Rod's Gyre flow, Natural light, SPS dominated Reef

[dorian]

awesome display tank -- truly an insperation -- Would you happen to have a supplier/part # or url for the compression fittings used on the pumps to eheim tubing

[Rod the Reefer]

Hi Dorian,

Thanks for the compliment.

The fittings are called "Rural Fittings". I believe they are an Australian design.

Here's their web site;

http://www.philmac.com.au/Product/Pr...ange.aspx?r=22

Rod.

[Rod the Reefer]

A couple of new acquisitions;







Rod.

[FUA]

awsome fish pics i like the pic of the schooling fish

[Rod the Reefer]

They're cool aren't they?

They are Apogon leptacanthus, the Threadfin Cardinal.

I'm looking at getting more of these to make up a shoal of around 20.

Rod.

[tonyf]

Rod,

Awesome mate! Love the new school, really cool.

I noticed that you are using the Panworld pumps for your CL, do you have any need for sound insulation?

Your sump arrangement has inspired my new sump project ... acrylic makes it so much easier.

Tone

[NexDog]

I used a PanWorld for 2 years before a flood killed it. It's pretty quiet. Use an Iwaki now which is about the same sound-wise.

[tonyf]

^ Why I asked is that I have an Iwaki MX70R on my return and it's not exactly quiet. I had to put it into the garage with the Hammerhead CL pump.

Tone

[boret]

Rod the Reefer very very nice setup. Thank you for all the pictures and diagrams. I like a lot of your ideas. The whole sunlight thing is awesome! Too bad my tank sits in the first floor of a 3 level house otherwise I will look into doing something like that. Very unique a totally RC TOTM material!
I was wondering if you have used any rubber blocks/pads between the metal structure and pumps. Something to dampen any vibration. I would be concern with the PanWorlds transferring vibration to the stand and also the tank damaging the integrity overtime.
I am not familiar with those pumps myself but one Little Giant I have in a CL has small orifice on the top to pour a drop or two of oil every few months. Being side wise, aren't you concerned about any motor oil leaking into the equipment bellow? Maybe its a moot point and those pumps don't need to be oiled
Last question, how do you control heat exchange in the cabinet and how do you bring fresh air to keep the pH stable?

Congratulations on a very nice setup it looks fantastic!

[justinmcleod]

First, I am blown away by the detail to your tank design and set-up, impressive! Second, small world! I went to Uni at Adelaide Uni and lived in North Adelaide for a few years. Have enjoyed following along and glad to see some excellent reef representation from Adelaide, the land of Coopers!

[Rod the Reefer]

Originally posted by tonyf
Rod,

Awesome mate! Love the new school, really cool.

Thanks Tone, I'm getting a new shipment of these to boost the numbers this week!!

I noticed that you are using the Panworld pumps for your CL, do you have any need for sound insulation?

I thought I would and actually went to Clark Rubber and looked at a couple of different styles they have, but I have found that once the doors of the cabinet are closed, I can hardly hear them.

Your sump arrangement has inspired my new sump project ... acrylic makes it so much easier.
Tone

Well I'm glad you like it. It was just a few ideas thrown together, but in reality, it is working very well.

Originally posted by NexDog
I used a PanWorld for 2 years before a flood killed it. It's pretty quiet. Use an Iwaki now which is about the same sound-wise.

Originally posted by tonyf
^ Why I asked is that I have an Iwaki MX70R on my return and it's not exactly quiet. I had to put it into the garage with the Hammerhead CL pump.

Tone

I have two PanWorlds and two Iwaki MD30R's. The Iwaki's are more noisy.

Originally posted by boret
Rod the Reefer very very nice setup. Thank you for all the pictures and diagrams. I like a lot of your ideas. The whole sunlight thing is awesome! Too bad my tank sits in the first floor of a 3 level house otherwise I will look into doing something like that. Very unique a totally RC TOTM material!

Thanks very much.

I was wondering if you have used any rubber blocks/pads between the metal structure and pumps. Something to dampen any vibration. I would be concern with the PanWorlds transferring vibration to the stand and also the tank damaging the integrity overtime.

Yes, I have rubber mounted all the pumps. I had the same concerns.

I am not familiar with those pumps myself but one Little Giant I have in a CL has small orifice on the top to pour a drop or two of oil every few months. Being side wise, aren't you concerned about any motor oil leaking into the equipment bellow? Maybe its a moot point and those pumps don't need to be oiled

No, definitely no oil holes.

Last question, how do you control heat exchange in the cabinet and how do you bring fresh air to keep the pH stable?

Congratulations on a very nice setup it looks fantastic!

I find that the heat inside the cabinet actually helps maintain the tank temp. for most of the year. In summer, during very hot days I open the doors and the A/C does the rest. The pH is quite stable. The tank is open top and the cabinet isn't entirely sealed.

Originally posted by justinmcleod
First, I am blown away by the detail to your tank design and set-up, impressive! Second, small world! I went to Uni at Adelaide Uni and lived in North Adelaide for a few years. Have enjoyed following along and glad to see some excellent reef representation from Adelaide, the land of Coopers!

