JapanReef - 450 gallon In-Wall system

[NexDog]

I've used a transformer on the mag3 powering my skimmer for a year and it's fine. Just think that the electricity that comes into your home has gone through at least 4 transformer stations so they are built to be used 24/7. And I'd only have 2 pumps on 24/7 (return and one CL). I've been running US made powerheads on the current 50 so just thought that 120v equipment would run fine albeit slightly underpowered on the 100v here. Didn't think it would affect the lights so drastically.

Oh well, I'm committed now with over $5k in equipment alone so would be cheaper to get transformers than start over.

 

[G_cuvier]

Just a side thought on your power issue.

You said you would run the 30A circuits through a transformer and then you can use the existing wiring. I'm no electrician but I would make sure that the existing wiring can handle the additional output from the transformer. They may use a lesser gauge wire for their 100v in Japan and the additional output and draw may be too much for the wiring which could cause a fire.

 

[NexDog]

Very good point and thanks for bringing it to my attention!

 

[melev]

I hope you can post pictures of this electrical setup so others can benefit from what you've learned.

 

[jeffbrig]

Just a side thought on your power issue.

You said you would run the 30A circuits through a transformer and then you can use the existing wiring. I'm no electrician but I would make sure that the existing wiring can handle the additional output from the transformer. They may use a lesser gauge wire for their 100v in Japan and the additional output and draw may be too much for the wiring which could cause a fire.

30A is 30A regardles of the source voltage used. The difference is, if your wiring and breakers are rated to provide 30A @ 100V from the distribution panel, that converts to a maximum of 25A @ 120V after the transformer. Hopefully that still leaves you with enough margin to run all your tank equipment.

 

[NexDog]

If it doesn't I can just add another circuit. One thing I've been mulling is that if I do manage to get some large transformer then I'm then commited to using US based equipment forever. For instance I have two strip light hoods that I was going to use to light the fuge. Sure I could get another PFO pendant but I'd have to extend the shelf the ballasts are on to fit one more.

 

[RobbyG]

Nexdog sorry for the late reply, but I was away last night. I see that someone already answered the question, the USA is 60hz and 60hz motors will run approx 20% slower on 50hz voltage. It also Effects other equipment because the Average power (that is power delivered per second) will be less under 50hz. If by some bad luck you do have 100v 50hz power, most of your equipment will see almost a 35% decrease in available power.

 

[EnglishRebel]

Just a side thought on your power issue.

You said you would run the 30A circuits through a transformer and then you can use the existing wiring. I'm no electrician but I would make sure that the existing wiring can handle the additional output from the transformer. They may use a lesser gauge wire for their 100v in Japan and the additional output and draw may be too much for the wiring which could cause a fire.

I think that Jeffbrig may have answered this but with a lower voltage the wiring would be larger for a given load. I know when I was living in England their 240 volt wiring was much smaller than ours. The power companies run distribution grids on very high voltage for this very reason.

 

[jeffbrig]

It's not the voltge, it's the current that dictates wire size. The reason we use high voltages for transmission lines in the power grid is that the current is then much smaller to carry the same amount of power. Lower current means less power is lost as heat due to the resistance of a long run of wire. So, at high voltages we are able to move around large amounts of electricity without needing 2' thick cables.

Is England's power 240 volt single phase? If so, devices would be constructed with higher impedances to draw less current (half what you would have at 120V). This is what lets them get away with smaller wire.

Have I put anyone to sleep yet?

 

[RobbyG]

Thanks PitStop

Impressive research and information RobbyG, way to go.

 

[H20ENG]

Melev,
I've used the same controllers, dont pay the guy $80

http://www.dwyer-inst.com/htdocs/temperature/SeriesTSPrice.cfm

I would say the Rancos and these are close to each other in quality. Any links to the Ranco failures?

Laurence,
I would personally try to find the equipment that matched your source voltage. I have seen some stunning reefs from Japan, but have not seen the type of equipment they use. I know they have nice halides, and energy efficiency is as important over there as it is here. They have GOT to have the right equipment for you.
I know your into the American equipment for some bucks, but long term, you may be better off with Japanese equipt.
At any rate, great project!
Back to lurking,
Chris

 

[NexDog]

Chris, well, still waiting on the electricity. If I can get the whole room converted to 120v then I'll go that route because I have all the equipment and buying everything online is so simple.

New issue alert.

