Willapa

34 minutes ago, Bicyclebill said:

Wow, pretty disappointing to hear Ecotech would specifically tout this for continuous duty and these are the results. I'm pretty happy with my Kamoer. I replace the tubing once a year or so just because I'm afraid not to. I have two rollers, and alternate them after soaking in ATF for lubrication. Otherwise they get noisy Not sure I recommend wifi, but not sure if they still have the old version. Some things are better kept simple like a dial for flow imo

Yea, I really don’t want WiFi either, but seems like the original one is not available any more or out of stock. The Versa seemed awesome at first, but maybe switching the feed direction will solve the issues. Good to hear you are liking your kamoer.

7 hours ago, TheClark said:

I am thinking about doing this one.  Can buy two for the price of one:

 

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/3d-printed-aquarium-parts-archive-thread.599807/page-26#post-7825148

 

 

 

You should start cranking those babies out and selling them!

I had another thread with some experiences with the Versa dosing pump tubes needing frequent replacements and wanted to share what I learned from Ecotech. I’ve put my fourth one on in less than a year. Basically this is a common issue when using them continuously for a ca reactor. They’ve since made a new retainer clip that is supposed to help some and will be sending me one along with a few free replacement tubes (they do have excellent customer support and warranties). The new models include this clip. They also stated the pumps should push water through the reactor vs pulling, which is how mine is set up. Its supposedly easier for them to push vs pull? I’m still struggling to see how this would wear them out so fast considering my reactor is not that large, the flow rate was low, and there were no major pipe restrictions. But I’ll give it a try and see. 

I also had troubles with the new tubes leaking at the connections. They said this was a defect that has now been addressed.

Otherwise they have worked great. Thought I would pass along for others that may have them.

Here is a tube that is no more than 2 months old running at 20 ml/min compared to a new one that leaks. No restrictions in the reactor plumbing and not any crazy low ph. It has flattened out and really stiff. 

The issue I’m having is the replacement pump tubes only last a month or two. This makes it go out of calibration quickly. Replacement ones are $16-20 bucks and pretty hard to find right now. I bought a couple of extras and went to put the last one I had on last night and i cannot stop it from leaking where the outgoing tubing plugs in, so had to toss it. So right now running the reactor with a needle valve. Otherwise, the pump has worked very well. It’s  very quiet and the app is pretty slick. I’ve read online others having similar issues and may be from pulling through the reactor vs pushing? I’m only running it at 20 ml/min, so at a low speed. It would work great for intermittent dosing, but buy several extra tubes.

I’m throwing in the towel on the Ecotech Versa, hasn’t worked very well for me. I assume that the next best option for a continuous duty pump is the Kamoer FX-STP?  Any thoughts on these or one for sale?

Trevor

Fish found a new home. @tinvn even brought me a nice acro frag for it. Thanks! Please close

Switched over to a reactor and have 3.5 gallons each of Ca and Alk. Already mixed. $50

Really docile and interesting creature to watch but didn’t eat aiptasia and started eating my acans. About 2.5” long.

6 hours ago, Emerald525 said:

Make sure you are all paid up. If you click on your name it will say if you are a supporting member in your profile!

I fell into this category and didn’t realize it! I don’t recall getting a reminder that it was expiring, but paid up now!

I am a supporting member


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Since you have that fish room back there, your wife may never see you! I guess she can peak through an arch or something and get you to come out for a while. I assume you blacked out the sides and back? Looks really rad!


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Need a light for my coral QT tank. Looking in the Portland area. Thanks!

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What type of 24vdc power supply/adapter are you using for the Clippard solenoid? Thanks.

control box controls effluent rate and C02 into the reactor. C02 is regulated on and off by a float switch (no ph or bubble counter)

That’s all there is. Co2 tank, reactor and control box. 

I’m in the same boat, John. My first batch of nudibranchs worked great, but the aiptasia slowly came back. It took a while through. I haven’t bought any more since they cost a lot. Thinking about trying a filefish this next round.


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Always good to have more data!  I seem to recall Bert saying he had run into high Lithium as well but can't recall if it caused him issues or not.  Might also be one of those things where it alone isn't a problem but in combination with other factors could be.  Lets face it, the chemistry involved in a reef and it's diverse elements is anything but simple [emoji2]

OK round one (first crash) Feb 2018
Cu 5.6 vs 0.1 "set point"
La 5.16 vs 0.1 "set point"
Zn 8.3 vs 4 "set point"
Li 1875 vs 200 "set point"
Round two (second crash) Dec 2019
Li 950 vs 200 "set point"
Si 190 vs 100 "set point"
The lanthanum in the first round I can account for (phosphate binder) and the heavy metal seemed to be from a piece of rock dissolving in my Ca reactor - which I managed to find with a magnet.  Second go around the only thing I could think of was a piece of manmade shelf rock that I had added to the tank prior to the first crash so that is gone now.  Also had high phosphate in the second round but not sure that is repeatable as I did not pick it up with a couple of new test kits (weird).  Between the first and second episode, I changed my RO/DI water source, changed my primary salt source and stopped/replaced any additives (e.g. FUEL, trace elements, etc.) so none of those seem like a viable source.
Not sure this helps but interesting none the less...

Hey Trevor - I had really high Lithium (over 1000) and I do think it was causing issues.  Only thing I could link it to was possibly a piece of man made shelf rock I had in the tank that I introduced about the same time I had the heavy metal problem cropped up.  Thought they were from one and the same source but apparently not [emoji20]  About time for me to send in another sample and see if cleared up.  The corals are growing again so have to think it had an impact.

Found a good article by Randy in interpreting results since Triton really leaves you hanging here.

http://www.reefedition.com/my-triton-testing-results-by-randy-holmes-farley/

So doesn’t sound like Lithium is worth worrying about but still curious about the heavy metal Selenium.

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I did an ICP test a few weeks ago and a couple of things came back high and flagged.

First, in the unwanted heavy metals category is Selenium. The standard is 0 micro grams/liter and I was at 7.83.

Second was Lithium. The standard is 200 micro grams/liter and I was at 440.

Everything else was good or slightly off. I vaguely remember someone having high Li on this forum. I use fritz rpm and have a pretty aggressive water change schedule. I dose esv bionic 2 part and dose KZ pohls xtra special. I’m running pretty new carbon block and DI resin in the RO filter so not thinking this is it. Tank health is OK, but have some montis that struggle. LPS are fine. Most acros are doing just fine, but had some tip burn on my slimer and one other unhappy one. Overall tank is doing good, but could be doing better. Should I be worried about bringing these down? I usually don’t run carbon, but did add some after seeing the results. Any ideas?

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Awesome job!  A good regulator absolutely upped my CR game.  It was nuts before it.  Looks like a great quality build!
 

Where did you find that solenoid? That website shown in picture no longer exists


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Nice build, I was using some chrome brass connectors and showing oxidation fast. Stainless connector part is the way to go.
I use digital solenoid like this one, very low amp 12vdc solenoid so didn't get hot at all