Oldude's new 400 gal tank build

[Oldude]

Interesting

Interesting

I find this kind of interesting. This picture shows where an A.convexa was touching this branch of A.loisetteae in my old tank. When I seperated the corals in early January to transfer contents there was a very small patch of the A.convexa encrusted on the branch which is now spreading as you can see in the picture. I have left it to see if it will sprout some actual branches from it.

 

[Ed Reef]

Interesting Greg - did it took over some part which are dead or it simply overpower the host??

Colors look great !!

 

[Oldude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14979619#post14979619 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ed Reef
Interesting Greg - did it took over some part which are dead or it simply overpower the host??

Colors look great !!

Thanks Ed. Yeah it just over powered the host so I am keeping a close eye on it. I don't want it taking over. I am hoping to have some red branches growing off the blue but we'll see what happens.

 

[Oldude]

I'm happy to see this A.gemmifera colouring back up.... it turned a very homely brown when I had my phosphate/ low alk issues.

My 3 varieties frogspawns

 

[Oldude]

Alk Question

Alk Question

I normally bake the sodium bi-carbonate in Randy's 2 part recipe but was in a rush last time I made a batch and never baked it and am now having to use twice as much as before. I thought the baking of the sodium bicarbonate just turned it to sodium carbonate which made a difference mainly to increase PH. I am correct in this thinking? I was dosing 500 ML (2 cups) per day of each but am now having to dose 1 liter (approx 1 quart) of alk per day (500 ml each in AM & PM) compared to 500 ML (2 cups) of ca. Even dosing that amount my alk is testing at 8-8.5 using an Elos test kit. In my 700 gallon system a 500ML cup of alk increases the alk by .5 DKH which is fine but why am I needing to be dosing double the alk amount?
Parameters are as follows:
SG -1.026
PH- 8.2
CA- 440
Alk- 8.5
Mag- 1350-1400
temp- 77 - 80 (cools off a few degrees at night)

Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[toddy boy]

looking great thanks for sharing

 

[Bill14]

Been following along a while. Great tank and amazing pics!

In regard to your alkalinity issue, from Randy's guide:

It is half as concentrated as Recipe #1 because the raw baking soda is less soluble because it's unbaked.

So, I take that to mean that even if you add the amount of baking soda from Recipe #1, since it's not as soluble, you'll end up with a solution that is half as concentrated. Do you have extra baking soda in the container that you can't get into solution?

 

[zackdastack]

now thats a good looking tank

 

[Oldude]

toddy boy - looking great thanks for sharing

Thanks for looking

Bill14 - Been following along a while. Great tank and amazing pics!
In regard to your alkalinity issue, from Randy's guide:
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It is half as concentrated as Recipe #1 because the raw baking soda is less soluble because it's unbaked.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, I take that to mean that even if you add the amount of baking soda from Recipe #1, since it's not as soluble, you'll end up with a solution that is half as concentrated. Do you have extra baking soda in the container that you can't get into solution?

Thank very much Bill. I made up a new "baked" batch today and hopefully things will get back to normal.

zackdastack - now thats a good looking tank

Thanks for the nice compliment.

 

[melev]

It's been a while, but if I recall correctly, baked baking soda raises pH and alkalinity, but unbaked baking soda only raises alkalinity. pH doesn't rise because of trapped CO2 in the soda. By baking it in the oven, the CO2 is removed.

Keep in mind your corals have more room to grow, and they've had some time to settle in now, thus with new growth the Ca and Alk will be sucked up by all those SPS.

 

[Oldude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14989075#post14989075 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
It's been a while, but if I recall correctly, baked baking soda raises pH and alkalinity, but unbaked baking soda only raises alkalinity. pH doesn't rise because of trapped CO2 in the soda. By baking it in the oven, the CO2 is removed.

Keep in mind your corals have more room to grow, and they've had some time to settle in now, thus with new growth the Ca and Alk will be sucked up by all those SPS.

Thanks Marc I just expected more consistency. I'm going through twice as much alk as ca. That is what really puzzles me.

 

[melev]

Did you ask Randy in the Chemistry forum yet? I've not had to use two part in almost 5 years. I did that with my 29g and 55g, but I'm happy not to do that with this tank.

And yours is 400g! :eek2:

 

[Oldude]

Yes I have a post there now but no replies yet.

 

[Oldude]

I didn't hear from Randy but definately received some helpful advise in the chemistry forum, thanks.

 

[Oldude]

My gorgonian loves the extra room in the new tank

My gorgonian loves the extra room in the new tank

 

[Oldude]

150 watt 20k dusk lighting shots

150 watt 20k dusk lighting shots

 

[Ed Reef]

Beautiful shot Greg

 

[vickiNaz]

Umm thats not a tank.

 

[vickiNaz]

Umm thats not a tank.

 

[Oldude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15025242#post15025242 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ed Reef
Beautiful shot Greg

Thanks Ed.