Viewpoints – A Photographic Journal of my Reef Tank

[urbaneks]

Viewpoints - Dosing Equipment Installation

Viewpoints - Dosing Equipment Installation

Viewpoints - Dosing Equipment Installation

My shipment from BRS arrived today which contained the items I need to automate my dosing. Up until this point, I've been manually dosing BioCal made by Tropic Marin. Just in the last 4 weeks the cal and alk demand has gone up considerably. On average, I had been dosing about 1 tablespoon a day and the tank has needed more like 3 tablespoons over the past month. When I was dosing a single tablespoon, I would not get much of a spike but 3 tablespoons was causing a 1 point swing in alkalinity which was I was not happy about. In addition, my pH has averaged on the low side because of the time of day I have to dose. All of these variables made a change to my dosing strategy a must.

After research calcium reactors and dosing pumps, I decided to go the route of a dosing pump. Most of the research I did said that reactors are better suited for larger tanks. In addition, I have very limited space under my stand and in the sump. With these considerations, I decided to go with a Bubble Magus BM-T01 dosing pump. For my cal and alk supplements, I went with Randy's Two Part Recipe 1. A Google search will get you tons of information but the link provided is a great article if you are interested. Since this article was written, several retailers have started to sell kits to make the process easy. BRS.com has some excellent videos that simplify the process. I've included that link for you as well.

Everything I need to automate my dosing - Dosing pump and bracket, canisters to store solution, enough supplies to make 3 gallons of Cal and Alk and 1.5 gallons of Magnesium.

Labeled 1 gallon jugs of Cal, Alk and Mag Solutions - The smaller canisters hold 1.5 liters and will go under the stand. Based on my current usage, these should last 15 days before needing refilled. The canisters are also made by Bubble Magus and can be purchased from BRS.

Bubble Magus BM-T01 - While there are lots of dosing pumps available, I went with this one because of ease of use, great reviews and middle price point. ​

With very little room under the stand, it was a challenge to determine where to install the dosing equipment. There were really only 2 remaining places in the stand that were options and both would have made for awkward positions to change pump settings. I decided to build a small tray/stand that would house the canisters and pump. I used some scrap acrylic to build the tray you see below.

This tray holds all 3 canisters and allows me to pull the canisters and dosing pump forward. This will come in handy when it's time to refill the canisters. The tray also holds the canisters in place which will prevent them from spilling.

Another image of the tray with the dosing pump and connections installed

Here is the tray in it's final location. You can see that there is just enough room for the canisters and pump

One last photo which shows the dosing connections I made from rubber washers. I was able to incorporate the connections directly into my sump lid. The pump will administer the doses into the the 2nd of 5 chambers in the sump. ​

 

[Reef_Noob]

Very neat looking installation. Everything fitting in snugly.
Great job!

 

[iwishtofish]

Yes, dosing setup is very nice. I am very eager to hear how you prime the hoses, dial it in, etc. Does your pH run low, or high? I was able to mix a "pH neutral" alk soulution, based on a mix of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. When I dose by hand, my pH meter doesn't show even a small change.

I am going to borrow some ideas from your awesome maintenance schedule. I'm hoping that if I have such a guide to incorporate it into my daily lifestyle, I'll be more diligent.

 

[urbaneks]

Viewpoints - 2/1/12 Responses to Feedback

Viewpoints - 2/1/12 Responses to Feedback

Viewpoints - 2/1/12 Responses to Feedback

Goodness,,,,thats the most amazing maintenance schedule iv ever seen....so much detail going into it...
Puts public aquariums to shame!!

Well done my man! The chart screams out one thing and that is "DEDICATION"

This thread should have a sticky and is a must read....a guide to everyone experienced or amatuer on "How to do things the RIGHT way"

The fishes and corals under your care are gonna be happy for sure...
Great job!!

Reef_Noob - Thanks for the comments on the maintenance schedule and charts. I had never really thought about what maintenance schedules are followed at public aquariums, that would be a great question to ask in a tour. As for the sticky comment, thanks for your vote of confidence.

