Not a whole lot to update at this point......Did finally purchase the exhaust fan for the fish room.....Tried installing it this evening, but it appears that I'll have to do some modification work on the ducting.....Hopefully tomorrow after work I'll get by HD or Lowes and pick up the pieces I need to get the duct work connected....
Should have mentioned I did come to a decision on PH's to supplement the CL system.....I've tossed and turned and loss tons of sleep debating Tunze vs Vortechs.......I've decided to go away from the Vortechs......I know most will say they are incredible pumps and mad flow....You are correct, but don't think they are suited for my application......Vortechs are nice trust me....No cords, nice wave/flow capabilities....BUT.....2 major short comings for me IMHO.....They aren't adjustable, and the controller cable lengths just suck.....I'm not willing to purchase these pumps and then in turn send them to EcoTech to have the cords lengthened at $25.00 a shot....plus you can't adjust or aim them.......A major downfall.....Being I know there would be sand issue as well.....
With the Tunzes good flow....excellent customer service and proven and excellent track record....They are corded yes, but I think I've solved the cord issue, but haven't tested it out yet, but will shortly....These pumps can be aimed and positioned almost unlimitedly....Will work in conjunction with the Apex, but not as seamless....(meaning programming on the Apex will have to be written) instead of sorta preset, but can vary between modes or movement actions throughout the course of the day as you can with a Vortech......I've seen a few videos of the new 6255's run on longer bigger tanks and IMO rather impressive movement.....I'm not trying to produce a wave in the setup, but coupled with correct timing it could be achieved with timing and placement......
With extensive conversation with Roger and Craig from Tunze I'm going to opt for (2) Tunze 6255's(when they are available) for the end with the overflow.....Going Tunze will allow me to mount them higher in the tank to avoid sand issues. The nice thing is with the cords being black and the side and back of the tank black and a trick up my sleeve I'm thinking I could make the cords disappear.....(Hoping anyways!!!!!)
Specifications:
* Tunze Turbelle Stream 6255 High Flow Water Pump * WIDE FLOW
* for tanks > 4.000 l (1,050 USgal.)
* Flow performance: 5,000 to approx. 18,000 l/h (1,300 to 4,800 US gal./h)
* Energy consumption: max. 58 W
* Power supply unit:100-240V/50-60Hz
* Length of cable: 5 m (196.8 in.).
* Dimensions: ø90 mm (3.5 in.), output: ø75 mm (3 in.)
* Magnet Holder with Silence Clamp with pane thickness up to 27 mm (1.06 in.).
For addition flow in the tank there will also be an additional (2) Tunze 6095's......These present a bit of a challenge in a sense.....A challenge to due mounting capabilities....The magnets are only strong enough I think for 1/2", but I'm going to have to fabricate mounting brackets to mount these puppies.....The nice thing is both parts of the magnets are submersible, so no issue with the back magnet being in saltwater.....With that said these pumps will be mounted along the front of the tank on the euro bracing aimed back towards the rock work in opposing corners, kinda cross firing; delayed of course.......
Turbelle® nanostream® 6095 (6095.000)
* for aquariums from 100 to 1000 litres
* (26 to 264 USgal.).
* Flow rate: 2,000 to 10,000 l/h (528 to 2,642 USgal./h).
* Energy consumption: 5 - 21 W.
* Voltage / frequency: 100 - 240 V / 50 - 60 Hz.
* Cable length: 5 m (196.8 in.).
* Dimensions: diam. 70 mm (2.7 in.).
* Output: diam. 50/10 mm (1.96 / .39 in.).
Anyways finally got the new skimmer lid and automatic neck cleaner in house....Still have to reconnect all the plumbing back up, I had to take apart to get the skimmer inside the sump.....It was a rather interesting ordeal to say the least......Also go the Apex in house as well.....I've fired it up, but haven't really played with it much...Also trying to determine what other modules I'll need....some I'd like right away and others can wait a bit....I would like to try out the new leak detection module Neptune just released......
