72 Oceanic Reef Ready Bow Front Evolution...

[mikeguerrero]

Thanks for all the input on powerheads. I payed a visit down to my LFS and cancelled my order on the Eheim 1212 and opted for three Maxi-jet 1200.

I decided I would go with the higher GPH 295 x 3 = 885 gph + 480 gph from my return pump thats minus the head flow from a mag 700 gives me a total of 1365 GPH.

I have pictures to show you guys where I placed them and how well I tried to deflect the flow towards the bottom of my tank.

I ended up getting the sand bed to part like the red sea and noticed that within 1 hour my Deltec had picked up on this new current and skimmed a ton of debris from the bottom.

This indicated to me that the tank was under flowed with no powerheads and only the return pump.

Since my ReefKeeper is running all three on a wavemaker current, my flow is awesome but it's all for a major trade off. WATTAGE, I'm running these extremely hot pumps in my a tank, thats 20 watts a head, giving me 60 watts of heat.

My tank with no lights has shot up to 86 degrees while in comparison to without any powerheads at 83. I run a three degree differance and was bummed but hey, I want the current and didn't want to purchase the seio because my reefkeeper would not be able to run it.

I thought of the Tunze but I don't like the huge powerheads that they are, just looks unatural to me. If there was a way to conceal it, it would be a different story.

If you look closely at my pics you will see how well, I tried to conceal my Maxi-jets.

As for the heat, well I knew this would happen but did it anyway because I will be purchasing a really good Chiller to keep my bad boy at 77 degrees.

So reefers, start to recommend some chillers, what size, what brand.

I do have a small problem, will my current return pump the mag 7 with 700 GPH, will it be able to drive the water through the chiller and up my return pipe?

It would be a shame if my LFS sold me a pump that would not be able to do that.

Remember I have two mags in my sump already, I don't want a third...

Mike

 

[drty811]

bummer about the heat.....im sure youll figure something out.
great placement on the PH's, you can hardly see them.
keep up the good work mike.....im still jealious :mrgreen:

 

[mikeguerrero]

This morning my 72 bowfront was 83.7 and my holding tank which has a MH pendant was at 79.7. That's 4 degree difference with no lights.

I just need to see what type of chiller to get. I'm leaning on the 1/5 horse power JBJ chiller. They have a really neat system online that ask you questions to determine the size chller for you tank.

That unit online is about $559 bucks that comes shipped and no tax and you get a free pump... Pretty penny but worth it if you ask me, I would like to keep my tank at 77 degrees.

I guess I could go with a smaller chiller but I think it would be overworked and not worth it, if it breaks down.

What do you guys think, any thoughts?

Mike

 

[Anonymous]

hey mike, are you running any fans yet?? The evaporation you get with air flow on the surface will make a ton of difference even if your lights aren't on. Also you said something earlier in this thread about a cover on your sump??? same idea?? Whats the ambient room temperature? All things to consider ???????

 

[mikeguerrero]

Hey John,

Thanks for the input on the fan. As of now, I have no fans in the canopy. But I'm sure I could place a strong clip on fan that would blow across the surface, since I do not have any glass tops...

Will the evaporation be a lot. I guess I'm saying should I invest in a ATO switch with 5 gallons of reserve RO/DO water?

I will be investing in the chiller regardless but in the meantime I'd like a quick fix, since I won't be purchasing the chiller just yet...

Should I run a fan in the sump or the top of the tank in the canopy? Does one work better than the other???

Thanks,

Mike

 

[mikeguerrero]

In the meantime here are some more pics of my holding tank. All the live rock has been removed and placed in my maintank. I was scared that the loss of live rock would create an ammonia spike, but, with two hang on filters I'm doing okay.

What I like about the close up pics is how nice the corals come out with 70 watts of metal halide.

Enjoy,

Mike

 

[sadielynn]

love the last picture
Mike we added a fan to our tank and we hold at a constant 77-80 degrees
now granit mine is a 7 gallon bowfront and I have 0 knowledge of the big tanks but it did help I would say that we top off every 2 or 3 days about a 1/2 gallon I posted pictures and you can see the fan shooting across the tank I wouldnt think that you would need to have an ATO we have a plexi top that is not tight and has holes drilled in it is a 2 piece top with 2 inches or so of gaps dont know if this will help you at all with your needs tho
if not sorry that I was a butinsky

 

[Anonymous]

