Tricks of the trade?

Jah2707

Jah2707

Member
I got four great frags at the meet and agian I thank everyone for those. I would like to have some frags and some healthy corals. Most of you have been into corals much longer then I have. Besides having good water, lights, and keeping the calcium levels up; is there any other tricks to healthy colorful corals?

Any of you personal thoughts and tricks would be great for us newbies!!
 
I have been looking at RO systems. There are stage 4,5,6, and more. Some have DI and others don't. Some will have like a 4 gal tank to go with it. What do you guys use? Ebay has some good deals. It looks like I can get one with all of the bells and whistles for $150 shipped or if I don't need that much stuff I can get one for $100 shipped. What do you think is important?

thanks again for any help
 
I like the spectrapure MaxCap and aquaFX Mako, I haven't used either though, just from what I have read. You can get the AqauFX locally from a great shop. I have heard the ebay one's are not worth the money. Definitly get one with DI.

I do once a week water changes, use a phosban reactor with Rowa, good skimming, Feed lots and lots of coral food, dose B-Ionic everyday. Once in awhile I will add vitamin stuff, iodide stuff, stronium stuff.

I use rotifers, Daphnia, oaster eggs, cyclops, mysis, mega marine algae, phytoplankton to feed corals. I spot feed everything just about, try to daily, but atleast once or twice a week.

I would say I noticed the best growth start after I started using B-Ionic.

Everything in my tank is doing excellent, no algae problems so far to date, I haven't tested my calcium to date though, I need too.
 
Last edited:
Hi Josh,

Here is where I got my RO/DI system. It is the 5-stage, Typhoon III system. I've been very happy with it and the folks that run this company were very helpful.

airwaterice dot com
 
Does any use kalkwasser water to adjust the calcium in there aquarium? I have read all about how well it works. Any thoughts?
 
I have the used the Aqua FX Barracuda from day 1 and it has worked great. TDS (total dissolved solids - a measure of how efficiently your filters are working) are still at 0 after 16 months of use. I never had hair algae.

I used B-ionic for calcium/alkalinity supplementation and it worked fine, but now I use a do-it-yourself 2 part recipe (really 3 part) that is easy to make, much cheaper and has worked beautifully.

The guy who came up with the recipe, a chemist, (Randy Holmes-Farley on RC) actually uses kalk in his own system though. I have decide to go to kalkwasser also for various reasons. Ease, cost, can mix up a batch and then avoid daily additions, I have the space to hide it etc. I am going to deliver the kalk with a LiterMeter from holding tanks in my basement up to the tank on the next level. I have all the stuff but I haven't set it up yet. Can't really comment yet on how well this works!

Also I purchase high quality test kits (Salifert), and test a lot. Anybody who wanted a chemistry set when they were a kid won't find this to be too much of a burden! I keep logs of the test results and I think this really informs the choices I make for my tank.
 
I also have an Aqua FX Barracuda, that I've tuned up. Reason I like it is because it has a self booster like construction that allows it to operate on lower water pressures and I have almost 0tds now, verses other compaines and ebay units I have purchased.
 
I loved the customer service at air-water-ice and my RODI is great. :) Instructions that came with it are fabulous.
 
That is a drawback with the AquaFX. I thought the instructions were lacking. It's not hard though.

Customer service is okay. They promptly sent me a new valve that was defective. They weren't as responsive concerning another question.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9408052#post9408052 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jhuggins
I have been looking at RO systems. There are stage 4,5,6, and more. Some have DI and others don't. Some will have like a 4 gal tank to go with it. What do you guys use? Ebay has some good deals. It looks like I can get one with all of the bells and whistles for $150 shipped or if I don't need that much stuff I can get one for $100 shipped. What do you think is important?

thanks again for any help
Click to expand...
I use the Typhoon III 5-stage from http://www.AirWaterIce.com
1 sediment filter, 2 carbon filters, 1 RO membrane, 1 DI resin bed
Whatever system you get, get at least a 5 stage with a flush valve and pressure gauge. A float valve comes in handy too. You don't need the 4 gallon extra tank. That is for drinking water storage.
 
Air-Water-Ice, This is the one that has been more recomended to me than any others... Replacement Cartridge cost is better than most. I am buying the compact version. With the prices of Petrol now, it wont take long for it to pay for itself!!! Installation looks pretty simple, all the stuff comes with it!!
 
Keep a journal of as many of your tank's measureable parameters. The more frequent and greater number of tests the better - over a time, you can start to get some insights as to why your system is "performing" the way it is. I did this with my 55g until we moved to our place ... in '05 :bum:
If anything, I just had fun plotting the information onto graphs :smokin:
If I have the old one, I'll zip the file (I LOVE excel) up so you can look at it/ make your own after modifying what I had made.
I would note temp, ph, amounts of Water Changes (included SG measurements of WC and system)... can't help it... German blood
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9441525#post9441525 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by John Kelly
I use the Typhoon III 5-stage from http://www.AirWaterIce.com
1 sediment filter, 2 carbon filters, 1 RO membrane, 1 DI resin bed
Whatever system you get, get at least a 5 stage with a flush valve and pressure gauge. A float valve comes in handy too. You don't need the 4 gallon extra tank. That is for drinking water storage.
Click to expand...

A-W-I is the Cat's Meow !!:D
The presure gauge is an option, but the in line TDS meter will allow you to moniter the membrane's performance of the RO unit better. The back flush valve is a good choice to clean the membrane ocasionally. The membrane is the essential part of the unit that will produce the water quality that you want, after the inital filter stages scrub the water before it reaches the membrane. The DI chamber will clean up any left over ( rarely any) after the membrane. I can honestly say that the typhon unit is well worth the $, and the cust. service via the phone # was exceptional !!!

JUST MY OPINION

Steve 926 :smokin:
 
I am still trying to decide on an RODI unit. There are just so many to choose from. But I am leaning towards the Typhoon 3, but as soon as I buy it the typhoon 4 will come out. :)
 
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