Calcuim Reactor fine tuning

[mflamb]

I can't wait to try mine!!!

 

[CMcNeil]

update........

i think it is getting stablized,the alk went up a little from yesterday but not much.

Cal=375 ppm(same)
Alk-4.8 meq/L(up from 4.5)
Ph=8.3(same)
bubble rate still 60bpm
effluent still 100ml/min

 

[ReefArtist]

Not bad- looking real good I'd say. I'm about to test mine now - I'll report back in a few.

 

[CMcNeil]

saturday numbers are as follows

Cal=375ppm(unchanged)
Alk=4.95meq/L(up .15 from yesterday)
Ph=8.3(unchanged)
drip rate 60bpm
effluent rate 100ml/min
reactor Ph=6.7

 

[ReefArtist]

Hey checkinhawk - your numbers are stable now how to get your calcium up without raising your Alk to much.

I just finished getting the refugium installed - fit right in. I was concerned that I'd have to remove the center brace but it angled right in. Thank you so much - sweet looking. I was able to fit all the pieces of the protein skimmer into the output area but bubbles galore - I stuffed some filter floss in between the bubble reducer area but I think I need some thicker stuff - still have millions of micro bubbles. I'm sure using a thicker floss will work.

Thank you VERY much!

 

[CMcNeil]

no problem.did you use the bubble diffuser thing that came with your skimmer?if you took it off and are getting bubbles,try putting it back on.what water level is the sump at?6-7" of water should be good,you could go higher just make sure that you leave enough room in case the return pump shuts off.

 

[ReefArtist]

Yeah I have the skimmers diffuser on it but it just sucks the little bubbles under and right into the return area. Even with the filter stuff in place. The water level is at 8 inches right now. I was hoping that raising it up a little higher would help the bubbles disapate - not. At first I had it just above the slits which is around 6-7 I think and when I raised the water level - it helped a little but not that much. I'll just get some type of filter stuff that is thicker then I have - it should take care of it. I still not to hook up the ATO system - that will be real nice to have working!

 

[CMcNeil]

what if i make you another sock holder and you have the skimmer return go into that.that should stop all bubbles.

 

[ReefArtist]

Now that's a thought - better then putting floss in the flow area. Cool - I'll try that - so yes please and thank you again!

 

[CMcNeil]

np ill do it monday.i did the same on my 37g sump.it was very small and had alot of flow across it and no microbubbles.it should stop the bubbles.

 

[mflamb]

Carol, post some pics of it setup when you can.

 

[CMcNeil]

update............

Cal=375ppm(unchanged)
Alk=5.0meq/L(up .5 from yesterday)
Ph=8.3(unchanged)

seems like the alk swing is settling down,i hope this means it is set right and working right.

 

[ReefArtist]

I wonder why your Alk is going up and nothing else is changing. Mine is very stable now Alk a little high but nothing to worry about - from what I understand.

 

[CMcNeil]

it is going up,but less and less each day.i think by tuesday it will peak off and stop raising.

 

[ReefArtist]

Ok - I finally got my drawing small enough up upload - what a pain-LOL. This is an overhead drawing of my sump area (Picture 1):

This is a side view:

This is the real deal of sump area:

This is the reason we do it:

 

[ReefArtist]

Hey Checkinhawk - Here's a pic of the coral you gave me - sweet! I don't remember the name-could you give it to me again? This photo doesn't do it justice at all - it is sooooo nice - beautiful green! See the growth on it?

 

[CMcNeil]

yes i do see the growth all around the base the new branches are starting. i dont know the name i just know its an acro.i see you got the sump all packed in and running.sweeeeeeeeeeeet

 

[ReefArtist]

Yes it is so nice - and thanks again for the refuge build it is solid as a rock. I'll be using this one for the next 20 years - LOL.

The acro has one of the best sits in the house - directly under the 250MH - when that light comes on it looks beautiful and when the T5s are on the green is just so different and that is what I like about it. I can't capture the true color with the camera.

 

[ReefArtist]

Hey - I got a bunch of the 1" covers finished. They were complete on Saturday but still to hot to take out of the kiln. I'm building the back of my tank up with the first batch and no problems at all. My test tanks pH never changed nor any of the other general test - nitrates etc. I've done some other research on the clay and because of the kiln firing everything is bound together to tight - no leaching. Of course people have been using clay forever - clay pots for egg laying fish. I fire my clay much higher then they do clay pots.

I have the Xenia you give me growing on them now and I this is what I built the base for Nana to stand on - worked great - she's not falling.

I can bring you some this weekend if you'd like to try them out.

I also put a bunch of frags on them - not a problem and they work great! Now I want to see how long it takes for the coraline algae to start growing.

Today I'm going to make some that I can attach to the back glass to sit smaller frags on or start to grow GSP or something like that - I think it will work great.

Please give me some of your thoughts on this - K.

 

[o2zen]

Got any pictures of them?

Very nice tank BTW.