herring_fish
Crazy Designer
Oh, I forgot to mention that those pumps are loud. I keep, mine int eh garage so it doesn't matter to me.
Sustaining good plankton levels.
- Thread starter MARINECRITTERS
- Start date
MARINECRITTERS
New member
So I am willing to spend some money on a good air pump, but I want to make the right decision, do any of you know a good type of pump/air blower that would work for a 4foot air lift.
If not is anyone aware of another form of plankton safe pump.
If not is anyone aware of another form of plankton safe pump.
MARINECRITTERS
New member
Awesome link, I am surprised I have not come across it before.
Cant wait to see some pics of your azoox tank
SantaMonica
Well-known member
Herring has the 65, I have the 38, and the Ebay one is probably even bigger.
MARINECRITTERS
New member
just ordered this one, hope it turns out good.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Silver-Elect...LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19e0883158&_uhb=1
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Silver-Elect...LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19e0883158&_uhb=1
MARINECRITTERS
New member
I now have a plan for a return pump, but I still need some flow throughout the system for the health of the corals. Obviously I have to stay away from impellers.
So I have created a small scale "geyser pump" to create some surge in the system.
I imagine I will update this surge device to a larger more powerful version later on.
Here it is, very simple to make.
So I have created a small scale "geyser pump" to create some surge in the system.
I imagine I will update this surge device to a larger more powerful version later on.
Here it is, very simple to make.
Do I get that right? You want to generate the flow in your tank with airlifters? Have you ever heard of the "Tschechische Luftheber (could be translated as tschech airlift)? The people in Tschechoslovakia invented that because they had no access to the normal pumps. The sience behind is very easy and they work! Up to 2200 l/h with one airlift. Here is a link, unfortunately in german.
http://www.luftheber.com/tschechische-luftheber.html
or that one
http://www.tlh-info.de/tlh/tlh_00.html
Another thing could be a CSD (Carlson Surge Device). Just ask google
or a Reverse CSD ;-)
http://www.luftheber.com/tschechische-luftheber.html
or that one
http://www.tlh-info.de/tlh/tlh_00.html
Another thing could be a CSD (Carlson Surge Device). Just ask google
or a Reverse CSD ;-)
MARINECRITTERS
New member
Bump, just a shout out to all the NPS tank owners out there, it would be great if you could post some photos along with a description!
My mixed azoo reef tank
My mixed azoo reef tank
Ok, I'l make the beginning
Since February 2012, I have a 30 gal mixed reef with azoo, LPS, SPS, soft corals, anemonas, sponges, tunicates and feather worms and a lot of small critters. The DT is coupled with a 40 gal refugium with a DSB and a divers mix of algae. The refugium is below the DT. Above the DT I have a 10 gal sump with an ATB Micro Size Skimmer, a pellets reactor some activated charcole and phosphate adsorbance. The skimmer is run with approx. 3mg/h ozone.
The flow in the DT is made by a Vortech MP10 @ 60%, the return pump from the refugium (500g/h) and the return from the sump (250 g/h). Overall it's 1800 g/h.
The light over the DT is a Maxspect Razor 120W 10'000 K, which is placed such, that the back of the tank is dark.
Over the refugium I have a AI Sol Blue running at 80% all channels. The sump has no lights.
Decoration of the DT is Live Rock and Live Sand (2cm)
Corals I have
Soft corals:
- Klyxum simplex (in the refugium)
- Capnella imbricata (in the refugium)
- Neospongodes (Stereonephthya)
- Lobopyllum (in the refugium)
- Sarcophyton (in the refugium)
- Xenia umbellata (in the refugium)
Gorgonia:
Homomella
Plexaurella
LPS:
- Turbinaria peltata
- Cycloseris
- Cynarina
- Caulastrea furcata
- Mastomussa merletti
- Goniopora spec.
SPS:
- Montopora digitata
- Acropora tumida
Azoo:
- Diodogorgia nodulifera
- Menella yellow
- Acanthogorgia
- Eugorgia
- Euplexaura
- Alcyonium
- Nephthyigorgia
- Scleronephthya
- Tubastreas coccinea, diaphana
- Dendrophyllia yellow and orange
- Unknown azoo LPS
Fish:
- Eviota nigriventris
Feeding:
I'm currently running 3 different feeding advices. A Fish Mate F14 for dry food (FM, Reef Pearls and Tropic Marine Zooton and Phyton) 3 times a day between 9PM and 9AM.
