its hip to be square.... - Page 29

biecacka · 02/19/2016, 11:18 AM

Here is my current light schedule with my rapidled kits. They are set up to mimic the radion.

Any input?

Corey

biecacka · 02/24/2016, 03:46 PM

Just tested water again, nitrates still seem around 5 or so as last week. However I noticed that my alk has risen to 14 from 10 over the last 2 weeks... No water changes to replenish anything. CArx is offline. Any thoughts on how to get it back in control. Test kits Salifert says it's good until 9/17....

Corey

SPS_77493 · 02/24/2016, 03:54 PM

Did you dose any type of buffers by any chance? Some of those supplements will increase your DKH.

biecacka · 02/24/2016, 09:01 PM

Just dosing vinegar/vodka. But I'm going to cut that back to lower alk. I think the carbon dosing is competing with the ATS so maybe the ATS can really take off now.

Corey

biecacka · 03/09/2016, 02:21 PM

Back under control. Was a bad test kit. Backed off vinegar and vodka dosing anyway, I'm going to let my ATS do its job. Tank is coming along, I turned the violet, uv, red, green, and orange in my LEDs way down and turned the blue way up. Tank looks better to the eye and the corals seem to like it too. I also throttled the return pump back. Got the CaRx back online and am dialing it in.
Photos to come....I have a friend who is going to adjust them for me in photoshop or something like it so hey come out clearer and more accurate.
Corey

hollback · 03/09/2016, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biecacka

I have a friend who is going to adjust them for me in photoshop or something like it so hey come out clearer and more accurate.

I can help you with that buddy! I need to make it over to your place someday.

boostedvq · 03/10/2016, 05:32 AM

great tank; i just went through every page and I appreciate the documentation you shared with us.

Do you have a current FTS? I'm eager to see how it looks now.

biecacka · 03/10/2016, 12:06 PM

Sure thing jason! Lindsey has a few pictures of some pieces I just put in he's going to edit them for me. I'd love to bring my camera over over and learn a thing or two or 3!

Corey

biecacka · 03/22/2016, 03:12 PM

Red digi....hoping to slowly turn the tank into SPS dominant..

Few orange anthias I picked up the other day. There are 4, one male and three females.

Corey

biecacka · 04/06/2016, 07:48 PM

Few changes to the tank, I switched back to the halide set up. I was too unsure if my led spectrum was correct. Had I bout the kessil's I mig have stayed with led, you can't mess that spectrum up. I might even try the AP700 kessil one day. But for now it's back to the halide and I'll add some led supplement bars to it.
Since I switched back to a single light, a buddy came over and we redid all my rock work. Moved it closer towards the center of the tank to provide better light for my next soon to be additions. More SPS turn in the tank.
Once photobucket quits stalling on me, I'll upload a few pictures.

Corey

biecacka · 04/07/2016, 04:45 PM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3....jpg%5B/IMG%5D

Final scape

Corey

jason2459 · 04/07/2016, 07:41 PM

looks very nice

biecacka · 04/07/2016, 09:19 PM

Thanks jason!
I been lurking in your thread as well.

Corey

jason2459 · 04/07/2016, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biecacka

Thanks jason!
I been lurking in your thread as well.

Corey

Getting close to some changes myself. I might be moving my sump. It'll still be in the basement but directly under the tank. I have to finish a bathroom renovation and laundry room move first. Getting a new skimmer in soon too. A MTC MVX 36"

biecacka · 04/08/2016, 11:17 AM

Great choice on that skimmer man!

Corey

biecacka · 04/11/2016, 07:34 PM

So for the last 3-4 days I have been stirring up my shallow sand bed. I removed a fair amount of rock and now I'm stirring up sections a few times a day to help remove any excess buildup that might be there. It's actually quite disgusting to see how murky the water gets from a small patch. I'm changing filter socks every other day and my skimmer is pulling nasty gunk. So I know it's working.

. But while doing so my nitrates have slowly increased but I feel it's for the better as I am removing crud from my tank. Hopefully before it breaks down or breaks down more. So a slight increase in nitrates in an attempt to remove them quicker.

Any thoughts?

corey

dave.m · 04/12/2016, 12:10 AM

You could use a gravel vacuum tube to suck up a small portion of the sandbed every other day. The weight of the sand causes it to rise up a short ways in the vacuum tube and fall down again, while the softer crud gets sucked up and out of the tank. Do this into a measured container and replace that much water with fresh saltwater. Using the vacuum tube reduces the amount of crud that gets left to circulate in the system, reducing the amount of pollution.

