Pete's 280 log
- Thread starter psteeleb
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psteeleb
Team RC
I intend to run the Kalc reactor independent of top off on a timer that will drip feed a prescribed amount each time it is activated. The timer will be set to run 1- 3 time a day (most likely 3) and will most likely take care of most evaporation, making life easy for my ATO.
The Kalc drip feed will also have a "normally closed" solinoid valve that only opens if Ph is below the a set point. It's a bit redundant but limits Kalc dosing timing, amount dosed and high Ph limited.
I have all the parts and pieces needed to set it up but had it on the back burner as I wanted to put it on a table that will be custom fit around and over a water change tank that I don't have yet. But with demand on the rise and my recent Alk drop I may hook it up anyway. I also wanted to be home for a couple weeks right after the install - just in case
Future has a CA reactor filling most of my needs but I'll intend to still run the Kalc reactor. I'll cut the dosing from 3 to 1 dosing a day (but at night) to help with Ph swings.
BigJay
New member
I'm thinking about adding a kalk-stirring reactor in line with my ATO. It sounds like you're going to have a separate reservoir with pre-mixed saturated limewater? Or are you adding a stirring reactor as well along with another feed from your RO unit?
I really like the idea of the high PH shutoff, I might need to get an extra controller and solenoid for that. What are you planning on using there?
I really like the idea of the high PH shutoff, I might need to get an extra controller and solenoid for that. What are you planning on using there?
psteeleb
Team RC
I'll be adding a stirring Reactor (GEO) with a separate feed from the RO/DI reservoir.
The solenoid will be upstream of the reactor due to the corrosive nature of the Kalc but down stream of a 1 gallon (adjustable) drip tank that will contain the RO/DI that is fed by a timer. Given the sealed condition of the system, it should shut off the gravity feed Kalc. Granted; if there is an air leak, it could drip some Kalc water that's in the line, but I'll minimize this by having it set up so it doesn't siphon.
The solenoid will be hooked up to my RK2 programmed to be “ON†for Ph lower then 8.2 (or something around there).
psteeleb
Team RC
I think my clam issue is due to a fish nipping at them
I see some bite marks in the mantle of my Maxima sn all 3 pull in every time a fish goes by. I don't know who the culprit is but I would think its the Coral Beauty. It probably got hungry from once a day late evening feedings when I was gone.
I see some bite marks in the mantle of my Maxima sn all 3 pull in every time a fish goes by. I don't know who the culprit is but I would think its the Coral Beauty. It probably got hungry from once a day late evening feedings when I was gone.
BigJay
New member
I'm hoping that my flame angel will leave any clams that I add well enough alone. I have my doubts though, angels graze and nip at just about everything.
How will kalk dripping likely affect the two part dosing that we do?
Edit: I finally got around to measuring my sump lip last night, and I placed the order for the ATO stuff. I'll let you know when it comes in Pete, I can use a few pointers.
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psteeleb
Team RC
I think I'll build a eggcrate cage to put over my clams until they get over this - I didn't see anyone nipping on them yesterday, but the clams sure are spooked, so someone got to them.
I hope the Kalc drip replaces the 2 part dosing, or at least allows me to dose less often, maybe once every other day or so. There's a calculator someplace that I need to use to find what the equivalent amount of Kalkwasser is to 8oz (each) of Randy's DIY 2 part.
Probably the max I can drip is 3 gal a day, but I'll probably start with 1 gallon, and test, inspect, check; then go to 2 etc.
Eventually I want to run Ca and Kalc reactors to take care of the majority of the additive needs. The combined affect should provide a very stable environment for Ca, Alk, Mg and help minimize PH swings.
psteeleb
Team RC
quick update on some of Marcs frags
The Milli is encrusting nicely
here is a first day picture of the milli but it doesn't realy show the base that much
I think this unknown acro has grown some
before (first day)
now
the granulosa looks good but not much growth from what I can tell
today
first day
and heres the crayola - it has almost totally encrusted the epoxy putty
day one picture - you can see how much putty is in the area that is now encrusted
The Milli is encrusting nicely
here is a first day picture of the milli but it doesn't realy show the base that much
I think this unknown acro has grown some
before (first day)
now
the granulosa looks good but not much growth from what I can tell
today
first day
and heres the crayola - it has almost totally encrusted the epoxy putty
day one picture - you can see how much putty is in the area that is now encrusted
psteeleb
Team RC
Thanks -It's starting to get close to both sides of the tank (front to back)
Here is a Full Tank Shot (FTS) from today
My plans are to zone the SPS as well as the other corals
I'll be running up against glass, so it will be a constant battle trimming back the SPS as they grow - especially the plates that will be lower in the tank. The general scheme is laid out below
green = frogspawn walls
red = plate coral (purple, bright green, & orange)
yellow = show SPS pieces
purple = Stags (I'll move the blue tip to the left some)
white = tabling acros (inc milli's)
lt blue = Blue Tort ridge
Here is a Full Tank Shot (FTS) from today
My plans are to zone the SPS as well as the other corals
I'll be running up against glass, so it will be a constant battle trimming back the SPS as they grow - especially the plates that will be lower in the tank. The general scheme is laid out below
green = frogspawn walls
red = plate coral (purple, bright green, & orange)
yellow = show SPS pieces
purple = Stags (I'll move the blue tip to the left some)
white = tabling acros (inc milli's)
lt blue = Blue Tort ridge
BigJay
New member
I like your plans Pete, looking good as always.
