Rags2Riches - The Learning Curve. 125g

[RichtheReefer21]

Oh, I also found and ordered a doser tube holder mount thingy..

Went with an EShopps blue 5 tube mounted one that fits in the sump well based on dimensions. 4 holders for the jb4, and 1 to hold my ATO line in. It was a prime item on amazon, so its expected delivery date is tuesday. Will complete the build and route the tubes then. Cheers and happy sunday all. Got a belly full of goat cheese, lamb, and olives. Beer thirty. Ding.

 

[Fudsey]

I was warned early on by a couple others to the potential failures as that's what I initially was doing as well. A drip line is also more consistent on the amount of kalk you add. Your ATO is never consistent because it depends on evaporation rate which can vary.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

I was warned early on by a couple others to the potential failures as that's what I initially was doing as well. A drip line is also more consistent on the amount of kalk you add. Your ATO is never consistent because it depends on evaporation rate which can vary.

The varying evap is why I am choosing to start on the lighter side for the mix ratio. I dont have the space to do a drip without having another project to undertake or have an eyesore outside the sump.

No thoughts on life expectancy reduction of the pump tho? Maybe if I soak it monthly i can avoid the buildup? I feel like I've heard vinegar isnt great for pumps, so perhaps I should try @Scurvy 's muriatic acid instead?

 

[Fudsey]

All you need for a drip is a container and some 1/4" line with a valve. I use a gallon container I got at Bed and Bath for $10. Doesn't look bad and you can run the drip line with the others. just place the container behind the doser so it's high enough to gravity feed into the sump.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

All you need for a drip is a container and some 1/4" line with a valve. I use a gallon container I got at Bed and Bath for $10. Doesn't look bad and you can run the drip line with the others. just place the container behind the doser so it's high enough to gravity feed into the sump.

It's the size I need to not have to refill the KW resivoir every few days that is my issue. Having a large enough container to not have to continuously refill, up high enough to ensure the syphon doesnt fail. Etc... I'm trying to reduce how much time I have to spend for husbandry. Ugh now u and @JoshH have me questioning everything... time for another brewski.

 

[JoshH]

It's the size I need to not have to refill the KW resivoir every few days that is my issue. Having a large enough container to not have to continuously refill, up high enough to ensure the syphon doesnt fail. Etc... I'm trying to reduce how much time I have to spend for husbandry. Ugh now u and @JoshH have me questioning everything... time for another brewski.

I ran my Tunze ato pump for a year and a half with kalk with no issues but I stopped so I'm not sure how much longer it would last like that

 

[JoshH]

It's the size I need to not have to refill the KW resivoir every few days that is my issue. Having a large enough container to not have to continuously refill, up high enough to ensure the syphon doesnt fail. Etc... I'm trying to reduce how much time I have to spend for husbandry. Ugh now u and @JoshH have me questioning everything... time for another brewski.

I ran my Tunze ato pump for a year and a half with kalk with no issues but I stopped so I'm not sure how much longer it would last like that

 

[RichtheReefer21]

I ran my Tunze ato pump for a year and a half with kalk with no issues but I stopped so I'm not sure how much longer it would last like that

That helps the anxiety for sure, thanks.

I posted the same concerns in the chemistry forum and luckily randy got right back to me and drove the confidence level high enough that I'm gonna swing...

Once the tube holder mount arrives (should be tuesday-ish) I will fire it all up and say a reefers prayer. I'm prolly gonna grab an icp test from my LFS and send it out to have a baseline on trace elements to start before though.

No fingernails left.

 

[JoshH]

That helps the anxiety for sure, thanks.

I posted the same concerns in the chemistry forum and luckily randy got right back to me and drove the confidence level high enough that I'm gonna swing...

Once the tube holder mount arrives (should be tuesday-ish) I will fire it all up and say a reefers prayer. I'm prolly gonna grab an icp test from my LFS and send it out to have a badeline on trace elements to start before though.

