bananags

hi,

i finally got my calcium reactor up running: 7lbs korallin + a small amount of Mg rock

Build using this plan: http://www.melevsreef.com/dj88.html

I read a bunch of stuff on how to tune and start a new calcium reactor set up, but there are a few things that I am not clear and need some pointers.

Initial level before reactor run: (using salifer test kit)

~360 Ca

~10.2 dkH

8.0 pH (tank)

-Effluent set for steady Drops to a cup

-Ph controller is set measure effluent pH level set ==> ~6.6 (cut off Co2) (Milwaukee brand Co2 controller/just calibrated)

-Bubble count set at ~120/min

From what I read, bubble count does not really matter if I have a Co2 controller, as long as I can get to the proper pH 6.5-6.9 level (effluent side at output ie second chamber) with my bubble count setting to melt Ca material, any adjustment to effluent flow rate will need to compensate with Co2

(i understand the concept, enough Co2 in the reactor to drop pH, let the controller take care of the rest)

After 3 days run of the reactor: (steady, measure once in each 24hrs interval)

~420Ca

~14.5dKH

8.0pH (tank)

===> is the 14.5dKH level normal? if not how do I fix this?

I think my goal was around 440 Ca, somewhere between 7-11dKH

IF I understand this correctly, you can't increase Ca level w/o increase alkalinity

Thus, if my system right now is at 420Ca and 14.5dKH ==> how do I fix this?

or how to I get to Alkalinity back down to in the "good" range 7-11.5 w/o effecting my calcium level

Thanks

Anh

floating ;-)

Nice! Is the macro floating, or is it sitting on a shelf?

Finally got it huge sump installed, almost didn't fit ha ha ;-)

Thanks Craig, great work.

The sump design we came up with worked perfectly, no more micro bubble for me, lot of flow and room for the fuge

I added mounts for sensors and holder for pH probe

FYI: approximately 30"L x 17"W x 18"H

Anh

picture taken right after install at 2AM ;-)

Thank you. Very good info. I will build a small rig to hold the tank so it won't fall over during the drive home

I am aware of the co2 warning, but you just remind me again something that I totally forgot

(transportation of the tank)

Anh

thanks. i have been in austin home brew many time before ;-)

i'll check them out

trim yours and give me some...please

I am getting a new sump soon, I could really use more to to replace my depleted macro in existing sump due to

low water flow into it

Thanks

Regards

Anh

I am setting up a Ca reactor, got a new 5gal co2

Where do I go to fill this up? prefer some place close to 183/burnet area if possible =)

thanks

Anh

i'll take some if you still have any extra left. Craig is building me a new sump. So soon, i will need to redo my sump. I definitely could you some more macro

what I read in the past is that size 2-3mm are best, not too small and not too big, also provide maximum surface contact area. but I guess depend on your reactor, if you run high bubble rate, more acidic--> easier to melt calcium ;-)

here is Ross

bump-- no one wanted him?

drop price a bit, $15 or I'll trade for him some emerald crabs or cleaner shrimp

is there any focus setting at the eye viewer hole on yours?

like on the camera, there is an adjustment for the viewer hole for the people with near/far sight problem w/o using glasses

maybe your is set out of wack, I can see it clearly like black and white as long as there is a light source in the front/top of the refractometer

it should look clear and crisp like looking out to the ocean horizon on a sunny day.

I am trying to decide if I should do it myself (for lack of knowing of a good contractor, does anyone know or can recommend one to me) or find someone professionally build me a wood patio cover /gazebo

it's 10' x 20' in size, at least that is what I have in mind

it will attach to the patio in the back of the house. if you have a picture of something you have, that you would like to share, that would be nice, I am looking for idea also.

Thanks

Anh

I have this little guy for a 4-5 months already. eat like crazy.

He is getting too big and keep knocking stuff over in my tank

he is about the size of a golf ball. Look great in a show tank.

price $20

Pickup only

location Round Rock, Texas

email "[email protected]"

picture showed here are taken a few months back, he has switched to a bigger shell since

i would run some carbon, maybe there is toxic in the water?? from the tank glue or something before?

that would be my guessing.

thank guys/gals for all the suggestion and comment.

I agree that I should get a bigger sump anyway. the existing sump can handle power outage with about 2-3 gal volume to spare. But space is so tight now. no room for error or time for the bubble to free itself to the surface.

I also checked with Craig on making a new sump (a bigger one), hopefully, he will get back with me soon.

for now, I'll try to switch the pump out to get a lower flow rate first, see if that can work.

