Grim's 210g (Final update.)

I have used these methods to maintain parameters. Large water changes, manual dosing, auto dosing using a Profilux, Calcium Reactor (GEO 618, Schuran Jetstream 1, and AquaCare Turbo CaRx, and CaRX with Geo Kalk reactor.

Basically there are pros and cons for all types of methods. What it comes down to is how you are with maintenance. Out of all the methods I have used, a calcium reactor worked best for me. Drawbacks are the low PH of the effluent that returns to the tank. There are a few ways to combat this, one is to have the effluent drip into a specimen box and have an air pump. I actually liked all three reactors I used. Drawback is the amount of real estate the reactor and Co2 bottle take up. Once dialed in, the reactor never needs to be messed with, unless you have to replace media.

Had the most trouble with: Auto dosing
I had 1 1/2 gallon containers for my Ca, Alk, Mg, and it was a pain to top off every few days, I didn't have room under the stand for anything larger. I had issues with my Profilux, which wasn't the manufacturers fault, but to get parts for anything imported can be a huge pain. In reality, no matter how much you pay for a dosing pump, the motors on them are cheap, and are susceptible to failure.

Another pain:
Calcium Reactor with GEO kalk
To maintain higher ph during the wintertime, I would place my Kalk reactor online. Kalk reactors have been a pain for me, you really should have it set to stir for 15 minutes, and then have it pump an hour later. I would find my tank cloudy from kalk that wasn't mixed properly. I have seen people that had auto top offs stick open, and run saturated kalk water into the tank until empty. This of course would turn the tank white, and leave a dusting over everything.

Safest method....
Manual dosing...just the fact that you are doing it, means the chances of failure are next to none. Problems to be known would be dosing large amounts at once, where a dosing pump can be programmed to dose 20+ times a day, which of course keeps everything fairly stable=no spikes.

With that said, I know no one personally who has ever failed manual dosing. Its just a pain to do everyday.

 

Well... I got to send my apex back again!! This sucks... I really hope my corals don't fry as a result of this.

 

why whats wrong with the apex??

 

I need an ID on this one!

 

I really appreciate this write up! Thank you so much. I think I may be able to pull of failing at manual dosing!! I was so bad about it on my last tank. What was the best Calcium Reactor you have worked with or know of?

 

Looks HUGE and really, really nice.

You have done an awesome job. At this rate is it going to be a real show case reef, congrats and I am a little jealous.

 

Wow.... Incredible tank. I love your aquascape.

 

As I entered programming for the outlets, the unit would freeze and then reset all the memory. 2nd time I have had to send it back to them. After owning it for 2 months all it has been is a $900 power strip!!

 

Thank you!! It's been so much fun setting it up! I hope I can maintain it as well! I am finding new addictions in this hobby daily! By the way, a lot of the SPS I got from my LFS was cheap because it was brown. My LFS assured me that it will color up over time under my lights. Does this sound right? And if so, about how long is that process?

Thank you! I truely appreciate it! I'm thrilled with the turn out of the rockwork. I redid it a bunch of times to get it to this point. I had never scaped anything besides my 30 prior to this! About 330lbs of rock in there!

 

The 210 gallon build! - to keep up with the progress over time 210 Gallon Mixed Reef pictures by thatgrimguy - Photobucket