Willapa

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.

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 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Need a light for my coral QT tank. Looking in the Portland area. Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you’re talking about the clippard that @goldenbasketreef called out, that one looks to be 12v dc. Any 12v dc power adapter rated for 1 amp or less should work. The berkert I used was 24v dc and I had a power adapter from a broken jaebo pump lying around that worked. You might have an adapter that size from an unused electronic or just buy one off amazon for 10 bucks. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wow, that’s pretty cool. You can integrate it with the trident somehow as well? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So the control box feeds the reactor and monitors pH and everything? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In the case of these ICP tests, sometimes too much data can be a problem in itself IMO!! But it sure is good to help find a problem but could send you down the wrong rabbit trail. I think I’ll forget about the Lithium but keep an eye on it. Still gonna think more on the Selenium. So more tests in my future....but I think this is what the companies want you to do [emoji848]! Good marketing at least! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh man, what a roller coaster. I’m sure it drives you nuts at times. Hopefully you’re narrowing it down. I guess once you eliminate external variables, you have to start looking for things in the tank; rock, equipment, random crap in your ca Rx media. Might wait for a site wide sale and would be open to splitting a 6 pack....of tests that is [emoji38] I’ll keep you posted. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wow 1000, seems high but I don’t know what to base it on. What heavy metals came up on the test? Sounds like those levels came down now just the Lithium hanging around? So I’ll probably change a few things and test again. Figured I’ll stop dosing the KZ products and switch over to the Ca Rx then do some good water changes and test again. Can’t we get a group buy on the test kits! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks! There are great deals to be had on eBay if you’re willing to hunt for a while and know what parts are suitable. Can’t wait to get the tank switched over to the reactor. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Try this https://www.diyco2regulator.com/co2-regulator-solenoid Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks and good to know about the solenoid. The burkert I used is 24v 4w but does get super hot. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You’ve been busy! So I assume you had fish room criteria when house hunting? “So we want a nice lot with trees, granite counter tops, and prime location for fish room.” Did you have to pour concrete in the crawl or just beef up the floor joists? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk