After a moving, starting grad school, downgrading my tank and a long break from sps keeping I recently set up a new reef tank. I test the following weekly and for the past month or so these have been my parameters. Set up since october and I just added a few corals 2 weeks ago. In my past tanks I generally kept hardier montiporas and things of that nature that were not as particular as many of the varieties out there today.
total volume is 80L
Ca 450 salifert
mg 1450 Elos
Alk 10-11 dKH salifert
ph 8.2 salifert
Nitrate 0 Salifert
Phosphate 0, Salifert.
temperature 74-76
SG using a calibrated laboratory hydrometer (1.027)
It seems that my alk and magnesium are a little high so I think i am going to slow down the additions to let them come down a little bit. I also have a SG a little on the high side. I have access to a refractometer and have tested my salinity from time to time and the readings have been in agreement with my hydrometer.
I made my own supplements following randy's recipe. I use BRS ROX Carbon and their GFO granules which I replace bi-weekly ( I use less than they call for but feel that more frequent replacements get a little more stability).
I currently am dosing vodka several times per week and only add about 500 microliters at a time.
I perform weekly water changes alternating between a light 10% water change and a more thorough 25%. I clean all the filter pads and give the skimmer a light cleaning every week. I always test calcium, alk, mg and pH with every batch of water I make.
I am using the following
-Hydor Korallia #1
-hydor Korallia #3
-a hang on filter rated at 300 gph
- a heavily modified bak-pak skimmer I had lying around. (I intend to replace it as time progresses).
- 4 t-5 light fixture 12 hours per day. 2 10K and two actinics (don't like the bulbs I got plan to replace them soon)
- Auto top off (ATO can't remember the make of it)
Live stock-
pair of ocellaris clowns
1 tiny african flameback angel
3 strains of montipora "digitata"
2 strains of montipora "capricornis"
an Ora acropora valida
an Ora Fuzzy green
Tridacna Maxima
acanthastrea lordhowensis
euphyllia paranchora frag
So far I have had good polyp expansion and have noticed growth, particularly in my montiporas and acanthastrea. My orange montipora digitata has grown the most but has taken on a pinkish hue almost pastel looking, but I am not too concerned as it does seem to be growing. I mainly want a lot of growth out of my corals more than I would like bright colors. In the future I would like to try some more challenging acroporas Like A. Samoensis and the such but will stick with what I have until I can make the equipment changes I mentioned.
Let me know what you think.
total volume is 80L
Ca 450 salifert
mg 1450 Elos
Alk 10-11 dKH salifert
ph 8.2 salifert
Nitrate 0 Salifert
Phosphate 0, Salifert.
temperature 74-76
SG using a calibrated laboratory hydrometer (1.027)
It seems that my alk and magnesium are a little high so I think i am going to slow down the additions to let them come down a little bit. I also have a SG a little on the high side. I have access to a refractometer and have tested my salinity from time to time and the readings have been in agreement with my hydrometer.
I made my own supplements following randy's recipe. I use BRS ROX Carbon and their GFO granules which I replace bi-weekly ( I use less than they call for but feel that more frequent replacements get a little more stability).
I currently am dosing vodka several times per week and only add about 500 microliters at a time.
I perform weekly water changes alternating between a light 10% water change and a more thorough 25%. I clean all the filter pads and give the skimmer a light cleaning every week. I always test calcium, alk, mg and pH with every batch of water I make.
I am using the following
-Hydor Korallia #1
-hydor Korallia #3
-a hang on filter rated at 300 gph
- a heavily modified bak-pak skimmer I had lying around. (I intend to replace it as time progresses).
- 4 t-5 light fixture 12 hours per day. 2 10K and two actinics (don't like the bulbs I got plan to replace them soon)
- Auto top off (ATO can't remember the make of it)
Live stock-
pair of ocellaris clowns
1 tiny african flameback angel
3 strains of montipora "digitata"
2 strains of montipora "capricornis"
an Ora acropora valida
an Ora Fuzzy green
Tridacna Maxima
acanthastrea lordhowensis
euphyllia paranchora frag
So far I have had good polyp expansion and have noticed growth, particularly in my montiporas and acanthastrea. My orange montipora digitata has grown the most but has taken on a pinkish hue almost pastel looking, but I am not too concerned as it does seem to be growing. I mainly want a lot of growth out of my corals more than I would like bright colors. In the future I would like to try some more challenging acroporas Like A. Samoensis and the such but will stick with what I have until I can make the equipment changes I mentioned.
Let me know what you think.
