Tank Journal Archive
Turns out I only need to wait another day for the green frag
23/08/12
[Broken External Image]:http://home.iprimus.com.au/mcewan_adam/Tank/20120823/Frag1.jpg
24/08/12
[Broken External Image]:http://home.iprimus.com.au/mcewan_adam/Tank/20120824/New_Frag.jpg
Everything else is going great. The other frags are always out and seem to be doing well. Best I just leave mind hands out for a few months, but I so want to add a blue fish or 2 (Powderblue + something else), something to clean up the sand (thinking six bar here), a few Bangaii and then a small school of something really active - love Anthias but they seem a little touch and go for my liking.
On the Hardweare side
Need to replace current heaters with soemthing smaller so I can gtet them in the sump, stick a controller on the evaporation heater, get 1 (or 2) of the Tunze to Occislate (the controller is an unfinished project to control Futuba S3003 servos). The brackets will be bought from here (sure I could DIY but I would never get around to it and I couldn't do a job as good as these)
http://translate.google.com.au/tran...a=X&ei=2CtDUPODGaW1iQe3-4GwAw&ved=0CCUQ7gEwAA
And of course I'm keeping a close eye on Rob's Pi controller.
And then there is the conversion to LED - not sure if off the shelf (thinking of looking at the Tunze when they come out) or DIY.
Arhhhh - it never ends.
23/08/12
[Broken External Image]:http://home.iprimus.com.au/mcewan_adam/Tank/20120823/Frag1.jpg
24/08/12
[Broken External Image]:http://home.iprimus.com.au/mcewan_adam/Tank/20120824/New_Frag.jpg
Everything else is going great. The other frags are always out and seem to be doing well. Best I just leave mind hands out for a few months, but I so want to add a blue fish or 2 (Powderblue + something else), something to clean up the sand (thinking six bar here), a few Bangaii and then a small school of something really active - love Anthias but they seem a little touch and go for my liking.
On the Hardweare side
Need to replace current heaters with soemthing smaller so I can gtet them in the sump, stick a controller on the evaporation heater, get 1 (or 2) of the Tunze to Occislate (the controller is an unfinished project to control Futuba S3003 servos). The brackets will be bought from here (sure I could DIY but I would never get around to it and I couldn't do a job as good as these)
http://translate.google.com.au/tran...a=X&ei=2CtDUPODGaW1iQe3-4GwAw&ved=0CCUQ7gEwAA
And of course I'm keeping a close eye on Rob's Pi controller.
And then there is the conversion to LED - not sure if off the shelf (thinking of looking at the Tunze when they come out) or DIY.
Arhhhh - it never ends.
Hang off buying that blue fish... I know you want one and you can just have mine in a few months. Your daughter will be soo impressed with a new Dory.
[Broken External Image]:https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/i...pucQ7GaMIRHp6XcTI7ULXXiXPzVUtdOMKzN_PGCgFIn7g
Not a lot to report here. Everything seems to be going along nicely.
The clam and "older" frags from Rob are alive and going well, as do all the other corals.
Scored a few more frags from Rob the other night (4 to be exact) - and when I say frags I mean 2 corals and 2 frags.
Happy to say I have managed to keep the SPS "frag" alive for about 1 week now - personal best for me for a SPS :p The zoa's are also opening nicely.
Unfortunetly the other 2 frags didn't attach so well. I have found the pulsing Xenia - ended up under a rock. It'll be fine as it seems to have attached. Can't for the life of me find the other frag though. It's floated somewhere. Pity - it was an awesome looking flubber tree. Maybe it will turn up one day.
I'll try and get some pics on the weekend.
Good news though. Finally had SPAusnet re-program my meter yesterday and we are now exporting (and being credited for) excess power from the Solar. This means I get to switch the lights back to their normal timing (currently I have the entire time shifted forward to try and "use" the power rather than feed it out for no credit). This means more looking time after work.
More for my own record keeping....
Test results as of 9/9/12
Temp: 26.0
pH: 8.4 (API)
Alk: 8.736 (156 ?? ppm) (Hanna)
Salinity: 1.025 (Refractometer)
Ca: 437 (Hanna)
Mg: 1245 -(Salifert)
PO4: 0.00 (Hanna)
I've given the skimmer a good clean (completely pulled apart). Man - the Tunze is heaps easier than my previous one. Only took around 20 mins all up. Used to take me a good 2 hours or so to do the RO skimmer (it did have 3 pumps and the plumbing was a prick to undo/do up). I don't doing it as much and will probably do it more often now :)
I've also removed the Phosban and RowaPhos to see if the PO4 stays low without media. Fingers crossed.
