Deklin's 80G SPS Reef

[wrightnow]

I have three 2.5 gallon jugs for supplementation and I was hoping I would only have to mix new batches every 1-2 months but so far it's looking like I will have to mix new batches every 2-3 weeks. My reef is really sucking up a lot of CA, ALK and Mg.

I switch over to drews dosing pump myself from a reactor for a 150g SPs tank using 3g jugs and was mixing new batches about ever 3 weeks also, so I just doubled my mix per gallon, I now use 4 cups per gallon vs 2 cup and it's working out just great. I can now go just about 2 months before having to mix a new batch.

Mark

 

[Dave's Reef]

Wow... STUNNING reef, just gorgeous!

I really like the colors and diversity of hi end corals you have there!~

 

[Mchava]

awesome tank Delkin. So how are you liking the Balling system? I my self you just the 2part. I cant seem to under stand the whole naCl free salt thing.

Hey Mark nice to see you are still in the hobby. Haven't seen you and your family at the SCMAS meeting.

 

[Lyfey]

Beautiful reef short and sweet!

 

[wrightnow]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14903378#post14903378 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mchava
Hey Mark nice to see you are still in the hobby. Haven't seen you and your family at the SCMAS meeting.

Still here, I miss going to the meeting but they seem to always fall on the wrong fridays lately plus I was out of town of a good part of last year... but thanks for asking.

 

[deklin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14903354#post14903354 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wrightnow
I switch over to drews dosing pump myself from a reactor for a 150g SPs tank using 3g jugs and was mixing new batches about ever 3 weeks also, so I just doubled my mix per gallon, I now use 4 cups per gallon vs 2 cup and it's working out just great. I can now go just about 2 months before having to mix a new batch.

Mark

I'm also using the drews dosers. Great information, I've been curious whether increasing the concentration was feasible. I've been following this recipie (2nd post down) http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/reef-chemistry-forum/28307-balling-method-supplementing.html although I don't include the metals and trace elements. The alkalinity mixture of 840 grams of sodium carbonate in a 2.5 gallon jug seems on the edge of soluability as it is. I have to make sure it is well stirred or I will get a solid block forming on the bottom.

Did you double this recepie and do you have any problems with disolving the alkalinity mixture completely? Do you mix in the jugs themselves or in a separate bucket then transfer to the jugs?

 

[wrightnow]

I did double the same recepie and to get the alkalinity to disolve completely I have to mix it the 1g jug first then pour it in to my 3g jug otherwise it does form a solid block on the bottom.

I have been doing this for about 4 months without any problems.

 

[deklin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14903362#post14903362 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dave's Reef
Wow... STUNNING reef, just gorgeous!

I really like the colors and diversity of hi end corals you have there!~

Thanks, I added a few more frags of some nice pieces I've been after. Most are pretty tiny so I'm sure they will take a while to grow out but I'll try to get some pictures.

 

[deklin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14904961#post14904961 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wrightnow
I did double the same recepie and to get the alkalinity to disolve completely I have to mix it the 1g jug first then pour it in to my 3g jug otherwise it does form a solid block on the bottom.

I have been doing this for about 4 months without any problems.

Awesome, thanks for the info! I'll give this a shot next time I remake the mixtures. It will be MUCH better to be able to go 1-2 months between mixes.

 

[deklin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14903378#post14903378 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mchava
awesome tank Delkin. So how are you liking the Balling system? I my self you just the 2part. I cant seem to under stand the whole naCl free salt thing.

I like the concept of it and the level of control it allows to tune CA, dKH and Mg in the reef. Also not having to worry about low PH with a calcium reactor is a bonus. If I can up the concentration and get to the point where I only have to make new mixes every 1-2 months I'll really like it.

Yep, the whole "salt-free" salt thing is a bit confusing. In two part or two-part + magnesium, the addition of calcium chloride and/or magnesium chloride will result in additional NaCl molecules being formed. Over time the salinity will rise. This can be offset by regular water changes with lower salinity but other trace elements and components of the salt mix will be somewhat diminished. NaCl free salt in balling solves this by adding an equal amount of NaCl free salt to offset the additional NaCl that will be formed from calcium chloride and magnesium chloride and keep everything in balance.

 

[johnanddawn]

wow - very nice tank

hmmm i've always wondered about the build up of Cl- ions in the tank but i thought i read somewhere (probably a randy holmes-farley article) that the build up was minimal if doing water changes
guess i'll have to do some more reading

 

[takayan]

deklin,
I am in Superior, too. I wish I want to see your tank directly!!!
Awesome tank!

 

[Mchava]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14905276#post14905276 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by deklin
Yep, the whole "salt-free" salt thing is a bit confusing. In two part or two-part + magnesium, the addition of calcium chloride and/or magnesium chloride will result in additional NaCl molecules being formed. Over time the salinity will rise. This can be offset by regular water changes with lower salinity but other trace elements and components of the salt mix will be somewhat diminished. NaCl free salt in balling solves this by adding an equal amount of NaCl free salt to offset the additional NaCl that will be formed from calcium chloride and magnesium chloride and keep everything in balance.

So do you still do water changes and if so when do you add the NaCl free salt. Do you mix it with something else?

 

[Retzius]

Very nice Delkin your corals look very healthy. I went from the zeo method to now using vodka and zeobak. I am currently experiencing a green hair algae outbreak from the transition like you stated. I did this because I got tired of using the stones and wanted to try and establish nutirent control via bacteria and carbon dosing only. The hair algae is dying off and my sea hare is mowing it down.

I like your phos reactor, I always knew they could be used as zeo reactors.

 

[deklin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14905705#post14905705 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by johnanddawn
wow - very nice tank

hmmm i've always wondered about the build up of Cl- ions in the tank but i thought i read somewhere (probably a randy holmes-farley article) that the build up was minimal if doing water changes
guess i'll have to do some more reading

I believe you are correct that it is a minimal affect with regular water changes evidenced by plenty of great looking tanks that dose CaCl and/or MgCl with no NaCl free salt supplementation.

 

[deklin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14905772#post14905772 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by takayan
deklin,
I am in Superior, too. I wish I want to see your tank directly!!!
Awesome tank!

Sure, just shoot me a PM

 

[deklin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14908834#post14908834 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mchava
So do you still do water changes and if so when do you add the NaCl free salt. Do you mix it with something else?

Yes I still do water changes normally. The NaCl free salt is mixed into the 3rd dosing solution (the Magnesium one). It is intended to be just enough to offset the extra NaCl ions that are formed with the addition of MgCl and CaCl and doesn't amount to too much. The recepie I've been following only uses 250 grams added to a 2.5 gallon dosing mixture. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/reef-chemistry-forum/28307-balling-method-supplementing.html

 

[deklin]

One of my new frags on the left, YR true blue aculeus. Hard to tell from the picture and because it is still so small but it's a nice looking royal blue color. Purple monster is on the right.

New frags of shawn bennett yellow tort and tyree pink lemonade.

 

[rutz81]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14918431#post14918431 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by deklin
One of my new frags on the left, YR true blue aculeus. Hard to tell from the picture and because it is still so small but it's a nice looking royal blue color. Purple monster is on the right.

New frags of shawn bennett yellow tort and tyree pink lemonade.

be careful with the placement of that Shawn Bennett Yellow Tort, it grows VERY fast in my system.

 

[firsthesitation]

Amazing tank, you should be really proud of everything you've accomplished. Its really cool to see that there are some really awesome SPS tanks running on T5s.