Mark's 180 Starfire upgrade

[willan]

Hi Mark, Thanks for your kind reply now I know what salt are you useing,but I still have one question is about mix salt and water, I hope you may be can help to tell me some advise ,the question is every time when I add water(RO) into the salt make the sea water always the sea water have some of white impurity down on the tank,even I used the powerhead to mix the salt they still not to thaw,I don't know how and I don't know what is it ,can I put the impurity into my tank or I just can use the clean sea water don't let the impurity into my tank

I'm sorry for my english is so poor, if you can understand what I meaning please tell me some of your option is into the tank or not and how can I mix the salt is better .

Thanks.

 

[mpoletti]

willan- Your English is better than my non English

I think I know what you are talking about. I've had a couple batches look "milky" while I was mixing it up. Are you mixing in any other additives to your saltwater mix? I've had those resluts when I've mixed other things into my water before everything was properly mixed.

What type of salt to you use? Have you tried any other salt brand?

 

[willan]

you're funny Mark :lol: Thanks!

I did not add other additives into the salt water before, just RO water and salt and powerhead ,once I used some brands like Kent ,IO,Redsea they are all the same I don't know why

may I ask you again, why you choose Reefcrystals and Seachem Marine why not is other brand what is merit of them

Thanks.

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12333792#post12333792 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by willan

I did not add other additives into the salt water before, just RO water and salt and powerhead ,once I used some brands like Kent ,IO,Redsea they are all the same I don't know why

may I ask you again, why you choose Reefcrystals and Seachem Marine why not is other brand what is merit of them

I have no idea about the mixing thing. Sorry and good luck

I use those two as I like the way they mix and the levels they come out of the bucket at (Even though RC's last batch was a little lower than usual ). I have tried a couple others and just did not like the way they mixed and the results of the tank. Those two are also easier to find than tropic marine or reefers best

 

[willan]

That's ok about the mixing salt, on TM and RB yup...more expensive as I know ,but I will try to use at future .

I'm very appreciate your time , I will keep watching your tank until you're TOTM:thumbsup:

Mr.§õ

 

[tbone28]

Willan - I've read over on the Reef Chemistry forum, that making saltwater will sometimes leave a white residue, which never goes into solution. Randy HF says that this is normal and nothing to worry about. I experience the same. What *helps* for me is to make up the entire batch of RODI (50 gallons) before adding the salt. When I add the salt, I add it in 3 smaller batches (instead of pouring the whole bag in)

 

[mpoletti]

Today was the last day of my vacation. The tank honeymoon is over as a local reefer said.

I finally hooked up my spectrapure level controller. I am evaporating just over 2.5 gallons a day right now.

I also plugged my Tradewinds chiller into the controller and up'd my halide photoperiod and split the ballasts so they are now staggered. I like the idea of secondary light. I am up to 5.5 hours on the center light and 5 hours on the outside two.

I finished off the afternoon with a 40 gallon WC and cleaned the skimmer cup as well. This is my 1st "real" skimmer and I amazed of the crap that this thing pulls. Some of it is straight black. I know I do not have a cool skimmer like a lot of you, but how much more does a skimmer that costs twice as much really pull out?

 

[tbone28]

I'm evaporating about 2 gallons/day right now (T5's only). What skimmer did you run before? I don't think the fancy skimmers pull out *that* much more. It's one of those situations where you *want* it, but don't really *need* it.

Mark, what are your thoughts on the new Tunze salt? I tried a free bag from Tunze. Numbers look good, but not sure if it's worth $27 per 50-gallon bag!!

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12339639#post12339639 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tbone28
I'm evaporating about 2 gallons/day right now (T5's only). What skimmer did you run before? I don't think the fancy skimmers pull out *that* much more. It's one of those situations where you *want* it, but don't really *need* it.

Mark, what are your thoughts on the new Tunze salt? I tried a free bag from Tunze. Numbers look good, but not sure if it's worth $27 per 50-gallon bag!!

