250 Gallon Starphire tank

[littlesilvermax]

My CBB also makes a fairly loud chewing/snapping noise at times, but I found that out after I had him for 2 days, not after having a fish for 5 years.

[littlesilvermax]

Saw my female clown chomping down on one of my unknown pest anenomes, cool, just wish she would eat more of them.


Anyways about time for an update!

On Monday mourning I will start the big tank changeover:

-take out all LR and corals
-get rid of pest anenomes (putting LR in sump causes anenomes to release within 24 hours and easily get them out after that)
-re-arrange LR and corals for more of a Japanese type look
-clean everything up
-install 1 larger return pump
-clean other pumps
-install new ozone unit if have it yet
-make old skimmer into new calcium reactor (from a buddy)

probably other stuff too, but we shall see, that is a lot of stuff for one day!

[littlesilvermax]

Tomorrow is the big day!

All ready with containers for LR and corals and I have all of the plumbing bits I need.

Japanese (kinda) style tank here I come!

[littlesilvermax]

I may have pics at the end of week.


As a bit of an update on other stuff:

I will have a new calcium reactor for you all to see soon!


RO stuff: I use to have 100 feet of 1/4 RO tubing going through my sump to cool my tank water and also to pre-warm my RO water to make it more efficient. I recently got a pressure gauge and found this 100 feet to give quite the pressure loss. So I changed it out for 3/8 RO tubing. Then I got 65 gallons per day out of the unit, not bad for a unit rated at 75 gpd (btw my tap pressure is over 60 psi).

Then I decided to try out a booster pump and see if I could make the membrane even more efficient (not too concerned with output, but it is a nice plus). Now I get 96 gpd out of the unit, and my post membrane tds dropped from 8 to 4!
Only problem is the switch that turns on the booster pump only activates when the post membrane pressure is below 28 psi, so in day to day operations it never turns on at all. It will however turn on if I am making lots of water and have almost depleted my storage tank. I will try and get a different pressure switch.

[littlesilvermax]

Originally Posted by Dave C

I guess. My ozone reactor is 24" tall, 7" in diameter. But it could be much more then just size. A protein skimmer injects ozone into a column of water/bubbles. An ozone reactor injects/disperses drips of water into a column of ozone gas. According to dudes like Randy Holmes-Farley on RC that's the best way to get ozone to do its stuff. I'm not suggesting I'm right, just something to consider.

I got my Ozotec ozone generator, and have yet to hook it up.


FWIW according to Ozotec the best way to inject ozone is in a large skimmer, they say an ozone reactor works, but is not ideal as there is less contact space available.

To me that makes sense from what I know of physics. But I am no expert. I know other "experts" will argue either way.

IMO the only benefit to using an ozone reactor is that it is extremely easy to run the effluent through carbon (which is a point to consider).

I still believe that you don't need carbon with ozone, but when I set-up my ozotec unit I will test for residual ozone and maybe I will find that I need it with a bigger unit. I all I know is I have had fantastic growth and no fatalities in 2+ years of using ozone w/o carbon.

[Dave C]

I'm not trying to argue, nor convince you that what I'm saying is correct. From my reading an ozone reactor works better then a skimmer, and unlike a skimmer an ozone reactor was designed for dissolving ozone in water. The main reason I bought the reactor was because there is a good risk that ozone will ruin the seals on a skimmer and I spent too much on my skimmer to risk that. Also, if my skimmer fails/leaks I'm down... if my ozone reactor fails/leaks I'm still good to go, just get another reactor. That, IMO is the biggest reason to use an ozone reactor... to save your skimmer. Especially if you plan to push much ozone through the system.

btw, for anyone else interested, here is a great source of ozone info...

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-04/rhf/index.php

[littlesilvermax]

Originally Posted by Dave C

I'm not trying to argue, nor convince you that what I'm saying is correct. From my reading an ozone reactor works better then a skimmer, and unlike a skimmer an ozone reactor was designed for dissolving ozone in water. The main reason I bought the reactor was because there is a good risk that ozone will ruin the seals on a skimmer and I spent too much on my skimmer to risk that. Also, if my skimmer fails/leaks I'm down... if my ozone reactor fails/leaks I'm still good to go, just get another reactor. That, IMO is the biggest reason to use an ozone reactor... to save your skimmer. Especially if you plan to push much ozone through the system.

btw, for anyone else interested, here is a great source of ozone info...

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-04/rhf/index.php

I hear you buddy.

FWIW I have yet to hear of someone with my style of skimmer have a problem with prolonged ozone use. I have read fairly extensively on the use of ozone reactors, and depending on my readings of residual ozone I may even get one too.

I just thought it was interesting after reading how much better ozone reactors are that Ozotech specifically says that bigger skimmers are better.

I will post up in a few days how Ozotech recommends you dial in your ozone unit logging both ORP and residual ozone, it is very interesting!

[littlesilvermax]

Time for some photos that a friend took:

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[littlesilvermax]