Continuous feeding NPS filter feeders - Page 3

uhuru · 01/11/2010, 04:13 PM

I don't know if you are addressing that to me, but I didn't switch to syringe pumps. I use both syringe pumps and kalk reactor. I will explain my current routine in a bit. I have been having very good results and the reactor doesn't get nearly as stinky as when I first tried it.

You could use a peri pump but you will have to clean out the tubing regularly. Once bacterial growth starts to occur in the tubing it will capture the particles in the food and form a vegetation, thereby impeding flow. This happens with the kalk reactor too but its 1/2" clear tubing and its easier to clean out and cheaper/easier to replace.

uhuru · 01/17/2010, 11:14 PM

Current pic of my tank:

Roti-Feast - .75 ml/hr
Shellfish Diet - .35 ml/hr
FM Dendronephthya system - 5 ml injected into kalk reactor daily, kalk reactor 1/2 emptied every 24 hrs. and run with just system water for 12 hrs. Cleaned completely once a week.

suta4242 · 01/17/2010, 11:33 PM

Very nice uhuru.

aninjaatemyshoe · 01/17/2010, 11:46 PM

Very nice Uhuru! I have always been envious of your collection.

On the subject of continuous feeders, here's something I recently put together:

It is also a reactor to keep the food in continuous suspension. I decided to go with a magnetic stirrer instead of a pump in the hopes that it will not need as much cleaning. I added an Iceprobe chiller in order to keep the food cold in the reactor. It keeps the food in the high 30's. I haven't set it going yet as I'm waiting on one part, the o-ring gasket to keep it well sealed.

uhuru · 01/18/2010, 12:26 AM

Thanks guys. Ninja - someone had brought up that very concept to me but they had the idea of putting the iceprobe on a kalk reactor. It looks like yours is similar to a very short kalk stirrer, correct? Due to the small size I think the stirrer would work fine. I'm looking forward to see how that works out for you! I'm hoping to get a custom food reactor built in the near future.

ReefingIt · 01/18/2010, 01:19 AM

Hi,

I am new to the NPS concept. Is a continuous feeding system necessary to keep these types of species alive? Could they thrive on two or three feedings a day? Just curious.

Thanks.

aninjaatemyshoe · 01/18/2010, 08:08 AM

It would really depend upon the NPS coral. For some of them, it is definitely a must. For things like Tubastrea and Dendrophyllia, you don't really need a continuous feeder. However, all NPS corals will benefit from a continuous feeding setup.

ReefMonger · 01/18/2010, 09:52 PM

Beautiful setup Uhuru

uhuru · 01/20/2010, 09:24 PM

Thanks!

uhuru · 01/22/2010, 10:14 PM

Closer up shot:

I have been playing around with an Ogles Mesoscope, and it is the coolest "toy" ever. Anyone keeping NPS filter feeders really should pick up one of these. I get to see my Dendronephthya actually feeding and ingesting (without question).

oldreefer76 · 01/22/2010, 10:38 PM

I see those Gorgs from Phishy in there they are looking good, I have got to see your set up in person

RichK · 01/23/2010, 06:24 AM

Simply stunning tank uhuru. Your commitment to the tank shows in the results.

Flanders · 01/23/2010, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uhuru

Closer up shot:

I have been playing around with an Ogles Mesoscope, and it is the coolest "toy" ever. Anyone keeping NPS filter feeders really should pick up one of these. I get to see my Dendronephthya actually feeding and ingesting (without question).

wow. that's really an incredible tank. I love the shadows created by the spotliglighting - leds I assume?

Western_reefer · 01/23/2010, 12:02 PM

Gorgeous tank!! You need to upgrade! lol

acro76 · 01/23/2010, 12:43 PM

You just blew my mind with that tank!!!

I am loving all the gadgets you guys have made to continuously feed. I might have to try this!

uhuru · 01/23/2010, 04:09 PM

Thanks everyone!

acro76 - I'm looking forward to getting the archohelia frag. Good thing you guys are offering frags. Even if I could afford a colony, it wouldn't fit in my tank!

Flanders - It's a single LED 21w lamp with wide optics so it covers the tank well. It's mounted on the wall behind the tank, from a good distance and thus the dramatic shadows in the front.

GreshamH · 02/11/2010, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aninjaatemyshoe

Very nice Uhuru! I have always been envious of your collection.

On the subject of continuous feeders, here's something I recently put together:

It is also a reactor to keep the food in continuous suspension. I decided to go with a magnetic stirrer instead of a pump in the hopes that it will not need as much cleaning. I added an Iceprobe chiller in order to keep the food cold in the reactor. It keeps the food in the high 30's. I haven't set it going yet as I'm waiting on one part, the o-ring gasket to keep it well sealed.

