Expert(?) help needed

[jdellman]

Are any experts willing to come check out my set up and willing to offer advice and or criticism? I have had a reef since 2004, and everything is still good and running, but I can't keep sps and some chalices are receding, and I only seem to have luck with the softies. I can post details, but I am afraid I am missing something basic, which is why I would like someone to check it out. Please let me know. (I'm not looking for a freebie, if you have no idea, you still get free beer, but if you figure it out, I'd be happy to pay).

Thanks,

 

[Midnightt]

I'm no expert but, the guy I go through is. Check him out. Chicago Fish Guy. He is in the area 1x a week minimum.

His name is Dave.
847-344-2422

He is currently consulting on my 180 and helping me get everything I need.

 

[Jackie Blue]

+1 on Dave I spoke to him for a little bit on the phone and he sounds very knowledgeable and was very helpful.

 

[ostrow]

I'd love to come help out, but it is going to be quite difficult logistically for the next month or so.

If you want to email me, I can zing a list of questions to start off with. But before the questions, I'd ask you to email photos of each component (tank, lighting, plumbing, sump/filtration, water filtration system, water change system, supplementation system(s), etc ... everything that is connected to or that the aquarium system connects to whether directly or indirectly).

Send the photos in one or separate emails, then we can go from there.

joel at ostrows dot us

 

[Votts]

Call this guy.. he is awesome and runs a maintanance service for 10 years now for Chicago Fish and Coral, he has helped me out a couple times when i had problems and he wont ask for money like most other "experienced" people.. his name is Jeff 7O8-262-19O7

 

[jdellman]

Thank you for the replies. I will be making a few calls.

 

[Rod Buehler]

Are there any old-timers left here that remember Marshal Mann?

 

[ostrow]

:uzi::uzi:

Are there any old-timers left here that remember Marshal Mann?

I thought something smelled, uh, fishy. :hmm4:

Rod, good spot there!

 

[Sullyman]

Hey Rod, yeah he was a strange guy. I think he still does service but haven't seen or heard from him in years.

 

[jdellman]

I remember the name, but never knew him.

Okay, my "set it and forget it" calcium reactor apparently is not set and forget - My alkalinity is very low. I did a few searches, and most of them use Randy's calculator, which is off-line or down. Any problems with raising alk quickly? I have some esv 2 part, but it is years (10/08) old. Should I use the old esv or baking soda? I've read posts that says the esv does not expire, but I have my doubts since it is so old. Know of any other calculators besides Randy's? I also found Jdieck's but it is not working either. Any thoughts?

 

[jdellman]

I found the new calculator. If anyone needs it here is the link-
http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chem_calc3.html

 

[gig]

one thing with reef, never do anything quickly.

I used to use Kent Superbuffer dkh to raise my alk over the course of 3 days, then continue dosing to keep stable

 

[jfuka78]

You can raise quick but make sure not to drop quick. I can stop over if you like and can cut a couple frags to see what happens for you before you buy sps

 

[lolgranny]

Raising it quick can be a very bad thing, i dont suggest doing it if you have any corals you dont want to harm. A alk spike is not something you want to mess with.

I could stop by if you wanted, im in Crystal lake all the time as i own a business on Virginia / Berkshire. Shoot me a PM

Dave

Pic before i swapped everything over to my 300g system

 

[jdellman]

Thanks guys. I am raising it slowly so hopefully there won't be any problems. I should have known better, I was using kalkwasser and stopped a while back, and don't recall why I stopped. Now that I once again using it, I expect things to get back to normal.