But more importantly, do you know your PAR levels now? haha
Durand tank build (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter reef junkie
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OP
OP
I do lol. And was much lower than I thought. Lowered my fixture an inch and turned the light up in the sump frag area. Now siting about 250-300 in the top area directly under the primes and about 150 along the bottom.
OP
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I was trying to think back on anything it could be. I did use a piece of HDPE sheet goods from menards to build the bottom of my wrasse den. Could this leach any zink into the system? Or even the ro container i was using?
HDPE is totally fine. The PVC sheets they sell have mold inhibitors tho.
Check the shafts of your return pumps, last time I had that issue it was the shaft of my pump had split open and was rusting, pump still worked like it did when it was brand new.
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OP
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Just went through every pump in the system including the Mixing barrels and not finding one thing that would point to corrosion. Im at a loss as to where to go from here. The only thing I can place my finger on is that top off container. I dont know if that plastic can leach zinc Or iron into the system but I have no idea what else it could be. Going to clean out the kalk stirrer as well since that will be the last item in the system that has water from that container other than the lines but those should pump out quickly and then I can do another water change tomorrow and see what happens I guess.
I remember pulling water from my ro bin in the basement that had that pump in it that I found a little rust on and that water came back clean. So that pump im guessing is not the problem. For now I’ll keep using that pump but will no longer store it in the water bin. Ill just dropping in as I need it.
Really though I was done chasing my tail after the return pump saga LOL should have know better.
I remember pulling water from my ro bin in the basement that had that pump in it that I found a little rust on and that water came back clean. So that pump im guessing is not the problem. For now I’ll keep using that pump but will no longer store it in the water bin. Ill just dropping in as I need it.
Really though I was done chasing my tail after the return pump saga LOL should have know better.
Yeah I would call it good, do some water changes and send another ICP before obsessing any more on it?
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Well must be pretty close to happy accommodation in the tank. Or at least these guys are happy. 
bow chicka bow wowww someone’s gonna have baby snails soon!
That’s why I love Blackfoot trochus. They’re expensive but they actually reproduce and make functional offspring in a display tank
Here‘s a couple in my frag tank, and I only added like 3 or 4 trochus and they still got it on and made twins
That’s why I love Blackfoot trochus. They’re expensive but they actually reproduce and make functional offspring in a display tank
Here‘s a couple in my frag tank, and I only added like 3 or 4 trochus and they still got it on and made twins
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Just documenting some changes.
Changing out the potassium nitrates for amonium bicarbonate for my no3 dosing. (Thanks Ben!!) for the elevated protium I saw in my ICP figured I’d change up the no3 and keep my already dosed potassium phosphate as is and see what happens. Dosing 2.3 ml per day to start and will check no3 levels in a day or so when my reagent arrives from brs.
Broke the impeller shaft on my RO skimmer. Good old Amazon should have one here in a day or so. Skimmer still running. But did have to take it apart today to get it going again. Was a good time to soak in vinegar since I had it out.
Adjusted one of my mp10’s to blow over my large chalice. Some food or poop or something settled on the coral and looked like it got burned or
. Skelton showing where the debris was sitting. So more flow = less setting I hope.
Changing out the potassium nitrates for amonium bicarbonate for my no3 dosing. (Thanks Ben!!) for the elevated protium I saw in my ICP figured I’d change up the no3 and keep my already dosed potassium phosphate as is and see what happens. Dosing 2.3 ml per day to start and will check no3 levels in a day or so when my reagent arrives from brs.
Broke the impeller shaft on my RO skimmer. Good old Amazon should have one here in a day or so. Skimmer still running. But did have to take it apart today to get it going again. Was a good time to soak in vinegar since I had it out.
Adjusted one of my mp10’s to blow over my large chalice. Some food or poop or something settled on the coral and looked like it got burned or
. Skelton showing where the debris was sitting. So more flow = less setting I hope.
