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Items by Dorry

Marine Aquariums of South Africa

• 

  UPS Suitability

  Posted: October 18th, 2010, 10:20pm CDT by Dorry

  Guys
  
  I've been reading all the opinions on what type of UPS to use. For my large tank (with sump) we are using a Hailea 6350 return pump rated at 50 W.
  
  Over the weekend we tested it on a MECER 1400 VA UPS. The type sold for use on a PC. This is a modified sine wave model; the documentation says so.
  
  The Hailea pump runs on it without any notable increase in noise, erratic flow and no perceivable increase in temperature.
  
  Questions to the more knowlegable members out there:
  

  1. If the pump is plugged into the output side of the UPS, does it run of Eskom's reliable AC, or does it constantly run on the modified sine wave output of the UPS?
  2. How do these pumps typically fail; burn out, suddenly just stop or slowly deteriorate and eventually put out less flow?

  My thinking is that if it is normally running of the mains AC, and only reverts to the UPS generated power, I would be prepared to sacrifice the pump to save some expensive livestock, even if it eventually destroys the pump. The other option would be to connect the pump to the mains and use the UPS as a back-up, with an automated cut-over relay switch. Same argument.
  
  Comments please.
  
  Regards
  Helga
• 

  What heaters are reliable/safe?

  Posted: October 17th, 2010, 8:52pm CDT by Dorry

  All
  
  I need some advice on what heaters are reliable and safe. Our first tank is a Boyu TL550. A number of weeks ago we replaced the heater with a Dophin 150W, as the original heater supplied with the Boyu would only switch on at around 24 deg C and switch off at more than 27 deg C.
  
  The Dophin seemed to control through a smaller temperature range, but in last week it exploded. Fortunately not in the main tank, but in in the rear chamber where it is mounted. It tripped the electricity sometime during the night which I only discovered the next morning. First I switched it back on again, and it started arcing and there was a terrible smell like an electric fire in the room before it tripped again. All the soft corals were hanging, but the fish looked OK. The bottom section where the elements are mounted had to be fished out from the bottom of the chamber. The ammonia levels were sky high, and it took 3 days of replacing almost all the water before it came down again.
  
  So far nothing has died, but I certainly do not want a repeat of this experience.
  
  In our 2nd tank we asked the LFS for the best heater on the market, and were advised to buy a Jager. Maybe the lectronics are better, but how about the glass?
  
  Are there any heaters with something other than the glass tube locally, as this is most certainly the most fragile portion of the assembly? On US websites I have seen mention made of Titanium tubes, but have never seen this locally.
  
  Before you start suggesting that we may have bumped or damaged it, this is certainly not the case, as it is mounted in a chamber behind the tank.
  
  Thanks in advance for any help,
  Helga
• 

  Waterflow through pvc pipe scaping?

  Posted: October 10th, 2010, 5:32pm CDT by Dorry

  Hi Everyone!
  I have just started my 300 liter marine tank. The scaping of the live rock I did by building a structure of 32mm pvc pipe. To keep it from being boyant and for water to flow through I drilled holes in the pipes. The tank has been cycling for 1 week now and the algae is growing like crazy.
  To my horror, a seasoned reefer told me that I made a big mistake by drilling holes in the piping. Apparently the water will become stale inside the pipes which could pose massive problems in future. His advice was to connect a small pump with plastic tubing into the structure to get adequate waterflow through the piping system.
  Could you please advise whether this is necessary and some advice as to what I should do? Attached a photo of the structure.
  
  Greetings
  
  Helga:(
• 

  White chalky substance forming on live rock

  Posted: September 11th, 2010, 10:10pm CDT by Dorry

  Hi Guys, Please help!
  
  I have just noticed a white chalky substance growing on the live rock and base rock in my newly setup tank. It is a 130 liter tank and has been going now for just 3 weeks. Still in the cycling process. The live rock had lots of purple growth and even a few fan worms growing all over. Suddenly (it appeared within a few hours) we notice a pure white chalky growth/film on the live rock and even on the base rock. The tank is not milky. The temp is 26 degrees and the Ammonia levels were 0.5 after 1 week and are now 0.1 after 3 weeks. The SG is 1.025. The PH is 8.3. Is this chalky substance normal during the cycling process.
  What to do?:(