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

[Newbie Aquarist]

Is that an earring Wayne? Nahh...I think the avatar is better! :lol2:

Yea I have one in each ear.


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[danfeig]

Wow, haven't been on RC in a couple months because I had to take my tank down and I just couldn't bare to look at all these beautiful tanks, it just brought me down. I log on today and this is the first thread I click on and i just read through the whole thing. It looks like you have done just about everything right and thank you for re inspiring me.

Thank you asacopoo!

I am sorry that you had to take your tank down. I can't imagine!

I can't say that I have done "just about everything right.". It seems like I have made a lot of mistakes! If I have inspired anyone, then this thread and the time invested in it has been worth it.

Thanks again!

 

[danfeig]

PH Issue... Suggestions needed

PH Issue... Suggestions needed

So I have been fighting a PH issue the last few days which is really bugging me.

My PH has been running in the 7.7-7.93 range. Can't seem to get it higher.

Everything is looking a little stressed. My Elegance Coral and Brains aren't opening up and puffing out like they should.

Alk and Calcium are good. So I am not sure what the cause is.

Over the last 24-96 hours I have made the following changes:

1) Recalibrated the PH probe with my ReefKeeper and have also checked PH using two different PH test kits.
2) Windows - despite the heat in Tucson, I have opened the windows in the room and have been running the ceiling fans to help circulate the fresh air and to cool off my back yard and the rest of the city.
3) Refugium - I have changed the light schedule on my refugium, from 10 hours to 24 hours.
4) Water change - 200 gallons performed today
5) Supplements - for three days I added Brightwell PH+, that rose things slightly but not for very long. I had been dosing Calk, Alk and Mag once per day and changed my dosing schedule to hourly.

I am not sure what has caused my issue. I have been doing a lot of research. One potential explanation is the depth of my tank and the possibility that there is a gas build-up and a need to create more circulation in the tank (from the bottom to the surface) to allow the gas to escape. I am having a hard time with this explanation - I have 2 MP60's and 2 MP40's and a lot of circulation.

Another explanation that I have come up with is due to excessive evaporation. I am losing a ton of water due to evaporation. I have a dehumidifier as part of my a/c unit that is constantly building up and emptying out. My RO system is always running. The PH of RO water is close to 7. I need it to be 8+.

Tomorrow I am planning on going to my LFS and getting a Kalk Stirrer and will start dosing Kalkwasser with my auto top-off. The PH of Kalkwasser is 12. With all of my evaporation, I am hoping that the addition of Kalk in my RO water will raise my PH. I am also trying to locate an Oxygen test kit to see what the oxygen levels in the tank are. If it is low, I will purchase a couple of Tunzes and point them up to the top of my tank for better circulation and air exchange.

I am open to any suggestions that anyone has.

Thanks!

 

[jverna1]

I had pH problems also and I started using kalk and it works pretty good. You just have to watch your Ca levels they tend to rise with addition of kalk. I was dosing 120 ml a day of kalk and alk through my dosing pump before i started using kalk and I had to cut it down to 90 ml.

 

[pgaudreau]

PH problem

PH problem

I am dosing calcium carbonator in my tank. Its actually made here locally by a local reef chemist who makes all his own products. This stuff works amazing and a 2 year old can use it. You can even use it in a stirrer if you would like. A gallon is $60.00 it lasts me about three months on my heavy bioload tank. You would probably burn through a gallon in 30 days initially and then your usage should go down. You could dose 25% of the bottle on start off and it still wont hurt anything. This guy also makes his own phosphate removal liquid and the stuff is unbelievable. If you want me to ship you a gallon or two pm me your address and I can ship to you to see if it works. I can swing by there on Tuesday once Isaac is done messing up our Sunday and Monday. The only good news is that when storms roll in some very large sharks come in our canals, free shark viewing on storm days.

 

[Elliott]

before changing things, I'd confirm your results by using a separate ph tester

are you dosing Alk? if so, are you using Sodium Bicarbonate (lowers ph) or Sodium Carbonate (raises ph)?