How did this weekend's water change and testing go?
Are your water parameters in line now? Any better than when you got back from vacation? What were the overall test results? I definitely "G.A.S.".
PS: You've should see what happened to the tiny pea-sized pocillopora frag that you gave me. It has survived my best attempts to kill it with my inexperience, and has become quite the little colony.
How did this weekend's water change and testing go?
Are your water parameters in line now? Any better than when you got back from vacation? What were the overall test results? I definitely "G.A.S.".
PS: You've should see what happened to the tiny pea-sized pocillopora frag that you gave me. It has survived my best attempts to kill it with my inexperience, and has become quite the little colony.
psteeleb
Team RC
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13222562#post13222562 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigJay
I like your plans Pete, looking good as always.
How did this weekend's water change and testing go?
Are your water parameters in line now? Any better than when you got back from vacation? What were the overall test results? I definitely "G.A.S.".
PS: You've should see what happened to the tiny pea-sized pocillopora frag that you gave me. It has survived my best attempts to kill it with my inexperience, and has become quite the little colony.
Thanks Jay
I didn't get to the water change - so there's 40g of water ready to go. I had a busy weekend between getting caught up on yard work, and a reception on Saturday and the DFWMAS BOD meeting and church on Sunday.
I need to get it done soon but I also need to move my daughter from her apartment to rental house up in Denton this week.
Alk should be back to normal SW range (it was 7+ on Friday with extra dosing over the weekend), my Mg is a little low but I ran out and need to make some more additive. I really want to jump ahead and get the Kalc reactor hooked up as I think my demand has exceeded the 8oz a day
Fish and corals look great, no signs of stress, great PE etc. It's just the clams look a bit stressed. First thing I need to do is build a little cage to protect them from any nippers. I just haven’t witnessed any fish bothering them, other then the tangs, but they just nip the shells. There are definite nip marks in the Maxima mantle so I think the angel got to them and then decided to leave them alone once feeding got back on schedule.
The water change is pretty easy but I always want to do more stuff with the tank drained some. I want to get the plate corals moved to the areas shown above and kill Majonos. I also want to pull some of the left side rocks for drilling as I didn’t get to those yet.
Always something
Good to here about the pocci, how’s the stag frag holding up?
BigJay
New member
If you don't mind, I'd like to watch the kalk reactor setup and learn something. I'm planning on doing that myself. The ATO parts shipped today, so I'll get that done in short order.
The pocci is doing fine except that a crab keeps knocking it over. I need to glue that in place, I'll have to call you later and borrow a small bit of putty.
The stag frag is doing about the same. I'm not sure that it cares much for my relatively new tank (4 months). The white tips have finally colored up.
The small monti frags that you gave me came back from the dead, these were the pieces that you rescued from your sand bed. One has encrusted a rock and is growing strong, the other is looking better and finally starting to grow.
I hear you on doing more with the tank. This Saturday I did a 20% water change, scrubbed coralline algae off the tank glass, cleaned out my durso pipe strainers (my God that was a mess), vacuumed the top of my sand bed, cleaned out my sump, wiped all of the salt creep from the inside of my cabinet, cleaned out my carbon reactor and changed the media, cleaned out my GFO reactor and added more media, ran a pipe cleaner through the reactor manifold tubing, cleaned the skimmer thoroughly, carefully cleaned the glass on my halide pendants, cleaned dust off of the VHO bulbs, cleaned off the center brace, blasted detritus off of the rocks with a powerhead, and spilled 10 more gallons of water on the floor from my sump from an unattended siphon causing me to mix more salt water and do an additional 5% water change all because of a phone call from a telemarketer that wouldn't take "no" for an answer so I had to hang up on him. Yes, a waterchange can be an all-afternoon event, I had to do my yardwork on Sunday after church and a boyscout event.
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