birth of 2 builds totaling 30k gallons

[Maximus]

Andrew, you should also look into Cermedia Marinepure nitrification/denitrification blocks. I use a single 8" block and I have undetectable nitrates. You would need considerably more as your tank will be just a little larger than mine LOL, perhaps it's time for a hostile takeover of Cermedia?

 

[hedgedrew]

Thx maximus. I'll check it out. I've added lots of new sand about 8 bags last week and have built my vodka vinegar levels back up to 116 ml of vodka equiv and I see first signs of hope. I will check this out

 

[premilove]

Sweet I'm glad acro power is working for you

 

[hedgedrew]

Maximus. I checked out that company and have seen that product before but it looks to me a kin to putting in more live rock. It loos like it's just space for bacterial growth and mostly for ammonia and nitrite. Would denitrifying bacteria populate that in high flow oxygen area like sump? Is this analogous to adding bio balls.?

 

[dave.m]

Yes, it would be the same as going back to the early 1990s and adding bioballs in your sump, increasing the nitrate levels in your tank. Then you'd have to find a way to bring the nitrates back down again. I'm not sure I follow the logic of people trying to bring this stuff back when others are knocking themselves out to reduce nitrates and phosphates.

Dave.M

 

[Maximus]

Maximus. I checked out that company and have seen that product before but it looks to me a kin to putting in more live rock. It loos like it's just space for bacterial growth and mostly for ammonia and nitrite. Would denitrifying bacteria populate that in high flow oxygen area like sump? Is this analogous to adding bio balls.?

Yes, the 8" blocks would allow for denitrification to occur, imo. I believe that the anaerobic bacteria would eventually colonize deep within the pores of the block and would turn nitrate into nitrogen gas. Now, if your sump has high flow, then I am not as sure. My sump has low flow going through it so I believe it is working for me.

 

[CHSUB]

Dave between 2 fish stores maybe 12 to 15 med to large acros. Tank has basically been refilled from prior alk vodka stn burn.

Followed your sps' tank on another thread...question about refilled w/ sps'. what is alk vodka stn burn?... i'm guessing you lost some sps'. do you think vodka caused stn? and are you dosing again?

i would skip the Natureef style Denitrator. i used one 15 years ago, it's just carbon dosing in a bucket. imo, not suitable for either tank. i've tried several nitrate filters and sulfur, imo, is best.

 

[SPotter]

Im going to check that link out spotter. Whats the advantage of build it as opposed to buy one ? Or does this do something others dont .? Going to read.

its an easy diy and compared to the price of buying one that will work for your tank there will be huge difference. There's a lot of people in Fl and now some in NJ that are using this system with a lot of success. Some have stated that they havent done water changes in years as a result of this system. Im not saying that you shouldnt do water changes as I am a firm believer in those.

 

[hedgedrew]

I hear so many nightmares on sulfur from degassing to release of hydrogen sulfide and cosntat fooling with drip system.
Yes. Yalcin did lot of water changes with esv salt. I have since changed. Its ca and alk are too high for carbon dosing. We increased vodka and changed some bulbs at same time higher alk water changes. So yes we fried out sps. Since things have stabilized and we using lower alk salt I've been able to slowly bring back my vodka vinegar dosing.

 

[007Bond]

So I have to ask,...what salt are you going with. Have you checked on buying direct when the time comes to run the new tanks?---Rick

 

[hedgedrew]

So now we have been using red sea in blue bucket. Nice balanced 420 ca 8 kh alk and doesn't turn my containers brown with residue. I have asked bob stark to see if he would sell me a lower ca alk formula and been told he's working on it. As for the big tank we might go with those huge satchels of either io or tropic marin sold to aquariums.

 

[007Bond]

Seems like a lot of RC threads and other articles also of successful coral growers, use io. I have read also that guys say red sea salt is pretty constant from bucket to bucket.

 

[hedgedrew]

I am pleasantly shocked and surprised on red sea blue bucket. I tried tropic marin pro reef and the corals did not respond well. I still have like 30 buckets od dd salt left. They hard to get. But I'm done with that brown clay residue.

 

[premilove]

birth of 2 builds totaling 30k gallons

I'm not a fan of anything Red Sea other than fish but after witnessing your success with the blue bucket, I have to give it a try.

 

[BfishLpond78]

Took a read through this thread and I am very impressed with all the planning that's gone into this build.

I'm also very excited to see that this is a short drive from me...if you ever have a public day please let me know, would gladly drive down to see this beauty.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Eville]

I have also had success with switching to Red Sea salt. Any idea of larger fish going into the Flowlr? Can't wait to see them both!

Jacob

 

[hedgedrew]

Ok bfish. Will be some time still.

 

[hedgedrew]

Jacob. Was going to be more than fowlr. Was going to do hardy hard corals like stlylo and pocillipora and turbinara and gorgonians sea fans etc. Who knows what it will turn into. But I was going to put all large angels in there schools of tangs and lookdowns etc. Ocassional triggers.

 

[ksed]

+2

i can't imagine what you're protein skimmer is going to look like.... Subscribed!

 

[drej424]

How long do you think it will take to cure the rock? You'll probably need some extreme ventilation for a while in there! Did you check out aquariums around the world to decide what you wanted? You must be having so much fun with this! It's fun to just read about!
I got a behind the scenes tour at Atlantis from Joe Y once. (He let my kids feed the fish in the reef tank!). The protein skimmer for that tank is huge! Like two stories high! Will yours be that big? Thanks for sharing with us, Drew!