NeverlosT's 140g Cube in Paradise

[NeverlosT]

Dino's still gone, Reeflo pump swap

Dinoflagellates still haven't been seen again (fingers crossed). Photoperiod still reduced (about 6 hrs of T5, then about 7 or 8 of the two LED strips without optics. The fish look very hungry but I am trying to feed sparsely which is a big change from how I USED to feed.

PH is staying up around 8.3, Alk is 8.33dKh, CA is 470ppm. The corals are upset from the lights out time, but they will recover. I am just hoping the dino's don't come back. Still skimming wet and changing filter socks daily.

My main return pump (Reeflo Dart/Snapper) was 5 months old but the motor bearings were going, and it was making a super loud screaming noise. I had a spare, so I kept the same volute and impeller (since it had the right plumbing) and swapped the motor out. The 5 month old motor will get new bearings installed this week, and the new one is currently running well.

Bummed since I lost a few frags in the dino outbreak and subsequent treatment. Red Robin stag, Oregon Tort, and SSC all look like they may be goners. But it will be all worth it if the pest does not return. Oh, and apparently in the darkness, my Ritteri anemone ate one of the anthias. Poor little guy. Then there were 4...

 

[neddog]

That is an awesome build you cut no corner that's for sure WOW

 

[NeverlosT]

New LEDs from RapidLed, cant beat em for the price. No soldering and super easy to install. I went with 12 LEDs per strip, 8 XT-E royal blue and 4 XP-G neutral white. It is a bit purple so I might just swap the whites with uV or blues. Here they are installed to the sides of the ATI powermodule:

Corals seem to like them:

Potters wrasse still going strong and loving life. His colors keep getting better.

 

[NeverlosT]

That is an awesome build you cut no corner that's for sure WOW

Thanks Ned! I am always learning and trying to improve it, thats for sure.

 

[neddog]

The scape is great too! I always ruin mine with too much rock piled on top of each other lol. Love the open space looks natural. I have a JBJ 28 cube would love to upgrade to something like this! again great work all around.

 

[Reefkraz]

Nice build!

 

[FL_Reefer]

Sweet tank! Was thinking of getting rid of my 220 and going cube and after seeing this incredible tank, my mind is made up. Keep up the good work my friend!

 

[revhtree]

Looks good!

 

[NeverlosT]

Thanks Rev, Reef, FL and Ned!

The corals are loving the addition of the LED's, colors improving a lot after the dino treatment really upset them. After I swapped my main return pump for my spare (due to the main return bearings going bad and it SCREAMING) the pump is nice and quiet again, and the old one has been rebuilt, and is the new spare.

I have a vacation coming up for a bit, neighbor/friend will watch the tank, I just finished making him a manual, hopefully everything goes well, the tank is pretty easy to run so I am optimistic. I actually love leaving the tank for a bit, because you NOTICE the growth and color changes when you are gone.

When I get back, I'll post some more pics of the recovered corals. I have been delinquent as well, AquaSD owes me a Vivid Rainbow Delight Acro due to a DOA, and Age of Aquariums owes me a replacement frag too (due to something else)... I need to get on it and collect!

 

[NeverlosT]

Just got home, cleaned the glass, Fuge is overgrown, corals are happy, fish happy, fish-sitter did a good job.

Hooking up the chiller prior to leaving was a TERRIFIC idea and saved the day I am sure.

Heres a pic of a happy SPS.

 

[fishroomlady]

always a relief to come home and see things are ok!

 

[NeverlosT]

always a relief to come home and see things are ok!

That is for sure! Thanks for commenting.

Here are some more pics.

 

[fishroomlady]

things look good indeed!

 

[NeverlosT]

 

[NeverlosT]

 

[NeverlosT]

Haven't seen dinos since the outbreak. SPS growth has increased considerably with the addition of the rapidLED strips. Still having issues with my Reefdynamics skimmer, but getting by.

 

[butters417]

what kind of problems with the skimmer. I was looking at getting a INS180 also (not the 'E' series though)

 

[NeverlosT]

I run the "E" motor. It is the most fickle skimmer I've had. I have to maintain a high water level to get it to produce anything, otherwise it just coats the neck. Then now and then I'll take a look at it and the air/water level will be super low, like not even to the neck or taper of the skimmer. Then i shut it off for a few hours and turn it back on and it is working again.

It pulls about 10L/m of air during normal operation.

The pump has been cleaned, all parts nominal, the tank is a well stocked 140g cube.

The skimmer hickups do not all correspond with feedings or any interactions with the tank. Some are totally random.

I have communicated with ReefDynamics probably about 6 times, i have never gotten an email answer in less than a week. Some took 2-3 weeks.

Anyway, i know others with the skimmer who love it and have no issues, and get fast responses to questions, so take my experience with that in mind. The workmanship on the skimmer is great.

My opinion, i think the custom work on my pump volute that they do wasnt perfect, requires air supply restriction to work well, and this contributes to fickle skimmer performance. If it keeps up, ill be asking for a replacement pump assembly.

 

[NeverlosT]

ReefDynamics is sending me a new Volute and Impeller assembly for my INS180E. I got an air meter and it was only pulling 9 L/m or 540 L/hr which is not impressive or what the skimmer should pull (the pump has 16 L/m or 960 L/hr written on the side). I get the parts tomorrow and hopefully they will remedy the issue and the skimmer will perform as an $800 skimmer should. Jeff and Jason at RD have been responding promptly to my most recent communications so that is nice, and they are working to get me parts before I leave for a few days, so I am appreciative of that.

A good datapoint, while my Ehiem skimmer pump has been out of commission, my local shop Tropics lent me one of the non "E" pumps that these skimmers come with. The non-ehiem unit works quite well, pulls about 12-13 L/m of air, is $300 cheaper, but is considerably louder than the Ehiem unit. I am also told that these pumps will last about 2-3 years whereas the Ehiem units may last 10. It will be a while before I can report on that...

Also, harvested from the fuge today, some giveaway baggies of Macro for any local folks that want some, or it goes to the shop so that they can sell it.

All of the colonies are growing nicely, my frags of AquaSD Rainbow millie are all encrusting and growing, and the fish keep cooking along. The Ritteri anemone is happy as ever and eating hungrily once a week. It has not budged in months and I hope it stays put for years!

I'll take some more shots after some travel i have coming up.

 

[NeverlosT]

Update: RD Sent another entire pump assembly, not just the volute and impeller assembly, which is awesome. I will be sending back my old pump and will post up how well this setup works. We will see if redemption is at hand...