dtum
New member
From what I've experienced with the AIs so far - I'm very pleased with pretty much everything about them. Software could be a little better.
I really like the look and am willing to give these guys a serious try.
dtum's Practical Reef - 54 Gallons of Coral Jewels
- Thread starter dtum
- Start date
From what I've experienced with the AIs so far - I'm very pleased with pretty much everything about them. Software could be a little better.
I really like the look and am willing to give these guys a serious try.
dtum
New member
So, the benefits of a small tank allow me to drain the water with fair ease and move the tank if I wanted to. And so I did.
I'm using my Brute trash bin that holds saltwater for this.
The first post goes up.
And here are all three of them now
It is time to start adding water back in
I always notice that even if the tank is perfectly level when it is empty, it may need a bit of re-shimming after the water has been added.
Time to start fooling around with lights. It does look very nice.
And here's the final result
I'm using my Brute trash bin that holds saltwater for this.
The first post goes up.
And here are all three of them now
It is time to start adding water back in
I always notice that even if the tank is perfectly level when it is empty, it may need a bit of re-shimming after the water has been added.
Time to start fooling around with lights. It does look very nice.
And here's the final result
slavetonet
New member
Nice...following
Reef Ruler
New member
Awesome. I set up a reefer 250 about 6 or 7 months ago and am loving it so far. 3 Hydra 52?! I've only got 2 26's haha. Mine are oriented so the pucks are in line left to right instead of front to back like yours are though. I'm sure you wont be having any issues with coverage.
I'm liking your choice to go with mp40s. I went with two mp10s because I was worried the 40s might be overkill, but unfortunately the magnets on the 10s aren't strong enough to use them on the back glass, which is a little thicker than the sides. It still works on the sides, but I really wanted to put them on the back.
I went with the same skimmer you did as well. I'm loving it. Took me a little while to satisfy myself messing around with the two adjustment dials, but its doing great now.
How do you like the Vectra? I skimmed the Red Sea sponsor forum and I think I read that to get the Vectra to couple with the plumbing provided, you need to buy additional fittings? Not sure if I'm thinking of the Vectra or a different pump.
Cant wait to see it with some coral!
I'm liking your choice to go with mp40s. I went with two mp10s because I was worried the 40s might be overkill, but unfortunately the magnets on the 10s aren't strong enough to use them on the back glass, which is a little thicker than the sides. It still works on the sides, but I really wanted to put them on the back.
I went with the same skimmer you did as well. I'm loving it. Took me a little while to satisfy myself messing around with the two adjustment dials, but its doing great now.
How do you like the Vectra? I skimmed the Red Sea sponsor forum and I think I read that to get the Vectra to couple with the plumbing provided, you need to buy additional fittings? Not sure if I'm thinking of the Vectra or a different pump.
Cant wait to see it with some coral!
dtum
New member
Great setup. I like the idea of a separate system for the most valuable corals. Do you have plans for making this system more fail-safe? (battery backup etc.?) For a system this size it's relatively easy to do
Leonardo
Thank you, that's a good question. I'm contemplating on whether I should buy another Apex to automate things and get a backup battery. The simplicity of the unit is definitely appealing to me and so far everything is running off of regular outlets - AI and EcoTech both offer full programming, so no need to automate things there.
I'm sure once I will get it full and striving I would want to add as many backup measures as I can
dtum
New member
I absolutely love it - one amazing piece of equipment, virtually silent and offers tons of options to play with. Unfortunately I have not figured out those options yet - I did connect it with EcoSmart Live, but am running it on a constant schedule. I'm not sure how the variable flow will work with a Herbie style overflow, but definitely something I look forward to experimenting with.
The hook up was pretty easy, especially if you get their accessory pack with different fittings, I did not have one, so I used a part from my Waveline pump and that was the only part that I had to add to this whole setup, everything else came in the Red Sea and EcoTech boxes.
dtum
New member
To keep things a little bit more interesting I've added two tiny fish in the tank: yellow wrasse (really like this guy) and pajama cardinal.
A few people have mentioned that the picture is not centered, they are right and now that I've finalized the location of the tank the picture was moved over my workstation.
Next thing to do is to add lighting under the stand. I really like this LED lighting from COSTCO - it is very low profile and provides awesome lighting underneath the tank.
So let's hook it up.