Kalk or Calcium Hydroxide will definitely raise ph but carries a definite risk of overdosing with unfavorable results IMO

regarding your open brains and elegance not opening up I'd first suspect too much flow and/or light given the high power Vortechs and Radions you have

 

[Geraud]

Is there anything around you that could be producing larger amounts on CO2 than usual? Water becomes acid by "absorbing" the ambient CO2, both from the aquarium itself, but also from the ambient air in the case of a heavy flow tank like a reef.

One measure that could be interesting to take is the pH of your RO/DI water. It should actually not be 7 as "pure water" tends to immediately get "polluted" by the ambient CO2 and thus become acid (in general just slightly). If you have a lot of evaporation you will have a lot of top off, hence more acidity in the main tank. Kalkwasser would indeed help.

 

[danfeig]

I had pH problems also and I started using kalk and it works pretty good. You just have to watch your Ca levels they tend to rise with addition of kalk. I was dosing 120 ml a day of kalk and alk through my dosing pump before i started using kalk and I had to cut it down to 90 ml.

Thank you Mr. Coral Crackhead!

I just added some Kalk to a 5 gallon bucket filled with RO water. I had it mixing for 40 minutes with a powerhead. After it settles down for another hour or so, I will slowly drip the clear liquid (probably 4 gallons or so) into my sump.

Tomorrow I plan on calling Avast Marine and will order a Kalk Stirrer to use with my auto top-off.

I will be careful to watch my Ca levels.

Thanks again jverna1!

 

[danfeig]

Video of Fish Room - my first video

Video of Fish Room - my first video

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TNRX75TtHmc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


So I had some time yesterday while waiting for a bucket to fill with RO to drip some Kalk into my system.

I have had numerous requests to take some videos of the Fish Room and of the tank itself.

So I took out my iPhone and shot a quick video. There is no pretty music playing in the background, unless you enjoy the sound of water splashing around, power heads, pumps, motors and an air conditioning unit. And keep in mind, this is the first video I have ever shot. Next time, I will have to use my wires digital recorder.

I pretty much shot video of everything. My quarantine tanks, UV, skimmer, ozone, sump, rear of tank, lighting, auto-feeder in the small refrigerator, salt water storage tank and my old 150 gallon that will soon be filled 3/4 with live rock - plumbed to my existing system and used as a frag tank.

If you have any questions about any of the equipment, feel free to ask.

Enjoy!

 

[danfeig]

I am dosing calcium carbonator in my tank. Its actually made here locally by a local reef chemist who makes all his own products. This stuff works amazing and a 2 year old can use it. You can even use it in a stirrer if you would like. A gallon is $60.00 it lasts me about three months on my heavy bioload tank. You would probably burn through a gallon in 30 days initially and then your usage should go down. You could dose 25% of the bottle on start off and it still wont hurt anything. This guy also makes his own phosphate removal liquid and the stuff is unbelievable. If you want me to ship you a gallon or two pm me your address and I can ship to you to see if it works. I can swing by there on Tuesday once Isaac is done messing up our Sunday and Monday. The only good news is that when storms roll in some very large sharks come in our canals, free shark viewing on storm days.

Thanks pgaudreau! I appreciate the offer. That is one of the many things I love about Reef Central. Fellow reefers are always willing to help out!

I ordered the Kalk Stirrer from Avast Marine earlier today and plenty of Kalk to dose. I spent a lot of time on the phone with Justin at Avast. He is great at explaining his equipment and everything needed. At first I was going to have a larger custom unit built. But after discussing with him my needs - their K2 Stirrer seems to fit the build. I also ordered plenty of Kalk.

Good luck with the Hurricane. I hope that you are able to stay dry and that you don't lose your electricity.

Regards...

