CMO's SPS Dominant 165G Mixed Reef Build (Triton)

[UWC]

Such a stunner! Looking forward to the next chapter

 

[Scurvy]

Thanks! The first year was definitely a leaning curve for me as well but year 2 things really took off so hopefully you will see the same. I was ultra concerned with the simultaneous dosing thing in the beginning as well but after trying all sorts of different dosing configurations I've arrived on the following for best combination of ease of management / precipitation concerns from simultaneous dosing. I have 2 dosing locations separated from one another, one location has Cal and Mag (Core 7 1/2) while the other location has my alk lines (Core 7 3a/b).

Since Cal and Mag don't change quickly I just have one staggered interval for each as follows to prevent interaction from simultaneous dosing from the same location.

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For Alk, however, I dose continually throughout the day as shown below. The alk dosing lines are separated from the cal / mag lines to prevent interaction. I've done plenty of testing and you do not need a 5 min gap between dosing solutions if there is enough water flow / space between the lines (and your dose is sufficiently small per interval). You can see with my display setup that the lines are actually quite close but there is so little dosed at a time with this configuration it is immediately mixed and precipitation is not an issue (I've tested consumption rates with various spacing, staggering etc). If you are dosing a lot at once that would likely change things and be more of a concern (but the above schedule result in .7ml per dose which dilutes very quickly). I have one of my alk heads setup to be auto controlled by the Trident with night / day differential dosing which works well.

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Cal / mag on left and alk on right. There's a lot of water flowing through a very small space here that instantly mixes the very small doses with the above schedules.

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This would be a preferred setup, however, with even more space between the solutions. Cal / mag on left and alk doses into the return.

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Thanks for the detailed reply, Much Appreciated! I hadn't considered seperating the lines but dosing parts 1&2 into the refugium as reccomended makes perfect sense. Wish I had asked before redoing my dosing lines last weekend

If I see half the explosive growth you did in year two I will be a very happy man! Thanks again!

 

[CMO]

Thanks for the detailed reply, Much Appreciated! I hadn't considered seperating the lines but dosing parts 1&2 into the refugium as reccomended makes perfect sense. Wish I had asked before redoing my dosing lines last weekend

If I see half the explosive growth you did in year two I will be a very happy man! Thanks again!

Sure thing. FWIW, I'm still trying to figure out what I prefer in terms of dosing into the fuge vs not. What i can say for sure is that it absolutely increases algae growth in the fuge. However, considering I have to dose nutrients to keep detectable levels I'm not really sure I want to supercharge my fuge. It's plenty powerful enough dosing after the fuge. I've also noticed I have a lot more competing algae (hair algae etc.) when I dose into the fuge vs after. When I dosed after the fuge I find it easier to keep my Chaeto dominant. I don't have enough evidence yet to say this isn't just coincidence but I'm seeing a pattern from various tests.

 

[CMO]

Such a stunner! Looking forward to the next chapter

Thank you! I'm planning to do a much larger tank with lots of open space and some massive SPS colonies instead of the wall to wall thing with lots of small colonies here. Should be fun!

 

[revhtree]

Hello any updates?

 

[Daniel@R2R]

@CMO How's your reef doing?

 

[revhtree]

Just hopped over to see any updates!

 

[Difrano]

@CMO awesome thread, just love your tank and your method. Subscribed to it to see your next update

 

[TampaMike]

I cant believe I am just now finding this thread! I have been trying to research the triton method with SPS dominant tanks and all I can find are horror stories.

It seems like the triton method is super efficient at removing nutrients. The fuge seems integral to the methods success. With your experience, how do you think removing the skimmer would affect everything?

edited for spelling

 

[Daniel@R2R]

@CMO, just hoping your reef is doing well and wishing you a happy Labor Day!!

 

[Mr. Fishy Fish]

First off beautiful display tank, the best part is how organized your gear is. It honestly looks like a work of art. Great work. Since you use the triton method, I was wondering what type of salt do you use when you do your odd water changes? Also do you use triton testing kits?

 

[John Bolden]

what brand is your tank