Starting a new 90 Progress will be updated

[Dano999]

I received the other Vortech pump today so now I am running two pumps 180 degrees out of sync. I am leaning towards the Reef Crest Random mode as it seems to provide a more realistic flow.

One note. When setting up the pumps you have one master pump and the rest are slaves. I noticed I was loosing the wireless sync when moving the controllers to a more desired position. To test to make sure the two pumps are still talking put the master pump in feed mode and make sure the slave also automatically changes to feed mode.

I set the maximum flow to about 75%. The pumps are not getting hot at all.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13201756#post13201756 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dano999
I received the other Vortech pump today so now I am running two pumps 180 degrees out of sync. I am leaning towards the Reef Crest Random mode as it seems to provide a more realistic flow.

One note. When setting up the pumps you have one master pump and the rest are slaves. I noticed I was loosing the wireless sync when moving the controllers to a more desired position. To test to make sure the two pumps are still talking put the master pump in feed mode and make sure the slave also automatically changes to feed mode.

I set the maximum flow to about 75%. The pumps are not getting hot at all.

that's great--so how much flow are you running them at in total?

 

[Dano999]

Hard to tell exactly but at 75% each will push 2250 gph when at the peak of the random of the cycle. I am estimating when I say 75% since you turn a potentiometer to adjust the max speed. Since they run exactly opposite of each other there should be 2250 gph running at all times. I had to turn it down as I had too much flow at the bottom of the tank. If I cranked it up there would be 3000 gph at all times. The real benefit is it moves the water towards one side of the tank then back towards the other side.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13202828#post13202828 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dano999
Hard to tell exactly but at 75% each will push 2250 gph when at the peak of the random of the cycle. I am estimating when I say 75% since you turn a potentiometer to adjust the max speed. Since they run exactly opposite of each other there should be 2250 gph running at all times. I had to turn it down as I had too much flow at the bottom of the tank. If I cranked it up there would be 3000 gph at all times. The real benefit is it moves the water towards one side of the tank then back towards the other side.

I am definetly going to look into getting them when I get the new tank

 

[danmartis]

does your aquarium make a lot of noise?is it disturbing?

 

[Dano999]

Not much noise at all. My PC is louder.

 

[Dano999]

Just a couple of updated photos. I have some new pieces I will add soon.

 

[Dano999]

Latest FTS

 

[will16]

Looking Good! Great growth on that duncan! That superman monti is very nice. How has that growth been?

 

[Dano999]

Hey Will

Below are the first and current photos of the Duncan and Superman. I was having some problems for the last two months with Cyano and not until this week has the tank looked good. The Trachyphyllia had been looking bad for months. I had hoped it would come back but after I removed it the tank cleared up.

Duncan Jan 2008 (2 heads)

Duncan October 2008 (16 heads 800% increase)

Superman March 2008

Superman October 2008

Considering this version of Superman (Montipora Bruddah (Sam Tabora)) goes for $100 per 1/2 sq inch this is now worth about $2000.

 

[Gdubb]

Dano I found a two head Duncan close to me for $100, do think thats a fair price?

Great growth rates!

 

[Dano999]

Overpriced. I bought mine for $30 a head.

 

[Vapour1ze]

w00t im tagging im in the process of my 90 check mine out dano, im using urs for reference expect to get a few pms from me here and there i like the way u did things, follow my red house and give me ur opinion not trying to SLIDE in on ur thread, but just wondering ur going the same route im trying ur just way farther

 

[Gdubb]

thanks dano

 

[Dano999]

Ok now for the changes since August.

The major project I had was to relocate the electrical areas for some of the components of the AquaController. I added a panel inside the stand and placed the Direct Connect 4 and two electrical strips on the panel. The two strips were the most economical way of putting devices that share one timer output and have more than one outlet requirement. In this case I combined the 4 fans on one strip and the two heaters on the other.

I also installed two Drew's Doser Peristaltic Dosing Pumps to supply the ALK and CAL I was dosing manually each day. Along with the two part kit solution. Both are available at Bulk Reef Supply. They provide instructions for getting the value correct and then how much to keep it there. After getting my parameters correct I dose for 40 minutes daily with the Calcium Chloride and 30 minutes with Sodium Bicarbonate. Each pump puts out 1.7 ml a minutes ( calculated to make sure). I have the Aquacontroller timed to dispense 3 times per evening each for the ALK and CAL between 1:00 AM and 7:00 AM

I purchased two Drew's Doser pumps one each for the ALK and CAL.

I also purchased two slim 1 gallon containers that allow me to store them out of site behind the stand.

Special thanks to will16 for the main idea. More details are on his build thread.

Will16s doser pump install

I made a few changes mainly by adding brackets to secure the dosing hoses. I got these from Tunze (part of the Osmolator installation kit). You can get these on their web site. I have them separated mainly because I wanted the ALK closer to the higher flow area. The black hose is the auto top off from the Osmolator.

Clamp holder and Hose clamp + screw PN PN 3000.240 $8.50 each plus shipping.