 

[david00061]

nice video. I like your set up. Someday I wanna come by and see your system

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Much as I love Florida, it sucks not being able to have a fish room without altering your house. Nice video and very clean

 

[lostmyz]

Not true.... just build a shed out back... plumb it, electrical it, and cool it and ur set!!! Besides who wants all that humidity in the house

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[Newbie Aquarist]

Not true.... just build a shed out back... plumb it, electrical it, and cool it and ur set!!! Besides who wants all that humidity in the house

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

Unfortunately I cant because I live in a deed restricted area. I used a bad choice of words.

 

[danfeig]

before changing things, I'd confirm your results by using a separate ph tester

are you dosing Alk? if so, are you using Sodium Bicarbonate (lowers ph) or Sodium Carbonate (raises ph)?

Kalk or Calcium Hydroxide will definitely raise ph but carries a definite risk of overdosing with unfavorable results IMO

regarding your open brains and elegance not opening up I'd first suspect too much flow and/or light given the high power Vortechs and Radions you have

Hi Elliott. Thank you for your input and advise. I did check check my PH with a Hannah PH tester, my ReefKeeper and with a Salifert PH test kit.

I have been dosing Sodium Carbonate and it does raise my Alk. Unfortunately, just not enough without providing too much Alk. My Brains are both thick again and my Elegance is opening up a little more. You may be correct though with regards to the flow on my Elegance. I am going to try to move it to an area with lesser flow.

The good news is that my dosing/dripping of Kalk in RO Water has helped increase my PH. I dripped in another 3 gallons last night and when I woke this morning, my PH was at 8.3. I won't be dosing during the day and we will see what it is when I get home tonight with the lights on all day. My Ca levels are good. I should have the Kalk stirrer by the end of the week and will dose Kalk with my top-off.

 

[Elliott]

Hi Elliott. Thank you for your input and advise. I did check check my PH with a Hannah PH tester, my ReefKeeper and with a Salifert PH test kit.

I have been dosing Sodium Carbonate and it does raise my Alk. Unfortunately, just not enough without providing too much Alk. My Brains are both thick again and my Elegance is opening up a little more. You may be correct though with regards to the flow on my Elegance. I am going to try to move it to an area with lesser flow.

The good news is that my dosing/dripping of Kalk in RO Water has helped increase my PH. I dripped in another 3 gallons last night and when I woke this morning, my PH was at 8.3. I won't be dosing during the day and we will see what it is when I get home tonight with the lights on all day. My Ca levels are good. I should have the Kalk stirrer by the end of the week and will dose Kalk with my top-off.

sounds good :thumbsup:

keep an eye on your Alk when dosing Kalk

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

What ratio are you using of kalk to water?

 

[danfeig]

What ratio are you using of kalk to water?

Good question. On Sunday afternoon, I poured a medium jar (approximately 8 ounces) of the Kent Kalkwasser Mix to a 5 gallon bucket full of RO water.

I ran a powerhead in the bucket for about an hour and then let the solution sit for a good couple of hours. There was about 1" - 1 1/2" layer of Kalk paste that did not dissolve and settled on the bottom of the bucket.

That night (Sunday) I let the top 3/4 of the bucket slowly drip into the sump (a little less than 4 gallons).

Last night, I refilled the bucket with RO water and once again ran the powerhead for 45 minutes or so and then let the solution sit. The was about 3/4" of solution that did not dissolve and settled on the bottom of the bucket.

I once again (Monday night) slowly dripped the top 3/4 of the solution into the sump.

I filled the bucket again this morning with RO water. I will run a powerhead in the solution and let things sit.

Depending on what my PH is tonight when I go to sleep - will determine how much solution I dose. I am hoping very little. I need to once again monitor my Ca & Alk.

I am convinced that the culprit of my low PH is all of the evaporation and replacement of RO water. I am looking forward to getting the Kalk Stirrer!

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

How has the Dialyseas been working out for you?

 

[dotcommer]

Thanks for the video post it was nice to view behind the scenes.

I love the refrigerator and the feeding system. How often are you feeding with the Mysis Feast , The Arcti Pods and couldn't see the last one? What other food are you using and how often?