40 Gallon Custom LifeReef

[watdachuck]

 

[watdachuck]

Color out of my old camera is terrible but...14 months in!!!

[video=youtube_share;EUL5ETcTZRw]http://youtu.be/EUL5ETcTZRw[/video]

 

[watdachuck]

Went a lot better off the cell phone camera...for close ups anyway....

[video=youtube_share;c_4bZuKQZu4]http://youtu.be/c_4bZuKQZu4[/video]

 

[Saulsa]

Very nice setup. Any future plan changes? You may add some aminos to get the acro colors a little deeper.

 

[watdachuck]

Thank you! I did just add three Yellow Tailed Damsels to add some color an 'natural' coral food. I also am experimenting with my first bottle of AcroPower. I am dosing once a week per the instructions for now since I think the added bio load will do some good as well.

Do you have any experience with Aquavitro Fuel or AcroPower?

 

[watdachuck]

The left side of my kitchen counter top just became the control center and the residence of the Calcium Reactor! Anyone have any experience or issues when switching from Kalkwasser to a Reactor?

 

[watdachuck]

Just need CO2 and some 1/4" tubing...

 

[watdachuck]

First wet run connected to the tank! Filled CO2 tank won't be ready for pick up until Monday, but I am just getting used to this so that's probably a good thing.

 

[watdachuck]

Reactor is up and running. Effluent PH 6.62 at 74 bubbles per minute.

Water samples are going out to AquariumWaterTesting.com after its runs for a week.

Previously tested levels were: Calcium 370, Mag 1300, Alk 3.8, Str 8.1, Potassium 309

 

[Fish76]

Cool tank! Any particular reason you're using AquariumWaterTesting. com? I'm considering doing something like that for testing but wasn't sure what else is out there and if you chose them for any particular reason.

 

[watdachuck]

I am trying to remember the first time I came across their name, was likely in Coral magazine a couple years ago. I have never been a fan of the more complicated test kits for Calcium, Alk, etc.

I never make dramatic changes to my tank, and therefore am not constantly testing anything unless I see a problem. AWT tests just about every parameter I am interested in and tracks it on a graph for easy comparison. They make it super easy with the shipping materials and labels all supplied so I never really looked anywhere else. I buy in lots of 6 now which gives a discount compared to one at a time. I think they have a special right now for a single (multi-parameter) test.

 

[Quinn123]

very cool little set up you got there my friend!!

 

[Fish76]

Ok cool, I'll look more into them since it seems you seem pretty happy with them.

 

[d2mini]

That's a pretty cool tank.
I didn't know Jeff did AIO tanks!
He's building my new custom berlin sump this week.

 

[watdachuck]

Yea, it's not a typical build for him but he can build just about anything you can draw up!

Just received a year supply of my AWT supplies in the mail! I will send samples in once every two months unless I see a problem.

 

[watdachuck]

 

[Sahin]

Vey nice setup. Are you running GAC/carbon? What else are you running for filtration?

 

[watdachuck]

Only a large Protein Skimmer and Ca Reactor which I just added.

I don't use any chemical media filtration, just a pre-filter at the overflow.

 

[watdachuck]

Liking the side effects of running a calcium reactor so far. Corals look happier and the water tests results will be back on Monday or Tuesday to see whats behind it. Reactor PH is running 6.51 to 6.59 and the tank PH ranges from 7.72 to 7.86. Meters are independent and were calibrated at the same time the Reactor was installed. The low PH in the tank has not had any bad side effects that I have seen. The polyps never retract and I have seen only positive growth.

 

[watdachuck]