Ordering New 440/480 any advice?

[Tj203]

Lol I just saw the Pliers I used to tighten the valve down still on one of the reactors in one of the picture

 

[dr exum]

I hate that vavle i had to use Pliers to crank it down then I ordered one of these valves on Amazon got a whole kit with hose and fitting for like $10 see picture. I am using a 800 gph pump now to run both as the vx_1 are out for service. You don't need to test for at least 2 weeks if not 4 to 6. The slower the better. Also I started with it like you and then I found out it did not drop the GH that much so I took out most of the rocks and put more sulfur. I had to dose Sodium bicarbonate anyway but my GH never changed no mater how much ARM I put in the reactors, I also have a lot of dry rock so that helps. I bought this Milwaukee controller the does ORP and PH MC125. This way you can tell what's going on inside the reactor I leave the PH probe in my sump And when I see it get below 8 I throw a big spoonful of sodium bicarbonate in. The reactors already have the port for the probe. Once again not needed but makes your life one hell of a lot easier this is 1 thing I would definitely advise on getting. Once it starts it takes off quick if u keep on top of it and my bio load is so great that I just have them running at full open and It dose not get to zero so I never need to adjust them and about every 8 -12 weeks I turn my drip system on for about 1 1/2 to 2 days. I just check the nitrates and when it gets to about 20 ppm I turn it on and when it gets to about 5ppm I turn it off.

View attachment 1451275

View attachment 1451276

View attachment 1451277

i think your media is also fuller, it said to leave room at top (2”) i presumed when i fired it up it was going to expand or something?

ahh, i’ve got those little valves already - have to put one on tomorrow-

i like the ph probe -

what do you have “running at full open”?

and “slower the better”? is that in reference to the drip output ?

i don’t test my kh/ph regularly - ive got SA cichlids in there -

i’ll have to get a kh test kit -

 

[Tj203]

i think your media is also fuller, it said to leave room at top (2”) i presumed when i fired it up it was going to expand or something?

ahh, i’ve got those little valves already - have to put one on tomorrow-

i like the ph probe -

what do you have “running at full open”?

and “slower the better”? is that in reference to the drip output ?

i don’t test my kh/ph regularly - ive got SA cichlids in there -

i’ll have to get a kh test kit -

The slower the better in the Beginning i would turn off the feed pump for 12 hours or so can't hurt the ORP is clutch at fine tuning as u can see real time results. Once it starts working you keep Increasing the flow rate it just so happens Mine are in spec (-50 to -150 are ideal) with the valves fully open. It is a stream coming out. Also Elemental sulphur pearls as long as it's 99.9% pure is way cheaper and the same media, just like water softener salt is the Exact same thing as aquarium salt at a 100th of the price. Its not that cheap but 50% off is not too bad.

 

[Tj203]

The slower the better in the Beginning i would turn off the feed pump for 12 hours or so can't hurt the ORP is clutch at fine tuning as u can see real time results. Once it starts working you keep Increasing the flow rate it just so happens Mine are in spec (-50 to -150 are ideal) with the valves fully open. It is a stream coming out. Also Elemental sulphur pearls as long as it's 99.9% pure is way cheaper and the same media, just like water softener salt is the Exact same thing as aquarium salt at a 100th of the price. Its not that cheap but 50% off is not too bad.

You ned to test the KH because of the double dipping with the KH it will drop and it will not work as efficiently if the KH is low I have noticed too.

 

[Tj203]

You ned to test the KH because of the double dipping with the KH it will drop and it will not work as efficiently if the KH is low I have noticed too.

O and it is that high because the media kept moving to the top so I filled it and I use the ORP probe to keep it all down. Sorry for all the posts but I have done a few Dabs lol keep remembering things lol

 

[dr exum]

O and it is that high because the media kept moving to the top so I filled it and I use the ORP probe to keep it all down. Sorry for all the posts but I have done a few Dabs lol keep remembering things lol

no worries! thanks for al the info!

 

[dr exum]

think this tank is finally done, minus some wire cord optimization.....

got uv running today ? - under cabinet lights installed -

soooo much stuff under this tank ?

it’s been a journey, thanks all for advice and comments!

 

[Tj203]

I bought a UV think 75watt and I could not tell a difference with it on or off. I was running it in the Beginning because I was getting fish from all over and I was hoping it would help to kill anything I could now it is just taking up space lol have fun stocking it. In the Beginning I went in to fish stores and bought entire tanks of fish lol wish I had there face on camera when they ask what fish you want and you tell them everyone lol

I think this is going to be my new fish.

hypostomus luteus

 

[dr exum]

I bought a UV think 75watt and I could not tell a difference with it on or off. I was running it in the Beginning because I was getting fish from all over and I was hoping it would help to kill anything I could now it is just taking up space lol have fun stocking it. In the Beginning I went in to fish stores and bought entire tanks of fish lol wish I had there face on camera when they ask what fish you want and you tell them everyone lol

I think this is going to be my new fish.

hypostomus luteus

nice!

i hear ya, in the big / monster tank realm “all” is a reality -

uv- i think the wild caught are sharing their germs with the captive tank units - ive done all the medicating i can do, trying to provide best quality of life i can for fish - i have noticed the water is clearer - i also use this systems water to start new tanks / fill occasionally- don’t want to pass around icky ness -

congrats on the new fish!

i think eventually want to make my 150g cube for 8.0ph and africans -

 

[Tj203]

nice!

i hear ya, in the big / monster tank realm “all” is a reality -

uv- i think the wild caught are sharing their germs with the captive tank units - ive done all the medicating i can do, trying to provide best quality of life i can for fish - i have noticed the water is clearer - i also use this systems water to start new tanks / fill occasionally- don’t want to pass around icky ness -

congrats on the new fish!

i think eventually want to make my 150g cube for 8.0ph and africans -

I completely agree with the Germ thing that was the reason I bought it. Now I have more fish than I know what to do with, all my QT are filled with baby peacocks, I have a 29 gallon with about 80 baby's from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2, a 20 gallon with about 60 1 inch and a 40 gallon with about 80 1 inch.
And that is just what I caught and spit i stopped doing that very quickly and now thay are surviving in the big tank there are baby peacocks everywhere, under all the rocks and in all the small spaces. Well i think most of them are peacocks but I know a rusty cichlid had baby's not to long ago and that was mixed with a hap I think, the colors are crazy. They look so good I stopped buying fish, now I have some insane hybrids that know one else has and they just keep breeding, at any given time I have at least 5 pregnant fish lol dont mind all the floating stuff just turned on the wave makers stir up all the stuff. The only think I hate it the filter socks anyone know a better way I am going through two 200 microns, 7 inch filter socks, in anywhere from 2 to 18 hours average is about 12 hours. I need to find a better way I was thinking of stuffing the socks with Polyester fill.

Your tank looks amazing I wish mine was that neat I just wanted mine up, I still need to make my canopy for it. Your at the best part now, picking all the fish.