WOW! that 70 W is all its cracked up to be and more isn't it??? I love MH once again I find my self saying "if I had it to do all over again"?????? I have the one MH on my 125 and just love it and my 35 has a MH they are definitly the ultimate in reef lighting aren't they?? Maybe on the next nano I set up, and if I'm rich and famous by then, I'll try a 10 gal with 150 pendent ... just to see what I could do
Also, I love that chocolate brown cats paw - is that a monti or a porites?? either way, its awesome!
As far as evap goes I have about 2 gal a day on my 125, 2.5 qts a day on my 35 and I have fans on both. The 125 has 2 3" fans running 24-7 and my max temp on the hottest of days this summer was 82. However at the Dr. F@S frag swap I won a 4" variable speed icecap fan in a drawing and put it on my pendent for the 35 - it is awesome! I was averaging 82 untill I put that on and now I'm running a cool 78 constantly, my heater even kicks on now and then! They are spendy and I'm not much for endorsing products unless I'm really impresed but I am with this fan, they are worth the money - all 60$ of it, and 2 in your canopy will make a diference I'm sure, but of course any fan will help if you don't want to spend that much while waiting on your chiller. And I would leave your sump open as well unless salt splash/creep becomes a problem.
And yes an ATO would be cool - I wish I had one and that of course it is on the list of "maybe one days". So many toys so few dollars - gotta love this hobby!

On a side note though - be careful I know you had a lot of PC light on your nanos but some corals will react poorly to the sudden increase in intensity that MH gives you. Keep that pendent high so you don't burn some of your lower light corals while they are waiting for their new home to be completed - just a IMO thought

 

[drty811]

mike
i have a clip on fan that i got from wally world that blows on my refugium and i havent had my temp go above 80. i loose about half a gallon a day with the fan on. the only thing is its on a 20L and not a 72, so im not sure if youll loose more. i also dont have a glass top on my tank either, just the fans on my 30" corallife.

hope some of this insight helps.....happy reefing

 

[mikeguerrero]

I'm running a 72 bowfront reef ready with a mag 7 at 480 GPH. I then have a reef keeper to run three powerheads and after much research went with the Maxi-jet 1200.

The only problem is they give off 20 watts each, that threw my tank up to 86 degrees with no lights.

Without the powerhead the tank would go as high as 82 degrees. So I'm at an extra 4 degrees of heat.

I then find out about the Penguin 1140 does 300 GPH, thats 5 more than the Maxi-jet 1200 and it has a 10 foot long cord longer than standard 6 feet. And here is the best part, IT'S ONLY 11 WATTS OF POWER.

That is 9 watts cooler per head. Okay Maxi-jet supporters, tell me why I shouldn't take back my powerheads and get three Penguins???

Oh yeah, they are pitch black in color, that would also match my return pipe. The maxijets are grey in color...

Mike

 

[Master Er]

Theres this pump I saw on Drs. Fosters and Smith, "Quiet One Pumps". The model 3000 is rated at 40 watts with 780GPH. Or the Model 4000, rated at 50 watts with 1,017GPH. And attach a SCWD or two. Though I'm not sure about the size. But over-all, the model 4000 would be stronger than three maxi-jets or the penguins yet run cooler....(at least cooler than the maxi-jets)

By the way Mike, did you brush your live rocks or just rinsed them?

 

[Master Er]

Oops! My opinionis a bit away from the question. I would prefer the pitch black color though I think maxi-jets are more popular. Not much help from me. Sorry about that.

 

[rbaby]

Hey Mike,

I just saw how you have all your stuff plugged and just wanted to let you know what I did to my tank today that you might be interested in.

I did this with my computer--figured I'd do it for my tank too...but generally, whenever I feed I have to turn off the pumps--or when I have to dose zooplankton, I have to turn off the skimmer...which means digging under all the crap under my table and finding the darn plugs...and unplugging it.

Here's a great way to avoid that if you're in the same boat as I am...I purchased this:

It's for 5 plugs (and they have cheaper ones available at Best Buy or Fry's--if you want more plug outlets, you can get those DJ ones)...I just plug what I want in the back, label the switch and whenever I want to turn it off, I just flip the switch, no need to find the retarded plug and unplugging it.

The best part is (if it ever fails):

- Belkin will compensate me for up to $10,000 for this switch that I bought for any loss/damage to whatever's hooked up to it...

- It's got a lifetime warranty

- It has a light to ensure that all your plugs are GROUNDED.

- It is also a surge protector and can handle enough power generated from a small lightning shock

Another thing that I like about how I have it set up is that it is in a shelf that is higher than my tank, so I don't have to worry about a drip loop.