Dave.M

biecacka · 04/12/2016, 04:19 PM

Dave, I'm going to do that. I just forget to buy it from my LFS when I'm there. He guys in my local group,said the same thing. So I text the LFS owner and asked him to put one up for me and when I come in. Remind me to buy it. He's only open part of the week so I forget when I'm in there and remember when he is closed.

Corey

biecacka · 04/17/2016, 05:18 PM

Used the gravel vacuum and the water I removed was disgusting brown. Really shocked me, with the new open rockwork there are less places for it to settle that I can't get to. There is also better circulation in the tank to keep it suspended so the fish can get to it. I'm looking into a some sand stirring creatures. Gobies and snails to help out on the sand bed. I have 3 brittle stars that help, but might put a few emerald crabs or something in the tank, although they worry me a bit. Going to siphon the tank again this week to get some more out. Tank looks good. I need to get some pictures posted of some new frags I've got.

Corey

dave.m · 04/18/2016, 12:15 PM

Those are just surface stirrers. You need something that will get down into the deeper sand and hoover up the muck. I sugggest nassarius snails and conchs.

Dave.M

biecacka · 04/18/2016, 05:55 PM

I'm adding more nassarius snails. Conchs never had good luck in my tank. I only have about 75lbs of sand. It's an inch deep in most places. Some places it's maybe 2.

Corey

biecacka · 05/16/2016, 01:30 PM

Well the halide is doing what they do.....slowly switching my tank over to SPS predominantly and my ATLstrawberry fields is already encrusting. Which is a big deal to me!!

Just stay on this path and it'll all work out.
Also super glued a few of those pesky vermatid snails. Hope that helps a bit.

Corey

SPotter · 05/16/2016, 01:32 PM

What bulb are you using Corey?

biecacka · 05/16/2016, 04:43 PM

Corey

biecacka · 05/16/2016, 04:48 PM

Crappy iPhone pictures. I need to get my camera out, and learn to use it!

I have 10 or so more SPS pieces coming soon as well. Was holding off until water and lights were under control and they appear to be on that path.
Steve I am using the Hamilton 20k now. It was what was available quickest when I switched over, I do like it. But might try the 14k or even 12k on my next bulb. Supplement with LED strip bars to maximize growth. What bulbs are you using on your tank?

Corey

04/07/2016, 07:41 PM	#712
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	looks very nice __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

04/12/2016, 12:10 AM	#717
dave.m Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Canadia Posts: 4,276	You could use a gravel vacuum tube to suck up a small portion of the sandbed every other day. The weight of the sand causes it to rise up a short ways in the vacuum tube and fall down again, while the softer crud gets sucked up and out of the tank. Do this into a measured container and replace that much water with fresh saltwater. Using the vacuum tube reduces the amount of crud that gets left to circulate in the system, reducing the amount of pollution. Dave.M __________________ My Gawd! It's full of corals! Current Tank Info: None. Nil. Zip. Nada.

04/18/2016, 12:15 PM	#720
dave.m Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Canadia Posts: 4,276	Those are just surface stirrers. You need something that will get down into the deeper sand and hoover up the muck. I sugggest nassarius snails and conchs. Dave.M __________________ My Gawd! It's full of corals! Current Tank Info: None. Nil. Zip. Nada.

05/16/2016, 01:32 PM	#723
SPotter Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC Posts: 5,691	What bulb are you using Corey? __________________ Steve Am I really doing all of this for a fish tank?????? Current Tank Info: 360g Envision Acrylic Tank, Closed Loops, Vectra L1's, MP40QD's, 400w Radiums, Regal 300ext, Dastaco Ext3 CaRx, Controlled by GHL Profilux

02/19/2016, 11:18 AM	#701
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Here is my current light schedule with my rapidled kits. They are set up to mimic the radion. Any input? Corey

02/24/2016, 03:46 PM	#702
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Just tested water again, nitrates still seem around 5 or so as last week. However I noticed that my alk has risen to 14 from 10 over the last 2 weeks... No water changes to replenish anything. CArx is offline. Any thoughts on how to get it back in control. Test kits Salifert says it's good until 9/17.... Corey

02/24/2016, 03:54 PM	#703
SPS_77493 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 172	Did you dose any type of buffers by any chance? Some of those supplements will increase your DKH.