Tonight's (which means this weekends) job:
1. Make more Alk and Ca supplements.
2. Clean heaters in a vinager bath
The clam and "older" frags from Rob are alive and going well, as do all the other corals.
Scored a few more frags from Rob the other night (4 to be exact) - and when I say frags I mean 2 corals and 2 frags.
Happy to say I have managed to keep the SPS "frag" alive for about 1 week now - personal best for me for a SPS :p The zoa's are also opening nicely.
Unfortunetly the other 2 frags didn't attach so well. I have found the pulsing Xenia - ended up under a rock. It'll be fine as it seems to have attached. Can't for the life of me find the other frag though. It's floated somewhere. Pity - it was an awesome looking flubber tree. Maybe it will turn up one day.
I'll try and get some pics on the weekend.
Good news though. Finally had SPAusnet re-program my meter yesterday and we are now exporting (and being credited for) excess power from the Solar. This means I get to switch the lights back to their normal timing (currently I have the entire time shifted forward to try and "use" the power rather than feed it out for no credit). This means more looking time after work.
More for my own record keeping....
Test results as of 9/9/12
Temp: 26.0
pH: 8.4 (API)
Alk: 8.736 (156 ?? ppm) (Hanna)
Salinity: 1.025 (Refractometer)
Ca: 437 (Hanna)
Mg: 1245 -(Salifert)
PO4: 0.00 (Hanna)
I've given the skimmer a good clean (completely pulled apart). Man - the Tunze is heaps easier than my previous one. Only took around 20 mins all up. Used to take me a good 2 hours or so to do the RO skimmer (it did have 3 pumps and the plumbing was a prick to undo/do up). I don't doing it as much and will probably do it more often now :)
I've also removed the Phosban and RowaPhos to see if the PO4 stays low without media. Fingers crossed.
Tonight's (which means this weekends) job:
1. Make more Alk and Ca supplements.
2. Clean heaters in a vinager bath
More for my own record keeping.
Observations so far is the skimate is darker and thicker (when running not in overflow mode). Somehow it has stopped the skimmer from running as wet. Not sure why/how. Also the corals actually look better, although this could be wishful thinking and is pretty subjective.
I have also adjusted my MH lights now (trying to save a few $$$ now I am on Time of Use power)
Mon-Fri
Left - On 2:15pm & Off at 10:15pm
Right - On 2:30pm and Off at 10:30pm
Sat/Sun
Left - On 12:15pm & Off at 10:15pm
Right - On 12:30pm and Off at 10:30pm
The overall lighting period is almost the same, on the weekends it's +2hrs/day and slightly shorter weekdays @ -0.5hrs/day.
Will monitor the corals and see if the lighting and/or any difference in PO4 makes a difference.
Took some photo's but still need to get time to upload.:(
And finally ordered a new 300W Schego heater. Will probably stick it on a ATC-800 controller. Hopefully 1 will be enough (given my tank currently only has 1 heater switched on and seems to be OK). I'll keep the ehiems as a "backup" - maybe in the wier and set slightly lower than the controller in case.
1) The new heater and/or controller fails.
2) The new heater and/or controller isn't enough.
Open to offers to swap (I want to downgrade to something shorter if someone out there wants a 300W).
Observations so far is the skimate is darker and thicker (when running not in overflow mode). Somehow it has stopped the skimmer from running as wet. Not sure why/how. Also the corals actually look better, although this could be wishful thinking and is pretty subjective.
I have also adjusted my MH lights now (trying to save a few $$$ now I am on Time of Use power)
Mon-Fri
Left - On 2:15pm & Off at 10:15pm
Right - On 2:30pm and Off at 10:30pm
Sat/Sun
Left - On 12:15pm & Off at 10:15pm
Right - On 12:30pm and Off at 10:30pm
The overall lighting period is almost the same, on the weekends it's +2hrs/day and slightly shorter weekdays @ -0.5hrs/day.
Will monitor the corals and see if the lighting and/or any difference in PO4 makes a difference.
Took some photo's but still need to get time to upload.:(
And finally ordered a new 300W Schego heater. Will probably stick it on a ATC-800 controller. Hopefully 1 will be enough (given my tank currently only has 1 heater switched on and seems to be OK). I'll keep the ehiems as a "backup" - maybe in the wier and set slightly lower than the controller in case.