If you're sick of unplugging things like I am...this would be cool--also an easy way to shut something off in case of an emergency like your skimmer going haywire...then you don't have to crawl to the back and try to figure out which wire is which.

 

[rbaby]

Oh, and yes I have a Quiet 3000 (the pump Master Er is speaking of), I swear by it--it's quieter than my skimmer and I can count on it for all of the flow in my tank without any problems.

3 Maxijets will exude about 60 watts of heat (20w each), 1 Quiet 3000 exudes about 40 watts.

 

[mikeguerrero]

Ruth,

Thanks for the surge idea, but did you know that my Reef Keeper controls all eight of those outlets you saw? I even have one button that is designed for feeding, it shuts off all pumps when I push it.

As far at the skimmer pump it's plugged to a regular surge protector that has the accessible button in case of that emergency.

As far as the powerheads, I'm going to keep them, I like where I have placed them and they are giving awesome current via my wavemaker, I just cannot complain. Besides I'm in the running for the 1/4 Articica chiller by JBJ.

My wife has given me the green light

Mike

P.S
Have you gotten your camera fixed? I'm still shaking from lack of pics, rememeber you thread got me addicted, especially since you hosted Tigah in it... It's a movie just worth seeing just cause he's in it....

 

[rbaby]

Ahh, if you have a chiller a reefkeeper's totally worth it...otherwise it's such crap...totally missed that part though.

But anyway--I am in the process of buying a new digital camera, I just can't decide between the Canon Rebel XT (350d) or the Canon 20d...once I make up my mind and get it I will let you know .

I'm too lazy to take pics of my tank, nothing very new with it, but I finally set up my ATO so I can sleep easy tonight .

Great progress with that tank of yours, can't wait to see it stocked...hit up Tigah for corals to fill it up, he's always getting new crazy stuff in .

 

[mikeguerrero]

Ruth,

We will need to talk about ATO, I'm in the run for one also. I cannot wait to get one, just don't know to much about the plumbing and how much reservior I need for my size tank??

There are many questions that will come your way soon, sorry for being a bug,,, just gotta know...

By the way, ask my brother about digital cameras, he spent close to one grand for his, but he got it with all these rebates,,, maybe he can lead you down the same path...

Mike

 

[rbaby]

I bought the Canon 350d (Rebel XT), I decided against the 20d after doing more homework--the extra features aren't necessary for my purpose.

I bought the JBJ ATO and so far it is working well and was easy to set up--it beeps when the pumps are on so if you want to turn it off it's just a cut of a wire.

I have a 10g reservoir (a tall trash bin) for my tank...and 2 sensors...1 sensor in the reservoir to NOT turn on the pumps when it's BELOW minimum level (this keeps my pump from burning out--and when it's below minimum level, it also lights up on the unit so I know when to top off), and the other is for the sump.

I wouldn't know how large your reservoir should be until you set it up--see how much you have to top off and get at least a week's worth of top offs to determine the size.

 

[incysor]

Mike...If your reefkeeper is switching your maxi1200s on and off, you can get a greater random flow by cutting off the nozzle on the front like this:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showt ... did=326587

An ATO is extremely cheap and easy to DIY. You need a $5 floatvalve, empty trashcan, small powerhead, a cheap extension cord, electrical tape, and some airline tubing.

It takes less than 20mins, and probably wouldn't cost you more than $10.

The first one I made I used an empty 5g salt bucket, and bought a rio 50ph. So it cost me $5 for the floatswitch, and $7 for the PH. $2 for airline tubing. I had the rest.

The second time I used a slightly larger PH, bought a taller/thinner 7g trashcan at the dollar store, bought an extension cord at the dollar store, used the existing float switch.

Cost just depends on how much stuff you have laying around, and how fancy you want it to be.

I'd try a couple cheap clip on fans blowing over your, (uncovered), sump and tank before I'd go out and put down $500+ on a chiller. I bought three $5 fans and stuck them in my stand blowing over my sump and it brought the tank down five degrees.

when I upgraded the tank and built the new canopies I drilled holes in the end of the canopies and the stand, and bought six computer fans and a couple adapters to power them. All told it cost me $60, and the system stays 75-78.

This temp is with 110w vhos 1x175w MH on the 75 and a 96w powerquad over the 40g.

I run my house AC at about 75 during the day and a bit lower when we go to bed.

B

 

[dragon79]

Sucky thing about mike's place is he has no central air in his condo. So when it gets real hot, that temp is not going to go down by much, as it's blowing hot air around. But it can help for now, and with Summer leaving us, I think he may skate away a year without one, until summer 2006