wasp

Yes, these guys - Ascomation NZ Ltd. I'm not allowed to give phone numbers but they are in the book, otherwise drop me a pm. I don't think it will cost $700.00 but it will be more than $58.00. I bought one from them for Co2, from memory it was around $80.00.

I realise Cookie said that Layton . As I already told you, both systems have a restriction, just the durso has less of a restriction. Like I said, I would not personally use either system without a secondary pipe. Just pointing out Suphew made a very good point as was obvious. But please.... I didn't want to get any durso bashers started again :lol:

Well just as well you did that back up pipe! For me, I would just never have either a Durso or a Cracker Pipe without a backup pipe as well. What happened to that filter thingy you had over the Cracker Pipe? Thought that would have stopped any snails. Amazing coincidence that just when Suphew has been saying the tap could be prone to blockages caused by a snail, you have an event that proves him correct :lol: . Almost as if you planned it for demonstration purposes :lol: . Also, wonder if as a regular job, say every 2nd month, to test the backup pipe and make sure it is still unblocked & working.

Very nice! Great therapy to look at .

They seem to be pretty leak proof, siliconed or not siliconed.

I know of several occasions that has been done, a big dollop of vodka, followed by a cloudy bacterial bloom, and in each case it nuked the algae and cyano. However, there is a risk to livestock so it's not recommended. But it just depends how desperate a person is to deal to their algae. The other thing is that a longer term view should be taken of nutrient control, to make sure things stay good. So a regular dosing program should be followed, always with a view to seeing how little you can get away with, eventually vodka might be able to be phased out altogether.

You may not get a white bacterial bloom, that is only if you overdose. Just increase the dose each week until it starts to work, may take several weeks.

Very Nice!!

Bummer! Thought it seemed odd the vodka had such a reaction so fast! Also, when I blended an anemone, I had an algae spike afterwards, so things may get worse before they get better.

I can almost feel Craig thinking from here. We will soon see the "Balled Cracker Pipe" :lol:

Thanks Ira, yes that's what happened to me, I could not get the pump back in with anything there. Only takes me a few seconds if there is no filter wool or whatever, though. Anyhow a kind person emailed me this thread http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthrea ... genumber=1 it surely contains everything a person needs to know about these skimmers

That ball valve idea is very ingenius ! Well done the both of you !

Tel you should stop dosing till the cloudiness settles down. This bacterial bloom will clean your tank, in a few days you will see the algae start to die. It also becomes more palatable to fish as it dies and they enjoy eating it more. The downside of this bacterial bloom is the bacteria can use a lot of oxygen in the water. Not an issue during daylight due to photosynthesis, but at night, make sure you have max aeration so the livestock will not suffer. Don't get too worried though I recently saw a vodka induced bacterial bloom the water was so white you could barely discern the back of the tank, and all livestock came through fine. The cloudiness will subside in 2 - 3 days, when it does you should start dosing again, at 1/2 the quantity, ie 1/2 ml twice daily per 100 litres. If after a time algae appears to be gaining ground, increase the dose slighly. If the tank is crisp and clean, try lowering the dose, until you find the correct minimum dose for your tank.

Thanks . I was expecting to get shot down in flames! :lol:

I can imagine. I know the area in which you live! :lol: But jokes aside, I don't seem to have the screw to which you refer, perhaps because yours are the in sump version they can have this below the waterline? Anyhow Craig I'll have a look at yours next time I come over. Tried that there just is no gap there, I couldn't even get a piece of mouse pad under it. Do you have the hang on one like me?

Here's how I see it. Both systems have pros and cons. Craigs system works well, and is silent. One thing I'll agree with Layton there is no need for a standpipe at all if there is enough redundancy in the sump. Correct me if I'm wrong Craig, but as I see it, if you had no standpipe, but instead just the tap at the bottom, that would help eliminate the issue of water rising quite high in the overflow to build up pressure, after you re-start the sump return pump. Personally I would not run this system without a secondary pipe, as Craig has, incase of blockage. May never happen, but the tap scares me. Talking about tap position, one advantage not having it outside the tank, is it keeps it away from childrens fingers. I know having such a tap outside the tank when my kids were younger, would have been a recipe for certain disaster. Not if, when. . Craig has largely eliminated the risk of blockage by placing a filter at the top, he tested it while I watched and he could block at least 3/4 of it with virtually no effect. The Cracker Pipe will be the name for this system, you are now famous, Craig. To Dursos, Reefs one is completely silent. I questioned him about this & he explained how he achieved it, all very well thought out and logical, it can be done. I won't steal Reefs thunder, he can explain if he wishes when he comes back. Dursos have a restriction also, which is why I don't use a Durso, although the restriction is much less than the Cracker Pipe, but it's still there. I've never heard of a durso failing though, has anyone? To me, if I had to have one of these systems, it would be either or, they both work, but I'd have a secondary pipe as an emergency blockage water overflow, with both of the systems, but especially the Cracker Pipe. Probably not needed, but I'd feel better with it.

Sheesh! Here we go again. Why do you keep dragging my name into your unseemly arguments Layton? And for that matter, why is nearly every thread you are in turn into an argument that ends up being moderated?

Also, depends what you are keeping Buzzy. There are many, or even most, corals that will do fine if you only have 2 x 150 watt halides over a tank that size. Some of the corals with high light needs will do better with more, but generally you could pull it off with 2 only, you may get some lower light corners, where you could put some lower light corals. All depends how much money you want to spend.

Thanks Craig. You talking about those screws that secure the collection cup?

That's exactly what I use, brand new cost $135.00 plus bulb, a couple of years ago. Bear in mind the bulbs in the units you're looking at are unlikely suitable for a marine tank, you would have to buy new ones.

Well not that noisy, but I'd rather not hear it at all. It's one of those hang on the back ones, in the instructions it says if it's making noise you can put a sponge between the pump and the housing. But I couldn't do that the gap is just too thin. Just wondered if anyone has any bright ideas?

If they are little cotton bud looking things with a few hairs sticking out one end, they can be a pain, but they can come, and they can dissapear. Most sponges though are regarded as interesting and benign residents of our aquariums.

Any herbivore such as tangs, lawnmower blenny, snails, will have an effect, but mostly not eradicate it completely, although sometimes lawnmower blennies can do a good job, other times not. Vodka can do harm if overdosed, so start at 1 ml per hundred litres water, 2 time daily. This is a minimal dose and should be done for 1 week. If no effect, increase by another ml 2 times daily, for another week. Each week add another ml twice daily to the dose, until you reach a level that is working for your tank. Observe livestock, in particular mushrooms for adverse reaction, and scale back dosing if need be. Keep skimming hard