My Slice of Nature (Part 3)

[SubzeroLT]

Recent FTS

 

Watanabe angel

 

Chalk Basslet

 

Orchid Dottyback

 

Blasto garden

 

 

 

[SubzeroLT]

A tip for Clarisea users. Sometimes it can be difficult to pull out the used fleece from the roll because its wound so tight.

One workaround is to smear a generous amount of vaseline, underneath the plastic sleeve. Works like a charm.

 

 

A recent 3D printed part. 48mm to 30mm pipe adapter. With a fitting that routes water to a manifold for dripping water for acclimatization of new livestock.

[SubzeroLT]

Dipping some zoanthids

 

Not harmful but they do multiply to scary levels

 

Re-purposed the pH probe to be used as a frag rack. 3D printed a rack that holds the frag plugs snugly.

The normal egg crates are usually too large & plugs topple easily. This works much better.

 

 

Very handy magnetic pH probe holders to have on hand.  Here a basket is tied to it to house corals temporarily

 

 

 

 

 

[Harlequinmania]

Good idea on the DIY tray.. perfect for keeping zoas frag before transfering to the frag plug.

Dipping some zoanthids

 
Not harmful but they do multiply to scary levels

 
Re-purposed the pH probe to be used as a frag rack. 3D printed a rack that holds the frag plugs snugly.
The normal egg crates are usually too large & plugs topple easily. This works much better.

 

 
Very handy magnetic pH probe holders to have on hand.  Here a basket is tied to it to house corals temporarily

 

 
 
 
 

Sent from Singapore Reef Club mobile app

[SubzeroLT]

Attempting to attach several frags onto a long tonga rock. 

 

 

And attached the entire 9 inch'assembly' onto my existing rock. Refer to arrow for attachment point.

 

All done with this glue. And not much was used. Ha...good glue!

 

Live stock pics :

Chalk Basslet

 

Eating Ocean Nutrition Formula One pellets

 

Wolverine?

 

 

Pocci

 

Recent addition - Golden Torch from RR.

 

 

Measured water parameters today :

Ca : 410

Mg : 1410

KH : 9.0         (I'm targeting at 8.5 - 9.3 range)

Running slightly higher KH works better for growth. And somehow better maintains the Ca/Mg balance.  

Just stocked up on more salt

 

[SubzeroLT]

Quite paranoid about power failure. Keeping the wavemakers running can make a difference in saving your livestock when power is down. The flow can create surface agitation for air exchange & some flow can bring oxygen to the corals.

Flow in the display tank takes priority over flow in the sump.

 

Got this Coralbox backup battery to hook up to the AI Nero wavemaker. This one is version 2 which now works for Nero & many more Jebao / Maxpect wavemakers & pumps.

 

 

From what i heard from fellow reefers, Version 1 does NOT work for Nero.

 

 

 

 

It comes with 2 outputs using the standard 2.35mm DC connector. I'm hooking up the 2nd port to a 12V air pump that I plan to run in the sump.

Uses a 7A fuse (in case you need to buy spares)

And its possible to run batteries in series to extend battery life.

 

For power failure mitigation, this is my setup :

• Total 3 batteries in total for my tank.
  • 1 Coralbex V2 battery (the one in this post) - For AI Nero
  • 2 Ecotech batteries for 2 Ecotech vortech wavemakers - For MP40 & MP60. (A few years old already. Possibly time for a replacement just in case.)

 

• Apex Neptune (using Heartbeat feature to notify you if its not able to connect to the cloud for the past 30min). This also means there is a 30min 'delay' before you are notified of a power failure. Sends mobile app & email notification. Also set up to call my phone (kiasu bo?)

 

• iSocket https://www.isocket3g.com/en/  (previously purchased before Apex came out with the heart beat feature)

 

[Indeco]

Bro, how do you handle equipment failure? E.g. return pump, chiller.

My fear is it fail and unable to get replacement on the day itself.

[SubzeroLT]

4 hours ago, Indeco said:

Bro, how do you handle equipment failure? E.g. return pump, chiller.

My fear is it fail and unable to get replacement on the day itself.

Having an Apex Neptune can help notify you immediately when things go wrong. Install sensors for triggers. The main worry of course is when equipment fails & you are at work or travelling.

And have spare of everything critical (eg. CO2 tank, CO2 regulator, CR recirculating pump, Extra return pumps, Ca/Mg/KH powder, apex brain module, pH probes etc)

 

Return pump failure? - I have 2 return pumps (Vectra M1) running in the tank. Each is set around 20%. Though a single return pump can handle the overall tank requirements, having 2 pumps provides some redundancy. Also have a spare Jebao pump on hand.

