Good stuff Gunter!
Apollo's Frag tank
- Thread starter Apollo
- Start date
OK. Quick update:
Fitted some Chromatinet blue ( Thanks Luis) to the existing polycarb roofing, as some Acros were starting to take some strain under the sharp sunlight.
Where did you get the blue chromatinet? My outside tank is is struggling. Temporary I got black 40% normal shade netting.
Also how do you keep rain out of your sump. Looks pretty exposed.
Hi Riaan,
You'll have to contact Luis at Idol Marine for the Chromatinet. He brought some into the country recently I think.
The Chromatinet Blue which I have on the tank is 60% shading if I remember correctly.
Have a look at this link for info on Chromatinet :
http://www.polysack.com/index.php?goto=bep&page_from=226
The rain never enters the sump. I only get a little bit of splashback on the glass walls of the sump, but it never actually enters the sump.
The existing polycarb roofing which I have on the DT , overhangs by approx 120mm and thus shields rain falling directly and at an angle. ( Look at some of the first full tank pics in my thread and you'll see the overhanging sheeting)
Nice, you spoiling the coral with all that light
Thanks Sean,
Well, spoiled corals = happy , fast growing and colourful
The latest edition to the frag tank
Acropora Florida ( at least I think it's A. Florida) SPS gurus , your verdict please ?
And I have finally been able to install my controller.
Reefkeeper Lite from Digital Aquatics.
Acropora Florida ( at least I think it's A. Florida) SPS gurus , your verdict please ?
And I have finally been able to install my controller.
Reefkeeper Lite from Digital Aquatics.
OK. Quick update.
Here are some pics of the corals under NSL.
Please excuse the poor quality of pics . I'm still getting to grips with my new camera.
Acro frag which has coloured up within the last 10 days
Before :
Now :
Table Acro which has gone from this:
To this within 2 weeks :
The frag tank in full sun :
That looks familiar
Good job
That looks familiar
Good job
Thanks Martin,
He he .. yeah the frag I got from you has coloured up nicely.
The colours are coming out a bit lighter though
In a few weeks it will look as awesome is it always should have...
@Apollo
How have you found this unit? Ive been reaserching it a bit on the net. Did you bring it in yourself?
How have you found this unit? Ive been reaserching it a bit on the net. Did you bring it in yourself?
Hi Archie,
The Reefkeeper Lite unit is performing well sofar. I've only been running with it though for approx 5 days.
The programming layout is quite simple and the user interface very friendly. There are numerous pre-programmed functions ( readyfit) , and you also have the ability to assign a dedicated channel/output to lighting ( MH & LED) , pumps , heaters etc.
The unit is very easy to mount , due to it's size and all peripheral modules/devices are easily connected via a plug-and-play type bus cable.
Bear in mind that the unit is a 110V unit, but this is overcome easily by means of an AC Adaptor to power the main processor , and 110V relays on the output to power your 220V devices.
The only downside is that you will not be able to use the wavemaker function, since it provides a VF output to the pumps.
I brought the unit in myself. It was purchased from a company called TB Aquatics via eBAY. Delivery time was approx 12 days.
Very interesting!
May I ask what it cost to get it here? at Rand\Dollar exchange rate they seem realy reasonable?
May I ask what it cost to get it here? at Rand\Dollar exchange rate they seem realy reasonable?
Archie,
The unit itself retailed for US $ 279, which includes the main/head unit , two powerbars with 4 outputs each , pH probe , Temp probe , all bus cables and interface to laptop.
Shipping charges to South Africa were approx US $ 40 and the customs & duty charges amounted to approx R 330.
So at the current ROE the landed price would be less than R 2800 .
Even if you added the cost for an AC Adaptor and the 110V relays for the outputs , you would still be sitting with a cost below R 4000 for the controller.
Pretty impressive for an entry level controller , I think
The unit itself retailed for US $ 279, which includes the main/head unit , two powerbars with 4 outputs each , pH probe , Temp probe , all bus cables and interface to laptop.
Shipping charges to South Africa were approx US $ 40 and the customs & duty charges amounted to approx R 330.
So at the current ROE the landed price would be less than R 2800 .
Even if you added the cost for an AC Adaptor and the 110V relays for the outputs , you would still be sitting with a cost below R 4000 for the controller.
Pretty impressive for an entry level controller , I think
Hey Seabass,
The tank has been doing very well up until March when I shut it down temporarily. In the process of building a new house, and since I'm renting at present it would be too much of an issue to move it twice
The controller has been running perfectly, with the only issue being the hassle of converting the power bar outputs to 220V. Other than that it's a great little controller
Seabass,
No. The nano was shut down some time ago already. Unfortunately I started having serious water quality issues, which just spiraled out of control. The filtration compartments at the back became clogged with one of my cute but very dead boxfish. One thing led to another and within the space of 5 days I lost probably 40% of the hard and soft corals.
Hence, the nano was promptly shut down and all inhabitants that were still alive were transferred to the outside frag tank.
I'll post a new thread when I start the new build later this year