sps 1250 gallon system
- Thread starter hedgedrew
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I sure your friend Joe (NY public aquarium) can help you with large salt bags, I have spoken to him in the past at a trade show, very nice guy, a hobbyist like us
Ill check that out allbano but. I dont thinking mixing is great idea on 14k or even 3 k water changes just too much time. For what its worth im using the salt right now for last 6 months. The fish are great but i do not understand why they make the salt so high in calcium and alk. At 34 ppt the salt measures over 450 ppm ca and 9plus alk. At 35 its even higher. Closer to 500 and 10 dkh or about. After series of water changes with vodka dosing and high light i have rtn ed many coral. The salt is made for those that dont dose I have asked for a loer ca and alk formula. We will see.
I do not understand in this day and age with biopellets and crbon dosing why salt manufacters are making salt with such rich numbers. I have read numerous threads on this recently and its time for a change. From what i know the 2brands that have lower alk numbs are tmpr and red sea regular in blue bucket. I tried tmpr and for whatever the reason the corals stressed after water changes. I used dd h20 for while and coulld not stand the filthy brown residue. For fish only systems or non sps without carbon dosing and those that keep alk closer to 9 i understand this issue doesnt matter. I assure you the burnt out corals care.
I dose 2 part (Alk and Ca) along with Mg from separate 50g reservoirs and make adjustments based on testing. WC's are continuous as I am constantly replacing skimmer's skimmate with fresh seawater from a 300g reservoir. The seawater reservoir gets filled when it reaches about half empty to maintain stability of water chemistry in the container. Continuous water changes allows very stable water chemistry in the DT. I prefer dosing Alk, Ca and Mg separately so I'm not restricted to raise Alk if I want to raise Ca, like with a Calcium Reactor. I use Instant Ocean salt because it's the cheapest however it would not matter which brand or ratio of elements.
This could be done with a large system like you are planning. I run 3 skimmers, a large RK2 25PE and two twin down draft Barr 5220's. I run the RK2 wet and the other two dry. The RK2 can easily produce 300g per day or more of skimmate (If I allowed it to) and is set up to go down the sewer drain directly.
This could be done with a large system like you are planning. I run 3 skimmers, a large RK2 25PE and two twin down draft Barr 5220's. I run the RK2 wet and the other two dry. The RK2 can easily produce 300g per day or more of skimmate (If I allowed it to) and is set up to go down the sewer drain directly.
Yes, you are correct, I can't lower the base parameters in the salt mix, just raise them as needed, however I've not seen too high Alk or Ca using Instant Ocean, my Alk runs 8.6, Ca runs 450 - 500 , both after dosing.
The skimmers draw from a separate sump where there is a float switch that powers the fresh seawater reservoir pump, so as skimmate is removed it's replaced with fresh seawater, or dirtiest water is replaced with cleanest water.
If skimmers go nuts and drain the sump there is another float switch that turns off the skimmer pumps. In the event this happens there is enough water to allow circulation through the sumps and run the return pump.
The skimmers draw from a separate sump where there is a float switch that powers the fresh seawater reservoir pump, so as skimmate is removed it's replaced with fresh seawater, or dirtiest water is replaced with cleanest water.
If skimmers go nuts and drain the sump there is another float switch that turns off the skimmer pumps. In the event this happens there is enough water to allow circulation through the sumps and run the return pump.
Yes, there is a separate 300g RO/DI reservoir that is used to fill the 300g seawater reservoir, then salt is added. The RO/DI reservoir is automatically filled when it is about half empty by a float switch that powers the RO/DI system, with a top float switch that turns off the RO/DI system, and an overflow that drains into the sink in the event it doesn't shut off
I keep enough salt on hand to prevent running out and breaking the cycle. The system has provided very stable parameters by doing continuous small incremental WC's and avoiding large ones that are more prone to swings in chemistry, and I don't have to do water changes! :beer:
I keep enough salt on hand to prevent running out and breaking the cycle. The system has provided very stable parameters by doing continuous small incremental WC's and avoiding large ones that are more prone to swings in chemistry, and I don't have to do water changes! :beer:
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