I also replace the skimmer (again). This is my 4th skimmer in a little over a year. The BubbleMaster work well but butter fingers here dropped it and cracked the case. Super glue some what fixed it but it just didn't work the same. It was also too sensitive and I could never trust it from going crazy and overflowing

I purchased the Reef Octopus Extreme 160. This is a very good skimmer. It works better than the BubbleMaster at half the price. I replaced the pin wheel with a mesh wheel mod (same as what comes on the BubbleMaster) which produces bubbles half the size as a pin wheel. Smaller bubbles mean more surface area and better protein extraction. Both also use the Sicce pump but the Octopus adds a bubble plate that enhances the bubble output. The 160 was the largest model that would fit in the sump area or I would have gone with the 200. MSX also puts out the same skimmer but I could not find a 160 model in the MSX version.

 

[Dano999]

New Additions

I added a few new pieces this week.

Green Torch Euphyllia glabrescens

Purple Stylophora Stylophora pistillata

This one came with a hitchhiker. It appears to be an Acro crab.

I also purchased a Zoa colony but it has three sea spiders (pycnogonids) as Hitchhikers. I gave this up to someone who could quarantine it properly.

Sadly I had to remove the Rainbow Trachyphyllia as it was doing poorly for months and then finally died. This was a very nice piece. :sad1:

 

[Dano999]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13619811#post13619811 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tehauthority
w00t im tagging im in the process of my 90 check mine out dano, im using urs for reference expect to get a few pms from me here and there i like the way u did things, follow my red house and give me ur opinion not trying to SLIDE in on ur thread, but just wondering ur going the same route im trying ur just way farther

Looks really good. I would love to do an in wall but the only option is to have it sitting in the gargage and it is way to hot here in Texas and would require a chiller. The electricity is high enough already.

Feel free to ask any questions.

 

[Dano999]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13620408#post13620408 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gdubb
thanks dano

Where did you find a Duncan in the Houston area? I buy everything online because I can't find decent stuff locally. I do most of my purchases at liveaquaria.com but if you only by the duncans you'll spend $85 because of the shipping.

Two heads now for $50. $85 with shipping 30 day guarantee. Three Heads for $105 delivered to your door the next day.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+2790+2670&pcatid=2670&N=0

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13621220#post13621220 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dano999
Ok now for the changes since August.

The major project I had was to relocate the electrical areas for some of the components of the AquaController. I added a panel inside the stand and placed the Direct Connect 4 and two electrical strips on the panel. The two strips were the most economical way of putting devices that share one timer output and have more than one outlet requirement. In this case I combined the 4 fans on one strip and the two heaters on the other.

I also installed two Drew's Doser Peristaltic Dosing Pumps to supply the ALK and CAL I was dosing manually each day. Along with the two part kit solution. Both are available at Bulk Reef Supply. They provide instructions for getting the value correct and then how much to keep it there. After getting my parameters correct I dose for 40 minutes daily with the Calcium Chloride and 30 minutes with Sodium Bicarbonate. Each pump puts out 1.7 ml a minutes ( calculated to make sure). I have the Aquacontroller timed to dispense 3 times per evening each for the ALK and CAL between 1:00 AM and 7:00 AM

I purchased two Drew's Doser pumps one each for the ALK and CAL.

I also purchased two slim 1 gallon containers that allow me to store them out of site behind the stand.

Special thanks to will16 for the main idea. More details are on his build thread.

Will16s doser pump install

I made a few changes mainly by adding brackets to secure the dosing hoses. I got these from Tunze (part of the Osmolator installation kit). You can get these on their web site. I have them separated mainly because I wanted the ALK closer to the higher flow area. The black hose is the auto top off from the Osmolator.

Clamp holder and Hose clamp + screw PN PN 3000.240 $8.50 each plus shipping.

I also replace the skimmer (again). This is my 4th skimmer in a little over a year. The BubbleMaster work well but butter fingers here dropped it and cracked the case. Super glue some what fixed it but it just didn't work the same. It was also too sensitive and I could never trust it from going crazy and overflowing

I purchased the Reef Octopus Extreme 160. This is a very good skimmer. It works better than the BubbleMaster at half the price. I replaced the pin wheel with a mesh wheel mod (same as what comes on the BubbleMaster) which produces bubbles half the size as a pin wheel. Smaller bubbles mean more surface area and better protein extraction. Both also use the Sicce pump but the Octopus adds a bubble plate that enhances the bubble output. The 160 was the largest model that would fit in the sump area or I would have gone with the 200. MSX also puts out the same skimmer but I could not find a 160 model in the MSX version.

I am really interested in this dosing system for use with two part b-ionics
Can you give a breakdown in the price?

 

[Gdubb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13621362#post13621362 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dano999
Where did you find a Duncan in the Houston area? I buy everything online because I can't find decent stuff locally. I do most of my purchases at liveaquaria.com but if you only by the duncans you'll spend $85 because of the shipping.

Two heads now for $50. $85 with shipping 30 day guarantee. Three Heads for $105 delivered to your door the next day.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+2790+2670&pcatid=2670&N=0

thanks for the link. Since it would be over night charges I would pick up a few more things to make the shipping charges easier to swallow

There is a LFS, Global Leader Aquatics here in Humble thats been open less than a year. I picked up my first coral there, a torch. Looks like he has some decent stuff there, I know its a far drive from Katy though.