Pete's 280 log

[psteeleb]

here are the last off my picture updates for this weekend (is that a cheer I'm hearing in the background) :lol:

I thought this picture of some green birds nest bordered on both sides by some blue tort look interesting

blue trumpet

blastos - not the happiest as they keep getting mojanos as neighbors

FTS 29g

FTS 290g

 

[psteeleb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14514132#post14514132 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hop
Oh and I'm sure the acans will overrun their base.

thanks - I'll start looking for some rocks to mount them to

 

[psteeleb]

Sump Dusters

Sump Dusters

more for fun then purpose, but they are filter feeders

 

[crvz]

Great picture updates, as usual.

 

[BigJay]

I'm glad the featherdusters are doing so well in your tank, they were a bit overcrowded in mine. :lol: They are the reason I started dosing phyto in the first place, watching them open and close is extremely neat.

Your 290 is looking great as usual, everything is extremely happy. Did you hook up the new CaRx yet?

 

[psteeleb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14515390#post14515390 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crvz
Great picture updates, as usual.

Thanks.

 

[psteeleb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14515829#post14515829 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigJay
I'm glad the featherdusters are doing so well in your tank, they were a bit overcrowded in mine. :lol: They are the reason I started dosing phyto in the first place, watching them open and close is extremely neat.

Your 290 is looking great as usual, everything is extremely happy. Did you hook up the new CaRx yet?

Jay, thanks for those dusters, they make for a fun addition to the otherwise boring sump/fuge

The Ca reactor has not come in yet. Once it arrives I'll need to build a table for it and tha kalc reactor as I don't think the shelf will hold both. I also want to pick up some new PH probes as mine are over 2 years old. I tried to order them with some other things from BRS but they are out of stock right now

 

[BigJay]

I just calibrated my probe this weekend, it was off by .2 (high). That's a pretty frightening prospect in an of itself. After the calibration it appeared to hold (7 and 10 solutions read 100% correct).

How often should I be doing the calibration?

I'm still kicking around the idea of upgrading my controller to an AC3, which will come with a new probe.

 

[psteeleb]

I think evey 6 months is what is generally recomended. Or whenever you get unstable readings. My phrobe readings seem to be okay for the norm but like you pointed out a while back when I dose kalc the reading is higher then it should be. I've confirmed yours and Marcs finding on this with a test kit a couple times. I am also getting lower then tested readings when it swings down. So based on test kit results it apears the up and down readings from the probe are overstated.

I asked in the chemical forum about cleaning the probes with acid to rejuvenate them. Seems like it should be part of a normal routine (maybe once a year) but I want a backup probe that I know is good before I take the chance

 

[crvz]

I've heard even more often, if you're really worried about it, as frequently as monthly wouldnt hurt (though this may be dependent on quality of hardware). I'm overdue in any case, that's for sure.

 

[BigJay]

I've cleaned mine with vinegar and a toothbrush every time I calibrate. A good vinegar soak makes all of the algae come right off the probe.

Should I be using a stronger acid to clean this thing?

 

[crvz]

Couldnt the acid affect the sensitivity of the probe? I've no idea how they take measurements, but I'd be afraid of throwing it in something of an acidic nature.

 

[melev]

Vinegar and water is fine.

 

[chrismunn]

it looks like i missed a post a few pages back. the program i use for drawing those tanks is google sketchup and its free.

http://sketchup.google.com/

you should give it a try, once you learn how to use it, its really fun!

that sunset monti is freaking awesome! come 2 years from now im going to be begging for a piece of that!

Marc, buddy, i hope your doing alright!

 

[psteeleb]

thanks Chris - I'll give that a try


here is the link to the PH probe rejuvenating I posted
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1573664

in it was posted a link to a site that has a write up on rejuvenating a PH probe
http://www.ph-meter.info/pH-electrode-rejuvenating

in that article is a link to some "how to's" on cleaning a PH probe

 

[psteeleb]

some odd stuff

some odd stuff

saw my that plate coral decided to become a beach ball today

green ric with 2 mouths

nice sized blue tip stag frag I'll try to sell

feeding

the new kryptonite

at night

 

[psteeleb]

and I found this unknown mollusk, it closed up as a hermit walked over it, so if it wasn't for the motion I probably would not have seen it

I've seen something smoke from that area a couple times, now I think it may have been this clam having a spawning event

 

[ReefEnabler]

woh never seen a plate coral do that before, that's pretty crazy looking!

 

[BigJay]

That plate coral looks happy. REAL happy in your tank.

 

[crvz]

I like the beach ball. :lol: