Thanks, I'm getting some new frags on thusday! Can't wait.
Plenty of progress this weekend on the equipment end. Installed the BRS 50ml/m doser in place of my maximini jet for my ATO.. MUCH better choice. ATO is now just a clean drip instead of a splurge of kalk. I'm not getting huge spikes, and it works all the time, every time. It's also a smaller line, and I believe it runs less and uses less power which is nice.. but anything I saved with that was counter acted by the installing of a BRS dual chamber media reactor. I moved the biopellets/rowa into the reactor but since it's sitting a bit lower then my (sump aka tank) I had to use a maxi jet 1200 to make sure there was enough flow threw the reactor to tumble the pellets and the rowa. On the plus side I was able to move the return for it to the intake of the skimmer as suggested for biopellets. I initially planned to put it under the stand for a clean look, but decided to first put it outside so I can easily keep an on in it, and also so I don't make a mess in the stand where all my power outlets are when I need to change the media in the reactor. I also was able to put it higher up on the stand by putting on the outside. it's an OK compromise for ease of use.
Another big improvment (if not the biggest of all). Was I decided to move my Tunzee 9002 up higher in the water column. I basically moved it to the top of the inTank collection cup sits maybe a 1/4" below the top of the tank. This made a HUGE difference in the skimmers performance, the size of the bubbles changed as well as my ability to adjust it. I was having the same problem it seems alot of people have on here where it's either not skimmer (outside of collecting skimate in the neck) or pouring out and filling up the cup in front of your eyes. Moving the skimmer higher in the water column allowed appears to have allowed me a higher degree of adjustablility out of the skimmer. Where before I was make tiny turns and seeing huge differences now I can tune it with 1/2 turns and 1/4 turns. I also had to tighten it up a fair bit. I'm going to watch it over the next week as things may change with fluctuation in my water.
Next, I ran the gambit of water tests (before all this), coming back with signs of improvements. alk stabilized at 8.50, mag still at 1350, calc at 430. Salnity at 1.024, ph moving up to 8.04, nitrates appear down closer to 0 but still "5" according the crapatastic api test kit, and finally phosphates are down to .21 from .4.
Hopefully a few more water changes, and some improved perforance from the biopellets/gfo and I'll be down to 0/0 on the "trates".
After all was said and done, I did a 5 gallon water change and used the BRS reactor to drain the water and filter out the first 5 gallons threw the media.
Coming up this week:
Thursday my gf is coming back home with some sweet frags from a socal reefer, and 20 gallons of NSW from scripps!
Can't wait to get my first piece of 500$ efflo. I'm not a "named" coral guy, but I really dig efflos!
Tuesday my new light should be showing up. Picked up a used AB 250w DE w/2x24w T5s from a fellow RC member. The bulbs that come with it are pretty new.. I'm not sure if I'm going to like the colour but I will give them a shot before I go back to my old faithfull 20k Helios, blue++ and pro coral.