A Reef Tank in the Desert - +/- 1,400 gallon system

ERivera65 said:
This is an incredible setup/build. wow, your tank is truly amazing and a piece of nature. i am jealous lol. best wishes and keep all the pictures and posts coming!
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Thank you ERivera. I appreciate your comments here and on my photos/video. My tank progress is coming along, but, it still has a long way to go. Don't be jealous, join in the fun!
 
Dan
I am curious as to what your water parameters are now and how much are you dosing per 24 hours. With a stocked tank 1 ml/gal is about what I have observed as adequate for Alkalinity and for calcium chloride as stock solutions (BRS 2 part for example). Love your use of PVC btw (feeders, blasters, etc). You may need to start a side LLC! I know I have enough PVC laying around to supply another build or two.
 
Hey awesome tank you have inspired me to upgrade my future plans from a square 240 to a larger 600g tank. Whats your stocking list for inside the tank right now?
 
Osteoclast said:
Exquisite! Love your system. Thanks also for the apex sequences, I am modifying the percentages to optimize flow. Hope to have one-half as many tangs as you someday!
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Osteoclast said:
Dan
I am curious as to what your water parameters are now and how much are you dosing per 24 hours. With a stocked tank 1 ml/gal is about what I have observed as adequate for Alkalinity and for calcium chloride as stock solutions (BRS 2 part for example). Love your use of PVC btw (feeders, blasters, etc). You may need to start a side LLC! I know I have enough PVC laying around to supply another build or two.
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Osteoclast,

Thanks for the compliments! Tangs are definitely my favorite fish. I love getting them small and watching them grow. Both my Lopezi and Vlamingi Tangs are getting huge!

I am real happy to share my Apex programs for my Vortechs or any of my equipment. I've actually been debating about getting two more MP40's to create additional flow on an intermittent basis. I enjoy sitting in front of the tank and creating different flow patterns.

With regards to my dosing... the plane truth is I don't know!!!

I purchase from my LFS the Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium formulas (I believe they purchase the powder in bulk from BRS), pour the powder/ingredients into 5 gallon drums, add RO water, mix and viola! Because I dose hourly, I use a mixture that is 150% - 170% of the normal concentration for Calcium and Alkalinity. Every month - six weeks when I replace the solution, I have to spend a 5 days or so adjusting my dosing levels. I use the BRS Drew's Doser Pumps, which are supposed to dose +/- 1.6 ml per minute (i'd be surprised if they do 1 ml per minute). Each hour I have my Calcium set for 11 minutes, my Alkalinity set for 13 minutes and my Magnesium set to dose for 4 minutes. I just lowered everything slightly...My Calcium is running at 450, Alkalinity is at 12 (I like it to be at 11) and Magnesium is around 1,200.

I keep my solutions constantly stirring. All my solutions are in 5 gallon water jugs and I have little/nano power heads residing in the bottom of each jug.

I hope this helps....

DSCN4195.jpg
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I always just assumed you used a ca reactor with a system that big. Can I ask you why you decided to go with 2 part instead of the reactor?
 
Thanks, I like the little nano power head idea. I appreciate your input as the dosing amounts are quite high but obviously required for the system. I am dosing standard BRS: Calcium chloride, Sodium carbonate, and their Mag chloride/sulfate mix. I use kalk for my ATO which helps and I think you dose it as well. I have a calcium reactor but have not set it up (one more item to potentially fail), I like to keep my system as simple as possible. I am used to the BRS products yet the daily amounts are high compared to smaller systems. I have not tried a "super saturated" solution as you have but may consider it to decrease the dosing times. I will need to see how much I can get into solution especially the Soda ash. Thanks again, I appreciate your prompt responses.
 
danfeig said:
Thanks Wayne! Or should I call you Reefing? Or should I call you Wayne Reefing? When your parents gave you your middle name, did they know that someday you would be a Saltwater enthusiast? :dance:

Only kidding...

I appreciate the kudos on the Nori feeder. I don't have near the talent though of DCA or you!