It is activated by waving your hand underneath - very handy and works well even when hands are wet or your are holding something.
Right now the wiring is all a mess. Cleaning and organizing this is one of the next steps for me.
A few people have mentioned that the picture is not centered, they are right and now that I've finalized the location of the tank the picture was moved over my workstation.
Next thing to do is to add lighting under the stand. I really like this LED lighting from COSTCO - it is very low profile and provides awesome lighting underneath the tank.
So let's hook it up.
It is activated by waving your hand underneath - very handy and works well even when hands are wet or your are holding something.
Right now the wiring is all a mess. Cleaning and organizing this is one of the next steps for me.
dtum
New member
Shims and picture
A lot of people were asking me when and how I'm going to get rid of those unsightly shims sticking out from underneath the cabinet.
Others were asking me about the off-centre picture behind the aquarium.
Well, both of the issues have been corrected. Picture is now centered over the desk and I've carefully cut the shims not to stick out. Some were cut with the knife and then broken off and some of them had to be marked with a pencil, yanked out, cut to length and put back in (I like this approach better).
As you can see, I've bought more live rock and just piled it on top of each other here. In the next instalment I will go through the process of documenting my new aquascape and getting the look I like. A similar process was done for Pragmatic Reef, this time you will see more pictures and will gain a better understanding of how to achieve a similar result.
A lot of people were asking me when and how I'm going to get rid of those unsightly shims sticking out from underneath the cabinet.
Others were asking me about the off-centre picture behind the aquarium.
Well, both of the issues have been corrected. Picture is now centered over the desk and I've carefully cut the shims not to stick out. Some were cut with the knife and then broken off and some of them had to be marked with a pencil, yanked out, cut to length and put back in (I like this approach better).
As you can see, I've bought more live rock and just piled it on top of each other here. In the next instalment I will go through the process of documenting my new aquascape and getting the look I like. A similar process was done for Pragmatic Reef, this time you will see more pictures and will gain a better understanding of how to achieve a similar result.
timfederwitz
New member
Any updates?
I was thinking about getting this tank myself as I like the tank and stand with their clean lines, but I don't like the sump (I know, I could just chuck the sump). I'm also considering using the Triton method after reading d2mini's latest build and doing some research, and that requires a rather large refugium as well as dosing.
How are you liking the tank and the center overflow?
I was thinking about getting this tank myself as I like the tank and stand with their clean lines, but I don't like the sump (I know, I could just chuck the sump). I'm also considering using the Triton method after reading d2mini's latest build and doing some research, and that requires a rather large refugium as well as dosing.
How are you liking the tank and the center overflow?
dtum
New member
So, it has been 2 months since I've started the tank. The tank is doing great, SPS corals look fairly healthy, many have lost their vibrance but they are not bleaching and polyp extension is through the roof, even better than in the old tank - I think not having a flame angel around could have something to do with it.
I like the tank and don't mind the centre overflow, I like its compactness and how practical it is. Having said that, if the tank was deeper by another 4 inches it would be a lot better.
The sump is quite small, but I've managed to put everything in there and have a few ideas for future modifications.
I've shot a video that overviews my current progress. My goal is to continue stabilizing the system, riding out various mini cycles that are going on in the tank and start working on coloration around September.
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1nLhMGbujCs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I like the tank and don't mind the centre overflow, I like its compactness and how practical it is. Having said that, if the tank was deeper by another 4 inches it would be a lot better.
The sump is quite small, but I've managed to put everything in there and have a few ideas for future modifications.
I've shot a video that overviews my current progress. My goal is to continue stabilizing the system, riding out various mini cycles that are going on in the tank and start working on coloration around September.
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1nLhMGbujCs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Acromaniac
Member
Wow that is awesome, love the scape and there's some really nice pieces in there.
dtum
New member
I love them. Software is a bit different and gets some getting used to, I miss a few EcoSmartLive features, but overall I really really like the lights.
So to how my SPS will react - too early to tell, I think it will take at least 6 months to figure things out. But so far I'm happy.
dtum
New member
That's blue tort. And it is even a lot bigger than it seems, I've positioned it on a lower rock in the back.
burton14e7
New member
I'm curious what settings you have your MP40s set with. I'm planning a reefer 250 as well but was thinking I would have to go bare bottom with a MP40 in there.
Mr.Fishtank
New member
Updates?
