Gablami's Reefer 525 Build
- Thread starter Gablami
- Start date
MolaMola
Supporting Member
Nice aquascape!
As for the Apex programming, you could do a search and see what others use in order to get started. After that, I highly recommend what others have advised me - download the entire big manual and read it. Then read it again. My first controller, so it was all new to me and still can be pretty confusing because I need to go through it all again because it has so many features. BAR members are great at helping and the Apex forum is also indispensible.
After you check the sliders as recommended in previous post, check your device. My old Android phone cannot run Apex software (or whatever is needed for it), which is lame of my phone. So I can receive texts telling me something is wrong but I cannot do anything about it until I get to my laptop! Gotta get a new phone.
As for the Apex programming, you could do a search and see what others use in order to get started. After that, I highly recommend what others have advised me - download the entire big manual and read it. Then read it again. My first controller, so it was all new to me and still can be pretty confusing because I need to go through it all again because it has so many features. BAR members are great at helping and the Apex forum is also indispensible.
After you check the sliders as recommended in previous post, check your device. My old Android phone cannot run Apex software (or whatever is needed for it), which is lame of my phone. So I can receive texts telling me something is wrong but I cannot do anything about it until I get to my laptop! Gotta get a new phone.
Thanks Vincent, good idea. I cut out two right angles. I don't think I can simplify beyond this. I looked into gate valves, but given that I don't really know what I'm going to do with them at this point, I thought I would hold off. Can easily disconnect and add those in later if I want. (Basically, I couldn't find it at Home Depot and I just wanted to get it done).
The other weird thing is that 3/4 PVC pipe fits just right into my return pump. Am I missing something? Or is this just a newer "made for America" version? I don't think I need an adapter.
Molamola and Vincent, thanks for the tips on Apex. I'll get back to it eventually. Will let you know how it goes.
The other weird thing is that 3/4 PVC pipe fits just right into my return pump. Am I missing something? Or is this just a newer "made for America" version? I don't think I need an adapter.
Molamola and Vincent, thanks for the tips on Apex. I'll get back to it eventually. Will let you know how it goes.
sfsuphysics
Supporting Member
Yeah, ditch that brass, brass has copper, and you will effectively kill any invertibrates in your tank over time (that means coral too)
That nylon fitting you have doesn't screw into the threaded PVC where brass is?
Something I've done in the past is instead of using a barbed fitting I would use a threaded PVC fitting, and simply use plastic clamps (or zipties) to try and squeeze it as good as I can on the hose (should be a tight fit without) and since the pump is already in the sump and minor dripping isn't a huge issue. At least that's a short term solution.
That nylon fitting you have doesn't screw into the threaded PVC where brass is?
Something I've done in the past is instead of using a barbed fitting I would use a threaded PVC fitting, and simply use plastic clamps (or zipties) to try and squeeze it as good as I can on the hose (should be a tight fit without) and since the pump is already in the sump and minor dripping isn't a huge issue. At least that's a short term solution.
Enderturtle
Guest
I LOVE these pictures! Keep em coming.
Your aquascape is superb!
Your aquascape is superb!
Thanks Ender. I also enjoy photography, so I can't help the photos.
Ended up finding the exact right piece back at Home Depot. So in summary, no adapter needed for some reason. Just glued a 3/4in PVC into the blue ring and was good to go. Got rid of that poisonous brass fitting.
Ultimately, my setup was pretty simplistic. The valve going down has nothing attached to it. It currently ends at a upside-down T just to support the plumbing. Minimal right angles. Spray painted the PVC blue just for fun. Setup my return pump to screw off if I need to do something with it. It's been handy so far, pumping in my newly minted saltwater.
The other side is a mess. But Vhuang was right (as he often seems to be), and I just had to click that box with an arrow to get my Energy Bar working. Why didn't I think of that?
I'll get to organizing it eventually. So here is the current state of my tank. Put in my two MP40s. Not sure if those are the best locations for them at this point.