Dang how did I miss this one?? Great little reactor

What Dia tubing did you use? Did you get the o-ring? I have a ton of different large sizes if you didn't (PM me your addy if you haven't and tell me the size you need).

Just a FYI for those interested.... I use www.allorings.com for all my oring needs

ReefMonger · 02/11/2010, 08:46 PM

That new photo just became my background. I cant wait till my 180 starts to look like that. Great work!!!!

uhuru · 02/11/2010, 09:19 PM

Thanks! Things have been going very well with this feeding regimen (although I have ramped up the feeding even more) and I'm working on a 65g tank that will feature mostly NPS softies. Also plan to automate more stuff like daily water changes and a new automatic feeding device that I plan to have dose larger amounts of food every couple of hours.

uhuru · 02/11/2010, 09:22 PM

sneak peak of my new 65g:

and the fish that will be the centerpiece:

close up of one of my gorgs (white balance not corrected):

Western_reefer · 02/11/2010, 09:50 PM

Very nice!! Can't wait to see the 65 gallon up and running!

slapshot · 02/12/2010, 07:39 AM

Very nice. Continued success!!! I built a crude by the above sysytems feeder. So far it works well though. My Chilli coral has closed for four hours in 48 hours since I started using it. Anyone know what they do in nature?

Here is my new feeder to feed my non-photosynthetic corals:

Little fridge:

Fridge witha 24 hour feeding supply:

Pump to pump up to the tank:

Lastly the pipe inlet to the tank. It feeds right into a Koralia 6. Note the air pump turns on when the pump runs to mix things up. I also did not want pressure to build up in the refrigerator or a vacuum to build up because of the pump so that is why it runs only when it is pumping.

[/

stunreefer · 02/12/2010, 09:34 AM

Congrats on the new tank Mike, that's awesome news!

Sanjay · 02/12/2010, 10:01 AM

If you don't mind my asking.. what is the cost of this fridge ? This ones looks perfect for even feeding my large tank.

sanjay.

slapshot · 02/12/2010, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanjay

if you don't mind my asking.. What is the cost of this fridge ? This ones looks perfect for even feeding my large tank.

Sanjay.

$59.00

01/17/2010, 11:46 PM	#54
aninjaatemyshoe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 2,333	Very nice Uhuru! I have always been envious of your collection. On the subject of continuous feeders, here's something I recently put together: It is also a reactor to keep the food in continuous suspension. I decided to go with a magnetic stirrer instead of a pump in the hopes that it will not need as much cleaning. I added an Iceprobe chiller in order to keep the food cold in the reactor. It keeps the food in the high 30's. I haven't set it going yet as I'm waiting on one part, the o-ring gasket to keep it well sealed. __________________ You are not brought upon this world to "get it"

01/18/2010, 08:08 AM	#57
aninjaatemyshoe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 2,333	It would really depend upon the NPS coral. For some of them, it is definitely a must. For things like Tubastrea and Dendrophyllia, you don't really need a continuous feeder. However, all NPS corals will benefit from a continuous feeding setup. __________________ You are not brought upon this world to "get it"

01/18/2010, 09:52 PM	#58
ReefMonger Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Underwater Posts: 724	Beautiful setup Uhuru __________________ I will work for corals Current Tank Info: 180 Gal

01/23/2010, 12:02 PM	#64
Western_reefer Reef keeper Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 70° 17' 59.176"/-83° 6' 27.2768" Posts: 5,734	Gorgeous tank!! You need to upgrade! lol __________________ -Moses, the reef/azoox nut. Food comes with it's own flavor. Anything that has to steal flavor from other food just so it can have flavor is not a food. That is Current Tank Info: 120 gallon Mixed Reef, mostly SPS dominated

02/11/2010, 08:46 PM	#68
ReefMonger Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Underwater Posts: 724	That new photo just became my background. I cant wait till my 180 starts to look like that. Great work!!!! __________________ I will work for corals Current Tank Info: 180 Gal

01/11/2010, 04:13 PM	#51
uhuru Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbus Posts: 2,949	I don't know if you are addressing that to me, but I didn't switch to syringe pumps. I use both syringe pumps and kalk reactor. I will explain my current routine in a bit. I have been having very good results and the reactor doesn't get nearly as stinky as when I first tried it. You could use a peri pump but you will have to clean out the tubing regularly. Once bacterial growth starts to occur in the tubing it will capture the particles in the food and form a vegetation, thereby impeding flow. This happens with the kalk reactor too but its 1/2" clear tubing and its easier to clean out and cheaper/easier to replace.