My live food device for feeding artemia naupliae 9 times during 10:30 pm and 05:30 am every hour. Together with the artemia (1 teaspoon eggs hatched per day in a seperate hachery) I feed 400ml phytoplankton (cultivated phycopure) each day.
A device for feeding defrosted frozen food (Oyster eggs, lobster eggs, cyclops and Rotifers) between 6 pm and 7 am every full hour a total of 2 cubes per day. Currently I'm also testing Coral Smoothy from alga gen.
Every second to third day, the tubastreas are fed with calanus, red plancton or mysis.
My mixed azoo reef tank
Ok, I'l make the beginning
Since February 2012, I have a 30 gal mixed reef with azoo, LPS, SPS, soft corals, anemonas, sponges, tunicates and feather worms and a lot of small critters. The DT is coupled with a 40 gal refugium with a DSB and a divers mix of algae. The refugium is below the DT. Above the DT I have a 10 gal sump with an ATB Micro Size Skimmer, a pellets reactor some activated charcole and phosphate adsorbance. The skimmer is run with approx. 3mg/h ozone.
The flow in the DT is made by a Vortech MP10 @ 60%, the return pump from the refugium (500g/h) and the return from the sump (250 g/h). Overall it's 1800 g/h.
The light over the DT is a Maxspect Razor 120W 10'000 K, which is placed such, that the back of the tank is dark.
Over the refugium I have a AI Sol Blue running at 80% all channels. The sump has no lights.
Decoration of the DT is Live Rock and Live Sand (2cm)
Corals I have
Soft corals:
- Klyxum simplex (in the refugium)
- Capnella imbricata (in the refugium)
- Neospongodes (Stereonephthya)
- Lobopyllum (in the refugium)
- Sarcophyton (in the refugium)
- Xenia umbellata (in the refugium)
Gorgonia:
Homomella
Plexaurella
LPS:
- Turbinaria peltata
- Cycloseris
- Cynarina
- Caulastrea furcata
- Mastomussa merletti
- Goniopora spec.
SPS:
- Montopora digitata
- Acropora tumida
Azoo:
- Diodogorgia nodulifera
- Menella yellow
- Acanthogorgia
- Eugorgia
- Euplexaura
- Alcyonium
- Nephthyigorgia
- Scleronephthya
- Tubastreas coccinea, diaphana
- Dendrophyllia yellow and orange
- Unknown azoo LPS
Fish:
- Eviota nigriventris
Feeding:
I'm currently running 3 different feeding advices. A Fish Mate F14 for dry food (FM, Reef Pearls and Tropic Marine Zooton and Phyton) 3 times a day between 9PM and 9AM.
My live food device for feeding artemia naupliae 9 times during 10:30 pm and 05:30 am every hour. Together with the artemia (1 teaspoon eggs hatched per day in a seperate hachery) I feed 400ml phytoplankton (cultivated phycopure) each day.
A device for feeding defrosted frozen food (Oyster eggs, lobster eggs, cyclops and Rotifers) between 6 pm and 7 am every full hour a total of 2 cubes per day. Currently I'm also testing Coral Smoothy from alga gen.
Every second to third day, the tubastreas are fed with calanus, red plancton or mysis.
Attachments
MARINECRITTERS
New member
Awesome stuff!, the tank looks great.
Were did you managed to get all those nps corals? Btw, are you finding all the food costs to be quite pricey?
Will update my system in the next couple days.
Were did you managed to get all those nps corals? Btw, are you finding all the food costs to be quite pricey?
Will update my system in the next couple days.
Thank you!
Where I managed to get the corals? I do have a very good store not too far away, where I can order NPS Corals directly from the stock list but most of them were lucky findings. And the more common ones I ordered online from a large store in Germany. And I do exchange fragments of corals with people all over the german speaking part of Europe.
Living in Switzerland, the probably most expensive country in the world, makes the word pricey pretty relative. The food is extremely expensive but there is no alternative except cultivation of own food. Currently I'm rearing tigerpods, Artemia, Thispe spec. and Phytoplankton.
Marco
Where I managed to get the corals? I do have a very good store not too far away, where I can order NPS Corals directly from the stock list but most of them were lucky findings. And the more common ones I ordered online from a large store in Germany. And I do exchange fragments of corals with people all over the german speaking part of Europe.
Living in Switzerland, the probably most expensive country in the world, makes the word pricey pretty relative. The food is extremely expensive but there is no alternative except cultivation of own food. Currently I'm rearing tigerpods, Artemia, Thispe spec. and Phytoplankton.
