Next winter meetup...

[zeroinverse]

Do we know what "tutorial" session we want for next meeting?

Some thoughts (please vote OR suggest alternative):

Coral fragging
Calcium reactor theory & operation
2-part (or 3-part) dosing
Macroalgae growth
Deep sand bed
Natural nitrate control methods
Light spectral analysis and coral/algae photo-needs
...

 

[gonzalez78]

I want to learn how to build some reactors like the one Tom has :d

 

[zeroinverse]

@gonzalez regardin calcium reactor

I retrofitted a friend's old DIY version to add thicker diameter pipes.

I think it boils down to cost of the clear tube. Maybe if we get enough interest, we can do build a few "copies" at the meetup. But you guys would have to pay for materials.

My guess in part costs:
Main chamber & recirculation piping $60-120 (my guess)
Recirculation pump (sealed Mag3 or similar) $60 new
Calcium skeleton media $10-20
CO2 regulator+needle valve+gauge $50-100
CO2 tank (if u have Airgas, should be virtually free)
refrigerator 1/4" style tubing $5-10
maxijet 900-1200 for effluent inlet pump
PH controller (unless you have a reef controller already with extra probe) $$

So overall we are talking potentially $200-350 to build and have all the parts.
(ask Tom & friends on what it cost to do their builds)...

So unless you can get used parts, or you really plan to grow LOTS of SPS, may be better off doing 2-part dosing.

 

[gonzalez78]

Good thing it was only a suggestion :d yeah that sounds like a lot of money to build a reactor. Another idea, how about a secret santa?

 

[northbay-reefer]

I built 4 cal reactors already so that should be pretty easy to put together. If people are interested, I can help with how to dial in the reactor.

 

[zeroinverse]

@tom
What did it cost you to build?

 

[thysrof]

Buy a used Korralin c-1500 on the selling forum. Great reactor and maybe $200 including tank

 

[northbay-reefer]

Eheim pump $80, parts about another $80 so it was about $160 to make. The reactor is 6" in diameter. If you going to buils a small one then you better off buying one.

I bought enough tube to make 4 reactor so it was very cost effective for us.

 

[zeroinverse]

My design I bought off a friend is a recirculation primary chamber with a secondary chamber of finer media so the pH can come up a bit more before it exists. So it reduces the pH drop impact to the tank water.

My chambers are like 3-4ft tall at a 6" diameter.

I definitely suggest a plastic checkvalve (it prevents backflow of low pH water back into tank via the inlet maxijet when power shuts down).

 

[Grant W]

Why so big, compensating. jk

 

[zeroinverse]

It was "basically free" plus I figured it's be good future growth.


Here it is in my Harry Potter closet.

 

[Grant W]

Looks good Ron. I had to tease you a bit though.

 

[AMAYEU]

Off topic. Is the year end blast / meeting in December or January?

 

[zeroinverse]

Grant: totally not a problem.

ANYONE else have ideas for next meetup of what they'd like to know?

BTW, I am debating making acrylic photoboxes. Anyone want to pay me back for material cost and maybe a frag for trouble? If I do, I plan to bring one for the raffle also.

 

[zeroinverse]

@amayeu I just hope it is not MLK weekend because I'll be busy.

I am guessing January since we just had a Nov one.

 

[NeonFish]

Is there a reason that meetings are scheduled on Sundays?

 

[zeroinverse]

Is there a reason that meetings are scheduled on Sundays?

No specific rule. Since we held it at Jofish, they are open Saturdays, but let us "host" on Sunday at their store during off-hours.

The previous September meetup was on Saturday.

So depends on the HOST/LOCATION.

 

[Reef Bass]

Sorry Ron but I'm with Grant on this one. Defintely compensating...

Harry Potter closets make great fish rooms! I am super fortunate to have such a fantastic situation with my tank on the other side of the wall. In the closet I have access to hot and cold water, a drain and a dedicated a/c circuit. The icing on the cake is that the access hatch to the crawlspace underneath the floor is right there, so any ah, unintentional overfills drain to under the house. Yeah the carpet gets wet but that can be dried with the fan that you see left out from last time. I also have a fan over the ballast and another run by the controller which blows air over the sump if the water temp gets too warm. Here's my Harry Potter room. It's a bit messy at the moment.

The larger items are the utility sink and 30g sump, but you can also see my water filter, reef controller, protein skimmer, 3 dosing jugs and pumps, carbon and rust reactor, large dual magnetic ballast, and uv sterlizer. I don't normally run uv but put it back online temporarily yesterday. My chiller usually lives in there too, but I only run it in the summer.

 

[zeroinverse]

Wow! Wish I could have convinced the wife. Her rule "no drilling through wall" into the closet. Which I didn't.

Then I had our handyman cut under our stairs to make the Harry potter closet. THEN I proceeds to drill holes through the "lother wall where the stairs were located.

So technically, I didn't drill into the closet honey!

Bottom of photo borders the closer.
Right side is where I drilled into Harry Potter closet.

 

[lokii_37]

I like the Harry potter closets guys.

I think all of those ideas sound good Ron. Is this presentation in addition to the frag swap?

I think at the last meet Tom said the swap would be in January it February