Rovster's Custom Reef Savvy build......FINALLY!!!
- Thread starter rovster
- Start date
rovster
New member
Majority was from Adam at BattleCorals. His stuff is awesome and he was great to deal with. Price was surprisingly low too. I did do a huge pack with him that wasn't cheap, but prices were closer to what you would pay a local as opposed to a vendor. Eddie hooked me up a ton. Got a few from Betamed, and the rest are random pickups here and there. Eric also hooked me up too
Do you know what your dkh is, are you dosing 2 part?
rovster
New member
Dosing 2-part with BRS dosers on an Apex using the OSC command (Trying to convince Viejo to try this!!). You can't have SPS like this and not know your Alkalinity
My target is usually around 145 which is a touch over 8. Normally it stays extremely stable at that range. I'm talking testing everyday you would get a reading of 143-146 (no I don't test every day unless I'm tweaking). Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you see it) my tank had a growth spurt the week before I went out of town. Alk was dropping and I was trying to get it stabilized. When I got back from vacation it was 122!!
Within 2 days I had it in the 130's and slowly have been bringing it back up. I've almost got it nailed down again.
I've always run my tanks in the 7.5-8 range. My ghetto tank I ran in the 7.5 range. This tank I'm running slightly higher, for no other reason just to experiment a little.
As far as fragging, I don't until I have to. I only frag for really good friends or for something I really want to trade for, LOL! That said, in time I will have to frag because of the size difference between my pieces. First in line are my tricolor and frogskin. They are getting too big
My target is usually around 145 which is a touch over 8. Normally it stays extremely stable at that range. I'm talking testing everyday you would get a reading of 143-146 (no I don't test every day unless I'm tweaking). Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you see it) my tank had a growth spurt the week before I went out of town. Alk was dropping and I was trying to get it stabilized. When I got back from vacation it was 122!!
Within 2 days I had it in the 130's and slowly have been bringing it back up. I've almost got it nailed down again. I've always run my tanks in the 7.5-8 range. My ghetto tank I ran in the 7.5 range. This tank I'm running slightly higher, for no other reason just to experiment a little.
As far as fragging, I don't until I have to. I only frag for really good friends or for something I really want to trade for, LOL! That said, in time I will have to frag because of the size difference between my pieces. First in line are my tricolor and frogskin. They are getting too big
Dashylock
New member
Thanks for the reply...I am actually at the exact same dkh range as you. I just tested last night and reading was 148. I also use OSC commands using Apex for dosing. What is your dosing schedule, I dose for 28 seconds every 30 minutes - helped with my pH stability at night.
I would be intereste in the tricolor when you get to that point!
I would be intereste in the tricolor when you get to that point!
rovster
New member
I actually have an accidental frag of the tricolor. Was going to post a FS thread. Its lost color but is healthy. Been mounted for 3 weeks. $10.
I dose A and B every other hour round the clock. I think I'm up to just over 5 minutes 12 times a day. I also have my carbon dosing on a doser with the OSC but its only during the lighting period.
Edit, I posted the frags I had for sale but removed it not to derail this thread. Small tricolor frag and teeny tiny BC Glowstick frag $15. PM me and I'll send you the pics. They lost some color but are healthy. I can hold them for a few more weeks if you want.
I dose A and B every other hour round the clock. I think I'm up to just over 5 minutes 12 times a day. I also have my carbon dosing on a doser with the OSC but its only during the lighting period.
Edit, I posted the frags I had for sale but removed it not to derail this thread. Small tricolor frag and teeny tiny BC Glowstick frag $15. PM me and I'll send you the pics. They lost some color but are healthy. I can hold them for a few more weeks if you want.
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rovster
New member
Tank is humming along. Been struggling with low nutrients despite removing GFO completely. I've been feeding like crazy and dosing nitrate like crazy. I also cut back my carbon dosing a bit. Cyano is a little more prevalent than I'd like but it seems that's only the case when nitrate and phosphate are either too low or out of balance. Today I did a 25-30 gallon waterchanges and siphoned the sand. Removed 5 buckets worth of nastiness!
Here is a quick iPhone pic from today...
In other news my QT tank is looking good. I have a swallowtail female and several anthias. They were all loaded with ich but that has since passed. They are all eating great, they love my homemade food.
Going to wait at least another 6 weeks until putting in my display. I think it would benefit from the extra fish poop.
Quick pic of the QT...
Here is a quick iPhone pic from today...
In other news my QT tank is looking good. I have a swallowtail female and several anthias. They were all loaded with ich but that has since passed. They are all eating great, they love my homemade food.