1) The new heater and/or controller fails.
2) The new heater and/or controller isn't enough.
Open to offers to swap (I want to downgrade to something shorter if someone out there wants a 300W).
In Vic it's different. Basically peak is from 7am to 11pm. Off peak is the rest. As I have a larger Solar system I am on the "standard" feed-in tarrif which means 1 for 1 import/export rate (I buy and sell electricity for the same price - whatever it is). All weekend is considered off peak.
In short, unless I run my tank in off peak it doesn't really matter what time of day I consume the power. Weekends are cheaper (hence my reasoning for shorter Peak usage and more off peak usage.
OK. I'm still no Pro at pics and other than "auto correct" there is no such thing as post editing for me.
First up - the 2 new "Frags" from Rob.
[Broken External Image]:http://home.iprimus.com.au/mcewan_adam/Tank/20120916/IMG_5835.JPG
[Broken External Image]:http://home.iprimus.com.au/mcewan_adam/Tank/20120916/IMG_5829.JPG
The other frags have gone MIA (I can see the Xenia under a rock but can't get a clear shot). No idea where the other ended up.
And some growth shots of the older "frags"
[Broken External Image]:http://home.iprimus.com.au/mcewan_adam/Tank/20120916/IMG_5836.jpg
(you can see in the pic below how it has taken to the rock and already started spreading)
[Broken External Image]:http://home.iprimus.com.au/mcewan_adam/Tank/20120916/IMG_5834.jpg
One of the frags form the Frag fest at Synodontis (thanks Agent M for the P/U service)
[Broken External Image]:http://home.iprimus.com.au/mcewan_adam/Tank/20120916/IMG_5840.jpg
And last but not least the picture hogs that tried to get into every shot.
[Broken External Image]:http://home.iprimus.com.au/mcewan_adam/Tank/20120916/IMG_5839.jpg
First up - the 2 new "Frags" from Rob.
[Broken External Image]:http://home.iprimus.com.au/mcewan_adam/Tank/20120916/IMG_5835.JPG
[Broken External Image]:http://home.iprimus.com.au/mcewan_adam/Tank/20120916/IMG_5829.JPG
The other frags have gone MIA (I can see the Xenia under a rock but can't get a clear shot). No idea where the other ended up.
And some growth shots of the older "frags"
[Broken External Image]:http://home.iprimus.com.au/mcewan_adam/Tank/20120916/IMG_5836.jpg
(you can see in the pic below how it has taken to the rock and already started spreading)
[Broken External Image]:http://home.iprimus.com.au/mcewan_adam/Tank/20120916/IMG_5834.jpg
One of the frags form the Frag fest at Synodontis (thanks Agent M for the P/U service)
[Broken External Image]:http://home.iprimus.com.au/mcewan_adam/Tank/20120916/IMG_5840.jpg
And last but not least the picture hogs that tried to get into every shot.
[Broken External Image]:http://home.iprimus.com.au/mcewan_adam/Tank/20120916/IMG_5839.jpg
Thanks Dynamic
I've also been doing a bit of monitoring over the last couple of days (more for trending)
View attachment awww.imagerocket.net_photos_1349045768_temps.jpg
View attachment awww.imagerocket.net_photos_1349045768_orp.jpg
View attachment awww.imagerocket.net_photos_1349045768_ph.jpg
All in all it seems pretty stable.
Must admit I am a little surprised at how often the heater is on.
I've also been doing a bit of monitoring over the last couple of days (more for trending)
View attachment awww.imagerocket.net_photos_1349045768_temps.jpg
View attachment awww.imagerocket.net_photos_1349045768_orp.jpg
View attachment awww.imagerocket.net_photos_1349045768_ph.jpg
All in all it seems pretty stable.
Must admit I am a little surprised at how often the heater is on.
Just order a Temp/Humidty controller from ebay.
Will hook the humidty controller function to the exhaust fan and possibly down the track I might add a fan for blowing over the water's surface to the temp output.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/48-48mm-...ps=63&clkid=2421035327988785703&_qi=RTM839191
View attachment awww.imagerocket.net_photos_1349048971___KGrHqFHJBcE7_y6_CbqBO_Zbdr1o___60_12.jpg
Will hook the humidty controller function to the exhaust fan and possibly down the track I might add a fan for blowing over the water's surface to the temp output.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/48-48mm-...ps=63&clkid=2421035327988785703&_qi=RTM839191
View attachment awww.imagerocket.net_photos_1349048971___KGrHqFHJBcE7_y6_CbqBO_Zbdr1o___60_12.jpg
Clam problems - Arrrrrhhhhhh
See http://www.thereefuge.com.au/board/threads/clam-not-doing-so-well.4913/ for the log of how I did.
