My 280g Custom upgrade.....

[Dustin1300]

Just tested the rodi and that's coming up zero.

Just a shot in the dark but thought it was worth checking. Wow, cannot believe Reef Crystals is adding that much. I've always heard it was a dirty salt but that's bad!

Phosphates were .24 in my system when I brought the GFO/Carbon online and in 13 days has dropped it to .06 with 5 cups of GFO. Hopefully can drop that number to zero in next week or two. Have you started the Zeostart/Zeolife yet?

 

[SPotter]

I did start the zeolife and was wondering if that was part of tge problem. Im not going to add anything until I get my nitrate down.

 

[SPotter]

OK, I just tested a new batch of water made from a new bag of reef crystals and everything is zero so I am wondering if my issue is really with the salt and maybe its because of the zeostart 3. I only gave my tanks 3 doses but I am definitely stopping it until I can figure this out. So far none of my corals are looking stressed but I will watch that closely and do another water change tomorrow.

 

[MSHUR]

steve,
why did you add start3 are you planning on running zeo system? if you going to run full zeo then you dont need to dose zeolife. i dose zeolife just to add beneficial bac to my system..no negative effects ever from zeolife..
what is ur concern right now?

 

[SPotter]

Cabinetry will be installed on Wed and I should have a light on the tank by Friday. Finally get to see what it looks like lit up!

 

[Chappy]

Just found this thread, tagging along.

Have you added your sand yet? I'm wondering how it will do compared to the select grade reef sand ( I think that is what it is called). I'm starting a 300 peninsula shortly and have been thinking about the pukani rock also. Nice pieces in there.

 

[SPotter]

Just found this thread, tagging along.

Have you added your sand yet? I'm wondering how it will do compared to the select grade reef sand ( I think that is what it is called). I'm starting a 300 peninsula shortly and have been thinking about the pukani rock also. Nice pieces in there.

Thanks for joining in Chappy! The sand is in and looks great!

 

[nightOwl]

Steve,
Are you running your skimmer now? Besides water changes I would not add any more additives to your system right now. What test kit are you using to test your nitrates API I think I see? Test with a Salifert test or another test kit to make sure the readings are that high. You have me thinking I need to test my salt. Are you using the box or the bucket? Hopefully you get it figured out soon. Take your time buddy...

 

[SPotter]

Steve, Are you running your skimmer now? Besides water changes I would not add any more additives to your system right now. What test kit are you using to test your nitrates API I think I see? Test with a Salifert test or another test kit to make sure the readings are that high. You have me thinking I need to test my salt. Are you using the box or the bucket? Hopefully you get it figured out soon. Take your time buddy...

Henry...I'm using a brand new ati kit but will take a sample to the los tomorrow. The skimmer is running and pulling a lot of gunk out. I've stopping adding the Zeo and just doing wc's. I did a 25% change tonight and there's a local guy selling 35lbs off live rock for $35 so I might pick that up to put in my sump. I'm just going to let it run its course now on its own. I waited this long a few more weeks won't kill me.

 

[Dustin1300]

Who cares about Nitrates? I'm ready to see that fixture that's coming in Friday! I'm sure your more excited than I am to see it but you'll have to post lots of pics/video

 

[Lam Ly]

Tank

Tank

Taging along here Steve,
Any new pictures of the process/tank?
I am picking up my tank tomorrow, am excited and can't wait.

 

[SPotter]

Taging along here Steve, Any new pictures of the process/tank?I am picking up my tank tomorrow, am excited and can't wait.

Hey lam! are you making the drive up there?

Hopefully I'll have some new pictures and updates soon.

 

[SPotter]

Who cares about Nitrates? I'm ready to see that fixture that's coming in Friday! I'm sure your more excited than I am to see it but you'll have to post lots of pics/video

Seriously....I've been consuming nitrates my whole life and it hasn't affected me yet

 

[Lam Ly]

tank

tank

Yeah,

I am going with the towing company to pick it up, hopefully everything turn out good.

 

[SPotter]

Yeah,

I am going with the towing company to pick it up, hopefully everything turn out good.

Flatbed ?

 

[Lam Ly]

Flatbed.

Flatbed.

yup, what do you think?

 

[SPotter]

Wow that's a tough call. 4+ hours on a Flatbed should be interesting. are you going to put it on a pallet first or something between the tank and the flatbed? what are you going to cover the tank wiyh to protect it from debris hitting it?

 

[Lam Ly]

Flatbed.

Flatbed.

Steve,

it's Brand New in the Crate that was shipped from Miracles.
I think it should be fine.

 

[SPotter]

oh wow i didn't realize it was brand new and still in the crate. you should be fine!

 

[SPotter]

Cause of my recent no3 & po4 problems.....

Cause of my recent no3 & po4 problems.....

ZEO....unlikely
Salt....contributor
HUMAN STUPIDITY.....BINGO

So after testing the water on my 80g tonight and being puzzled as to why the levels are still holding after doing nightly water changes for three nights in row, I was standing in front of my tank literally scratching my head and it hit me like a ton of bricks. THERES NO WATER FLOWING THRU MY FUGE!!!!! :debi: It never dawned on me to check it because the fuge is fed off of a manifold that is fed by my main pump and water was flowing thru the tank so it should be flowing thru the fuge right???? Well apparently my cheap HD ball valve clogged up and nothing flowing thru the line. I gave the valve a good twist and the water is flowing now. So for at least a week or longer I have had no macro filtration of any kind. So by saving about $15 by using a cheap ball valve I just twice that on salt and possibly more if there's any loss of sps. My zoas and palys are loving the dirty water right now!

I can't believe I didn't see that. I mean I look at my tank every night and don't know how I couldn't have seen that. I am going to do another 10% wc tonight and let the macro do the rest from here.

As far as the 315g system goes.....I'm going to wait a couple of days before testing the water again and I will just let it run its course. I will do another wc over the weekend and see how things go.