The package includes the remote head unit, the 8 outlet power block, the myreef software, a RS232 (serial) connection for your computer, temp probe.

For the extra $10, I bought a splitter that will enable me to run the temp probe and communicate with my PC at the same time. Many computers these days don't have an RS232 port...including mine. I purchased a serail to USB converter cable and will be trying to see if it works for this application once I get water in the tank.

The real keys here are that it controls the lighting (of which I have 3 different sets on this tank), it controls the heating and cooling, feeding breaks, maintenance breaks, certain ATO's and with the right powerheads, it will control wavemaking. On top of monitoring PH and temp.

Oh, I forgot to mention that it just looks cool too...:biggrin:

Sounds like something you should be throwing on your 70G... not the 16... hahaha.

You know what...I thought about that...but I've had the 70 for years, and I've found one way or another to automate many of my daily tasks already simply due to neccessity. On the 16, I'm starting from scratch with no room to work.

So today I completed most of the plumbing...though I say completed with a little hesitation. In the overflow, I couldn't get the PVC to thread completely into the bulkhead so I attempted to add silicone to ensure a "no-leak" fit. Gotta wait until the silicon dries before I test it for leaks. God help me if there are leaks because I can't get my hand in the overflow to re-silicone.:redface:

Otherwise, I think everything else went well. I plan to leak-test tomorrow and if all is well, add my SW.

Let me know when you get the RK2 hooked up to your computer. Then I'm going to make you come over and do the same to mine :)

My dad is coming in from Winnipeg on the 15th if you want anything from sprayer parts or anywhere else.

I also tried talking Charlote into selling me your pistol, and goby pair. She didn't go for it. Haha.

Haha...good try...I'm working my tail off on this nano just to get that pair home from Complete Pet...speaking of which...they got a crazy order of fish on Friday. For your big tank, you should take a peek. Beautiful Vlamingi Tang and some really nice triggers. Lots of others I couldn't identify.

I will take a good look at that catalogue again and let you know if anything would work for me. Thanks for the offer.

I was in there today. The Vlamingi was on hold for someone. The only thing I wanted was that convict tang, but have to many tangs as it is, and didn't want to push it.
Have you been to AJ's lately? I haven't been there in about a month. Need something else in the tank, cause I'm getting bored.

How many tangs do you have now? You have a pretty big tank...I've seen some similar tanks with a lot of tangs in them and they don't seem to be doing too badly.

No exciting fish at AJ's right now, at least none that I saw yesterday when I went in. I'm looking for some Nasarius Snails but no-body carries them around here.

I've got 5 tangs in there. I could put more, but I'm waiting to find the right unicorn tang that I use to have, like the one on my Avatar.

I need to take a trip over there and see how your setup is coming. Sounds like it's going to be one hell of a nano.

That's the plan...if nothing else, it has to teach me what I'm doing well enough for me to be ready for the 250G I'm planning in the new house.

Total Pet in Kelowna has them often. Only place I've seen them in the Okanagan.

Well, I tested the plumbing today...no leaks!!!:biggrin:

I put most of the water in and I"m just making some more SW to finish it off. Got the temp up to 79 and holding. RK2 works like a dream. I will take some pics as I finish the ATO and put the sand in.

Haven't filled it up enough to put my sump into place yet but that will occur tomorrow or Wed probably.

It's best to not put your sand in until after the rock, and wait until the rock cycles the tank (regardless whether it's cured or not). Can't wait to see pics!! :D

I am getting pretty excited to see this tank with water and rock.. then sand... then some inverts..... then some corals..... then some MORE corals, and a fish.... then more corals..... OH MAN!!!!!

Hahaha...you and me both!!!

Woah thats a nice looking nano if I could say, it looks like the nano version of my cube seriously :D.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...o/PDR_0351.jpg

True enough...nice cube tank!!

Hey Mark, sounds great! I'm excited to see it in person. Are you going with the ATO we discussed? Can the ATO be run using the RK2? I'm also curious how well the RK2 maintains the temperature. Now that it has cooled off drastically outside, I find it even more difficult to keep my temperature swings in check. I came home yesterday to find my cooling fan and both heaters on. I'll be watching your tank closely to see if an investment in the RK2 is worth it.

Cheers,

Kevin

Hey Kevin, I have to say that I am nothing but happy with the RK2 considering it's price. It does keep my temp under control. It uses one channel to control the heater (with a cut-off in case heater control itself fails) and one channel for my chiller (Which is a bank of fans on the sump) Since putting water in, getting it to 79 degrees, it has not had a variance of more than .1 of a degree (currently that mostly consists of heating the water rather than cooling it).

Here are some pics of the rockwork in place (still missing the seeder rock).

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/dat...k_In_Water.JPG
http://www.canreef.com/photopost/dat...from_side2.JPG

I had what I thought was a better setup, but I couldn't pass the magnet everywhere around it and that was not acceptable for me.