Going to wait at least another 6 weeks until putting in my display. I think it would benefit from the extra fish poop.
Quick pic of the QT...
Blueline12
Member
Looks great Rovi!
Ryanaquarium
New member
Keep feeding and doing water changes you will get there i was in the low nutrient side as well and water was too clean removed gfo and only using carbon in reactor. Also cheato in sump does the job if just in case i overfeed too much looking good.
Ryanaquarium
New member
rovster
New member
I was eating crap last night on the "pink lemonade" thread and after taking a crappy phone pic I took a crappy phone clip. I'm amazed it uploaded, usually takes a month to upload a video. PE on this thing has become crazy. Also in the shot are my OT and ORA purple plasma, another one with nice PE. Didn't want to derail the other thread anymore and Elvira told me to stop torturing reefsahoy lol....
rovster
New member
Took this video last weekend during a waterchange. Sorry it looks all screwy....
In other news I can't friggin catch my purple chromis! Have had the fish trap in there for over a week and every other fish has been in there. Some fish just like to hang out in there. Same thing happened when I was trying to catch my flame. ITS LIKE THEY KNOW!!!!!!!!!!
In other news I can't friggin catch my purple chromis! Have had the fish trap in there for over a week and every other fish has been in there. Some fish just like to hang out in there. Same thing happened when I was trying to catch my flame. ITS LIKE THEY KNOW!!!!!!!!!!
AquamanE
Active member
Took this video last weekend during a waterchange. Sorry it looks all screwy....
In other news I can't friggin catch my purple chromis! Have had the fish trap in there for over a week and every other fish has been in there. Some fish just like to hang out in there. Same thing happened when I was trying to catch my flame. ITS LIKE THEY KNOW!!!!!!!!!!
Much better video than the crap you sent me. Looking awesome.
Leave the chromis alone. How can a chromis bother you?
rovster
New member
Chromis is always harassing my anthias. Has them confined to a corner always. I'm getting ready to add more anthias, and I'm afraid Mr. Chromis might go HAM....
I forgot to show you my QT when you dropped by.....thanks viejo. Soon I'll post a pic of that awesome frag you gave me. It's still alive so I guess that's a good sign
I forgot to show you my QT when you dropped by.....thanks viejo. Soon I'll post a pic of that awesome frag you gave me. It's still alive so I guess that's a good sign
rovster
New member
I actually made this post in another forum but thought it deserved to be here as well. Any comments or suggestions welcome. Tank looks really good overall but lately I've been struggling with some nutrient mini swings.
I've got or can get really quickly my alk/cal levels balanced and rock steady. I am still struggling with dialing in my nutrients. It seems as if it's been a delicate juggling act as of late.
For example my tank will start to run clean. Cyano appears and colors pale slightly. I compensate by reducing the gfo, upping the nitrate dosing and upping the feeding of fish and corals. Tank starts to look really good. Coral colors are rich and I back off the feeding and nitrate. Now it swings in the other direction. I might see some loss of luster, maybe some stn, some corals look burnt. Then I put the tank on a diet, increase gfo, halt the additives, then things will go through the sweet spot before swinging in the other direction once again and the cycle begins yet again.
I'm getting good at recognizing the upper and lower limits but I feel like there is a week or 2 latency period before the effects of what you are currently doing are realized. It's rather frustrating.
I have noticed that the swings are getting less extreme so in effect I'm working on dialing things in, but I'm having s hard time getting into any kind of long term rhythm. The alk part I've got down pat, it's the nutrient balancing that I feel is the key to taking my reef to the next level...
I've got or can get really quickly my alk/cal levels balanced and rock steady. I am still struggling with dialing in my nutrients. It seems as if it's been a delicate juggling act as of late.
For example my tank will start to run clean. Cyano appears and colors pale slightly. I compensate by reducing the gfo, upping the nitrate dosing and upping the feeding of fish and corals. Tank starts to look really good. Coral colors are rich and I back off the feeding and nitrate. Now it swings in the other direction. I might see some loss of luster, maybe some stn, some corals look burnt. Then I put the tank on a diet, increase gfo, halt the additives, then things will go through the sweet spot before swinging in the other direction once again and the cycle begins yet again.
I'm getting good at recognizing the upper and lower limits but I feel like there is a week or 2 latency period before the effects of what you are currently doing are realized. It's rather frustrating.
I have noticed that the swings are getting less extreme so in effect I'm working on dialing things in, but I'm having s hard time getting into any kind of long term rhythm. The alk part I've got down pat, it's the nutrient balancing that I feel is the key to taking my reef to the next level...
