Deepsea2005
New member
Beautiful.
I love everything of it.
I love everything of it.
Updated pics
- Thread starter reefkeeper2
- Start date
reefkeeper2
Premium Member
Here are some more of the softies. I love the look of a sps dominated tank, but I think a reef is all about diversity and that my ultimate goal is to try and duplicate a natural reef. Pics of the sps can wow you with their fabulous color, but when you see a tank in person it's the movement in the tank that is so hypnotic. I find the softies add so much that are not evident in pics.
reefkeeper2
Premium Member
You can't beat the color of these guys though. If anyone had told me 15 years ago that some day I would have a tank that had these corals growing in it, I wouldn't have believed them.
reefkeeper2
Premium Member
Two Tunze 6000 that are stationary, and two Tunze 6060 that are mounted on wavy seas. Here is a pic from above. I have a center overflow, so everything is mounted on that. I went with the Tunzes because of the savings over a closed loop in regards to electricity. They are also easily cleaned.
\hi can you tell us more about the water changes done by dialyseas?? also some new closeup picture of the sump please thanks<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11470952#post11470952 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefkeeper2
This is what the basement looks like. All the water changes are done by the dialyseas.
i am try to coppy your sump set up thanks
reefkeeper2
Premium Member
here is the RDSB connected to the sump. This is an old pic. I wrapped the RDSB with insulation to keep the entire thing warm. Bacteria like to be kept cozy.
reefkeeper2
Premium Member
The dialyseas sucks water from the sump and runs it through a dialysis membrane and returns it to the sump. The water that returns has almost everything removed from it during this process. The specific gravity of the water returned is about 1.004. There is a conductivity meter that monitors the salinity. Eventually the specific gravity falls as more water is dialysized through the day. I presently have it set for 7 gal a day. When it falls below a threshold I have set, (1.025) a pump in the dialyseas pumps concentrated brine into the sump ( little by little) until the specific gravity is where it should be.
The result is that there is very little change in the salinity even though I am changing water all the time. It works quite well. The unit also produces 75 gal a day of RO/DI water. Although the dialyseas is capable of replacing evaporated water, I don't use this feature. I have a litremeter that pulls the water through a aquamedic kalkstirrer and adds it to the sump.
Here is a pic of the inside of the sump. You can see my carbon and GFO reactor, along with my protein skimmer.
The result is that there is very little change in the salinity even though I am changing water all the time. It works quite well. The unit also produces 75 gal a day of RO/DI water. Although the dialyseas is capable of replacing evaporated water, I don't use this feature. I have a litremeter that pulls the water through a aquamedic kalkstirrer and adds it to the sump.
Here is a pic of the inside of the sump. You can see my carbon and GFO reactor, along with my protein skimmer.
so you are essentially doing a 7g/day water change? I really like that dialyseas unit, makes a lot of sense, constantly refreshing the water instead of allowing it to degrade over time followed by a large water change.
their website states it's cheaper than manual water changes, has that been your experience? though with the price of the unit it would take some time to pay for itself, if ever. probably worth it anyway in labor costs and convenience, for sure
also, it appears it can replenish calcium?
their website states it's cheaper than manual water changes, has that been your experience? though with the price of the unit it would take some time to pay for itself, if ever. probably worth it anyway in labor costs and convenience, for sure
also, it appears it can replenish calcium?
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reefkeeper2
Premium Member
I don't know if it's cheaper (your supposed to save on salt) because there was never a way for me to compare cost . Remember also that you have to buy a membrane every 3 to 4 months and thats about $58.00. I can only say that in my opinion, it's been well worth the money. I really like it and would buy it again. Be forwarned though, the manual you get with the unit (unless somethings changed) is complicated and the customer service is unprofessional which surprised me. I know some people have had some bad experiences, and you may be able to find them here on RC. It also takes a while to get your unit because they are made individually when you place the order.
reefkeeper2
Premium Member
I forgot about your question on calcium. On my unit there is a group of outlets that can be plugged into various devices. There is a calcium mixer (turns my kalkwasser stirrer on and off at interval) a calicium doser (could dose calcium chloride as in the balling meathod) and a salt mixer( keeps the salt in the brine tank mixed). You could plug anything you wanted into these outlets. They are all computer controlled. I am not familiar with the new dialyseas unit, but I assume it will have more options.
SeaSerpant
New member
I love the tank. Don't anemones kill other corals? It looks great anyway. what kind of live stock do you have in there?
reefkeeper2
Premium Member
Anemones kill other corals if they touch them. Some do not seem affected when the anemone touches them like the purple gorgonian on the right, which has often had the tentacles all over it.
reefkeeper2
Premium Member
I have a schuran calcium reactor. I also have an aquamedic kalkwasser stirrer and all my top-off water runs through that. Between the two, it keeps my calcium around 400ppm and my alkalinity at 9dkh. I used to have to supplement with Randys 2 part every once in a while, but since I stopped using Instant Ocean salt (low in Ca and Mg) I no longer have to. Remember the dialyseas constantly changes the water, so a good quality salt with high Ca, Mg and alkalinity helps keep the levels up.
I use a high quality bitumous coal activated carbon 24/7 and Warner Marine phosar for phosphate control. The tank is mixed with lots of softies and anemones so this is a must. I just recently started using ozone and I have noticed the sps polyp extension has greatly increased since I did this. I think the ozone gets out the last of the organics that the carbon misses.
I use a high quality bitumous coal activated carbon 24/7 and Warner Marine phosar for phosphate control. The tank is mixed with lots of softies and anemones so this is a must. I just recently started using ozone and I have noticed the sps polyp extension has greatly increased since I did this. I think the ozone gets out the last of the organics that the carbon misses.
thank you for your answers. if you don't mind a few more questions:
so you really only use the dialyseas for refreshing the water?
what salt mix do you use? can you describe what is involved, I'm guessing you add salt to a mixer that is controlled by the dialyseas?
how much and how often to you change the carbon?
what is your average ORP?
many thanks again
so you really only use the dialyseas for refreshing the water?
what salt mix do you use? can you describe what is involved, I'm guessing you add salt to a mixer that is controlled by the dialyseas?
how much and how often to you change the carbon?
what is your average ORP?
many thanks again
reefkeeper2
Premium Member
The dialyseas has a salt bucket. You just pour the salt of your choise into it. I have a small powerhead inside that goes on every 5 minutes for 30seconds to keep it mixed. The dialyseas computer controls it. You don't have to use one but I find it's better mixed if you do. I use Red Sea Coral Pro salt.
Carbon is changed every month. I use one cup per/100gal. I also use carbon for the outflow from the ozone reactor (an old skimmer) changed every month also.
I don't let the orp climb past 390. Right now it's at 340 because my Ozotec poseidon died last week, and I'm using a very old Sanders unit until my new one (Sanders) arrives.
The dialyseas can monitor orp and pH but I did not purchase those options. I already had seperate controller/monitors for those. I have heard the new model dialyseas will have more bells and whistles you could ever wish for, including a windows based computer that tracks all your maintenence, feedings, and your entire livestock population.
Carbon is changed every month. I use one cup per/100gal. I also use carbon for the outflow from the ozone reactor (an old skimmer) changed every month also.
I don't let the orp climb past 390. Right now it's at 340 because my Ozotec poseidon died last week, and I'm using a very old Sanders unit until my new one (Sanders) arrives.
The dialyseas can monitor orp and pH but I did not purchase those options. I already had seperate controller/monitors for those. I have heard the new model dialyseas will have more bells and whistles you could ever wish for, including a windows based computer that tracks all your maintenence, feedings, and your entire livestock population.
