Jay's New Bigger... But Still Little Ocean - 600 gallons.

[JaysLittleOcean]

Are you running any other GHL besides dosers and stirrers?

im quite interested in going GHL with my reefer 350 build. I’ve never had a controller.
I love the idea of being able to monitor Alk with the KH Director as a stand-alone

I have a very unique setup. I actually run both an Apex Controller and GHL Controller on the same system. I have favorite features that I like within both products and decided to just mix things up. Personally, I use the Neptune Systems for overall control and insight. When it comes to chemical testing, dosing and a double check against the neptune systems, I use GHL and a Reef Kinetics ReefBot v1.

 

[legalizedreefer]

I have a very unique setup. I actually run both an Apex Controller and GHL Controller on the same system. I have favorite features that I like within both products and decided to just mix things up. Personally, I use the Neptune Systems for overall control and insight. When it comes to chemical testing, dosing and a double check against the neptune systems, I use GHL and a Reef Kinetics ReefBot v1.

Thanks for the reply! I personally love that with GHL you can be up and running with automated KH for ~$1000 (CAD) vs with Neptune you have to first get the apex, then trident and dos totaling $2300 (CAD)

for me, monitoring and stabilizing KH is honestly what I want most out of a controller. All the other control is secondary. My lights and power heads already have their own app for that.

how happy are you with the performance of IOND and KHD? I know setup can be a pain. But you’ve only gotta do that once. How’s it been since setup?

 

[JaysLittleOcean]

Thanks for the reply! I personally love that with GHL you can be up and running with automated KH for ~$1000 (CAD) vs with Neptune you have to first get the apex, then trident and dos totaling $2300 (CAD)

for me, monitoring and stabilizing KH is honestly what I want most out of a controller. All the other control is secondary. My lights and power heads already have their own app for that.

how happy are you with the performance of IOND and KHD? I know setup can be a pain. But you’ve only gotta do that once. How’s it been since setup?

I have been extremely happy with the GHL KH Director. The setup is lengthy but not necessarily difficult. The only caveat to the setup is that you need to ensure that the included tubing is cut precisely down to the millimeter having a digital caliper would help with this. You also need to ensure that you validate your setup and tubing lengths as their is a recommended limit that will affect the accuracy of the reading. Lastly get yourself a graduated cylinder to avoid doing the math to determine how much liquid is contained within the tubing used, again that will affect overall accuracy. Then be determined to calibrate the probe (like a standard ph calibration process) every month as recommended. If you can make all that happen then it's great! I have two test performed per day and I can adjust my calcium reactor accordingly if needed. It will also provide you the option to allow the KD Director to control a dosing head to add or reduce the amount of alkalinity solution if you configure it that way. I haven't dabbled with that just yet.

 

[legalizedreefer]

I have been extremely happy with the GHL KH Director. The setup is lengthy but not necessarily difficult. The only caveat to the setup is that you need to ensure that the included tubing is cut precisely down to the millimeter having a digital caliper would help with this. You also need to ensure that you validate your setup and tubing lengths as their is a recommended limit that will affect the accuracy of the reading. Lastly get yourself a graduated cylinder to avoid doing the math to determine how much liquid is contained within the tubing used, again that will affect overall accuracy. Then be determined to calibrate the probe (like a standard ph calibration process) every month as recommended. If you can make all that happen then it's great! I have two test performed per day and I can adjust my calcium reactor accordingly if needed. It will also provide you the option to allow the KD Director to control a dosing head to add or reduce the amount of alkalinity solution if you configure it that way. I haven't dabbled with that just yet.

Great. Thank you so much!

 

[JaysLittleOcean]

It's been very busy with the holidays around here. But I did finally get around to tinkering with my RO/DI Filtration system. Unfortunately I'm one of those engineers that like to model my engineering while actually building it. So it's nothing fancy to look at currently, but it is functional and I will get around to making it look pretty at another time. I had 3 RO/DI systems laying around from previous builds, and well I shouldn't be left unattended for too long. I preset to you the 14 stage RO/DI system comprised of the following (two 5 Micron Premium ROsave.Z Sediment Filter - GE Water Technologies, two 1 Micron Premium ROsave.Z Sediment Filter - GE Water Technologies, two 5 Micron BRS Chlorine & VOC Carbon Block Filters, two 1 Micron BRS Universal Carbon Block Filters, two 150 GPD Reverse Osmosis Membranes in a water saver configuration and 4 DI Resin Chambers. Water Pressure from the unit is 50 PSI without the booster pump and 75 psi with the booster pump running.

 

[JaysLittleOcean]

One of the things I love about this aquarium is the custom overflow designed with Glass Cages. I knew for certain that I didn't want an overflow that took up space within the display and I had initially been eyeing a coast to coast design. But after speaking with Joe he wanted to try a new design, so I gave him full creative freedom and I couldn't be happier It spans almost the full length of the aquarium but stops short on either side by 1 foot and accommodates six 2 inch drains. This system is currently using two Ecotech Marine Vectra L2's Plumbed to separate 1.5 inch returns located on the right and left rear pane of the aquarium. Those pumps have to push the water up from the equipment room located beneath the aquarium, straight up about 14 feet to 15 feet. Let's just say these pumps are not a fan of head pressure. The overall flow and turnover is just barely adequate, which leads me to my project today. Because of the lack of powerful turnover I do have some detritus settling into the edges and corners of the overflow. So water better way to solve that problem then to installed an Ecotech Marine MP10WQD to the side of the overflow. I deal with the turnover flow in the next few weeks. But for now this is a great fix in my opinion.

