caolewis

Looking good except KH.  Bump KH up to 8.5-9.0 range by giving more C02.

Apex is used to prevent solenoid malfunction to swing KH too high ( too low of KH when solenoid is dead :-) ).

if ph above 6.5 then ON, less then 6.4 then off ( KH high, Reactor's PH dropped.  KH low, Reactor PH raised). Raise or lower KH by giving or reducing CO2 gas using the CO2 knob on solenoid.

I have 2 PH probes, 1 in sump and 1 in reactors and I view them daily on my phone to make sure things are running well ( so is temp and salinity ).  My sump's PH around 8.2 and my reactor's PH around 6.8-6.9 range.

So I am trying to raise my alk from 7.7 to about 8.3

My calcium reactor us ran by my apex and set up like this

 

Solenoid on at 7.7 and off at 7.55

 

Recommendations to bring it up to 8.3?

 

Ca is 490

Mg 1380

Brian,

     I use Apex to prevent KH swing too high using reactor's pH probe.  This is mainly for KH guardband.  To increase KH, give more C02  ( more bubbles ) but do it slow and check KH frequently until 8.3.   I have my some where 8.5-9.3.  Rich nutrients and high KH will make things grow at good rate and colors.

     Here is my KH high guardband ( when too much C02 ).

     if pH > 6.65 then ON

     if pH < 6.60 then OFF

    I do not have KH low guardband ( when CO2 gas is out or solenoid is dead )...may be I should :-)

I am using a wannareef built regulator and adjust after the reactor as well I think the issue is from coming out of the manifold it throttled down because to much inlet pressure can cause leaks and or crack reactor. Jeremy I just read a good article about using perilistic pumps for reactors and says it can be done but requires a high end doser than can deliver 20-150 ml per minute so the cheap stuff is out of the equation

Brian,

      It might have to do with your DC main pump.  I never like DC pumps as they are sensitive and inconsistent flow ( experience from my SSS250 skimmer and the Int300).   

      My main pump for DT tank is external Baracuda/Hammerhead mainifolded with adjust valves ( to slow down flows) to Frag tank and CA reactor.  These things are running at constant rate so very stable.  I used to run my phosphate reactor off the mainifold as well but it's better off on its own maxject 400.

If u have ur main pump on and off alot for feeding, better run separate maxject 1200 dedicate for Ca reactor

Tom I would stick with the proven few, Chevy, ford and dodge. My last duramax was 2006 2500 HD with 6.6 and Allison. After having a little work done to it I got 22 ish mpg

Was your 4x4?  what were the tricks to get to that 22ish mpg?

Depends on how much you want to spend and what your planning on pulling with it. 2000 Dodge Ram is going to cost around $20K and that's with 150K plus miles (They are holding their value). If you are wanting a newer pickup the Dodge Ram with the big diesel is going to be in the $40k plus range, but is a little overkill unless your pulling a lot of weight. The Dodge Ram 1500 has a Fiat Eco Diesel engine in the $30k range (good fuel economy). 

 

I am waiting for the new 2016 Chevy Colorado with a diesel engine. It;s a midsize truck and is suppose to come out this spring. Average mpg is around 30 mpg and will pull around 7700 pounds. I have a small travel trailer so this will be plenty for me. If the price is too high I will probably go with the Dodge Ram 1500 with the eco diesel.

 

And Nissan Titan just released a new truck with a diesel engine.

Titan XD is my top choice but the 5.0 Cummins is too new to have problems and very spendy?  Also, there are just rarely few of them and dealers want $7K markup to its factory price    !!! 

Hey tom look at the Gmc and Chevy with the Duramax motor and Allison tranny. Perfect combo IMO. I am buying a new truck in May and going with diesel for pulling power and mileage. I will likely go with the Gmc Denalii HD butt a f ew years old cause the y are bringing in some serious cash right now.. Good luck

What's average mileage on that combo, any idea Brian?

I drive a gmc 2500 hd with a 6.6L turbo diesel with allison transmission for work. Also has airbag suspension in the rear. I love that truck. Pulls 12000lb loads like there is nothing there. Has made me seriously consider a diesel once I am not putting in so many daily miles.

what is gas mileage you got out of it?

Any tips, appreciated. 

Be careful with vodka, your corals might get drunk and fall of their base to become a snow white ones :-)

Brian,

     CA reactor is very sensitive to water flow or CO2.  A tiny twist of water flow or CO2 make a swing in KH ( atleast for me ).  PO4 is often changed and clogged up pretty quickly with tiny media PO4X4.  Most of the time it's alrite but once a while, I noticed the water flow through the effluent slower than normal.  For me, I want stable flow through DT tank, frag tank, and CA reactor ( these are barely touched and plumbed together ).   I never shut off my main pump.  Feed time, only MP40s get slow down 20%  for 6 mins.

