29 Gallons of SPS

echopiece · Jan 18, 2018

I too would love to see where your NO3 is sitting. If you have a test kit laying around, throw up a number for us

Ranjib · Jan 18, 2018

JC Slater said:
Beautiful biocube! I have one that I am growing SPS in. I can’t believe how packed you have it. I had SPS growing into each other and stinging one another. Haha. Rookie mistakes. This thread makes me want to finally create a build thread of my over 2 year old BC29. Congrats on such colorful sps! Wish I had colors like that. My green/purple small acro colony that started out as a single nub recently started to brown out.....

You should totally start a build thread

JC Slater · Jan 18, 2018

Ranjib said:
You should totally start a build thread

Haha I know! Been meaning too for awhile. This thread really made me want to, haha it’s slow at work today may get one started. It’s not anywhere near the tank the OP has though

29bonsaireef · Jan 18, 2018

Most recent, close to FTS shot I have right now

and a top down under LEDs for fun

JC Slater · Jan 18, 2018

Very nice! What kind of camera/lenses are you using for these shots?

ReeferCub · Jan 18, 2018

29bonsaireef said:
I add about 5 tbl spoons to a 5 gallon bucket (my ATO). The kalkwasser didn't seem to keep up with the demand for Cal by its self. Thats when I started adding Kent's liquid calcium. I cant remember what I set the dosage to, but its set to dose small increments every hour. I run through a 16oz bottle in about 2 months.

If I am reading this correctly, you add kalkwasser for calcium and alkalinity. And then add Kent's liquid Calcium to compensate for excess calcium demand. Am I right?
So you do not add anything other than Kalk for alkalinity? right? I meant other than water changes.

Beautiful tank you got there!

Dobermanp · Jan 19, 2018

Great looking tank!

Dr.Xipoles · Jan 19, 2018

Checked your turnover rate from all your powerheads. Seems like its over 200x a hour at peak intensity: the two koralia's and the MP10(correct me if i'm wrong). Never knew it was safe to have that much, but ive been reading and hearing more and more that more flow is better than the standard 40x to 100x. Apparently on the reefs in the ocean its something like 10x a minute! Great to see some actual results from a reefer.

teller · Jan 19, 2018

Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful!
You said you have a 150.
Is it a FOWLR? Or also a mix reef?
Thanks.

I luv coralz · Jan 19, 2018

Wow that’s crazy!

29bonsaireef · Jan 19, 2018

ReeferCub said:
If I am reading this correctly, you add kalkwasser for calcium and alkalinity. And then add Kent's liquid Calcium to compensate for excess calcium demand. Am I right?
So you do not add anything other than Kalk for alkalinity? right? I meant other than water changes.

Beautiful tank you got there!

You're correct. The Kalk and WC keep my alk pretty stable around 8.6-8.7 but the demand for calcium is high and it drops pretty quickly. With the liquid calcium I'm able to keep it stable at 450.

Dr.Xipoles said:
Checked your turnover rate from all your powerheads. Seems like its over 200x a hour at peak intensity: the two koralia's and the MP10(correct me if i'm wrong). Never knew it was safe to have that much, but ive been reading and hearing more and more that more flow is better than the standard 40x to 100x. Apparently on the reefs in the ocean its something like 10x a minute! Great to see some actual results from a reefer.

Yes, I guess it all depends on how your tank is set up. I have them placed methodically around the tank to where I get lots of up and down as well as side to side current. One of the Koralia's is placed almost at the bottom of the tank. It's safe as long as none of your corals are being constantly blasted. You know when there's too much flow because the tissue will recede slightly into the skeleton on the pieces being blasted.

teller said:
Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful!
You said you have a 150.
Is it a FOWLR? Or also a mix reef?
Thanks.

Thank you! My 150 is mixed reef with lots of fish. It's mostly all the same SPS as in this tank but a lot more LPS and softies.

JC Slater said:
Very nice! What kind of camera/lenses are you using for these shots?

These are actually all from my iPhone.. wish I had a better camera

Dr.Xipoles · Jan 19, 2018

I was at WWC today and they were saying the same thing about the flow. They got about 3 or 4 MP40s on their frag tanks, well over 100x, i mean those frags are rocking back and forth. Lesson learned dont believe most of the OLD stuff you see on the forums or sale sites as this hobby is constantly changing.

On the bright side, looks like im getting bigger, badder powerheads.[emoji2] Thanks for your input mate.

CindyKz · Jan 20, 2018

Your colors are AMAZING. What I strive for in my 75 mixed reef.

I have a 32 gal biocube, still fairly new. You mentioned having a skimmer and some mangroves in the center section - do you have the stock shelving back there or did you buy something aftermarket?

Anthony123 · Jan 20, 2018

Are you mixing or using sea water for water changes? Thanks

29bonsaireef · Jan 20, 2018

CindyKz said:
Your colors are AMAZING. What I strive for in my 75 mixed reef.

I have a 32 gal biocube, still fairly new. You mentioned having a skimmer and some mangroves in the center section - do you have the stock shelving back there or did you buy something aftermarket?

It's all stock in the back. I have a Octopus ns-80 skimmer but I don run it too often.

Anthony123 said:
Are you mixing or using sea water for water changes? Thanks

I used NSW for the first 1.5 years. Since I've been using water from my lfs. It's a Tropic Marine mix

Rixar · Jan 20, 2018

you use osmotic water?

Graffiti Spot · Jan 21, 2018

Are you concerned about dosing the extra calcium? Kalk is balanced and should supply you with what you need so if your dosing extra it should be both parts equally. What are your numbers for the big three? When my dosing would get like that I would let the one dropping, drop to a low stable number and then alk would start to rise equally with calcium over small amount of time. Then I would slowly bump the calcium back up a little. But every reef is different

Its looking good.

29bonsaireef · Jan 24, 2018

Pedoconfuego said:
Are you concerned about dosing the extra calcium? Kalk is balanced and should supply you with what you need so if your dosing extra it should be both parts equally. What are your numbers for the big three? When my dosing would get like that I would let the one dropping, drop to a low stable number and then alk would start to rise equally with calcium over small amount of time. Then I would slowly bump the calcium back up a little. But every reef is different Its looking good.

Honestly, I would have to put most of my success in this tank on the WC. The tank hasn't gone more than 7 days without a wc in the last 2 years, and I change out close to 50% of the water each time. If I were to cut back on wc I suppose I'd rethink my dosing regime, but this has been working for me and I don't mind doing the weekly wc. I don't really test for anything because I know the numbers are consistent in the water I use. I will be getting some new test kits soon and will try to get my true numbers up when I know what they are.

29bonsaireef · Jan 30, 2018

Had something eating the newly encrusting base of my frags for while... found the culprit, an emerald crab! Now that he's out the injured frags are healing up and this RR Kandari frag is on fire. Quickly becoming a new favorite and its still a baby.

29bonsaireef · Mar 13, 2018

A few updates, and some new corals that have been added to the bonsai reef collection. Still really impressed with the overall health of the corals. Growth could be better, but is about what I'd expect in such a small tank. No longer running a skimmer, and relying strictly on WC and semi-minimal dosing.