I've been working rather diligently on my control panel/cabinet for the fish room....This will house the "brains" of the system more or less....I had plans to mount the Apex, and all Apex modules and stuff inside along with PH controllers , Litemeter and heater controllers.....The way it's planning out I don't think the Litemeter is going to work into the scheme of the control panel, but not a big deal. As well as the heater controllers aren't long enough to reach from where the heater will be placed to the control panel, but I've already solved that issue and will have to post a pic of that control box itself sometime here shortly.....Anyways here's a few pics of the control panel/cabinet.....
The holes in the bottom right are where power lines from the stand already run will enter into the control panel......The hole on the far left bottom of the panel is where the Apex Eb8 cords will exit.....Those holes will be dressed up with grommets kinda like what you'd find on a desk to conceal/hide wiring.......The inner board where you have 1 hole on the right is again where power lines will feed through the panel.....A big key is keeping wiring neat and tidy and out of sight.....The 2 holes on the left board will be where the power cables from where the Eb8's will be located will be routed out of sight to the bottom of the panel as well.....Trying to minimize as much visible wiring as possible.....
I had talked so much about using hydraulic shocks I couldn't resist........The normal european hinges work great, but the door is rather big and cumbersome....The cabinet height if I remember correctly is roughly 30", so a pretty big door, but not heave....You can see I used my pocket holes again, and the hydraulic shocks I happened to stumble upon Saturday while at my local WoodCraft store picking up glue....These things are incredible.....The smallest ones they have are designed to handle a 100lb door, so they are more than capable of holding and lifting this......
The small hole in the top is where my wiring will enter the control panel for my lighting for the tank........
As you can see I've gone a bit over board.....I like locks....Yes to keep messy fingers out, I've installed a lock on my control cabinet.......There will be a smoked acrylic panel inset in the door, so you will be able to look in and see the display of the Apex, but you won't be able to touch it......Of course I have the app on my phone, so I can see what's going on and worse case I can grab a computer and adjust from there or my phone......
Also in the pic you can see a bigger compartment on the right hand side of the case.....This is where all the Apex display, brain and modules will be located and housed.....On the far left you'll see a small area sectioned off.....This is where the Eb8's will be mounted....Again trying to hide wiring......
In this pic you get a closer look at the hydraulic shocks and you'll see that I've laid the panels in place......The panel closest to you with all the holes in it again is where all the brains of the unit will be housed.....The 2 bigger holes in the top of the picture are where all the cords will appear and be run over to the Eb8 outlets there will be grommets again used in the holes to tidy them up......The 3 smaller holes running vertically are different cables will make there way to and from the "brain" of the Apex.....I probably didn't need 3, but 2 for sure....I'd rather have an extra then down the road realize I need another.....Again super easy to plug with the grommets. The real small hole off to the right in the pic is where the wiring from the Apex display will be routed downward underneath the panel, and will come out 1 of the 3 vertical holes where it will be plugged into the "brain box" of the Apex
In the far compartment you can see that I've fabricated a cover plate for the Apex Eb8's....They aren't ugly, but just a little bored and anal and wanted to fab a plate to cover them up somewhat......
Again in the pic....On the far left you can see the cover plate I've fabricated and made to cover the tops of the Eb8's.....When the Eb8's are in place you'll basically see only the outlets themselves......The aquabus ports are hidden on the side, but the bottom side of the cover plate I fabricated is routed to allow plugs to be plugged in the aquabus ports, and also had to route out the cover plate so the power cords of the Eb8's would clear underneath.......
Also in the pic you see a smaller rectangular box near the top by the 1 hinge on the right side......This is a face plate I've fabricated to cover the display......The cutout opening is just wide enough to fit over top of the Apex display....You'll be able to still access the buttons on on the display, but it's more to dress things up and hide the cord coming off the bottom of the display unit.....
My wife came downstairs a bit ago and of course I was admiring the beauty sitting on top the bar.....Actually if my brother-in-law was here, he'd be trying to figure out how many beers he could drink out of the collection cup......I think my wife was a bit jealous.....Her comment was" boy wished somebody eyed me like that".......Then her next comment was how much did you spend on that......(Hide the receipt)........
