The wifes tank update new pics 4/4/16

I agree also debated buying coral color but you know I figured I should at least know the params since I had also started adding some lugols over last 2 months" just a drop here and there".

I do however agree with our water volume, will we ever really need to worry about the potassium or iodine levels. I am interested in the iron test so will be doing some more research. I was pleasantly surprised one of the local stores had the test kit cheaper than online by couple bucks so picked it up. Also have a bulk reef cart filling up with some replenishment stuff and other needs so will get the small color up kit which is only 18 bucks instead of buying the big bottles at 12 bucks a piece.

Can't wait to try out the co2 stuff but have to wait couple more days for credit cards statements to close for the month he he.

 

God, don't let your wife read that, you'll be sleeping in the garage - - - maybe moving the tank too

 

Hope all is well with everyone.

Not much for updates. Tank seems to be happy. CO2 scrubber may have helped with a slight increase in PH stability but was not the result I expected. I think about the only thing left I could try is a Sump with refugium area but just not sure I want to make that change

At this point I use a 1TBSP every 5 days in my Little Fishies reactor and 5GL WC a week.
PH Average 8.09 Daily high around 8.2
MAG sits around 1300
SG 1.026
ALk 9.9 (I know I get some slight spikes but when tested it is right in this range)
Cal 430 (ha ha I second time I did that DSC)

I have not had detectible Nitrate and have not tested for Phos lately. I have started feeding the tank more as I am running a little to clean in my opinion.

Also tested Potassium, Iodine, Iron (couple weeks ago). Do not remember exact #'s however Potassium and Iodine were within range. Iron was undetectable. So did some further research on Iron and this is 1 of those tests you need to be careful with because you can get 0 reading and still have iron. Well I will just say people need to read about Iron supplement before using it. My head was spinning reading the stuff but for a simpleton like me I was able to pull valuable info out.

So far I have dosed Iron 2 times at .13ml and you should see the difference "oh my word".

Ha Ha just kidding can't tell if it has made any different.

Here is recent pic tank.

 

^ Yeah you're a funny guy Chris, the Iron comments made me smile.

Tank looks good. Corals are growing right, sps doing well? Chris my pH is doing the same thing, yeah I would love for it to be higher but I am just going to have to accept 8.2 average. I know a couple reefers that swear by Seachem Marine Buffer to raise pH. I am not going to change might routine right now though.

I am going to stick with kalk and manual buffer until I see greater Ca utilization and more significant alk decline, then I will set up my dosing pumps. What do you think of a Ca reactor?

 

I can't believe your keeping calcium at 1430. Your corals are gonna have skeletons of steel. Lol. Glad all is well with the tank buddy. Nice pic.

 

You know, I do not know the first thing about them truthfully. I have never looked into them.

I had bought the Seachem Buffer and used it but I was manually dosing and that just was not working. To many swings going on. Sometimes I totally agree with people when they say it is easier to keep the bigger tanks balanced.

SPS is growing nicely. Some encrusting quicker than others. Different colors appearing in some of the frags. Brown out mili's I got are starting to show some color.

Kind of tank depressed because I have reached the tank limit for corals. I have no where else to put stuff and some like the red planet are making a quick move to grab as much real estate as possible.

No tank for me in the near future booooooo.

 

I feel your pain Chris. I am already thinking about moving out some of my stuff.

This Acropora habit is soooooooo hard to break. I have 10 Acropora, 2 Montipora, 5 LPS, 5 Anemones. Something has to give and it won't be my Acropora!!!!

Any who, good basic article on cal reactor. It will not bring your pH up but it might be more stable long term, once demand takes it's toll. If it did not involve a Co2 tank I might consider it. Good article none the less.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/sh/feature/

 

why no tank for you in the near future???

 

Glad the tank is doing great chris. Another good product to look at is aqua vitro balance. Excellent for keeping pH up and not affecting any other levels.

 

Hey everyone.. Know it has been a few months. Ever since my macro lens broke I just have not been taking as many pictures. Hopefully get a new lens at some point but took a couple pics with old 1.

Tank is holding steady. Still learning as always

Some updated pictures. Still fighting color issues with some corals but overall they are doing well