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Melev's new 280g Starfire tank thread
- Thread starter JohnL
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Mykel Obvious
New member
Marc,
I noticed a discrepancy on the Blue Life Phosphate Control I ordered, and would like your take on it as you are the only person I know using it.
The box says use 3 drops/10 gallons/ 0.5 ppm max in 24 hrs., my bottle says 6 drops for 0.5 ppm max in 24 hrs. and the web site says 6 drops for 1 ppm max in 24 hrs. I'm totally lost and was wondering what you used per 10 gallons in your system
I have a square box, not the tube shown on the site, so it could be an older package on a newer bottle?
EDIT: Woohoo! Thread Split... time for more photos and a recap!!
I noticed a discrepancy on the Blue Life Phosphate Control I ordered, and would like your take on it as you are the only person I know using it.
The box says use 3 drops/10 gallons/ 0.5 ppm max in 24 hrs., my bottle says 6 drops for 0.5 ppm max in 24 hrs. and the web site says 6 drops for 1 ppm max in 24 hrs. I'm totally lost and was wondering what you used per 10 gallons in your system
I have a square box, not the tube shown on the site, so it could be an older package on a newer bottle?
EDIT: Woohoo! Thread Split... time for more photos and a recap!!
kmacartney
New member
Marc,
Your Monti on the sponge pic is funny to me as I just found some Monti growing on bubble algae in my reef.
Your Monti on the sponge pic is funny to me as I just found some Monti growing on bubble algae in my reef.
tgunn
Active member
Hmm, that's definitely not how I would have expected the SSB maintenance to work! It sounds like that'd result in a somewhat sterile sand bed. Though I guess with the size of tank Steve ran that might not be an issue.
I'm pretty partial to all the critters that seem to take up residence in the sand, and I don't have amazing access to be able to get into my tank to clean the sand that thoroughly.
I think the flow is probably where I've gone wrong recently in my setup. The position of my streams and return lines means I get a lot of flow originating at the top of the tank, swirling down to the bottom. I have a feeling a lot of detritus is ending up at the bottom as a result.
I'm planning on mounting my streams a lot lower in the tank and aiming them up to try to get the flow to tend upwards in the tank. We'll see how that works.
Thanks,
Tyler
As always, GREAT thread!
I just caught up through about four splits since I took a hiatus over the last year. It's good to see the success that amount of time has accomplished. I applaud your diligent efforts to continue to improve both your husbandry and our likelihood of success by the documentation of your results. Your single thread, in multiple chapters, is about as exhaustive a document as can be found on the web (or in a bookstore) pertaining to this hobby. It is truly an inspiration.
Thanks!
I just caught up through about four splits since I took a hiatus over the last year. It's good to see the success that amount of time has accomplished. I applaud your diligent efforts to continue to improve both your husbandry and our likelihood of success by the documentation of your results. Your single thread, in multiple chapters, is about as exhaustive a document as can be found on the web (or in a bookstore) pertaining to this hobby. It is truly an inspiration.
Thanks!
JRaquatics
New member
Awe man another split.
Congrats... Now you have to do a recap from the start.
Congrats... Now you have to do a recap from the start.
melev
Well-known member
You guys are a bunch of brats. Now look what you did to my thread. :lol:
Quick recap - The reef is over 4 years old (August 04 to now)
280g Starfire glass Reef-ready tank
150g sump and refugium built by me
Euroreef CS12-2 protein skimmer
Lifereef Calcium reactor with Milwaukee pH controller
Aqua Controller III to control lighting, heat, and log some parameters
55g water change monthly
100gpd RO/DI used for top offs and to make more saltwater
Kent Sea Salt or Red Sea Pro
Most recent full tank shot
This year's water tests
The variety of fish are fed daily, often twice a day:
Daytime: Sera pellet food or Arcti-Pods
Every few days: 1/2 sheet of Nori
Nightly: Mixture of frozen Cyclop-eeze and Mini Mysis, unless I have some DIY fishfood on hand.
I dose Vodka daily (10ml as of this posting), and Magnesium when needed every 6 weeks.
Quick recap - The reef is over 4 years old (August 04 to now)
280g Starfire glass Reef-ready tank
150g sump and refugium built by me
Euroreef CS12-2 protein skimmer
Lifereef Calcium reactor with Milwaukee pH controller
Aqua Controller III to control lighting, heat, and log some parameters
55g water change monthly
100gpd RO/DI used for top offs and to make more saltwater
Kent Sea Salt or Red Sea Pro
Most recent full tank shot
This year's water tests
The variety of fish are fed daily, often twice a day:
Daytime: Sera pellet food or Arcti-Pods
Every few days: 1/2 sheet of Nori
Nightly: Mixture of frozen Cyclop-eeze and Mini Mysis, unless I have some DIY fishfood on hand.