I am standing in a line at Disney World and am finally able to respond to some of these posts.

Happy New Year pal!
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I think my parents was watching some black exploitation movie when they named me. My middle name is Leroy and I normally don't tell anyone. Its G-14 Classified and I will pass you one of those ear pieces.

I have no talent. I just observe other peoples ideas or come up with an idea and adjust it to my situation. Now DCA, that's another story.

You were about a couple hours away from me while you were responding. Hope you had luck at WWC and the other stores while you were there.

Happy New Year to you and your family and wishing you the best in this coming new year.
 
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Newbie Aquarist said:
I think my parents was watching some black exploitation movie when they named me. My middle name is Leroy and I normally don't tell anyone. Its G-14 Classified and I will pass you one of those ear pieces.

I have no talent. I just observe other peoples ideas or come up with an idea and adjust it to my situation. Now DCA, that's another story.

You were about a couple hours away from me while you were responding. Hope you had luck at WWC and the other stores while you were there.

Happy New Year to you and your family and wishing you the best in this coming new year.
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Leroy,

Happy New Year to you as well. I have to laugh :lmao:, Leroy, is also my fathers name. A nice Jewish boy from the Bronx.

I still have not made it to the coral stores. Some bad planning on my behalf. I have been swamped with the kids at Hollywood Studios, Disney Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Universal Studios and tomorrow EPCOT. I was thinking I would go tomorrow but every place is closed. It looks as if I will be hitting the stores (at least World Wide Corals) on Wednesday before flying out.
 
SPotter said:
I always just assumed you used a ca reactor with a system that big. Can I ask you why you decided to go with 2 part instead of the reactor?
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Steve, I honestly can't say for sure. Creature of habit? Something else that could go wrong?

I have always had success maintaining by water parameters dosing. I take that back - I did have a spell with difficulties keeping my PH above 8.0. That was quickly resolved when I added a Kalk Stirrer to my make-up water.

It's also cheap to run. For a system my size, I would have spent several hundred dollars on a decent reactor. Check out the prices at BRS. The cost of Calcium Chloride and Sodium Carbonate is next to nothing.

I also do water changes almost weekly.

Long story short - it hasn't been a necessity for my system.
 
Osteoclast said:
Thanks, I like the little nano power head idea. I appreciate your input as the dosing amounts are quite high but obviously required for the system. I am dosing standard BRS: Calcium chloride, Sodium carbonate, and their Mag chloride/sulfate mix. I use kalk for my ATO which helps and I think you dose it as well. I have a calcium reactor but have not set it up (one more item to potentially fail), I like to keep my system as simple as possible. I am used to the BRS products yet the daily amounts are high compared to smaller systems. I have not tried a "super saturated" solution as you have but may consider it to decrease the dosing times. I will need to see how much I can get into solution especially the Soda ash. Thanks again, I appreciate your prompt responses.
Click to expand...

When I get home, I will measure exactly how much my system is being dosed each hour and by what. I will also try to figure out exactly what the parameters are of the solution that I make. It is important to know... My PH stays between 8.2 - 8.3. When it drops, I know it is time to change my Kalk.
 
fazilosman said:
It made me cry (for JOY)... Great job Dan, been following along since the beginning and actually my tank started about 2 months after yours. I LOVE your system and especially the fish and corals....
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Fazilosman. Thank you!

It has been a long time since I saw you on RC. Where is your build thread?

Happy that you are still around.

Happy New Year!
 
dca22anderson said:
Looking great, your reef is maturing nicely Dan! Well done!
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Thanks DCA!

Things are really starting to take off. Your system and all of your acrylic handy work really inspires me. I am not sure where you come up with all of these practical ideas.

I want to introduce you to Justin at Advast Marine Works. I think he can mass produce some of your ideas at a benefit to both of you!
 
Hi Dan Happy New Year Buddy!

I would love to link up with Justin at Advast Marine Works. I looked at picking up a few of his media reactors a little while back. I think he does a great job with all of his products!

Reef on Brother!!! :thumbsup:
 
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