Durand tank build (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter reef junkie
- Start date
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Installed 1 new one and recalibrated both 13 days ago.
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That’s what I thought And did see an immediate increase. Just not what I was hoping for. Well im sitting at 8.08. So now the million dollar question. Do I keep chasing 8.2 and if so how(looking at picking up another power head to add to the sump on my next brs order for more water surface movement and keep detritus from settling), or leave it how it is and just accept this Is my winter ph.
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2009
- Messages
- 2,523
The amount of air you are pulling through the media will have an impact I have seen longer contact time = more efficacy. It could take longer to see an effect, you are seeing some already, good things are coming 
OP
OP
Appreciate that!!!! I’ll give it some time and see what happens And reach out if need be. I did leave enough room in my sump area to have a second canister hang back to back with my current one.
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Just looked at the controller and PH is at 8.2. So things are moving in the right direction. 
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Was playing around in the tank this evening and had to take a few crappy iPhone shots. Still so pretty top downs! About to get after that bubble algae sun am. See how great this bubble algae removal tool works. Noticed the cuc have been busy cleaning up the bare bottom as well now that im looking at the picture up uploaded. GO TEAM!! LOL
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Got after some of that bubble algae this morning. This tool is pretty aggressive. Water moved a little too fast so I used a clamp to pinch the hose and slow it down. It was hard to see down into the tank also so only took what I could see through the glass. Will continue to get what I can but I’m thinking it might just be easier to add more corals and let them cover the rock to choke out the bubble algae. 
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I’ve been hearing talk about ICP test. Are peeps ordering these test kits from brs? I’d like to get some results on my tank for fun and that was the only thing that I could find easily or understood.
pics from this morning
.I’ve been hearing talk about ICP test. Are peeps ordering these test kits from brs? I’d like to get some results on my tank for fun and that was the only thing that I could find easily or understood.
pics from this morning
Got after some of that bubble algae this morning. This tool is pretty aggressive. Water moved a little too fast so I used a clamp to pinch the hose and slow it down. It was hard to see down into the tank also so only took what I could see through the glass. Will continue to get what I can but I’m thinking it might just be easier to add more corals and let them cover the rock to choke out the bubble algae.
I’ve been hearing talk about ICP test. Are peeps ordering these test kits from brs? I’d like to get some results on my tank for fun and that was the only thing that I could find easily or understood.
pics from this morning
View attachment 60535View attachment 60536
I get the 3 pack of Triton test when they’re on sale from BRS to get them the cheapest.
OP
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Thanks. I was looking at the ati. Trident looks to be out of stock now. I’ll keep an eye out for more to come in.
ATI is nice because they check your RO as well
OP
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Cool. Maybe I’ll go that route then since they are in stock.
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Had to lower my kalk dosing I was adding more to then I was evaporating. This obviously lowered my ph a little. Now I’m trying to dial in my all for reef. Started at 2.5ml (didn’t know really where to start). Now after a few days I noticed my alk dropping. I’m now at 5ml. Will watch a day or so and adjust. My guess I’ll need to be in the 10-12ml per day but will see. I’m hoping my Kalk is more stale now that I’m adding powder every 2 weeks.
still not getting much for growth with anything that is not sps or lps and I’m guessing it’s my nutrients being low. I’ve upped my reef chili amount I’m feeding as well as added a little more mysis during the week. I may go to a on off schedule on the skimmer. I keep trying to skim a little wetter but every time I turn it up a little I end up overflowing so just sticky with a thick nasty skim ate it is
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still not getting much for growth with anything that is not sps or lps and I’m guessing it’s my nutrients being low. I’ve upped my reef chili amount I’m feeding as well as added a little more mysis during the week. I may go to a on off schedule on the skimmer. I keep trying to skim a little wetter but every time I turn it up a little I end up overflowing so just sticky with a thick nasty skim ate it is
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OP
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I cap out at 8.2 during the day. And 7.9 at night. A little higher might be nice. but this seems to be good fro now.
Had a fun scare this evening. Heard my ATO go off 3 times while hangin in the family room and thought that was strange. So when to go check it out. My skimmer was overflowing for some strange reason. Bubbles covered the top of the water in the sump. I dont know if the ATO got stuck in the on loop or did the skimmer overflow and trap bubble’s around the sensor for ATO??? Turned off the return pump/ Pulled the cover on the skimmer and crank the gate valve down on the skimmer. Emptied the skimmer cup, the overflow collection cup before entering the scrubber, and put it all back together. No harm was done. Hope it was fluke and i had the skimmer just turned up a little too much with me trying to skim a little wetter. Now I just need the extra water to evaporate back to normal height so salinity can rise.
