Tank of the Month - July 2004 - Page 5

Pisces from SA · #**101** 07/13/2004, 09:47 AM

One general question here, and forgive me if I post it in the incorrect area. I am a newbie to this. but has anyone got any comments with regards to a ECO-Aqualizer, www.ecoaqualizer.com ?

chrisg2004 · #**102** 07/13/2004, 10:22 AM

Well I was just reviewing the product... wondering if it really does do what it says it does... I would like to get some reviews before I invest in this product.

reefcrazed · #**103** 07/13/2004, 11:24 AM

I would ask Randy Holmes Farley what he thinks about this product in the chemistry forum. I would be interested to know as well.

Ninong · #**104** 07/13/2004, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by reefcrazed
I would ask Randy Holmes Farley what he thinks about this product in the chemistry forum. I would be interested to know as well.

Randy has already expressed his opinion of this product. In fact, hundreds of people have expressed their opinions of this product: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...&highlight=eco and http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...&highlight=eco

But before you go to those links with their hundreds of responses, you might want to check out the dissection pictures and testing of the product here: http://www.inlandreef.com/Testing/Eco.html

I am only posting this for the benefit of reefcrazed since it is his thread and he asked the question, I don't think we should discuss the eco-aqualizer in this thread. There are dozens of other threads already open on this product.

reefcrazed · #**105** 07/13/2004, 02:42 PM

Thaks I will check these out!

miston · #**106** 07/14/2004, 07:21 PM

reefcrazed, you've got any rooms for rent? Or perhaps you could just rope off a corner close to your tank?

I'll sleep in the garage when you've got company over!

reefcrazed · #**107** 07/15/2004, 09:41 AM

Actually you can rent the space under the tank.

Big enough and comfortable enough to sleep in. Plus you have the gentle sound of the ocean breeze (fans in caopy) as well as the water movement in the tank. If you are lucky, you may even get that fresh scent of the ocean breeze too. This can be yours "if the price is right!"

dbgator1 · #**108** 07/15/2004, 09:25 PM

The amount and variety of things in your tank is unbelievable. I only hope i can have something so nice one day. Thanks for showing us it.

torbin · #**109** 07/16/2004, 10:55 AM

Awesome setup. I know this is a dumb question, but I'm curious how detailed you mapped your tank in terms of coral selction/placement and how much it evolved over time. For example, did you have a general idea where you wanted stony corals or did you know that you wanted a specific species in a certain spot. I'm stocking a 215 right now and any advice, suggestions, lessons, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Again, incredible tank.

reefcrazed · #**110** 07/16/2004, 11:01 AM

I always knew I wanted a mixed reef w/ soft, hard and acro and inverts. Through experience I know what stings what and planned accordingly. Foe instance, I purposely sandwiched my Xenia inbetween two Acros that will not let it encroach on them. I have other softies grouped together so they will not grow onto other rocks because I put a gap there to stop them from spreading too much. I used to move things around until I was completely happy. Now all corals are encrusted and I cannot move them. There are a few I wish I could still move. I am a lot more particular on the type and color of corals I prefer now compared to when I first started. In fact there are a handful of colonies I want to sell to make room for a few other species I would like to get but cuurrently have no room for. I also have some sweet fragts that I need to keep in my grow out tank because there is no room for them in the main display.

Other than that, things kind of just turned out in a good way.

rjwilson37 · #**111** 07/16/2004, 11:46 AM

I hear you. I am still new and do not know what can and can't be to close together as far as corals go. I should probably pick up a book and read everything I can about all the corals I have so I know where to put things when I get my bigger tank. The 55 gallon is still kinda easy to move things around and only a year old so not everything is encrusted yet.

reefcrazed · #**112** 07/16/2004, 12:00 PM

YES! Read everything you possibly can!

