Leonardo's Lagoon

So you really prefer balling over a calcium reactor? I need to decide on one or the other pretty soon. I'm leaning towards a high end reactor at this point. Is it possible to maintain normal PH in a reef using a CA reactor by itself? With no Kalk reactor? I don't want to run a kalk reactor for fear of an over dose. I want to keep it as simple as possible.
 
scaryperson27 (what's your real name? :P ); What an honour! I like your setup very much, it has a lot of potential. I can not give you any pointers at this time, maybe when you start aquascaping I can tell a bit more. But it looks great so far! I will follow your thread and I hope this tank inspire you as much as the FF :)

Thanks Stunreefer! I'm also very thrilled with the addition to the Glassbox-Design Team. :)
I'm also interested to see the long term effects of Reef-Actif. I'll keep a close eye to my corals and sponges. I'll keep you updated!

Thechad21; I have used both in the past, and I prefer Balling (or two-part) over a Calcium Reactor, even using a high end reactor (Grotech Jetstream II)
pH is harder to keep in optimal range when using a Ca-reactor without a Kalkwasser reactor, so I would really recommend one when you choose to go this route.
I prevent the risk of overdosing Kalkwasser by adding a fixed amount a day, using a dosing pump and timer.

SarasotaDiver; Thank you very much :)

Leonardo
 
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My name is Mike. I'm getting closer to getting it done. I'm going to go pick up a tank that I can dismantle and use the glass to build a sump. I'm going to make a Refugium/Cryptic zone area (meaning I can use it for one of those purposes.)

Ím excited, I'm glad you are too. I am fascinated with your current build. It looks great!
 
Hello Leonardo
I was thinking of change over from calcium reactor to Balling as well, I am finding the I am getting an imbalance between cal and alk ,my alk is going to high 13dkh calc 410ppm. So thinking of switching over to Balling but I was wondering if you found any other benefits with Balling?

Also I notice on Glass Box Design you mentioned you are dosing Iodine and you were able to know when your corals needed it.What do you look for when your coral need Iodine? and how often are you dosing?

Thanks for yo help

Kevin

Thechad21; I have used both in the past, and I prefer Balling (or two-part) over a Calcium Reactor, even using a high end reactor (Grotech Jetstream II)
pH is harder to keep in optimal range when using a Ca-reactor without a Kalkwasser reactor, so I would really recommend one when you choose to go this route.
I prevent the risk of overdosing Kalkwasser by adding a fixed amount a day, using a dosing pump and timer.
 
First, in my last post I referred to my previous Ca-reactor. I meant Schuran Jetstream II, and not Grotech. My bad.

----------------------

Kevin, some benefits when using Balling are:
Easier maintaining of the pH on the desirable level of 8.2 - 8.3
Fail-safe setup. No more clogged lines etc. I experienced too often with my Ca-reactor. (but that depends on which reactor you use of course)
Easier reaching ULNS, because you don't add phosphates leaching out of the reactor media.

A few downsides are; more expensive on long term, unless you have a good (cheap) source of food-grade salts.
A bit more maintenance because jerrycans with solutions have to be made every 1-3 months.

Of course I don't say Balling is better then a Ca-reactor, most reeftanks use a Ca-reactor, and with success.

----------------

All the trace-elements are dosed within the three Balling solutions. I additionally dose Kalium, Iodine and Iron by hand.
I do this using a very unscientific method: looking at my reef. I know my corals, and what color they have. For instance, when a blue tip Acropora loses some blue, I know I have to dose a few drops of Kalium/Iodine (when all the other parameters remain the same)
When the film on the glass is growing faster, and my corals begin to darken too much, I'm dosing too much Iron and/or Iodine. etc.

The additional dosage is only 1-3 drops a day, sometimes a few drops per week. It is the last fine tuning.

It is a bit hard to explain but I have no strict dosing schedule for the extra elements. It's more about knowing your animals and how they react.

Leonardo
 
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Thanks Leonardo

I have same problem with my H&S calcium reactor, where the water coming out would always get plugged up with air bubbles. I drilled and tapped a hole right beside the out pipe or line so the bubbles would return to the pump but it seems better but still gets plugged up.

Did your Schuran get plugged with air or co2 on the discharge water?

Thanks
Kevin
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14864646#post14864646 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Green Thumb
Very interesting. Just currious as to what Kalium is?
Click to expand...

Kalium is potassium (K)
 
another advantage to balling is that it is much easier to adjust an individual element, but perhaps not all "trace" elements are provided.
 
Kevin; The valve on the waterfeed line was getting clogged with sediment etc. so over time the effluent decreased, with alk issues as a result.
I always forget that you don't use the term Kalium ;)

Jonathan, thanks for clearing that up. Nice to see you around :)

jhuynh; Thank you! :)

Leonardo
 
Thanks Leonardo


Ralf, Balling method seams to be gaining greater popularity as time goes on, in Europe.
As Leonardo mentioned its has its benefits.
 
Thanks for the explanation Nick :) Full-Balling also include a Magnesium solution and sometimes Amino Acids mixed through the solutions.

-------------------

Maybe some of you may miss the liverock and sand in my tank. I decided to go this route because I want to grow large, mostly tabling Acropora colonies giving them all the room, light and flow they need.
That's a reason it's hard to use sand, it would be blown away. Wildcap tabling Acropora needs a lot of flow, most importantly at the base and in the centre. Using sand would make that impossible.
By placing the corals directly on epoxy on the glass makes it easier to move them further apart from each other in time when they grow, preventing them from fighting each other for space.

It doesn't look very appealing now -I know-, but in time I will create a coralscape; an aquascape only formed by coral colonies.
The inspiration for this idea I have from the Japanese website http://www.t35l.com Most of the inspiration for my Formosa Forest also came from this website. Some examples:

1e-1.jpg


2e-1.jpg


Maybe still not as natural as a tank with a nice sandbed and rockscape, but that's just a matter of taste and methodology ;)

Some projects for the tank I'm working on are a Rimless 25 Gallon Cryptic tank, and a 35 gallon propagation tank.
I will also try to make start with breeding Apogon Leptacanthus. When my LFS have them in stock, I will buy about 50+ individuals, and remove at least one of my tangs to make the tank more quiet and peaceful. This way I hope to have some egg packages a month to give it a serious attempt.

Leonardo
 
I for one LOVE it as I can just envision those corals growing into each other. Will look very natural then!!
 
Leonardo

I forgot to ask you if you also use the sodium chloride free mineral salt with your Balling? If so is that used in place of the regular salt to reduce the chlorides?

Thanks
Kevin
 
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