I have been so lazy and never did a tank build. It is late and I promised myself I wouldn't watch tv so I will start this thread. Both tanks have the same equipment hence the 2 behind everything.
equipment:
IM desktop skimmers (2)
IM's support when I was first trying to get them figured out was top notch, but after a few times talking they basically gave up. I got the feeling they felt I was an idiot and didn't know how to set the product up. FYI, I am not an idiot...the product is just not very good. It does create a nice skim, it just also creates MASSIVE micro bubbles that never go away. I only run them at night, I do get a nice skim so I figure still better than nothing. I can't make myself buy a new pair of skimmers, just being cheap. Would rather buy other stuff i still want.
IM desktop reactors (2) - I think these are great, the only problem i had is that the bracket for one of them broke from tightening it...they come very thin and i've not gotten around to repairing it. I run 3 table spoons of high quality BRS carbon and 2 table spoons of the highest quality gfo.
IM hydrofill pumps (2) - these are nice little pumps, the only issue with them is if you have them sitting on a surface they vibrate extremely loud. I put some padding below and it helped a ton.
50 watt cobalt slim heaters (2) - love these things...only problem with them was me. I should have purchased a pair of 75 watt ones. I plan on doing that and keeping a 75 and a 50 in each tank for redundancy.
IM custom caddy (4) - no complains on these they are nice upgrades from the junk plastic ones that the tank came with. I am running a refugium with cheato on one side and the magnetic IM refuge light (2). The other side is just full of fluval bio rings.
IM spin stream nozzles (4) - nice for randomizing the flow, just need to clean them periodically as they will get stuck. After a good vinegar soaking they are usually good for 6 months or so.
vortech mp10 (2) with battery backup.
IM dual strip led light 2ft (2) - the light is enough for what i need, measured with the par and the readings pretty good with what they show on the website.\
Had a problem with the first one I got from them. The switches had not been soldered well and the lights wouldn't turn off unless you unplugged them. They replaced it and everything seemed fine till i got a 2nd one and built in night lights are WAY different brightness. Would be nice for my paired tanks to both light up with the same brightness at night, but one is about 3-5x brighter than the other.
Neptune apex
(2) energy bars 8
only have a ph probe and temp probe on one tank I have been lazy and never got another set for the other side.
I am also only using float switches for my ATO on one tanks...the evaporation is so close I just let them both run off the same float switches. ( I know not the best plan)
Plans:
upgrade mp10s to wireless I have the neptune wireless module just not set up yet.
get module for temp probe and ph and set up separate ato
Get dosing pumps
pictures to come....will also try and talk about equipment issues I have had as I post about them.
(this photo is old photo that i have posted before, will get updated stuff tonight)
equipment:
IM desktop skimmers (2)
IM's support when I was first trying to get them figured out was top notch, but after a few times talking they basically gave up. I got the feeling they felt I was an idiot and didn't know how to set the product up. FYI, I am not an idiot...the product is just not very good. It does create a nice skim, it just also creates MASSIVE micro bubbles that never go away. I only run them at night, I do get a nice skim so I figure still better than nothing. I can't make myself buy a new pair of skimmers, just being cheap. Would rather buy other stuff i still want.
IM desktop reactors (2) - I think these are great, the only problem i had is that the bracket for one of them broke from tightening it...they come very thin and i've not gotten around to repairing it. I run 3 table spoons of high quality BRS carbon and 2 table spoons of the highest quality gfo.
IM hydrofill pumps (2) - these are nice little pumps, the only issue with them is if you have them sitting on a surface they vibrate extremely loud. I put some padding below and it helped a ton.
50 watt cobalt slim heaters (2) - love these things...only problem with them was me. I should have purchased a pair of 75 watt ones. I plan on doing that and keeping a 75 and a 50 in each tank for redundancy.
IM custom caddy (4) - no complains on these they are nice upgrades from the junk plastic ones that the tank came with. I am running a refugium with cheato on one side and the magnetic IM refuge light (2). The other side is just full of fluval bio rings.
IM spin stream nozzles (4) - nice for randomizing the flow, just need to clean them periodically as they will get stuck. After a good vinegar soaking they are usually good for 6 months or so.
vortech mp10 (2) with battery backup.
IM dual strip led light 2ft (2) - the light is enough for what i need, measured with the par and the readings pretty good with what they show on the website.\
Had a problem with the first one I got from them. The switches had not been soldered well and the lights wouldn't turn off unless you unplugged them. They replaced it and everything seemed fine till i got a 2nd one and built in night lights are WAY different brightness. Would be nice for my paired tanks to both light up with the same brightness at night, but one is about 3-5x brighter than the other.
Neptune apex
(2) energy bars 8
only have a ph probe and temp probe on one tank I have been lazy and never got another set for the other side.
I am also only using float switches for my ATO on one tanks...the evaporation is so close I just let them both run off the same float switches. ( I know not the best plan)
Plans:
upgrade mp10s to wireless I have the neptune wireless module just not set up yet.
get module for temp probe and ph and set up separate ato
Get dosing pumps
pictures to come....will also try and talk about equipment issues I have had as I post about them.
(this photo is old photo that i have posted before, will get updated stuff tonight)
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