August 2005 update: My 29G

[GunMoto]

I'm logging in an August 2005 update of my 29G, so here you go:

(Sorry, the pics are low quality...)

Previous May 2005 pics:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=587442

Previous February 2005 pics:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=528775

Here are the specs again:

• Tank specs: 30x12x18; 29G; acrylic; cobalt blue back
• Stand height: 30"
• Canopy height: 12"
• Lighting: ReefOptix III 250w HQI pendant w/AC14k bulb; 8-hour photoperiod
• Fans: two (2) 4" IceCap fans w/temp-sensitive speedcontrol
• Sump: 10G acrylic; w/100 micron filter sock
• Skimmer: EuroReef ES5-2 w/gate valve mod
• Heater: WON ProHeat II 150w (useless with the Cali heat!)
• Return pump: Mag 7
• Chiller: JBJ Arctica 1/5hp
• Circulation: three (3) SEIO M620's
• Dosing: 2-ch peristaltic pump dosing 2-part Ca & alkalinity
• Pinpoint pH monitor
• DIY auto topoff
• DIY flourescent moonlight

additional info:

• 45lbs fiji live rock
• 40lbs live sand (aragonite)

Thanks!

 

[kewwlkat123]

WOW! Awesome tank. Can really see the coral growth from the previous 3 months photos.

 

[GunMoto]

WOW! Awesome tank. Can really see the coral growth from the previous 3 months photos.

Thanks...that's a good point!

June 2004:

July 2004:

August 2004:

 

[Mchava]

hey gunter is that neon green cap the same one you got from garret gales. If so then its has grown realy nice. But it has gotten lighter then when he got it from me. But anyways good job on the tank. I need to know your secret on this.
Mario

 

[GunMoto]

September 2004:

December 2004:

January 2005:

 

[GunMoto]

February 2005:

May 2005:

August 2005:

 

[GunMoto]

Mchava - Mario, yes, it's the same neon green cap from Garret. It has lightened up over the course of the last 2-3 months though; it's one of my favourite pieces.

 

[fish_fanatik]

Looks really nice. Thanks 4 all the pics

 

[raskal311]

Gunther, tank looking good as always. Glad your still around !!

 

[bennyinca]

Wow Gunther very nice, awesome growth!
It seems between may and august, your SPS took off ! Are you using anything new? What type SPS are on the sand?

 

[bennyinca]

btw, did you end up getting the 58g from Josh?

 

[GunMoto]

Thanks Julie!

Thanks Kevin!

 

[GunMoto]

Wow Gunther very nice, awesome growth!
It seems between may and august, your SPS took off ! Are you using anything new? What type SPS are on the sand?

What I did around April was test my water (haven't tested in a long time)...that resulted in observing how out of whack calcium and alkalinity was. Well, actually calcium was normal (~420), but alkalinity was really low, minimizing coral growth. I'm currently supplementing calcium and alkalinity using Randy's homemade recipe, and since increased my dosing 2 fold! Calcium is depleted at a much faster rate, even though I have about the same number of corals. It's just that these corals are now bigger and have an insatiable appetite.

btw, did you end up getting the 58g from Josh?

So bad me want! Actually, the boss won't let me...so no go. lol

 

[s13silvia]

tank is lookin good !gunther

 

[oosurfin]

looks great gunther. i think i met you at garrets actually i almost got that cap. i did get that little pink bta . its almost 4-5in fully expanded. id take pics if i could get my camera to sync up

 

[lemec]

Guther...do you think you needed that big of a chiller or were you just getting something for an upgrade thingy later? Just curious.

 

[GunMoto]

oosurfin - Yes, I remember. Get that camera linked up, and post a pic of that RBTA! So the the RBTA is doing well, ay?

lemec - I think a 1/10 would have been sufficient, although I did plan ahead in case I upgraded later. The only difference between the two models would be: (i) the length of each cooling cycle; and (ii) the maximum water volume the chiller is rated for (relative to the pulldown temperature). The number of cycles a chiller would run each day would be very close to being equal.

 

[Mchava]

hey gunther where do you get the stuff to make the two part cal and alk. Iam realy intrested in doing this. Thanks Oh and once again awsome set up. I wish mine look half as good as yours.
Mario

 

[Jierongk]

OMG.. looks nice.. when it starts getting crowded in there let me have some frags

 

[GunMoto]

Mchava - Mario, I've been using Arm & Hammer baking soda from the grocery to mix the calcium carbonate and Kent's Turbo Calcium to make calcium chloride.

The Oceanic salt I'm currently running still contains a high level of magnesium, so I never had the need to use Epsom salts to make a magnesium supplement yet.

I plan to check Home Depot to see if they stock Dow Flake here on the west coast. Dow Flake can be used to make the calcium chloride, so I'll no longer need to purchase Kent's Turbo Calcium. It will reduce the cost even more, since a 50lb. bag of Dow Flake should be ~$12!

But really, a calcium reactor would be soooooo much easier...I just can't afford the "upfront" costs.

I based the recipe on Randy's article, "A Homemade Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Additive System."

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/april2004/chem.htm

From there, I use a 2-channel peristaltic pump to dose the 2-part solution. It's been the only type of calcium and alkalinity supplementation since I initially started the tank. However, there was a period earlier this year when I didn't test (at all) calcium and alkalinity levels. Calcium was normal but alkalinity was way low. I needed to increase my dosing rate. I realized this happens when the corals get bigger, doh! Hehe...my corals could have potentially been larger!

Let me know if you have any questions. This method has been cost-effective for me.