My aquarium set ups /RMAFSw/TDS

[sassyfishwater]

After 7 years of useing the RMAFS (Reduced Maintenance Aquarium Filter System). My 180 gallon aquarium w/duel overflows set up housing South American Cyclids. This set up consist of the aquarium the biological filter the FX5 and the RMAFS to control the water. pH is 6.4 and a TDS of 50 ppm aquarium remains stable. Within the aquarium I have gravel, plants both artificial plants with real plants. air bubblers, a power head that I no longer use, a 300 watt heater. Thats the full set of the 180 gallon aquarium. I have no calcium or mineral build up on the aquarium glass or filter system, Algae grown stays at bay not an eye sore. Maintenance of the set up is changing and cleaning of the filters as need. The cost of maintaining the RMAFS on the high side is $80.00 every two years. Change the bio filter as normal.
My 72 gallon bow front w/over flow is set up the same way as the 180 gallon. The 72 house discus as you see in my avatar picture. This aquarium uses the Magnum 350 canister filter pH is 6.0 and a TDS of 20 ppm. I am in the process of redoing the 72, I am building it into a wall and when I get this set back up I am going to put South African Cyclids into the tank where and with the use of the RMAFS I will run a pH of 8 to 8.5 and a TDS of 250 to 350 ppm.
I allso have a 250 gallon Garden Koi pond this pond is allso run on the RMAFS here the pond is set to the pH level of the rain fall so when it rains hard it does not influence the pond levels. The pond is allso set up so it can not overflow and the pond remains full at all times no matter who hot it gets. The pond has Koi, snails and some native frogs that has now mad the pond thier home. The pond has a nice little feature that when the water exits the pond into a leach field type drain it waters the surrounding plant life Flowers bushes and lawn. I am amazed how well the plants are growing with little work from me.

 

[dawnmarie]

The concept sounds wonderful, however, the question remains the same.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO INSTALL ?

The maintenance expense you cite is reasonable but until you give us a "Ballpark" idea of cost we have no way to judge it's viability.

 

[sassyfishwater]

The concept sounds wonderful, however, the question remains the same.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO INSTALL ?

The maintenance expense you cite is reasonable but until you give us a "Ballpark" idea of cost we have no way to judge it's viability.

When I make these filter system I am paying retail price for the products that makes them. If I was to sell a unit I would have to get $400.00 per unit including The TDS meter and two adapters that come with the system, and 10 feet of 1/4 in. high pressure water line.
System installation, how I set it up here.
Aquarium must have a overflow, attach overflow to a drain system pipe. besure to use a drain pipe trap. One aquarium I have the drain down thru the floor in the aquarium stand and one attached to the bathroom sink drain. The cost to setting up the drain around $25.00 give or take a liittle depending on how far the pipe is run.
Setting up the RMAFS, this system comes complete with minimal expense.
The RMAFS does not have to be near the aquarium will inslall any where you wish to put it, in the aquarium stand, under a counter, in the basement or even on the wall. Shut down the cold water line to a sink cold water faucet unhook the water line from the faucet and attach the adapter to the faucet and reattach the cold water line to the bottom of attachment. Attach the feed line from the RMAFS to the side of the sink attachment, place a water shutoff into the line that feeds the RMAFS shutoff comes with. The shutoff allows for shutting down the RMAFS to do filter changes. Once attached and shutoff is off turn water back on. There will be two more lines coming from the RMAFS one feeds the aquarium, will be marked the other will either hook into the side of the drain system or it will hook into a T within the system. If you are going to use the RMAFS for Acidic soft water hook that line to the drain attachment, comes with. If you are using for Koi pond hook to the T, comes with. You may need to get more water line to reach, expense is about $3.00 for 25 Feet. Do not worry about chlorine the RMAFS will take care of up to 2 ppms of chlorine or chloramine. Run the feed line to Aquarium or pond. You are ready to start the RMAFS open the shutoff and allow water to build in the system. Turn on the TDS meter and check the TDS of the incoming water. Turn the TDS meter over to read the water that is feeding aqaurium or pond these two readings will be different and then you can adjust accordingly.

Hope this helps and anwsers your question. This is just a basic outline of.

 

[Csiller]

Can you post a pic of what one of these filters looks like?

 

[sassyfishwater]

I am doing testing on how different water effect tropical fish. my testing involve Ion exchange from water to fish, Osmoregulation, water passing thru into the fish and how water effect the process, Metabolic Rate how water effect the metabolic rate, how water effects the blood calcium level of fish. I would like to ask for other peoples experiences with there fish? Type of fish and water parameters that the fish are in. Does fish show a stress level? Does fish seem to be loggy lack of color and or does not eat well. As I get more conclusive results I will post them.

 

[Csiller]

i still want to see a pic or a video of this thing in action.

 

[sassyfishwater]

i still want to see a pic or a video of this thing in action.

I am in the process of redoing my 72 gal. aquarium, I am building it into a wall, as I do this I am videoing the process on how to set up aquarium and installing the RMAFS and how to use it. I am allso doing research on fish this will allso help when it comes time to set and maintain the water within the aquarium, best suitable for the fish for healthy life span without all the work involved in caring for the aquarium, water changes an so on.

 

[Csiller]

awesome, we all eagerly await to see the finished product.

 

[sassyfishwater]

awesome, we all eagerly await to see the finished product.

Thank you The tank is on it's way being set up. I just need a few parts and a little spare time.
Once I get this 72 set back up I was wondering what species of fish would you all like to see in the 72, compatible fish. I have Discus, Angels, placos cory cats, Silver dollors and severums. I will be putting placos and cory cats in the 72. Something other than what I have listed or I will choose thats ok to. After I set this tank up the tank will be fully established in about a week or less.

 

[epond83]

So is this basically a Drip system?