Triton method

I am going to switch and see what happens . But still keeping my old equipment ,. I have a smaller refugiun . They recommend a bigger one so getting new sump. I have 2 dos so all set there. Will see what happens. good luck to you keep me posted
 
I've been in Triton prep mode for the past few months

I've been in Triton prep mode for the past few months

In other words... I've not been doing water changes.
I'm thinking of taking my first water sample tomorrow to send in for analysis.
I want to see what has been depleted, what might be in excess (etc.) with my current method(s)- which are the same method(s) I've been using for many years now.
 
I’d love to see the results of your test Gary. I incorporated a Kessil H380 horticulture Light over a small section of my sump. It’s only about 3-4 gallons. My total water volume is about 140G. I certainly don’t have 10x flow through there either. I’m not stocked very heavily but I’m slowly increasing my number of fish and I’m feeding pretty heavily. The Cheato is doubling every 10-14 days. My nitrates are zero and my phosphates are .001 by Hanna. This is obviously super low and not where I’d like it. But, at the moment it completely out competed a little caleurpa outbreak, and is doing some serious damage to a bubble algae dust up. So that I’ll take.

Anyway, I’d love to see what actual trace elements are being depleted over time. Tests are $50 correct? Bucket of salt, $50. So I don’t know.....
 
yes just had mine done low on cal and alk a little to high. takes about 2 wks to get it.
Switching over just waiting for sump to come in have everything else switching salt to
Red sea blue pucket
 
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I am thinking about going this direction as well. After watching the Bulk Reef Supply videos on the topic. I have a 40 gallon refugium, but I am not getting 10x flow through it.

I am currently using a ton (like 2400 mls) of kalk and 60 mls of BRS Two part daily. I am concerned about the cost of the Triton Core 7 elements.
 
just remember alk has to be at 8 or around there. That is why I am switching salt lower alk and cal
I bought the 2l of triton was 400
 
today's Salifert alkalinity test

today's Salifert alkalinity test

I'm currently @ 11dKH so no Triton test today!

I'll unplug the Ca reactor and let system drop to 8dKH before proceeding
 
stability is the goal, so 8dKH just a target.
Matter of fact, Triton recommends users of base elements CORE 7 use 7dKH as their target.

The most important thing is to have a stable alkalinity dosing regime BEFORE sending in a sample of water

Now... in my case, I have a stable dosing schedule- I'm simply unplugging the reactor to allow dKH to drop to a desired level before plugging it back in. The reactor will resume stability at the lower dKH

editing in: I'm by no means an expert on Triton method so please don't kill me with questions. There are many variations on this method and I still don't see why filter socks are not recommended for following "the original" Triton method!
 
from what I saw

from what I saw

looking at your aquarium...

I'm sure that certain soft corals would do just fine in there!
Probably LPS, as well.

SPS would be a gamble.
 
I am really interested in this system. Adding in the 400 gallon tank, continuing to manage nutrients and major and minor elements with water changes just isn't feasible. I bought a couple of boxes of Instant Ocean, instead of Reef Crystals, lower cost, lower Alk.
 
Gary -- I was just about to start dosing my new tank. But the starting point is already 8dkh. So I've decided to hold off. Right now I have a rather light bioload -- time to get more fish and corals!

I think you could use filter socks after the refugium. My guess is that they don't need them because they are telling you to shoot for a 10x flow rate. Stuff may go back to the DT -- but theoretically it wouldn't stay there long at that flow rate. If the Refugium is thickly filled its not going to keep circulating around the loop.

Are you setting up the refugium so the Chaeto is rotating -- or is it stationary.

Also -- costs of ICP testing are likely to come down. ATI offers similar ICP testing - but it is sold through Marinedepot. BRS sells the triton ICP testing. That business model won't survive if they want people to test multiple times a year. My plan is to start with a test and to repeat after I am running. Once it is going, I will likely use standard testing and only do the ICP tests when something seems wrong (or maybe once/yr).
 
Every time you add a coral it changes depletion rate of calcium and alkalinity.
The same can be said about corals that are growing larger and larger and those that are removed- thus calcium and alkalinity demand is constantly in flux.

This is what makes Triton so appealing to me. I have a large system and I rarely (if ever) add new corals. Yeah, corals growing larger create a growing demand but it's something I've learned to deal with now. My system is now as stable as might be possible.

There are groups where Triton users discuss methods. There are an infinite number of variations on the Triton methodology. For one, I would never run socks AFTER macroalgae in the sump. I run drains into mechanical filtration (socks) FIRST and then into the macroalgae. (I've been doing it this way for over a decade now). I want pods and algal frags to blow back into the display- and socks AFTER macroalgae would prevent that all while allowing detritus from drains to settle in the sump necessitating periodic vacuuming of the sump. No good!

Triton recommends using a variety of macroalgae (as I already do) so I might not go back to introducing Chaeto.

I do agree the cost of getting test results done is likely to drop if competition appears to fulfill demand.
 
There is the catch 22. If you put it before the refugium, you could be depleting it of the nutrients that drive it.

My plan was to add the corals after the tank was stable. I think I'm at that point, but I'm in no rush. That said, it leads me to question when I should start dosing. My guess is that I would wait until I start seeing drops in alkalinity.
 
what nutrients would a filter sock prevent macroalgae from obtaining?

what nutrients would a filter sock prevent macroalgae from obtaining?

I have yet to hear a plausible explanation.

Check out the "newest trend" (LOL!) Chaeto reactors.
Nobody is recommending you pump detritus into these things.
Socks do not limit dissolved nutrients required by macroalgae- they catch chunks of detritus.
 
24 hours after shutting down CaRx

24 hours after shutting down CaRx

I'm at 10.2dKH.
Not a true measure of actual total consumption because I topoff for evap with kalkwasser. pH of system is now 8.6 -up from it's usual 7.9

No Triton test today!
 
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