No fingernails left.

I was also mixing on the low side of things as well. I didn't have a very high demand tank so that might have been a part of it as well

 

[PanchoG]

Not sure I want to bother with the voss bottles if I can just drill the tops of the bottles the ABCD come in. That's where I'm torn. Am I going for aesthetics? My ocd is killing me right now. Haha

You could try with some fancy tequila bottles like this one, instead of Voss and you would have a great time emptying them. ;Hilarious

 

[Katrina71]

Oh, I also found and ordered a doser tube holder mount thingy..

Went with an EShopps blue 5 tube mounted one that fits in the sump well based on dimensions. 4 holders for the jb4, and 1 to hold my ATO line in. It was a prime item on amazon, so its expected delivery date is tuesday. Will complete the build and route the tubes then. Cheers and happy sunday all. Got a belly full of goat cheese, lamb, and olives. Beer thirty. Ding.

Post pics please. I considered red.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

You could try with some fancy tequila bottles like this one, instead of Voss and you would have a great time emptying them. ;Hilarious

Tempting.

Post pics please. I considered red.

Huge surprise there.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Montipora Spongoid:

Pavona:

Catching up. These were awesome!

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Catching up. These were awesome!

Thanks bud. Took a long time for them to really settle.. hoping for serious growth going forward.

 

[Katrina71]

Honestly red is my least favorite color, but Hippie kid loves it.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Honestly red is my least favorite color, but Hippie kid loves it.

Not a huge fan of it either. Unless we talking hair and horns!

 

[RichtheReefer21]

@Scurvy

I bumped Alk to 8.8 with a manual dose yesterday. Tested to confirm just now and as u pointed towards, my Mg has fallen to 1480. First time I've seen it below 1500, in 2 years. Thanks for sharing your hard-fought-for knowledge. Thank Jill for accepting our obsession and letting u do ur research in ernest.
Cheers bub... #r2r4life

I am gonna hit the LFS in a bit and snag an ICP test. Send it out for a baseline on my trace etc... prior to getting the doser and kalk online. Then I will plan another in 2 weeks after that to track numbers and adjust accordingly across the entire spectrum rather than going purely off Ca and DkH consumption. I will also need to dose Strontium and Iron due to the RedSea ABCD not having either represent in their formula.

Hope I'm not wrong, or Keith will correct me with the swiftness of Forrest Gump runnnnnnnnninnnnng to the endzone Jennnnaaayyy.

 

[Crabby48]

Did I hear red hair and horns

 

[Scurvy]

@Scurvy

I bumped Alk to 8.8 with a manual dose yesterday. Tested to confirm just now and as u pointed towards, my Mg has fallen to 1480. First time I've seen it below 1500, in 2 years. Thanks for sharing your hard-fought-for knowledge. Thank Jill for accepting our obsession and letting u do ur research in ernest.
Cheers bub... #r2r4life

I am gonna hit the LFS in a bit and snag an ICP test. Send it out for a baseline on my trace etc... prior to getting the doser and kalk online. Then I will plan another in 2 weeks after that to track numbers and adjust accordingly across the entire spectrum rather than going purely off Ca and DkH consumption. I will also need to dose Strontium and Iron due to the RedSea ABCD not having either represent in their formula.

Hope I'm not wrong, or Keith will correct me with the swiftness of Forrest Gump runnnnnnnnninnnnng to the endzone Jennnnaaayyy.

Now assuming you keep Alk up there it should allow Mag to continue falling back. Once you get it where you want it you should be able to let Alk fall back toward where you want it. May take a few weeks but should get there.
1460 for me today

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Now assuming you keep Alk up there it should allow Mag to continue falling back. Once you get it where you want it you should be able to let Alk fall back toward where you want it. May take a few weeks but should get there.
1460 for me today

Nice


Just left the LFS with 2 icp-oes kits, $20 each. Score.

Sadly though, both of the copper band juveniles are gone. Hope they found good homes