Randy's Tank and Learn Thread

[Kenmx10]

Return Pump

I’m planning to get a Sicce SDC 7 or 9 to pump water from the basement fish room up about 10 vertical feet and through several fittings and turns to get to the display.

I do not intend it to provide much flow via the return, so the turnover can be reasonably low. The 7 may be plenty. Thoughts on that choice are welcome. The fact that it can communicate over the internet is a plus. Can it tell me anything except temperature?

Before I get one of these, I’m likely to get a Jebao from Amazon to use right away, and then it can become an emergency backup. I was thinking of the DCP-6500. Thoughts on that choice?

Thanks in advance!

Hi Randy, Ive been using an SDC pump for about 2 years now . Its been a great pump. As far as the APP goes, other than adjusting the flow and turning it off and on, the temperature feature is the only other feature I've noticed. Every now and then I will get a message stating maintenance (required or suggested) can't remember which. Im not sure if its just a timed message because the pump has always been running fine when the notification occurs. One good thing about the temp feature is that it records the readings and you can go back 1,7,30 or 60 days. It will also notify you if it gets outside of the set boundaries.

If you check the flow charts on the SDC 7, and calculate the head pressure including the distance, pipe and fittings, I don't think you will be getting more than 300-350 GPH running at 100%. Looks like you might be getting around 1300 with the SDC 9.

Look forward to seeing your progress and thanks for all your help over the past 20 years.

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

Hey Randy when you are ready just pay for shipping and I’ll send you some corals on me! I probably wouldn’t be where I am today without a lot of your help!
I’m really interested in seeing how you combat the beginning algae blooms. Will you dose live bacteria to compete it? Or will you allow your nutrients build so it natrually defeats it in time ?
I always use bacteria, but struggle with low nutrients for a while!

 

[RelaxingWithTheReef]

My recollection is that you are not really into SPS sticks. But I have to say that if you don’t try your hand at coloring up a couple nice sensitive and vibrant Acropora, you will not experience the true thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat :)

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

My recollection is that you are not really into SPS sticks. But I have to say that if you don’t try your hand at coloring up a couple nice sensitive and vibrant Acropora, you will not experience the true thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat :)

100% correct!

 

[Projects with Sam]

Love the Oceanic 120! real beast of a tank.

 

[BJK2]

Looking forward to following the newest adventure Randy! Looking forward to some pics especially of the basement sump!

 

[Jesse Sunday]

As a relative newbie and only having seen/heard of sumps being purpose-built, specifically designed equipment, I'm curious as to the 4x44g brute "cans"... do you mean actual trash cans or maybe the tote style. I'd love to hear your thoughts! :)

Will each have something different? (e.g., #1 is a filter / #2 is a refuguim / #3 cryptic / etc.?)

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

@Randy Holmes-Farley paying it forward for all the help you always have provided me, I have no use for these dosing pumps and if you need any reef brite XHOs, I pulled them from my halides and won’t be using them, ever, let me know, their yours. Sorry, my stock pile of halides are off limits, lol. Unless you have some Ushio 10Ks you want to trade for 14 or 20’s lol.

 

[Kenmx10]

Hey Randy when you are ready just pay for shipping and I’ll send you some corals on me! I probably wouldn’t be where I am today without a lot of your help!
I’m really interested in seeing how you combat the beginning algae blooms. Will you dose live bacteria to compete it? Or will you allow your nutrients build so it natrually defeats it in time ?
I always use bacteria, but struggle with low nutrients for a while!

Might find this interesting, In my attempt to find a way to cycle a tank with the dry rock most people are using today, I tried an experiment cycling a new tank using dry rock and dry sand. I introduced the bacteria from Aqua Biomics Reef Rubble, which is suppose to be DNA tested and balance to the bacteria found in the ocean. I had no issues with algae , cyno, diatoms or anything for 8 months. Didn't get any signs of algae until I added corals and snails to the tank, and it still was very minor.

It was nice to be able to cycle a tank with zero issues. Not sure if I tried it again if I would get the same results, or if I just got lucky. I do think the balanced bacteria found in the ocean made a difference. I think that tanks will get there eventually by adding things such as corals, snails, crabs etc. But I thinking, starting out with bacteria that matches the bacteria found in the ocean made a big difference.

 

[KrisReef]

That Jebao pump may also struggle to pump much water uphill? The chart claims 4.5 meter max head, and I'm skeptical that it will hit 3000/l/h.

I think I have a new one in the garage, it might surprise me?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Love the Oceanic 120! real beast of a tank.

Yes it is. I brutalized it getting it to the garage and it survived. All 4 bulkheads literally broke off as they caught on the stand getting it out, but the glass survived.

Coming back in, one of my adult daughters and I muscled it in using a rented appliance dolly, and a little more care than when it went out. lol

 

[backbayreef]

Irrespective of the brand and head pressure capability, I would go for dual return pumps for redundancy given that you may be away from the tank. Similar to heaters, I always run dual pumps for new builds.

I actually have an old, bow-front Oceanic 175g (build thread here) that I recently shut down. Love their build quality and glad you’re reviving it! :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

That Jebao pump may also struggle to pump much water uphill? The chart claims 4.5 meter max head, and I'm skeptical that it will hit 3000/l/h.

I think I have a new one in the garage, it might surprise me?

Thanks. I’d seen the Sicce chart but not the Jebao chart. I’d be plenty happy with 500 L/H, if it could attain that, but I might consider a larger one. :)

 

[Ocypode sinensis]

Big fan of the natural sunlit look of tanks as well, is there a kelvin value you are shooting for on the light Randy?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Jebao return pumps.

What’s the difference between the DEP (say, 8500) and the DCP (say, 8500)?

 

[Jesse Sunday]

Jebao return pumps.

What’s the difference between the DEP (say, 8500) and the DCP (say, 8500)?

Hehe, here's a good opportunity to expose you further to AI. ;)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Big fan of the natural sunlit look of tanks as well, is there a kelvin value you are shooting for on the light Randy?

I’d like to match actual surface sunlight, or tad bluer. I’ll mess around with the app until it looks as good as it’s going to, and I do realize that matching sunlight is perfection that I won’t attain.

Something around 6,000 k is appealing, but I really can’t say until I try.

My original 175 w single ended 10,000k mh were nice, but the 250 w double ended 10,000k mh that replaced those were too cold for my preference.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Hehe, here's a good opportunity to expose you further to AI. ;)

Surprising if true because the DEP seem cheaper for the same model number.

 

[Jesse Sunday]

Surprising if true because the DEP seem cheaper for the same model number.

That is interesting... Gemini thinks the same, that the DEP is newer/better.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

My recollection is that you are not really into SPS sticks. But I have to say that if you don’t try your hand at coloring up a couple nice sensitive and vibrant Acropora, you will not experience the true thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat :)

My concern is more on the defeat side of things, but I do intend to keep some SPS that look good in white light, plus uv. :)