Lightsluvr's 340G Upgrade

[purebullet417]

everytime i see your thread it makes me wish i had a fishroom. today im actually ordering my apex thanks mostly to you in depth review and photos. tanks looking great keep it up

 

[Lightsluvr]

everytime i see your thread it makes me wish i had a fishroom. today im actually ordering my apex thanks mostly to you in depth review and photos. tanks looking great keep it up

I see your Apex should arrive on Friday. You'll have your work cut out for you this weekend...

I am pumped that Neptune is going to release a module to control the Vortech pumps that I have in the tank...

Thanks for following along, come back often...

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

A setback

A setback

I spoke to Reef Specialty and learned that they have discontinued the Orca ProKits and have none remaining in stock. I can obtain the needlewheel with no problem, but the ProKit collection cup will be a challenge.

I am looking at other options...

More to follow...

LL

 

[Lytehouse]

Really stinks,

It is such a great upgrade.

Now which direction is you mind wondering?

 

[Lightsluvr]

Really stinks,

It is such a great upgrade.

Now which direction is you mind wondering?

I have a bead on a ProKit Orca 250... if I can get it, I would sell my stock 250. We'll see what comes of it...

No big rush, because I am very pleased with the 250 as it's running now...

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

Update - the Apex

Update - the Apex

There have been several exciting announcements from Neptune Systems about the Apex Controller. First there has been a (free) upgrade that enables display of 7 day graphing. See examples in a following post.
Then they announced availability of the PM-1 module which allows the addition of another ph/ORP and tmeperature probe. I already have the ORP probe, but had disconected it in deference to a second pH probe which is connected to the CA Reactor. When the new module comes in, it will plug into either of the EB8 Energy Bars and the Apex will automatically recognize the additional probes plugged into it.
I will be monitoring temperature at the DT overflow and the Rubbermaid sump, plus pH in the DT and CA reactor, plus ORP in the sump.
Finally, they announced that a beta test is underway for a module to control the popular Vortech powerheads (of which I have two). Apparently the Apex will be able to control all Vortech functions from the controllers display module or online. That means all of the timer controls of the Apex, including Feed Cycles, etc will fit into existing programming. How cool is that?

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

Apex graphing...

Apex graphing...

Here are examples of seven day graphing available with the latest free firmware upgrade for the Apex:

Seven days of temperature and tank pH:

Seven days of power usage of the two EB8 Energy bars are graphed below. The deep dips represent maintenance or feed cycles where most of the pumps are turned off:

This is an interesting study - easy to spot when all pumps are running at full capacity! Neither of the Energy Bars are running anywhere near their 15 amp capacity. The 1300 watt T5 lights run on an additional DC4HD Power module which doesn't have graphing capability.

LL

 

[MarshaW]

This is just amazing to me and the setup is beautiful!! While I was viewing each picture, I began to think hmmm, maybe I need to get married so I can spend his money for bigger and more hobby equipment, and then he can do stuff like this for me. )

 

[LINCOLNZ34]

hay i just wanted to say thanks for the water container pics again it really helped me out to do mine!
i didnt have the money i ran out doing all my dosing pumps and getting extra buckets of salt so i was only able to get one and i had my old MAG18 laying around not always in use it runs fairly well at this.

i wanted the 100 gallon but i got this and i have to say i like it its really buff!
anyways ive been upgrading to make this system more automated because in jan. i will be gone for 18 weeks getting my schooling for structural and pipe fitting welding and will only be home during the weekends.

i do have my girlfriend here but she knows very little about this hobby even though she really likes it and is all for what i want to do with my tank in the future" i was going to go with a 220 but now im thinking a 240 long" and even as im upgrading now THATS A BIG PLUS+++++! i will just have her keep an eye on temps water levels incase my float valve fails and to feed them while im gone.
so when im home during the weekend and i know i need to do a water change next week i just get it all going before i leave and let it mix and come up to temp until i get home the next weekend and all i have to do is get soem old water out and just plug in the pump and turn some ball valves!!:lol2:
there i go rambling again lol
anyways i have everything on unions so it can all come apart because i also us this pump for " very quickly"!!! pulling out water from the sump when i do water changes the sump isnt drilled and i us tubbing connected to pvc and a couple of ball valves and i connect the outlet to a union and pvc runs straight to my drain VERY SWEET!:thumbsup:

i promise i will be quite now and i know it isnt near as nice as yours or others ive seen on this site but here you go
yes this is a very unfinished basement "for now"

love the extra room!

