Okay, so I am going to switch to a mazzei 584 for my 180....
Based on all of the many threads I have read (over and over) on this subject, this is what I will use as hardware and what I expect to happen. Also some things I will use as benchmarks.
I would appreciate any feedback:
Flow:
I plan to use a 500 gph Mag drive that will sit in the sump to drive the Mazzei. The output of the pump will flow through gently curving flex pipe to a ball valve (to throttle the flow to the venturi as necessary) which will be connected to the Mazzei. The OUTPUT from the Mazzei will flow through more flex hose to the INPUT sponge of my 1800 gph Mag drive that then delivers to the twin rtank returns.
The c02 line will attach as directly as possible from my regulator to the Mazzei with a check valve between the c02 and the mazzei.
Basically, I will switch my AM1000 reactor with venturi mod for a Mazzei and the ball valve.
Benchmarks:
I can currently get my drop checkers (2) to green or yellow but I really have to pour in the c02 to do so, and it is not easy to keep it this way.
My ph is 7.1 (per meter) when c02 first comes on, and green DC =6.7 and yellow is 6.5 or less. However, the fish never showed any stress at this level for the day or two I experimented with higher c02 before I turned it back down.
So, I have read to expect that a mazzei with a 500 gph pump can expect to lower PH by a full point within 15-30 minutes on this size tank.
I can expect then and will watch for a drop from my starting point of 7.1 to 6.1 within 30 minutes if I am not careful, since my target is 6.5 or so.
I also expect to greatly decrease the amount of c02 I am feeding in to the mazzei.
Questions (of course):
1. Does this seem like an adequate installation and setup?
2. I can use a smaller or large pump, but figured the ball valve would serve as well.
3. Can I run the venturi pump all the time, but not c02 24/7. I do this currently with my reactor, so the reactor pump is always running.....
I will use the pearling, ph, etc I get now as benchmarks so I don't gas the fish and to set limits.
It will be interesting to see if a mazzei will be the better answer for my setup......
Thanks in advance for any responses.
P.S. I hope (expect) the mazzei can help me to stabilize my c02 levels.
Based on all of the many threads I have read (over and over) on this subject, this is what I will use as hardware and what I expect to happen. Also some things I will use as benchmarks.
I would appreciate any feedback:
Flow:
I plan to use a 500 gph Mag drive that will sit in the sump to drive the Mazzei. The output of the pump will flow through gently curving flex pipe to a ball valve (to throttle the flow to the venturi as necessary) which will be connected to the Mazzei. The OUTPUT from the Mazzei will flow through more flex hose to the INPUT sponge of my 1800 gph Mag drive that then delivers to the twin rtank returns.
The c02 line will attach as directly as possible from my regulator to the Mazzei with a check valve between the c02 and the mazzei.
Basically, I will switch my AM1000 reactor with venturi mod for a Mazzei and the ball valve.
Benchmarks:
I can currently get my drop checkers (2) to green or yellow but I really have to pour in the c02 to do so, and it is not easy to keep it this way.
My ph is 7.1 (per meter) when c02 first comes on, and green DC =6.7 and yellow is 6.5 or less. However, the fish never showed any stress at this level for the day or two I experimented with higher c02 before I turned it back down.
So, I have read to expect that a mazzei with a 500 gph pump can expect to lower PH by a full point within 15-30 minutes on this size tank.
I can expect then and will watch for a drop from my starting point of 7.1 to 6.1 within 30 minutes if I am not careful, since my target is 6.5 or so.
I also expect to greatly decrease the amount of c02 I am feeding in to the mazzei.
Questions (of course):
1. Does this seem like an adequate installation and setup?
2. I can use a smaller or large pump, but figured the ball valve would serve as well.
3. Can I run the venturi pump all the time, but not c02 24/7. I do this currently with my reactor, so the reactor pump is always running.....
I will use the pearling, ph, etc I get now as benchmarks so I don't gas the fish and to set limits.
It will be interesting to see if a mazzei will be the better answer for my setup......
Thanks in advance for any responses.
P.S. I hope (expect) the mazzei can help me to stabilize my c02 levels.