Learning/rebuilding from my epic fail

[M007]

Yes, Mike it is is. Stunning SSC my man :celeb1:

 

[reefmutt]

Matt, corals are looking really good. I,tense color on that shortcake. You mentioned you use coral colors... Do you use all 3 bottles and if so how much? Also do you dose all at once or broken up small amounts during the week.

Thanks Michael. Here's what goes into the tank and on what schedule.. I know this pretty much all makes my cyano even more happy but I think I'm done waiting and watching that. There may be a cyano extermination coming it's way very soon!

I make a mix of Reef Roids, Reef Pearls and FM Reef Vitality (decapped) and add a pinch of this first thing in the morning and just before lights out. Every day.

On Mon/wed/fri mornings:
-FM Color Elements, Red and Blue only - 3/4 of a capful. I'll measure exactly but I'd say it's about 7ml.
-One drop of Polyp Lab's amino acid complex called Colors.
-About 7 ml Seachem Flourish Iron (this is why I don't use the Green Color elements)
-And at the moment, one capful of Seachem Flourish Nitrogen (potassium nitrate) because n has been getting low, lately.

The fish get fed about 8 cubes a day in two feedings of mainly spirulina brine shrimp. I add sheets of nori on occasion.

At lights out, 3 times a week, I have been doing the Zeobac/zeofood/coral snow to try to reduce the cyano.. To no avail..
But I may keep it up for the bacterial additions..

Yes, Mike it is is. Stunning SSC my man :celeb1:

Thanks, Mike. It is the newest ssc I have added. My two older ssc, from a different source do not have nearly the same intensity but one of them has really begun to grow..

 

[madkeenreefer]

Looking good. Nice to see Another Sps tank from Quebec.

 

[reefmutt]

Looking good. Nice to see Another Sps tank from Quebec.

Thanks, Steven. I'm working on turning it into an sps tank as opposed to the little sps stick farm I have now..
What about you, do you have a build thread? Post a link if you do. Love to see it.
I'd love to see a few more sps tanks in Quebec..
I'm embarrassed to say that I really am unfamiliar with the french forums... My french is horrible..

 

[madkeenreefer]

I have a little build thread going on the French forum RA but not alot to see there. (I have been posting it in english) most of my corals are in a freinds tank that we work on together . 1000gl system dominated by SPS.

My personal tank is not much more then a stick farm either as I have only just built up the system this year. All my corals I transfered over to the 1000gl system 2+yrs ago are colonies now however I just take frags and start again.

 

[MichaelW]

Thanks for the detailed rundown of what you add and when. Wow it's a lot! Corals obviously love it though.
So am I understanding you add about 21ml of the coral colors a week? But not from the green bottle.I just started with them and going with only 5ml a week from each.
How many fish are in your system at the moment?

 

[biggles]

I looooooove the deep colors on this SSC Matt, really popping mate !

You're not getting all mad scientisty are you buddy, that's a lot of different stuff you're adding to the water. Do you think the iron really does anything or is it too early to say.

Keep the macros flowing, you and Sahin are my fav pic posters on RC although he's so lazy we hardly get any updates on his journal now days......:hammer:

 

[vinhle00]

that one looks like the Unique Corals Original Strawberry Shortcake.

 

[nemodan]

I looooooove the deep colors on this SSC Matt, really popping mate !

You're not getting all mad scientisty are you buddy, that's a lot of different stuff you're adding to the water. Do you think the iron really does anything or is it too early to say.

Keep the macros flowing, you and Sahin are my fav pic posters on RC although he's so lazy we hardly get any updates on his journal now days......:hammer:

Incredible nice deep color of that SSC !!! I have a very tiny survivor piece of my disaster that I am taking care like a baby. Is similar here it is (has 1 cm long).



Cheers
Daniel

Ps: I am keeping those palies (very beautiful ) in line. I do not want them nearby it until the frag is a mini colony. They will not damege the frag, but is so small that it will covered by them.

