KidReefers 40 breeder sps build

i use a BRS 4 stage economy system ro/di unit. I had it tested by my LFS at 0 TDS. But then i made around 60 gallons worth to fill up the sump+tank and I made around 30 gallons from then on for topping off and waterchanges for my bc14. I thought it said on the box that it would last for up to over 1000 gallons but i dont know for sure. I dont think northwest pennsylvania(not pittsburg) would have that bad water quality. How can you tell when the resins are used up?? I will have to get it tested again. I always thought that i would only get a diatom bloom since I used ro/di water?

Could it be my dry rock from reef cleaners leeching phosphates?. or what about my dry sand(carib sea oolitic)?? Thanks for the help:D
 
Wow ^^ and you did use water from the old tank? like you said your BC 14 nitrates were 20ppm and phosphate was .25 ppb maybe that's the source
 
A TDS of 195 isn't that bad. Mine here in York is over 300 and we have chloramine to top it off. Just let your tank do your thing and it will heal in due time. But go to Bulk Reef and get you own TDS meter.
 
nice tank setup man it's nice to see younger kids getting in this hobby and spending money on it rather then spending money on drugs. keep up the good work man
 
TDS her is Arizona is 500+ we have very hard water. It is hard on RO and DI media but I get 8-10 TDS out of the RO and 0 out of the DI. You need a TDS meter to know when to change the membrane and resin, I like color changing DI easy to tell when it needs replaced. Change ou the prefilter and carbon filter(s) every 6 months.
 
well currently I dont have the money for my own tds meter, because I am spending almost all of it( I like to keep money in reserve for emergency LFS purchases) on a jbj auto top off unit, aqualifter pump, and 2 gallons of BRS kalkswasser. But next time I stop at the LFS I will get the water tested.
 
Somebody send this guy a TDS meter! i know somebody has one laying around.

and for mister bigfeesh... your kind does not belong on RC be nice and be appreciative there are other hobbyists willing to help this person. no need to say rude comments and tell people the are wrong. go bark up somebody elses tree!
 
by the way, before you go buy kalk mix. check out randy's recipes for 2 part dosing. they are very cheap for those on a budget and they can be used on SPS tanks. i use them and have great results! if your hardcore about getting into SPS then i would check it out to save money on more important items. just my two cents

-Jeremy
 
by the way, before you go buy kalk mix. check out randy's recipes for 2 part dosing.

Actually I would most certainly suggest going with kalk before using Randy's 2-part. It's easier to use and less expensive. For a smaller tank, kalk is about perfect and with OP's current corals, it should be more than enough. Once kalk is no longer potent enough (I am having a feeling you won't hit this milestone yet), you can then switch to Randy's 2-part.
 
A TDS of 195 isn't that bad. Mine here in York is over 300 and we have chloramine to top it off. Just let your tank do your thing and it will heal in due time. But go to Bulk Reef and get you own TDS meter.

190 tds not bad? here in oregon we have tds of 24..lol i still use rodi
 
A hand held TDS meter only cost $15

Really?? At my LFS they sell theirs for like 70$, but I think theirs is a in sump one.
I just looked at BRS and they have one for 22$, that I can afford :)

check out randy's recipes for 2 part dosing. they are very cheap for those on a budget and they can be used on SPS tanks.

my parents are divorced so I cant add 2 part everyday to maintain a solid lvl. I just need something that I can do weekly maintenance which kalk is perfect because I can fill up my 5 gallon bucket with the ATO, then leave it for a week not having to worry about it till I get back to my dads. And then from there I can make adjustments with the AquaC complete 2 part(i already bought it). I am however interested in randys two part, I think when I run out of AquaC I will use that randys two part instead.
 
i would buy that TDS monitor as it is a lot cheaper, but I would like to keep everything on the same site that I buy so I dont have to pay extra shipping and ebay does not have my ro/di replacement kit for my 4 stage economy system that I would like to purchase as well.
 
supernova, thanks for the articles, they are a great source of info :) ,I never knew how bacteria consumed carbon, it fascinating, and how some corals actually give off DOCs for about a hour 2 times a day like the galaxae. However the problem I see with carbon is it loses its effectiveness after a week, and since I decided to take out my filter sock I have no place to put it. . However if I ever decide to do a mixed reef, with softies, LPS, and SPS then I definitely will be running it.

But this could change, when things in my tank start to die down a little, and I have enough money to supply a years worth of carbon :) right now I just need the basics, and I think buying all this stuff right now could lead to some mistakes and some tank failures.

Thanks for the advice everyone, keep the suggestions coming, I am very eager to learn in the reef aquarium hobby :reading::reading:
 
i would buy that TDS monitor as it is a lot cheaper, but I would like to keep everything on the same site that I buy so I dont have to pay extra shipping and ebay does not have my ro/di replacement kit for my 4 stage economy system that I would like to purchase as well.

You can get rodi filter on Ebay cheaper than most online stores, Ebay is awesome. I got my DI, TDS meter, replacement bulbs, my skimmer all from Ebay.
 
well what are the dimensions for the BRS ro/di filters??, because I dont want to buy a filter and find its too big or too small. I really would like to just stick with the bulk reef supply website because I know that everything will work together. I am not trying to advertise for them at all its just I have delt with the people, and familiar with the website.
 
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