50b Sumpless Mixed Reef Build!
- Thread starter BigJohnny
- Start date
BigJohnny
Active member
Haha ya! Well good news is I've actually seen growth on many corals, even some of the ones from MACNA which is crazy.
My blue green tenuis acro has sprouted a couple new polyps and the jack o lantern has already grown half way down the edge of the plug. All acans have begun adding new heads except for the brand new one and the inferno which both look really healthy regardless.
Frogspawn is acting like it's going to split spoon and both torch heads are almost done splitting.
Ethereal dream monti undata has a ton of new polyps and is growing down the edges. Rest of the montis are still encrusting the plugs which I'm probably going to remove (atleast to some extent) after light acclimation and before mounting.
Zoas have a couple new polyps as well!
Been keeping my params stable at:
Temp: 78
Salinity: 35ppt/1.026 S.G
pH 7.8-8.1 (a lot of co2 in my house but will remain closer to 8.0-8.2 with kalkwasser).
Alk: 9 dkH
Calcium: 430 ppm
Magnesium: 1400ppm
Phosphate: .02 ppm
Nitrate: 4 ppm
I have been target feeding all LPS pe mysis or pe calanus once a week. 10% weekly water changes.
Been using Red Sea Salt blue bucket but once I decided to run at 9 dkH I have been bringing it up with 2 part before water changes. I made that change gradually as had been running at 8 dkH prior.
Before I ran out of my first bucket I purchased some HW-Marinemix Reefer which will be my salt of choice moving forward. It has an incredible track record with public aquariums/labratory science/experienced aquarists for over 50 years, and although it is slightly more expensive, the quality is worth it IMO. It also mixes to my desired params.
Oh, and I bought 2 boxes on BRS labor day sale so it cost the same as Red Sea did when I bought that![emoji106]
Carlos Roberto
New member
Nice tank!
What test kit are you using specially for Cal, Alk, Mag and PO4?
Thank you,
Carlos GarcÃa
What test kit are you using specially for Cal, Alk, Mag and PO4?
Thank you,
Carlos GarcÃa
BigJohnny
Active member
Thank you, just getting started!
I use Hanna Alkalinity, Hanna ULR Phosphorus, Salifert Calcium, Salifert Magnesium, and Red Sea Nitrate Pro.
BigJohnny
Active member
That's what mine is, extra marco rock broken up into pieces [emoji106]
BigJohnny
Active member
Thanks boss, can't wait for the UWW Rainbow Sunburst Monti to arrive. Going to be an epic addition to the monti collection.
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BigJohnny
Active member
The uww rainbow sunburst monti got stung in a holding tank and died the day before shipping. Thankfully the person I bought it from is fragging me an even larger piece for free and shipping it out next week with the zoas I ordered.
The best part is, due to the delay, she let me pick a free frag!
Blue Rainbow Acan
Should be a great addition to my acan collection and adds some bright blue to the tank!
The best part is, due to the delay, she let me pick a free frag!
Blue Rainbow Acan
Should be a great addition to my acan collection and adds some bright blue to the tank!
Das awesome
New member
Damn you're gettin some nice corals!
BigJohnny
Active member
Thanks, I agree! The acan pic is clearly enhanced but I still expect it to be a stunning specimen. It should arrive Tuesday or Wednesday of this week, along with those 2 zoa frags and the UWW Rainbow Sunburst Monti Frag.
Can't wait!
Happyschneider
New member
Oh wow. Would be interested in how complicated the caclium meassurement is! The alk I have the impression I am faster with the kit by hand and REEF analytics or Salifert is plenty accurate enough.
Phosphorus I got from Milwaukee, I think they are exactly the same and it makes it so much easier when you don't have to compare different shades of blue anymore
Phosphorus I got from Milwaukee, I think they are exactly the same and it makes it so much easier when you don't have to compare different shades of blue anymore
BigJohnny
Active member
Oh wow. Would be interested in how complicated the caclium meassurement is! The alk I have the impression I am faster with the kit by hand and REEF analytics or Salifert is plenty accurate enough.
Phosphorus I got from Milwaukee, I think they are exactly the same and it makes it so much easier when you don't have to compare different shades of blue anymore
They are all very quick and easy. Especially after you do them a few times.
The alkalinity-
1. Put sample in checker and push button
2. Take sample out, put 1 ml liquid reagent in sample and invert 5 times before putting back in.
3. Push button, wait 2 seconds.
Done. Not sure you can get faster than that. Probably takes me under a minute without rushing. I think it's easier than other test kits and I value the digital readout accuracy (Salifert is sufficient for sure, but I like not having to interpret anything)
Calcium is very similar except you use RODI water and 1 reagent initially, then 1ml of sample and 2nd reagent after the first button push. Same steps just different ingredients. Titration with Salifert takes me a lot longer.
Phosphorus is the same as alk but you have to mix the reagent for 2 mins and wait 3 mins for results.
Overall they are all faster than my red sea or Salifert. IMO an electronic phosphate test is a must, otherwise it's a crap shoot with those color shades. Plus phosphorus test is superior to phosphate as you know.
I've never heard of the Milwaukee phosphorous but I am sure it's good because i have their digital refractometer and love it. As you can tell, I prefer electronic testing haha.
Other test kits are certainly sufficient (except for phosphate), but for me, nothing beats the ease of use, accuracy, and confidence in the results of a hanna checker.
Happyschneider
New member
Thanks for your overview. The alkalinity really sounds easy. Might consider it when I finish the current batch. I go through it quickly anyway.
The silica test from salifert is a real pain. Need to investigate how easy/comlicated the one from Hanna is. This might be a realy option if I realise that I need it more often.
Thanks again for your quick description!
The silica test from salifert is a real pain. Need to investigate how easy/comlicated the one from Hanna is. This might be a realy option if I realise that I need it more often.
Thanks again for your quick description!
