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Reef #2 - The Unplanned Upgrade (1 Viewer)

Every ICP test shows low iodine, nothing to be too concerned about. You can dose but be CAREFUL. Low is ok high is bad. :)
 
Blech, I really dislike GFCI outlets. I have one that has tripped on me before for no apparent reason. So I moved all the pumps, heaters, etc off it and just run some ancillary stuff like my controller. And I guess my light….

I didn’t get my morning email from my controller on the Alk, but sometimes the connection flakes out so I didn’t worry about it. Well I got home from work and the tank light was off. As was the controller. Sure enough, the gfci had tripped.

Thankfully all my powerbars are on a separate circuit and all default to an “uncontrolled” state. So the heater controller, return pump, etc were running. So I’m not worried that the extra few hours of lights off will cause any actual damage. But it is super annoying.

I probably need to try to replace that outlet with an “expensive” gfci instead of just a Menards special?
 
Man that sucks but at least you were only out a photoperiod. My T5 fixture made a GFCI act up. The best Eaton ones I could buy have been great, but Pass and Seymour (Legrand) are also well regarded by electricians. Menards etc all sell them.
 
I have combination breakers with GFI and Arc Fault. Those trip if you look at them wrong. The GFI next to my tank I opted not to use as it would trip for no apparent reason so I ran a dedicated circuit to the tank that is not on a GFI.
 
Yea I don’t recall what it is, but I’m sure it wasn’t the best one. Thanks for the brand recommendations.

As a funny side note, I knew my wrasse always waited on the light, but I assumed that was like +/- 30 mins. But nope, he was not out when I got home. I set the light to pretend like it was 11am (just to not shock the corals into full sunlight), and within 10 mins he was out swimming around.

It’s the little things.
 
Quick update. I’ve had my first two acro frags in the DT for 2 weeks now and they still generally seem happy. The green slimer had lost a little color at the end of its time in qt (I moved it to a different area, which was dumb I guess). But in the DT its got great polyp extension. So fingers crossed. When I moved the acros over I also changed the flow in the tank. Went with 4 total pumps on the side walls of the tank, front and back. I have them running in pairs to do an alternating gyre pattern. Seems to be doing a good job with flow, we’ll see.

Anyway, a quick update video.



I think I’ll plant the rest of my acros from QT this week or weekend. Time to get on getting on :)
 
It's looking good, David. Much better than mine now! 😂
 
I expect that to last all of about one week :)
 
Eeek, that’s disconcerting. Yes, they were running their normal alternating schedule.
 
Lol…..no. Here are the parameters.

IMG_5569.jpegIMG_5570.jpeg

So the pumps can run between 5% and 100%. They ramp up and down as sin waves with peaks of 50-100%, and each wave pattern lasts between 5 and 15 seconds. Each individual wave duration is randomized between the 5 and 15 seconds in this case.

As mentioned, opposite corners run together to make a clockwise then counterclockwise overall flow pattern. The switch every 2 hours.

The pumps are the GHL Stream pumps, which are just Sicce xStream SDC pumps rated for 270-2250GPH.

Maybe the sin wave is overkill?
When I watch the tank it seems to add some variety to the flow, versus just letting them run at 100% for that full period.

Thoughts?

Edit: I had the wave duration thing wrong. Corrected above.
 
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MistakesWereMade said:
I have combination breakers with GFI and Arc Fault. Those trip if you look at them wrong. The GFI next to my tank I opted not to use as it would trip for no apparent reason so I ran a dedicated circuit to the tank that is not on a GFI.
Click to expand...
I know this is not recommended but I took mine off and replaced it with a reg receptacle . Every little EMP from lightning would flip it.
 
Varig said:
Lol…..no. Here are the parameters.

View attachment 68485View attachment 68486

So the pumps can run between 5% and 100%. They ramp up and down as sin waves with peaks of 50-100%, and each wave pattern lasts between 5 and 15 mins. Meaning that for X minutes (between 5-15 mins) the pumps will ramp between 5% to 70%, then it will randomly change and be 5% to 100% for Y mins, then 5% to 52% or whatever for Z mins . Each individual wave lasts 5-10 seconds I’d say.

As mentioned, opposite corners run together to make a clockwise then counterclockwise overall flow pattern. The switch every 2 hours.

The pumps are the GHL Stream pumps, which are just Sicce xStream SDC pumps rated for 270-2250GPH.

Maybe the sin wave is overkill?
When I watch the tank it seems to add some variety to the flow, versus just letting them run at 100% for that full period.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Seems like way to many times where they are at low %
 
Got it. Fair feedback. I could easily change up the minimum so they just make waves between 50-100 or 75-100% of their max (just cut off the bottom).

Your thought process is that the pump is spending such a limited amount of time at max, that the 2250 gph pump is only actually doing like 800-1000? Am I right?
 
asifiqbal2 said:
I know this is not recommended but I took mine off and replaced it with a reg receptacle . Every little EMP from lightning would flip it.
Click to expand...
I hear you. I’m going to try the good one. Then decide what to do if it keeps happening.
 
Varig said:
Got it. Fair feedback. I could easily change up the minimum so they just make waves between 50-100 or 75-100% of their max (just cut off the bottom).

Your thought process is that the pump is spending such a limited amount of time at max, that the 2250 gph pump is only actually doing like 800-1000? Am I right?
Click to expand...

Yeah, you don’t necessarily need them at max. If 2 are going at the same time 1000gph is fine but if they spend a ton of time doing 250gph that’s no bueno. I would never want them ramping down below 30% except at feeding.
 
Except the ones that aren’t currently active I assume? Like you’re fine having the opposing corners go to 5% when the other 2 are at 30-100 or 40-100 or whatever yes?
 
Varig said:
Except the ones that aren’t currently active I assume? Like you’re fine having the opposing corners go to 5% when the other 2 are at 30-100 or 40-100 or whatever yes?
Click to expand...

Absolutely or they will just be fighting the active ones.
 
Okay. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t being a dummy. Since you threw me for a loop with your original “are the pumps on?” Comment. :)

I’ll do that tonight when I can watch what happens when I make the change.
 
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