Marty's 8' 300g/sump room build. ~750g system

[Mshort03]

Been a longgggg day. Still working a lot more tonight but need a break so figured I'd update. This morning I got the sink hooked up. I have both hot and cold water.

We also put a cold water spout over on end of room for my rodi unit. I want this in the room so it will stay warmer and be more efficient. I'll run the line to the other side of the wall to fill the 275 tote.

After that I got the 125 filled and running.

For the frag tank I got a 60" ati fixture with a 60" reefbrite xho strip. I gotta say, I'm quite impressed with how this looks.

For the "in system" grow out I went with a 6 bulb DIY t5 setup. I used the dual t5 setup I had on my 90 with the ocean revives and just added 4 more bulbs to existing frame. Easy and efficient

Now I gotta get back at it cuz there's still a million pieces to go... but I'll leave some tank shots to go out with

 

[Mshort03]

Idk why but I really love this light!

 

[Mshort03]

Few more things got done.. got a few frags in the frag system to get that going.

I still have plenty more to put into this that in currently holding in one of the 90s. Waiting till I hook up doser for frag system which came today before I transfer them. I have duplicates of every coral in my display and multiples of many of them for sale..this should "protect me" from losing any one piece.

Today I spent some time working with the apex.. got a few things plugged in but it's being problematic for me.. honestly pretty disappointed so far but hopefully that turns around with the support ticket I have in.

Then I got started on getting the calcium reactor setup and running. I am using the reef octopus SROcr5000d with carbon doser and komaer paristaltic pump. The pump is set up to pull water through the reactor instead of push. Ph is controlled by a Milwaukee ph controller.

I have the effluent dripping into the fuge in Hope's to further scrub the co2 off..figure it cant hurt.

My current parameters are 9alk 450 cal.. I started the paristaltic pump at 30ml/min and will work from there.. I'm quite nervous about switching! Everything looks so good and I've done 2 part for so long... hopefully this turns out great

 

[Mshort03]

Also forgot to mention I decided on a display fuge for the other 90. I ordered 80 lbs of rock to add to it and another 60 lbs sand for total of 120lbs. Will set that up this weekend when everything arrives but here it is now. (Nem will be removed)

 

[crusso1993]

Few more things got done.. got a few frags in the frag system to get that going.

I still have plenty more to put into this that in currently holding in one of the 90s. Waiting till I hook up doser for frag system which came today before I transfer them. I have duplicates of every coral in my display and multiples of many of them for sale..this should "protect me" from losing any one piece.

Today I spent some time working with the apex.. got a few things plugged in but it's being problematic for me.. honestly pretty disappointed so far but hopefully that turns around with the support ticket I have in.

Then I got started on getting the calcium reactor setup and running. I am using the reef octopus SROcr5000d with carbon doser and komaer paristaltic pump. The pump is set up to pull water through the reactor instead of push. Ph is controlled by a Milwaukee ph controller.

I have the effluent dripping into the fuge in Hope's to further scrub the co2 off..figure it cant hurt.

My current parameters are 9alk 450 cal.. I started the paristaltic pump at 30ml/min and will work from there.. I'm quite nervous about switching! Everything looks so good and I've done 2 part for so long... hopefully this turns out great

Things are coming along nicely with exception to your Apex headaches. I know some people swear by their Apex systems while some others swear AT their Apex systems. I've never personally had one and don't think I ever will. I'll not say "never" but I'm planning a reef pi build when the time comes.
As far as the CaRX is concerned, getting it dialed in usually takes a little patience but once you've attained the desired result it's pretty much "no muss, no fuss." I am interested in getting your input on that CO2 regulator and the Kamoer pump you're using as you go along. Personally, I would have gone a different route but am always open to learning about equipment and results.

In closing, I still hate you and RIBS!

 

[Mshort03]

Things are coming along nicely with exception to your Apex headaches. I know some people swear by their Apex systems while some others swear AT their Apex systems. I've never personally had one and don't think I ever will. I'll not say "never" but I'm planning a reef pi build when the time comes.
As far as the CaRX is concerned, getting it dialed in usually takes a little patience but once you've attained the desired result it's pretty much "no muss, no fuss." I am interested in getting your input on that CO2 regulator and the Kamoer pump you're using as you go along. Personally, I would have gone a different route but am always open to learning about equipment and results.

In closing, I still hate you and RIBS!

The apex is simply an add on for me. I'd never trust one to run my entire system.as I tried to incorporate as much redundancy in this build as possible. The return pump is plugged into an outlet and the power heads are on a complete separate circuit so if one goes down I still have flow. The apex was to be used mostly for monitoring the system and controller small things like when my skimmer container fills it texts me, power failures, leaks things of that nature. I'm still using the DJ strips with switches for my main components.

