Kurt03's 220 Build
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Kurt03
Active member
Ever since I got a netatmo weather station that monitors indoor co2 I've been watching it. I think we all know that opening the windows around the tank can help pH but this helps put it into perspective and show it really does matter. If your having pH issues and your alk is good then you need to look at co2 build up and tank gas exchange.
So it's been nice outside recently and have had the windows at least partially open for several days in a row. Tank is loving it and noticed an increase in my lowest pH that I will hit. Netatmo says it's been 400 ish with Windows open, which is about outdoor numbers. The temps dropped a bit around here so we closed up the windows etc. PH this morning at 8am was 7.98, pH yesterday at same time was 8.12. Seems like a decent difference to me! Co2 is now at 1000, which is not uncommon indoor numbers. Here's my netatmo graph, can you tell when I got home from work, left for dinner with the family, and then came home? Thought others might find this interesting!
So it's been nice outside recently and have had the windows at least partially open for several days in a row. Tank is loving it and noticed an increase in my lowest pH that I will hit. Netatmo says it's been 400 ish with Windows open, which is about outdoor numbers. The temps dropped a bit around here so we closed up the windows etc. PH this morning at 8am was 7.98, pH yesterday at same time was 8.12. Seems like a decent difference to me! Co2 is now at 1000, which is not uncommon indoor numbers. Here's my netatmo graph, can you tell when I got home from work, left for dinner with the family, and then came home? Thought others might find this interesting!
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Kurt03
Active member
I want to change up my aquascape a little, its been the way it is since early 2013. Here's some rock cooking! They have been cooking for a few months. Ghost feeding, ammonia dosing, and vodka dosing. I need to find a rock in my display that i can get out to seed this rock a little. Im not really looking forward to re-scaping. Its probably my least favorite thing to do, mostly cause I dont feel like i have a knack for it. Dont mind the outdated tile etc 
Its next up on the home project list to get gutted....
Also I hit up the dollar store for some spring cleaning and bubble algae fighting tools. As well as a few things so i stop stealing stuff from the kitchen to keep the wife happy!
Its next up on the home project list to get gutted.... 
Also I hit up the dollar store for some spring cleaning and bubble algae fighting tools. As well as a few things so i stop stealing stuff from the kitchen to keep the wife happy!
Kurt03
Active member
hows everyone sealing the factory bulkhead location? Im thinking of just leaving the factory one installed and put a plug in it? It seems most people recommend replacing it cause it will likely leak eventually, but if its not in use will it still leak? I was guessing its the pump vibration or slight pipe movement.
I will either need to seal it up like mentioned above and leave it installed or carefully drill the hole out larger to fit my real bulkhead, and then run a pipe inside the sump to the left end to keep the flow of the sump right to left. I keep going back and forth on what to do, leaning towards expanding the existing hole...
I will either need to seal it up like mentioned above and leave it installed or carefully drill the hole out larger to fit my real bulkhead, and then run a pipe inside the sump to the left end to keep the flow of the sump right to left. I keep going back and forth on what to do, leaning towards expanding the existing hole...
Kurt03
Active member
Latest test results,
Alk 7
Calc 450
No3 24
Po4 0.08
Po4 was actually .16 early this month, I started nopox again and carefully dosed some lanthium chloride to get it down. I've been over feeding a bit too help with some aggression, so it wasn't much of a surprise. There isn't really any algae in the display, I guess the tangs take care of it, now that I have a light and frag rack in sump I'm getting algae in sump since there's nothing to keep it in check.
I'm almost out of nopox so need to either order more or switch to vodka/vinegar. Also need to boost alk a little, maybe to 8.
Alk 7
Calc 450
No3 24
Po4 0.08
Po4 was actually .16 early this month, I started nopox again and carefully dosed some lanthium chloride to get it down. I've been over feeding a bit too help with some aggression, so it wasn't much of a surprise. There isn't really any algae in the display, I guess the tangs take care of it, now that I have a light and frag rack in sump I'm getting algae in sump since there's nothing to keep it in check.
I'm almost out of nopox so need to either order more or switch to vodka/vinegar. Also need to boost alk a little, maybe to 8.
Kurt03
Active member
FTS before I re-scape the middle and right side hopefully this weekend, but I've had a sinus infection so we will see if I get to it.
