rzimm33
Active Member
I saw your scape you posted. Very nice lookin!Looking good. These waterbox tanks seem to just run well. I’m excited about my tank!
Journey Into Reefing - Waterbox Infinia Reef 150.4
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Gumbies R Us
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Glass looks nice and clean now!Finally got my glass all cleaned up. I went with the Tunze Strong+ after reading many reviews.
rzimm33
Active Member
You all think algae bloom would cause reefmat to get dirty really fast? I went from using about 30 inches a day or so up to 130… New things going on is a diotom bloom from running my lights, new fish in the tank which has increased my feeding, and start up of my refugium with Cheto in it
rzimm33
Active Member
rzimm33
Active Member
Something weird I’ve discovered.
On 8/2 my tank read - 8.5alk 1300Mg 440Cal
Today 8/13 my tank read 7.6alk 1280Mg 350Cal.
I repeated the testing twice and got consistent results both times. Currently I have 4 Zoa, 1 clove polyp, and 2 hammers. The hammers were added in this past Saturday. I’m trying to figure out what caused my Cal and Alk to drop? I wouldn’t think the two small hammers would have had such a dramatic effect in only a few days.
Anyone have any idea?
On 8/2 my tank read - 8.5alk 1300Mg 440Cal
Today 8/13 my tank read 7.6alk 1280Mg 350Cal.
I repeated the testing twice and got consistent results both times. Currently I have 4 Zoa, 1 clove polyp, and 2 hammers. The hammers were added in this past Saturday. I’m trying to figure out what caused my Cal and Alk to drop? I wouldn’t think the two small hammers would have had such a dramatic effect in only a few days.
Anyone have any idea?
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I think the tank is just going thru the weird settling/maturing stage. We started our tanks around the same time and mine did the same thing. I just dosed to get to the levels I aimed to maintain long term, and tested ALK and CAL twice a week until the tanks usage became steady.i keep ESV two part on hand for adjustments but my main method of maintaining ALK and CAL is Kalkwasser. Here's my thread. I tried to detail my dosing regiment if you wanna take a look.Thread 'Prostar 90v2' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/prostar-90v2.1041837/
rzimm33
Active Member
Thank you for the response and link to your thread!
I had a hunch it might be something to do with the maturation of the tank.
I have 2 part on hand and brought my Alk up to 8.7. I waited a few hours and also dosed come Ca, but at half what was recommended by BRS to bring my level up to 420ppm. Their calculator indicated to add roughly 900mL which seemed like a lot. I added 400mL and it’s looking like their calculator might have been correct. Sitting around 390ppm right now.
I’ll retest tomorrow night and adjust Ca accordingly.
On a side note, the diotom bloom seems to be fading and being replaced by green hair algae. Based on what I’ve read, this is to be expected. My tangs are loving it!
The BRS calculator is great. But I've found that it's hard to really estimate the actual volume of water when using it. I do the same exact thing. Use calculator, and divide the recommended dose, then test. Yup, the good ole ugly stage lol. I used some pretty mature rock when I set up my tank. A lot had algae from neglect of the 60 gallon. I scrubbed it before putting it in the temporary tank. I have some patches that I still remove by hand but it's getting better.
skey44
Active Member
Going through similar ca/alk usage as you. Dosing 2 tsp of dry sodium bicarbonate and 5-7 tsp of dry calcium chloride every 1-2 days to keep up. I’m planning a switch to daily dosing AFR soon. Seems like a win-win to me, keeping up Ca/Alk/Mag and including trace elements. Not too expensive if you buy the dry powder and mix it yourself.
I’m adding CUC as I go too. Have 5 red band trochus and a dozen blue leg hermits so far planning on a conch this week. Started doing weekly 10% WC and have GFO in a reactor for phosphates as my rock is now very sustainable as it’s in its 3rd or 4th usage now and definitely still leaching a little.
I have a frag 125.4 so pretty similar setup with similar start times.
I’m adding CUC as I go too. Have 5 red band trochus and a dozen blue leg hermits so far planning on a conch this week. Started doing weekly 10% WC and have GFO in a reactor for phosphates as my rock is now very sustainable as it’s in its 3rd or 4th usage now and definitely still leaching a little.
I have a frag 125.4 so pretty similar setup with similar start times.
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rzimm33
Active Member
The presence of algae without readable phosphate or nitrate puzzles me. I imagine the algae and refugium is absorbing it as it’s produced.
I rechecked Ca tonight and it was at 380. I added another 250mL of solution and will reassess tomorrow.
I’m debating on adding more CUC right now. Currently have roughly 10 snails and 4 crabs. I might add a brittle star because I think they’re fascinating. Also considering a few more blue leg hermit crabs to handle access food.
Tonight I got in the Avast Plank Autofeeder. I have absolutely no idea how to program my apex to have it run a few times a day for only like 10 seconds. I’ll make that my homework tomorrow.
I rechecked Ca tonight and it was at 380. I added another 250mL of solution and will reassess tomorrow.
I’m debating on adding more CUC right now. Currently have roughly 10 snails and 4 crabs. I might add a brittle star because I think they’re fascinating. Also considering a few more blue leg hermit crabs to handle access food.
Tonight I got in the Avast Plank Autofeeder. I have absolutely no idea how to program my apex to have it run a few times a day for only like 10 seconds. I’ll make that my homework tomorrow.
It may sound weird but I think you should raise your nitrates and phosphates. Either thru increased feeding or dosing. Undetectable nutrients can cause some major problems. Mainly cyano and dinos
rzimm33
Active Member
Good point. In a twist of fate, when experimenting with the auto feeder; it inadvertently dropped about 5x as much pellets into the system as I would normally feed. In addition I still fed Mysis as normal.
skey44
Active Member
I’m having issues with undetectable nutrients as well… or at least I have a little. I’ve been adding food like crazy and caused a little bacteria haze in my water oops. But I’m up to 0.3ppm nitrates and proud of it with my hard work over feeding. These modern systems ain’t no joke. And you have a roller filter where I don’t. Agree with get some detectable nutrients somehow. Also add pods and CUC as needed. I’d add different types of snails and crabs. I love red banded trochus and scarlet reef hermits. I also added a conch today. Haven’t seen scarlet hermits locally or I’d have those instead of blue legs.
I’m also adding brightwell mb7 which I’m planning on stopping for a bit with the haziness.
We will get through this. Getting a tank stable is hard work.
I’m also adding brightwell mb7 which I’m planning on stopping for a bit with the haziness.
We will get through this. Getting a tank stable is hard work.
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