josepha · #**113** 07/20/2004, 12:00 AM

reefcrazed,
I am currently restarting my 280gal reef and wanted to get more details about the circulation in the tank, specifically the closed loop systems. Can you describe the closed loop systems for me? do they exculsively move water / pull water from the tank and push it back in through the sea swirls, or do they do any mechanical or other types of filtering. Also in terms of maintenance, besides water changes, are you only surface skimming or do you pull any water from lower areas of the tank for filtration? How do you think this setup differs from / benefits over setting up some larger powerheads with a basic wave maker?

reefcrazed · #**114** 07/20/2004, 06:49 AM

The closed loops pull water from 10"down in the back of the aquarium on each side of the rank and simply recirculate the water through the Sea Swirls wothout any other filtration. Besides water changes and surface skimming I also run carbon every other month for two weeks or so (when I sense that slight yellowish tint to the water when looking through the sides. I simply do not like the look of large powerheads in thewater and in addition I have heard that wavemakers greatly reduce the powerhead life by constantly turning on and off the pump.

I hope this helps. Good luck and show us pics when done or along the way!

scottd34 · #**115** 07/20/2004, 09:51 AM

Very impressive. I love the color and variety. Congratulations on the TOTM, you definately deserve it.

reefcrazed · #**116** 07/20/2004, 09:52 AM

Thanks, I really appreciate the positive feedback.

thedogofwar · #**117** 07/21/2004, 06:43 AM

That is one sweet tank and it sounds like you've got a pretty good woman too. Mine was also kind enough to loan me the dinning room for my tank. Congrats on TOTM honor, very well deserved.

four20reefer · #**118** 07/21/2004, 09:04 PM

Very Impressive. I love the colors.

messymessmer · #**119** 07/21/2004, 11:03 PM

love your tank. i admire all the hard work you put into that beautiful ecosystem. If you have time maybe you could give me some advice. just mail me if possible

leebca · #**120** 07/22/2004, 07:36 PM

reefcrazed,
Excellent job. I'm still not straight in my mind about the sequencing of your equipment. Pardon if I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Starting with the overflow, can you list in sequence (series) the equipment (including sump, refugium, etc.) the water goes through (especially noting where the pump(s) in the system is positioned.

Appreciate it.

LEE

reefcrazed · #**121** 07/22/2004, 07:47 PM

Hmmm, ok. Water goes over the overflow down the drain pipes into the sump. Then in the sump the skimmer skims the water and puts the water back into the sump.

Then the main return pump (dolphin 4500) draws water from the bottom center of the sump and pumps it back into the tank via a 2" return pipe that splits into two 1 1/2" pipes which then splits again into 4 3/4" modular pipes in the aquarium on the top right and left sides.

In the back of the aquarium 24" from each side and 10" down from the top are two 2" screened holes that draw water in for the closed loop via 2 velocity pumps and 1 Ampmaster 3000. These are then returned to the tank via 4 1" sea swirls.

In the sump there is a power head that draws water into the refugium and a 1" screened hole at the top of the refugium where the water flows into back to the sump.

There is also a mag 24 and an Iwaki pump that power the frag grow out tank and the Q-tank. I have numerous maxi-jet powerheads in the frag tank.

I hope this clarifies any confusion.

page · #**122** 07/23/2004, 08:10 PM

vary nice wow

page · #**123** 07/24/2004, 05:43 AM

what additives do you use on your tank if any.

ariel47 · #**124** 07/24/2004, 10:40 AM

your tank is beautiful. my dream tank is a 240 gal (mainly because my husband will not let me go bigger) if I could get my tank to look as healthy as yours I'd be so HAPPY, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

reefcrazed · #**125** 07/26/2004, 10:54 AM

I use Kent Lugols weekly as well as Magnesium when levels are low. I have been testing this Amino Acid supplement from Salifert, but the conclusion is still out. I read somewhere that it stimulates the coral to fight off disease. I had those red bugs (not many at all) and I have been using theis product for about 5 months and I do not see any red bugs anymore. I will sometimes dose Strontium. That is about it. Besides Kent Super Buffer and Turbo Calcium occasionally.