Phil's 90g SPS dominant reef (aka The Electric Reef Project)

[Big_Als_London]

Re: The Electric Reef Project - an SPS dominated 90g mixed reef

Make sure you go slow with the pellets. Don't to the full recommended amount off the bat.

 

[Poseidon]

Re: The Electric Reef Project - an SPS dominated 90g mixed reef

Make sure you go slow with the pellets. Don't to the full recommended amount off the bat.

Also, you really don't want a tornado in the reactor. Just a nice slow boil

 

[reeffreak]

The Electric Reef Project - an SPS dominated 90g mixed reef

[quote author=Big_Als_London link=topic=5145.msg63141#msg63141 date=1381011404]
Make sure you go slow with the pellets. Don't to the full recommended amount off the bat.

Also, you really don't want a tornado in the reactor. Just a nice slow boil
[/quote]

U want those pellets tumbling real good, low boils for gfo the pellets can be table pretty good. I agree with starting at a small amount.

 

[Poseidon]

Re: The Electric Reef Project - an SPS dominated 90g mixed reef

[quote author=Poseidon link=topic=5145.msg63142#msg63142 date=1381012384]

[quote author=Big_Als_London link=topic=5145.msg63141#msg63141 date=1381011404]
Make sure you go slow with the pellets. Don't to the full recommended amount off the bat.

Also, you really don't want a tornado in the reactor. Just a nice slow boil
[/quote]

U want those pellets tumbling real good, low boils for gfo the pellets can be table pretty good.
[/quote]

I thought this as well , but I talked to blob about it before and he told
Me that you don't want them tumbling fast and hard at all... Ruins the whole purpose of them.
I was also talking to a couple guys today at the show and they said that if the flow is too fast and you get the hurricane like cad lights vid shows your not doing anything at all for you tank.... Just passing on some info I've heard... Correct me if I'm wrong..

A smooth tumble, just enough so that nothing clumps together or is standing still.

 

[curiousphil]

Re: The Electric Reef Project - an SPS dominated 90g mixed reef

Thanks for the advice guys.  I started with half the recommended amount on the bag and have the reactor running wide open on a MJ200.  When I turned it down I noticed that the pellets were clumping so thought maybe I would give them a bit more power for now to make sure they get good and stirred up, then was planning to turn down the flow tomorrow maybe if I didnt see any clumping.

Not sure if thats a good plan or not though.

My understanding of how flow affects the pellets is - bacteria grows on the pellets, and turning up the flow to tumble them causes the bacteria to be knocked off.  So slowing the flow allows the bacteria to build up easily.  That sound about right?  Thats what my thought process is about turning down the flow once I see no more clumping.

 

[Petercar (RIP Dec 2017)]

Re: The Electric Reef Project - an SPS dominated 90g mixed reef

did yu soak the pellets for like 24 hours in rodi water first?  it soaks them and makes them sink  not float

 

[curiousphil]

Re: The Electric Reef Project - an SPS dominated 90g mixed reef

did yu soak the pellets for like 24 hours in rodi water first?  it soaks them and makes them sink  not float

I did not :s just rinsed them... Should I shut the reactor off for a day and let them sit?

 

[Petercar (RIP Dec 2017)]

Re: The Electric Reef Project - an SPS dominated 90g mixed reef

if there floating amd clumping then good idea to shut the reactor off and let them sink

 

[curiousphil]

Re: The Electric Reef Project - an SPS dominated 90g mixed reef

After months and months of tinkering and procrastination.., I have achieved partial success!

 

[Boga]

Re: The Electric Reef Project - an SPS dominated 90g mixed reef

After months and months of tinkering and procrastination.., I have achieved partial success!

That is awesome  :drool: Looks good!  :slowclap:

 

[jroovers]

Re: The Electric Reef Project - an SPS dominated 90g mixed reef

Thanks for the advice guys.  I started with half the recommended amount on the bag and have the reactor running wide open on a MJ200.  When I turned it down I noticed that the pellets were clumping so thought maybe I would give them a bit more power for now to make sure they get good and stirred up, then was planning to turn down the flow tomorrow maybe if I didnt see any clumping.

Not sure if thats a good plan or not though.

My understanding of how flow affects the pellets is - bacteria grows on the pellets, and turning up the flow to tumble them causes the bacteria to be knocked off.  So slowing the flow allows the bacteria to build up easily.  That sound about right?  Thats what my thought process is about turning down the flow once I see no more clumping.

That is not quite my understanding.  My understanding is that the bacteria is going to grow throughout your system, not just on your pellets and in the reactor.  The faster they tumble, the more quickly the pellets degrade and more carbon enters your system.  You may find that you don't need to increase your pellets at all from the half recommended amount... I just upped my pellets from 250 to 500 and immediately had a cyano outbreak.  Bringing it back down to 250 is getting things under control. 

 

[curiousphil]

The Electric Reef Project - an SPS dominated 90g mixed reef

Ah ok thanks, that makes sense too.  I've got these pellets gently tumbling now with no clumping or floaters, so we'll see what happens over the next month.

Now that I have the software compiled and uploaded to the Arduino, I've passed a major milestone.  It should be relatively simple now to expand its functionality.  I'd say the hardest part was getting the code to work with the specific hardware I've purchased and the circuits I've built.  The LCD and digital temp sensor in particular are a b*tch to get working.  Next up is getting the LEDs hooked up again and enabling the dynamic controls.  Am so excited to be able to dim down to just royal blues via the touchscreen!  Then I'll be tackling the ATO system, then the Atlas sensors.  Then adapt the interface to work with a 5" screen that I'm going to mount in the hood.

