Devoted Reefer 250

Fin · Dec 9, 2017

Lots of neat stuff in this thread! I think Thomas at Anything Acrylic will be busy building these sock replacement tubes, until someone over here borrows his design.

Mine are already on the way, along with some other goodies. Following to see what else you come up with...

powers2001 · Dec 10, 2017

pelphrey, how's the tank and how do you like your COR pump? Were you able to get the 1" flow sensor connected to your return line? What do you have it running at?

Sockadueblue · Dec 11, 2017

Alright ladies and gents, thinking of upgrading my lights from 2 x AI Hydra 26 HD's and going with 2 x Radions XR 15 pro gen 4. I'm wondering everyone's thoughts.

powers2001 · Dec 11, 2017

Sockadueblue said:
Alright ladies and gents, thinking of upgrading my lights from 2 x AI Hydra 26 HD's and going with 2 x Radions XR 15 pro gen 4. I'm wondering everyone's thoughts.

Going from 2 to 2 you're not gaining much IMO. About the same amount of PAR and spread. Radions will give you more controllability with either Reeflink or Apex with WXM module. To get more even spread I'd go with 3 XR15s. They now have diffusers for XR15s:
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/radi...campaign=specials&utm_content=specials_121117
to reduce shimmer and disco-ball effect. Hopefully they'll still have glitter lines.

Sockadueblue · Dec 11, 2017

That's what I'm going for, more controllability here by hooking it up to my apex. If there was a module coming out for the AI, I would stick with it but from what I've read and been told they don't plan on releasing one.

pelphrey · Dec 20, 2017

I've been MIA for awhile. I'll update all of the previous questions as quickly as possible.

Until then some things have changed!

The 36" aquatic life t5 hybrid fixture has been added to the tank, still running the two kessil 160's and added the neptune lunar module and lights.

Also added the coral box wifi doser with ABC of the tropic marin balling method while pump 4 doses acro power daily.

Added 10 various SPS frags to the tank.

pelphrey · Dec 20, 2017

mrvn said:
How are you liking the combination of LEDs and T5s?

I really like them, especially with the new t5 fixture. The coverage is crazy!

TommyPePe said:
[QUOTE

This seemed like a good time to flip the rocks around. I used to have the large structure on the left, I decided to put it on the right and see how it looked -

Yeah, I've always (30+ years) been a fan of 'easing the eye' into any tank by having less obstructions coming from the left, then building it up towards the right. Something I read about & agreed with in the late '70's. Nicely done![/QUOTE]

Thank you!!

TommyPePe said:
And if you're ever in Dubai, I'll show you around here too ;-)

Bucket list item!

powers2001 said:
So did you calibrate the COR to min and max flow and for feed mode?

I am just running it at 73% nothing fancy going on with it on my tank!

FLG said:
Recently I seen Pelphrey acquire some Acrylic cylinders from Australia and it got me thinking. I have had my 250 up and running for about 7 months now and have been trying to find the best/cleanest way to put in a refugium. This is what I have came up with and I would like to get some feedback Good/bad/concerns/etc. I am rather newish to this hobby and need help on a daily basis. Thanks in advance for the help.

Only using 1 cylinder in 2nd chamber

Waiting for Chaeto to arrive from Reef Cleaners.

Light is on timer opposite of DT lights.

How is this working out?

powers2001 said:
I'm kinda wishing I went the way of the cups. I ordered a baffle specifically made for reefers from Reef Dreams UK on July 7 and it hasn't come yet. I emailed them 3 times and didn't hear back. I set up a dispute through Paypal two weeks ago and no word. Then I finally got through with a phone call this morning and the guy said they had a fire in their shop and it destroyed the machine that makes the baffles. He said they had to get a new machine and it will be another couple of weeks before they get things rolling again. Well that's a legitimate excuse but I wish they would've let me know about it.

Did you ever get this resolved? Did they get a new machine and start making new parts?

cmcoker said:
This is what I did similarly, no cup though.

First pic is when I first set it up.
Next pic is before most recent harvest, I did change the light out. It started off with a par 30 white and blue bulb I had from a nano tank. Changed it over to a par 38 grow light after I saw that it was gonna work for me.

Great looking growth!!!

Sppf121 said:
Pelphrey, The manifold looks awesome. Need to order the parts. going to duplicate that using the Reef Octopus Vario s6. Do you have a list of the parts you used. Is it 1" down to 3/4'? I can guess sizes by looking at it but yours is perfect. I have been trying to figure out a way to get down to one pump for as long time now. Your set up is awesome!! Was wanting to wait on the COR 20, but the Vario s-6 went on sale for 206. Can return it if the COR comes out soon enough.....

