Beginnings of the Acro Reef --- RS Reefer 425

[Thekitchenreefer]

What do you use for the black tubing from the GHL kit? Looks brilliant and I love this tank setup mate.

 

[Vinny@GHLUSA]

What do you use for the black tubing from the GHL kit? Looks brilliant and I love this tank setup mate.

Thanks!

With the exception of the KHD tubing, I'm using regular vinyl tubing with a black/blue braided sleeving around it. I picked up a 100ft roll from Amazon for a few bucks. They have other colors to choose from too! It definitely gives the tubes a finishing touch.
Amazon.com: 100ft - 1/4 inch PET Expandable Braided Sleeving – Blackblue – Alex Tech braided cable sleeve: Home Improvement

 

[SkiCatTX]

Looking good!

 

[MightyMO]

Looking good Ginny! Keep it up!

 

[bdare]

Looking good, Vinny!

 

[Vinny@GHLUSA]

Build update: April 2021
As this month comes to an end, it's time to reflect back on the progress made with the GHL home office reef.

New corals were added, existing ones now showing noticeable signs of growth and color improvement. Sadly, some pieces have died or withered away slowly. That's how the hobby goes...win some, lose some.

The algae reactor continues to grow chaeto at an astounding rate and because of that, NO3 has held within the desired levels.

KH swings are now stable within a 0.3dkH average change and pH remains elevated thanks to CO2 removing media. On average 1 liter of Fauna Marin Skim Breeze media lasts me 8-10 weeks before needing to be replaced; key indicator being a drop in average pH (below 8.0)

IOND testing continues to go well and much progress continues to be made. Lots of valuable data and insight has been gathered from this device as it helps us track and log the change of 5 parameters. Thanks to automated testing, I was able to spot deficiencies in my calcium levels and adjusted accordingly.

So here's what the tank is looking like as of today:
*** PICTURE HEAVY ***

Now for some daytime coral shots...

Now for the night time (blue) shots!

On the ION Director side of things, as mentioned earlier testing continues to go well.


What the box will look like...

Main contents of the IOND box...what's inside...
(Tubes and filter not in photo)

ION Director up-close...

ION Director measurement in progress...

IOND recent results...
Time to dose more Calcium!

Results from the last few days of testing...

Stay tuned for the next update!

 

[1Bigfish]

Build update: April 2021
As this month comes to an end, it's time to reflect back on the progress made with the GHL home office reef.

New corals were added, existing ones now showing noticeable signs of growth and color improvement. Sadly, some pieces have died or withered away slowly. That's how the hobby goes...win some, lose some.

The algae reactor continues to grow chaeto at an astounding rate and because of that, NO3 has held within the desired levels.

KH swings are now stable within a 0.3dkH average change and pH remains elevated thanks to CO2 removing media. On average 1 liter of Fauna Marin Skim Breeze media lasts me 8-10 weeks before needing to be replaced; key indicator being a drop in average pH (below 8.0)

IOND testing continues to go well and much progress continues to be made. Lots of valuable data and insight has been gathered from this device as it helps us track and log the change of 5 parameters. Thanks to automated testing, I was able to spot deficiencies in my calcium levels and adjusted accordingly.

So here's what the tank is looking like as of today:
*** PICTURE HEAVY ***

Now for some daytime coral shots...

Now for the night time (blue) shots!

On the ION Director side of things, as mentioned earlier testing continues to go well.


What the box will look like...

Main contents of the IOND box...what's inside...
(Tubes and filter not in photo)

ION Director up-close...

ION Director measurement in progress...

IOND recent results...
Time to dose more Calcium!

Results from the last few days of testing...

Stay tuned for the next update!