The SCWD is working well, but a little noisy for me. (Kinda a creaking sound)

I'm a little disappointed in my flow...so many elbows that its cut down more than I thought it would be. May have to bump that Quietone (which isn't that quiet) up to an Eheim or something. Any recommendations for me? (I don't want it generating too much heat)

I am wondering about my circulation in this tank. I have approx. 950gph flow between the two Koralia nano's (I replaced the MJ400 in the picture) and the return pump (Quietone 3000 through an SCWD).

Does everyone think this is enough flow for a 16G SPS dominated tank?

that is like 60x turnover... I'd say that is plenty for SPS.. :mrgreen:

Ok, thanks...I look at the water column and it just doesn't seem to move like my 70G so I couldn't help but wonder.

I'm not sure if a Quietone is pressure rated or if the SCWD can handle the back pressure, but you could always try the enductor I made last year when I was bored. If you are interested, I can drop it off this weekend. It's just sitting in my workshop collecting dust.

Cheers

Hey Kevin, that would be great. I will check into whether it's pressure rated. Feel free to drop by, we'll be in and out all weekend.

I'm not saying I'm ready for sand yet, but I was wondering if you had suggestions on the best way to put the sand in now that the rock formation is built? How do I keep it from clogging the rock up?

I put the seeder rock in today...if I don't see any cycle in the next few days I might just try to put the sand in.

Put the sand in a cup or bowl (after it's rinsed if it's dry sand), then gently lower it to the bottom of the tank and gently dump it out. Your tank will still get uber cloudy though. Use a turkey baster to baste rocks 2-3x a day.

Since you are using Eco-rox and just a small seeder rock just put your sand in.
Usually when you cure your rock in your tank you get allot of die off that settles on the bottom. It is easier to remove it without sand.
You won't have this problem because there is nothing to die off.:wink:

Ohhhh yaaaaaaah, I forgot you were using EcoRox. I agree with Marlin.

Well thanks to everyone who said...."get that sand in there" as I was itching to put it in.

It's Fiji Pink Live Sand so hopefully it will help get the Eco-rox going along with the two small pieces of cured liverock that I put in there already. It ended up being about 2" all around the outside...but that will slowly lower as the sand works it's way into the center of the rock formation.

Here's a pic of the sand just after I put it in:

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/dat...d_In_Front.JPG

All the rocks have been blown off and I'm hoping that it will clear up over the next 24 hours or so. Any suggestions for removing the scum off the top of the water. I really don't want it going into my sump because I know how pick the SCWD's are and this stuff will kill it.

Looks great!!!! Post some new pics when it clears up! Try using a fine net to catch the scum off the top. If that doesn't work use a cup and scoop it out. You can use water from your 70g to help get the bacteria going in the nano too. :)

Why not use one of your filter socks?

X2 filter sock will clean it right up.

That's what I was thinking...will give that a try. I need to make some filter socks to be used in the sump so detrius doesn't plug up the SCWD in the future.

Well today I added my first little critters...two hermits.

I've been watching my parameters and here's where they sit right now.

Salinity: 1.025
Amonia: 0
Nitrite: .3 mg/L
Nitrate: 10 mg/L
Cal: 450
Mag: 1350

I've been watching at night with the old flashlight and sure enough I've now got some pods and some starfish showing up...very few though. There is some tiny bit of green algae showing up on the seeder liverock and so the new hermits should find it tasty.

So I've been putting the T5's on for a little longer each day. My two hermits are doing fine...they gobbled up the little bit of algae that had started so hopefully they won't starve before more comes along.

Here's a pic of the tank now.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/dat...nhabitants.JPG

There is a slight browning of some of the Eco-rox facing upwards towards the light...I would imagine that it's diatoms or something of the sort. The seeder rock is also in on both bottom sides and has some starfish and feather dusters on it.

Very nice job. I am going to tag along to see how this comes together, especially as you add SPS. Are you going to add fish as well?

Mark how do you find the starfire glass? Big difference? Looking good, have to make a trip over there one day
Later

Why the RK2 and not the elite? Who did you get the RK2 from?

Nigel, I love the starfire...and yes, I do see a difference. When I do the next big tank I will be doing all viewable sides in starfire if I can afford it. It's just so clear.

Oscar, I picked the RK2 for price...it's for my nano tank and not my main tank so I couldn't justify paying too much. It's awesome by the way...I still don't know how I could have done this without it.... I've got a PH probe now, and I need to fashion a holder out of Acrylic and then I will get it going. I plan to connect it to my PC tonight and flash it to the latest firmware so that it can e-mail me if there is any problems with the tank when I'm out. I purchased it directly from the manufacturer...shipping and duty were a little higher than I liked but still, all in I'm looking at under $350 including taxes.