Grim's 210g (Final update.)

That's exactly what it is! Thank you! If it does well, I'll seek out another in a different color. It's a cool coral.

 

Thank you very much!! I really appreciate it. Set a goal, break it down to a daily basis, and get started! In due time you can get them!

 

Apparently, I got a really good deal!! Because, I found this article that shows the price tag for one this size around the $400 mark!

 

Did some water testing today

SG - 1.024 (I want to bring this to 1.026)

Calcium - 440
Alk - 7.3
Mag - 1240

Nitrate 10... I need to stop feeding so much I guess. Fuge and ATS will help though!
and my phosphate tester hasn't been delivered yet.

I got a couple buckets of bulk two part that I'm going to start manually dosing till I figure out what direction I'm going with maintaining my parameters.

 

I just got done reading some great articles on the differences between automated dosing and Ca reactors. I have decided on getting 3 BRS Dosing Pumps. I am going to use them to dose b-ionic 2 part and kalk. I will manually dose magnesium as needed. I can use my Apex to control it. I just hope the cost of media for this method doesn't get out of hand. Though, I think by the time demand out grows this system I'll be moving in to a bigger house and thus in to a bigger tank!

 

The easiest to use is my current one, but it costs the most. The two best things about it are the fact you do not need to worry about setting a bubble count, and it's very efficient with the CO2. The bad thing is that it's made overseas, and only a few online dealers sell the media. The other factor is that unlike other CaRx's this one can actually raise your alk and Ca, whereas, others can maintain it. For instance, my GEO reactor was run 24 hrs a day. My Aquacare is only run twice a day for two hours. Once it's set, you don't have to worry about it. If money isn't a factor, I highly recommend it. I actually got everything in a trade for a bunch of chalices. If you decide to get it, let me know if you need help setting it up.
AquaCare Calcium Reactor Model 1 - AquaCave
I highly recommend getting this also, this is key
AquaCare Calcium Reactor Controller with Solenoid - AquaCave
you need an air pump that is rated to do what it needs to do...I have this one, and got it for around 50.00 on Ebay
Luft High-Pressure Aquarium Air Pump 7 PSI Coralife/ESU | eBay
You want this too, dont skimp on this piece, it protects your controller
CO2 Brass Check Valve
for a regulator, you can get anything like this one that I have, don't pay extra for a regulator with a solenoid valve, you already have one in the controller.
Tunze Pressure Regulator 7077/3 for CO2

So you can see my favorite has a lot of components, but it also is the most efficient and takes up the least amount of room compared to the others. The build is super solid too. It's made of schedule 80 PVC and heavy cast acrylic tube. Even though it's a German product, I'm confident that if I broke anything on it, that I could get replacement parts from McMaster.

 

I know people say those pumps are great, but I know two local club members who have had them stay on, and had their tank partially nuked. Both had them plugged into an Apex.....I wouldn't worry about the cost of the additive, it is a pain sometimes, but if you mix large quantities, you won't need to mix every week like I did. Just remember, the fastest and easiest way to mix that BRS stuff is to do it with your RO/DI warm-hot. I used to let it sit in hot water in a bathtub and then add, and shake...it gets the water crystal clear faster that way.

 

Goodness.... That would be terrible. I wonder if there would be anyway to safeguard against that. Like on my ATO I have a float switch pretty high in the sump the cuts my return pump off so I don't continually feed freshwater up to the DT in the event that my ATO gets stuck on (it feeds directly from the source). Is there anyway to somewhat safeguard against this?

I'm going with B-Ionic, because I am under the impression that it's more concentrated and I don't want to mess with it often. I found 3 interlocking 6gallon jugs (camping water jugs that are extra thick plastic) that I'm going to use and hopefully only mess with it bimonthly or longer. (I'm planning on adding vinegar to the kalk to concentrate it further as well)