Great build thread! Thanks for taking the time to post so much information and nice pictures!
I am patiently waiting for my ION director to ship soon I hope!
Hopefully you could answer a question about your power heads on the back wall.
What settings do you have them on and what power level?
have you had any flow or dead spot issues with them on the back wall?
I do have a P4 but my mp40 are newer Mobius which from what I understand GHL cannot control, is this correct?
Thanks Vinny

 

[TigerReef]

Great build thread! Thanks for taking the time to post so much information and nice pictures!
I am patiently waiting for my ION director to ship soon I hope!
Hopefully you could answer a question about your power heads on the back wall.
What settings do you have them on and what power level?
have you had any flow or dead spot issues with them on the back wall?
I do have a P4 but my mp40 are newer Mobius which from what I understand GHL cannot control, is this correct?
Thanks Vinny

@1Bigfish - you can absolutely control your MP40s with the P4 (with additional programming features than Mobius.) I am running 4 along the back of my RS 625XXL. You'll need to add the GHL Vortech Controller and do a firmware downgrade.

@Ditto provides a comprehensive step-by-step of the setup here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/switching-controllers-from-apex-to-ghl.316106/post-4128348

Also, GHL has a Vortech Controller manual for download on their support site: https://www.aquariumcomputer.com/downloads/vortech-controller-manual/

 

[revhtree]

Build update: April 2021
As this month comes to an end, it's time to reflect back on the progress made with the GHL home office reef.

New corals were added, existing ones now showing noticeable signs of growth and color improvement. Sadly, some pieces have died or withered away slowly. That's how the hobby goes...win some, lose some.

The algae reactor continues to grow chaeto at an astounding rate and because of that, NO3 has held within the desired levels.

KH swings are now stable within a 0.3dkH average change and pH remains elevated thanks to CO2 removing media. On average 1 liter of Fauna Marin Skim Breeze media lasts me 8-10 weeks before needing to be replaced; key indicator being a drop in average pH (below 8.0)

IOND testing continues to go well and much progress continues to be made. Lots of valuable data and insight has been gathered from this device as it helps us track and log the change of 5 parameters. Thanks to automated testing, I was able to spot deficiencies in my calcium levels and adjusted accordingly.

So here's what the tank is looking like as of today:
*** PICTURE HEAVY ***

Now for some daytime coral shots...

Now for the night time (blue) shots!

On the ION Director side of things, as mentioned earlier testing continues to go well.


What the box will look like...

Main contents of the IOND box...what's inside...
(Tubes and filter not in photo)

ION Director up-close...

ION Director measurement in progress...

IOND recent results...
Time to dose more Calcium!

Results from the last few days of testing...

Stay tuned for the next update!

Looks amazing!!!

 

[Vinny@GHLUSA]

Great build thread! Thanks for taking the time to post so much information and nice pictures!
I am patiently waiting for my ION director to ship soon I hope!
Hopefully you could answer a question about your power heads on the back wall.
What settings do you have them on and what power level?
have you had any flow or dead spot issues with them on the back wall?
I do have a P4 but my mp40 are newer Mobius which from what I understand GHL cannot control, is this correct?
Thanks Vinny

Thanks!
Glad you're enjoying it.

For flow, I'm running 2x MP40w QD and 1x Tunze nanostream 6040. The 6040 is tucked away on the left side of the overflow box and is there to pickup anything that settles in that area. As wide as the flow pattern is with those MP40 pumps, the placement does not allow me to run them any higher than 70%.

I tried and sure enough the sand from the front got swept to the back.

Within the P4 settings, I have the MP40s set to alternate between Reef Crest Random and Long pulse modes.
The timing at which each pump alternates helps keep the flow somewhat random.

Here's how the Tunze 6040 is configured:

I feel the combination of those 3 pumps and my return pump has given me enough flow for the amount of coral I have right now. Later-on, I'll probably add another 6040 or even a 6055 so it keeps more "stuff" in suspension.

As you can see, you can definitely control Vortech pumps with the P4. It's just a matter of downgrading the firmware on the pump driver so the GHL Vortech controller can talk with the drivers.

 

[1Bigfish]

Thanks!
Glad you're enjoying it.

For flow, I'm running 2x MP40w QD and 1x Tunze nanostream 6040. The 6040 is tucked away on the left side of the overflow box and is there to pickup anything that settles in that area. As wide as the flow pattern is with those MP40 pumps, the placement does not allow me to run them any higher than 70%.

