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02/19/2017, 09:16 PM | #151 | |
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02/20/2017, 03:37 PM | #152 |
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ATO build day! To start, I set up a remote ATO reservoir that adds water the in sump 1.5G reservoir. There is a float switch in the 1.5G reservoir and another float switch in the big ATO. The float in the 1.5G will turn on the ATO pump after 10 second delay. Once the float valve goes up it will delay for 3 more seconds to put some extra water in before turning off. The float in the remote reservoir is to prevent the pump from turning on at all once the water goes below a certain point.
Here is the logic I wrotet in to outlet 5 on my EB832. Fallback OFF Set OFF If Sw1 CLOSED Then ON If Sw2 CLOSED Then OFF Defer 000:10 Then ON Defer 00:03 Then OFF In my case on both float valves when they are "down" that = CLOSED. |
02/20/2017, 06:17 PM | #153 |
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Here is the breakout box that the wires connect into from the float switches.
Here is the float valve on the in sump ATO along with the feed hose. I zip tied the feed hose to the drain pipe so it stays in place. I used a small piece of wood as the screw to mount the float to the side of the ATO was not long enough. The float is at a height that the water level will never get to the wood or the hose so I should not need a check valve. I may eventually just choose to eliminate the in sump ATO altogether and just put the ATO float and fill hose into the return chamber. Remote 20g long ATO tank with Eheim 600 pump. I will be dumping kalk in here as my calc/alk levels are not being kept up with water changes since I put all the corals into the tank. |
02/20/2017, 06:25 PM | #154 |
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Also, managed to snag and kill two small gorilla crabs from the tank today. I ordered a pest trap and aquarium tongs to further my hunting of the gorillas.
I also have a radion G4 en route here tomorrow! |
02/21/2017, 04:02 PM | #155 |
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Ok so G4 won't be here til wednesday. I guess BRS was closed yesterday. On that note today I also ordered a BRS single reactor w/maxijet and carbon/GFO. My phosphates are up to 1.00 and I also have 20 nitrate now. My skimmer also has not been creating foam for the last 2 days now, so I want to ensure there isn't a pollutant in the tank causing issues. Bad news is I'm out of outlets on my EB832, and I don't want to order a second one. I'll probably use a small splitter and put the radion and reactor on the same outlet. I'm also getting a small chaeto ball which I'm long overdue for as well. In previous tanks I have generally always had chaeto and run gfo/carbon. But now with the skimmer not producing foam the last 2 days it makes me worry there is something else going on. I cleaned it really well even though it's only 3 weeks old, and still no foam.
Today I saw 2 different gorilla crabs in the tank still, so the hunt is on! |
02/21/2017, 04:21 PM | #156 |
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Another common option is to run the reactor off of a manifold. That's how my 170 was originally setup. Sounds like sponges and other filter feeders are dying off in your tank at this stage, space which is pretty typical for fresh live rock street from the ocean.
I'm curious are you running your mp tens off of the 24 V outlet on the new Apex? Also I don't know about the new Apex but with the old one you could use the previous generation of energy bars you might be able to get away with and he before he be eight instead of the newer fancy type save you a ton of money. Or just don't plug in the MP tens to the apex because the W XM or reef link should be able to turn them off anyway right? |
02/21/2017, 04:36 PM | #157 | |
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As for running the MP10s off the 24v outlet I have no idea how I'd even do that or that I could even do that? |
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02/21/2017, 05:36 PM | #158 | |
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Im doing your same tank but on the cheap. Mostly used equipment etc. |
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02/22/2017, 10:31 AM | #159 |
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So today my G4 will arrive along with the reactor and GFO/carbon. I have also come to the conclusion that I need a smaller skimmer so I'll be selling the simplicity and am looking at options for smaller size skimmers. The simplicity is fantastic, but after the first week it stopped pulling skim, and now only pulls foam/skim when I feed the tank. It's just too big for my reefer 170! But now that I've had one I think I'd go with the DC 240 for my 180g build as it's a really great and quiet skimmer.
I'm thinking about picking up the reef ocotopus 110 space saver, or the icecap K2-50. I'm also going to convert my 1.5G ATO to an in sump refugium so I'll have lots of pics on that change. I'll simply move the ATO float and tube to the return section of the sump. The DIY ATO system I built with floats and the apex breakout box have been working flawlessly. I used an eheim 600 which provides the perfect amount of flow even though the tube has to get over about a 48" head height. I couldn't be more pleased with it. I also used my spare 20 L for the ATO reservoir. |
02/22/2017, 12:08 PM | #160 |
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02/22/2017, 12:29 PM | #161 | |
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Thanks for looking out for me though! |
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02/22/2017, 03:03 PM | #162 |
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I think I finally caught the "big" gorilla. I had been "feeding" the back corners of the tank, and sure enough he was back there. And that cocky crab was bold enough to stay there when my gloved hand came into the tank to grab him. I brought him out and then he went SQUISH.