I need to think about a new design for the sump, I know I wanted an option to run sponge at least, to keep the water clean. For me,

clean or replace the sponge is much easier than a filter sock.

But other than that I hate micro bubble

time for me to research on what are the best sump with refugium set up =)

here is my sump, i ordered a Panworld 50PX just now, hope this will work.

this is picture before install.

water from tank enter the top left area, travel to the right into skimmer input, run back to pump return chamber, i thought this would work, but so far still not working right, i think a lower flow rate will make it work much better

comment welcome. maybe get idea on how to fix or for the next sump built

I also have a T back to sump on my sump output, but the problem is the sump is so small, and too much water movement, the water from the T connection run right back in the pump in no time, in combination, it generates a lot of micro bubble this way

hee hee, thanks guys. you just confirmed my gut feeling that I am putting too much water through the sump.

I am looking to get a Panworld 50X suppose to be iwaki 30 equivalent. I think that will give me a about 5x turn over.

save me some electricity also ;-) yay

i'd like to have a bigger sump also, but space is a problem for me for a 4ft long 125gal tank.

I would need someone to custom make one for me or when time permit I'll build another out of acrylic instead, using existing glass tank just won't do it for me. But as of now, after building the 2nd sump, I rather pay someone that know what they are doing and make me a sump, with a new born in the house, my wife is not very happy with me keep running out and adjusting the sump.

Right now , have a refuge and an Euro Reef RS180 in a 29gal sump tank, really tight space, I maximized the space in the sump as much as I can already, but I imagine it will work if I can can cut the flow rate in 1/2 or so.

I wished the tank/stand would be longer, but too late now.

I built the second sump already, but i can't stop the micro bubble. The bubble trap does nothing for me.

I can't seem to stop this, the only way i can fix this is to put both of the drain and output of skimmer into a filter sock.

Tank 125gal, sump is made out of a 29gal glass tank.

Return pump is Iwaki WMD40RXLT rate at 850gph (at 10ft),

my return is 1" pipe at 6 ft height, so I used a 10ft rate to account for the two 90deg bend

What do you think about the 850gph return rate through a 29gal? I must have way to much flow. The drain from the tank is 1.5" PVC (it's like 2" dia) i have a valve that I can turn that down.

I do have a close loop for water movement.

is 5x turn over per hr for the sump normal for a reef tank? got to get a new pump now....

or build a bigger sump, I heard Craig will build custom sump, what is his login name?

hey, Karen, i would be really careful went getting free macro or free stuff from other tank.

you never know what come with it. some maybe benefit and other stuff may not.

I got some free cheato to add to my existing, got a lot of pod, but also a lot of the bad flatworm too, i had shut down my sump and dose a lot of medicine to kill them, end up wipe out a lot of pods also.

could not figure out how to edit the post, the last part did not make any sense ha ha

"I did a lot of hw on this subject before, i know about the long term solution, I just need to remove some of the stuff I have now w/o take out the rock and scrub it. My sea hare died before it removed all the HA, so I need an alternative"

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~CM1311.html

I found Marinedepot sell a bottle of Chem-marin Stop Hair Algae that supposed to kill this algae if spray close to it

it's reef safe. Have any tried this before?

I did a lot of hw, i know about the longer solution, I just need to remove some of the stuff I have now

by sea hare died before it removed all the HA

how long can HA stay alive w/o light? you said one month already

make me wonder if you still leak some light in the tank or you have some crazy algae

i would think 2 weeks of 100% darkest will kill HA ? any scientific research on this =)

Update

My sea hare died. I have a large mexican hermit crab (a bit bigger than a golf ball size)

it has been picking on the sea hare once in a while, but everything seems ok, i got the sea hea maybe 2 weeks now

I have been watching the sea hare really closely everyday. yesterday i saw the hermit crab was picking stuff off the sea hare like normally, I went inside for a few min and come back out, i see the sea hare is releasing a big cloud of dark ink

knowing what it can do for my tank, i dived in and took the sea hare out

my skimmer is outputting a lot of pinkish bubbles, i think it got most of the ink out. fish seems ok as of this morning before i went to work.

I got 45 gal of new salt water ready to use, i'll try to replace 1/4 of the tank water tonight.

HA still there, the sea hare did not fix my tiny patches of HA in 3 weeks, my sea hare must be retarded. ha ha

I built a new sump also (testing for leak in garage now), maybe I can try a new sump also, this would be much better than my existing sump where i have to use the filter sock all the time. also, the placement of the skimmer also is bad in the current sump design, I think i did not skim enough stuff off the water due to this design --> causing HA.