Starting 90g Reef Tank Build... Finally!!!
- Thread starter JohnL
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bertmauricio
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For my ATO, I went with a double float from autotopoff.com. Basically one serves as a backup. And being even more paranoid about a flood, I have the makeup water entering through a manual float valve, above the float switches. I'm still in the tank build process so haven't fully tested it out.
I do have a similar setup to fill my brute conainer from RO via a solenoid that's been testing great. The float switches are setup using a latching relay. The reason for the latch is to not have the RO unit run every time a little water evaporates or is used for topoff. Basically 2 float swtiches, one near the bottom and one at my desired water level. Evaporation or topoff happens until the bottom float is dry. Water fills until it reaches the top float. Cycle repeats and I have it set to keep only 5 gallons at a time.
From the Brute, water flows into a kalk reactor via an aqualifter, which is controlled by the float switches in my sump, mentioned earlier. In theory, it should all work.
I do have a similar setup to fill my brute conainer from RO via a solenoid that's been testing great. The float switches are setup using a latching relay. The reason for the latch is to not have the RO unit run every time a little water evaporates or is used for topoff. Basically 2 float swtiches, one near the bottom and one at my desired water level. Evaporation or topoff happens until the bottom float is dry. Water fills until it reaches the top float. Cycle repeats and I have it set to keep only 5 gallons at a time.
From the Brute, water flows into a kalk reactor via an aqualifter, which is controlled by the float switches in my sump, mentioned earlier. In theory, it should all work.
Tswifty
New member
FYI guys... Marc just started a fun thread looking for feeding pictures for an upcoming Reef Slides article.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1430247
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1430247
Aquarist007
New member
thanks for the link TJ
Aquarist007
New member
Its got along way to go to beat Rae's thread for laughs
Aquarist007
New member
My msx250 skimmer should be here by tomorrow. That's been a real hassle in communication with these guys.
The pbt is still in qt --this will be three weeks--with no signs of ich.
Its awaiting the protein skimmer too before I add it to the display tank.
The pbt is still in qt --this will be three weeks--with no signs of ich.
Its awaiting the protein skimmer too before I add it to the display tank.
Tswifty
New member
Well that's good news. That stinks about the communication, I can't really relate as my order process went smoothly. I can only guess that the skimmer's growing popularity has put them way beyond their capabilities.
I just checked the MSX skimmer thread the other day, and the member I usually would go to for skimmer advice (luke33) has apparently "moved on" ???
When you get it, I still suggest opening the pump carefully to check the mesh job, and posting a picture of it (side and top view) on the thread for review. Along with perfoming the other mods I suggested. I think it will be easier to do before you drop it in the sump.
I just checked the MSX skimmer thread the other day, and the member I usually would go to for skimmer advice (luke33) has apparently "moved on" ???
When you get it, I still suggest opening the pump carefully to check the mesh job, and posting a picture of it (side and top view) on the thread for review. Along with perfoming the other mods I suggested. I think it will be easier to do before you drop it in the sump.
Aquarist007
New member
wow--Luke33 has been banned--that's a shock
Aquarist007
New member
They are adverising new pinwheels or something free with the new shipment of msx's. Is this what you mean?
Aquarist007
New member
to quote from the web site
"The MSX skimmers are now plug'n'play! We have addressed the early start up issues that many experienced. We use three layers of Enkamat on the mesh mod. We are also including some replacement Enkamat in each package in case you ever need to "recharge" your skimmer
www.marinesolutions.com
"The MSX skimmers are now plug'n'play! We have addressed the early start up issues that many experienced. We use three layers of Enkamat on the mesh mod. We are also including some replacement Enkamat in each package in case you ever need to "recharge" your skimmer
www.marinesolutions.com
Tswifty
New member
Yeah, pinwheels just recently became available for the MSX skimmers. Usually they are not as good as the mesh wheels on most pumps, but with the sicce pump the pinwheel is supposed to work almost as well as the meshwheel... or at least advertised that way.
Check the MSX thread, and solicit some opinions from some members who have tested both, and see what their recommendations are.
Aquarist007
New member
I will look forward in appreciation to your expertise when inspecting and setting up the new skimmer:thumbsup:
TJ--do you have a webcam---I am trying to set mine up and need someone to connect with to test it out. I got the cam so I can video talk to my grandkids but that was 5 weeks ago since they moved
Tswifty
New member
Scott, are you still planning on plumbing it externally?
I'm leaving straight from work today, heading to a baseball game, and probably won't be back until around 9:30. Depending on how quickly you would like to get the skimmer set up... my skimmer could use a good cleaning, so I could break it all down, and put it back together piece by piece for you and take some pictures to help you set it up.
Tswifty
New member
Oh, and I noticed once again I am starting to get that red "puff" algae in my refugium again. My cheato still grows fairly rapidly, but I have noticed it has lost it's bright green color over the last month.
After reading one of Marc's threads or articles on feeding I think the issue may be that I am not turning off my overflow before feeding my tank. Therefore, a good amount of food is being sucked down into the refugium and feeding the nuisance algae.
For the next few weeks, I'm going to shut off my overflow everytime I feed the tank and see what type of effect that has on the refugium. I'm also wondering if I should cut back my lighting to 8 or 10 hrs from 12?
After reading one of Marc's threads or articles on feeding I think the issue may be that I am not turning off my overflow before feeding my tank. Therefore, a good amount of food is being sucked down into the refugium and feeding the nuisance algae.
For the next few weeks, I'm going to shut off my overflow everytime I feed the tank and see what type of effect that has on the refugium. I'm also wondering if I should cut back my lighting to 8 or 10 hrs from 12?
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