Thanks mate, there's actually quite a few stand out tanks here in Adelaide.

Thanks everyone for all your nice comments.

Rod

[Gary Majchrzak]

is it a halo?

no "hot spot" in the middle like a halide or is this an inaccurate assumption since the light is falling all the way to the floor?

[FUA]

a shoal of 20 would look awsome

[Rod the Reefer]

Originally posted by Gary Majchrzak

is it a halo?

no "hot spot" in the middle like a halide or is this an inaccurate assumption since the light is falling all the way to the floor?

Sorry for not replying sooner guys, I haven't been able to access RC for ages.

No, the light tends to be a circle with no centre. Having said that, the circles do overlap and as the sun passes over head the sun light from the tubes traverses the tank.

Originally posted by FUA
a shoal of 20 would look awsome

Yeah. I have received a few more, I now have a shoal of 11 and am expecting another shipment next week.

Rod.

[Rod the Reefer]

Time for a couple of new photos!!

FTS



RHS & Stag Island




You may notice a few of my corals have had a bit of a prune (Most noticeable - my bright purple Stag. Seems a few people want a bit of it)

Rod.

[SunnyX]

Looking great!
I love how you have placed certain corals and open sand space.

[Ed Reef]

I like how you split the colonies and the stags.....nicely done!!

[bogg]

Really really nice, love the natural light and the aquascape, good job

[Rod the Reefer]

Thanks everyone for your positive comments.

Rod.

[Rod the Reefer]

Following on from many responses regarding my Sola Tubes & skylight and after listening to Marc and Evan on their latest Reefcast, I thought I'd do a little update.

Natural light - 3 years on

Well it's been 3 years now since I installed my skylight and Sola Tubes!! Doesn't time fly!!

My thought was that the extra natural light would be supplemental to my Mh’s and T5's and wouldn’t replace them. During winter, for example, we don't get a lot of sunshine and at night artificial light is still required to enjoy the tank.

Living in a high bush fire danger area I didn’t want to use the plastic Sola Tube domes, so instead I used a standard flat skylight with a sheet of 1/2" clear laminated glass for strength.
Fortunately my roof faces north so the skylight picks up maximum sun. (Southern Hemisphere remember) After discussions with Sola Tube it was decided that considering the pitch and orientation of my roof, I would get very similar levels of light through my configuration as I would through their domes. You can see in this pic that I have cut the tubes at the same angle as the skylight.



FAQ

Q1 "Has there been any additional heat brought in from the Solatubes?"

A1 The amount of heat coming down the tubes is about equivalent to what you'd feel if you went outside and put your hand out and felt the sun on it. Negligible really, compared to the heat from a Mh.

Q2 "Could I substitute the standard tubes with polished aluminium?"

A2 The idea of using polished aluminium has arisen before. (After all that's what the Solatubes are) I considered doing it to the point of looking at types of aluminium. I think it could be done, but you'd have to polish it with car polish and then seal the surface with a clear finish so it didn't tarnish again. I'm not sure how you'd go then rolling it up. Also how reflective would it be?

Q3 "Could I use flexible ducting -- highly reflective foil wrapped over a wire coil -- much like ventilation duct. The amount of light that it transfers is quite impressive, but I don't know how it compares with Solatubes"

A3 The flexible ducting simply doesn't compare with the Solatube style rigid tubes. When you look at it all those creases and bends reflect light in all directions, even back up the duct! I'm no expert but I have been told that the flexible ducting reflects about 50% where the Solatubes reflect 98%.

Even bends in the rigid tubes lose some light!

Q4 "Are you able to switch off your Metal Halides during summer?"

A4 Yes.

Q5 "Isn't the light really yellow?"

A5 I think you'd be surprised at the colour of the natural light. It's not yellow as most people think it would be. I'd rate it in appearance to a 10000k Mh bulb.

Q6 "Doesn't sunlight cause algal blooms?"

A6 From what I've read algae need two things to grow. Light and nutrient. If you take away one it simply can't grow. If your water quality is exceptional (As in near zero nutrient) there shouldn't be a problem.

If you check Calfo's book "Book of Coral Propagation" he has coral in glass houses and discusses this issue at length.

Photo of my old system. 2001 - 2008 - TOTM March 2007 RTAW, TOTM Turkey, TOTY 2007 RTAW



Photos of my new system 2008 - Today - TOTM July 2009 RTAW



FTS with just sunlight; (The shafts of light traverse across the tank as the sun moves across the sky) Jan 2009



Sunlight and T5's. Jan 2009



Sunlight, T5's and Mh's. Jan 2009



Latest FTS



I love the natural light!!

Rod.

[Ed Reef]

Great summary Rod.... !!

[Lightsluvr]

Rod, I just re-read your entire thread and want to compliment you again on the planning and the final product. Your SPS are stunning, obviously very happy with the sola-tube lighting.

Great job.

LL

[Rod the Reefer]

Thanks very much guys.

Rod.

[Ninong]

Truly amazing, mate!!

[melev]

Thanks for the big update and the Q&A section. That was very helpful since you have real life experience for three years to share.