Life changing

[becon776]

Sooo... i figured id start a thread to share relatively good news...

After over 15 years and like 8 moves and two flipped houses i think i am finally stayung put for awhile. Last year light went out.... purchased a cheapo 2xde 250 mh and 4xHoT5. I have NEVER had this much light over my tank ever. (Used tibhave 175). Awesome. Its a cheapo unit but whatever. Not ready to jump to led till i can get similiar lumens for under 500. About to switch to phoenix 14ks

I cannot emphasize how ENORMOUS of a difference it has been to be back on rodi. The unit sat collecting dust for a while. (New Brs 75 gpd system) finally set up a sloppy mixing station downstairs. And went 100%. SUCH AN ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!! Omg. I would always try to rationalize that our water wasnt so bad. Yeah right. No diatoms. Everything has just been easier. 15 years ago i had this but man i forgot how awesome. Newbies BUY AN RODI! lol

I have just out in the avast top off. Only been there a couple of days but already feels life changing. My rodi brute is in basement. (Long story but i cant run sump diwn to basement. Just wint work. The lil avast diaphragm pump handles the 14' of head no problem.

Very interested in figuring out kalk to further take 2 part out if my life.

Although today i did bad... i had 1.023 and did hefty water change... bad calibration on refractometer... i took salinity to 1.026... pretty big jump to have happen suddenly... but corals and fish seem cool with it. Prob keep it between 1 026-1.027. What everyone running?

Anyway..... feels great to finally be getting tank set up THE RIGHT way instead if just winging it.

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[HerbC]

Becon, I started kalk about a month ago, it has made my corals much happier. My alk and calc stay stable now without a,b dosing. Just need to keep up with the mag usage.

I used a rubber made container for my ATO and put it in there with 6 gallons of water. Then gravity feed to the sump.

 

[becon776]

So your 6 gallon is your ato reservoir? I was thinking about using a bucket.... i have no idea where my alk is bc my kits SUCKS! But that is another issue... (ongoing drama over at seachem forum... multiple endpoint on more than a couple batches of alk test kit)

Im kinda nervous about kalk till i get a better handle on what my tank usiage is. Plus i am in the rebuilding phase where i am adding new sps corals fairly quickly.

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[HerbC]

Yea, it's basically a clear bucket that is higher than the sum on the other side of the wall and gravity feeds to the sump to a float valve. I fill it up every 4 days. As for not trusting your readings from your kit, I wouldn't add anything until that is squared away. Maybe get your readings then take a water sample to a local shop and see what they get. Maybe others on here with more experience have a better or easier way.

 

[cardiffgiant]

If you think RODI and ATO are life change, you should try automated continuous water changes. I did that with my last setup and it's been plumbed into my new system. Once you do that you'll kcik yourself for ever having done them manually or hoisted buckets over the side of a tank.

 

[becon776]

Well under my tank is ductwork. That spans the floor joist. Otherwise the sump and all would be in the basement. I only have an awkward small area to run the little tubing for my ato. I do have a mixing station in the works though. And a pump that will make it up ti the main tank for water changes

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[becon776]

I also figured out that as much crappy stuff our tap water was loaded with it was def chock full if Ca and Alk. I never really had to bother with additions or kalk bc our tap was loaded with both. Now.... i gotta think about it.

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[becon776]

Just purchased two new phoenix 14k 250 watts. Now gotta figure out what to switch out my t5's with to complement them. Running crap stock actinics.
My last lights were t12 old school vho super actinics. Nothing ive seen can come close to those.

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[becon776]

New bulbs came in.... phoenix 14k 250 de.
What a difference... it is SO different... i am so used to a white tank... wonder how par values are. Left side phoenix right side old odyssea bulbs. No actinic

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[becon776]

I dint know what up with these new peoples l.e.d.s but every sps bleaches right ouy. Keeps polyps extended. But pure white! I though these new fancy lights were supposed to trump mh par? These pieces fry under 250 watt de phoenix.
When everyone was burning halides i didnt have any of the issues acclimating

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