My Tank Thread (Take3) ★Total AUTOMATION★ DIY Doser, Sump, AlgaeScrubber, WaterChnges

[reefmutt]

Those par numbers seem pretty decent, Wally.. although, if it were me, I'd start with 150w or 175.. on that size tank 2x250 just seems overkill. But at any rate, you are right in the ballpark with those readings..
I always let my food scatter.. the fish will get most in the water column and then hunt down most of the rest. After that, I'm sure there a billion critters who will finish off anything that gets left behind.
That cleaner shrimp will also hunt down uneaten foods

 

[Wally.B]

Those par numbers seem pretty decent, Wally.. although, if it were me, I'd start with 150w or 175.. on that size tank 2x250 just seems overkill. But at any rate, you are right in the ballpark with those readings..
I always let my food scatter.. the fish will get most in the water column and then hunt down most of the rest. After that, I'm sure there a billion critters who will finish off anything that gets left behind.
That cleaner shrimp will also hunt down uneaten foods

For now I'm doing 2x 175W MH. See how things go.
I was 150W, but I felt it wasn't enough.

Here is the test I did last time.
Notice the PAR Range I quoted above is from the Picture on Right (250W)

The tables on left show differences between (175W,250W,HQI).
I never tested 150W since I converted the fixture to 250W so why run 150W.

 

[Wally.B]

Cheap Simple Improvement for Wiring (BIG GAIN)

So I was at the electronic store to return left over Doser Project parts.

I came across these wire clips. $1.95 a 10 pack.

I used to use Black duct tape around tank rim to hold wire.
But during maintenance removes, it get messy.

These clips are ideal. Close with Push and Ratchet Lock. Pus to open.
Can handle 3-4 medium wires. Two thick Power cords.

I can use them for:

- Tank Rim.
- Wiring Trays
- and Even Doser Tube runs.

Can use built in sticky or for extra firm hold, drill a tiny hole and screw onto wall.

 

[Wally.B]

Few of my SPS Favourites Added

So I went back to GTA Frags and rebought the Favourites I lost last Crash.

One of my top favourites is the RR Red Planet.

And I got a Bird of Paradise since last time it was the only coral that grew well.

Here is the Final Tank Setup.

I have run the dose for about a week. My logic/programming appears to be perfect. Sunday I start dosing AquaForest Component 1,2,3 Lightly, since I do see Alk Dropping and new Frag will probably increase that.

I hope things go better this time. (Last night, my Weekly Friday Water Change was a Pleasure (1 button, after water heated up)

 

[Wally.B]

[AUTO] WEEKLY WATER CHANGE ** GOOD ENOUGH for NOW ** [[ SPS Growth Starting ]]

So after a week of No Dosing YET, I checked water chemistry after the AutoWeekly Water Change (2.5% = 2.5 Gallons)

The Alk was Dead on 7.5 ppm.

I assume the rest of the parameters much be just ask ok, since ALK is usually the highest consumed (but I will checking weekly after each WC).

What caught my ATTENTION is my Monti has started growing at the edges. (Seen in Photo Below)
It has been dormant for the last couple of months. So things must be better.

I now have time to give the tank extra attention for cleaning glass, skimmer and Algae Scrubber. Plus general upkeep and maintenance at a easy, less hectic pace.

I know this won't last forever, and dosing will need to started, however I'm fully prepared.

For now I am just dropping ZeoBak, AF -NP Pro, [daily for Bacteria]

And Small Quantities of (Polyp Booster OR AcroPower OR AF Vitality) after lights go out. [for Nutrients, Vitamins, Aminos ]

I do have one more fish (Blue Green Chromis) that I rescued from my other tank (Since other 4 Chromis wouldn't let him eat). BULLIES!!

The Chromis has found a nice spot, and all the fish have accepted him right off the bat.

Onward...

 

[Wally.B]

ALK Dropping Fast (NEED TO START DOSING)

So I did my REAL First Auto Water Change.
-> No Salt Mixing
-> JUST FLIP ON THE HEATER SWITCH till water matched tank.
-> PUSH THE BLUE BUTTON

I actually did an ALK test while the WC change ran.

And I was shocked that my ALK dropped from 7.5 to 6.5 Since 6 days ago.