Stopped by the store and got some head-on shell on jumbo shrimp. Dropped a 1/2 lb in, and emptied the whole bottle of Dr. Tim's One and Only solution with live nitrifying bacteria. Shrimp graveyard.
Ok vacation over. Back to work tomorrow. Thanks for all the help guys!
Ended up finding the exact right piece back at Home Depot. So in summary, no adapter needed for some reason. Just glued a 3/4in PVC into the blue ring and was good to go. Got rid of that poisonous brass fitting.
Ultimately, my setup was pretty simplistic. The valve going down has nothing attached to it. It currently ends at a upside-down T just to support the plumbing. Minimal right angles. Spray painted the PVC blue just for fun. Setup my return pump to screw off if I need to do something with it. It's been handy so far, pumping in my newly minted saltwater.
The other side is a mess. But Vhuang was right (as he often seems to be), and I just had to click that box with an arrow to get my Energy Bar working. Why didn't I think of that?
I'll get to organizing it eventually. So here is the current state of my tank. Put in my two MP40s. Not sure if those are the best locations for them at this point.
Stopped by the store and got some head-on shell on jumbo shrimp. Dropped a 1/2 lb in, and emptied the whole bottle of Dr. Tim's One and Only solution with live nitrifying bacteria. Shrimp graveyard.
Ok vacation over. Back to work tomorrow. Thanks for all the help guys!
sfsuphysics
Supporting Member
Don't forget to remove the shrimp, they won't decay to nothing, and in fact as soon as they kind of look funky you should yank them... And 1/2 pound was probably a bit overkill.
I took out three of the shrimp this morning. Still 5 in the tank. Didn't want to completely flood the system with ammonia and nitrites.
Also the water level in the display tank was a bit lower than I thought it would be. The top of my rockscape on the right is about 3.5 inches from the water level. Hopefully I can still grow some coral there...dunno if it's too close.
Also the water level in the display tank was a bit lower than I thought it would be. The top of my rockscape on the right is about 3.5 inches from the water level. Hopefully I can still grow some coral there...dunno if it's too close.
RandyC
Supporting Member
I went back an re-examined and it turns out that this was just a case of me being an extreme num-num. I have no idea why I couldn't get my 3/4" pvc pipe into the blue adapter that came with the pump when I was first installing everything, but now after going back all is peachy.
I was correct that the pump does come with BSPT though, but it's on the threaded side. So, if you wanted to thread an NPT adapter on it, that wouldn't work. Sorry for leading you down a rat hole! My bad.
RandyC
Supporting Member
It's not so much patience, but out of necessity, the rock I bought was dry pukani rock from Bulk Reef Supply that came out of the ocean, but was never cleaned and it has a lot of dead organics that need to decompose before I could put it in the tank. Rock has been curing and cycling for 4 weeks now, so hopefully I can start aquascaping soon...getting real antsy.
coral4me
Guest
Wow, I'm excited for you and a little jealous, ok maybe a lot jealous!
Awesome tank and equipment. Can't wait to see this tank develop. Thanks for sharing your build with us.
Note: I found those white valves with blue handles on the manifold get really hard to turn and very difficult to adjust. It's great that you bought the threaded version so you can easily swap them out in the future if needed.
Awesome tank and equipment. Can't wait to see this tank develop. Thanks for sharing your build with us.
Note: I found those white valves with blue handles on the manifold get really hard to turn and very difficult to adjust. It's great that you bought the threaded version so you can easily swap them out in the future if needed.
roostertech
Guest
+1 for gate valve instead of ball valve. Since you'll have to hit the perfect amount of flow to get complete silence it would be very hard to do with ball valve.
Also I would use ammonium chloride rather than shrimp. So much easier to control level
Man you got that tank up and running in no time. I'm still on the drawing board ;p
Also I would use ammonium chloride rather than shrimp. So much easier to control level
Man you got that tank up and running in no time. I'm still on the drawing board ;p