CDA 87G
- Thread starter Ibn
- Start date
sfsuphysics
Supporting Member
there's knock off versions of the Pax? or the DIY versions people do with wrapping strip LEDs around them?
sfsuphysics
Supporting Member
Yeah good luck on that, I think Pax Bellum is vigorously defending their "we put a tube in the middle of a reactor that holds lights, so we won't let anyone else do it" patent
RandyC
Supporting Member
Skimz has one too. Have you heard of issue with the Pax Bellum guys going after Skimz?
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/mbr1...MIxYi7qoGI2gIVi5J-Ch2WJgAwEAQYAiABEgIc1vD_BwE
scuzy
Guest
Maybe that's the reason why they have a pump on the bottom to differentiate and not get law suit? They can only run inside sump.
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sfsuphysics
Supporting Member
Without seeing the patent couldn't say, it might be they did something with their vertical heat pipe, or it might be something as a simple as really nothing new but no one ever made a product (or got a patent) on something that does everything, kind of like Orbitec with their "use LEDs to grow stuff in an aquarium" patent (which later had many of the patents thrown out via reexamination IIRC).
Of course I don't remember the specific article I read and it may have been something as simple as the Chinese factory Pax's parts are being cranked out of had another set made for some other company who literally just built the same thing with different branding. In which case I may be putting Pax Bellum in a bad light unfairly.
Either way seems you could make something similar with some titanium tubing down the center and simply water cool the LEDs, of course you'd want some setup to turn the LEDs off if the water flow stopped (or some temperature sensor to automatically turn them off)
Of course I don't remember the specific article I read and it may have been something as simple as the Chinese factory Pax's parts are being cranked out of had another set made for some other company who literally just built the same thing with different branding. In which case I may be putting Pax Bellum in a bad light unfairly.
Either way seems you could make something similar with some titanium tubing down the center and simply water cool the LEDs, of course you'd want some setup to turn the LEDs off if the water flow stopped (or some temperature sensor to automatically turn them off)
sfsuphysics
Supporting Member
And not to derail Eric's thread with ontopic stuff, but that is one sexy looking sump.
Ibn
Guest
Thanks! Basically took what I saw and liked from other sump models and DIY it.
This reactor didn't have an issue growing chaeto, when I wasn't as aggressive with my weekly water changes. Makes me want to try the Triton method for sure.
sfsuphysics
Supporting Member
Ok found this chaeto reactor, just was looking at videos on youtube of the Skimz reactor and there were recommendations on this one, ITC ALR (with 1,2,3 for various sizes). Seems to be a UK/European thing though (only places I seen it for sale have prices in GBP or Euros. Either way, the Pax doesn't look fundamentally much different except for the LED has that big heatsink at the top for their heatpipes.
Ibn
Guest
Tank, stand, sump, and lights moved into the office. Stopped by Neptune on Friday and checked to see if the tank could be delivered on Saturday, but Robert didn't have any one around that he could spare. He asked me if I wanted it to be delivered immediate. Here she is sitting in one of the downstairs conference room waiting for the stand.
Speaking of stand, that was an experience itself getting it into the office. John had dropped it off at my place for the finishing work, but I figured it would fit into my buddy's Arcadia. It was off by about 1" since his car tapers slightly near the roof. Had to use a HD van to move it instead. If you've never seen one or driven one before, it's quite the experience. Enough cargo room to swallow a very sizable tank and in this case made quick work of the stand.
Plumbing was pretty straight forward.
2 x 1/2" loc-line returns with the Synergy Shadow overflow box
Bean animal plumbing completed. The red outflow is the emergency while the other two are the primary and secondary. Outflow isn't quite done yet since I still needed to install the manifold. Also removed the middle bulkhead for the wiring since I couldn't feed the skimmer wire through. Also added two more John guests quick disconnects near that hole for Triton dosing if needed.
Speaking of stand, that was an experience itself getting it into the office. John had dropped it off at my place for the finishing work, but I figured it would fit into my buddy's Arcadia. It was off by about 1" since his car tapers slightly near the roof. Had to use a HD van to move it instead. If you've never seen one or driven one before, it's quite the experience. Enough cargo room to swallow a very sizable tank and in this case made quick work of the stand.
Plumbing was pretty straight forward.
2 x 1/2" loc-line returns with the Synergy Shadow overflow box
Bean animal plumbing completed. The red outflow is the emergency while the other two are the primary and secondary. Outflow isn't quite done yet since I still needed to install the manifold. Also removed the middle bulkhead for the wiring since I couldn't feed the skimmer wire through. Also added two more John guests quick disconnects near that hole for Triton dosing if needed.
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Ibn
Guest
The 47G set up was picked up on Saturday.
Temporary bin for the fish and small amount of corals.
Old Tonga as well as the equipment was moved into a separate bin (which I eventually gifted the buyer since there was no way all of it was gonna fit into a 5G bucket).
Tank drained, equipment removed, and sump was emptied (the sliding sump platform still works really well).
Took 1.5 hours to get everything loaded into D's van and she was off, returning the empty corner back to me.
Temporary bin for the fish and small amount of corals.
Old Tonga as well as the equipment was moved into a separate bin (which I eventually gifted the buyer since there was no way all of it was gonna fit into a 5G bucket).
Tank drained, equipment removed, and sump was emptied (the sliding sump platform still works really well).
Took 1.5 hours to get everything loaded into D's van and she was off, returning the empty corner back to me.
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Ibn
Guest
Called my buddy up once again and we finally moved the entire setup over.
This is the first shot that shows all the panels in place. John did a great job on the stand and I just had to paint the inside and seal the hardwood ply. There are no hinges on any of the panels and they're held in place using 1 x 1/4" magnets.
All the plumbing including the manifold is in place. I didn't have an sch80 endcap and had to run to HD for one at the last minute. Didn't bother painting it as a reminder to myself that I screwed up on the plumbing. We'll see if it bothers me enough to rip it down the line and correct for it.
Water is running through the system, but definitely needs to clear up before I can get the fish and corals back in.
This is the first shot that shows all the panels in place. John did a great job on the stand and I just had to paint the inside and seal the hardwood ply. There are no hinges on any of the panels and they're held in place using 1 x 1/4" magnets.
All the plumbing including the manifold is in place. I didn't have an sch80 endcap and had to run to HD for one at the last minute. Didn't bother painting it as a reminder to myself that I screwed up on the plumbing. We'll see if it bothers me enough to rip it down the line and correct for it.
Water is running through the system, but definitely needs to clear up before I can get the fish and corals back in.
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Ibn
Guest
Nope, not light as a feather. Lighter than a traditional wood stand, but there's still wood on it. The back is 3/4" ply, the separator and the bottom are 1/2". The top is substantial at 1" thick (think of it as a giant butcher block) and is the heaviest piece. It's still not too bad weight wise however and is easily transportable once you remove the panels and top, as long as you have a truck or something that can hold it.
