Water Parameters
RODI
TDS - 0 (inline meter)
Tank
Temp - 79.3 (fluctuates between 78.1 and 80.4)
Ph - 8.02 (probe)
Salinity 1.024 (refractometer)
Nitrates - 0 (LaMotte)
P04 - 0 (LaMotte (I realize this is essentially worthless))
Alk - 6.1 (Salifert)
Calcium 580 (Salifert)
Magnesium - 1080 (Salifert)
The parameters are getting close to where I want them, but they need a little more work. For quite a while I thought my ph was higher than it was (due to a bad ph probe.) This led me to let my alk get low in hopes of keeping the ph in check. It also led to a slow overdose of calcium. To remedy these issues I have started doing daily 5% water changes (44 gallons). I don't want to rush things, so I plan to take it slow. I attribute the limited success I have currently had to very stable parameters. With numbers this far off my targets, it just goes to show that stability is more important than any magic numbers.
Tank Front
Tank Left
Tank Right
Over the last week, my system has really taken a beating. The picture may not reveal it, but a number of corals are showing reduced polyp extension and some minor browning. When the big storm came through Ankeny on Sunday, we lost power for about 6 hours. The tank was completely still for that entire time. Then for the next 48-72 hours we had repeated power surges (or maybe the correct term is brown outs?) that trip circuits over and over. It happened in the night and while I was at work, so there is no telling how long the tank sat still. My plan is to get something to backup my system in case of future power failure. I would like to run 4 Tunze 6080s and my return pump. I'm not sure what the most cost effective way to do this is.
The biggest issue I have had is algae growth. Even running two phosphate reactors continuously, I have still had uncontrollable hair algae growth. I think it is mostly due to the base rock I used. I probably should have been more patient and simply cooked the rock. Now that the algae is there, I have decided to do small frequent water changes and change out my GFO on a more regular basis. Manual removal is really not an option, as the tank is far too deep to work in easily.
Algae is everywhere!
This Chips Acro needs help
Although the pink birds nest looks good, the little green one has taken a nose dive in the last week.
All and all things look good. If I can just get this algae taken care of, the tank will really look sweet.
I can't wait for this to grow out.
A close up
Brad