d2mini's "Essential Focus" Mixed Reef Build

[Reefpuck]

Awesome looking tank! How's your damsel with the other fish?

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by Reefpuck

Awesome looking tank! How's your damsel with the other fish?

Thanks, the Springeri Damsels are great. Not aggressive.

[biecacka]

Dennis why are you no longer using the masterflex?

Corey

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by biecacka

Dennis why are you no longer using the masterflex?

Corey

I used that on my old calcium reactor setup on my previous tank. This is all new.
I don't have room in my stand for one of those big honkin things.

[biecacka]

I know it was on your previous set up, just thought you might carry it over. Which pump are you using now?

Corey

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by biecacka

I know it was on your previous set up, just thought you might carry it over. Which pump are you using now?

Corey

Just a little sicce for now.

[biecacka]

Dennis, in the past I know you had some spreadsheet or program you were using to track your water parameters. If I recall correctly ppl could log in and see them maybe?? I don't remember for sure.
What program is that? Do you still use it, like it?

Corey

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by biecacka

Dennis, in the past I know you had some spreadsheet or program you were using to track your water parameters. If I recall correctly ppl could log in and see them maybe?? I don't remember for sure.
What program is that? Do you still use it, like it?

Corey

Yes, I use AquaticLog.
The website as well as the iphone app.
I need to do some serious updating as far as my coral collection and stuff though.

http://www.aquaticlog.com/aquariums/d2mini/8

[pitbullceasar]

So what is your opinion after all this on the Triton method? Only reason I ask is I will be starting my 200 gallon build this winter and was contemplating the Triton method.

[biecacka]

I don't think he uses is anymore.....

Corey

[pitbullceasar]

I know he doesn’t but was still wondering his personal opinion on it meaning is he done with it all together and prefers the old school Berlin method?

[biecacka]

Fair enough. I just wasn't sure if you were aware he be stopped it, that's all.
I'll pull my nose from others business

Corey

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by pitbullceasar

So what is your opinion after all this on the Triton method? Only reason I ask is I will be starting my 200 gallon build this winter and was contemplating the Triton method.

It works and it's easy but I feel like it's less forgiving to mistakes.
But no different than any of the new "systems" that are out, like aquaforest, zeo, red sea, etc.
I guess after using it I'm not sure I see the advantage over just a standard Berlin style system with a calcium reactor.
I still like to periodically send in the ICP test though.

[pitbullceasar]

Thanks Dennis that really helps me in deciding which direction I’ll go. A buddy of mine had his 200 DD lose a seal after years of use so he sold it to me with the stand for $200 so I jumped on and am in the process of stripping it and resealing it. Awesome thread keep it up!

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by pitbullceasar

Thanks Dennis that really helps me in deciding which direction I’ll go. A buddy of mine had his 200 DD lose a seal after years of use so he sold it to me with the stand for $200 so I jumped on and am in the process of stripping it and resealing it. Awesome thread keep it up!

You're welcome. Good luck!

[Bpb]

Where did you find this fitting circled in red. I️ have a geo reactor also and want to switch to rigid airline tubing, but mine came with a barb fitting here for soft airline tube. I’d like to swap that piece for a push connect


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[Misled]

That looks like two fittings. The one on the left is a guest fitting screwed into the right. The right is an adaptor for size.

[Bpb]

I’ll have to pull the barb fitting and take it to the hardware store and see if I can find something that will fit. It’s so small I don’t see many male fittings at Lowe’s that size. They have guest fittings there but theyre all much bigger than this one on the male side


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[d2mini]

Originally Posted by Bpb

Where did you find this fitting circled in red. I️ have a geo reactor also and want to switch to rigid airline tubing, but mine came with a barb fitting here for soft airline tube. I’d like to swap that piece for a push connect


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

The circled fittings came on the reactor.

[Jeramirez85]

Ion from Houston and have seen some of your previous tank builds before. Awsome build setup you got there like always a lot of thorough planning involved.

