Cosmo's 75G Build Thread

[melev]

What is your target range for alk and ca. Sounds like you need to slow down the bubble counter slightly at this point, but adding any other additives does make it hard to judge how the reactor is working.

The pH level is fine.

 

[imcosmokramer]

Thanks. I was never able to have an alk of more than 9 unless I was pouring cups of two part, so I'm not really sure. I guess 450 and 10-11 would work. I will test again either late tonight or tomorrow morning to see what's going on. I only added part a because I was told I needed to raise my calcium and then let my CaRx maintain it. I will not add anything, since as you said, if I change 2 variables at once, I really learn nothing from the outcome.

 

[melev]

Correct.

When I dosed B-Ionic or C-Balance, Part 1 was Alkalinity and Part 2 (or B) was Calcium.

8 to 11 dKH and 375 to 450 for Ca is usually a pretty good range. The goal is to keep it very stable, changing very little from day to day.

 

[tazzmanian123]

Made a stupid mistake 3 days ago, & am still trying to deal with. Been using BRS 2 part on 75g. till I get kalk/CA reactor up. Was trying to get Alk higher, & added a little over double my normal dosage. BIG mistake. Left to run some errands around town, & when I got home tank was snow white, & you could not see 2" past glass. Have already done 40g. water change, & am currently still making ro/di water up for a possible another 10 to 20g. change. Just finished scraping hardened calcium off 3/4 of tank with razor blade, but can't reach rest till I make or buy a scraper with blade. Everything in tank is covered in white.
On a positive note though, ALL my corals & inhabitants are alive & the funny thing is, most have their polyps extended. Am gonna test water again in a little bit, & go from there.
55g. red cotton candy algae infested nightmare is ready to be broken down & nuked, with what can be saved moved to 40g. setup in garage.
Link:
http://www.vegasreefers.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=32506#32506
Marc, I would like to talk to you about a number of topics like a space saving fuge/sump design for new 80g that incorporates everything in space provided under tank.
New Nikon D60 camera I got in Jan. etc., etc.
Will try & pm you when closer to setting up tank, & im sure camera talk falls in another category.
Hopefully LVVR club officers can get you out here to the desert sometime.
A few shots of my BIG mistake.

Good shot of a creature getting tired of his owners mistakes.

 

[crdisme01]

awesome build

 

[melev]

Oh no! Well, glad to hear your livestock survived the accident, and that you are mainly dealing with clean up.

I would be happy to discuss your plans privately or on RC. If you are planning to purchase something from me, I'm not allowed to discuss that in this thread/forum, but I do have a sponsored forum on RC that allows for that kind of discussion. Or like I said, PMs are fine.

I met a few of the LVVR members at MAX, and would love to visit your club. We can all go ove to TippyToeX's house and give her a group hug.

In the meantime, keep

 

[imcosmokramer]

Tazz, I hope everything is ok with the tank. Post some pics in the morning with the lights on. I'm glad to hear that your livestock is doing well. Plumbing on the new tank looks NICE. Good clean work.

remember though, small changes.

The Nikon D60 is a nice pickup. LMK if you have any questions about it.

Alright, I'm going to bed. Just got back from seeing Dane Cook. He's funny, I'm tired.

Alk is down to 9.3 was to lazy to test calcium, pH is at 8.48. I might stop adding kalk to my ATO for a while. I'll also calibrate that probe again in the a.m.

 

[tazzmanian123]

My 1st DSLR, & have alot to learn. Pix above were taken with kodak digital camera. Will take a picture tomorrow when lights are on. Gonna be changing light schedule soon, because Nevada Power rates in summertime here in the desert are very $$$$. Wondering when I hook up calcium reactor to tank I guess I will use RK2 to control ph, & get another ph monitor for tank ph?
Dane Cook is a great performer.

 

[imcosmokramer]

I have the RK2 measure pH in the tank, and a Milwaukee controller attached to the CaRx.

My first suggestion about using your new camera is, USE IT. Shoot, shoot, shoot and shoot. Change shutterspeed, aperture, iso. Read Marc's http://www.melevsreef.com/take_great_pictures.html ] http://www.melevsreef.com/take_great_pictures.html [/URL] then start clicking away. Don't forget that any bad photo is only one click away from being deleted. It's ok to take 100 pictures just to get a few good ones.

Then ask away. I'll do some tests today, and post them with some pictures. My thread is getting boring with no photos.

 

[imcosmokramer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15012621#post15012621 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
When I dosed B-Ionic or C-Balance, Part 1 was Alkalinity and Part 2 (or B) was Calcium.

Marc,

I was using BRS (randy's mix) and so I was adding the Calcium part (I had no idea if it was a or b, lol).

This morning Ca at 450, Alk at 9.6, so it looks like its starting to balance out. I'll keep monitoring it.

Going to snap some photos now.

 

[imcosmokramer]

Here are some photos:

This is not a good photo, but it made me laugh

 

[tazzmanian123]

Tank looks amazing. He's watching you. Droooolllll......LoL.

 

[imcosmokramer]

he's just saying "WHAT?!?"

 

[tazzmanian123]

Ok, a few pix with lights on. Haven't mastered camera very well yet, & my tank looks nowhere as good as yours, but i'm working on it.

Left side view

Right side view

Shrimp & Coral shots

 

[tazzmanian123]

55g. Nightmare being taken down soon. Gonna be replaced by a shiney 80g. setup.

Corals in tank are very tough to be surviving & even growing in this mess.

1 week after a vinegar bath.

40g setup in garage is cycled, but needs some more LR & ato attached, then can move what can be saved from 55g & be absolutely void of cotton algae over.

Then can start 80g. build.........WOOT. What a sickness.....

 

[imcosmokramer]

tazz, do you have any fish in that first tank? or are you going to move them oether there from there other tank?

 

[tazzmanian123]

Have a scooter blenny in 75g. & all fish except clowns from 55g are moving over. Yellow tang, 6-line, & 2 cardinal fish. Clowns love the zenia, so a couple stocks of zenia & false clowns over to 40g. in garage. Have a pair of maroon clowns that I have been rearing since their birth, & a yellow watchman, blue hippo tang, still to small, but growing, going to 80g. setup.

 

[Bill14]

Instead of going to bed, I just sat here and read this whole thread. Great stuff! Your tank is the same age as mine which is very depressing. What a difference good lighting makes. Well done!

 

[imcosmokramer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15025162#post15025162 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bill14
Instead of going to bed, I just sat here and read this whole thread. Great stuff! Your tank is the same age as mine which is very depressing. What a difference good lighting makes. Well done!

Thanks.

No need to be depressed,LOL. With good parameters your tank will flourish. I've got some nice things coming up soon. I will post photos shortly

 

[mixer911]

WOW! Utterly amazing.....