I bumped my lights up to 70%/15% blue/white at mid day from 60/10. Will continue bumping this up until I notice a negative change.
I'm currently dosing 4ml vodka, 4 drops phosphate Rx to get phosphates under control. This might change today as I'm due for water tests.
Not sure if the greenish corals is from light or water, let's attack them all
I got tired of the reliability of the jebao pumps so I'm trying out the maxspect gyre, so far I'm impressed. 2x xf250 on the maxspect controller and I'm pretty happy with the flow!
I bumped my lights up to 70%/15% blue/white at mid day from 60/10. Will continue bumping this up until I notice a negative change.
I'm currently dosing 4ml vodka, 4 drops phosphate Rx to get phosphates under control. This might change today as I'm due for water tests.
Not sure if the greenish corals is from light or water, let's attack them all
I got tired of the reliability of the jebao pumps so I'm trying out the maxspect gyre, so far I'm impressed. 2x xf250 on the maxspect controller and I'm pretty happy with the flow!
Kurt03
Active member
Thanks! It's getting there.
Noticed a little recession on my bonsai so raising alk a little and stopping vodka for now. I haven't dosed phosphate Rx in a while. Could either be from to low of alk or the drop in nutrients? I'm keeping an eye on it, hopefully it doesn't get any worse.
Kurt03
Active member
The tissue recession has slowed but not stopped, ill get another pic when i get home from work but I think it is just slightly worse (maybe just that slow at stopping the recession). Im trying to keep alk at 8 so I manually dosed over 3-4 days and got to 8, yesterday was just under 7.5 so turned doser up just a tad, will need to retest today.
PO4 is up from stopping vodka and phosphate RX (Lanthanum chloride)
Nitrate is slightly down from reducing feedings (and i guess the short period I upped my vodka). Once I figure out what is causing the tissue recession I will resume vodka. (I dont think thats the cause) I think i have some gfo that I might through in a reactor and run for a while.
Since setting up a light and frag rack in my sump and little cleanup crew in there ive gotten algae growing of course. Inst really any algae in the display. I've been blowing this off the eggcrate etc so maybe this algae die off is the po4 spike?
Also my clowns that I have had for almost 11 years started fighting. The male seems to be picking on the female and taking chunks out of her tail etc. I finally was able to catch her last night and move her to the QT. Not sure why they would start fighting now? Maybe the male is changing to female? Anyways she is moved to QT and I will be able to more easily make sure she gets plenty to eat and recover. Blue throat trigger is still in there, they seem to be getting along but I need to move him when i can. He is eating very well, pellets and lrs.
Current test results:
Alk - 7.6 (targeting 8)
NO3 - 14
PO4 - .12 (ouch) :headwallblue:
PO4 is up from stopping vodka and phosphate RX (Lanthanum chloride)
Nitrate is slightly down from reducing feedings (and i guess the short period I upped my vodka). Once I figure out what is causing the tissue recession I will resume vodka. (I dont think thats the cause) I think i have some gfo that I might through in a reactor and run for a while.
Since setting up a light and frag rack in my sump and little cleanup crew in there ive gotten algae growing of course. Inst really any algae in the display. I've been blowing this off the eggcrate etc so maybe this algae die off is the po4 spike?
Also my clowns that I have had for almost 11 years started fighting. The male seems to be picking on the female and taking chunks out of her tail etc. I finally was able to catch her last night and move her to the QT. Not sure why they would start fighting now? Maybe the male is changing to female? Anyways she is moved to QT and I will be able to more easily make sure she gets plenty to eat and recover. Blue throat trigger is still in there, they seem to be getting along but I need to move him when i can. He is eating very well, pellets and lrs.
Current test results:
Alk - 7.6 (targeting 8)
NO3 - 14
PO4 - .12 (ouch) :headwallblue:
Anthony357
New member
you'll love the blue throat trigger, i have a mated pair and they are awesome!
stan zemanek
New member
Kurt, I hope you have better luck with your Reefbreeders lights then I did. I have 2-Photon 32's over my 200 gallon tank. Each unit has had 2 drivers go bad and now the one unit has another one out. That's a total of 5 drivers in 3 years. I have been running them on the factory default setting since the day I bought them. I'm not even going to bother fixing it this time. I am headed in a different direction. In my opinion there junk!