OP
OP
Checked parameters this morning
No3 went from 16.7ppm - 24.5ppm
lowerred dose from 2.3ml - 1.5ml
Shooting for 15ppm
Po4 went from .07ppm - .12ppm
lowered dose from 2.3ml - 1.5ml
Shooting for .05ppm
Alk went from 9.4ppm - 9.1ppm
lowered AFR dose 16ml - 14ml
Shooting for 8.5ppm
Not much change yet switching from Potassium nitrate to ammonium bicarbonate other than the jump in No3. I did add in reef roids into my mix and went back to thawing frozen mysis in Selcon, reef chili, and now reef roids and feed this to tank i nthe evening. I got lazy for a little while and was just dropping a frozen cube into the plank feeder. Maybe this explains some of the increases level of No3.
For such a small amount being dosed I may go and get some of the smaller Voss bottles to use for dosing containers. The 800ml bottles will last a long time at 1 or 2 ml per day. Not sure the shelf life on the dose mixtures.
Ordered a hooded flame wrasse, McCosker wrasse and a lawnmower blenny from Reef Co. Should get today. Excited to see if the wrasses bring in some more excitement to the tank. Since removing the fox face the Kole tang sort of hides in its little den area now and does not come out as much. Maybe a little depressed?
No3 went from 16.7ppm - 24.5ppm
lowerred dose from 2.3ml - 1.5ml
Shooting for 15ppm
Po4 went from .07ppm - .12ppm
lowered dose from 2.3ml - 1.5ml
Shooting for .05ppm
Alk went from 9.4ppm - 9.1ppm
lowered AFR dose 16ml - 14ml
Shooting for 8.5ppm
Not much change yet switching from Potassium nitrate to ammonium bicarbonate other than the jump in No3. I did add in reef roids into my mix and went back to thawing frozen mysis in Selcon, reef chili, and now reef roids and feed this to tank i nthe evening. I got lazy for a little while and was just dropping a frozen cube into the plank feeder. Maybe this explains some of the increases level of No3.
For such a small amount being dosed I may go and get some of the smaller Voss bottles to use for dosing containers. The 800ml bottles will last a long time at 1 or 2 ml per day. Not sure the shelf life on the dose mixtures.
Ordered a hooded flame wrasse, McCosker wrasse and a lawnmower blenny from Reef Co. Should get today. Excited to see if the wrasses bring in some more excitement to the tank. Since removing the fox face the Kole tang sort of hides in its little den area now and does not come out as much. Maybe a little depressed?
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Make sure have have a tight fitting, small mesh top with that McCoskers. As you’ll recall, 1/2” openings in my screen top were too large and led to his death 
. Super excited for you, they’re a beautiful fish.
. Super excited for you, they’re a beautiful fish.
OP
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Yes. I’ve been preparing for this for awhileMake sure have have a tight fitting, small mesh top with that McCoskers. As you’ll recall, 1/2” openings in my screen top were too large and led to his death
Both wrasses went into acclimation box after floating awhile. McCosker hid for a bit but left for a few hours and came back home and it was swimming around. The hooded flame was swimming around happy as can be. Both ate well as well this evening. Such great news for now.
Kole tang not happy about the Blenny. Hopefully it gets over it quick. Or else it’s getting evicted. lol. Blenny started mowing on some of the little tuffs of hair algae hear and there.
Pics to come Sun shining in reflecting on the glass so impossible to get a decent pic
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Wrasses seemed to have made it through the night in the acclimation box. And again enjoyed some pellets this morning. No sign of any disease or infection. Plan to leave them in the acclimation box 3 days and if no sign of aggression from anyone I’ll release them. The tang is my only concern at this point.
What fish? All I see chalice! [emoji7]
I’ve had some big chalices but never did they touch 3 sides of an aquarium. The restraint is strong in you.[emoji23]
I’ve had some big chalices but never did they touch 3 sides of an aquarium. The restraint is strong in you.[emoji23]
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Hahahaha. I just can’t get myself to frag it, every time I considered I upgraded tanks
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Tested again to keep track of this new ammonium dosing.