I seem to be missing a page from the instructions. I have installed teh solenoid and check valve but I have no instructions on how to install the actual float. I'm left with the float, yellow and blue tubes and the JacoTEE thing. If someone has a copy of the elusive page could you scan it and upload it? Or else I'm open to ideas.

 

[melev]

Melev,
I've used the same controllers, dont pay the guy $80

http://www.dwyer-inst.com/htdocs/temperature/SeriesTSPrice.cfm

I would say the Rancos and these are close to each other in quality. Any links to the Ranco failures?

Thanks Chris, that is a much better price.

I don't have links, I just stumble across threads and see what equipment fails. It isn't that they are necessarily prone to do so, it is just something that happened to someone somewhere out there.

I've never owned a Ranco controller, but I know many people rely on them. We all rely on something after all, and the trick is getting something trustworthy.

 

[The Escaped Ape]

Kyushu is 60hz.

 

[NexDog]

Fantastic! The electrician is still looking into it but I spoke to him this morning and he reckons it's definitely possible to feed those 30 amp lines into a transformer and make that room 120v. Didn't give me any other info except to say that there are a few options and he's gathering all the info and will discuss with me in a few days.

Most of my pipe and fittings arrived and I plumped in a temporary line for the return and I plumbed in the big closed loop for those racks. Still haven't plumbed in the racks as I'm waiting on those short strainers from AquaticEco I left a 5" gap between the back and the blulkhead so the standard long strainers don't fit anyway. USPS definitely not as fast as FedEx which takes only 3-54 days in my experience.

Order Status:

At Foreign Delivery Unit, December 06, 2005, 6:05 am, JAPAN
Out of Foreign Customs, December 05, 2005, 6:00 pm, JAPAN
Arrived Abroad, December 04, 2005, 3:10 am, JAPAN
International Dispatch, December 01, 2005, 9:20 pm, MIAMI AMC
Enroute, December 01, 2005, 6:23 am, MIAMI, FL 33112
Acceptance, November 30, 2005, 12:00 pm, APOPKA, FL 32712

So cleared customs last night and was sent for local delivery this morning (12 hours ago). Might arrive tonight or tomorrow morning I guess.....

I have a 50 gallon plastic tank that I'll use for water changes and I'm filling that with RODI now and will pump it into the sump via a powerhead when it fills. It's almost full after 24 hours so at this rate it's going to take another 8 days to fill the tank.

Going to order the LR from Okinawa at the end of the week. I'm aiming for a full working system, everything plumbed, LR in, everything on 120v and current livestock transferred by Christmas.

I have a powder blue and a clown tang on hold at a local shop.

 

[NexDog]

Those strainers arrived and they don't fit so I'm going to have some kind of elbow off the bulkhead - I'll work it out. Mattt (MDP) on this board lives in Tokyo and has graciously agreed to hand pick me coral at a great shop up there. Look at the size of this hammer:

But at a cool equivalent of $1000 I think I'll pass.

 

[melev]

That is monstrous. Amazingly so. I've never seen one that large.

 

[NexDog]

I didn't know that they could even get that big!

 

[rulesmith]

So are you going to cure your live rock ahead of time? Are you worried about putting in livestock so soon?

The reason I ask is that I plan on putting the contents of my 50 gallon into my new 360. The 360 arrives in January, I am hoping to have all equipment up and running by February and figured maybe for my sps's I would wait tell April or May to put in. I figured the cycle on the big tank would not be dramatic, but still a cycle.

I currently have about 100 lbs of live rock in various old tanks around the house. I also have about 100 lbs in the 55 tank. Figured this will get me started. I am planning on getting another 100 lbs. or so and during the trash can thing with it. Figured with that much healthy live rock it will not be too bad.

I figure I am missing something or being overly cautious since you seem to think most things out very well ahead of time.

 

[NexDog]

I'm going to transfer the rock from my 50g and monitor parameters. I'm a little concerned that there will be enough bacteria to fully colonise this new system. I'm considering adding the rock to the sump as soon as the sump is filled to give teh bacteria time to spread. Anyone have any thoughts on this? I don't think I'll be adding any livestock till January - not any new stuff anyway. I've just ran out of money because I have thousands in extra and unbudgetted for bills. These 2 transformers I need for the 2 circuits into the tank room will be the best part of a grand and I need some repair work done on my car as I just introduced it to the end of a low-lying wall and my car lost.