 

[Lytehouse]

This is just amazing to me and the setup is beautiful!! While I was viewing each picture, I began to think hmmm, maybe I need to get married so I can spend his money for bigger and more hobby equipment, and then he can do stuff like this for me. )

There ya go :beachbum:

George, the upgrade is very nice :thumbsup:

 

[MrineLfRlz]

love the extra room!

thanx SO DO I!

 

[Lightsluvr]

So are you going to upgrade your skimmer or just replace with new bigger and better skimmer

Right now it looks like I've located the parts to upgrade my Orca 250 to the ProKit version. I should know for certain in a week or so... depends on another local reefer's plans...

Thanks for stopping by the thread.

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

This is just amazing to me and the setup is beautiful!! While I was viewing each picture, I began to think hmmm, maybe I need to get married so I can spend his money for bigger and more hobby equipment, and then he can do stuff like this for me. )

Thanks for stopping by the thread, Marsha.

I have known people who got married for "worse" reasons!

I am blessed that my bride actually bought our first saltwater tank for my birthday three years ago. I keep telling her that she created the monster... :love1: She does enjoy watching the tank and its many critters. Her official job is to name the occupants... :fish1:

We enjoy showing our tank to guests, so maybe you can stop by sometime for the "cook's tour"...

LL

 

[IBASSFSH]

It would seem if the upgrade to the skimmer made such a big difference they would not have stopped making it? Or am I misunderstanding the upgrade?

 

[strout]

I am in the market for a new skimmer (sort of, after X Mas) so I have been online looking at differant models. I found one that I liked, a good brand, and the one that I liked, the manufacturer recommened that you pay X amount of $$$ more for the up grade to make it work better, now this upgrade comes as a kit and I have to put it together when I get the skimmer at the house. Maybe its just me, I don't want to spend those amount of $$$$ and then have to put the upgrade together myself. My point is, I agree with IBASSFSH, if it makes that big off a differance do the upgrade at the factory.

 

[MrineLfRlz]

Thanks for stopping by the thread, Marsha.

I have known people who got married for "worse" reasons!

I am blessed that my bride actually bought our first saltwater tank for my birthday three years ago. I keep telling her that she created the monster... :love1: She does enjoy watching the tank and its many critters. Her official job is to name the occupants... :fish1:

We enjoy showing our tank to guests, so maybe you can stop by sometime for the "cook's tour"...

LL

GRATZ on having such a cool wife
its really great to have your better half get into liking this hobby thats for sure!
my girlfriend told me once shes out of school and finds a job as a medical specialist shes going to help me get my 200+ upgrade done
she says she loves how great a SW tank looks
shes a keeper!

 

[baldwinaquaman]

They all love them when your not busy working or playing with it, my g/f gets jealous of my tank!

 

[MrineLfRlz]

They all love them when your not busy working or playing with it, my g/f gets jealous of my tank!

HA HA thats funny!
mine tells me sometimes she thinks i love my tank more then her

 

[MrineLfRlz]

dang with all the pics and posts i fell like im stealling the thread
SORRY
Lightsluvr

 

[Lightsluvr]

It would seem if the upgrade to the skimmer made such a big difference they would not have stopped making it? Or am I misunderstanding the upgrade?

The upgrade is not OEM, but rather the combination of a taller column and more efficient needlewheel offered by a Reeflo dealer, Reef Specialty. It is not unlike the countless upgrades to basic Octopus (Chinese) skimmers, sold under SWC, MSX, "Extreme" and other assorted brand names. Then there are the dozens of needle wheel mods, replacement pumps (makes me Sicce :hmm5 and replacement venturis.

Reef Specialty offered the ProKit as long as demand continued. Now that the Orca 200 and 250 have been replaced by other products in the Reeflo line, there isn't much point in offering the ProKits. Thus they are becoming more and more difficult to find.

IME, the "bare bones" ORCA 250 outperforms any skimmer I have ever owned...by a country mile. But my type A personality always seeks something improved, improvised or imprudent. :jester:

LL