Tank Trials: Ultra Low Maintenance Tanks | BRStv Investigates

Ryanbrs

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I find even simple controller implementation saves time spent on the tank.
-long term temp monitoring, easy to pick up on a heater or chiller not performing when have a whole chart to look at.
-same can be said for ph, look at a month’s of data and suddenly a change on one day, maybe i should check my dosing pump calibration.

You’re videos on lighting have been very informative, having had ai’s on my tank for several months now; i used the settings found in the brs videos and have not touched them since. Have seen vast improvements in growth, pe and color.

Hearing results like this makes my day :)
 

Purpletank

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I like that you are breaking this into sections because ULM can be very different for Softies, LPS, SPS dominant tanks. Please include things that are more natural stabilizers (the key to ULM) like not overstocking, Nanos compared to 90g+. For example, my 12g, two fish, two Nem, three softies, one LPS one hardy SPS tank is ULM.
 

Sunny Goold

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I love this topic - I am researching getting my first tank and in the past 4 weeks have watched just about all of the videos - including the old ones. Ryan is such a great host.

I'm on a super tight budget and want to spend $1000 upfront and $100 a month (I told my wife 500 and 50). I was going to get a RFL but I have a family and am away for 1 mth once a year - @Ryanbrs convinced me to get an Apex (what happened to the Vertex?). Anyhow I just bought a used Apex Jr without the screen for $150 and I'm on my way. I figure when I am starting out I mainly need the Apex for the heaters to start.

What I am waiting for is the Seneye Coral - that will allow me to monitor and work out the two most important factors - Alkalinity and par in the tank. I don't know how much it will cost but I if its $200 + $15/mth it will be a bargain and allow me to also keep an eye on pH. I think that's 90% of what I really need from a controller / monitor (if I understand Ryan correctly). I will eventually do an ATO with Kalkwasser.

The used tank I am getting for $200 is about 5' x 24" (deep) x 20" wide. Yes - it's deeper than it is wide Ryan but I think besides that it's perfect. I am going to make it into a peninsula and make the back 1' into an internal sump - mostly a fuge (copying Triton). That means I have essentially a 4' display tank (and perfect for a cheapish lighting option).

The protein skimmer is on my mind but I will see what I have left on my budget when I need it. I am going to add fish slowly / coral - basically 1 each month - and I am going to get the smallest of each possible I think. I want to keep the fish load light - start with soft corals and in a year easy LPS (probably what I like the best) - Assuming everything goes well and I have the flow and the par I will try SPS after 18mths / 2 years.

When I get time I and have the tank I will post my build and my plan. Having a plan is one thing - sticking to it is another ;)

Anyhow this series has been amazing. So to answer your question - on a budget I haven't seen a better combo than an Apex Jr and a Seneye (especially when they release the coral) - I am going to wait till then to get corals anyhow.
 

Sunny Goold

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Yep - I was thinking about getting a Copperband about 6 months in (I saw somewhere they are the only fish for one particular type of pest which I forget) - but I also heard they have high mortality so it has slipped down my list.
 

Sunny Goold

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Hi Ryan - not having started my tank yet I wanted to ask / challenge you about something. Lighting stability. If your goal is maximum growth then I think you are right. But what if you want a little more robustness? With any living organism periods of stress are good - they make us stronger - also periods of recovery are also good. I wouldn't consider running higher light 'stress' but what about periods where you lower the intensity? In an ULM tank for example if you go away for a month maybe you could reduce the intensity by 10%. The corals may not grow as fast but maybe they would less susceptible to an issue with the tank. I watched @Dana Riddle MACNA presentation which was amazing and he showed importance of pH and other factors.

So I am just wondering if as in the case of flow - having a maximum level and occasionally reducing it for a period may result in a more robust tank which may sacrifice growth but be more ULM?
 

Sunny Goold

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And on the topic of light I agree manufacturers should give indications of par. However, and this is probably going to be controversial given the Seneye review comments, but I think EVERY reefer should own a par meter. Sellers of coral should say "this coral was grown at a par of 205" or "this wild coral should thrive in a par range of 180 - 200". Then best practice for reefers should be to say - "I have this spot in my tank for this par 205 coral where the par is 200 so it will be likely to do well there. This would be an extension of what Battlecorals do. I have a really tight budget for my tank but I see a par meter as 1 piece of equipment every reefer should have (especially when in comparison to other less essential pieces of equipment a Seneye seems to be very good value to me).
 

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The conundrum

Wow! Thank you for writing such a complete response. These discussions certainly challenge my own understanding and being a strong advocate of knowledge sharing I will certainly pass the information on. Reading your argument, it seems that you suggest that there is little to no risk associated with improper implementation of those said products? I know of two individuals well versed in the hobby who claim to have seriously damaged their system by careless refilling of biopellets (one is quite famous on youtube and the other is a store manager). Those are some great points and I particularly like what you said about mature successful tanks housing corals that were able to adapt to those specific conditions and having some degree of mortality to get there. I do agree, it is human nature to try and see patterns when there are none or having a bias/predisposition that can greatly mislead perception and ultimately belief in a hobby that operates on so many unseen mechanisms and variables. That said, educated observation can be one of the most powerful tools for success. And I agree with your last point. For us non-tinkerers, it is best to tread in the tracks of the successful and let the reefing pioneers challenge and redefine best practices. =)
 
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randyBRS

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ULM Tank Trials Ep-12: Aquarium Controllers for Ultra Low Maintenance | BRStv

Great discussion last week about controllers and how they may or may not help to create an even more Ultra Low Maintenance tank! In this week's episode Ryan discusses some of the community's thoughts, as well as explores what we are going to do on our three ULM tanks.


