ctenophore

This is amazing! Marcos sent me photos and videos of his quarantine systems where he's put Plank feeders on each tank. All those fish get excellent care. It's a really well thought out setup that clearly results in the very best quality fish. The passion and skill to do this difficult endeavor is evident. Beautiful system, Marcos!

I think I just replied to your question via email also, but I just updated the Plank help page with a photo showing an example of a BRS screen top cutout kit used to make a notch for a Plank. It's a few pictures down from the top on this page: https://www.avastmarine.com/pages/plank-autofeeder-support-page Thank you for your support!

Good ideas but I've already decided I'm going in a new direction with it. I will likely turn this tank into a big paludarium with only a few inches of water at the bottom, with waterfalls, orchids, and maybe even dart frogs. I may set up a round acrylic tank for my anemones in the greenhouse. I'll miss the sunlit reef but time to try something new! Update on the above: pretty much all the coral is spoken for. The big sinularia has a home! I took a few last top down shots and videos.

So. I guess I was lucky to take that last video above, as yesterday while I was standing out there, this happened. I was lucky that I had a single rachet strap about 20 feet away in the garage, because (think fast! ) by the time I ran to get it, the seam opened to the width of my finger and I lost about 75 gallons of water in about 20 seconds. I thought I was going to lose the entire 8ft front pane onto the floor, along with everything in the tank. So I just pulled on the ratchet as hard as I could and hoped the glass didn't crack from the point loading of the steel hook. Thankfully it didn't, and after cranking down on it as hard as I possibly could, I got it back to leaking at about the rate in the pic. I called a carpenter buddy of mine who lives down the street and again thankfully he a) was home and b) had a half dozen 33" heavy duty steel clamps on hand that I was able to go pick up within 10 minutes. So I got the clamps in place and that stopped the leak completely. Crazy. So now I am in the process of moving everything out. Some of my favorite pieces are going into my in-wall tank (you old wamas'ers may remember this from it's setup in 2008) but the rest I guess need to go to other homes. The big question is, can I find a home for the immense pulsing sinularia that's the centerpiece colony of this tank, in the video I posted above last week. It's on a roughly 50lb rock, and the colony itself is probably 36" x 30" x 18" and weighs about 70 lbs itself. I really would rather not cut it up as it's quite a showpiece, but I realize there aren't many tanks that can house it. Maybe somebody with an aquarium service company with a large tank client will want it? Free to a great home; I've grown it from a piece the size of my little finger about 10 years ago. Anyone else who wants any of a variety of nice soft corals- blue discosoma mushrooms, blue/purple cespitularia, this stuff: https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/6667/liveaquaria-reg-ccgc-aquacultured-purple-anthelia-coral, various green & long polyp sarcophytons, blue & red photosynthetic sponge, etc., you're welcome to it. I'll post pics/colonies as I move them out. I'm trying to get it empty this weekend, as I'm on borrowed time as far as the clamps/leaking goes. Just message me if you're interested.

I haven't updated this thread in forever. Tank still exists.

The best way to get in touch with us quickly is to email us at support@avastmarine.com. This goes into a tracking system that pings both Dan and Justin on our phones and computers. Also, facebook messenger goes to this system as well, so that is equally fast.

Weird that the pump isn't doing anything when plugged in. Do you see any signs of a compromised epoxy potting or frayed power cord at the motor block? I haven't been able to get messages here for a long time. Best and fastest way to contact is always support@avastmarine.com

Also, have them send pictures of what was received so we can make sure there isn't anything else missing.

Definitely have the buyer contact us at support@avastmarine.com (always the best and fastest way to reach us!) and we'll get any missing pieces sorted out.

Unfortunately the syncra pumps are all just plain water pumps (except the pinwheel version of the 1.5 for ozone reactors). So you're best off getting a replacement PSK-1000 online somewhere. They aren't hard to find. You may just need a new impeller, did you pull it out to check it?

We discontinued them several years ago. There are just too many other skimmers on the market, and we wanted to focus on innovating elsewhere. That said, I have some ideas for new designs that would be quite a departure from "normal" skimmers, but with the Plank feeder going nuts right now, I doubt I'll have time to work on it for a while. Thanks for thinking of us though!

Hi Mark, Since we don’t have a GHL unit to test on (or much experience with them) any info you provide will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks as always, Rik!

I have a screen top also, and interacting with this was an important design decision. The feeder body can sit on top of the frame. The food can either fall through the screen, or you can cut a hole in the screen. I’d advise the former until you are sure where you want to keep the feeder long term. I cut a hole in mine after a while. I’ll get some pictures of screen top interaction up on the website.

Thanks guys! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

Hi Darren, it should be pretty soon. I think we're just waiting for a few small items to come in. I'll ask Dan and see if he has a more exact estimate. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

Yes, pretty much certain it's the filter socks. Give it a day or two.

Hi Jeff, I just replied to the email you sent in, but now looking at these pics, I see you have a shallower sump section. Can you try putting it in there and seeing if that at least slows down the overfoaming? I suspect it's something in the water, as this looks like a fairly new system (or you keep a really clean sump!) Suggested depth is about 7", but where you have it now should work fine.

Hey DaveI'll text you in case you lost my number Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

Here is one of mine installed on a 55 gal drum. I didn't bolt it down, and this is a prototype where the solenoid is separate, so that line goes in the other cap opening. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

Hey Alan, if you didn't bolt it down, or if the reservoir lid lifts up, just lift up the Tender to trick it into thinking the water level is low. I had the same problem when I set mine up Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

A few things to check: make sure the output tube isn't below the water level, otherwise vapor locking can occur and create backpressure inside the output tube. Also, you might try to unscrew the valve so the plunger comes out. If you can safely saw off or otherwise remove about 1/2" of that cylinder, the skimmer will be able to drain easier. Why is the silencer not attached? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

Hi Matt, Which model CS1 do you have? Can you post a picture of it running? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

Did you get the peri pumps figured out? Lmk if not. That sea hare is loving it in the greenhouse tank. It has eaten so much algae it just crawls around leaving these wood pellet looking poops all over the place. Truly an algae monster.

Either will work fine. The medium gives you extra capacity that you may want in the future at the cost of sump space. I think 1 cup Rox and 1/2 cup GFO would be enough for ~100 gallons of water. I'd look at a Sicce syncra return pump. You don't get the electronic control, but the intake dial can limit the flow rate effectively. But, they're silent, reliable, and have a 5 year warranty.