holes in the fittings? do you manage this with check valves and sump space to take on the extra volume during outage?

I mention in the vid that with a rough guesstimate I have about 650gph running through each one, so not a whole lot. I'm figuring a little over 1300gph total through my returns. Not as much as I would like from my Reeflo Hammerhead Gold return pump put that is after 6' of head height and water being diverted off in several places to feed other tanks. So with the largest 1" fitting, the flow isn't very strong. I could switch to one of the smaller fittings, which would give me a narrower but stronger flow.

No anti-siphon holes. No check valves. My sump handles the water volume with plenty of room to spare.

 

[saf1]

Sea Swirls are good stuff, and very under rated (personal opinion). I have mine that I used on my 100 gallon tucked away for later use. In fact, I may modify it to hold one of my Koralia's on it since my 40 does not have a return.

 

[SPotter]

Looks great Dennis! I have been meaning to ask how is the new fish room working out with the heat? is your chiller kicking on?

 

[monkiboy]

I mention in the vid that with a rough guesstimate I have about 650gph running through each one, so not a whole lot. I'm figuring a little over 1300gph total through my returns. Not as much as I would like from my Reeflo Hammerhead Gold return pump put that is after 6' of head height and water being diverted off in several places to feed other tanks. So with the largest 1" fitting, the flow isn't very strong. I could switch to one of the smaller fittings, which would give me a narrower but stronger flow.

No anti-siphon holes. No check valves. My sump handles the water volume with plenty of room to spare.

ah, I didn't have audio so I missed the explanation. thank you for heads up.

I would definitely be interested in your experience if/when you up the flow to each of yours to what they are able to handle as I didn't see a way around dealing with those shortcomings without a vortex guard on top of the return 90° fitting or lowering the fitting deeper in the aquarium.

lastly, fantastic photography. I really appreciate your more artistic wider angle shots and those stitched full-tank shots. great creative eye, sir.

 

[shaggss]

Oh great......I wish you would stop making me buy new things Dennis! Geez your sending me broke. Better rush out and buy shares of SS now......every time you buy and review things, they take off! There'll be a 12 month waiting period on SS now!

 

[d2mini]

Looks great Dennis! I have been meaning to ask how is the new fish room working out with the heat? is your chiller kicking on?

The fish room is awesome.
I open the door and walk into a cool room.
Nothing is going to stop the chiller from kicking on but it should definitely run less this year.

ah, I didn't have audio so I missed the explanation. thank you for heads up.

I would definitely be interested in your experience if/when you up the flow to each of yours to what they are able to handle as I didn't see a way around dealing with those shortcomings without a vortex guard on top of the return 90° fitting or lowering the fitting deeper in the aquarium.

lastly, fantastic photography. I really appreciate your more artistic wider angle shots and those stitched full-tank shots. great creative eye, sir.

Thanks!

As to the issues you had, even if I doubled the flow, I don't think there would be any problems.
I'm not sure what could cause a vortice or suction at the the top of the tank since there is no difference between these and a regular return other than the fact that they rotate back and forth.

Oh great......I wish you would stop making me buy new things Dennis! Geez your sending me broke. Better rush out and buy shares of SS now......every time you buy and review things, they take off! There'll be a 12 month waiting period on SS now!

haha, sorry buddy.

 

[JPMagyar]

Dude,

You ROCK! Great advice on RAW and I LOVE Sea Swirls!

I noticed my corals growing dense in pattern and couldn't figure out why. I honestly think that Sea Swirls have made the difference. My corals are growing in what I would call a "Natural" pattern and I think that is totally the result of Sea Swirl flow.

 

[d2mini]

Dude,

You ROCK! Great advice on RAW and I LOVE Sea Swirls!

I noticed my corals growing dense in pattern and couldn't figure out why. I honestly think that Sea Swirls have made the difference. My corals are growing in what I would call a "Natural" pattern and I think that is totally the result of Sea Swirl flow.

Thanks, JP!

I noticed some of my sps having a tighter growth pattern just from switching back to MH. But yes, flow can definitely alter the way a coral grows. Will be interesting to see if these guys will have any effect like that in my tank.
Do you know how much flow you are pushing through yours?

 

[Wazzel]

Your tank is looking really nice Dennis. Makes me want to get a big tank again.

I think one of your neighbors has the same floor plan we had when we lived in Cypress. At least from what I can see from the pics of your car. House just past the cul-de-sack, on the right, as leaving your house.

 

[d2mini]

Your tank is looking really nice Dennis. Makes me want to get a big tank again.

I think one of your neighbors has the same floor plan we had when we lived in Cypress. At least from what I can see from the pics of your car. House just past the cul-de-sack, on the right, as leaving your house.

Thanks!
It's coming along. Still waiting for a couple things to get back to 100% of the color I had before, but I'm pretty happy with it thus far considering everything the tank has gone through over the past year and only being back online since Christmas.

There's only two builders in our little section. Our home is a Trendmaker and the other builder is Perry. Without being able to see the whole house in those pics, i think the one you are pointing out is a Perry. Not positive though.

 

[Wazzel]

Thanks!
It's coming along. Still waiting for a couple things to get back to 100% of the color I had before, but I'm pretty happy with it thus far considering everything the tank has gone through over the past year and only being back online since Christmas.

There's only two builders in our little section. Our home is a Trendmaker and the other builder is Perry. Without being able to see the whole house in those pics, i think the one you are pointing out is a Perry. Not positive though.

IIRC our house was a Perry. It is the one with the stuff on the driveway between the garage door. Ours had the set back dining room then set back laundry across the front. It looks like that house hast that too, but I am only seeing a little.

 

[shermanator]

Oh great......I wish you would stop making me buy new things Dennis! Geez your sending me broke. Better rush out and buy shares of SS now......every time you buy and review things, they take off! There'll be a 12 month waiting period on SS now!

No joke. Things I have bought because of Dennis:

(1) Lifereef skimmer and sump
(2) Cebu Sun MH/T5 lamp
...
now Sea Swirl. I was considering one a few months back, I'm sure I'll buy one by the end of the week now. =)

But seriously, this thread is such an inspiration. Thanks for taking the time to do this Dennis!

 

[d2mini]

No joke. Things I have bought because of Dennis:

(1) Lifereef skimmer and sump
(2) Cebu Sun MH/T5 lamp
...
now Sea Swirl. I was considering one a few months back, I'm sure I'll buy one by the end of the week now. =)

But seriously, this thread is such an inspiration. Thanks for taking the time to do this Dennis!

hahaha... no problem.

 

[d2mini]

Well, never thought I'd see this... one of my several rock anemone's decided to make a meal out of the Mystery Wrasse that I've had for exactly 2.5 years. :eek1:

This is the underside of his head.
That was one hungry nem.

 

[EvenFurther]

Dang. I didn't know that could happen.

 

[nanoreef heaven]

Pretty crazy

 

[screamingibis]

That's an expensive meal, for a rock anemone that is.

 

[JPMagyar]

I never cease to be amazed!! Killer photo Dennis!!

 

[fredro]

Coral ID?

Coral ID?

Few coral pics from this weekend.
And there are more to come once I can finish processing them.

Do you know the name of this specific coral? I have a very similar coral that I am trying to ID. Mine has gotten incredible PE and color.

Thanks

 

[fishresponse]

Acropora millepora