Almost the entire Reef Aquarium system is controlled by an IKS Aquastar computer. 

 This includes:

• Lighting

   

  • Dawn & Dusk simulation

  • Main Lighting 4 *150W metal halides  & 2 x T8 3ft Actinic tubes, all on for twelve hours a day

  •  Moon phase simulation

   

• Water Level, fresh water top up via peristaltic pump controlled with a float switch

• Water Salinity, salt addition controlled by salinity probe (replaces salt lost to skimming etc)

• Home made Calcium reactor using course coral sand, Turned off if tanks pH drops too low

• Kalkwasser, added as part of the freshwater top up,  kalkwasser stirring mechanism is stopped if pH is becoming too high

• Water Circulation

   

  • 6 hour Tidal Circulation via 2 Sequence 750 pumps (10,000l/hr each)

  • A surge effect for half an hour at each high tide provided by a dedicated sequence 750 pump, operated for short intervals

  • Sump return, 9.5 thousand litres an hour

Although expensive the IKS computer system has helped unify the control of the entire set up, and handily stores the water parameters over many days.  Both the programming and interrogation of the unit is carried out via an old lap top built into the system

The rest of the equipment:

• Coral feeding using an old medical stomach feeding pump, 1ml/hr 24/7

• Carbon filter (only used occasionally )

•  Living rock for filtration (raised above the sand bed) taken from both old tanks

•  Thermostatically controlled evaporation fan s

•  Chiller unit for extra cooling and absolute temperature control  

• Aqua Medic non-sulphur based nitrate filter

• Deep sand bed in the display tank

• mud style 4ft refugium

The use of gadgets obviously increases the cost of the hobby; not being made of money, where possible, equipment has been purchased second hand.  I have found that very cheap vinegar (basically acid) removes any calcium deposits quickly (especially when pre-warmed).  Leaving you with a shiny piece of kit for, often, a lot less than half the price.