We saw the vessel tanks Ultrareef during PetsFestival 2015 (read here our article in italian) and we appreciated them a lot especially for an idea I had in my mind (qui potete leggere la recensione in italiano).
To be honest the vessel tanks is only one model by 5 liters, it’s the one in the picture, built entirely in acrylic and white PVC, with a closing cap, conical bottom and draft rod from the bottom.
This vessel tank, like all the similar products, can have several uses, like the ones for the management of the integrations of Balling Method, for breeding of phytoplankton and zooplankton. But I had another idea, as I wrote before, because I would use a similar tool to dose kalkwasser in aquarium, and this vessel tank arrived at right time.
During next days we will do an in-depth about reason of addition of calcareous water, but in brief we can say that it’s a good way to provide a bit of bioavailability calcium in the aquarium, but mainly to increase pH considerably, and, according to my knowledge, it’s basically the only sure method to do it. If we match it to calcium reactor, in my opinion, we get a perfect combination for the management of a SPS marine aquarium.
Technical Specifications of Vessel Tank UVT 005
- Diameter at the base: 14 cm
- Height: 46 cm
- Total Capacity: 5 lt
Pumps are not provided, obviously, as an object like this matches better with a dosing pump pulling out water from the cylinder base through draft rod.
Here you can see the John Guest‘s quick release that allows the water inclusion, of an integration or of air, from the cylinder base, according to the use of the vessel tank. I never used it because of the different purpose of use.
Here you can appreciate the closing cap in shaped white PVC to go to close the cylinder from the top and the central hole for the draft rod.
Here we see the sticker that shows in a practical and very visible way the remaining capacity of the vessel tank, really very well done.
As we said our use involves the insertion of a teaspoon of calcium hydroxide, and then osmosis water up to fill the cylindrical tank. Normally you would use a small small tank which would be shaken to send in solution the hydroxide. Instead I just leave the action to the water, falling from the tank to the cylinder. Also by measuring the pH, I saw that is not all that needs to be done, considering that in my condition I can empty the 5 liters vessel tank in two days or so, at least in the past few months of February and March, at present it seems that the evaporation is slowed due to the temperature.
A dosing pump from aqua1 works sending in the aquarium the amount of 100ml per hour, for a total of 2.4 liters of solution a day. This number may seem huge, but I verified that manages to keep the aquarium on the pH threshold 8.50. In case of exceeding this limit, the controller cuts power to the dosing pump.
My use can be a little ‘own kind’ , but obviously these vessel tanks are perfect for using the Balling method, utilizing three coupled with three dosing pumps.
They are beautiful to look at, with a construction well above average, practical and take up little space. Probably the perspective to take less space would be even better if they were square or rectangular, but I am not aware they exist, also because in the case the construction should be glued, while this construction obtained with the mold is much more safe.
Conclusions
The vessel tank UltraReef VT – 005 is a simple cylindrical tank with in and out, very elegant and very transparent, and acrylic can be cleaned very simply, simple and nice in the construction, with some niceties like the conical base to collect all solution and do not leave any trace of solution on the bottom. Great for the balling, maybe it was probably thought for it, but also good for breeding zooplankton and phytoplankton, and, in my humble opinion, also for the dispensing of kalkwasser or calcareous water. Sold at 90 €, it is a fair price because of the construction and materials used, for someone who wants something more than a small ugly plastic tank.
PROS
Impeccable construction
Graduated scale
Conical base
CONS
Nothing
Ultra Reef Vessel Tank UVT-005
| Quality Construction |  |
| Quality | |
| Value for Money |  |
