Over the top

Basile · #1 03-05-2014, 12:58 AM

I've build myself a hell of a system! Now with some of the components not yet installed for diversed reasons , and its been 2 months that my tank has been running with out them and i'm starting to wonder if i really need them. Does anyone has that impression on some of their stuff.

Example. My Apex Neptune Controller is not set up yet because near the end and its seem i'm not the only one we seem when it comes to big system run out of steam or motivation. Specially when its been a while you've been building it. So my temp probe, ph probe, orp probe, aren't plugged in obviously and neither is all the cotrolled function yet, i don't have a router yet. For X reasons, the point is , some of those gadgets , im starting to think i may not replace when the time comes. Any of you started with all these and not reorder them after the first try, because they were not usefull or necessary, or relevent to your tank ?

Its my first big system and i was going to the max , as of now everything is running so well and without all these, just wondering.

Don't mind the plumbing and the wires i went for a theme, a Borg look

Another example was the salinity probe i defaulted on that, it was $139 for the probe + $ 95 for the module adaptor thats $235 for salinity that you have to replace every 18 months or so . So , i chose this;

Its $95 , portable so i can use it anywhere at friends, i can use it to sample arriving bags, unlike probes that can't leave the tank's water. And its permanent , don't need to replace it after a year, or so. It more flexible and practicle. Thats what i'm leading on with the usefullness of things....

With the size of my refugium 75 G , half the size of the Reef ; i'm hopping to get rid of my GFO and let it take over and be more natural oriented. I know guys still with only sumps and t5 doing better than others with LED's Halides and with biopellets and other reactors sold on the market. Are we becomming to gadget oriented and less practicle hobbyist . Thats what i was thinking about and reflecting on, any comments?

MarkoD · #2 03-05-2014, 02:10 PM

Lol and still a refactometer does the same thing as that digital one and the probe.

But yeah I agree. The gadgets lose their novelty value.

I'd like to know when was the last time someone did a lightning storm with their LEDs

Reef Pilot · #3 03-05-2014, 02:15 PM

Gotta ask,... have your cats ever tried to jump on your lights,... or fallen into the water?...LOL

tlhood · #4 03-05-2014, 03:36 PM

Lol that one cat looks like he's going fishing

jorjef · #5 03-05-2014, 04:01 PM

The list of my need to have gadgets.

1- Skimmer.
2- Salt.
3- Water change pails.

I have long thought about what you are musing about today and decided I have no use for any reactors, dosers, etc etc etc. Hell, don't even have a sump. Water changes are my friend.

Basile · #6 03-05-2014, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkoD

Lol and still a refactometer does the same thing as that digital one and the probe.

But yeah I agree. The gadgets lose their novelty value.

I'd like to know when was the last time someone did a lightning storm with their LEDs

LOL YES YES YES , thats IT , thats why i chose the Razor who paid $ 200 more for a lightening storm they never use! I posted that in my thread an ego trip , no coral value what so ever, storm, cloudy days , you really thing the corals need or value all these expensive programs,Which you pay through the nose ; each time someone shows me these things from there set up i hiss saying to myself thats money i've put in my skimmer or in my frame, or in a coast to coast , thank God . Thanks for that one i knew i wasn't the only one.......lol

Basile · #7 03-05-2014, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

Gotta ask,... have your cats ever tried to jump on your lights,... or fallen into the water?...LOL

Nope, they take a sip once and a while and thats it. If they did, the Razors are anchored with hooks, that can support 57Lb each so no problem there, the Razors are 2.2Kg and the cats are about 8lb and 6lb each so if it where to happen no to worry. The Razor become at worst slightly warm barely. Very efficient design, the fan are rarely on; extremely silent. You don't hear them.

Basile · #8 03-05-2014, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorjef

The list of my need to have gadgets.

1- Skimmer.
2- Salt.
3- Water change pails.

I have long thought about what you are musing about today and decided I have no use for any reactors, dosers, etc etc etc. Hell, don't even have a sump. Water changes are my friend.

Thats cool, but with my set up i need a sump since i have a display fuge it means i have to have a place to put my pumps and since you have to dose when you have a diversity of macroalgae, they need supplement to survive, cheato excluded. Mine are collection ones with particular demand on iodine ( most red one need higher dosage) and iron and magnesium in the long term if they're to survive. A display refugium is not for cheatos, and caulerpa, ugly first of and not prize winning collection material lol. So a bit of plumbing had to be added to my set up for it. In time i want my refugium to overtake my GFO totally and take it out and let the natural way, the refugium become the natural filter of the tank thats my aim . Hopefully my skimmer will be ON and OFF schedule. That the experiment i'm goin for.

tang daddy · #9 03-05-2014, 04:56 PM

That's a lot of rocks in the display, how are any corals gonna fit lol!

jon.smolders · #10 03-05-2014, 05:01 PM

It is a relief to hear that you don't need all the hight tech gear to maintain a successful reef. I am setting up my tank again this year and I am shooting for low tech. Skimmer, gravity fed ato, sump, and weekly water changes to replenish calcium, magnesium, etc.

Its hard though because I keep hearing things like oh you need to run gfo or dose this or that.I'm going to run a remote fuge too but I don't consider that high tech.