ReefEnabler
Premium Member
hahahahahahahah
Pete's 280 log
- Thread starter JohnL
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psteeleb
Team RC
thanks Hop, I think I stared with 4 of those orange ric's. I really like the bright green mouths and purplish blue rims that highlight the orange.
I'll share a secret about ric's I found out quite by accident
When killing some Mojanos with Kalc paste some small amounts settled on some Ric's. I thought ouch that's going to hurt so I blasted them off but some damage was already done. The next day they split. Since then I don't mind if a little Kalc paste accidently settles on my Ric's
And how bout them showoff spotted shrooms? Actually the camera does a much better job picking up the light blue spots on the right shroom better then you can see by eye.
psteeleb
Team RC
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13521509#post13521509 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DaveJ
Too cute... I have to say that Mandarin is one of the fatest I have seen. A really pretty fish, the Sunset is pretty too though
thanks Dave. I got tha sunset monte form some crazy dude down in Ft Worth, the picture doesn't do it justice.
psteeleb
Team RC
here are a couple early morning shots with some minor sunlight and atinics
this florescent green plate has to be the most phosphorescent coral I've ever seen - this picture does not do it justice as it just glows
the green birds nest
the new addition, Sunset Monte from DaveJ
and an acropora sp (aka blob)
this florescent green plate has to be the most phosphorescent coral I've ever seen - this picture does not do it justice as it just glows
the green birds nest
the new addition, Sunset Monte from DaveJ
and an acropora sp (aka blob)
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13535334#post13535334 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by psteeleb
thanks Dave. I got tha sunset monte form some crazy dude down in Ft Worth, the picture doesn't do it justice.
Hey now... My Dr says I'm not crazy.. I just have issues. I don't think that will change so long as my checks keep clearing the bank.
I like the new actinic shots.
psteeleb
Team RC
I picked up a new cheapy ozone generator as mine gave out about 6 months ago. The one I had hooked up was a GenX, it worked well for about a year and then stopped. I pulled it apart back in Feb and found the adjuster knob corroded, I cleaned it up and it seem to be working fine but slowly went out again over the next few weeks. The corona may be shot but I'll try cleaning up the adjustment knob again to see if it works. If it does I may just hard wire it.
The new one I picked up on Ebay is rated for 300 mg/hr, but I highly doubt it as it takes a while to get my ORP up to 340 where I have my monitor/controller set. My normal ORP reading without ozone is 300+/-. It's one of these overseas no name brands so it may not last long. But heck even if it last a year and I toss it, it's still way less expensive the what I paid for the GenX and less then a tenth the cost of a high end unit. Best of all it's working (for now) and with it hooked up to a controller I don't really care about a bunch of dials, gages or other controls. And I don't want one that puts out too much.
here is the ebay picture
and here it is hooked up to my controller and skimmer
now that I got this new one installed I want to redo the electrical on that end of the tank.
The new one I picked up on Ebay is rated for 300 mg/hr, but I highly doubt it as it takes a while to get my ORP up to 340 where I have my monitor/controller set. My normal ORP reading without ozone is 300+/-. It's one of these overseas no name brands so it may not last long. But heck even if it last a year and I toss it, it's still way less expensive the what I paid for the GenX and less then a tenth the cost of a high end unit. Best of all it's working (for now) and with it hooked up to a controller I don't really care about a bunch of dials, gages or other controls. And I don't want one that puts out too much.
here is the ebay picture
and here it is hooked up to my controller and skimmer
now that I got this new one installed I want to redo the electrical on that end of the tank.
psteeleb
Team RC
I may have killed an SPS 
I may have killed an SPS
I decided to test my ALK last night as I know the 3 gallons of Kalc water wasn't quite keeping up with demands. It tested at 5.9 DKH using my Salifert test kit. Generally I try to keep ALK between 7 and 8
PH was reading 8.31 so I decided to add Baking Soda to increase the ALK and slightly lower PH (normally I use baked baking soda, but it increases PH).
