TOTM quality 6' SPS tank for under $1k? The 5.56 build thread; AKA a really bad idea
- Thread starter five.five-six
- Start date
five.five-six
Well-known member
No, I posted them wrong. I can never remember which sites like them posted how. Here its [ youtube ]CRAZYYOUTUBELETTERS [/ youtube]. Other cites it’s [ youtube ] w w w w. Youtube/CRAZYYOUTUBELETTERS [/ youtube]
Anyways, that fish is a pig, it’s gong to be expensive to feed. I need to figure out a good source for fish food for it.
Anyways, that fish is a pig, it’s gong to be expensive to feed. I need to figure out a good source for fish food for it.
Tangs love fresh veggies. They'll go after spinach, broccoli, and romaine lettuce. If you smear some brocolli in some fish food the tangs will go ape for it.
BeanMachine
Active member
I waited for the good part... wow.
five.five-six
Well-known member
Is that the pulling it out or the stuffing it in?
BeanMachine
Active member
Both were equally revolting. I cant pick a favorite.
Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk
five.five-six
Well-known member
The impeller on my eheim pump for my euroreef skimmer is on it's last legs. I've known this for some time and it's held together with superglue and jb weld
A replacement impeller is $140.. for a 15 year old pump
My next option was to buy a new skimmer pump, I like the Varios-6S for $350
Another option I had been toying with was to modify a cheep jebao and then I saw a thread about someone who did it on another forum $90 shipped
The jebao showed up today DCP-6500 DC controllable rated at 6500 L/hr
First I had to remove the impeller from the shaft
Next I made a new disk from some scrap acrylic
Next I scribed the keyed shaft hole
Made the correct hole with files
Attached ecomatt
Next I had to make a Venturi. I drilled 1/4" holes in this jebao supplied 1/2" barb adapter. The 1/2 didn't work so hot so I ended up using the supplied 3/4" adapter and that was much better
So how does it work? Well at first I was like meh, works about the same as the eheim I replaces and with all the great things some people say about jebao and the fact that it was rated for over twice the output as the ehime I was somewhat dissapointed but at least I have the eheim for a spare when this one catches fire
Then I looked at the collection cup 1 hr later and the foam is amazing, it's like whipped cream or cotton candy. I've never seen anything like it.
I know the photo sucks but you hold a flashlight one hand don't drop the iPad in the sump take a picture do better.
A replacement impeller is $140.. for a 15 year old pump
My next option was to buy a new skimmer pump, I like the Varios-6S for $350
Another option I had been toying with was to modify a cheep jebao and then I saw a thread about someone who did it on another forum $90 shipped
The jebao showed up today DCP-6500 DC controllable rated at 6500 L/hr
First I had to remove the impeller from the shaft
Next I made a new disk from some scrap acrylic
Next I scribed the keyed shaft hole
Made the correct hole with files
Attached ecomatt
Next I had to make a Venturi. I drilled 1/4" holes in this jebao supplied 1/2" barb adapter. The 1/2 didn't work so hot so I ended up using the supplied 3/4" adapter and that was much better
So how does it work? Well at first I was like meh, works about the same as the eheim I replaces and with all the great things some people say about jebao and the fact that it was rated for over twice the output as the ehime I was somewhat dissapointed but at least I have the eheim for a spare when this one catches fire
Then I looked at the collection cup 1 hr later and the foam is amazing, it's like whipped cream or cotton candy. I've never seen anything like it.
I know the photo sucks but you hold a flashlight one hand don't drop the iPad in the sump take a picture do better.
five.five-six
Well-known member
Mesh mods break down and the ecomatt has to be replaced every year or sooner
Replacing the mesh is really simple but still it's another thing to do.
Sure, but they can be made out of a more durable plastic, companies can do this.
five.five-six
Well-known member
Total spent: $1063.85
Total spent: $1063.85
So my last accounting was $36.85 cash on hand everything else zeroed out
Since then I bought:
$120 3X new 20K radiums on RC
$89.98 Jebo dc6500 for skimmer pump amazon
$15.29 gloves so I can stick my hands in tank after surgery amazon
$9.85 DIY fish food 99 ranch
$40 frags from another reefer
$30 O3 generator on FB
$32 hermit crabs and a lousy fake OC orange crush from LFS
I have sold
$85 various colonies and frags on facebook cash on hand
$154.92 in paypal from selling remora AquaC other fish stuff on FB after shipping costs
Since last accounting
Total spent: $337.12
Total assets $276.77
Overage: $60.35
With all the time on disability and SDI not paying me we have been living off savings and net 30 and net 60 accts receivable and the fish tank money in paypal and cash on hand has been used to cover household expenses, it's gotten prety jumbled up but I believe this to be an accurate accounting of what I have spent. Going forward I'm just going to keep a running total.