I used to have a euroreef. I was a good skimmer, but it was not powered by an eheim

As for the tunze salt, I was looking at it on their site. I am too lazy to work on the conversions. I am very happy with the two I use right now. I know I will be adding a third salt into the mix, but I'm still deciding between reefersbest and tropic marine. Whichever one I choose, it will be only 20% of my mix.

 

[tbone28]

Here are the numbers posted by Perry (Xinumaster):

pH- 8.04 using Neptune pH probe on an ACpro
salinity 1.025
temp 77F

Ca++ 455 ppm (Elos)
Mg++ 1300 ppm (Elos)
Alk 11dkH (Elos)
PO4 0.0 ppm (salifert)
NO3 0.0 ppm (salifert)

The K is supposed to be pretty high straight out of the bag, too

Regarding the skimmer, I used ER's for 8 years, and really like them too. They do a great job for the money.

 

[mpoletti]

Those numbers are pretty nice. I wonder how well these stay buffered as the Ca and KH are on the high side out of the bag.

 

[tbone28]

Not sure, but if you're interested, I posted a thread on the Reef Chemistry forum seeking feedback from anyone who's actually using it in their tanks.

Here's someone else's post:

ok... results are in for me.... mixed 10 gallons worth to a salinity of 1.026 on my refracto calibrated with pinpoints calibration fluid. It mixed clear in about 5 minutes with very minimal agitation. Just my arm was used to mix. These number are taken about 10 minutes after it was mixed.

Temp. 70 degrees F
Calcium 420 salifert
Alkalinity 10 dkh API
Magnesium 1260 salifert
PH 8.0-8.3 salifert
nitrate 0 salifert
po4 0 salifert

And here's mine:

Made 50g worth
Aerated 2 days
80 degrees

Salinity - 35 ppt (refractometer)
Alk - 9 (Tropic Marin [TM])
pH - 8.1-8.2 (TM)
Ca - 428 (TM)
Mg - 1380 (TM)
NO3 - <1 (TM)
PO4 - 0.06 (Hannah) Ignore my po4 level. my di resin was shot.

 

[Ian]

FWIW, I believe the Palys in the 2nd photo are the darth mauls. I just got a few...

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12339838#post12339838 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bigian
FWIW, I believe the Palys in the 2nd photo are the darth mauls. I just got a few...

I have some darth mauls too, but these are different. But that is the sad thing in the paly world, everyone sells something if they are close.

 

[Ian]

It was worth a shot... I know what you mean, the lineage thing juct does not apply to the zoa/paly game...

 

[Ian]

dp...

 

[eagleONE]

did you go to YR today?

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12340232#post12340232 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eagleONE
did you go to YR today?

Nope, I was working on the tank and my allergies are kicking my butt

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12339983#post12339983 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bigian
It was worth a shot... I know what you mean, the lineage thing juct does not apply to the zoa/paly game...

Sometimes, I even wonder if its worth it. I collect them because I am an addict, but I they really don't do it for me. I guess I like the fact that they grow fasterand they are great to take photos of.

I looked at your sig; how is the probidio going? You must be planning an upgrade because that skimmer is way too big for your system.

 

[Ian]

I know what you mean on the zoas (and the addiction!!) Some of them do have awesome colors and patterns and as they grow, they're always fun to trade......

The Prodibio is working well for me. A guy sold me 30 ea. of the reefbooster, bioclean and biodigest for $100 so I said why not... Its only been about 4 months but I can say my colors (most of them) are nice and Ive cut down on unwanted algaes... The coralline looks pretty cool too!!

As for the oversize skimmer, a few guys in SoCal are running larger skimmers with great results. It allows me to have as many fish as I want, feed as much as I want which means more fish poop for my corals. Ive only had it online for 2 weeks. Its kickin a$$ but if I start to notice negative results, Ill run it part time...

As far as an upgrade, I live on a second story so weight is an issue... If it wasnt, Id already have a bigger tank. Its always good to keep your options open though.........