 

[reefmutt]

I have a little build thread going on the French forum RA but not alot to see there. (I have been posting it in english) most of my corals are in a freinds tank that we work on together . 1000gl system dominated by SPS.

My personal tank is not much more then a stick farm either as I have only just built up the system this year. All my corals I transfered over to the 1000gl system 2+yrs ago are colonies now however I just take frags and start again.

Man o man.. That looks like serious fun! I wish my backyard looked like that!
Very cool!!

Thanks for the detailed rundown of what you add and when. Wow it's a lot! Corals obviously love it though.
So am I understanding you add about 21ml of the coral colors a week? But not from the green bottle.I just started with them and going with only 5ml a week from each.
How many fish are in your system at the moment?

Yes, that is right-21 ml per week. Blue and red only.
I have been using them and the Roids/pearls/organics for long enough that I couldn't blame any one in particular for coral health..
I have 30 fish in the system. Wow.. When I count them like that it sounds like a lot..

I looooooove the deep colors on this SSC Matt, really popping mate !

You're not getting all mad scientisty are you buddy, that's a lot of different stuff you're adding to the water. Do you think the iron really does anything or is it too early to say.

Keep the macros flowing, you and Sahin are my fav pic posters on RC although he's so lazy we hardly get any updates on his journal now days......:hammer:

Thanks, Andrew! Hearing that means I'll be posting an annoyingly large amount of photos... Soon.
Well, yes mad scientist for sure. But for me, it's worse because really I'm an ignorant, drunk mad scientist wannabe!!! (Scientist wannabe... Ignorant drunk, I be!)
The iron is only about 5-7 ml 3/week for my cheato- not really intended for coral colour or health. When I started dosing, I experimented with amounts and found that about 8-10 ml would give me a .06 ppm reading in my system a couple of hours after dosing, by the next day there was 0 again. So I've been adding slightly less. I figured the green color elements weren't necessary..

that one looks like the Unique Corals Original Strawberry Shortcake.

Hm.. I got it from Raja at Raging Reef. He told me it was a 'true' ssc with lineage...

Incredible nice deep color of that SSC !!! I have a very tiny survivor piece of my disaster that I am taking care like a baby. Is similar here it is (has 1 cm long).



Cheers
Daniel

Ps: I am keeping those palies (very beautiful ) in line. I do not want them nearby it until the frag is a mini colony. They will not damege the frag, but is so small that it will covered by them.

Nice, Daniel, it'll be huge in no time based in the rigorous growth you're getting in your reef right now!

So.. I have a little rant.. Here's a shot of my two Maxspect Gyres:

I have to check when I bought these. I think it's a year ago but maybe two..
But STILL!! BOTH wire housings have basically corroded and broken through to the inside wires. This is crazy!! Pumps that are this expensive should not fall apart like this AND so soon... Not happy.
I removed them to do cleaning on them and this is what I saw..
They still work fine. And I still love their capabilities but I'm ****ed about how cheap they seem..
I have not contacted my supplier yet but I will... And I'll let you know what happens..

 

[slavetonet]

I find the gyres is flaw in their design for durability.
1) Tiny diameter shaft
2) cords at the back - hard against the magnet
3) The peddles seems like it will clog easy because of its design.

It is great if all those flaws are address after maybe a few years of revisions.
Wouldn't be jumping on them like everyone else have. :worried:

 

[M007]

Nasty, was kinda disappointed with my 150 a week ago. It stopped running, less that 3 months old. Took it out and opened the housing to check for a jammed rotor. One of the veins broke, no snails, and one of the housing clips snapped off. Tres crappy IMHO. I've got the replacement parts now but 3 months?!?! Not impressed :mad2:

 

[reefmutt]

I find the gyres is flaw in their design for durability.
1) Tiny diameter shaft
2) cords at the back - hard against the magnet
3) The peddles seems like it will clog easy because of its design.