Dang I want that pearlberry!! If only I could find one!

And I thought I was anal, your maintenance and logbooks are insane, lol! Love it!

ange062 - The Pearl Berry is beautiful. Thanks for your compliments on the maintenance schedule and logbooks. I find them very helpful to understand what's working and not working and ultimately improve the tank.

Very neat looking installation. Everything fitting in snugly.
Great job!

Reef_Noob - Thanks again for your views and compliments. It is a snug fit. I'm seriously thinking about a new stand that would be both wider and taller. Of course that would mean moving the tank which is something I'm not ready to do.

Yes, dosing setup is very nice. I am very eager to hear how you prime the hoses, dial it in, etc. Does your pH run low, or high? I was able to mix a "pH neutral" alk soulution, based on a mix of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. When I dose by hand, my pH meter doesn't show even a small change.

I am going to borrow some ideas from your awesome maintenance schedule. I'm hoping that if I have such a guide to incorporate it into my daily lifestyle, I'll be more diligent.

iwishtofish - priming is simple, you just put the pump in manual control and hold a button down while watching the liquid travel through the clear tubes. I just finished setting it up about an hour ago and watched it complete it's first dose for Cal, Alk and Mag. It's great to think that the tank will be getting 24 small doses for Cal and Alk and 6 doses a day for Mag. I will test again tomorrow to see if my initial dose of 50ml per day is to much or not enough. I'm expecting a 2-3 day process to get it dialed in.

Please take as many ideas as you like. If you want a copy of the maintenance schedule let me know, if you have questions on it let me know. Thanks again.

 

[ange062]

Sweet dosing setup, I just setup the same pump on my tank last night and will start using it today. UPS just dropped of my BRS 2-part.

 

[cFloor]

Your attention to detail is certainly paying off, BEAUTIFUL tank my friend. I just set up that same doser just over a month ago, and I love it. The directions are garbage, but other than that I'm very happy

 

[urbaneks]

Viewpoints - February 2nd Photo Update

Viewpoints - February 2nd Photo Update

Viewpoints - February 2nd Photo Update

In order to kick February off and get some photos on page 10 of the journal, here are a few new photos of the tank.

ORA Hawkins - I've seen several different versions of this coral ranging from green to blue, mine is more on the blue side with purple tips. I've taken lots of photos of this coral but none that are great. This is the best so far.

This is a blue chalice from ORA that dates back to the Nano Cube. It seems very happy in the new tank and is growing steadily. What I like more than it's growth is the contorted shape that it's taking on.

One more picture for today. I really do love what the inverts add to the tank. I will definitely add some additional starfish in the future.​

 

[rodneyri]

Nice shots as always tank is looking good. Do you have a PAR meter? Or know what your getting in the tank

 

[urbaneks]

Viewpoints - 2/4/12 Responses to Feedback

Viewpoints - 2/4/12 Responses to Feedback

Viewpoints - 2/4/12 Responses to Feedback

Sweet dosing setup, I just setup the same pump on my tank last night and will start using it today. UPS just dropped of my BRS 2-part.

ange062 - I am really liking the dosing setup. I'm on day 4 and nearly have things dialed in. I've tested every morning but have yet to hit the point where my numbers match from day to day. I'm hoping that today's adjustment get's me there. I wish I would have done this months ago.

Your attention to detail is certainly paying off, BEAUTIFUL tank my friend. I just set up that same doser just over a month ago, and I love it. The directions are garbage, but other than that I'm very happy

cFloor - Thanks for your view and comment. The dosing setup is great and you are right the directions are garbage. It just seems like a company could do a better job of translating into English. Luckily, the operation and programming are simple enough that the instructions were not needed.

Nice shots as always tank is looking good. Do you have a PAR meter? Or know what your getting in the tank

rodneyri - Thanks for the compliments. I borrowed a Par Meter from a LFS once and took some readings. If I remember right I was getting about 500 at the top and 150 on the bottom. Don't quote me on that but it was in that neighborhood. Regardless of the par readings, the 500W of MH and 216W of T5's seems to be more than enough for the tank.