That dial in period with reactor is what I'm worried about. My system stayed very consistent with 2 part and I'm just scared to shock things with swings I guess.. I was dosing 80ml a day of each part of b-ionic. I wish there was some basic conversion guideline when switching between the two. As stated I'm starting at 30ml/min but have a feeling that's way too low. Testing alk every 6 hours or so to watch the changes.
As for the carbon doser and paristaltic pump so far I love them. Setup was easy and its literally just a turn of a dial to increase or decrease either component. If I were to do this without the paristaltic pump I'd probably run the constant stream method and adjust my reaction chamber ph according to usage. With this setup I'm running reaction chamber at 6.5 as stated on the reborn/remag packaging since I have the controllability with pump. How would you have done it since you mentioned doing it completely different?

As for the ribs.. they were good..but just wait till I post a pic of my chargrilled wings I do! They are amazing

 

[Mshort03]

 

[crusso1993]

The apex is simply an add on for me. I'd never trust one to run my entire system.as I tried to incorporate as much redundancy in this build as possible. The return pump is plugged into an outlet and the power heads are on a complete separate circuit so if one goes down I still have flow. The apex was to be used mostly for monitoring the system and controller small things like when my skimmer container fills it texts me, power failures, leaks things of that nature. I'm still using the DJ strips with switches for my main components.

That dial in period with reactor is what I'm worried about. My system stayed very consistent with 2 part and I'm just scared to shock things with swings I guess.. I was dosing 80ml a day of each part of b-ionic. I wish there was some basic conversion guideline when switching between the two. As stated I'm starting at 30ml/min but have a feeling that's way too low. Testing alk every 6 hours or so to watch the changes.
As for the carbon doser and paristaltic pump so far I love them. Setup was easy and its literally just a turn of a dial to increase or decrease either component. If I were to do this without

How would you have done it since you mentioned doing it completely different?

As for the ribs.. they were good..but just wait till I post a pic of my chargrilled wings I do! They are amazing

I'm sorry if I was confusing with my last post. I should clarify and say I probably would not do it differently but would have used a different regulator and doser. More specifically, an Alan Le regulator and Watson-Marlow doser. Watson-Marlows come up for sale on Ebay pretty regularly at very good prices. Yeah, they're used but they are beasts. However, the price difference between what you're running and a Alan Le/WM set up would proabably be a bit. Now, if I had the money I would go with an auto-CaRX from Bill Wann at Aquarium Engineering.

You're always talking about these great meals but I'm yet to receive an invitation to dinner! Lol

 

[Mshort03]

Got it. Ya I figured to be semi budget friendly yet still better than a power head this was best way to go..eap since reactor alone was almost 800!

Alk this am was holding steady at 9, well see what it is when I get home from work and lights have been on all day.

As for the food the more the merrier! May be a long drive from Chi-town tho, lol

 

[Mshort03]

@crusso1993 Calrx question. So yesterday it was set at 6.6 ph with effluent rate of 30ml/min and 1 bubble every 1-1.2 seconds with regulator pressure of 3.5. My all went from 9 to 8.4 through day. I dosed back up and then turned effluent up to 40ml/day and my regulator pressure to 5 psi. This morning it was at 8.4 again (overnight)....(dosed back up this am) which leads me to believe it will be back to or even less than 8.4 when I get home.

Two questions, am I wrong to think the effluent increase was to increase the alk delivery? I did adjust regulator to 5 which is where I think it will stay. (Can adjust bubbles per second but I have a second question about that) with a higher effluent I understand my concentration of effluent will go down, but I did raise co2 some so I thought that would compensate. If I get home and its 8.4 or lower would it be better to SLOW my effluent rate for same co2 to attain a greater alk delivery?

Also, how do you judge how many bubbles per second you want? Is that based on how often the ph controller cycles on the regulator? It seems to be about 50% of the time its on, or delivering co2. I've read various things and seems like it's better to have it mostly on? My meter goes from .1 second to 10 seconds. (Listed as seconds per bubble) currently set a smidge over 1. I hear other people talking about it being on 2-3 even 4 but I don't under stand how they do that and deliver enough..


Sorry I guess there were more than 2 questions. Lol

 

[Mshort03]

Let's tack on one more... am I correct to think the increase in co2 simply allows reaction chamber to reach desired ph level more quickly when it starts to rise above that? Guess I'm not understanding how that affects things if ph is always set to 6.6...should be 6.6 correct? And increasing co2 only gets it back to that point faster thus keeping regulator off more?

Now I think I'm confusing myself.

 

[crusso1993]

@crusso1993 Calrx question. So yesterday it was set at 6.6 ph with effluent rate of 30ml/min and 1 bubble every 1-1.2 seconds with regulator pressure of 3.5. My all went from 9 to 8.4 through day. I dosed back up and then turned effluent up to 40ml/day and my regulator pressure to 5 psi. This morning it was at 8.4 again (overnight)....(dosed back up this am) which leads me to believe it will be back to or even less than 8.4 when I get home.

Two questions, am I wrong to think the effluent increase was to increase the alk delivery? I did adjust regulator to 5 which is where I think it will stay. (Can adjust bubbles per second but I have a second question about that) with a higher effluent I understand my concentration of effluent will go down, but I did raise co2 some so I thought that would compensate. If I get home and its 8.4 or lower would it be better to SLOW my effluent rate for same co2 to attain a greater alk delivery?