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by Jeramirez85

Ion from Houston and have seen some of your previous tank builds before. Awsome build setup you got there like always a lot of thorough planning involved.

Thanks

[miston]

Originally Posted by d2mini

It works and it's easy but I feel like it's less forgiving to mistakes.
But no different than any of the new "systems" that are out, like aquaforest, zeo, red sea, etc.
I guess after using it I'm not sure I see the advantage over just a standard Berlin style system with a calcium reactor.
I still like to periodically send in the ICP test though.

Wonderful build! Very inspiring!

I read this thread over the weekend because I recently learned about the Triton method. The idea that I could successfully run a tank without water changes and have someone else do the bulk of the water testing was EXTREMELY EXCITING.

Thus I was extremely disappointed when you abandoned the Triton method after less than a year, about the time a tank starts to get established.

Do you really think it works? I am abandoning the idea of Triton after reading your thread in its entirety.

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by miston

Wonderful build! Very inspiring!



I read this thread over the weekend because I recently learned about the Triton method. The idea that I could successfully run a tank without water changes and have someone else do the bulk of the water testing was EXTREMELY EXCITING.



Thus I was extremely disappointed when you abandoned the Triton method after less than a year, about the time a tank starts to get established.



Do you really think it works? I am abandoning the idea of Triton after reading your thread in its entirety.

Thanks!

It works fine.
I️ guess for me I️ just didn’t see the point. Other than not having to do water changes I️ didn’t see an advantage. And a simple mistake like letting my nutrients get too low had some nasty results.
I️ felt I️ was just as happy running the old school Berlin method with refugium, calcium reactor and daily auto water changes.

[saf1]

And to follow-up a bit what D2Mini said above, the Triton method does work. In fact another good read would be to search for GlennF's 1500 liter mixed reef (I think that is it). It is pretty lengthy and informative.

There are many ways to skin the cat (figure of speech, please don't call PETA ). Just remember it is a hobby and some people like to keep it simple, some complex, and some middle of the road. I've always been of the mindset with D2's threads that he pays a lot of attention to detail, likes to automate, but more importantly, pays attention to the pulse of his tank and lets that guide his next step. In the end it falls back to the Berlin system with gadgets to support his inner-technology-reef-geekiness In all seriousness I think the Berlin or similar systems do well but it doesn't mean there are not other ways. Heck, people run long term successful tanks without skimmers

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by saf1

And to follow-up a bit what D2Mini said above, the Triton method does work. In fact another good read would be to search for GlennF's 1500 liter mixed reef (I think that is it). It is pretty lengthy and informative.

There are many ways to skin the cat (figure of speech, please don't call PETA ). Just remember it is a hobby and some people like to keep it simple, some complex, and some middle of the road. I've always been of the mindset with D2's threads that he pays a lot of attention to detail, likes to automate, but more importantly, pays attention to the pulse of his tank and lets that guide his next step. In the end it falls back to the Berlin system with gadgets to support his inner-technology-reef-geekiness In all seriousness I think the Berlin or similar systems do well but it doesn't mean there are not other ways. Heck, people run long term successful tanks without skimmers

Thank you, very well put. And any "gadgets" are just to help automate things or for the health of the tank. Never for the sake of just having gadgets.
For instance the CaRx adds more than just Alk and Calc, compared to two-part dosing. So the reactor is being used in place of a doser. The only additional piece of equipment is I'm now using the doser to perform my daily automatic water changes.

I've been asked this question A LOT this year, and I have absolutely nothing against Triton or their "method", and I still use their ICP tests. In fact I completely agree with the whole basis of the Triton Method which is using a refugium for natural filtration along with a skimmer and replicating NSW as closely as possible. That's what attracted me to it in the first place, not so much the water change thing. So the only real difference between what I'm doing now vs Triton is that I'm using the reactor instead of dosing their elements, and nothing is being dosed to feed the macro algae.