Melev's new 280g Starfire tank thread - Page 24

fordrangr · #**576** 02/27/2007, 06:35 PM

Just wanted to let people know that I am back and started entering stuff in my own thread again. It has been a while but I hope this will be the last of extra hours at work.

Marc, sorry to hijack your thread. I love your tank and look at your website and entries as often as I can. I have learned a lot from you and hope to continue learning.

Here is the link for mine:
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=998030

melev · #**577** 02/27/2007, 07:48 PM

I saw your post yesterday as I'm subscribed. Thanks for stopping by.

melev · #**578** 02/27/2007, 08:01 PM

Okay, the back of the tank is scraped again and the new VorTech is in place. I didn't realize the motor would be interfering with my power panel cabinet, so the cabinet is going to need to be moved. My hope is that the majority of the wiring can still reach when I move it to the wall on the right. As of now, I don't know yet.

I still need to remove the siliconed bracket the Tunze was on, but here it is. It is significantly smaller. I'd really like to hide the other one or put another VorTech down lower, especially once the controller comes out.

Hop · #**579** 02/27/2007, 08:25 PM

Marc,

What is the cord length on the votecs and tunzes? Will there be any trouble running them due to cord lengths when the controller comes out for the vortecs? How about issues with the tunzes due to the same issue? I'm trying to figure out if the cords will be long enough for an 8' tank if the controller is on one side...

Ursus · #**580** 02/27/2007, 08:28 PM

So go ahead, go back to your fancy website, and your big tank, and your podcast, and your multiple vortechs, and Victoria Silvstedt playmate of the year.

I want one.

melev · #**581** 02/27/2007, 08:29 PM

The controller will be wireless, so that doesn't matter at all. Rumor has it it will control up to 12 of these pumps, but that could very well change.

The cord from the Vortech to the driver (speed control) is 8'. Then another 6' cord goes from it to the power supply, and another 3' cord from the power supply to the wall.

The Tunze comes with a VERY long cord, which I've got coiled up and zip tied. It must be nearly 12' long to the driver, plus the cord that leads to the power supply and wall outlet.

melev · #**582** 02/27/2007, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ursus
So go ahead, go back to your fancy website, and your big tank, and your podcast, and your multiple vortechs, and Victoria Silvstedt playmate of the year.

Mmmm. Victoria. Ahhhh....

bleedingthought · #**583** 02/27/2007, 09:04 PM

That's more than 500 legitimate e-mails a day!

Man, have you got your hands full!!!

bmwaaron · #**584** 02/27/2007, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by melev
I picked up my new VorTech. I still need to clean the glass and install it, and figure out where to put the Tunze it'll replace. I'd like to tuck it in behind the rockwork, but I don't know if I've got the room.

Btw, I was just looking at my email statistics for Feb 12 - 27th. In the past 15 days, I've received 16,786 emails. 55% of those were spam, but is it any wonder I have troubles replying to everyone.

How many of those emails were asking what happened to Evan

I know a Secretary that lives in Las Vegas that may be able to help answer your email Marc!!!

bheron · #**585** 02/27/2007, 09:43 PM

Marc, so do you use extension cords when devices can reach your power center? I am planning mine and hear from some people that they're not safe to use 24/7.

Hop · #**586** 02/27/2007, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by melev
The controller will be wireless, so that doesn't matter at all. Rumor has it it will control up to 12 of these pumps, but that could very well change.

The cord from the Vortech to the driver (speed control) is 8'. Then another 6' cord goes from it to the power supply, and another 3' cord from the power supply to the wall.

The Tunze comes with a VERY long cord, which I've got coiled up and zip tied. It must be nearly 12' long to the driver, plus the cord that leads to the power supply and wall outlet.

Thank you!

I'm still leaning toward the tunze... With the side mounted overflow, it really limits where I can put them (the vortechs) on the left side of the tank.

Plus the wireless controller scares me! With my luck it would be the same frequency as my satellite dish remote... Then every time the controller changed it would purchase a high-dollar inappropriate adult movie

melev · #**587** 02/27/2007, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bheron
Marc, so do you use extension cords when devices can reach your power center? I am planning mine and hear from some people that they're not safe to use 24/7.

