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#976
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I'm really liking my 12K ReefLux bulb - a lot. The tank looks so crisp, and without the blue reflection the living room no longer looks like a disco.
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The Dude abides |
#977
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Coming home, I walk towards my apartment building, and can see the window next to our tank lit up from the actinics that pop on at 4:30PM. I can't believe the cops haven't knocked on our door to check if we're growing pot.
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#978
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Kevin "You cannot achieve what you are not willing to pursue." |
#979
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#980
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I'm getting a little tired of dealing with pump seizures. Last night, after the feed mode had completed, the Mag5 sump return pump seized (again). I had a long day and the last thing I wanted to do at 10:30 was remove the pump to clean it, but that's what I had to do. There were minimal visible calcium deposits on the impeller and on the housing where the impeller resides, and I didn't want to take the time to clean the unit in vinegar or muriatic acid, so I cleaned out the pump the best I could and just replaced the impeller with a spare that I had. The malfunctioning impeller shaft was essentially glued into place and wouldn't move up and down like the new impeller shaft is able to do, so there must be some precipitates inside the black impeller housing that I can't see. I'm going to soak this impeller in muriatic acid and see if I can loosen it up a bit, but if I can't then I'm just going to get rid of it.
I tried to put myself on a schedule to clean my Mag pumps and avoid these problems, but this has not been successful. The closed loop pump is on all of the time, even while feeding, so it only stops working after 4-5 months. On an every 3-month schedule I'm pretty sure I can keep this one (a Mag12) going well. The sump return pump, on the other hand, turns off daily with feedings, and it's more susceptible to problems. I looked back on my aquarium log and my sump pump seizes about every 1-2 months. Since setting up the sump 14 months ago, I've had 3 return pump impellers break, and I've cleaned unbroken impellers another 3 times. Does this seem excessive? I'm going to do one of the following: 1. Buy another Mag5 so that if/when a seizure occurs, I can simply replace the entire pump and clean the other one at a convenient time. 2. Clean the pump monthly. 3. Change to a different pump. Any votes or advice out there? I think a combination of #s 1 and 2 is probably the best option.
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The Dude abides |
#981
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I like one and two. You do drip kalkwasser, and this is one of the ramifications.
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Marc Levenson - member of DFWMAS |
#982
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I used to leave my Mag return pumps on and shut off my CLs. It pulled some foods out, but the fish were able to capture more in the lower flow. I think the Mags, especially the smaller ones (i.e. 5 & 7s) will have a more difficult time re-starting against head. Where your CL dose not see the head, only frictional loss.
I don't run a CL at the moment, but my 75 g had a Pan World 50XPX that never gave me a problem in a full year of operation. Cleaned it when I moved. A second CL on that set up used a Mag 9.5 which I had to replace once.
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Click my Red House to check out my 120 in office reef (upgraded in Aug 06) Seeking therapy for my fish tank ADD |
#983
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melev - Glad to see you're still lurking here, Marc. I've pretty much decided that options 1 and 2 are the way to go since I will continue to drip kalk. I actually have a lot of catch-up to do on your thread. I stopped receiving update notices over a month ago, and I find myself back on page 26 .
Bax - Thanks for the info as well. I looked at the Pan World pumps, but the footprint is far too large to fit in the return section of my sump. Guess I'll just have to get some more muriatic acid. Hey, isn't this thread gonna split soon?
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The Dude abides |
#984
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It must be the Kalk Mike. I am running a mag 9.5 for my return and I have never cleaned it. Of course, I only shut it off for water changes.
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Gabriel So shoot me! |
#985
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Great thread by the way, I have been following it for a while
I'll have to agree with gkarshens and melev. I have a mag 5 I ran for probably 5-7 with minimal cleaning....started dripping kalk and not only my mag 5 I use for return but also the mag 3 I have on the Urchin skimmer froze up and required cleaning. Thanks for all the progress documentation and allowing us to join you along the way |
#986
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The Dude abides |
#987
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divetime - We must have posted simultaneously. I think I remember you here in the distant past - glad you've resurfaced. You ran your mag pump for 5-7 what ... months, I presume? What pumps are you using now, still the mags or have you switched?
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The Dude abides |
#988
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13 posts to go. IBTS!!! (In Before The Split!)
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Marc Levenson - member of DFWMAS |
#989
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I purchased a wet/dry filter that had a mag 5 as a return probably 5-7 YEARS ago and it's been running ever since with no issues.
I recently decided to go from FO to maybe a reef or FO with LR and started dripping kalk. Needless to say once I started doing that both of my mags started to freeze up so I took Melev's advice & started cleaning them every few months in muriatic acid. No more issues |
#990
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like i need more crap stuffed in my stand, but can you guys elaborate on calcium reactors? It kind of sounds like if I would add one of those, I wouldn't need to add calcium and alk. supplements. Is that right? I just bought my first corals, so I'm getting up to speed with managing calcium and alk levels now that I have a drain on them.
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#991
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I just have a Sequence Hammerhead for return and the Vortechs...no need to clean them for running problems but the coraline algae sure lkoves the wet frames! The Hammerhead is on 24/7.
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Jonathan--DIBS Breeder and Card carrying member of the Square Skimmer Brigade (Click on the Red House to see my pics garage) |
#992
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jnarowe (Jonathan, is it?) - Could you imagine what a Hammerhead would do to my little tank? I think it would blow the walls right off!
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The Dude abides |
#993
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I ran a mag 12 and also dripped kalk and never had a pump failure (knock on wood)
Mike- When is the BIG tank going to be in? |
#994
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But seriously, the new office opens in the 1st week of February, so the tank has to contain matured and healthy livestock by then. I imagine the actual glass box will be installed in early January.
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The Dude abides |
#995
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That's the right idea, regarding the calcium reactor. For larger tanks, it ends up being more economical plus it greatly helps maintain consistent numbers.
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Marc Levenson - member of DFWMAS |
#996
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Thanks for the great explanation Dudester. That really clears that up. It's very tempting, but...
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#997
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Click my Red House to check out my 120 in office reef (upgraded in Aug 06) Seeking therapy for my fish tank ADD |
#998
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hehe...what I meant was that I just use the one Sequence for return flow which nets out to about 4200 gph and the rest is from Vortechs. For a 1000g display that is considered by most to be under-flow for the return, but I don't believe that a lot of return flow is needed. Just enough to get the job done.
I think you could alter your pump situation and greatly reduce maintanance and heat issues. Essentially my entire system runs on the one pump, and I have a spare ready if there is a problem. That really cuts down on electrical consumption as well.
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Jonathan--DIBS Breeder and Card carrying member of the Square Skimmer Brigade (Click on the Red House to see my pics garage) |
#999
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techreef and Bax -
Jonathan - How would you suggest I alter my pump configuration, I'd love to get your comments? As I see it, I need 1 pump for a return from the sump, and another one running my CL. The only way I can see getting around having 2 pumps is putting another powerhead in the tank, which I don't want to do. The Mag12 running my CL has been pretty low-maintenance, considering I've only cleaned it and/or changed impellers 3 times in the last 15 months. As far as heat, I think I've got that problem solved. The temp probe-controlled fan does a good job of keeping it cool in the summer, and there have been several nights already this winter where my heaters have enjoyed the assistance of the in-sump Mag pump and the CL pump. Check out this thread about my gigas clam and let me know what you all think. Here's a pic to tease you about the topic.
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The Dude abides |
#1000
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This thread was automatically split due to performance issues. You can find the rest of the thread here: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=993868
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