I tried and sure enough the sand from the front got swept to the back.

Within the P4 settings, I have the MP40s set to alternate between Reef Crest Random and Long pulse modes.
The timing at which each pump alternates helps keep the flow somewhat random.

Here's how the Tunze 6040 is configured:

I feel the combination of those 3 pumps and my return pump has given me enough flow for the amount of coral I have right now. Later-on, I'll probably add another 6040 or even a 6055 so it keeps more "stuff" in suspension.

As you can see, you can definitely control Vortech pumps with the P4. It's just a matter of downgrading the firmware on the pump driver so the GHL Vortech controller can talk with the drivers.

Thanks Vinny

 

[sharafin]

@Vinny@GHLUSA , what great way to describe your setups...

Asking for help here: I am using the maxi standalone for ATO. So long story short, I was doing water change (cleaning sump water) and when the level dropped, the ATO kicked in (as I forgot to switch of maxi). What is the best way to automate this? I have made a maintenance mode in Profilix which switch off everything but lights from the sockets of power bar. But how to control the ATO, during this time?

TIA
Arafin

 

[Vinny@GHLUSA]

@Vinny@GHLUSA , what great way to describe your setups...

Asking for help here: I am using the maxi standalone for ATO. So long story short, I was doing water change (cleaning sump water) and when the level dropped, the ATO kicked in (as I forgot to switch of maxi). What is the best way to automate this? I have made a maintenance mode in Profilix which switch off everything but lights from the sockets of power bar. But how to control the ATO, during this time?

TIA
Arafin

If the Maxi's ATO head is being controlled through the ProfiLux switch channel, you can just go into the Maintenance mode setting and choose the socket number that controls the Maxi head.

For example, in my setup I have my Maxi ATO head set to react to the switch channel #7...

Since switch channel #7 is assigned to the ATO task, the head will react accordingly...

Since the maintenance mode allows you to choose which channels to turn ON or OFF when activated, you just go into the maintenance mode and select the switch channel that manages your Maxi ATO head...

Hope that helps.

 

[Manny’s Reef]

Vinny you should make a video where you show off and go in detail about your aquarium.

 

[Manny’s Reef]

We are still anxiously awaiting an update from Vinny. Such an amazing build.

 

[Vinny@GHLUSA]

Build update: December 2021
Overall, the tank is doing well and just cruising along.

Since the last update, a few extra corals were added. Clams were added and now I'm just letting them settle-in and grow. Meanwhile, I've just been keeping up with the usual maintenance (weekly AWC refill and fish feeding).

I've tried to capture some good shots of the fish, but that didn't work out so well...so here are some coral shots instead.

 

[Vinny@GHLUSA]

Vinny you should make a video where you show off and go in detail about your aquarium.

Not a bad idea. I just need to figure out what lens people use when they record their tank. If I point the camera at the tank and stand in front of it, you only see the outside of my shadow as the camera focuses more on the lighting behind me.

 

[Rotknee]

Hey Vinny...the tank looks awesome. There is no doubt about what the Mitras lamp can do. There are so many pearls in this thread. Thank you for sharing.

Can a single Propeller Control-2.1 accessory connected to a P4 run a pair of Propeller Breeze 3 Aquarium Cooling Fans?

 

[revhtree]

We need an update!

 

[Vinny@GHLUSA]

Hey Vinny...the tank looks awesome. There is no doubt about what the Mitras lamp can do. There are so many pearls in this thread. Thank you for sharing.

Can a single Propeller Control-2.1 accessory connected to a P4 run a pair of Propeller Breeze 3 Aquarium Cooling Fans?

Thanks for stopping by.

Yes, it is possible.
That's exactly what I'm doing now with my 2x 3-fan breeze units. I am using a power splitter cable to run both fan units off of one power supply. This power cable is then connected to the PropellerBreeze accessory. The P4 then controls both fans simultaneously.