Using the online calculator to bring ALK up to 8 DKH I needed just under 16 tps of Baking Soda. Adding 4 at a time in 30 minute intervals I checked my ALK after 12 tsp; it tested over 8, when it should have been about 7.5. Not knowing if my first test was off or not I decided not to add any more baking soda. I tested again an hour later and the ALK was reading 7.8, so I’m assuming the dosing was not fully diluted into the system. I never noticed any precipitation and PH only dropped 0.07 to 8.24 so I thought everything would be okay.
I went to bed and had this evil thought that all my SPS would get burnt tips. But then I convinced myself that people experiencing SPS burnt tips attributed it to sudden ALK swings are usually taking it up 4+ points. So, I blew the thought off convinced everything would be okay. A couple hours later, lights out, I checked the tank and everything appeared normal and healthy, great evening PE on all PS that normally show it.
This morning I get up and make my normal run around the tank checking the Kalc reactor, PH, skimmer level, ORP etc. I make a quick visual inspection of the SPS, I notice the large Nassarius snail is out and on high on the glass. I continue to inspect corals when I get to the Granulosa and it appears to have STN’d, and just last night I was thinking it was starting to show new growth buds. Totally bummed, I head to work.
I’m 90% sure the 2+ point increase in DKH over the one and a half hours must have caused the Granulosa to STN. I suspect there may have been a high concentration or maybe even some precipitation that may have been directed at the area of the Granulosa, so it’s very possible it could have seen a higher ALK swing or lower PH swing then the general tank readings.
I also suppose there is an outside chance that kicking in Ozone may have cleared water enough to change light intensity but my water was looking pretty darn clear to start with, but it’s a change so I’m not counting it out as a potential cause.
Sorry Marc
I may have killed an SPS
I decided to test my ALK last night as I know the 3 gallons of Kalc water wasn't quite keeping up with demands. It tested at 5.9 DKH using my Salifert test kit. Generally I try to keep ALK between 7 and 8
PH was reading 8.31 so I decided to add Baking Soda to increase the ALK and slightly lower PH (normally I use baked baking soda, but it increases PH).
Using the online calculator to bring ALK up to 8 DKH I needed just under 16 tps of Baking Soda. Adding 4 at a time in 30 minute intervals I checked my ALK after 12 tsp; it tested over 8, when it should have been about 7.5. Not knowing if my first test was off or not I decided not to add any more baking soda. I tested again an hour later and the ALK was reading 7.8, so I’m assuming the dosing was not fully diluted into the system. I never noticed any precipitation and PH only dropped 0.07 to 8.24 so I thought everything would be okay.
I went to bed and had this evil thought that all my SPS would get burnt tips. But then I convinced myself that people experiencing SPS burnt tips attributed it to sudden ALK swings are usually taking it up 4+ points. So, I blew the thought off convinced everything would be okay. A couple hours later, lights out, I checked the tank and everything appeared normal and healthy, great evening PE on all PS that normally show it.
This morning I get up and make my normal run around the tank checking the Kalc reactor, PH, skimmer level, ORP etc. I make a quick visual inspection of the SPS, I notice the large Nassarius snail is out and on high on the glass. I continue to inspect corals when I get to the Granulosa and it appears to have STN’d, and just last night I was thinking it was starting to show new growth buds. Totally bummed, I head to work.
I’m 90% sure the 2+ point increase in DKH over the one and a half hours must have caused the Granulosa to STN. I suspect there may have been a high concentration or maybe even some precipitation that may have been directed at the area of the Granulosa, so it’s very possible it could have seen a higher ALK swing or lower PH swing then the general tank readings.
I also suppose there is an outside chance that kicking in Ozone may have cleared water enough to change light intensity but my water was looking pretty darn clear to start with, but it’s a change so I’m not counting it out as a potential cause.
Sorry Marc
BigJay
New member
I'd never expect a two point shift in Alk to do any harm. Don't blame yourself.
