Tank Collapse!

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15513720#post15513720 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by goulding.c
1. Yes I need the reactor, just not much room

2. Its not kelp it is caulerpa, I just call it kelp for fear of misspelling caulerpa or the chaeto stuf, sorry for being short on this

3. Not sure on the dkh this is the test were you add drops until the color change, then divide by 2 and and it says each drop is = to .5meq/L. It says meq/L all over the instructions so I must be high.

4. There are differant grades of stainless, some do rust such as cheap stainless exhaust for cars and trucks i think this is 304 , other forms will almost never corrode 309 maybe I have to check, The magnet test is crude but it will let you know how good it is. Really good stainless has no magnetic properties, impurities in the cheaper stuf make sit slighlty magnetic. I have made little stands and pcs in the past that do not have a single stain on them for 6 years now submerged.

On the sump issue, I have a 4'x4'x2' deap fiberglass pond that is empty, I am thinking of starting a new sump set up this weekend so I have more room and a better set up. Should I fill with reef rock? It will be nice to have my 2 skimmers and other equipment were I can finally service it easily!

Thanks For everybodies help!!!

1.) Try to make room, it greatly increases the efficiency of the media and GFO can get expensive.

2.) No worries, just trying to confirm what you have. Some don't liek caulerpa as is has been known to go "sexual" and die-off and cause problems. However, in most of my experience regular pruning helps prevent this. Others also choose to light it 24/7 to help prevent it.

3.) What brand is the kit? I'd read the instructions again... If your alklinity is really 7.5 meq/l, that's really high and you've either been adding crazy amounts of buffer, or your test kit is WAY off. Again, 7.5 dKH is about right.

4.) I'm sure you know better than I. But, I was under the impression that medical instruments made from stainless steel were a very good quality stainless, and I've found that they will still corode to a degree.

As for what to put in the sump, that's up to the individual. Live rock, macro algae, nothing at all, there is really no right or wrong answer. I usually keep leftover live rock in my sump but not because I think it's any great benefit, it's because I bought too much

 

[goulding.c]

The test kit is a seachem kit and it definatley measures in meq/l. Hopefully I will have my new kits today incase this one being old is reading bad. I used up the last of the test fluid last night when I go tthe 7.5 again.

A new guy I met locally thinks my program was slowly setting things in the wrong direction.

I have alwasy dosed one tablespoon of baking soda per night, and then my biweekly 40 gallon water changes. 3 years ago everything was so happy I stopped testing and just stayed on that path.

He is suggesting I stop using the baking soda and go back to the 2 part A & B buffer solutions, Add carbon and the GFO, He also informed me on the MAg. SO the test kit fo rthat is on its way also.