 

Chiller/compressor fail? - Apex neptune will trigger if temperature crosses over 28.5 degC. If so, I will remotely turn off all my LED lights to minimize addition of heat. Contingency is to turn on the room aircon until the chiller/compressor is fixed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Indeco]

I using caperplus and webcam to check for failure but I'm worry my pump and chiller only.

I guess I need to follow ur way add additional pump to the system, install compressor and use chiller as backup.

I also check with a few electrician see whether can install some back up power when my house power down but till now not able to do it. Haha.

[SubzeroLT]

On 6/17/2019 at 12:08 AM, Indeco said:

I using caperplus and webcam to check for failure but I'm worry my pump and chiller only.

I guess I need to follow ur way add additional pump to the system, install compressor and use chiller as backup.

I also check with a few electrician see whether can install some back up power when my house power down but till now not able to do it. Haha.

I think power backup for the entire house or even tank system is much  more involved. Generators or larger batteries may not be practical for most apartment dwellers.

 

The other reliable power failure notification system is isocket (uses 3G SIM card).

I used that in the past but just rely on Apex neptune notification for now (with 30min delay)

[SubzeroLT]

Using the new batch Clarisea fleece for the past 2 weeks. New material, longer ....and same price

Fleece appears darker & seems to be picking up more stuff. My old batch fleece currently lasts about 1.5 - 2 months. Looking forward to the new fleece lasting even longer.

 

 

Got a new single channel dosing pump from ReefmarketSG (see arrow in pic below). I got it for its versatility & ease of placement. Great for things like dosing NoPox or as simple ATO for the quarantine tank.

Easy to use mobile app user interface similar to the 4 channel dosing pump shared earlier. But this one is so small & convenient to position.

More pics later.

 

 

[PowderTang]

Hi where did you get the fleece ?

[SubzeroLT]

Got from ReefmarketSG.

I think it should be available from the other shops that carry Clarisea product as well.

[Ashtrax]

On 6/16/2019 at 8:41 AM, SubzeroLT said:

Measured water parameters today :

Ca : 410

Mg : 1410

KH : 9.0         (I'm targeting at 8.5 - 9.3 range)

Running slightly higher KH works better for growth. And somehow better maintains the Ca/Mg balance.  

Just stocked up on more salt

 

Leon for your Salt Salinity what is your tank set at? May I know what the KH values for your fresh Salt MIX?

[SubzeroLT]

 

40 minutes ago, Ashtrax said:

Leon for your Salt Salinity what is your tank set at? May I know what the KH values for your fresh Salt MIX?

My tank salinity is at 35ppt.

Not measured fresh salt water mix recently but recall its around 9+ KH.

 

 

[Ashtrax]

22 minutes ago, SubzeroLT said:

 

My tank salinity is at 35ppt.

Not measured fresh salt water mix recently but recall its around 9+ KH.

 

 

Sure thanks. 

[SubzeroLT]

Finally snapped a pic of the male Watanabe Angel

 

Starry Blenny

 

The 2 big bullies of the tank

 

Finally started to grow (and quite quickly) after many months

 

 

[SubzeroLT]

Was away on a pretty long work trip to Barcelona. Love the architecture & food there.

 

Midway through, every reefer's nightmare came true - the CO2 tank for the calcium reactor ran out of gas (wonder why it ran out so soon this time).

 

Many thanks to Lawrence & Chun Wai for popping over to my place late on Sunday night to swap in the spare tank. 

 

Very fortunate to have technology today to be able to monitor parameters remotely and able to communicate with friends real time via whatsapp.

And then be able to remotely monitor KH via the Alkatronic & adjust the calcium reactor CO2 timing (via Apex) to compensate & push up KH till things are stabilized. 

 

This incident makes me think of further fool proofing it. Doestronic? Backup connected CO2 tank?

 

 

[SubzeroLT]

The alkatronic started to show "Restart" error after I moved things around.

Its clearly because the algorithm detected an anomaly amount of reagent vs the pH reading its reading. Checked the luer connections is tight. Checked that the filter inlet is submerged under water. Checked there was enough reagent. All looked OK but I was still getting the "Restart" issue.

After debugging further, found that the part of the silicon reagent tube/hose connecting to the hard tube has tiny micro holes and letting air in. This stress must be from the 1.5yrs of stretching over the hard tube. Snipped it off & reconnected the a fresh part of the hose back to the tube & its all good again

 

[JMW]

20 minutes ago, SubzeroLT said:

Was away on a pretty long work trip to Barcelona. Love the architecture & food there.

