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my re-build thread
- Thread starter Joel A
- Start date
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Joel A
Started over.
yeah, well the mp40 on full blast pretty much equals 2 6055's on full blast (the tunze's win by a small margin there) but the vortech obviously takes up a lot less space too.
Also, a tunze stream 6105 with a single or multiple controller is higher flow and relatively the same price. Maybe a 6105 and a 6055 on multi controller over a vortech?
Or do you guys really think i should just forget tunze and go for an mp40? FWIW i think i'm going to be getting a Neptune Apex this summer, so an aquasurf to control the tunze's would be nice too...
Joel, I know you're taking the time to do this right, so I will strongly suggest that you visit a fellow reefer with an MP40 and see if the noise it generates is bothersome. Acoustically, it is irksome on the 92 in my family room....so much so that I cannot run it at full speed on reef crest and watch TV in that room.....YMMV. My nanostreams, on the other hand, are virtually silent.
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Joel A
Started over.
yeah, which will be largely taken into consideration. I've heard everyone is extremely happy with their vortechs, minus the noise. Obviously they aren't to horribly noisy, but at the same time the tank is in my bedroom, so you're right, before making a purchase either way i really should check out a tank that has one.
Also, lots of people vote vortech over tunze because of the battery back-up... but you can buy generic battery backups (like from bulkreefsupply) that do the same thing for a tunze... both pumps have low watt draw so that's not an issue with battery backups.
But it's still really tough to decide, if i go the tunze route i think in the end i will end up spending a bit more money in order to get the same performance out of tunze's that i would out of a vortech. Also like Barry said, the tunze's do take up a considerable amount more real estate in tank (although the tunze streams are much less invasive and more stylish looking than the older model tunze's.)
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Joel A
Started over.
well despite not hearing a vortech yet... i've pretty much made up my mind i'm going tunze instead. I'm sure vortechs are good and all.. but the noise thing scares me... and i dislike the fact you can't angle the flow at all like you can with a tunze.
So my flow set up is going to be something along the lines of:
6105
6055
2x 6025's. Conrtolled by either a Neptune Apex, or a Neptune ACIII with Aquasurf. Probably an Apex, i figure it makes more sense to buy an Apex that can control 4 pumps so i can always upgrade the 6025's to 6055's or whatever as the tank grows. Not going to be a cheap ordeal, but i'm going to buy these overtime, not going to jump right up and drop 1000 plus on everything
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So my flow set up is going to be something along the lines of:
6105
6055
2x 6025's. Conrtolled by either a Neptune Apex, or a Neptune ACIII with Aquasurf. Probably an Apex, i figure it makes more sense to buy an Apex that can control 4 pumps so i can always upgrade the 6025's to 6055's or whatever as the tank grows. Not going to be a cheap ordeal, but i'm going to buy these overtime, not going to jump right up and drop 1000 plus on everything
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Joel A
Started over.
Thanks guys.
The big question i'm facing now is do i buy a new tank and sump first, or do i buy a new return pump, controller, and powerheads first?
I want to replace the display tank as well as redesign the sump (make it larger and baffle it).
Boy, i wish i had money =).
Here's some quick pictures of the dosing pump set-up (long over due)
The blue rubbermaid to the right in the 2nd photo is my ATO, then both the gallon jugs you see are CA/ALK 2 part jugs from Bulkreefsupply
The big question i'm facing now is do i buy a new tank and sump first, or do i buy a new return pump, controller, and powerheads first?
I want to replace the display tank as well as redesign the sump (make it larger and baffle it).
Boy, i wish i had money =).
Here's some quick pictures of the dosing pump set-up (long over due)
The blue rubbermaid to the right in the 2nd photo is my ATO, then both the gallon jugs you see are CA/ALK 2 part jugs from Bulkreefsupply
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Joel A
Started over.
yup, it's solid. Best part of a dosing pump IMO is the ability to dial it in so precisely. On a CA reactor, CA and ALK are added in equal quantities, so you have to raise or lower them both in equal quantities. With my CA reactor my calcium was always rock solid at 420ish, but my alk was high at 10ish. When i tried to lower my Alk to 7, my CA dropped with it...