Aside from that and on alighter note here is the "lost" coral from Rob - found it, attached it to another rock using a rubber band a few weeks ago.
View attachment awww.imagerocket.net_photos_1349860909_lost_coral.JPG
And some nice Zoa's (although my photography skills don't do them justice) I picked up from gazman33 on MASA
View attachment awww.imagerocket.net_photos_1349860909_new_zoa.JPG
the tile was on a rock, but somehow found it's way to the bottom. I'll put it back up when I figure out where I want it.
See http://www.thereefuge.com.au/board/threads/clam-not-doing-so-well.4913/ for the log of how I did.
Aside from that and on alighter note here is the "lost" coral from Rob - found it, attached it to another rock using a rubber band a few weeks ago.
View attachment awww.imagerocket.net_photos_1349860909_lost_coral.JPG
And some nice Zoa's (although my photography skills don't do them justice) I picked up from gazman33 on MASA
View attachment awww.imagerocket.net_photos_1349860909_new_zoa.JPG
the tile was on a rock, but somehow found it's way to the bottom. I'll put it back up when I figure out where I want it.
And a snap of th Horn coral I got from Rob
View attachment awww.imagerocket.net_photos_1349862843_Horn_Coral.JPG
once again, the coral looks better in real life - it's my photography.
+ I can't be bothered fart arsing around photoshopping them into "ultra" corals ;)
View attachment awww.imagerocket.net_photos_1349862843_Horn_Coral.JPG
once again, the coral looks better in real life - it's my photography.
+ I can't be bothered fart arsing around photoshopping them into "ultra" corals ;)
The humidity controller for the exhaust fan arrived on Friday - although the ebay pic is accurate scale is a little off - I should have read the fine print.
But it's all good - my sparky mate is coming around tomorrow and I have an idea on how to fit this little puppy in nice, neat and functional. Now he just has to execute :cool:
But it's all good - my sparky mate is coming around tomorrow and I have an idea on how to fit this little puppy in nice, neat and functional. Now he just has to execute :cool:
Last night my Sparky friend came around and this is what we came up with.
Basically the switch on the left needs to be on in order for the exhaust fan and controller to beon - anything ever goes wrong with either and I can isolate the power completly.
Then the switch next the the controller - off = Auto (the controller controls the exhaust fan); on = exhaust fan always on (like an override).
For the controller
Basically it was a TH20 Hunidty/Tempature controller from ebay. Cost about <$50 from memory.
You can set the Temp (Alarm 1) and Humidty (alarm 2) seperately. Each "alarm" state closes a seperate relay.
I am only using the humidity, still trying to find the spot I want.
I have started and when it hits 65% RH, active the fan until it drops by 5% to 60%.
I let it run like this for most of the day and then went in and "checked" how the room felt - a little to siticky for my liking. I have pulled it back to 55% as an on point down to 50% - will check it out tomorrow after another full day.
You can program it to either active the relay and drive the value "Up" or "Down" in increments of 0.1% for a difference of x
For example when the pic was taken, I have set Alarm 2 (AL2 in the above - not active) to switch on at 60% for 5.0 difference. Works great.
Basically the switch on the left needs to be on in order for the exhaust fan and controller to beon - anything ever goes wrong with either and I can isolate the power completly.
Then the switch next the the controller - off = Auto (the controller controls the exhaust fan); on = exhaust fan always on (like an override).
For the controller
Basically it was a TH20 Hunidty/Tempature controller from ebay. Cost about <$50 from memory.
You can set the Temp (Alarm 1) and Humidty (alarm 2) seperately. Each "alarm" state closes a seperate relay.
I am only using the humidity, still trying to find the spot I want.
I have started and when it hits 65% RH, active the fan until it drops by 5% to 60%.
I let it run like this for most of the day and then went in and "checked" how the room felt - a little to siticky for my liking. I have pulled it back to 55% as an on point down to 50% - will check it out tomorrow after another full day.
You can program it to either active the relay and drive the value "Up" or "Down" in increments of 0.1% for a difference of x
For example when the pic was taken, I have set Alarm 2 (AL2 in the above - not active) to switch on at 60% for 5.0 difference. Works great.
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