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05/22/2012, 10:40 PM | #526 |
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The freaking thing either doesn't skim at all or it overflows. I have the twist valve thing wide open and seemingly randomly it will start skimming so crazy it will fill my Avast skimmate locker in minutes and shut off the skimmer.
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05/22/2012, 10:44 PM | #527 | ||
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Quote:
Quote:
Also, anyone else have opinions?
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^ Click on my username and 'Visit Taqpol's Home Page!" to view my 220 gallon custom Miracles tank! -Alex |
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05/22/2012, 10:57 PM | #528 | |
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Quote:
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-Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system |
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05/23/2012, 06:35 AM | #529 |
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[QUOTE=Taqpol;20282891]Thanks for the reply! I love that picture of the hermit! were there any other features about the panasonic that made it stand out to you guys? Any features you wish it had, or that you didnt know it had but now you can't live without? Do you still have any links to the rating sites you used for underwater point and shoots?
Not being much of a photographer (compared to you) I cant really say if there were any other features that made it stand out photo quality wise. What made it stand out to me was the customer ratings, the depth it could withstand, and durability to drops and what not. My wife and I do allot of hiking and I really just wanted something near indestructible. I know my under water pics are not so good but I am willing to bet someone like you could do some amazing things with the manual adjustments. Being that's its a very small camera and allows for some relatively close focal lengths it could be really nice for reaching into those impossible to get to areas of your tank with an SLR. Or maybe im just blowing smoke. lol I will say one feature if there was one I could not live without was the sunset mode. I feel like I got some pretty killer shots in Maui. I wont post them here so as to not clutter up your thread but would be happy to PM them to you with some more links about the camera. |
05/23/2012, 05:57 PM | #530 | |
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Quote:
Now that I think about it, you keep the silencer off your skimmer anyways, right? Any reason to do that?
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05/23/2012, 07:10 PM | #531 |
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wow, your two goby pictures are amazing!
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05/23/2012, 09:35 PM | #532 | |
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Quote:
I used to keep the tubing disconnected from the silencer because my system was so clean it was the only way to keep the skimmer from skimming super wet all the time. I have a height issue under the stand so the skimmer was as high in the water as I could get it. Now that the system has been running a while I'm able to get a nice foam head and keep the tubing on the silencer. I even have to close the riser pipe some to dial it in. My bio load is heavier since I've added some fish and it really started to settle in when I started using filter socks. Guess the gunk the socks pick up puts extra load on the skimmer.
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05/23/2012, 09:49 PM | #533 |
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Excellent pictures of the tank!
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06/07/2012, 01:03 PM | #534 |
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Hey Alex, I know you were looking into getting an underwater camera... RB has an underwater camera shootout on their site right now. I think it's the latest post. Might help you make a decision.
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06/07/2012, 01:47 PM | #535 |
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I have an underwater camera with a macro kit that you are welcome to tinker with.
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06/26/2012, 08:50 PM | #536 |
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Good job!!! Awesome pictures!
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07/08/2012, 07:19 PM | #537 |
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Love the tank dimension and all the DIY skills. Great job!
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10/22/2012, 12:49 PM | #538 |
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We need updates Alex!
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10/26/2012, 10:25 AM | #539 |
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Does your Hawk ever harrass your fish? I also got an arc-eye who has been causing problems lately. he was fine for 2 years though, then all of a sudden. maturity?
Last edited by derek.reef; 10/26/2012 at 10:25 AM. Reason: typo |
11/09/2012, 07:04 PM | #540 |
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Nice Tank
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11/11/2012, 11:08 PM | #541 |
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I've finally gotten through reading your build and your tank is awesome.
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02/06/2013, 11:08 AM | #542 |
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Hey Alex...
Any updates? it has been a while from your last post
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02/10/2013, 10:08 PM | #543 |
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Hey guys, it has been a long time.
To cut to the chase, I am going to be selling the 220 gallon. I am going through some pretty major life changes, and coupled with graduate school I just no longer have the time or the energy to keep up with the big tank. That being said, my current plan is to downgrade my tank to something along the size of a 4'x2' rimless reef a la Sunny's first tank, coupled with a complete overhaul of the fish room to make it more efficient. The thought of fixing little things that have bugged my entire time with this tank is awesome and revitalizing, but the thought of selling and moving my 220g while keeping the fish alive is a logistical nightmare. We'll have to see what happens.
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02/10/2013, 10:35 PM | #544 | |
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Quote:
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02/12/2013, 07:36 AM | #545 |
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wow, what a rollercoaster of a story. Glad to hear you will be back at it. I am very interested in your tank if that is the direction you end up going. Please let me know know if you do. PM sent.
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03/18/2013, 05:06 PM | #546 |
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Do we get another FTS before this is all said and done? Also along the lines of the LEDs, did you ever make any upgrades/changes especially regarding new colors and spectrum?
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07/05/2013, 09:13 PM | #547 |
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Alex, Thanks just went through your build nice work thanks for sharing
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07/16/2013, 07:12 PM | #548 |
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Figured I would update everyone here, I am selling the tank this coming Sunday. In the interim I will be keeping my QT tank, frag tank, and sump running to keep all my livestock alive while I make a big decision: downgrade to a smaller tank or throw in the flag.
If I downgrade I have picked out a nice 80 gallon rimless tank whose dimensions (48"x24"x16") fit into the corner where my anemone tank used to be perfectly, and I could keep the fish room layout and the majority of the equipment the same. There are still two pieces of equipment I need to look into, a return pump and a skimmer. I hate skimmer shopping, so if anyone has any opinions please let me know. I want something that reliably produces skimmate for an 80 gallon SPS tank. I am interested in DC pump skimmers just because they are so adjustable and the price seems to be coming down, but thats not a requirement. I have overall been unhappy with my SWC250a, even with cleaning out the venturi weekly it would go through long periods of no skimming and then go nuts and overflow, filling up my skimmate locker in the matter of minutes.
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^ Click on my username and 'Visit Taqpol's Home Page!" to view my 220 gallon custom Miracles tank! -Alex |
07/16/2013, 09:59 PM | #549 |
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I certainly understand life throws us all some wicked curves,I hope you will be able to mange with just a down sizing. Ether way all the best to you and yours. After reading a lot of threads you may want to look into a Lifereef skimmer nothing fancy they just work.
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Each succeeding year of my life feels less free than the one before Current Tank Info: 125 g mixed reef with sump |
07/17/2013, 06:37 AM | #550 |
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Hi Alex.
I been running my 75 gallons rimless for almost two years. I been using the Reef Octopus Extreme 160 (which was rename Diablo 160 later on). I have been very pleased with the performance of the skimmer. It has a great energy efficient pump and a big skimmer cup. I think their new skimmer line also features DC pumps. You should check them out....
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Jonathan Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Deep Blue Rimless |
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