Mindflux Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 I'll be picking up my pre-owned Solana 34g tank next weekend with the stand. In preparation I am trying to buy up supplies I'll need. I was recommended to use B-Ionic 2 Part Calc/Alk and Chemi-Pure Elite. But I'm thinking of substituting those for the BRS Calc/Alk "Recipe 1" and the Chemi Pure Elite substitution would be BRS ROX in a 200 micron mesh filter sock and BRS GFO Pellet in another mesh filter sock. (these socks: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/brs-mesh-filter-sock-4-x-14-200-micron-w-draw-string.html) Would this work OK? I've read GFO is best used in a reactor, but obviously I'm not trying to "go big" right off the bat. I've also got a refractometer in my cart. I'm also undecided on an ATO system since the factory one isn't worth a darn. Can anyone give me any tips/suggestions if I'm on the right path? The Solana I'm buying has been upgraded to a Tunze 9002 skimmer, it'll come with a Tunze 6025 pump for moving water around, as well as the previous owners live rock/live sand. Thanks for your help and kindness. Last minute addition: I'm being told the 'sump' section of the Solana might not fit the 4"x14" filter socks I was intending to use (even though I didn't plan to fill them to the brim with media. ... that might squelch that plan. Should I just go with Chemi-Pure Elite or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 You could run GFO and carbon in 1 reactor, like a BRS single. You'd just need some tubing and a pump to feed it. Not sure where you could place the pump in the back of a Solana though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mindflux Posted April 20, 2011 Author Share Posted April 20, 2011 You could run GFO and carbon in 1 reactor, like a BRS single. You'd just need some tubing and a pump to feed it. Not sure where you could place the pump in the back of a Solana though. Yeah that's another issue (and more expense)... trying to avoid that for now. I don't actually hear too much about people running Carbon/GFO reactors maybe they're just an unsaid item or for bigger tanks?. I mostly hear about Kalk/Calc .. Any thoughts on the rest? The supplements etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 Truthfully, to get started you do not really need to be dosing. Running some type of carbon (be it Chemi-Pure or a filter sock with carbon) is a good idea. As you speculated, by not filling a sock up fully would allow you to squeeze it into a sump area. I haven't owned a Solana, but I did have an Aquapod 24g years back, and the filter sock worked for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mindflux Posted April 20, 2011 Author Share Posted April 20, 2011 Truthfully, to get started you do not really need to be dosing. Yeah, I realize that. But eventually I *WILL* have to dose (whichever way I go it's hard to say but I'm imagining most folks start of manually dosing), and buying the supplies up front and scoring free shipping from BRS is part of my motiviation behind ordering these now rather than later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 What are your plans for livestock? Dosing is necessary when you have a boatload of corals, like SPS. But regular water changes on a small tank actually will keep the needed levels up for most corals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbnj Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 I use the BRS ROX carbon. Maybe it's just my impression, but my water seems to stay much clearer, much longer compared to other carbon I've used. I switched to the BRS Soda Ash for Alk (huge savings), but I still use Seachem Reef Compete for calcium because it doses other ions as well (magnesium & strontium). I hated B-Ionic....could never keep Ca/Alk in balance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mindflux Posted April 20, 2011 Author Share Posted April 20, 2011 Probably whatever is easiest at first. I sure like the look of zoas though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wa1tx Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 Probably whatever is easiest at first. I sure like the look of zoas though I have quite a few zoas in my BC 29 and they are doing really well with no dosing at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mindflux Posted April 20, 2011 Author Share Posted April 20, 2011 Probably whatever is easiest at first. I sure like the look of zoas though I have quite a few zoas in my BC 29 and they are doing really well with no dosing at all. Really? Well maybe I can save myself $40 here up front on calc/alk/mg kit... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wa1tx Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 I agree with James on the smaller tanks dosing can be avoided by regular water changes.I do 5 gal every Sunday morning. I mix my own saltwater and use (IMO) good salt which replenishes what is taken out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mindflux Posted April 20, 2011 Author Share Posted April 20, 2011 I agree with James on the smaller tanks dosing can be avoided by regular water changes.I do 5 gal every Sunday morning. I mix my own saltwater and use (IMO) good salt which replenishes what is taken out. Do you also make your own RODI water? I know you're in the RR area (if I'm not mistaken) and was wondering if there's an OK place to buy RO water around here? I won't have room for a RODI system (or tanks) for a while..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbnj Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 River City Aquatics (near Round Rock) sells RO/DI....$1 for 5 gallons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wa1tx Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 I jut ordered an rodi chloramine unit from BRS today. Until I get it set up I get my water from the water jug on mays by the snow cone place. The water there ia as good as the fish stores on TDS. 7ppm when I measured the last batch I got compared to 365ppm coming out of my faucet. If you use the self service outside it ia cheaper bit it only takes $1 bills and coins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mindflux Posted April 20, 2011 Author Share Posted April 20, 2011 I jut ordered an rodi chloramine unit from BRS today. Until I get it set up I get my water from the water jug on mays by the snow cone place. The water there ia as good as the fish stores on TDS. 7ppm when I measured the last batch I got compared to 365ppm coming out of my faucet. If you use the self service outside it ia cheaper bit it only takes $1 bills and coins. Yeah someone else told me about The Water Jug. I'll have to stop in after I get some containers. I was eyeing a RODI+Chloramine unit too, but my biggest issue is nowhere to store a sizable container for RODI water and no way to stop the flow once the container fills without baby sitting it. I suppose a float switch and a solenoid could work for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wa1tx Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 They do not really have good aquarium containers at the water jug. I would go to one of the fish stores for those. Do you know for sure you need the chloramine unit? If your water provider does not use chloramine as a primary or secondary disinfectant it would be wasted money probably. I looked at the water quality report for Manville and saw chloramines and then called them to get clarification. Manville does use chloramines but only on part of there delivery system (the part that supplies my house) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mindflux Posted April 20, 2011 Author Share Posted April 20, 2011 I just know the round rock water report mentions chloramines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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