Sump Reef

A Reef Tank That Almost Runs Itself!

A new revolution in the aquarium industry is here!

Ever dreamed of an aquarium that looks after itself?

The aquarium looks as natural and beautiful as this world has to offer but it is all run by a small concealed on board computer.

This magnificent 1000lt system it totally computer controlled, using various probes, timers and an on board computer with full LCD screen which will interface with your home computer. All of the equipment in tucked away in the cabinet below so nothing is in the tank to detract from the beauty of the animals that inhabit it.

The fish and coral in this aquarium thrive, grow and propagate as they would in the wild.

For starters the 4 blue T5 actinic lights will fade on one at a time from 2% to 100% to simulate dawn. Then the 250w 140000 Kelvin metal halides will fade on one at a time until all 3 are at full capacity which will simulate the middle of the day. During the day several of the 7 globes will systematically fade on and off to simulate clouds going over head. Then the lights will all fade out in the same fashion that they came on to simulate the sun going down at night. Once it is night a moon light will come on allowing you the correct light to marvel at your reef as it would be at night in the wild. The moon light can be pre set for natural lunar cycles which are even able to stimulate the coral to be triggered to mass spawn, in the aquarium just as they do on the reefs of the world at a particular time of the year. The lighting system alone is worth almost $10000 and is fully controlled by its own on board computer with digital LED display screen.

The water flow is ran by top of the line German pumps which sit in the filter sump connected to the on board computer. They are set to circulate the water 13000lt per hour clock wise for an hour then they switch off and a separate set of pumps switch on to circulate the water in the opposite direction 13000lt anti clock wise. With the use of this computer different currents and conditions are able to be created during the day, sometimes it is calm, sometimes ruff. The computer can be set in any combination like slow from one side then powerful from the other. This reduces the risk of dead spots in the tank and ensures ample flow provided any where in the tank.

The temperature is controlled by an aquarium heater that goes in the filter and a titanium water chiller both connected to the on board computer. With the use of the high powered heated and chiller the aquarium can be stabilized at a perfect 24′C.

The aquarium is filtered by a reverse light refugium plenum, which is a separate tank under the main tank. This is the most model style of aquarium filtration. It offers natural assimilation and biological breakdown of fish waste by algae and bacteria which grow in it. It also stabilizes water chemistry as the light over the filter is on while the light over the tank is off, reduces the impact photosynthesis has on the chemistry of this closed system. As the algae in the filter grow it can be harvested therefore removing the nutrients that it has collected. The electronic UV sterilizer also helps to protect the fish from possible disease out breaks.

The probes in the water are able to tell the on board computer exactly what is going on with the water and the computer are programmed to be able to fix it. This computer can even connect to your home computer and allow you to access all data from the internet from anywhere in the world. In the case of an emergency the computer can also send a text message directly to your mobile phone telling you what needs attention and how to fix it.

As the coral grow they will use a lot of calcium and other trace elements out of the water which must be replaced in an aquarium. This aquarium will maintain the perfect calcium level as it has a calcium reactor connected to the on board computer which can offer a stable flow of calcium and pH level to the tank 24 hours a day.

12 different bottles of supplements are dosed daily with the help of dosing pumps hooked up to the on board computer. These include Iodine, Magnesium, Iron, Strontium, Carbonate and many more which all support the filter feeding corals. As well as your corals, the computer can also work with an auto feeder to ensure that your fish are being fed while you’re away.

The aquarium also has a large phosphate filter to ensure you don’t have to clean the aquarium regularly due to algae growth. Other scavengers such as snails, abalone, urchins and herbivorous fish are also helpful with this job to ensure a beautiful tank all year round.

The tank also has a protein skimmer which is connected to the computer and is able to quickly react and remove any build up of waste that many occur over time with a tank full of messy fish.

The tank is able to top its self up with reverse osmosis water to combat evaporation problems and is able to give its self a water change. When the aquarium computer is triggered that it is time due to readings from the probe it will drain water out of its self into the drain and fill its self back up again using either fresh or ready made salt water. It is also able to correct its self if its salinity is incorrect once again performing its own water changes.

Though there is no such thing as a non maintenance reef aquarium this one sure comes close.

I have told you able only a small amount of features that this amazing system is capable of doing.

As a system valued at about $40000 it is not a reality to everyone but as this technology is now available, it is only likely to get more affordable in the future to the point that one day a self cleaning reef aquarium will be possible to most people.

Who knows what the aquariums will be able to do by then? I have more on Marine or Reef Aquariums at http://www.exclusivefishfilms.com where I put my years of expertise into a double dvd which I am sure if you read this article and enjoyed you will love this product.

Good luck and enjoy

Paul Talbot

About the Author

Paul’s interest in fish species and aquariums started early in life. He has worked in the aquarium industry all his working life and has been able to transfer his passion as a hobbyist to his customers. His wealth of experience is an advantage to corporate and hobbyist customers alike. Paul has written many articles for both international and local magazines. He has bred many types of fish and propagated many types of coral. His Instructional Marine Aquarium DVD can be found at http://www.exclusivefishfilms.com

The Sump

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