Randy's 180G Reef-Photo Journal

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6581357#post6581357 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rdmpe
Well, the tests came out same as last test, so not seeing much effect from the new rock.
NH4 = 0
NO2 = 0.05
NO3 = 1
PO4 = 0
KH = 8.6/3.09
CA = 425
Mg = 1245

I want to bring the KH up to around 9 to 9.25 and Mg up around 1300 to 1350 but in general I've been pretty happy with my water parameters...

Haven't had a chance to mess with the white balance on the digicam yet and I forgot to check that 12V transformer temperature :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Your Ca and Alk are very close to what I'm running..

How do you find the salifert Ca and KH tests? I'm just using cheapie Hagen kits right now and have been considering using the Salifert ones. The hagen ones are dead simple to use. Is the Salifert all liquids you add? Or is it solids like in the NH4, NO2 and NO3 kits?

Lol, still gotta get a Mg kit as well! Oh so many kits..

Tyler
 
The CA and KH kits in particular are not really "simple". But they aren't difficult either. Basically you get your small water sample, add some powder and/or drops, swirl. Then you drip a reagent until you get a color change in the sample. The amount of reagent required to get the color change indicates the test results. It takes about 40 minutes for me to do 8 tests (7 above plus PH). I could probably do them faster but I'm usually watching TV or something at the same time...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6583005#post6583005 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rdmpe
The CA and KH kits in particular are not really "simple". But they aren't difficult either. Basically you get your small water sample, add some powder and/or drops, swirl. Then you drip a reagent until you get a color change in the sample. The amount of reagent required to get the color change indicates the test results. It takes about 40 minutes for me to do 8 tests (7 above plus PH). I could probably do them faster but I'm usually watching TV or something at the same time...
Click to expand...

Sounds like the CA and KH kits use the same method as the Hagen ones (ie a titration)..

Indeed, it takes a while to do all the tests. Every now and then I'll lose count of the drops when doing the Ca and KH and have to restart. Lol.

I find now that things are starting to stabilize and I'm able to predict my calcium and alkalinity consumption I can test less often..

And you will get very quick at the tests. I made a reference sheet I posted on the wall with a condensed version of the directions for all my kits; that makes it a bit quicker too..

Tyler
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6577991#post6577991 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
More like praise the critter. That coral can get out of control, making you wish you'd never gotten any....
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Well, I was wrong! It's back. It was withdrawn to the point that I thought it was gone! However, today when I was home for lunch, there it was, magically regurgitated, resuscitated, whatever!

So Marc, should I be happy or worried??? Do I need to scrape it off and get it to attach to a rubble piece that can be isolated? Nuke it with joes juice? Love it tenderly? :D

I think the halides are too much for it and it hides. I think it just had PC over it previously and maybe it has to acclimate. It is out when the T5 actinics are on...

I need to get all of my test kits into one organized box too. Right now I have 8 or 9 separate little boxes of stuff, which is a PITA.
 
I bought a plastic thread spool holder where I store the various test tubes and vials for my test kit... They just hang on upside down to dry once I rinse them out. This way they are always dry before the next usage and I don't have to worry about getting the little color match cards wet in the box... I've been very tempted to laminate those but I'm not sure if it'll affect the color....

I've also gotta figure out a better central storage for all the supplies; it's way too annoying to have to open the little boxes all the time..

Tyler
 
Well you have a whole basement to work with! :D
I'm thinking a fishing tackle box might be a good storage box for the test kit paraphernalia <--- thank goodness for the spellchecker :lol: I need to go by Target after work to see what they have...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6584281#post6584281 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rdmpe
Well you have a whole basement to work with! :D
I'm thinking a fishing tackle box might be a good storage box for the test kit paraphernalia <--- thank goodness for the spellchecker :lol: I need to go by Target after work to see what they have...
Click to expand...

Well, I only have the fish room, but I guess I see what you mean; still plenty of room.. :lol:

A tackle box would work well I'm sure. Much better than stacking up a bunch of little boxes (Which always seem to fall off shelves when stacked 2 high)..

Tyler
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6583425#post6583425 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rdmpe
Well, I was wrong! It's back. It was withdrawn to the point that I thought it was gone! However, today when I was home for lunch, there it was, magically regurgitated, resuscitated, whatever!

So Marc, should I be happy or worried??? Do I need to scrape it off and get it to attach to a rubble piece that can be isolated? Nuke it with joes juice? Love it tenderly? :D

I think the halides are too much for it and it hides. I think it just had PC over it previously and maybe it has to acclimate. It is out when the T5 actinics are on...

I need to get all of my test kits into one organized box too. Right now I have 8 or 9 separate little boxes of stuff, which is a PITA.
Click to expand...

If you like GSP, enjoy it. Just avoid allowing it to travel over the rock to other rocks. There is no reason you can't have a boulder covered in the stuff. The problem is when you see it everywhere in your reef. I have it in my reef here and there. Nibbles used to mow it down, but she's gone and its back.

I keep all my test kits in a rubbermaid container, and all the vials in a small container with eggcrate inside for them to drip dry between usage.
 
Yes. Or on your overflow if you like. Just apply it with super glue gel, or put the rock near it to grow onto.
 
My advice would be to stick it on one of your ugly rocks. I hated to see my GSP cover one of my best coraline rocks. It spreads pretty quickly and it's easy to frag off an ugly rock. Your new rock looks pretty nice.
 
I just saw my last post and I could only read the bottom. LOL Right now I'm playing online poker and on reef central. Ha Ha.
 
Mostly party poker, sometimes AverageJoePoker. I like to play the cheap 5-10 dollar tourneys with 10 people. My wife says I have to buy her a diamond with half of my winnings. She is now up to a $800 necklace. That's not too bad, considering I only put in $50 to start. If I start playing bad, I go back to the free tables and blow off some steam (a lot cheaper that way).
 
Sounds like my speed too. I play a lot of $5 sit-n-goes... I've been playing pokerstars a lot but am thinking of trying something else out (something with a good deposit bonus too)... I still play the freemoney some too.

I tried party poker but didn't really like the software very well. I should probably check it out again though, that was a long time ago...


So I checked out the temperature of the transformer running my fans, wasn't hot at all. Well, it was actually a little warm on the side facing the MH reflector! The other side was nice and cool. So hopefully it will not be a problem.


I took Tyler's lead and mounted my DI canister vertically flowing upward. Now I can really see how the water is flowing through it. It's in there pretty loosely. When it settles I have an inch or two of space at the top. Regardless, my TDS meter reads 1 so it's ok for now. TDS of the tap is around 200...
 
Just found this thread. I like you nice clean skimmer a few pages back, mine looks that clean too! :D

I took Marc's advice and bought an EV-240 so I could "Feed Heavy and Skim Hard!" :lol:

I also like you idea of draining the skimmer into a gallon jug--I'm going to try that one.

Tank looks great!
 
:worried:
Anyone know what this thing is? Bristle worm???
:worried:

Only part of it is showing. It retracted back into the hole as soon as I got a flashlight on it.

180-385.jpg


180-386.jpg


180-387.jpg


180-388.jpg
 
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