The body measured just over 1". |
02/22/2017, 03:17 PM | #163 |
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That is not a gorilla crab...but squish him up and toss it back in front...your inverts will be happy!
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02/22/2017, 03:25 PM | #164 |
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02/22/2017, 03:33 PM | #165 |
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Hah i dropped him into the tank and I have never seen a serpent star move so fast. He got a crunchy treat.
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02/22/2017, 03:35 PM | #166 | |
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02/22/2017, 03:48 PM | #167 |
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02/22/2017, 03:58 PM | #168 |
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LOL...what did you do....shave him??
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02/22/2017, 04:03 PM | #169 |
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02/23/2017, 09:27 AM | #170 |
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So the G4 has been installed! First impression is that the spread and blend is 100x better. I'll be excited to see how my corals do with the new lighting. I turned the intensity down to 45% because I believe the G4 is probably stronger lighting than the G2 was as well.
I also received my reactor and carbon/GFO. I plan to run both together in the reactor. I also ordered a new icecap K2-50 skimmer which apparently a lot of others have had great success with in the reefer 170. I think it's a lot more appropriately sized than my simplicity skimmer was. I'll be offering up the Simplicity DC 120 for $175 which is a great deal since it's $210 new and I haven't had it more than 3 weeks! Once the new skimmer comes, I'll be installing that, installing the reactor, changing the ATO to operate in the return pump chamber, and turning the 1.5g ato into a fuge. I also will have my last fish into QT soon I think! A pink streak wrasse and two blue reef chromis. |
02/23/2017, 09:28 AM | #171 |
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The orchid dottyback went into the DT and she's doing very well. Initially the blenny chased her around but she found her "rock" and ducks into her hole any time he comes around. He can't fit so she is safe. He stopped pestering her so much now that she has her spot. The clowns are also now sleeping inside the nem at night. Initially the nem would close up too much for them to stay inside, but now the nem stays open and folds in half sort of making a wrap around "bed" for them and they sleep in their happily, and the nem seems just fine with that.
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02/23/2017, 03:41 PM | #172 |
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lights look great and I can't wait to hear you feedback on the skimmer. Where are you planning on putting the reactor?
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Mike <*)))>{ <*)))>{ <*)))>{ <*)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 60*30*20, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1 Last edited by solitude127; 02/23/2017 at 04:13 PM. |
02/24/2017, 09:29 AM | #173 | |
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Today is sump rearrangement day! I will be moving my ATO setup to the return area of the sump, and then turning the 1.5g ato container into a fuge! I'll also be installing the GFO/Carbon reactor and setting that up as well. My new skimmer also arrives today, the icecap K2-50 which is tiny and perfect for my size system and also allows me to put the fuge ato container right into the sump. I'll have lots of pics of all this to show what I'm doing and how. Also new additions to the tank. I picked up a beautiful warpaint scoly, pic below and I just fed him as his tentacles were out and he was looking for food. If you've never had a scoly they are really fun and feeding them is really awesome to watch. He ate some frozen "limpits" food, which is a mix of lots of meats and goodies blended up (made by "Limipits" who is a local reefer by me). The pic below of the scoly is just after I fed him. Also picked up two blue reef chromis and they are in the QT. They are already eating which is great. My LFS had them for about 3 weeks in his tanks and they are looking good. As normal I'll proactively treat them with prazi, then paragard. I also picked up a very pretty cyphastrea, as well as a blue/purple hard stuff acro. I'll get pics of these later when the lighting is up higher. |
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02/24/2017, 04:17 PM | #174 |
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Ok so sump rearrangement is done. Now to mount the reactor and set that up as well. But I have to run to the hardware store for 3/4" screws as it looks like I'm all out. The skimmer is running at breakin setting, the old 1.5g ato was placed into the sump and filled. It has a sicce micra pump that is simply piping water into the fuge from the sump, and then the water overflows out of the fuge back into the sump. Chaeto is in there as well now, and I have set up an overnight light above it.
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02/24/2017, 04:58 PM | #175 |
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What's the first impression of the skimmer?
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Mike <*)))>{ <*)))>{ <*)))>{ <*)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 60*30*20, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1 Last edited by solitude127; 02/24/2017 at 05:03 PM. |
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