    I got few frags for you to test your water when you tank is ready :-).  

Tom you have me confused here, if I have a manifold et up form main return, how does this effect calcium reactor flow if the valve for each are set adequately?

I use PO4X4 media reactor, as it runs over a week or 2, tiny media clogged up in the sponge and slow down the flow in PO4 reactor.  CA reactor flow changed as well and it swing KH a bit.  My aimed KH is 9 and it got swinged around 9.5ish.  I now leave my main, frag and CA reactor alone.  Run Phosphate reactor separately with cheap maxject 400.

You need PO4 and Nitrate stuff, and intensity (par) to have rich best colors.  Too much will brown and burn tip and kill 'em.  Too little or none will starve/pale its colors.  It's tricky.

Po4 reactor and some small water change weekly until your tank stablized.  Carbon will strip all nutrients/trace elements and so corals look pale/starving colors.  Use a small pump ( maxjet 400 and valve to adjust the flow ) for pox4 reactor.  Don't use your main pump t-out as it affects your ca reactor water flow so is KH swing a bit.

I have not read through a lot of Adams thread (Battle Corals) but thought I'd share as what I have read I've found useful

Hope you get something from it

 

http://www.reef2reef.com/threads/exposing-the-truth-how-to-take-unreal-pics-with-your-dslr-or-you-are-exposed.213126/

Nice post reefjunkie, I like pre and post WB adjustment samples.  Now, you folks should not go wild bidding for crazy frags on the FB posts for their pics trap :-).  Especially you Beer503!!!

ok, i take it, will pm u

I am interested in this piece but need help from others to split it up :-)

This old version ( none quiet one)?  And it's selling for 1 dryside with 2 wetsides?

I have two hydra 52's for my 180 and looking to add one more to the EXT rail system.

I know that the HD has the wireless built in but I still would like to run the HD on the director along with the other two!

 

Anyone have any info on this before I order the hydra 52HD?

 

 

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NO.  Hydra 52 HD CAN NOT BE CONTROLLED BY AWM OR DIRECTOR!!!.  

HD has its own wifi and can be master slave control through HD's WIFI/WIRELESS.

It's a pain in the butt but no way out.  I ran 2 Sol blue through their controller, 4 Hyrdra 52 through AWM, and  2 HD through HD's Wireless.

Thanks, guys.  I have two frags in particular where the coral is about 1/2 to 3/4 inch and the frag plug is completely encrusted.  I keep waiting...waiting...waiting...   I've sung them songs, given them inspirational talks, charmed them with a king cobra flute, and even dosed with a little Viagra.  Nothing.

That's the problem.  The frags got spoiled with viagra and they just stay as is to get fed more of that stuff.  If you torture them with heat gun or bleach them out once a while, they might snap out to grow faster??? IDK 

Sold! Now, anyone have a 300 gallon tank available?

 

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I got this 10 gal nano tank last year for $100 (doing nothing except collecting dust in my garage), you can have it for $50.  Will look decent in that spot

I have 5 hundred pounds of Live Rock available for sale. Looking to get $1.50 per pound or less if you buy everything. Many of the pieces of rock have pulsating xenia. I will send pictures to anyone that would like to have a look.

 

Any big 100lb + pieces?

Too bad, I am big fan of T5, otherwise, I am over this.....T5 really!!!

Fusion is a bit limited on what you need to do?  You might need to use the control panel OR use the web access through apex's IP (see image )

Assuming the setup is correct:

1. Pick "Dashboard"

2. Pick "Output" from the Top menu

3. Scroll down the list, you will see "Vortech_*_*".  Pick/click the desired one.

4. It will browse you to the the vortech setup to play around with. 

Hope it helps.

Over the last year, my pressure gauge showed about 50-60 PSI.  It has steadily declined and when it got to about 30, I purchased a booster pump.  It popped back up to 60ish.  It has steadily declined yet again.  My gauge is showing about 20 without the pump and 40 with the pump.  I'm looking for the culprit. 

 

I've changed all filters.  I've checked my hose pressure, which is about the same as it was a year ago.  I must be missing something.

 

Ideas on where to look?

Gil&Fin,

   The same happened to mine.  It used to be 6 months or more to change filters last year, but now it took few weeks to get all the filters real dirty to the point it got clogged way too fast.  I think all the constructions around the Washington county and too hot of the summer to have too dirty water.  I changed all the new filters and get 60 PSI read but 3 weeks later, it went down to 20psi and filters were all darky.

Anyway, I using BRS filters in order

• Purtrex 5 Micron Sediment Filter
• MATRIKX CTO 0.6 Micron Carbon Block
• MATRIKX CTO 5 Micron Carbon Block

I also upgraded to 90 GPD membrance and booster pump (3 weeks ago).