As for the kalk reactor, how often have you been adding fresh powder to it? At first, the three gallons per day was holding up fine. You might need to supplement with two part dosing again, this time using randy's recipe 2.
As for the kalk reactor, how often have you been adding fresh powder to it? At first, the three gallons per day was holding up fine. You might need to supplement with two part dosing again, this time using randy's recipe 2.
Last edited:
psteeleb
Team RC
Thanks Jay
Ditto on the 2 point swing - I would have thought it would have been okay. So I'm thinking it got a high saturation due to flow and location.
I'm adding Lime to the reactor every 5 days and watching my low PH in the morning as an indicator of it becoming spent. It hasn't been an issue the past 2 weeks.
3 gallons may have been "just enough". I'm getting some good growth on a few corals that previously weren't doing much, plus it seems like my clams are growing more then usual (observations only). So between some additional needs, and possibly not being fully saturated on the 5th day after adding Lime I appear to be loosing ground a little. If I have to add some two part every other day or so that's not a problem. Actually all said my Kalc readings are way better off then what they were in the past.
On the other hand 3 gallons may be fine and I just got a bad reading of my ALK. This is certainly supported by the calcualtor saying I needed 16 tsp and used 12 to get to 8DKH. Maybe I was at about 6.5 instead of 5.9 to start. In hind sight, I should have only added enough to bring it up one point, let it set a bit, and then do a retest. Live and learn.
BigJay
New member
With a higher Ph, the corals don't have to work as hard to precipitate the minerals from the water column to form their skeletons. It could be that they are just using more calcium and alk than usual because of the better control you have over the ph. I think a little Randy's recipe 2 every other day should fix that problem just fine.
As for the ozone generator, I don't think they should ever corrode. I don't know if you used a dryer chamber and air check valve or not, but I don't remember seeing one on your setup.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-04/rhf/index.php
I don't see any problem using a chinese-made unit so long as it produces the ozone that you're looking for, and it's UL listed so that it doesn't catch fire or worse.
As for the ozone generator, I don't think they should ever corrode. I don't know if you used a dryer chamber and air check valve or not, but I don't remember seeing one on your setup.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-04/rhf/index.php
I don't see any problem using a chinese-made unit so long as it produces the ozone that you're looking for, and it's UL listed so that it doesn't catch fire or worse.
psteeleb
Team RC
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13543427#post13543427 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigJay
Clams are serious alkalinity and calcium sponges.
It's too bad that I'll likely never be able to keep any, so I'll never have this problem. :lol:
or you could do like me and put them in a cage :lol: Speaking of the cage, I need to work on it to make it a little more presentable.
BigJay
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13543455#post13543455 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by psteeleb
I didn't know that, learn something new everyday.
I read as many Randy Holmes articles that I can. It's really helpful, but his articles make my brain hurt.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/apr2002/chem.htm
Check out the fried ballast pics on this page. That item is not UL listed.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=13537561#post13537561
Let me know when and how you plan on doing this. You can teach me how to make a cage that will keep out four very determined dwarf angels. These are dwarf angels that love to eat chopped clam.
psteeleb
Team RC
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13543591#post13543591 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigJay
Let me know when and how you plan on doing this. You can teach me how to make a cage that will keep out four very determined dwarf angels. These are dwarf angels that love to eat chopped clam.
I'm thinking about using black gutter guard. I'd like to find it wider then 5"as I'd like to shape it into a dome, or half dome. If I can't find any I may use eggcrate sides and a gutter guard front, back and top. Right now, it's in the conceptual stage :rollface:
psteeleb
Team RC
Marc - any other thoughts on the parent colony? Ever see any ill effects due to a PH swing, low ALK, etc?
I have the frag about 14" below the surface so it's higher then the parent and probably getting more light, but I don't know if this is a factor or not. I did not get a close look at it on the way out this morning but it looked like the top side was completely RTN'ed and it worked its way around edges. I suspect it will be totally RTN'nd when I get home. All other SPS appeared fine, full PE and no indication of RTN, STN or bleached tips etc.
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