If you haven't already, you'll need to reduce from 1 1/4" to whatever size plumbing you will be using. The fitting from the VarioS fits on the COR, very simple swap!

Sppf121 said:
Awesome. Thanks for these photos. I get it all now. Just one final question. Where did you but the blue fittings?

Aquarium Specialty. They have a ton of colors and sizes!

pelphrey · Dec 20, 2017

Fin said:
Lots of neat stuff in this thread! I think Thomas at Anything Acrylic will be busy building these sock replacement tubes, until someone over here borrows his design. Mine are already on the way, along with some other goodies. Following to see what else you come up with...

If only I had the skills! hahaha

powers2001 said:
pelphrey, how's the tank and how do you like your COR pump? Were you able to get the 1" flow sensor connected to your return line? What do you have it running at?

I actually sold the sensor awhile back. I didn't want to mess with adding it and the work involved with getting it online since the physical size is pretty big and my space is very limited.

Sockadueblue said:
Alright ladies and gents, thinking of upgrading my lights from 2 x AI Hydra 26 HD's and going with 2 x Radions XR 15 pro gen 4. I'm wondering everyone's thoughts.

I don't have experience with either of those lights, I suppose if you have your heart set then jump on it. The radions probably pack more of a punch, but I am not sure how much of an upgrade it will be? Did you do the swap, are you happy?

powers2001 said:
Going from 2 to 2 you're not gaining much IMO. About the same amount of PAR and spread. Radions will give you more controllability with either Reeflink or Apex with WXM module. To get more even spread I'd go with 3 XR15s. They now have diffusers for XR15s:
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/radi...campaign=specials&utm_content=specials_121117
to reduce shimmer and disco-ball effect. Hopefully they'll still have glitter lines.

I agree with you!

pelphrey · Dec 20, 2017

Few more images for fun!

pelphrey · Dec 21, 2017

Current front tank shot

pelphrey · Dec 23, 2017

Tested phosphates today... amazed by the numbers I saw!

Using 2 vials for the first two tests. First test came back at 67 second one 59. Nitrate 0

Ran a third test using 1 vial, it came back at 73.

I have the standards for the test kit. Just tested those. 107 - standard is 100 +-10 so it’s right!

I’ve been missing a fish for a few weeks now. Everything looks fine. Currently running 3 of the 4 lights on my ATS, going to run all 4. I cleaned the screen awhile back, I’m thinking maybe I over did it. I did it on purpose since I wanted to see how quickly it would grow back.

FLG · Dec 26, 2017

pelphrey said:
I really like them, especially with the new t5 fixture. The coverage is crazy!

Yeah, I've always (30+ years) been a fan of 'easing the eye' into any tank by having less obstructions coming from the left, then building it up towards the right. Something I read about & agreed with in the late '70's. Nicely done!

Thank you!!

Bucket list item!

I am just running it at 73% nothing fancy going on with it on my tank!

How is this working out?

Did you ever get this resolved? Did they get a new machine and start making new parts?

Great looking growth!!!

If you haven't already, you'll need to reduce from 1 1/4" to whatever size plumbing you will be using. The fitting from the VarioS fits on the COR, very simple swap!

Aquarium Specialty. They have a ton of colors and sizes![/QUOTE]

Sorry. Haven’t been on here in a while. The set up works for sure. I ended up taking it out due to algae growth Want to try it again but need to black out the perimeter of that chamber.

pelphrey · Dec 29, 2017

pelphrey · Jan 8, 2018

Tested phosphates last night, you can see that I went from .18 on Dec 23 to .1 on Dec 29 to .07 on Jan 6th. I've only done one 5 gallon water change (which isn't much really) and I am running all 4 GEM5 lights on my scrubber. ATS is running for 16 hours ON and 8 OFF. I had been using reef roids pretty heavily and I've always seen an increase in nutrients when using it heavily. Patience has brought them back down.

As far as nitrates, they are still ZERO! Tank has never registered any nitrates!

Went to test ALK yesterday and my Hanna tester kelp reading L.Lo I changed the battery 3 times and tried 4 cuvettes with no success. Email sent to Hanna, RMA issued. Need to send this meter in! Thanks @Hanna Instruments for the quick response!

pelphrey · Jan 8, 2018

Corals! Green slimmer doing well in the reefer!

pelphrey · Jan 9, 2018

I am always in my downstairs living around between 6:45 and 7am. My coral box doser is set to dose the first dose at 7am. Over the course of the last month I’ve noticed the dose happening earlier. The time on the doser does not keep up with current time. Not a big issue, and you can sync it by opening the app and pressing the refresh button at the top right.