165Gl to 1000Gl system upgrade (Long project)

[dirk_brijs]

You should really consider getting the Red Sea testing kits. The accuracy and range on the Red Sea is much better than the API kits.

Worth the investment to properly monitor the water.

I wish we had all this choice here in Thailand
The issue is you learn to work with with what is available.
red Sea is available at times but in such small stocks that they are hard to find.

 

[dirk_brijs]

Nothing much new to add.
Parameters on day 5 same as day 4
did buy another Jebao DC pump though to connect to the chiller
Pics to follow.

 

[dirk_brijs]

Ph in the mean time has gone up from 8.01 to 8.11 since the cycle began.

 

[dirk_brijs]

Some movement in the tank

Day 6 tests

Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0.25
Nitrates 40
Ph 8.11
Temp 27.9

- Starting today I added the chiller to the system and have placed the mac temp at 27C or 80.6F for now (min 26C or 78.8F) as the idea is not to put any life stock yet anyway so I would like to bring the system gradually to the final temperature range of 25C to 26C (77F to 78.8F) before adding any life stock anyway.
- I also switched on back the lights as I had the system without lights now for 4 days during cycling.
- I am waiting for another 75Kg of sand to be added in the DT but more for the Jaubert system in the refugium (which is still empty)
- As soon as the sand has arrived I will add another 1000L (260Gl) to the system filling up the refugium (490L or 130Gl) and renewing about 500L (130Gl) out of the system to get parameters down a bit to then just sit back and wait again for a few days.

 

[dirk_brijs]

I think it is a bit strange though that the Nitrites never really went higher then 0.25?
shouldn't they have spiked at one point as well?

 

[dave.m]

Not necessarily. It depends on the types and availability of nitrifying bacteria present. Still, I would wait a while longer before introducing life. Slow and steady wins the race.

djm

 

[dirk_brijs]

Not necessarily. It depends on the types and availability of nitrifying bacteria present. Still, I would wait a while longer before introducing life. Slow and steady wins the race.

djm

that is my idea as well this time around

 

[dirk_brijs]

found out today that my ApI Nitrite test was way off
As most ApI test I had were a bit old (though no expiry date on them??) I bought a new one and tested with the new one today and reading was 5.0 with the old one still testing 0.25.
So I guess all my test results I had with the ApI test
I will now buy all new tests (Nitrate and Ammonia) to double check those results with the older testers results.

 

[dirk_brijs]

ok have the new test kits in

test results
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 5.0
Nitrate 20
Phosphates 0.11
Ph 8.18

I switched off the chiller again and turned of the lights again as the tank clearly still sits in the cycle and has no need of temp control or lighting.
Not too sure how long this Nitrite stage will take as this is now at least 2 days as I got that test 2 days ago and had to wait till today to receive the other ones.

 

[dirk_brijs]

it looks like the few days with lights have initiated some algea growth. Most likely also cause of the phosphates and Nitrates presence.
So far it seems like the tank is still going through the normal stages of the cycle I think?
not sure if you can see it on the pictures but there is a clear green yellowish growing on the rocks now.

 

[dirk_brijs]

everything seem to have fallen back into slow motion

todays tests

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 5.0 though collor looked somewhere between 1.0 and 5.0
Nitrate 20
Phosphate 0.06 (I added Tropic Marine Rapid Phosban to the system to bring this down)
Ph 8.15

 

[dirk_brijs]

am planning on changing the flow pattern by placing my power heads different.
I was thinking on placing 4 power heads (2 Tunze 6055 and 2 Jebao WP25) at the front pane on the top slightly blowing down wards hopefully creating a rolling movement in the tank.
I attached a little sketchup of what the idea would be and hope you guys can see on my previous pictures on how the power heads are set up now.


what do you guys think
better or same or worse?
I think the advantage would be the rolling motion which I hope would reach more areas under the platform and I think placing the power heads at the front top with later the tank being build in they would become invisable with the trim down the tank.

 

[albano]

With the power heads that close to the surface, are you sure that they won't suck air?

 

[dirk_brijs]

they will be placed on brackets again same as now though not as deep this time.
So they will be deep enough so they wont suck air.

 

[dirk_brijs]

other possibility would be to place them on the top at the back glass which maybe in the end would be the best sollution after all?
Also thinking on even increasing to 5 power heads in total being 3 Tunze 6055 and 2 Jebao WP25

 

[dirk_brijs]

another unpleasant delay as this morning I cut a decent piece out of my hand with a scissors and had to go to the hospital to get 7 stitches placed to keep everything a bit together.
Anyway several days now no water possible on that hand...
that will be tough working with one hand on the tank......

 

[dirk_brijs]

anyway so before this morning accident the following test results

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0 or 0.25
Nitrate 5
Phosphate 0.06 (still dosing 50ml rapid phosban daily)
Ph 8.16

again weird that now not the Nitrate are spiking?
This is a new ApI test kit though I am measuring with and confirmed by an older Tropic marine test as well.

 

[dirk_brijs]

as one always says if no pictures it never happened.
a sweet triangle cut out of my hand

 

[Texass2323]

Sorry about the hand.. Amazing built bro..

 

[dirk_brijs]

Sorry about the hand.. Amazing built bro..

Texass
thanks my man