. Always something
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Some updates…..
Had to turn down the kalk stirrer. 1900ml is just a bit more then I evaporate when the weather is warmer per day. Water level kept creeping up in the sump. I lowered it to 1850ml and was having similar issues. Now lowered to 1800ml. Im still adjusting my all for reef to get ALK back up to 9. Ph has come down a little but still above 8 during the day.
Corals seem to be doing well. Getting continued good growth from sps, and chalices and montis. Zoas feel like just seem to be getting smaller and smaller.
Want to see if I can get a fox face to add to the tank for bubble algae control. Had some good success with the new bubble algae tool but I found one broken corals afterward from the last cleaning so not sure ill really be able to get a good handle on it with out Some natural additions. Ive tried emerald crabs 2 different time with out any of them doing anything to bubble algae.
Been looking online at Millie’s and Tenius. Really wanting to add some more sticks since my available land is getting limited. Want some more zoas also but until I can figure out what is with my current setup afraid to add more. I have a few corals im still waiting to find Red Dragon, and Pink cats paw and im sure there are more that I just don’t know the names LOL
Had to turn down the kalk stirrer. 1900ml is just a bit more then I evaporate when the weather is warmer per day. Water level kept creeping up in the sump. I lowered it to 1850ml and was having similar issues. Now lowered to 1800ml. Im still adjusting my all for reef to get ALK back up to 9. Ph has come down a little but still above 8 during the day.
Corals seem to be doing well. Getting continued good growth from sps, and chalices and montis. Zoas feel like just seem to be getting smaller and smaller.
Want to see if I can get a fox face to add to the tank for bubble algae control. Had some good success with the new bubble algae tool but I found one broken corals afterward from the last cleaning so not sure ill really be able to get a good handle on it with out Some natural additions. Ive tried emerald crabs 2 different time with out any of them doing anything to bubble algae.
Been looking online at Millie’s and Tenius. Really wanting to add some more sticks since my available land is getting limited. Want some more zoas also but until I can figure out what is with my current setup afraid to add more. I have a few corals im still waiting to find Red Dragon, and Pink cats paw and im sure there are more that I just don’t know the names LOL
OP
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Ive been watching my LPS for a few weeks during all this Kalk,AFR dosing. They have I must say never looked better. In my old tank I had they just stayed closed up all the time. Never really opened up at all. I figured it was maybe from the 3 AI primes blasting down on them. Had never done a par test figured this was maybe why. In this new tank only running the 2 at a lower intensity and then the 2 t5’s running, they’ve use gotten bigger and bigger. SO I felt they most be happier. I picked up a Octo Spawn yesterday that’s to some friendly help, and this thing opened up almost instantly. Very exciting. LOL ITs the little things that make the day better LOL. Looking forward to today to see how it reaches after being in the tank for awhile.
Decided yesterday that I don’t really want to add the fox face to just have for a short period of time to try and remove the bubble algae then to just pull it out and find it a new home. Seemed stressful on the fish Since I dont sleep much anyways, 3am yesterday I decided to get after it with a pair of tweezers. I made a huge dent. I used a flash light to pinpoint the algae a little easier. Looks like most of it is gone and hopefully the ones I popped don’t cause a bigger outbreak. LOL.
Decided yesterday that I don’t really want to add the fox face to just have for a short period of time to try and remove the bubble algae then to just pull it out and find it a new home. Seemed stressful on the fish Since I dont sleep much anyways, 3am yesterday I decided to get after it with a pair of tweezers. I made a huge dent. I used a flash light to pinpoint the algae a little easier. Looks like most of it is gone and hopefully the ones I popped don’t cause a bigger outbreak. LOL.
OP
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just for fun while waiting for water to be pumped up From the basement
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I’ve been slowly raising my all for reef dose over the last few weeks since I had to lower my kalk dose. 1800 ml per day of kalk and 25ml of all for reef might be my sweet spot for daily dosing. Will test alk daily for the next few days and see what my trends are.
Bumped my daily feeding up a bit to see what that does for some of my corals. I’m keep thinking nutrients are pretty low. Skimate is thick and nasty but the small collection cup does not fill up very fast. See what a week or two does of feeding heavily does the overall tank performance. I have to keep reminding myself that the tank in theory is only about 4 months old. So it’s still maturing.
Bumped my daily feeding up a bit to see what that does for some of my corals. I’m keep thinking nutrients are pretty low. Skimate is thick and nasty but the small collection cup does not fill up very fast. See what a week or two does of feeding heavily does the overall tank performance. I have to keep reminding myself that the tank in theory is only about 4 months old. So it’s still maturing.