Just here for a checkup! (Pic.)

[scar79]

I guess it's a good sign when I'm making a thread because nothing is wrong... Just thought I'd post up my parameters and whatnot to see if the hive mind had any thoughts.

Tank info:
57 Illuminata 36x18x21
20 gal sump
SC150 Skimmer (ebay/China special, pretty freaking good!)
Phosban 150 reactor w/ RowaPhos
Vortech MP10
Koralia 1400
2x AI SOL

Mediocre iPhone pic:

Current Parameters:
Temp: 78.0F
Salinity: 1.0250
pH: 8.16
NO3: 0.2ppm
PO4: 0/Undetectable (Salifert - Should I invest in a Hanna?)
Alk: 8.0 dKH
Ca: 440
Mg: 1320

Tank has been running with fish and corals for a bit over three months now. My Reef Keeper Lite has been topping off and dosing B-Ionic 2-part for me to keep things nice and stable. The eight fish and the rest of the animals get fed once a day with mysis, cyclopeeze, and NLS pellets. The system gets a shot of Oyster Feast every few days. I run Rowa, ChemiPure, and Purigen. No socks or floss for mechanical filtration.

I've started out with 10 or so SPS frags, a small duncan colony, a few frogspawn heads, some zoos, ricordea, and green star polyp. SPS growth hasn't taken off like I was hoping. I'm thinking I should raise my alkalinity to 9.5 or so and see how things go. I've gotten visible growth from two monti caps and a pink milli, but not so much from a pink or green birdsnest, green slimer, and others.

Let me know what you think!

 

[Nemo4ev]

I would invest in a hanna meter for PO4 I have had good luck with mine and my salifert test was actually pretty far off from what my hanna meter read.

 

[scar79]

Bulk Reef Supply sent out a $5 off any order coupon. Combined that with some BRS points and I've got one on the way for $44 shipped. We'll see what it has to say when it arrives

 

[phasezero]

Did your other sps frags grow at all? encrust at least?. You seem to have all the right gear. Since you have a powerful skimmer for your application and what looks like a low bio-load, perhaps all the filtration you're running is removing too much. Also, what % are you AI's running at?

 

[blakers82]

Looks like a pretty clean setup. Be careful with the alk level tinkering. :thumbsup: And keep us updated.

 

[scar79]

Did your other sps frags grow at all? encrust at least?. You seem to have all the right gear. Since you have a powerful skimmer for your application and what looks like a low bio-load, perhaps all the filtration you're running is removing too much. Also, what % are you AI's running at?

The two birdsnest frags haven't done any encrusting, the milli has done the most. My two monti caps have had the most outward growth and the spongodes is slowly lumping itself over the glue.

Interesting note about the skimmer. It does pull a nice brown/black skim. I can't manually feed twice a day for most of the week, so I was thinking of getting an autofeeder to dump some pellets in the AM, then I could feed frozen when I get home from work in the evening. I was also considering dosing amino's i.e. aquavitro fuel as a supplement. I know a lot of people consider it an expensive alternative to "fish poop" though

The AIs ramp up and down over the course of 11 hours but never get past 50% whites and 60% blues. I have been gradually increasing intensity and monitoring the response.

Looks like a pretty clean setup. Be careful with the alk level tinkering. :thumbsup: And keep us updated.

Thanks! Cleanliness was the goal of the build. I like the focus on the animals rather than the aquarium itself.
I will be careful! I add a few minutes on the dosing timer if I notice alk is lower when I test. Eventually it'll be where I want it. I'm exercising patience which is difficult but crucial in this hobby

 

[scar79]

Phosphate meter arrived today - tested 0.01ppm

 

[tankfly]

I noticed you were using a Phosban 150 reactor w/ RowaPhos. I have used rowa before but in a canister filter. I tried it with the phosban 150 and the rowaphos had so much fine brown dust that I ran about 3 gallons of water to drain and it still was not clear. I then bought the BRS high capacity GFO. Did yours rinse out OK? Just wondering.

 

[scar79]

I noticed you were using a Phosban 150 reactor w/ RowaPhos. I have used rowa before but in a canister filter. I tried it with the phosban 150 and the rowaphos had so much fine brown dust that I ran about 3 gallons of water to drain and it still was not clear. I then bought the BRS high capacity GFO. Did yours rinse out OK? Just wondering.

I change it when I do water changes. I run nearly 5 gallons of old tank water through it, then put the fine mesh bag the rowa comes with over the outlet for the reactor. I remove that after a day or so as it starts to puff up like a balloon.

 

[AudiSportB5S4]

If I were a fish, I'd like to find my way into this tank.

 

[scar79]

Thanks Mike.

Things are moving along. Slow growth/encrusting, nutrients are still low. I've been feeding oyster feast a few times a week and put an autofeeder on to feed pellets in the early afternoon. I'm feeding a cube of mysis and half a cube of cyclopeeze 5 times a week.

Noticed my pH was a bit low today at 8.08 (always check around 6-7pm) but alk is still hanging in there at 8.0dkh. I've been upping the dose slowly and it just doesn't seem to be rising. Im currently at 33ml/day with about 15 frag sized pieces in there

 

[phasezero]

Thanks Mike.

Things are moving along. Slow growth/encrusting, nutrients are still low. I've been feeding oyster feast a few times a week and put an autofeeder on to feed pellets in the early afternoon. I'm feeding a cube of mysis and half a cube of cyclopeeze 5 times a week.

Noticed my pH was a bit low today at 8.08 (always check around 6-7pm) but alk is still hanging in there at 8.0dkh. I've been upping the dose slowly and it just doesn't seem to be rising. Im currently at 33ml/day with about 15 frag sized pieces in there

I have read that if your magnesium is on the low side, you will have trouble raising and keeping your alkalinity stable. Another thing i remember reading is the use of GFO can reduce your alkalinity a bit, I'll have to dig it up to find the article. Just some ideas as to why you might not be able to raise your alk.

 

[allsps40]

Oh yeah, rockin the SC-150 skimmer!. Nice tank keep alk at 8-9, ca 400-450 mag 1300-1350 and nutrients low and give it time. The sps will sell in and take off.

 

[scar79]

Things do seem to be settling in. Most frags are starting to encrust and a few of the more pale ones are starting to color up. I tested with a new Salifert Alk test kit and this one read 9.0dkh. Not sure of the expiration date on the old one, but just a reminder to make sure your reagents are within their life spans!

 

[xmen0075]

Beautiful Tank - looks great!

 

[Reefer1225]

Love the aquascape!