As my No3 gets close to where I want Im noticing my Po4 is climbing. No3 was 13.6ppm this am but Po4 had increased to .16. So lowered the Po4 Dose to 1ml. See what a week brings. Some of this might be from the added reef roids. And might lead to me not needed in to dose Po4. But hopefully its doesn’t turn the other way now where im fighting to get Po4 down LOL
Think I was overdosing the chaeto gro. After reading the bottle a little better i was dosing a daily dose of what was suppose to go in weekly. I now have it set to dose so much less. This is the theory I came up with for the high levels of zinc and iron.
As my No3 gets close to where I want Im noticing my Po4 is climbing. No3 was 13.6ppm this am but Po4 had increased to .16. So lowered the Po4 Dose to 1ml. See what a week brings. Some of this might be from the added reef roids. And might lead to me not needed in to dose Po4. But hopefully its doesn’t turn the other way now where im fighting to get Po4 down LOL
Think I was overdosing the chaeto gro. After reading the bottle a little better i was dosing a daily dose of what was suppose to go in weekly. I now have it set to dose so much less. This is the theory I came up with for the high levels of zinc and iron.
OP
OP
Decided to test again this evening
Po4 continues to climb since swithing things up. today Po4 was .19. I turned off the doser for this
No3 has been climbing as well. Was 16.4 toady. So cut that does down to 1ml per day. Dont think the .5ml with save much but will see.
What I think im seeing is after swithing from potasium nitrate to ammonium Ive watched my No3 and Po4 climb. But im also seeing my PH hit 8.42 at peek time. Up from 8.31. I dont know if the corals are processing things different causing the PH to increase or what. Maybe they are not needing to work as hard to use No3 and this is causing Po4 and No3 to climb from less consumption?? Im seeing some good growth in the SPS bases
Po4 continues to climb since swithing things up. today Po4 was .19. I turned off the doser for this
No3 has been climbing as well. Was 16.4 toady. So cut that does down to 1ml per day. Dont think the .5ml with save much but will see.
What I think im seeing is after swithing from potasium nitrate to ammonium Ive watched my No3 and Po4 climb. But im also seeing my PH hit 8.42 at peek time. Up from 8.31. I dont know if the corals are processing things different causing the PH to increase or what. Maybe they are not needing to work as hard to use No3 and this is causing Po4 and No3 to climb from less consumption?? Im seeing some good growth in the SPS bases
OP
OP
Po4 and No3 increase some more over the last few days. Even with the Po4 dose turned off. Turning off No3 dose now. Only dosing now is 10ml of AB+, and 1ml of chaeto gro per day. I think the addition of the AB+ dose daily is probably what is causing the jump in nutrients. Think my plan will be to cut the AB+ dose in half to 5ml per day and see if with stopping the no3,po4 and half AB+ dose gets my levels to maybe drop and or settle in lower. It would great to see if I can keep my levels where I want with just the AB+ dose and not need the no3 and po4 dosing. Maybe just simplify things a bit.
Had another snail spawning party yesterday. The tank was so cloudy I almost could not see into the water. So thats cool. Should have a noticeable increased clean up crew in a few months.
Missing the fox face. Starting to see bubble algae return on some of my faviaa that were picked clean. I tempted to see if maybe i could have better luck with a yellow one??
Had another snail spawning party yesterday. The tank was so cloudy I almost could not see into the water. So thats cool. Should have a noticeable increased clean up crew in a few months.
Missing the fox face. Starting to see bubble algae return on some of my faviaa that were picked clean. I tempted to see if maybe i could have better luck with a yellow one??
Yeah I was dosing AB+ daily as well which for sure spiked my P04. Now I am just doing it a few times a week. Going to rotate that and Reefroids.