I was pensive about how much I had spent but after adding it ll up, all I have to do is sell $61 in stuff and I'm back in the green. I really don't need to buy anything. Tank is cruzing along.
Dinos are all gone About 2 weeks ago they dissapeared and I did 25% WC 3 days ago and nothing. What got it for me was siphoning off what I could with my DIY dino trap, running O3 2 hrs a night and wayyy overfeeding
Total spent: $1063.85
So my last accounting was $36.85 cash on hand everything else zeroed out
Since then I bought:
$120 3X new 20K radiums on RC
$89.98 Jebo dc6500 for skimmer pump amazon
$15.29 gloves so I can stick my hands in tank after surgery amazon
$9.85 DIY fish food 99 ranch
$40 frags from another reefer
$30 O3 generator on FB
$32 hermit crabs and a lousy fake OC orange crush from LFS
I have sold
$85 various colonies and frags on facebook cash on hand
$154.92 in paypal from selling remora AquaC other fish stuff on FB after shipping costs
Since last accounting
Total spent: $337.12
Total assets $276.77
Overage: $60.35
With all the time on disability and SDI not paying me we have been living off savings and net 30 and net 60 accts receivable and the fish tank money in paypal and cash on hand has been used to cover household expenses, it's gotten prety jumbled up but I believe this to be an accurate accounting of what I have spent. Going forward I'm just going to keep a running total.
I was pensive about how much I had spent but after adding it ll up, all I have to do is sell $61 in stuff and I'm back in the green. I really don't need to buy anything. Tank is cruzing along.
Dinos are all gone About 2 weeks ago they dissapeared and I did 25% WC 3 days ago and nothing. What got it for me was siphoning off what I could with my DIY dino trap, running O3 2 hrs a night and wayyy overfeeding
Don't forget to account for that battlebox you want 
Glad the dinos are gone. One thing I learned is that when you put them in a sub-optimal environment (IE, start killing them off) they will form a cyst and 'weather the storm' -- You may have some spring up again in a month or more. Just get back to business as usual and they'll die off.
The important part there is get back to killing them immediately. Or they'll take over, because dinos are evil.
Glad the dinos are gone. One thing I learned is that when you put them in a sub-optimal environment (IE, start killing them off) they will form a cyst and 'weather the storm' -- You may have some spring up again in a month or more. Just get back to business as usual and they'll die off.
The important part there is get back to killing them immediately. Or they'll take over, because dinos are evil.
five.five-six
Well-known member
Yes, they are evil. I think the key is to keep up nutrients and keep the O3 running but we’ll see.
I am a tinkerer at heart.
One of the items I got in my original lot of stuf was a 6105.050 tunze safety connector. I had a 18AH lead acid valve regulated battery and charger from a job so I hooked that all up for the eventuality of a power outage. Test it and it works great!
Next step: unplug the whole tank for test and NOTHING! It seems that when the Apex loses power the 0-10V port goes to 0 and regardles of power the pump goes dead
Neptune says that the 14.2V float voltage on my battery system is too high for the auxiliary power port so I buy this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XM8SM66/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
And figured, what the heck.. in the case of emergency I’ll need to see under the sump so got this too and will connect it through a reed switch to come on when the stand door is opened.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HSF66JO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
$34.65 shipped. Overage is now $95.00 exactly
I am a tinkerer at heart.
One of the items I got in my original lot of stuf was a 6105.050 tunze safety connector. I had a 18AH lead acid valve regulated battery and charger from a job so I hooked that all up for the eventuality of a power outage. Test it and it works great!
Next step: unplug the whole tank for test and NOTHING! It seems that when the Apex loses power the 0-10V port goes to 0 and regardles of power the pump goes dead
Neptune says that the 14.2V float voltage on my battery system is too high for the auxiliary power port so I buy this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XM8SM66/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
And figured, what the heck.. in the case of emergency I’ll need to see under the sump so got this too and will connect it through a reed switch to come on when the stand door is opened.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HSF66JO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
$34.65 shipped. Overage is now $95.00 exactly
Last edited:
five.five-six
Well-known member
Warning!!