I dose Vodka daily (10ml as of this posting), and Magnesium when needed every 6 weeks.
Last edited:
melev
Well-known member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13967862#post13967862 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mykel Obvious
Marc,
I noticed a discrepancy on the Blue Life Phosphate Control I ordered, and would like your take on it as you are the only person I know using it.
The box says use 3 drops/10 gallons/ 0.5 ppm max in 24 hrs., my bottle says 6 drops for 0.5 ppm max in 24 hrs. and the web site says 6 drops for 1 ppm max in 24 hrs. I'm totally lost and was wondering what you used per 10 gallons in your system
I have a square box, not the tube shown on the site, so it could be an older package on a newer bottle?
EDIT: Woohoo! Thread Split... time for more photos and a recap!!
The box is not labeled like the tube was, and the website doesn't seem to match either. When I did my math, I figured I needed 120 drops (3 drops per 10g) to drop my reef from .5 to 0 - which is what would be needed to treat 400g of water. I dosed on the high side because I wanted it out, rather than to underdose.
When I dose this type of product (like I did with Phosbuster Pro by Caribsea), I always do it late at night when the reef is at rest. I don't want the fish swimming hard through the flocculant, and hope that their slower breathing while asleep can handle it better. Just something I do, not that I have any proof that I'm right.
The lavendar frilly mushrooms really hate the stuff, but after a couple of days they resume looking totally back to normal.
Looks like this is Split #15, page 717 of this ongoing diary.
Some corals will grow just about anywhere if the circumstances allow it.
David - Miami
Aquanot!
Marc do you think the high amount of vodka your tank needs is an indication of subpar performance of your skimmer. I am thinking maybe you need to replace it.
melev
Well-known member
I don't want to speak for Steve, so I'll just say that it was my impression after our conversation is that he likes nice white sand and thus will siphon out what is there and replace it with new. He did say that it was only one bag's worth, so it wasn't a big expense.
I add two bags to my reef every six months!
That sounds like a better idea, moving some pumps lower and pointing them upward slightly. I used to have a Tunze 6100 Stream pump about 6" off the sand, pointed upwards slightly. That took care of the needed flow down low in the reef. The two returns hit the front glass and create downward flow across the visible sandbed in the front section of my reef.
<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>Back To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>
Why did you take your haitus? Glad you are back with us again.
Can you imagine turning this thread into a book? Ugh. That sounds too much like work.
No, not since this tank was set up. It was rinsed out in buckets with a garden hose. Here's a picture of John bringing back some that was ready to use in 2004.
I have replenished the sand as I mentioned above. Probably 3 to 4 bags a year.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13969422#post13969422 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JRaquatics
Awe man another split.
Congrats... Now you have to do a recap from the start.
Done.
Done. Not as beautifully as the ones you do, but everyone has their own unique specialty.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13970077#post13970077 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Goodwin9
Perfect opportunity to take and post new pictures again.....
I don't need a reason to take pictures. :lol:
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13971075#post13971075 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Why did you take your haitus? Glad you are back with us again.
Can you imagine turning this thread into a book? Ugh. That sounds too much like work.
I got really busy so my reading the forums (and my remodel) were where I cut back. I left the fish room running, which was an education in itself. It's amazing how cool a garage (a really old garage, too... with a dirt floor, no less...) under really large pecan trees can be in a Texas summer. It's equally amazing how warm that same garage can be in our recent cold snap..... thankfully!
As to the book.... well, this is good but I would certainly buy (and reference often) the accumulated knowledge.
Imagine it.... a book with your experience and a sequel with Weatherson's and a third installment with Hop's and then we can start with another set that has Jonathon's....
It's a DIY DREAM!!!
PoukieBear
New member
Marc, Why do you keep adding sand to your tank? Where does it go?! :eek1: :eek2:
tgunn
Active member
Fair enough; I DO like the nice clean white look of his sand. I only wish I had the amazing access to the tank that he had in his setup.
Wow, the acidic anoxic area in the DSB must really eat up the sand then, because I've never really went through sand in my tank. Interesting none the less!
Tyler
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