It is great if all those flaws are address after maybe a few years of revisions.
Wouldn't be jumping on them like everyone else have. :worried:

Nasty, was kinda disappointed with my 150 a week ago. It stopped running, less that 3 months old. Took it out and opened the housing to check for a jammed rotor. One of the veins broke, no snails, and one of the housing clips snapped off. Tres crappy IMHO. I've got the replacement parts now but 3 months?!?! Not impressed :mad2:

I have a 150 that is only a month old.. So far so good..
I have to say that my 170s have worked and continue to work flawlessly with only minimal maintenance.
I have only soaked them each in vinegar twice since installing them. Yesterday was the first time I actually disassembled them. They are perfect except for the wires. Unfortunately, the wires are part of the body so I assume replacement is pretty much all or nothing..

 

[.Chris.]

Man o man.. That looks like serious fun! I wish my backyard looked like that!
Very cool!!


Yes, that is right-21 ml per week. Blue and red only.
I have been using them and the Roids/pearls/organics for long enough that I couldn't blame any one in particular for coral health..
I have 30 fish in the system. Wow.. When I count them like that it sounds like a lot..



Thanks, Andrew! Hearing that means I'll be posting an annoyingly large amount of photos... Soon.
Well, yes mad scientist for sure. But for me, it's worse because really I'm an ignorant, drunk mad scientist wannabe!!! (Scientist wannabe... Ignorant drunk, I be!)
The iron is only about 5-7 ml 3/week for my cheato- not really intended for coral colour or health. When I started dosing, I experimented with amounts and found that about 8-10 ml would give me a .06 ppm reading in my system a couple of hours after dosing, by the next day there was 0 again. So I've been adding slightly less. I figured the green color elements weren't necessary..



Hm.. I got it from Raja at Raging Reef. He told me it was a 'true' ssc with lineage...



Nice, Daniel, it'll be huge in no time based in the rigorous growth you're getting in your reef right now!

So.. I have a little rant.. Here's a shot of my two Maxspect Gyres:

I have to check when I bought these. I think it's a year ago but maybe two..
But STILL!! BOTH wire housings have basically corroded and broken through to the inside wires. This is crazy!! Pumps that are this expensive should not fall apart like this AND so soon... Not happy.
I removed them to do cleaning on them and this is what I saw..
They still work fine. And I still love their capabilities but I'm ****ed about how cheap they seem..
I have not contacted my supplier yet but I will... And I'll let you know what happens..

Hey Matt

This is a known issues on generation 1 gyres. The Canadian distributor has told me that they're replacing all gen 1 motor blocks because of this same issue (wires fraying at the base near the block). Your retailer should be able to get you replacements easily at no charge as maxspect has provided the distributors with replacement motor blocks at no charge. I believe Reef solutions is a partner of the Canadian distributor and I'm sure if your original retailer can't get them for you then reef solutions (or the distributor directly) can.

 

[.Chris.]

I have a 150 that is only a month old.. So far so good..
I have to say that my 170s have worked and continue to work flawlessly with only minimal maintenance.
I have only soaked them each in vinegar twice since installing them. Yesterday was the first time I actually disassembled them. They are perfect except for the wires. Unfortunately, the wires are part of the body so I assume replacement is pretty much all or nothing..

I think you mean 130 and 150 as there is no 170 (they recently announced a 180 at MACNA though).

The impeller comes out of the motor block housing despite the fact that it looks like one piece. It should be no problem to have them replaced like I said in my previous post.

I will say though, as much as I love the way it moves the water they are so cheaply made I would never buy one again. My XF130 has had three major issues so far.

The first time, the plastic of the rotor which slides over the grommets that slide onto the impeller shaft ground down to nothing on both sides. The distributor claimed it had to be a snail but that's bullshit.

The second time I had one of the grommets damage the impeller.

And just this weekend my controller failed on me.