Marco
MARINECRITTERS
New member
Things came in the mail today!
MARINECRITTERS
New member
I need some help from all you DIY guys out there.
It seems that the "average" air lift is not working for my system, it can not handle the 5+ foot hight.
I need some DIY plans on a high powered air lift/geyser pump. pictures would be appreciated!
It seems that the "average" air lift is not working for my system, it can not handle the 5+ foot hight.
I need some DIY plans on a high powered air lift/geyser pump. pictures would be appreciated!
SantaMonica
Well-known member
An airlift can general lift 10% above it's height. So if the tube is 20cm down into the water, and the bubbler is at the bottom end, then the lift would be 2cm.
Guyser pumps are different, of course.
Guyser pumps are different, of course.
Hi
With a normal airlift you will by no means be able to raise water more than a few cm over the water level.
Just don't take me wrong, I personally think that you are bothering too much about the effect of pumps on the plankton in your tank. Why do I think so?
Most of the plankton that will be produced in your system will be larvae from worms, snails etc.. And you will have naupliae and adults from copepods, amphipods and isopods. Eventually mysis but I know of now closed system where it was possible to sustain an constant population of tropical mysis. Furthermore, copepods, isopods and amphipods in our tanks are almost 100% benthic organisms. They are not swimming around. An exception are the naupliae of the different copepods. I know of now system where it was possible to maintain a population of pelagic plankton over time.
Most of the plankton mentioned ist very small and will pass most pumps without majour impact. An exception are for sure needle wheel pumps of skimmers. They certainly kill most of the planktonic organisms in our tank.
In case you introduce large amounts of phytoplankton and zooplankton, there might be an effect of the pumps. But again, phyto and zooplankton introduced to a closed system doe's normally not build sustainable populations.
I only have so called "traumatic" pumps in my system and I have a substantial production of plankton in my DSB and almost everywhere in my tank. The glass is covered with copepods and isopods. And I do even have a needle wheel skimmer.
If you really want to ensure that plankton is not shredded by pumps, I see only one solution that is to place any kind of refugium above the tank level. With airlift, you'll not going to be happy. Choosing a return pump, I would go for a very powerful pump that can be reduced to the flow required to reduce the velocity of water puped through.
A friend of mine started an experiment 2 years ago. A small tank was devided in a azoo part, algae refugium and plankton production part all the same level. The plankton production part was connected to the azoo by an overflow and an airlift. There was a substantial production of plankton in the tank but that was by far not enough to feed the two gorgoinians in the azoo part.
As said, just my opinion
Cheers Marco
With a normal airlift you will by no means be able to raise water more than a few cm over the water level.
Just don't take me wrong, I personally think that you are bothering too much about the effect of pumps on the plankton in your tank. Why do I think so?
Most of the plankton that will be produced in your system will be larvae from worms, snails etc.. And you will have naupliae and adults from copepods, amphipods and isopods. Eventually mysis but I know of now closed system where it was possible to sustain an constant population of tropical mysis. Furthermore, copepods, isopods and amphipods in our tanks are almost 100% benthic organisms. They are not swimming around. An exception are the naupliae of the different copepods. I know of now system where it was possible to maintain a population of pelagic plankton over time.
Most of the plankton mentioned ist very small and will pass most pumps without majour impact. An exception are for sure needle wheel pumps of skimmers. They certainly kill most of the planktonic organisms in our tank.
In case you introduce large amounts of phytoplankton and zooplankton, there might be an effect of the pumps. But again, phyto and zooplankton introduced to a closed system doe's normally not build sustainable populations.
I only have so called "traumatic" pumps in my system and I have a substantial production of plankton in my DSB and almost everywhere in my tank. The glass is covered with copepods and isopods. And I do even have a needle wheel skimmer.
If you really want to ensure that plankton is not shredded by pumps, I see only one solution that is to place any kind of refugium above the tank level. With airlift, you'll not going to be happy. Choosing a return pump, I would go for a very powerful pump that can be reduced to the flow required to reduce the velocity of water puped through.
A friend of mine started an experiment 2 years ago. A small tank was devided in a azoo part, algae refugium and plankton production part all the same level. The plankton production part was connected to the azoo by an overflow and an airlift. There was a substantial production of plankton in the tank but that was by far not enough to feed the two gorgoinians in the azoo part.
As said, just my opinion
Cheers Marco
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