Extension cords should be fine if they are equally rated or more heavily rated. Consider this: When you use a 6-way powerstrip, how thick is that cord coming out of it? Yet you still have 6 items plugged in.

It really comes down to what is plugged in. MaxiJets are no big deal, but your return pump and MH ballasts carry a significant load and may require beefier cords.

melev · #**588** 02/27/2007, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hop
Thank you!

I'm still leaning toward the tunze... With the side mounted overflow, it really limits where I can put them (the vortechs) on the left side of the tank.

Plus the wireless controller scares me! With my luck it would be the same frequency as my satellite dish remote... Then every time the controller changed it would purchase a high-dollar inappropriate adult movie

I just finished cleaning off the cord to my Tunze, and created a bracket to help keep it closer to the corner of the tank instead of out in the wide open. I took a scrap of acrylic, and heated it so I could bend it in the shape of a C. Now it can grip the Euro-bracing of the tank. Next, two small holes were drilled through the bracket so I could affix the Tunze's cord with a zip-tie to the underside.

This allowed me to force the cord to stay in the corner and be less obvious.

Here's a picture before the cord holder.

And after. The old Tunze bracket is gone and the side panel cleaned up. I still need to clean the bottom Tunze pump.

Here are three pictures of the bracket.

If my wireless controller gets me free porn, I consider that a bonus. Heck, based on the price of these pumps, it should be included.

Ritten · #**589** 02/27/2007, 11:24 PM

Simply astonishing Marc, your tanks make me crazy . . it makes me want to start over!

melev · #**590** 02/27/2007, 11:37 PM

Thank you Ritten. I appreciate it, but if you had one similar, you'd be just as busy as I am.

LarryW · #**591** 02/28/2007, 12:28 AM

Marc how do you like that vortec? I am was thinking about getting the tunze, but I saw the vortec's this afternoon, and they look really sweet.

I found the owners manual and a video that gives thanks to you!

Any word on when the controllers will be out, and $?

melev · #**592** 02/28/2007, 01:17 AM

Hi Larry. I've had a VorTech in my tank since January of last year. This one is my brand new one so I now have two on my tank. I called up Evan, a friend of mine, and told him that I just bought a VorTech so I'd finally have a backup for the current one. He was shocked until I burst out laughing and told him I'd gotten it for my tank. He was about to tell me that I was nuts.

I don't know what the controller will cost, but odds are it'll be around $150 or more.

The pump is connected to a small white box that allows you to turn the pump up and down between 100gph and 3200gph. So you do have some control for now, but it doesn't cycle or ramp up and down on its own. Yet.

melev · #**593** 02/28/2007, 01:39 AM

This the reef tank I saw while in Houston. The owner (Fishcraze) has a stunning reef full of healthy corals, fish, anemones and more. It was hard to leave.

Hop · #**594** 02/28/2007, 01:51 AM

Have you thought about tucking that cord in somehow and removing it from view? That's one of the reasons I asked you about the cord length as I'm thinking of using two of the faux rocks for the lower, front pumps and then running the cord under the sandbed and then in some type of channel, up the back. Or some other manner of getting the cord out of sight.

I'm not worried about seeing the pumps in the upper rear as I don't think they are any worse than seeing plumbing coming down, but up front I'm trying to keep everything hidden. Your pump doesn't stand out that much though, with the coraline, it blends in

melev · #**595** 02/28/2007, 01:53 AM

Yes, with the super long cord you could hide it along the substrate and back wall.

melev · #**596** 02/28/2007, 02:55 AM

Here are all the pictures I took of Fishcraze's tank:
http://www.marshreef.com/modules.php...=165109#165109

I don't think you have to log in to view the images on their site.

Micki · #**597** 02/28/2007, 07:01 AM

Awesome pictures! How big is his tank? I didn't see that anywhere.

Hop · #**598** 02/28/2007, 10:01 AM

Wow! That is an extraordinary tank! Too much to look at

I was overloaded! I'm going to have to look at everything again later.

Micki, it looks like a 180 to me, but not 100% sure

Lordhelmet · #**599** 02/28/2007, 01:11 PM

wow marc. THAT WOODWORK IS AMAZING!!!!!!

melev · #**600** 02/28/2007, 01:59 PM

I think it is a 240g, but I can't recall at the moment.