Chiselin time!

Yeah, they suggest keeping all levels close to NSW. For alk. this is about 7. I didn't do anything special in this regard, and my Alk eventually settled right at 7.

What have you been keeping your Alk at?
 
I use reef crystals salt and it usually mixes up between 9-10 dkh. Not sure how to get it lower than that. I guess once it drops to that level I will be doing less (and smaller) water changes than I have been doing so the higher dkh will have negligable effect.
 
Yes, it should work itself out on its own. I wouldn't do anything to try to lower it.

Might as well take off the GFO and clean out the refugium in preparation for starting. I'm looking forawrd to your results, hope you are as well.
 
Here is the deal. Now that I know that I have to have that alk so low I need to get my new tank up and running then transfer everything over let the alk drop and then start the PL.

I went and picked up a couple of mexican turbos at the lfs today to see if they will make a dent in this stuff.

It will be a little while before I can get the new tank going. I have to finish sanding my stand (picking it up in the am. It is at a friends house where we built it) and then stain it. I have to order (7) 4 ft bulb$ and reflector$ and a HD direct connect expansion to my Aquacontroller so I can have more controllable sockets. Thinking about upgrading my Tunze 6000's to 6100's. This may be able to wait but I need a pump to blow across the bottom of my tank to keep the detritus in the mix and not on the floor. Thinking about going with a koralia as I can't afford another Tunze at the moment. Heck I couldn't afford the ones I have either come to think of it. :)

I may change my mind and go ahead and start the dosing as soon as the PL arrives. I have a few days to think about it.

I will definitely let you know how it is going. Do you have any thoughts on what I should do?
 
Damn, I thought I was the only one with that hair algae ( the one on your powerhead). I started adding reef chili, selcon, garlic and vita chem with the fish food and within a week BAM! I backed off on the additives on the fish food but the algae kept growing, it wouldn't back off. Almost ready to cook the rocks then I decided to dose vodka. I am on my 3rd week and those bastids are dying:D . Looks like TS is steering you in the right direction.:thumbsup:
 
I think I read another post somewhere, TS, where you had recommended the PL stuff. I've been eyeing it ever since ... not that there's anything wrong with my current system per se but you keep wondering, what could take things to the next level? :D
 
My Alk/ Cal is at the right level and the PL will be here friday if UPS doesn't drop the ball.

The new stand is downstairs and a new bucket of salt will be here on wednesday. Getting close to the new tank.

Hopefully getting close to eradicating the algae. So far the Turbo snails are doing little to nothing.
 
Start right away. The only obstacle I see is that when I get the new tank ready to go the additional salt water needed to make up the additional volume of the new tank will have a much higher Alk & Calcium level. Anyone know how to bring down the higher Alk?Cal? Doesn't Tropic Marin make a product that does this?

If not I was thinking that I could take a gallon or two out of the current tank, put it in a brute trash can put new gallon into display (like very small daily waterchanges) and repeat until I have enough correct "old" water to fill the new tank. Might work. Might not.

Thoughts?
 
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I don't think that there's a way to drop alk/calcium without really mucking up your chemistry ... best to let it drop on its own through natural means. Or maybe use IO to make the new water?
 
What does normal IO usually mix up at?

I know with RC it varies tremendously from one bucket to the next.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13455651#post13455651 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CeeGee
Start right away. The only obstacle I see is that when I get the new tank ready to go the additional salt water needed to make up the additional volume of the new tank will have a much higher Alk & Calcium level. Anyone know how to bring down the higher Alk?Cal? Doesn't Tropic Marin make a product that does this?

If not I was thinking that I could take a gallon or two out of the current tank, put it in a brute trash can put new gallon into display (like very small daily waterchanges) and repeat until I have enough correct "old" water to fill the new tank. Might work. Might not.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I wouldn't worry about the Alk this much in this regard. Of course you never want to shock the corals by suddenly introducing a large % of new water with largely different alk., but I think you know that.

As for the PL, just start it with whatever alkalinity your tank has on the day you get it. No need to try to lower alk first. (Not sure how you'd even do that. Maybe a mild acid? Anyway, don't. :lol: )

Also the PL will not drastically affect Alk in the short term. It's not going to shock the alk. levels. But I think it may slowly lower it over time.

Sorry I may have missed this, but what have you been using to keep Cal/alk up- 2-part, reactor, kalkwasser?
 
2 part. ESV B-Ionic.

One more thing that may cause a problem. My pH usually hangs around 8.0-8.1

The only time it is higher is after I add part 1 of the 2part. I don't ever remember it dipping below 7.9.
 
I just administered the first dose of RF Fuel and RF Genesis. A couple of weeks and someone is going to be Adding/ Changing a signature.

Just for the record I have read that Cyano may become a problem with these types of systems. I have never had the first signs of cyano in this tank. Just thought I would document that.

Tang Salad don't leave me hangin! Keep up with what is going on here in case I start to go downhill!
 
yes that is the algae I have. I went and bought 3 pretty good sized turbos but they aren't really doing a good job with it.

I also have another kind it seems. Not a big change thus far (but it hasn't been two weeks yet) while dosing the polyp labs. Still hoping it will do what TS says it will.

just a heads up premium aquatics has the polyp labs products significantly cheaper than what marine depot (who I ordered from of course) charges.
 
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almost on week 4 of the polyplabs and algae is a little better but nothing to write home about. I think what has disappeared thus far has been eaten by the mexican turbos.

Things are better but not where I thought they would be coming up on week 4. Doesn't look like I will be adding a signature anytime soon.
 
not sure if I'm helping here, but my LFS suggested a Mex Turbo snail for every 5 gallons of water. I didn't do that, I usually don't listen to them, but i don't have an algae problem right now.

Maybe more Turbos is the way to go, here...

G.
 
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