 

[rodneyri]

thanks for the response, those numbers are not bad, have you had SPS on the bottom or try to keep them higher up

 

[Rodrigo_BG]

following your thread since the beginning cause I really enjoy your devotion to perfection.

 

[Reefnut2010]

Very nice build throughout. You attention to detail is scary !! But that's a good thing..lol. My favorite part of your build was wire management. Superb Job !!!

 

[GPB]

Great tank. What type of Starfish do you have. Any particular care requirements or concerns? This tank is headed for TOTM in 2013! You seem to have it really figured out.

 

[JTHubbard]

I'm brand new to the hobby with a BioCube 29.

I can't say anything about what you have accomplished with this build that you haven't heard over and over. However, I feel the need to compliment you on every aspect and detail! All I can say is WOW!!! I ran across your journal today and haven't been able to stop reading.

From beginning up to the present you have truly set an example for newbies and long time reefers. Your vision and attention to detail has yet to waver but has continued to evolve throughout the journey.

Even though I am new to the hobby and years from anything close to what you are doing, your journal is a valuable resource of information and direction for me and I'm sure others as well.

I'm also an amateur photographer with limited skills. Getting into this hobby has revived my interest, so may I also say thank you for your wonderful photographs and thoughts on them!!

I look forward to reading and learning more so please continue when you can!!

Todd Hubbard

 

[urbaneks]

Viewpoints - 2/10/12 Responses to Feedback

Viewpoints - 2/10/12 Responses to Feedback

Viewpoints - 2/10/12 Responses to Feedback

thanks for the response, those numbers are not bad, have you had SPS on the bottom or try to keep them higher up

rodneyri - I do have some SPS lower in the tank. With that said, other than an ORA Hawkins, the ones sitting lower in the tank are not growing nearly as well as those up high in the tank. I'm considering moving the few LPS I have to the lower locations and relocating the SPS to new locations.

following your thread since the beginning cause I really enjoy your devotion to perfection.

Rodrigo_BG - Thanks so much! I appreciate you following along on the journey.

Very nice build throughout. You attention to detail is scary !! But that's a good thing..lol. My favorite part of your build was wire management. Superb Job !!!

Reefnut2010 - Thanks for the view and kinds words. My attention to detail could be classified as excessive but I think in a hobby where chemistry, water quality, equipment and living organisms come together requires tight controls. I too still enjoy the equipment panel and wire management that went into the tank. When the wires aren't in a knot it makes everything else easier to get to.

Great tank. What type of Starfish do you have. Any particular care requirements or concerns? This tank is headed for TOTM in 2013! You seem to have it really figured out.

GPB - Thanks for the compliment on the tank. The Starfish is a Red Sea Star (Fromia Milleporella). Very easy to care for, they are film eaters so they just roam abound on the rocks and sometimes the glass. As for TOTM, one could only hope and dream!

I'm brand new to the hobby with a BioCube 29.

I can't say anything about what you have accomplished with this build that you haven't heard over and over. However, I feel the need to compliment you on every aspect and detail! All I can say is WOW!!! I ran across your journal today and haven't been able to stop reading.

From beginning up to the present you have truly set an example for newbies and long time reefers. Your vision and attention to detail has yet to waver but has continued to evolve throughout the journey.

Even though I am new to the hobby and years from anything close to what you are doing, your journal is a valuable resource of information and direction for me and I'm sure others as well.

I'm also an amateur photographer with limited skills. Getting into this hobby has revived my interest, so may I also say thank you for your wonderful photographs and thoughts on them!!

I look forward to reading and learning more so please continue when you can!!

Todd Hubbard

JTHubbard - First of all welcome to the hobby. I started my reefing adventure with a 28g Nano Cube. Great size to test the waters if you will.