So I guess the Quantity of SPS Frag, not Size is consuming Alk.
-> Weekly Water changes (5%) is not enough to sustain ALK.

Perfect timing since I just finished coding the FINAL FEATURE on the Doser.
A fine tune adjustment. Bit of overkill, but nice to have.

The Basic Calibration Mode is filling a vial to 10ml and DOSER stores that calibration. It's pretty close, but not perfect.

This Fine tune Calibration Mode will allow me to adjust Each Dosing Pump-Head Calibration to perfection.
What's nice is that I can get all dosing heads matched up perfectly, so the liquids will drain equally when dosing is set equally. Thus I will run out of A/B/C liquids at the same time.

Here what the Fine-Tune Calibration Looks like:

I topped off ALK to 7.0 for tonight manually.

Next it to setup dosing tubes, and start AquaForest Componnet 1/2/3 dosing.

GLAD I Caught the ALK drop since going below 6.5 would not be good.

 

[reefmutt]

Good to see the alk consumption is up.
Soon your be posting growth shots!
Wally. Your system is getting very serious!
I would bet corraline algea growth is also consuming ca/alk

 

[sensei]

Wally,

how many hours of metal halide are you giving for coral?
you have very nice frags in there

 

[Wally.B]

Wally,

how many hours of metal halide are you giving for coral?
you have very nice frags in there

Hi Jorge,
Long time no hear.
How are your GTA frags doing?
I lost all the one's we bought at the roughly the same time as you did.
I now know why. I got busy, and move my doser to other tank. From what I see happening now my Alk is dropping incredibly fast. Approx 0.2 dkH a day. And my Calcium is also dropping.
This happened to me last time, but I never paid attention, so Alk dropped below 6, and I topped up too fast (few times). Very bad.

But I am prepared now with a new Doser.
I actually finished adding new feature (Micro Calibration). I learned with playing that my Kamoer pump are very accurate. I now can dose BY THE DROP.

Anyway to answer your lighting question.

It is important to give all the LIGHTING information.

HEIGHT: All Lights are 13 " above Water Surface (except 1 T5)
DEPTH Most Acros are around 8" below surface of water. (21" Tank Depth)

LIGHTING
-> 2x 175 MH (14000k Phoenix Bulbs) [Ballast is selectable 150,175,250,HQI]
-> 2x T5 (1xBlue Plus, 1xCoral Plus)
-> 1x LED Home Made Fixture (15 Cree LEDS, Blue/White @ 40% Max Setting)

PHOTO PERIOD
-> MH(175W) (6 Hours)
-> T5 (ON/OFF 3 Times when MH off) (5 Hours Total)
-> LED (Ramp UP/DOWN 0%-45%-0%) (Approx 12 hours)

I do plan on lowering lights down to 10inch, but I like higher since it spread the light more evenly between the two MH Bulbs.

The LED fixture I put in between the MH lights as a filler.

Maybe this Picture is better than my explanation.

 

[sensei]

Wally,
your DIY dosser looks fantastic.
I will be waiting to see how your corals grow, keep us updated with pics.

p.d. I lost several of the nice frags I got from GTA, I still have several of them.
I have made some changes in my main dt and hope things get better.

take care

 

[Wally.B]

DOSER (II) Plus Controller (Fully Installed)

Just in time as I really need to start dosing.

Before I nailed everything down, I did some final touch ups.

-> TRI-Color LED Status Indicators on Dosing Heads
-> Dosing Tray / Tubing Runs / Utility Tray

This is overkill on Lighting, but it looks cool and I will eventually take advantage of the Status indicators when I add a Maintenance Scheduling Reminder Feature into the Controller.

This completes the Tech Talk about the controller.

Hoping next photo's will all be about Coral Growth, Colors, etc.

And I can tell that for the first time in 3 years, SPS growth has really taken off.
I see bumps and new appendages starting on many of the Frags.

Also different from Past, the Colors of the Purple SPS are hanging in.
In past they would all fade to brown.

Also PE extension is everywhere!!

Onward. (Looking forward to Tonight's Weekly Water change (Button Push)

 

[Wally.B]

TANK Circulation Setup Details

I did a calculation on the Tank Circulation.

I can't go max (especially on Return Pump), but I can certainly make this tank Swirl.

I found a balance that makes fish happy, and I respect everyone's sleep time.