On top of that I know maxspect will be running a replacement led pad plan on their razors because the original 10000k and 16000k LED pads are burning out at almost exactly 2 years for all of them. I've replaced a dozen at least so far. The issue is that one of their LEDs is actually a double diode so the added heat from the two next to each other causes the narrow angle lens to melt which burns out the diode which shorts the whole blue channel... They'll be offering the 15000k pads and wide angle lenses at a discount. Distributor claims the LEDs aren't meant to last forever and they are a consumable like T5 tubes.

Suffice to say as much as I love what maxspects products do, I dislike their build quality.

 

[M007]

:headwalls:Mr. Biggles must be ROFL'ing right now :headwally: The motor blocks are available as a separate part so I suspect that's what you will have to get, I doubt they will comp you a whole unit. As far as the LED pads equating to a T5 or MH bulb in terms of disposable/wear item, load of crap! At the price they are charging the minimum should be around 3:1.

 

[reefmutt]

I think you mean 130 and 150 as there is no 170 (they recently announced a 180 at MACNA though).

The impeller comes out of the motor block housing despite the fact that it looks like one piece. It should be no problem to have them replaced like I said in my previous post.

I will say though, as much as I love the way it moves the water they are so cheaply made I would never buy one again. My XF130 has had three major issues so far.

The first time, the plastic of the rotor which slides over the grommets that slide onto the impeller shaft ground down to nothing on both sides. The distributor claimed it had to be a snail but that's bullshit.

The second time I had one of the grommets damage the impeller.

And just this weekend my controller failed on me.

On top of that I know maxspect will be running a replacement led pad plan on their razors because the original 10000k and 16000k LED pads are burning out at almost exactly 2 years for all of them. I've replaced a dozen at least so far. The issue is that one of their LEDs is actually a double diode so the added heat from the two next to each other causes the narrow angle lens to melt which burns out the diode which shorts the whole blue channel... They'll be offering the 15000k pads and wide angle lenses at a discount. Distributor claims the LEDs aren't meant to last forever and they are a consumable like T5 tubes.

Suffice to say as much as I love what maxspects products do, I dislike their build quality.

Yes in the model numbers, Chris! I should have just said big and small..
It's too bad about all of these Chinese product issues.. What a mess...

:headwalls:Mr. Biggles must be ROFL'ing right now :headwally: The motor blocks are available as a separate part so I suspect that's what you will have to get, I doubt they will comp you a whole unit. As far as the LED pads equating to a T5 or MH bulb in terms of disposable/wear item, load of crap! At the price they are charging the minimum should be around 3:1.

Well, if I get new motor blocks and they run fine, I'm not really complaining.
They also gave me free rubber vibration dampeners. And they have been trouble free..
Yeah, the idea that the LEDS being consumable is a bit rich!!

 

[mhucasey]

On top of that I know maxspect will be running a replacement led pad plan on their razors because the original 10000k and 16000k LED pads are burning out at almost exactly 2 years for all of them. I've replaced a dozen at least so far. The issue is that one of their LEDs is actually a double diode so the added heat from the two next to each other causes the narrow angle lens to melt which burns out the diode which shorts the whole blue channel... They'll be offering the 15000k pads and wide angle lenses at a discount. Distributor claims the LEDs aren't meant to last forever and they are a consumable like T5 tubes.

This is pure insanity...

 

[.Chris.]

This is pure insanity...

Yeah...
I don't remember his exact words but he said something along the lines of retailers tell their customers that leds last basically forever but they actually need to be changed out semi regularly. I didn't say anything I just nodded and smiled.

I don't feel that it's fair to ask someone to fork put $150 to fix their two year old fixture when they're purported to last 50000 hours or whatever.

 

[nemodan]

Hey Matt..... How is all ? You have been absent some days. Pumps, tank and family all OK ?

Some snow there or nothing yet ?

Cheers
Daniel