My 560 gallon Acro oasis
- Thread starter Acrononomus
- Start date
Acrononomus
New member
Excited to get things going, but need to make an order thru Brs and hit Home Depot for some pvc, so things will probably be on hold until Tuesday or wensday until I can get the things I need.... To be continued
P.s. This chiller is really nice, and the fittings an bushings they supplied make install look so simple!
P.s. This chiller is really nice, and the fittings an bushings they supplied make install look so simple!
Acrononomus
New member
Well waiting on Brs order to arrive before I can install pumps and chiller.... So I had ordered some led lights for fish room because I don't have a light in the room.... I'm not sure how much light they will give off, but there mainly used for when I have to go into the room after hours.... So I think they will be perfect.....
I'm also in the process of getting all the cords up out of the way, and putting in my 8" vent and fan for humidity control.... That's gonna make a mess so I'll need help with that.... Onward!
I'm also in the process of getting all the cords up out of the way, and putting in my 8" vent and fan for humidity control.... That's gonna make a mess so I'll need help with that.... Onward!
sfsuphysics
Active member
Any particular reason you went for the Vectra? Any features that make it stand out for you from the number of seemingly identical DC pumps out there?
Acrononomus
New member
I went with it because I tend to favor Eco tech products, I was looking for a real quiet pump as well. So after seeing what was out there and the reviews I went with the vectra..... I hope it performs to my expectations
sfsuphysics
Active member
Alrighty! 
But it should at least perform on the quiet side of things, I have a different brand DC pump but from what I can tell with others, they're all practically dead silent when you compare it to an AC pump of comparable water flow.
But it should at least perform on the quiet side of things, I have a different brand DC pump but from what I can tell with others, they're all practically dead silent when you compare it to an AC pump of comparable water flow.
Acrononomus
New member
Well started plumbing vectra return pumps in... I have one on my return and one on my closed loop. I decided to start with the return section .... I also redid my drain lines ... I got everything plumbed in and seems to be ok... I will know more when I have a full amount of water to run the pump at its max setting..... I gotta say... This pump is DEAD silent.... Holy cow..... I can't believe it.... I can't wait to see how it puts out.....
Here's a comparison .. I have extreme doubts that the flow will come close after looking at this picture....
Before I had the reeflo returning to the tank with 3 1" return lines ... Now it is plumber down to 5 3/4" return lines... This will also power my chiller 10' above the tank and drain back down .... Will see how it dose ... I may need 2 vectra l1s for the return and one for the closed loop....
Here's a comparison .. I have extreme doubts that the flow will come close after looking at this picture....
Before I had the reeflo returning to the tank with 3 1" return lines ... Now it is plumber down to 5 3/4" return lines... This will also power my chiller 10' above the tank and drain back down .... Will see how it dose ... I may need 2 vectra l1s for the return and one for the closed loop....
wowkingjames
New member
Your landscape I like it. You gave me an idea how to set up mine. Thanks 
Acrononomus
New member
No problem! That's why we're all here to inspire others!
fatboyracing
New member
all I can say is wow really WOW!
Acrononomus
New member
Thanks bro I appreciate it....!
Got some more work done today, I finally got my 8" exaust vent cut and the ducting ran, that will be hooked to a humidistat for humidity, it will also help suck heat out of the fish room.... As y'all know I run halides so that will be a good thing! I got the chiller moved up into the attic but I dunno if that's gonna work.... It was only near 70 today and the attic was very hot.... So I may have to move that somewhere else but I have no idea what to do... I have a mud room as an option, but the chillers gonna throw some heat... So I dunno, I have a 24" whole house attic fan, so I could have that run when chiller comes on ... Not sure tho....
Got some more work done today, I finally got my 8" exaust vent cut and the ducting ran, that will be hooked to a humidistat for humidity, it will also help suck heat out of the fish room.... As y'all know I run halides so that will be a good thing! I got the chiller moved up into the attic but I dunno if that's gonna work.... It was only near 70 today and the attic was very hot.... So I may have to move that somewhere else but I have no idea what to do... I have a mud room as an option, but the chillers gonna throw some heat... So I dunno, I have a 24" whole house attic fan, so I could have that run when chiller comes on ... Not sure tho....
scubadan206
Member
Cool system. Should be great once you get movin'. Can you put the chiller outside at all?
I like the idea of the Vectra, but it is a waste for a return pump. You never want to change the rate of flow once it is set. That is the Vectra's greatest advantage. Great for a closed loop, but a bit of a waste to pay for features that you will never use.
For a return you might be better off with a pressure rated AC pump. One that has a higher maximum head rating. Unless you get an Abyzz or Royal Exclusive [expensive], regular DC pumps would need to be cranked up to max to equal the GPH of an AC at a desired head pressure.