02/24/2016, 09:01 PM	#704
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Just dosing vinegar/vodka. But I'm going to cut that back to lower alk. I think the carbon dosing is competing with the ATS so maybe the ATS can really take off now. Corey

03/09/2016, 02:21 PM	#705
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Back under control. Was a bad test kit. Backed off vinegar and vodka dosing anyway, I'm going to let my ATS do its job. Tank is coming along, I turned the violet, uv, red, green, and orange in my LEDs way down and turned the blue way up. Tank looks better to the eye and the corals seem to like it too. I also throttled the return pump back. Got the CaRx back online and am dialing it in. Photos to come....I have a friend who is going to adjust them for me in photoshop or something like it so hey come out clearer and more accurate. Corey

03/10/2016, 05:32 AM	#707
boostedvq Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Cali Posts: 311	great tank; i just went through every page and I appreciate the documentation you shared with us. Do you have a current FTS? I'm eager to see how it looks now.

03/10/2016, 12:06 PM	#708
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Sure thing jason! Lindsey has a few pictures of some pieces I just put in he's going to edit them for me. I'd love to bring my camera over over and learn a thing or two or 3! Corey

03/22/2016, 03:12 PM	#709
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Red digi....hoping to slowly turn the tank into SPS dominant.. Few orange anthias I picked up the other day. There are 4, one male and three females. Corey

04/06/2016, 07:48 PM	#710
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Few changes to the tank, I switched back to the halide set up. I was too unsure if my led spectrum was correct. Had I bout the kessil's I mig have stayed with led, you can't mess that spectrum up. I might even try the AP700 kessil one day. But for now it's back to the halide and I'll add some led supplement bars to it. Since I switched back to a single light, a buddy came over and we redid all my rock work. Moved it closer towards the center of the tank to provide better light for my next soon to be additions. More SPS turn in the tank. Once photobucket quits stalling on me, I'll upload a few pictures. Corey

04/07/2016, 04:45 PM	#711
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3....jpg%5B/IMG%5D Final scape Corey

04/07/2016, 09:19 PM	#713
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Thanks jason! I been lurking in your thread as well. Corey

04/08/2016, 11:17 AM	#715
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Great choice on that skimmer man! Corey

04/11/2016, 07:34 PM	#716
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	So for the last 3-4 days I have been stirring up my shallow sand bed. I removed a fair amount of rock and now I'm stirring up sections a few times a day to help remove any excess buildup that might be there. It's actually quite disgusting to see how murky the water gets from a small patch. I'm changing filter socks every other day and my skimmer is pulling nasty gunk. So I know it's working. . But while doing so my nitrates have slowly increased but I feel it's for the better as I am removing crud from my tank. Hopefully before it breaks down or breaks down more. So a slight increase in nitrates in an attempt to remove them quicker. Any thoughts? corey

04/12/2016, 04:19 PM	#718
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Dave, I'm going to do that. I just forget to buy it from my LFS when I'm there. He guys in my local group,said the same thing. So I text the LFS owner and asked him to put one up for me and when I come in. Remind me to buy it. He's only open part of the week so I forget when I'm in there and remember when he is closed. Corey

04/17/2016, 05:18 PM	#719
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Used the gravel vacuum and the water I removed was disgusting brown. Really shocked me, with the new open rockwork there are less places for it to settle that I can't get to. There is also better circulation in the tank to keep it suspended so the fish can get to it. I'm looking into a some sand stirring creatures. Gobies and snails to help out on the sand bed. I have 3 brittle stars that help, but might put a few emerald crabs or something in the tank, although they worry me a bit. Going to siphon the tank again this week to get some more out. Tank looks good. I need to get some pictures posted of some new frags I've got. Corey

04/18/2016, 05:55 PM	#721
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	I'm adding more nassarius snails. Conchs never had good luck in my tank. I only have about 75lbs of sand. It's an inch deep in most places. Some places it's maybe 2. Corey

05/16/2016, 01:30 PM	#722
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Well the halide is doing what they do.....slowly switching my tank over to SPS predominantly and my ATLstrawberry fields is already encrusting. Which is a big deal to me!! Just stay on this path and it'll all work out. Also super glued a few of those pesky vermatid snails. Hope that helps a bit. Corey

05/16/2016, 04:43 PM	#724
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Corey

05/16/2016, 04:48 PM	#725
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Crappy iPhone pictures. I need to get my camera out, and learn to use it! I have 10 or so more SPS pieces coming soon as well. Was holding off until water and lights were under control and they appear to be on that path. Steve I am using the Hamilton 20k now. It was what was available quickest when I switched over, I do like it. But might try the 14k or even 12k on my next bulb. Supplement with LED strip bars to maximize growth. What bulbs are you using on your tank? Corey