Here are the details:

If I add Fish Fin Movement, close to 11,000 Gallons per Hour

I need to figure out Night mode.

Should I slow things down for SPS to allow PE extension for feeding?
Just a short while?
Any Advice? (I have read many variations on the Forums)

Wally.B

 

[Wally.B]

OH OH (Need to watch this Patch) Is it Algae? Good Kind? Bad?

Hmm. I notice Green SPOT this when the MH lights came on. Not as visible during Blue Lighting.

Doesn't look like Hair Algae, but it is something Algae.

The Glass bottom Spot has been there for a long while, but I never noticed it on rocks.

Algae Scrubber is running very well so this shouldn't be happening.

Time to do a Full Water Test ( Most important PO4,NO3).

Maybe time to cut back on the Additives (been doing Aminos).

If it does naturally continue, I need to get an Algae Blenny.
The one in my other tank, won't let a spot of Algae hang around for a day.

 

[sensei]

Wally,
inspect it to see if it is green cyano

 

[Wally.B]

Wally,
inspect it to see if it is green cyano

Green Cyano???? I never heard of that before.
How "Do I check it?"

When I look close at the Bottom Glass stuff, it is extending like a Hair Algae Strand, or something Algae like.
On the rocks it's a fine haze, but looks like Algae.

I forgot that I have ZERO snails in DT.
The few that I had went into Sump.

So I got a few snails for the TANK. (Store didn't have any Trocus Snail which are my favourite)

Turbo's should polish the Algae Haze Clean.

Dripping them properly so they don't die.

If Algae runs out, I can always put them into Algae Scrubber section where there is plenty to eat.

 

[sensei]

green cyano is film like, bright color
check the flow in those areas
similar to red cyano but green

 

[Wally.B]

green cyano is film like, bright color
check the flow in those areas
similar to red cyano but green

Hmm. It is bright green, but the Glass bottom spot is Glass bottom since highest circulation in tank (Sand won't stay there).

Watching to see if the Turbo's eat it.
Hard to tell after one night, but I did put the NightVision TimeLapse camera on tank and All Snails were crazy busy.

 

[Wally.B]

DOSER (II) Plus Controller (Going With Real Chemicals) ** ALL TESTING PASSED **

The Water changer feature of Controller passed with flying colors. No issues.

Now the Doser Testing is also perfect, so time to change to real Additives.

I do have a 1/3 bottle of Aquaforest Component 1,2,3 to use up.
That will be a good slow/safe start (since not too concentrated).

I approximate 50ml/day to start.

Thus my final testing was done to match that. 100% perfect

I don't think I will continue with AquaForest, 1,2,3 since it's too diluted.
When/If these Acros start getting bigger that could be like 200-500ml a day, which 4 litre bottle wouldn't last too long. Plus $. Bottles are nice, and will be keepers.

I am thinking B-Ionic Alk and Calcium (which I use for other tank). Dosing would roughly 20-50ml a day.

Or just go with Randy's Home made recipe formula for A/B. [Made from Kent's Turbo Calicum, and Plain old Baking Soda]

I have never seen a need to Dose Magnesium (I'm seem to be around 1400) and can't go much lower with Water changes.

Things may change if I start getting growth.
We'll see.

 

[Wally.B]

DOSING LINE Installation (Couplers) ** Air Bubble Leak Problem Solved **

Thought I would pass on this bit of information on dosing line install.

I had issues with Air Bubbles entering lines from my Dosing Container.

It was the Connections on the Intake of the Dosing Heads.(at Dosing Head and Container) ** INTAKE/Draw side only **

The high quality Soft Silicone tubes are the best, but expensive for long run.
So on Intake I used a tiny piece of the Soft Silicone tubing.

And the Dual Sized Coupler make a great seal.

** NO MORE BUBBLES **

 

[Wally.B]

STARTED DOSING (AF 1,2,3) - Tank Baseline Parameters


Being Extra Safe.....(Even though I pre-tested everything like 50 times)

-> Dosing into Bottles and manually adding to Tank.
-> For now will use up AF Component 1,2,3 and see how things go with SPS Consumption.
-> Starting with 1/2 Calculated Dose, and will measure if correct.

This was Tank PH Swing Prior to Dosing.

Will do the Semi-Auto Method for a week and then switch to Fully Auto.