Alkalinity Dosing Mishap

[Wavemode]

Hello recess62. Yes all of my lines and fittings are 100% non metallic. Except for the hose clamps which I'll be fixing promptly. Thank you for the input.

 

[Wavemode]

Those will be perfect! I have so much trouble navigating that website. Sometimes I have to call them to find what I'm looking for but they almost always have it. Except PVC cement. Don't think they carry it. Bummer you can't call them on the weekend. Thanks for all your help.

 

[recess62]

Those will be perfect! I have so much trouble navigating that website. Sometimes I have to call them to find what I'm looking for but they almost always have it. Except PVC cement. Don't think they carry it. Bummer you can't call them on the weekend. Thanks for all your help.

Lol. You need to window shop more on the BRS site

 

[Wavemode]

I can spend hours on that site and usually end up broke by the time I'm done. I live so far away a have to spend 200 every time just so I can get the quicker delivery. They have saved me a lot of money though for sure.

 

[Wavemode]

I'd like to try to understand more about my BRS mini reactor. I mix the GAC and GFO according to the instructions on the website. I've never seen any algae in my tank which is good but all of my softies seem to be suffering. I turned the reactor off a week ago to see if there's any improvement. I do have green star polyps that are growing like mad on their own little island. I've had 4 different colored mushrooms for 4 months and they look exactly like when I got them. Thought they would reproduce by now. They are a little pale. Maybe I need to adjust my Kessil. I leave it at 50% since some of my live rock is white from too much light it seems.

 

[recess62]

What are your parameters? Nitrate? Phosphate? I suspect you have taken the nutrients out of the tank. Think of corals like a plant. Plants need fertilizer with a nitrogen and phosphorus source. Corals need the same since their main source of nutrician is from Zooanthilae Zoanthilae is a type of algae. In general LPS do better in a slightly dirtier tank

 

[Wavemode]

Parameters are Nitrite 0.1, Nitrate 3, Ammonia 0, Phosphate undetectable, PH 8.05, Alk 11.8, Calcium 430, and Magnesium 1310. Is you're saying what I think you're saying it's a good thing I took my GFO reactor off line so I can have a little bit of phosphates.

 

[recess62]

Other should chime in but I think taking the GFO off line was the right choice. Just follow your parameters. If the phosphate gets to high then restart the GFO but with a smaller amount. A lot of what we do is trial and error. Each of our ecosystems in a glass box is different. By observing your corals and following the chemistry you will
Be able to get your piece of the ocean dialed in. Just remember the montra that nothing good ever happens quickly in a reef aquarium

Happy reefing

 

[Wavemode]

I really appreciate the advice. This hobby seems overwhelming at times but I'm in it 100% all the way. When BRS recommended 1/3 cup of GFO in a 50 gallon cube I thought that was a bit much but trusted and went with it. I have it mixed in my reactor with 2/3 cup GAC. They're both off line now. Should I refill the reactor with GAC only and run it or let it ride with no chemical filtration for now. If yes to the GAC then is a full cup too much?

 

[recess62]

You know there are different opinions on whether to run GAC all the time. I always run it. However some run it when they think their water is not clear enough. I know when to change mine based on the color of the water during water changes. If the water is yellow tinged then time to change. I think a cup for a 50 gal sounds about right. IDK if you can "overdose " GAC

 

[Wavemode]

That's great advice! I'd like to run the Rox 08 only in the reactor all the time and if my phosphates start to get too high I can add a tablespoon instead of 1/3 cup of the GFO. I think I'm finally getting my reef dialed in. I recently found out my salinity was 1.022 when I thought all along it was 1.025. I bought a refractometer and saw a video on you-tube teaching me to calibrate it with RODI water to 0.000. Boy was that ever bad information. I got the calibration fluid finally and figured it out but little things like that really are huge!