Example.
DC pump. 2000GPH@ 10feet
AC pump. 1000GPH@ 20 feet
Depends on your needs and your situation.
If you have [18]feet or whatever, equivalent, the AC MIGHT outperform in GPH and power draw.
Ask around. Get some info from fellow reefers here. I like my DC 12000, but I might have been more efficient getting something different.
Daniel. :wildone:
I like the idea of the Vectra, but it is a waste for a return pump. You never want to change the rate of flow once it is set. That is the Vectra's greatest advantage. Great for a closed loop, but a bit of a waste to pay for features that you will never use.
For a return you might be better off with a pressure rated AC pump. One that has a higher maximum head rating. Unless you get an Abyzz or Royal Exclusive [expensive], regular DC pumps would need to be cranked up to max to equal the GPH of an AC at a desired head pressure.
Example.
DC pump. 2000GPH@ 10feet
AC pump. 1000GPH@ 20 feet
Depends on your needs and your situation.
If you have [18]feet or whatever, equivalent, the AC MIGHT outperform in GPH and power draw.
Ask around. Get some info from fellow reefers here. I like my DC 12000, but I might have been more efficient getting something different.
Daniel. :wildone:
Acrononomus
New member
Thanks Daniel.... Appreciate the input... Unfortunately I can't put the chiller outside... It has to be out of the elements, and I don't have a place like that, I'd have to move it inside in the winter too....I think my mud room may end up being the place for it..... However I installed the 8" fan and a 16 " wall fan and my temp has remained at 78 degrees with all 5 halides on! So that makes me happy, but house temp is only 70 degrees right now so I assume that will change.... Hopefully the chiller won't have to run much when it's in my mud room.
Also I chose the Vectra because of price, it was pretty cheap considering all things, quality is a1 ... The actual main reason I chose it was decibel level, which I am very happy with! So quiet! Flow was not much of a concern with it, was more about noise.... I could run three of them for 1/2 the price of the abyzz or Bk pumps.... I hate to say it, but I'm not really focusing on watts or amps when it comes down to it...just the equitment I favor... Like the halides for example....
Also I chose the Vectra because of price, it was pretty cheap considering all things, quality is a1 ... The actual main reason I chose it was decibel level, which I am very happy with! So quiet! Flow was not much of a concern with it, was more about noise.... I could run three of them for 1/2 the price of the abyzz or Bk pumps.... I hate to say it, but I'm not really focusing on watts or amps when it comes down to it...just the equitment I favor... Like the halides for example....
scubadan206
Member
Eh..
Works for me.
Works for me.
Acrononomus
New member
Here's a video of my old 245 before it was taken down if anyone is bored....
http://youtu.be/49CaKbrKdSg
http://youtu.be/49CaKbrKdSg
Acrononomus
New member
My new saltwater holding tank arrived the other day! I got it into the room pretty easily, now I just need a mixing pump, and I have to choose a pump to do the water changes with. I plan to change 5 gallons a day..... The resivore is 150 gallons so I'll only have to fill it about every 30 days!
I also finished plumbing in the vectra l1 pumps ... Need one more though....
I also finished plumbing in the vectra l1 pumps ... Need one more though....
ADVRESOURCE
New member
Make sure you have a good stir pump. I've seen examples of external pumps that circulate from bottom to top. Also, consider UV on the mix water. I read that a mystery fish die off happened on a reefers tank and all parameters seemed fine. Found that bacteria was growing in the refill canister.
Acrononomus
New member
My old favorite.... My palmers blue Millie colony
sfsuphysics
Active member
Man that Palmer's is a sweet coral, I used to have a good sized colony of it, but for the life of me I could not photograph it blue, it looked blue to my eyes under my light, but unless I used a flash on it the picture always came out purple .. guess a really old camera with horrible blue sensitivity.
And awesome job with the water tank, I did that a couple years back and absolutely awesome fill that bugger up with RO/DI, throw in salt, mix, and you're good to go whenever you need salt. Unfortunately mine was a 1/2" wider than the door opening... so I had to take the frame off, move it in, then put the frame back up.
Interesting bit about the bacteria though, I always did worry about that due to the RO/DI being too clean, but figured adding salt would be enough of a shock to kill off any bacteria, and the constant salinity change when you refill it would work well enough.
And awesome job with the water tank, I did that a couple years back and absolutely awesome fill that bugger up with RO/DI, throw in salt, mix, and you're good to go whenever you need salt. Unfortunately mine was a 1/2" wider than the door opening... so I had to take the frame off, move it in, then put the frame back up.
Interesting bit about the bacteria though, I always did worry about that due to the RO/DI being too clean, but figured adding salt would be enough of a shock to kill off any bacteria, and the constant salinity change when you refill it would work well enough.