I

 

Midway through, every reefer's nightmare came true - the CO2 tank for the calcium reactor ran out of gas (wonder why it ran out so soon this time).

 

 

Many thanks to Lawrence & Chun Wai for popping over to my place late on Sunday night to swap in the spare tank. 

 

Very fortunate to have technology today to be able to monitor parameters remotely and able to communicate with friends real time via whatsapp.

And then be able to remotely monitor KH via the Alkatronic & adjust the calcium reactor CO2 timing (via Apex) to compensate & push up KH till things are stabilized. 

 

This incident makes me think of further fool proofing it. Doestronic? Backup connected CO2 tank?

 

 

Really glad to know that crisis was averted! Totally agree that it’s important to have some buddies to help attend to matters when one is overseas..

for some weird reason, equipment tends to fail when we are travelling. I was on a work trip to Europe too when upon reaching home, discovered that one of my wavemakers stopped working. Thankfully was ‘in time’ to replace it & prevent casualties!

It can be a stressful hobby 

[SubzeroLT]

Got a square anthias from a LFS over the weekend. Looked OK at the shop but noticed a few patches on its body at home where the light is brighter.

Apparently anthias are susceptible to flukes. Took no chances.

 

Went down to C328 on Saturday night get Prazi Gold. And the flukes started to fall out within a couple of minutes. Didn't really count but estimate maybe 60 of them.

 

 

Fish didn't make. Died the next day

Should have checked it better before buying. Informed the LFS & they took action on their end.

 

[SubzeroLT]

7 minutes ago, JMW said:

Really glad to know that crisis was averted! Totally agree that it’s important to have some buddies to help attend to matters when one is overseas..

for some weird reason, equipment tends to fail when we are travelling. I was on a work trip to Europe too when upon reaching home, discovered that one of my wavemakers stopped working. Thankfully was ‘in time’ to replace it & prevent casualties!

It can be a stressful hobby 

Yeah...exactly!

Must have various layers of backup equipment running in the tank system & contingencies in storage.

[SubzeroLT]

Other updates :

The new batch Clarisea fleece is running great! So dark & dirty. And plenty more left in the reel.

I read on the DD facebook page that the cause of the fleece clumping up is the long screws holder the side panels are too tight, causing the white plate to bend.

 

 

Switched over to Nyos Nitrate & Phosphate test kits. They use a 2 bottle indicator method which makes it a lot easier to read the colors and less guess work.

 

Cheap & good quality test kits

 

 

New pump!!

 

The outlet pipe adapter now supports a 1" pipe size (compared to M1's 0.75" pipe)

 

Silicon hose in between instead of PVC pipe all the way to reduce vibrations up to the display tank. Also no need to fuss with exact PVC pipe length.

 

Plenty of flow at 35% setting. That's my setting per pump. (I have total 2 Vectra pushing from the sump pushing water up to the display tank)

 

Definitely efficient. Only 14w power

 

 

[Admiraltian]

8 hours ago, SubzeroLT said:

Other updates :

The new batch Clarisea fleece is running great! So dark & dirty. And plenty more left in the reel.

I read on the DD facebook page that the cause of the fleece clumping up is the long screws holder the side panels are too tight, causing the white plate to bend.

 

 

Switched over to Nyos Nitrate & Phosphate test kits. They use a 2 bottle indicator method which makes it a lot easier to read the colors and less guess work.

 

Cheap & good quality test kits

 

 

New pump!!

 

The outlet pipe adapter now supports a 1" pipe size (compared to M1's 0.75" pipe)

 

Silicon hose in between instead of PVC pipe all the way to reduce vibrations up to the display tank. Also no need to fuss with exact PVC pipe length.

 

Plenty of flow at 35% setting. That's my setting per pump. (I have total 2 Vectra pushing from the sump pushing water up to the display tank)

 

Definitely efficient. Only 14w power

 

 

I also recently switched to nyos nitrate test Kits. But keep getting transparent and no color results. Does it mean my nitrate is 0ppm? My previous kit I’m using is Salifert but I have not been using it for a long time and the reagents hv expired. 

[SubzeroLT]

4 hours ago, Admiraltian said:

I also recently switched to nyos nitrate test Kits. But keep getting transparent and no color results. Does it mean my nitrate is 0ppm? My previous kit I’m using is Salifert but I have not been using it for a long time and the reagents hv expired. 

The nyos test kit is accurate & consistent. I'd trust the results.