I was very excited to read your comments as it seems like some of my time spent documenting in the journal will be put to good use. The extra time spent documenting the tank is worth it for me if just one other person finds it helpful. I'm by no means an expert in the hobby but if there are any questions you have during your build, start up or maintenance, just send me a PM here on RC. Again, thanks so much for the kind words.

 

[urbaneks]

Viewpoints - 2/10/12 Photo Update

Viewpoints - 2/10/12 Photo Update

Viewpoints - 2/10/12 Photo Update

It's been a bit since I've updated any photos. Here are a couple that were taken this week.

Oregon Tort - One of my favorites! Beautiful blues and greens and always has great polyp extension.

X-Factor Cap - Sticking with the blue and green theme from the Oregon Tort, here is a shot of my X-Factor Cap. I got this frag from a a friend of mine who lives close by. It's growing quickly, but then again it's a cap. I love how you can see a couple lonely polyps out on the rim.

Purple Stuff - I got this piece from the same friend noted on the X-Factor. I don't think the name is official but it's what he called it so I'm going with it. This coral is difficult to photograph, this is about the best shot I can get of it. This coral will eventually table and also has great PE all the time. You can see at the base that it's really starting to encrust. ​

 

[Padrino]

urbaneks,
Your photos are really well taken, are you using a macro lens? Great work and keep the updates coming.
Cheers
Rob

 

[urbaneks]

Viewpoints - 2/21/12 Response to Feedback

Viewpoints - 2/21/12 Response to Feedback

Viewpoints - 2/21/12 Response to Feedback

urbaneks,
Your photos are really well taken, are you using a macro lens? Great work and keep the updates coming.
Cheers
Rob

Padrino - Thanks for the view and compliment. I am in the market for a nice macro lens but I currently don't have one. I use extension tubes ($70) which go between the camera body and the lens and it changes the focal point of your lens. You could say it's a poor man's macro lens.

 

[urbaneks]

Viewpoints - 2-21-12 Photo Update

Viewpoints - 2-21-12 Photo Update

Viewpoints - 2-21-12 Photo Update

It's been almost a month since my last photo upload. Somewhere along the line, I mentioned that I was going to cut my MB7 dosing as I was not sure if it was doing anything. Well I learned the hard way that it was indeed doing something. Within a week of stopping the dosing I started to get Cyano. This was about the same time that I added the dosing pump and switched from Bio Cal to Randy's Two Part. Because I had made more than one change at a time, I was not sure what was causing the Cyano.

After about a week of trying to knock the Cyano out, I finally decided it had to be the lack of MB7 and my tanks reliance on it. I've since started dosing MB7 according to the directions for a high nutrient tank. Every day it's gotten better and the skimmer has really been busy.

With the Cyano hopefully behind me, I took a few pictures today that show the current status of the aquarium. Other than Cyano outbreak the most noteworthy update was the addition of a Gorgonian. You can see it placed in the center trench. I wanted something tall that draws the eyes to the back of the trench. I think the Gorgonian does a pretty good job of it. Below is a picture, not the best but gives an idea of the new addition .

A Gorgonia was added to provide some height in the center trench​

One of the photos I took today was of the Chili Pepper Monti. After getting the image onto my pc, I realized how much it has grown in the last couple months. I went back and grabbed some pictures of the same coral over the past 4 months. Here is the growth progression of the Monti. It really seems to be liking the constant Alk/Cal/Mag availability provided by the dosing pump.

These 3 images show the growth progression of the Chili Pepper Monti since October​

One last photo for this update. I decided to enter a picture into the Photo of the Month Contest on another site. Here is my attempt at an Abstract Photo. Believe it or not but I had to work pretty hard to get this shot. I must of taken 20 to get this 1. If I was trying to get clear images of the fish I probably would have gotten a blurry one. I do really like how despite all of the motion/blur, you can see the sharp detail of the bottom fin.

My abstract photo entry into this months photo contest - Tang In Motion​

 

[synrg]

Love the photo! Very cool. Great growth on the Chili Pepper. Interesting about the MB7 dosing. It is good to know that it is working.