Plug and play complete setups?

[scubadude]

Do they exist? Not to my knowledge....I know that there are places that will sell you a complete setup but its not just plug and play....its drag out the saw, duct tape, pvc, glue, hammer, etc etc. and get yer butt to work! Wouldnt it be so freakin kewl if you could go into a LFS and buy say a 90g or even a 20g for all that matters, throw it into the back of your truck (im sure it would be a big satellite) and take it home and hook up the water to it, plug one central plugin, and shazaam you have a system that has autotopoff, ca reac., skimmer, lights, pumps....everything...i mean a tricked out system that was very reliable. I cant believe someone hasnt built these or have they? I mean jeez we have enough to worry about just maintaining them. Simplistic turn key reef tanks? are we not that advanced yet?

Rocky

[zhenya]

Hey Rocky,

What brought that up Something giving you trouble today? j/k

It would be really cool for some people but would take something away,I think.Like dragging out all the things you've mentioned and getting your butt to work ;; Some people enjoy this part of reefkeeping and then guys like you that will take this to the "extreme enjoyment"
I think some parts of the setups are available as plug-n-play but I never seen the whole system yet.

[Ninong]

Yes, they do exist. At least two or three German manufacturers -- Aqua-Medic for one -- offer very complete, extremely techno plug-and-play systems. I believe you can even get them over here but the cost would be prohibitive. They are shown in the Aqua-Medic catalogue, which is in English and German.

There is another manufacturer whose name excapes me, but I believe it begins with a D, whose complete systems are very popular in the U.K. as well as continental Europe. Is the U.K. part of Europe now? I guess it depends on whether you are for or against full integration in the E.U.

Anyway... those systems include skimmer(s), calcium reactor, Kalkwasser reactor, denitrator, auto top-off with reservoir, lighting, bio-balls (ugh!), full computer control of everything, etc.

The one I liked was one that someone in the U.K. posted pics of a couple of years back on RC. It was aluminum looking, or maybe it was stainless steel. But the whole cabinet looked like brushed aluminum or brushed stainless steel.

[Ninong]

I almost forgot to mention that Aqua-Medic's system even includes phytoplankton reactors and zooplankton reactors to keep the tank constantly supplied with phytoplankton, rotifers and artemia.

[zhenya]

There is another manufacturer whose name excapes me, but I believe it begins with a D, whose complete systems are very popular in the U.K. as well as continental Europe. Is the U.K. part of Europe now? I guess it depends on whether you are for or against full integration in the E.U.

Anyway... those systems include skimmer(s), calcium reactor, Kalkwasser reactor, denitrator, auto top-off with reservoir, lighting, bio-balls (ugh!), full computer control of everything, etc.

The one I liked was one that someone in the U.K. posted pics of a couple of years back on RC. It was aluminum looking, or maybe it was stainless steel. But the whole cabinet looked like brushed aluminum or brushed stainless steel.

Would that be Deltec,Ninong? I'm remembering something,now that you've mention it. Like you've said,the cost is prohibitive( even in Europe for some aquarists).

[Ninong]

Would that be Deltec,Ninong? I'm remembering something,now that you've mention it. Like you've said,the cost is prohibitive( even in Europe for some aquarists).

Yes, that was the one. Some guy from the U.K. posted pics of his setup. It was gorgeous and extremely high tech.

[Ninong]

Here is Aqua-Medic's 340-gal Meerwasserkomplettsytem --

http://www.aqua-medic.de/index0_d.html

It's the one pictured at the top of the page. Click on the tank and check out model Tridacna 200.

Their complete systems start out with the tank, stand, lighting, sump, filtration, pumps, skimmer, calcium reactor, nitrate reduktors, Kalkwasser reactor, auto-top-off & reservoir, computer controls, etc. and then you can add additional stuff like tide simulation, phytoplankton & zooplankton reactors, etc.

[zhenya]

Here is Aqua-Medic's 340-gal Meerwasserkomplettsytem --

http://www.aqua-medic.de/index0_d.html

It's the one pictured at the top of the page. Click on the tank and check out model Tridacna 200.

Ninong, it does look GREAT but I just wonder how many rubles do I have to cough up to have something like that

Plus,where is all the fun(like you having now) going to come from?