 

[flagg37]

Sounds like an Abyzz or two are in your future.

Tell/show us more about this overflow.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Sounds like an Abyzz or two are in your future.

Took the words out of my mouth

 

[JaysLittleOcean]

Sounds like an Abyzz or two are in your future.

Tell/show us more about this overflow.

It's a bit difficult to take any detailed photographs currently with the placement against the wall of the overflow. But I will did my best at the moment. The overflow design was the creation of Joe at glass cages. Originally I wanted to go with a full coast to coast overflow but Joe had an idea and I gave him full creative freedom to design this. The name Joe came up with was a ghost overflow. It is located on the rear pane of the aquarium and is comprise of 4 panes of glass. The front portion is a removable Weir and the Top an Acrylic Lid. Its measurements are 48 Inches in Length x 8 Inches in Height x 6 Inches in Depth and holds approximately 8.1 gallons of water at the current fill rate. It contains six 1.5 Inch Drains (x2 Dorso style drains, x2 standpipes with strainers and 2 emergency drains). I currently have the MP10W situated on the left side of the overflow along with two Neptune Systems Apex Temperature Probes (one of the left and one on the right). I also have a Titanium Rid-Volt installed on the right hand side.

 

[JaysLittleOcean]

So, I finally got fed up over the weekend with the extremely limited flow that my EcoTech Vectra Return Pumps were producing and decided it was time for the Abyzz, I mostly blamed the few of you who commented on me needing an Abyzz and when discussing with my wife. But it's installed and I believe I may have gone too large for the 1 inch return. But the difference is indeed night and day.











Video of Sump Return Area with Dual Ecotech Marine Vectra L2 Pumps installed.

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Video of Sump Return Area with Single Abyzz A200 DC Pump installed.

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[JaysLittleOcean]

I had some 3/4 inch scrap wood in the garage and some time this evening to work on getting a backing installed underneath the display to start cleaning up my mess of wires. Combined with a few creations from the 3D Printer, I think things started coming out nicely.

 

[Jason Scalise]

Nice. I am all about the wire/cord management. Makes me mental otherwise.
Sometimes I think I pay as much attention to that as I do the corals.
It’s own “beauty”, so to speak.
Perhaps I need professional help….

 

[JaysLittleOcean]

Had a little free time this evening decided to do a little more work underneath the display tank area regarding wire management. Focusing on getting my EcoTech Marine Battery Backups mounted and the cable management grommets installed.

 

[JaysLittleOcean]

I decided to switch gears today and work on getting the Neptune Systems DOS and DDR setup underneath my aquarium stand in order do daily dosing of 100ml of Algae Barn's Ocean Magik Phytoplankton. So I finally got around to drilling three holes through the refrigerator door, which was surprisingly simpler than I had expected. 1 hole was for the rigid tubing for the Ocean Magik, 1 hole will be for Red Sea Reef Energy AB+ and the last larger hole was for the DDR Cable. The only sealing that I needed to do what the larger hole which I used black aquarium silicone to fill in the hole. Neptune Systems Support Team shared with me information on how to program the DOS to feed the liquid phytoplankton and then run in reverse when completed to purchase the lines of any food. It works like a charm! Best daily project to date.

 

[Jason Scalise]

I decided to switch gears today and work on getting the Neptune Systems DOS and DDR setup underneath my aquarium stand in order do daily dosing of 100ml of Algae Barn's Ocean Magik Phytoplankton. So I finally got around to drilling three holes through the refrigerator door, which was surprisingly simpler than I had expected. 1 hole was for the rigid tubing for the Ocean Magik, 1 hole will be for Red Sea Reef Energy AB+ and the last larger hole was for the DDR Cable. The only sealing that I needed to do what the larger hole which I used black aquarium silicone to fill in the hole. Neptune Systems Support Team shared with me information on how to program the DOS to feed the liquid phytoplankton and then run in reverse when completed to purchase the lines of any food. It works like a charm! Best daily project to date.

Nice. Will you have lights in the fridge or is this not meant to be live, growing cultures?

 

[JaysLittleOcean]

Nice. Will you have lights in the fridge or is this not meant to be live, growing cultures?

No lights in the fridge. I will just keep a recurring order from Algae Barn. I am way too busy to try and untrue my own at this point in my life. Maybe sometime in the future we will see.

 

[Jason Scalise]

Got it. What sort of volume per day or week are you planning? For your current demands?

 

[JaysLittleOcean]

Got it. What sort of volume per day or week are you planning? For your current demands?

I’m following Algae Barn’s recommendations of 5ml per day per 20 gallons of water. So I’m around 100ml per day. Slightly less than my overall volume at 425 gallons.

 

[cpschult]

I decided to switch gears today and work on getting the Neptune Systems DOS and DDR setup underneath my aquarium stand in order do daily dosing of 100ml of Algae Barn's Ocean Magik Phytoplankton. So I finally got around to drilling three holes through the refrigerator door, which was surprisingly simpler than I had expected. 1 hole was for the rigid tubing for the Ocean Magik, 1 hole will be for Red Sea Reef Energy AB+ and the last larger hole was for the DDR Cable. The only sealing that I needed to do what the larger hole which I used black aquarium silicone to fill in the hole. Neptune Systems Support Team shared with me information on how to program the DOS to feed the liquid phytoplankton and then run in reverse when completed to purchase the lines of any food. It works like a charm! Best daily project to date.

Wow this is super nice!

 

[JaysLittleOcean]

Wow this is super nice!

Thank you.