So, the USB port on that converter is not 5V. It's whatever output you have the thing adjusted to. If you have it set much above 6-7 volts it will smoke your cellphone or whatever you connect to it. I see nowhere in the standard Engrish documentation where the USB plug is specified at 5V or system voltage. It just doesn't say so I checked with my DMM
Everything else is great! Powers the Apex nicely and my circulation pump keeps running. The LED strip lights look great under the stand and makes doing things down there a lot easier
So, the USB port on that converter is not 5V. It's whatever output you have the thing adjusted to. If you have it set much above 6-7 volts it will smoke your cellphone or whatever you connect to it. I see nowhere in the standard Engrish documentation where the USB plug is specified at 5V or system voltage. It just doesn't say so I checked with my DMM
Everything else is great! Powers the Apex nicely and my circulation pump keeps running. The LED strip lights look great under the stand and makes doing things down there a lot easier
Attachments
five.five-six
Well-known member
Bought a 50ml BRS pump to replace my warn out aqualifter $50
Aquastick $11.26
= $121.61 over
Dealing with really high alk 11.68 DKH
Ca is 440 and MG is 1560
I just turned the caRX off and will check again in a few days
The odd thing is that I never add alk suplement, just kalkwasser and cARX. I do sometimes have to bump the CA and the MG gets a 100PPM bump once a month or so. But my ALk has always run high. To make matters stranger, my pH always runs low. Generaly 7.8 to 8.1. And it doesn’t matter if the doors are left open all day and the wind blows through the house, that’s just what it runs at.
Aquastick $11.26
= $121.61 over
Dealing with really high alk 11.68 DKH
Ca is 440 and MG is 1560
I just turned the caRX off and will check again in a few days
The odd thing is that I never add alk suplement, just kalkwasser and cARX. I do sometimes have to bump the CA and the MG gets a 100PPM bump once a month or so. But my ALk has always run high. To make matters stranger, my pH always runs low. Generaly 7.8 to 8.1. And it doesn’t matter if the doors are left open all day and the wind blows through the house, that’s just what it runs at.
laverda
Well-known member
Yes, they are evil. I think the key is to keep up nutrients and keep the O3 running but we'll see.
I am a tinkerer at heart.
One of the items I got in my original lot of stuf was a 6105.050 tunze safety connector. I had a 18AH lead acid valve regulated battery and charger from a job so I hooked that all up for the eventuality of a power outage. Test it and it works great!
Next step: unplug the whole tank for test and NOTHING! It seems that when the Apex loses power the 0-10V port goes to 0 and regardles of power the pump goes dead
Neptune says that the 14.2V float voltage on my battery system is too high for the auxiliary power port so I buy this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XM8SM66/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
And figured, what the heck.. in the case of emergency I'll need to see under the sump so got this too and will connect it through a reed switch to come on when the stand door is opened.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HSF66JO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
$34.65 shipped. Overage is now $95.00 exactly
If I understand correctly the usb is the same voltage amd current as the trrminals next to it. Are you running the LEDs and apex off these2 outputs?
five.five-six
Well-known member
Reefer math LOL, that's great!!
Reefer math LOL, that's great!!
And you reminded me that I spent $7.15 on a 12V to 5V converter so now the WiFi adapter is backed up.
$163.41 OVER
I also have a customer of mine giving me an old 1500va UPS with new batteries so I can backup my router, modem and POE switch. I'll have internet in a power outage.
But yes, the USB connector output is the same voltage are the screw terminals which is super stupid.
Reefer math LOL, that's great!!
Oops.. missed an entry
And you reminded me that I spent $7.15 on a 12V to 5V converter so now the WiFi adapter is backed up.
$163.41 OVER
I also have a customer of mine giving me an old 1500va UPS with new batteries so I can backup my router, modem and POE switch. I'll have internet in a power outage.
But yes, the USB connector output is the same voltage are the screw terminals which is super stupid.
five.five-six
Well-known member
Ok, I wish I could no change the thread title to $2k LOL
I put salt inthe tank on 9/9/17
The tank has been running for almost 6 months and is settling down.
It's time to start populating it with the good stuff and let it grow.
Just stoped by a local reefer's house and got some good stuff and about to buy a battlebox and a trip to Garrett.
Local reefer $100 spent. Now $263.41 over
I have a set of aqualine AB 13k lamps new. They are bright as heck and I know from experiance that they grow SPS super fast. I want to run them for a year but they are on the edge of yellow and my wife really likes the looks of the radiums. She likes the blue. The 3X PC actenics, which I switch off when the radiums are on are no competition for the 10K's it's almost like they aren't even on. I think I may just put the 10k's in and not even tell her.
I put salt inthe tank on 9/9/17
The tank has been running for almost 6 months and is settling down.
It's time to start populating it with the good stuff and let it grow.
Just stoped by a local reefer's house and got some good stuff and about to buy a battlebox and a trip to Garrett.
Local reefer $100 spent. Now $263.41 over
I have a set of aqualine AB 13k lamps new. They are bright as heck and I know from experiance that they grow SPS super fast. I want to run them for a year but they are on the edge of yellow and my wife really likes the looks of the radiums. She likes the blue. The 3X PC actenics, which I switch off when the radiums are on are no competition for the 10K's it's almost like they aren't even on. I think I may just put the 10k's in and not even tell her.
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