Now with my dosing pump though, they are both right where i want them. Alk-7.5, CA-420.
Now with my dosing pump though, they are both right where i want them. Alk-7.5, CA-420.
Hey Joel, is that 1" PVC pipe with the ball valve your overflow pipe? I ask because it looks like you have it restricted a bit with the ball valve. If so I would just say that everyone I have ever spoken to, or read about, has said you should never restrict your overflow drain. It does make everything quiet and flow perfectly, but it leaves zero room for error. Error being anything caught in the pipe, or sludge building up, basically anything will throw off the balance. That's if it is restricted.
I did the same thing when I first set mine up. I had it so quiet I had to touch the Eheim return pump to make sure everything was on (I have learned a lot since...still a newbie though). I was warned repeatedly by old salts to NEVER restrict the overflow pipe. I no longer restrict it. It's a bit louder, but infinitely more safe.
Thanks for the pics. I look forward to seeing that doser in person. Very Very cool!!!
I did the same thing when I first set mine up. I had it so quiet I had to touch the Eheim return pump to make sure everything was on (I have learned a lot since...still a newbie though). I was warned repeatedly by old salts to NEVER restrict the overflow pipe. I no longer restrict it. It's a bit louder, but infinitely more safe.
Thanks for the pics. I look forward to seeing that doser in person. Very Very cool!!!
oh kevin.. think i haven't learned anything? That's the return line, and it's 3/4"
What was I thinking???
I guess if you can get all that hi-tech equipment running so smooth, you know about the dangers of restricting your overflow.
I'll chalk it up to newbie enthusiasm.
Keep posting updates, this is one of my favorite threads!
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Joel A
Started over.
haha, it's all good man... the first time i set-up a sump i did the ball valve on drain pipe thing too... only to get yelled at by the vets around here.
.If you have 2 overflows you can actually utilize that ball valve and make your overflow super silent, you just have to use the 2nd pipe as a back-up in case anything restricts that full siphon that you created with the ball valve (preferably gate valve actually)
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Joel A
Started over.
hmmmmm what should i do next?
For my next (big) purchase i'm looking at either adding a vortech OR getting a new display tank and redoing my sump.
What do you guys think makes more sense at this point? New display tank and sump would help the overall presentation of the tank for sure (i'm using the ugliest 75gallon you've ever seen) but at the same time moving all of the livestock to a new tank sure isn't going to help anything growth/color wise.
The question is whether or not i should add a vortech and wait for things to grow out a while, or if i should change the display tank (75 gallon rimless black silicone, starfire front panel, custom overflow) and add the vortech at a later date.
Thoughts?
For my next (big) purchase i'm looking at either adding a vortech OR getting a new display tank and redoing my sump.
What do you guys think makes more sense at this point? New display tank and sump would help the overall presentation of the tank for sure (i'm using the ugliest 75gallon you've ever seen) but at the same time moving all of the livestock to a new tank sure isn't going to help anything growth/color wise.
The question is whether or not i should add a vortech and wait for things to grow out a while, or if i should change the display tank (75 gallon rimless black silicone, starfire front panel, custom overflow) and add the vortech at a later date.
Thoughts?
I looked up what a vortech is...very cool. The battery back up thing is awesome, and the wireless ability is also very cool.
I would still vote on the new tank. I doubt if the vortech's will ever come down in price regardless of the economy. Tanks however seem to be very reasonable, due to the economy. It seems like a perfect time to get a super deal on a new tank. New, used, custom, whatever, things are about as cheap as can be. The vortech will always be there.
JMHO
I would still vote on the new tank. I doubt if the vortech's will ever come down in price regardless of the economy. Tanks however seem to be very reasonable, due to the economy. It seems like a perfect time to get a super deal on a new tank. New, used, custom, whatever, things are about as cheap as can be. The vortech will always be there.
JMHO
paulthomas
Punk
Since you are rebuilding, my vote is to upgrade your tank now to get it out of the way. You're flow will be easier to change as your corals grown in.
BTW, who do you plan on getting your tank from?
BTW, who do you plan on getting your tank from?
