kngfisher

should add choice to "Have you had to replace any parts?" probes/DC4/DC8 1 year so far so good....temp probe went bad after power failure @ 11months other then that, no real issues....

So, tonight I learned a quick lesson as how not to split power of the AC3 and DC8. I thought I was smart well, not quite. Theory plug power to DC3 into wall (via GFI) and AC3 power into UPS that way, settings will stay and in the event of a power loss, once the power comes back on, setup would not have missed a beat.... Result During complete powerloss to house, AC3 remains on as long as the UPS remains running. The only other thing pulling power from the UPS is a tunze 6055 to keep water motion in tank to O2 level in tank as high for as long as possible. Weekness In the event that the GFI trippes but power to rest of house.....and power to UPS remains on. All lights, return pump, heater, pump to top-off remain off until GFI is reset. Status messages from the AC3 still sent via email and pH readings remain withing tolerable levels unfortunatly, there is no way to track is the DC8 is accually powered. No way to tell how long DC8 was offline. Lesson Learned Dont split to DC8 and AC3 into two seperate power sources.

had same broblem w/ my T5s then I got a socket expander .... adding even a small night light to incease the load also worked.

using ddclient and it works like a champ

shoot flowerseller a PM, I know he has some in his tank....

good question.....not sure but do not think chaeto will care......you can add it at any time without having an adverse effect on your cycle currenlty under-way. The amount of chaeto will determine how much your nitrate levels will drop/remain low.....also, do not expect a large drop over-night.....a large amount of chaeto will be more effective then a small amount......also, chaeto grows quickly so add any size you wish at any time you wish and remember to trim often.

have also used needle and thread method with sucess. rubberband works too.....with the wedge method did not work because then I would not have all these kenya trees growing in impossible to remove places due to self fragging.... kenya anyone :-) ..... almost a bad as xenia :-)

have you tried BRK?

worry more anout the talk then the HOB I feed mine via split off from main return pump with a mj1200 just to keep water moving in HOB. without the MJ, I too have a buildup of cyno (red slime algae) in the fuge. as far as algae growth, be happy that things are growing, just trim it from time to time and/or push the mass down to buy you more time. either way, you will have to trim from time to time. don't worry too much about algae getting in display for the fish may just eat the little pieces that find their way to freedom....the trimmings you can also spread to other members here in the boards. just another way to meet fellow members and share the fruits of your labor.

gatortail used to help w/ that but once you get issued your WAMAS membership card you can just show it to whomever is behind the counter at MS.....from what I remember, discount only applied to live-stock but I do not recall the %

are you trying to quite down a skimmer?

rate of production increased w/ no change in TDS out....remained zero. Noise of the unit increased however....looks like they changed the design/source of their flow restrictor again on their site.

I also own a typhoon 3 and upgraded it to use the 150gpd membrane. I have 80 psi of water pressure pressure at the meeter and before installing the 150gpd membrane was reading 80 psi at the filter....since installing the 150gpd membrane the pressure has dropped to little less then 60 psi at the filter but I also changed.....wait, off topic..... yes, the AWI typhoon 3 or extreme (if you have the water pressure) is a great product. their support is good and should filter all the water you need.....it comes complete and ready to setup. Can easily be attached to a wall or board if need be. I added an inline TDS meter to my unit and was the best add-on I made. I use the inline meter to quickly measure how much disolved solids are entering the unit (~128 for me) and when to change filters (>0 TDS in production water). Think the extreme unit has that as a standard item....make you decision on your known water pressure taking into account the lower water pressure in the colder months.....if somewhat low pressure, either get a booster pump or stick with the T3..... Even with ~60 to 80 psi and the 150gpd membrane, this setup is not capable of producing 150gpd in production water.....other than that, great unit.

am sure you will have lots of takers.....on the mac side, I have been very happy w/ maquarium just wish it could monitor the AC3

aquarium one......thats were I got mine.

I have one K4 on my 90....stream is a split stream not solid like the tunze or any other powerhead....I have the K4 on the back right corner at the top w/ one stream aimed to run the length of the tank at the back (keeps current behind rock work) this aims the other stream at a 45 degree angle to the front glass....basically at center of tank. I like the placement however, have had to move a few SPS pieces because the stream is too strong at 10" from K4.....they are growing like they have been placed infront of a wall...

you may find that alk level drops some once mag levels raise to proper level....atleast that is what I found....alk 9.2dKH 1340ppm mag.

current mods: gate valve venturi (RO/DI tubing 5/32" ID) mesh....thanks chip for the labor and dandy for the material :-) before after planed mods: venturi (1/4" ID)

so just took a air flow meter reading and the needle does not show a constant reading. The ball keeps jumping up and down with a range of 8 - 12 SCFH l/min . Is this normal? The skimmer in sitting in my sump. current mods: gate valve venturi (RO/DI tubing 5/32" ID) planed mods mesh venturi (1/4" ID)

water changes are agood idea and so is testing. I used to use reef crystals and switch die to low mag levels. not worried about alk or cal levels because my kalk and calcium reactors help me maintain those levels but mag is another story. I elded up switching back to IO because not worth the money for me if I still must suppliment (same issues found when using seachem Reef) so now I just test mag (yes chip one day I will replace your kit) and dose when needed with ESV mag. Before suplimentation, my mag level was 1050 using RC and after 1.5 gallons (yes, you read correctly) levels are up to 1310 (this was accomplished very slowly over a few weeks) and now test once a week and dose as needed. lesson. dont belive just just because you pay more and the box/bucket says it contains more of one thing or another. testing and monitoring (corals look good? how are things growing?) how your tank is doing the only way to really tell.

Have relitives in philly and maybe a good excuse to pay them a visit. :-) NCPARS Spring Swap April 12, 2008 PSU State College, PA Saturday, April 12, 2008

location: I have my ac3 and DC4/8 under my display tank....anywhere is fine just as long there is no way it can get wet. Have seen one tank where display was placed on a wall making it very easy to read as you entered the room. power: I have my ac3 and dc8 plugin into a surge protector, all devices that you want the ac3 to control, plug unto the dc8. The ac3 controls the dc4/8 via a small phone cable that connects the two units. control interface: the control interface is the RJ11 connecting to the right of the RJ45 on the ac3. Looks like a telephone outlet. This in where you plug the phone cord that came with the unit into and the other end plugs into the dc4/8

so flowerseller and I....mainly him gave things a go at trying to fix my mistake and now we have made the 90 degree elbow more like the pic dandy7200 posted. How? chip had the idea of shoving a smaller diameter PVC into the 1" 90 to return the part back to the way it was before I ported it. and then we had the idea to bevel both ends if the new insert like the pic dandy7200 posed. We also redrilled the hole for the air tube and returned it back to 1/4" from the 5/16" ID in the middle of the two beveled edges.....next question is should the airline be flush with the inside of the venturi like the pic the dandy7200 posted or cut on an angle facing the pump like skimmer back online.....bubbles are the finest I have ever seen out of the skimmer. ORP is already coming back up in just the 10min (dropped to 260 of a previous high of 280) it has been back online. will have to check it in the AM.

If we can fix it all the better, in the mean time, will try to order replacement parts..... have looked on the net but parts for the non-recirc easier to find then the recirc....guess folks dont tend to mod that one as much.

so, I guess I have to figure out how/where to get a new 90......because that is where the issue is and why the skimmer is not performing.