01/17/2010, 11:14 PM	#52
uhuru Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbus Posts: 2,949	Current pic of my tank: Roti-Feast - .75 ml/hr Shellfish Diet - .35 ml/hr FM Dendronephthya system - 5 ml injected into kalk reactor daily, kalk reactor 1/2 emptied every 24 hrs. and run with just system water for 12 hrs. Cleaned completely once a week.

01/17/2010, 11:33 PM	#53
suta4242 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: sydney, australia Posts: 634	Very nice uhuru.

01/18/2010, 12:26 AM	#55
uhuru Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbus Posts: 2,949	Thanks guys. Ninja - someone had brought up that very concept to me but they had the idea of putting the iceprobe on a kalk reactor. It looks like yours is similar to a very short kalk stirrer, correct? Due to the small size I think the stirrer would work fine. I'm looking forward to see how that works out for you! I'm hoping to get a custom food reactor built in the near future.

01/18/2010, 01:19 AM	#56
ReefingIt Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 329	Hi, I am new to the NPS concept. Is a continuous feeding system necessary to keep these types of species alive? Could they thrive on two or three feedings a day? Just curious. Thanks.

01/20/2010, 09:24 PM	#59
uhuru Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbus Posts: 2,949	Thanks!

01/22/2010, 10:14 PM	#60
uhuru Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbus Posts: 2,949	Closer up shot: I have been playing around with an Ogles Mesoscope, and it is the coolest "toy" ever. Anyone keeping NPS filter feeders really should pick up one of these. I get to see my Dendronephthya actually feeding and ingesting (without question).

01/22/2010, 10:38 PM	#61
oldreefer76 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Fairview Park Ohio Posts: 2,452	I see those Gorgs from Phishy in there they are looking good, I have got to see your set up in person

01/23/2010, 06:24 AM	#62
RichK Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Wayne PA Posts: 692	Simply stunning tank uhuru. Your commitment to the tank shows in the results.

01/23/2010, 12:43 PM	#65
acro76 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 41	You just blew my mind with that tank!!! I am loving all the gadgets you guys have made to continuously feed. I might have to try this!

01/23/2010, 04:09 PM	#66
uhuru Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbus Posts: 2,949	Thanks everyone! acro76 - I'm looking forward to getting the archohelia frag. Good thing you guys are offering frags. Even if I could afford a colony, it wouldn't fit in my tank! Flanders - It's a single LED 21w lamp with wide optics so it covers the tank well. It's mounted on the wall behind the tank, from a good distance and thus the dramatic shadows in the front.

02/11/2010, 09:19 PM	#69
uhuru Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbus Posts: 2,949	Thanks! Things have been going very well with this feeding regimen (although I have ramped up the feeding even more) and I'm working on a 65g tank that will feature mostly NPS softies. Also plan to automate more stuff like daily water changes and a new automatic feeding device that I plan to have dose larger amounts of food every couple of hours.

02/11/2010, 09:22 PM	#70
uhuru Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbus Posts: 2,949	sneak peak of my new 65g: and the fish that will be the centerpiece: close up of one of my gorgs (white balance not corrected):

02/11/2010, 09:50 PM	#71
Western_reefer Reef keeper Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 70° 17' 59.176"/-83° 6' 27.2768" Posts: 5,734	Very nice!! Can't wait to see the 65 gallon up and running! __________________ -Moses, the reef/azoox nut. Food comes with it's own flavor. Anything that has to steal flavor from other food just so it can have flavor is not a food. That is Current Tank Info: 120 gallon Mixed Reef, mostly SPS dominated

02/12/2010, 07:39 AM	#72
slapshot Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Farmington Hills, Michigan Posts: 1,791	Very nice. Continued success!!! I built a crude by the above sysytems feeder. So far it works well though. My Chilli coral has closed for four hours in 48 hours since I started using it. Anyone know what they do in nature? Here is my new feeder to feed my non-photosynthetic corals: Little fridge: Fridge witha 24 hour feeding supply: Pump to pump up to the tank: Lastly the pipe inlet to the tank. It feeds right into a Koralia 6. Note the air pump turns on when the pump runs to mix things up. I also did not want pressure to build up in the refrigerator or a vacuum to build up because of the pump so that is why it runs only when it is pumping. [/

02/12/2010, 09:34 AM	#73
stunreefer Reef Hugger Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Submerged Posts: 3,253	Congrats on the new tank Mike, that's awesome news! __________________ -Austin Make your animals Thrive, not just Survive.

02/12/2010, 10:01 AM	#74
Sanjay Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: State College, PA Posts: 2,302	If you don't mind my asking.. what is the cost of this fridge ? This ones looks perfect for even feeding my large tank. sanjay.