 

[Boga]

Re: The Electric Reef Project - an SPS dominated 90g mixed reef

Now that I have the software compiled and uploaded to the Arduino, I've passed a major milestone.  It should be relatively simple now to expand its functionality.  I'd say the hardest part was getting the code to work with the specific hardware I've purchased and the circuits I've built.  The LCD and digital temp sensor in particular are a b*tch to get working.  Next up is getting the LEDs hooked up again and enabling the dynamic controls.  Am so excited to be able to dim down to just royal blues via the touchscreen!  Then I'll be tackling the ATO system, then the Atlas sensors.  Then adapt the interface to work with a 5\" screen that I'm going to mount in the hood.

Sounds like a very good plan. The main effort, as you said, was for the LCD and the main loop running. Great job! Your colour LCD is awesome. I think it does worth the trouble. Can't wait to see more progress and pictures.
I am using DS18B20 sensors for temperature. Found them very easy to work with and pretty accurate.

 

[curiousphil]

The Electric Reef Project - an SPS dominated 90g mixed reef

Got the lighting schedule fully automated this weekend and finally have moonlights now!!  I've got the royal blues set to about 2% from 11pm to 11am.  The OCW starts to slowly ramp up at 9am, with the UV and whites starting to ramp up at noon.  I set a maximum of 60% output for the neutral whites, tinting the tank a bit more towards the blue spectrum than before when I had them equal to the blues, which gave a 20k look.  Everything is "full" by 2pm.  Whites start ramping down at 4pm and are fully off again by 6pm.  Blues, OCW and UV ramp down starting at 9pm and are fully off by around 11pm with the exception of  RBs that hover at 2% all night.

I'm very pleased with the outcome, finally getting closer to completing my vision!!    The only thing I'm not so happy with is how touchy the touchscreen is.  I press a button telling it to increase the LED value in one time area and it can have an effect on a totally different time area (the screen breaks down the values in columns representing 15 minute chunks of time with a slider for each one).  Hopefully once i upgrade to the 5 inch screen and increase the button size it won't be as much of an issue.  Or maybe I need to recalibrate the screen... :shrug:

Starting to code out the sensors now.  My job leaves me with waaaay to much free time some days... :s

Side shot of tank that I took this weekend. Really love it, you can see everything (even the starfish came out to say hi!!)
[img=1050x1400]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/philly1/Electric%20Reef/E1C61D19-924E-4842-BD0B-287FC7AA8193-20183-000001245B2E8F8D_zps63a0dab0.jpg[/img]

 

[spyd]

Re: The Electric Reef Project - an SPS dominated 90g mixed reef

Looking good so far! My only suggestion is to be careful with that GSP placement. It will cover that entire rock in no time and keep spreading... The stuff is a real PITA if not on a seperate rock. Other than that, it is coming along nicely!

 

[Jewel]

Lots of Pics great build, I think  2 of those fixtures is gonna be over kill for the tank but you will be upgrading your tank anyway AND sorry to say ABS is not Reef safe But as you say you will be upgrading your system. great job on the lights. I think you may have a bit of trouble getting into the sump. But it looks great over all.

 

[curiousphil]

Thanks Jewel.  The upgrade is looking to be a long way off still, so at some point I will likely rebuild my overflow pipes in PVC and swap them out.  The sump is definitely hard to work in but gets the job done.

As for the lights... I feel that they are just about right!!   They can always be dimmed down of course but I haven't had any issues with bleaching.  I was at Bigshows a week or two ago and I felt that my tank had a similar colour and brightness to his DT which was running an 8 bulb T5 I believe.  Subjective observation of course.

I'm actually thinking of adding more light TBH with a single DIY T5 unit at the front and the back of the canopy, either side of the LEDs, rocking some kind of actinic bulb like purple plus or fiji purple.

 

[Poseidon]

Thanks Jewel.  The upgrade is looking to be a long way off still, so at some point I will likely rebuild my overflow pipes in PVC and swap them out.  The sump is definitely hard to work in but gets the job done.

As for the lights... I feel that they are just about right!!   They can always be dimmed down of course but I haven't had any issues with bleaching.  I was at Bigshows a week or two ago and I felt that my tank had a similar colour and brightness to his DT which was running an 8 bulb T5 I believe.  Subjective observation of course.

I'm actually thinking of adding more light TBH with a single DIY T5 unit at the front and the back of the canopy, either side of the LEDs, rocking some kind of actinic bulb like purple plus or fiji purple.

i actually have EXACTLY what your looking for
pm sent

 

[Jewel]

Yep go see Brandon, he'll look after you.

 

[curiousphil]

He said "let there be light," and there was.

Thanks for the fixtures Brandon they worked out perfect.

And thanks Jordan for the new aculeus, its a great looking frag!
[img=1400x1049]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/philly1/Electric%20Reef/3323810C-2811-4CA2-8603-01C71B935676-1180-0000000E898371B6_zpse5c328ae.jpg[/img]
[img=1050x1400]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/philly1/Electric%20Reef/5BB29AE3-C9B3-469E-957A-A8BF66D90526-1180-0000000E966C83C8_zps6a6127e8.jpg[/img]