[Ninong]

Ninong, it does look GREAT but I just wonder how many rubles do I have to cough up to have something like that

Plus,where is all the fun(like you having now) going to come from?

You would choke to death if you had to cough up rubles. Even euros would be quite a challenge.

[scubadude]

Hey Rocky,

What brought that up Something giving you trouble today? j/k

No not really any problems I was just thinking about a few different angles on this one....some part of me was saying geez you could make a simplistic 20g w/all the bells and whistles and maybe have a goldmine in the makings....Like Ninong said there are a couple of them out there that do these plug and plays but they are pricey, and of course it doesnt surprise me one bit that its a european thing. So basically the idea was brewing in my head for a DIY thing....I have heard of others thinking about this concept, but no one from what I have seen put them into action....cept the few european models i guess. I was about to say Daas when Ninong said another co. that starts w/ a D.

That is pretty kewl Ninong....Did you ever consider buying one of these setups? And w/out me finding a German-English translator online do you have any prices off the top of your head? See if you would have just bought one of these setups then you wouldnt be worrying about many problems today I bet they even throw in a mixture of Kaelini, Tonga, and Buna rock

Rocky

[Ninong]

Rocky,

I'm afraid those setups are way out of my price range.

Yes, DAS makes some semi-complete setups that are for sale over here in the U.S., even down here in Louisiana but I would never consider one of those because they are a joke.

The Deltec systems are very nice and the Aqua-Medic systems are very nice. There are some Japanese systems, too, but their prices are astronomical. Even that little C. P. Farm custom glass tank with the stainless steel frame and no glass bracing at the top costs $4850.00 over there. And that's just the tank itself, nothing else. And I think it's just a 160 gallon tank.

If you browse the European LFS websites you will see some of these complete reeftank systems available. I'm not sure if Equinoxe in Paris has them or not. Maybe I'll go check.

[zhenya]

You would choke to death if you had to cough up rubles. Even euros would be quite a challenge.

I knew it would be dangerous to bring that up :eek3:

Rocky,

By all means,why don't you make a prototype? I would love to see one home made. Just make one for a 100 g minus the tank and I'll be your first customer ;)

[Ninong]

I didn't check out the complete Equinoxe website but I did see that they had some decent prices on Giesemann fixtures: The Giesemann System 400 for only 699 euros, the Nova II (250w) for 399 euros and the 120 cm System 230 Plus for only 999 euros. http://www.equinoxe-aqua.com/Tarif/targie.htm

Check out their little Parisian LFS: http://www.equinoxe-aqua.com/qui.htm

BTW, those are 1000 watters over their stock tanks. :eek3:

[Northman_with_reef]

Deltec Makes some Exellent Systems wich includes Chillers, Kalkwasser Mixers, ca reactors, skimmers(of course!) and T6 lightning.

Check out Deltec's home page.

Also I must say I really hate Aqua-Medic, They use Cheap extruded Plastic and most of their components are extremly brittle.
There lamps are nice though...

[Ninong]

Deltec Makes some Exellent Systems wich includes Chillers, Kalkwasser Mixers, ca reactors, skimmers(of course!) and T6 lightning.

Check out Deltec's home page.

Also I must say I really hate Aqua-Medic, They use Cheap extruded Plastic and most of their components are extremly brittle.
There lamps are nice though...

Northman,

Thanks! This is the complete tank setup that someone from the U.K. posted pictures of about a year ago: http://www.deltecaquariumsolutions.com/aquariums.php

[Northman_with_reef]

Yeah there really nice.
Everything is handbuildt in germany by proffesoinals.

I'm probably getting one of these systems next year, I know the distributor so I'm hoping for a discount

[jsaltzgi]

My new setup is plug and play, lol!! J/K

But I wish it were!!! Plumbing the 150 gallon stock tank to the 75 and hooking up the ampmaster, sea swirl and homemade spray bar have been a real PITA... no leaks, just time consuming!!!

James

[d]

You can actually get the aqua medic tanks at www.captivereefs.com They have a tank called the Tridacna that looks absolutley awesome!

[fernzpat]

Speaking as a person who would rather have teeth pulled than do plumbing, I would love to see an American version of this idea!!!

[scubadude]

Figured I would throw this website in here as it pertains to the subject matter

http://www.automatedaquariums.com/index.htm