Tried to Boil My Tank Today

[CoryDude]

Came home from work today and noticed there wasn't any polyp extension on most of my sps. Then I remembered that I shut the main pump off to feed some coral food last night and then fell asleep. I left in a rush this morning and didn't notice that the pump was still off. Water temp got up to 87 degrees!!!


The chiller's been running for a while and the temp is 82 degrees now. Luckily there was enough water movement in the tank to keep the oxygen levels up. Dodged a major bullet today.

[Europhyllia]

Yikes. I am so glad I got my main pump on stand by. I always shut it off for feeding and I know I would forget to turn it back on every single time if it didn't happen automatically!
Hopefully in the morning everything is back to looking happy

[kkiel02]

I guess its time for an Apex.

[Europhyllia]

until then:
before I had a controller I simply used one of those mechanical timers with the little green and red pieces that click it on and off.
Only I didn't use any of the red pieces that click it off -just green pieces.
I spaced them all 2 or 3 hours apart.
That way I just switched the pump off by hand (the timer has a wheel thing on top to turn it on/off manually) and if I forgot to turn it back on it would automatically hit a green piece a couple of hours later and turn the power to the pump back on.

Just a thought...

[Bill S]

Cory,

Here's a $20 one I built a few years ago - simple DIY project. Still use it ALL the time. Works flawlessly. Much, much easier than the ACII I have:

http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?35654-BUILT!-Timer-for-feeding-cycle-turns-pumps-off!/page2&highlight=timer

[Europhyllia]

Here's mine. No supply list needed. If you can plug a lamp into an electrical outlet you can make this pump timer ;)
11803
turns the pump off manually on top and turns it back on automatically.

If you like I can bring it with me Saturday and you can just give it back to me when you get your controller.

Or you can buy one for like $12 or so (since it's the grounded three prong type -light timers are cheaper)

[Bill S]

Karin, cool idea - never thought to use them like that. I'd make sure that you don't exceed the recommended wattage. The timer I use has 10 minute increments, or just "off", by a push button (press 3 times for 30 minutes). I mounted it right at the front of the stand - makes it real easy to use.

[CoryDude]

Bill, I didn't understand the concept till I saw the wiring diagram on the nanoreef.com article. That's is a pretty neat idea. It would also work great when feeding the fish. I'm busy this coming Saturday, but this looks like a nice little Sunday afternoon project.

[Bill S]

Cory,

Looks like the photos were deleted. It's really rather simple. Call if you need help.

[CoryDude]

Thanks Bill. I was having trouble with your wiring description. Once I saw the pic on the nanoreef.com article it all made sense.