Also, how do you judge how many bubbles per second you want? Is that based on how often the ph controller cycles on the regulator? It seems to be about 50% of the time its on, or delivering co2. I've read various things and seems like it's better to have it mostly on? My meter goes from .1 second to 10 seconds. (Listed as seconds per bubble) currently set a smidge over 1. I hear other people talking about it being on 2-3 even 4 but I don't under stand how they do that and deliver enough..


Sorry I guess there were more than 2 questions. Lol

Hey buddy... I'm very short on time right now and probably won't be able to get answers to you for a while today as I'll be quite busy. However, I will ask @Bpb or @Rick.45cal or @ca1ore to help out. Hopefully and I'm sure you will get some great info and input from any of these cats. I'll check in when I can.

 

[Dsnakes]

Looking really good! The size is incredible.

 

[Mshort03]

Looking really good! The size is incredible.

Thanks man! It certainly is.. also overwhelming to many degrees. Currently having other issues getting drain pipes quiet even tho they were quiet the other day at same setting. Having such long runs is proving to be problematic I believe.

 

[crusso1993]

@crusso1993 Calrx question. So yesterday it was set at 6.6 ph with effluent rate of 30ml/min and 1 bubble every 1-1.2 seconds with regulator pressure of 3.5. My all went from 9 to 8.4 through day. I dosed back up and then turned effluent up to 40ml/day and my regulator pressure to 5 psi. This morning it was at 8.4 again (overnight)....(dosed back up this am) which leads me to believe it will be back to or even less than 8.4 when I get home.

Two questions, am I wrong to think the effluent increase was to increase the alk delivery? I did adjust regulator to 5 which is where I think it will stay. (Can adjust bubbles per second but I have a second question about that) with a higher effluent I understand my concentration of effluent will go down, but I did raise co2 some so I thought that would compensate. If I get home and its 8.4 or lower would it be better to SLOW my effluent rate for same co2 to attain a greater alk delivery?

Also, how do you judge how many bubbles per second you want? Is that based on how often the ph controller cycles on the regulator? It seems to be about 50% of the time its on, or delivering co2. I've read various things and seems like it's better to have it mostly on? My meter goes from .1 second to 10 seconds. (Listed as seconds per bubble) currently set a smidge over 1. I hear other people talking about it being on 2-3 even 4 but I don't under stand how they do that and deliver enough..


Sorry I guess there were more than 2 questions. Lol

Let's tack on one more... am I correct to think the increase in co2 simply allows reaction chamber to reach desired ph level more quickly when it starts to rise above that? Guess I'm not understanding how that affects things if ph is always set to 6.6...should be 6.6 correct? And increasing co2 only gets it back to that point faster thus keeping regulator off more?

Now I think I'm confusing myself.

Just wanted to check in to see if any of the guys I tagged above got back to you.
Since they haven't, and I'm still very busy, maybe @dantimdad will help out or @NY_Caveman if he's not sleeping. Perhaps, even, @Hemmdog or @jda
Check back in later if I am able.

 

[Hemmdog]

It sounds like your on the right track. If you increase the effluent flow without messing with anything else it will be more diluted, not as concentrated of a alk solution. Increasing the co2 was a good idea. I think you will just have to play with it till your getting the effluent concentration desired. @jda is a pro though, he will have more precise answers, lol.

 

[crusso1993]

Driving right now but this is a video BRS came out with today. How apropos!

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vide...086760237518135484818406951589798581234948710

 

[crusso1993]

It sounds like your on the right track. If you increase the effluent flow without messing with anything else it will be more diluted, not as concentrated of a alk solution. Increasing the co2 was a good idea. I think you will just have to play with it till your getting the effluent concentration desired. @jda is a pro though, he will have more precise answers, lol.

Did someone say "on the right track?"

 

[Mshort03]

It sounds like your on the right track. If you increase the effluent flow without messing with anything else it will be more diluted, not as concentrated of a alk solution. Increasing the co2 was a good idea. I think you will just have to play with it till your getting the effluent concentration desired. @jda is a pro though, he will have more precise answers, lol.

Ok so I set the psi to 5. I will leave it there. The bubble is at 1 per second. So let's say we leave all that alone. To INCREASE all delivery I should DECREASE effluent flow? So should I go below my original starting point of 30ml/min?

Also do you have any comments on the run time of the co2 delivery and if I'm right in assuming increasing co2 simply gets it back to the set ph quicker?

Sorry if I'm being difficult I just have ~15k in corals in this system so far so I am trying to reduce fluctuations lol.

 

[Mshort03]

Also with carbon doser people running 2-3 seconds a bubble.. but I'm at 1. Which is more so I'm getting lost as to how they have such a different co2 delivery rate than I do.

If it helps any I was dosing 160 ml/day of 2 part. Esv bionic (80ml each part/day)