This week's question:


-How can flow in your aquarium be ULM? Ideas?

 

Ryanbrs

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Hi Ryan - not having started my tank yet I wanted to ask / challenge you about something. Lighting stability. If your goal is maximum growth then I think you are right. But what if you want a little more robustness? With any living organism periods of stress are good - they make us stronger - also periods of recovery are also good. I wouldn't consider running higher light 'stress' but what about periods where you lower the intensity? In an ULM tank for example if you go away for a month maybe you could reduce the intensity by 10%. The corals may not grow as fast but maybe they would less susceptible to an issue with the tank. I watched @Dana Riddle MACNA presentation which was amazing and he showed importance of pH and other factors.

So I am just wondering if as in the case of flow - having a maximum level and occasionally reducing it for a period may result in a more robust tank which may sacrifice growth but be more ULM?

While that is a vantage point and I understand what you are getting at I don't think it applies here. Intentionally stressing the corals is almost certainly going to result in negative results in a vast majority of cases.

If there is one piece of advice of I think is most likely to produce real results and likely more important than anything else it's, the stability of environmental parameters is 100x more likely to produce productive results than an endless hunt for the perfect parameters levels.
 

Luis morales

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When I am on vacation I have a piece of mine on my tank with this equipment I recommend it to anyone to set it up the correct way Don't know anyone that is serious about a tank that doesn't Have this equipment
 

SantaMonica

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Yes what the stability does (among other things) is to allow the algae in the coral to re-size according to the nutrient, light, and flow conditions. If parameters change too fast, these algae can't re-size fast enough. Unless of course they eject and cause bleaching.
 

AquaART

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Don't ask if a ULM system needs a controller. The real question if it's even a possibility of having a ULM without one—how complicated it can get does not disregard its necessity.

Just my opinion from a former non-controller advocate.

Forgot to answer this weeks question:

Although there are better flow solutions than the EcoTech Vortech pumps, I think it would be hard to argue that they are one of the lowest maintenance water flow solutions available. Every power head needs to be cleaned, but only one on the market can be cleaned, decalcified, and reinstalled without ever needing to touch the motor or tacke with the wiring.
 

svandive

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which model of gyre pumps did you select for the tank?
Am I right in thinking that the only way to implement the custom program in the apex to control the gyre’s is if you happen to have the discontinued icecap controllers for XF250s?

Thanks,
Scott
 

Gareth elliott

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Am I right in thinking that the only way to implement the custom program in the apex to control the gyre’s is if you happen to have the discontinued icecap controllers for XF250s?

Thanks,
Scott

Theres a thread somewhere where on here where coralvue said they are out of stock due to high demand, not discontinued i dont own one so didnt read it thoroughly.
 

Sunny Goold

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Great - thanks Ryan - The one most important thing I picked up by watching all of your videos is that stability is key to long term success. I was more asking if reducing the light intensity for some periods by a small amount may result in less stress to the corals - giving them a rest and thus making them more resilient to issues that invariably occur.
I have heard you say that many reefers try to push the upper limits to achieve more growth. So I was more thinking about a less growth / more resiliency approach. Just like you think alternating flow is important. It was just a question really if anyone had considered that. As new to this I want to build up my experience slowly and stick to techniques that are simple and get results - so I wouldn't be experimenting this way. And after reading your response I realised that a period of less lighting intensity - due to the change likely increases the stress to the corals.

So yeah - change in any direction is probably a stress (I hadn't considered that). I have heard about reefers adjusting their lights to follow the seasons but my guess is that is very slow change.

Thanks again - love BRS TV ;)
 

Sunny Goold

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Yes what the stability does (among other things) is to allow the algae in the coral to re-size according to the nutrient, light, and flow conditions. If parameters change too fast, these algae can't re-size fast enough. Unless of course they eject and cause bleaching.

Awesome explanation ;) Thanks so much!
 

siggy

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How can flow in your aquarium be ULM? Ideas?
Redundancy is the obvious answer. return and wave pumps rated at or above tanks requirements, those devices running at a reduced speed should have a prolonged life span as well. You touched on using Apex to monitor current draw, Over current would be a failure in progress and reduced current would likely be failed unit.
 
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randyBRS

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ULM Tank Trials Ep-13: Flow for Ultra Low Maintenance | BRStv

If you didn't think there could be such a thing as ULM flow, well we've found a way to discuss it! :p Today we're walking through flow choices and how they can help you save time on maintaining your tank.

Thanks to those who chimed in this week like our friends in the YouTube and Reef2Reef community, @AquaART and EngineeringAquariums!


This week's question:


-What does ULM Calcium and Alkalinity look like to you in a Softie, LPS, and SPS dominant tank?


 

chipmunkofdoom2

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Just to clarify, the inverter in the UPS isn't the big problem (although it's an inefficient way to power electronics that consume DC, like DC pumps). The big problem is that the batteries in UPSs are just too small.

The Duracell battery you showed in the video has a rated capacity of 35Ah, which at 12V is about 420W total. My Vortech MP10 uses about 7W on Reef Crest at 100%. At that load, the battery you showed will last up to 60 hours, give or take a few hours to account for battery DOD.

This $144 UPS from Amazon, by contrast, has a total of 15Ah (according to the replacement battery sizes). This equates to around 180W of power. This would only run one MP10 for 25 hours at the very most. Not bad, but that's a $150 UPS. A battery like the one you showed in the video is much cheaper, usually around $65.

UPSs will certainly work, but they're not my favorite solution. Hooking a battery up to the battery backup port of a DC pump will be much cheaper.
 

A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

  • I currently have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 64 36.8%
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  • I have not had feather dusters, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 25 14.4%
  • I have no plans to have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 26 14.9%
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