Bio Cube 32 using Triton Method

[DJ Suess]

I have a new Biocube 32 using the Triton Method. I made a Chaeto reactor using the red and blue grow lights. The Chaeto filled the 2LFs 150 in about one week. All the fish seem happy. My question is about diatom alge. Before I started the Triton method the Diatom bloomed and lightly covered everything. When I started dosing about 2 mls with the first 2 parts and 4 mls with the other 2 combined. The Diatom died off and the water looks very clear. What should I be on the look out for.

 

[Retro Reefer]

Welcome to R2R! I don’t do Triton but ill give you a bump..

 

[webmanny]

I also have a Biocube and run Triton method. I've had this tank for about 2 years not and love it. I do think that you are dosing a lot for a tank this size. I am dosing the same amount, but mine has been diluted 3 to 1 with water. You should test your parameters to make sure everything is in level.

 

[DJ Suess]

I also have a Biocube and run Triton method. I've had this tank for about 2 years not and love it. I do think that you are dosing a lot for a tank this size. I am dosing the same amount, but mine has been diluted 3 to 1 with water. You should test your parameters to make sure everything is in level.

 

[DJ Suess]

I am new to all this. I am using the Triton Core 7. My PH is 6.9. I thought the PH needed to be closer to 8. Cal 500-520. Nitrate 10. Ammonia not Reading Kh 6 Temp 80 degrees Fahrenheit

 

[webmanny]

So for the parameters, you should use this as your guide.
Parameters of the sea

Now lets talk about your alk/kh. Alk and Calcium are normally consumed at the same rate. This means that you should not have your Alk at 6 and your calcium at 520. That doesn't make sense to me.

1. Stop dosing for a few weeks
2. Start doing weekly water changes to bring all your parameters to level and when I say parameters, I mean mostly Cal and ALK.
3. Never chase your PH, that is a waste of time and money. The PH will be what it will be.
4. Once your parameters are on level using your water changes, do a quick check of how much are you using.

That one is simpler than it sounds.

1. The day after a water change you will measure ALK as accurate as possible.
2. The next day at around the same time, measure ALK again. This will give you how much your tank uses in a day.
3. Use your own math or use the BRS calculator below to see how much you need to dose to your tank based on the water volume. Remember that your tank is not really 32 gallons. with the rock and everything else, mine is about 28 gallons.

BRS Calculator

Good luck bud!

 

[DJ Suess]

Also my tank has very few corals and 1 bubble tip and some fish

 

[CSJIII]

Welcome! I have a 120 gallon that I set up 6 months ago. I started triton from the start of the cycle. I use a trident to monitor my Alk 6 times a day, have 12 fish and a decent amount of corals. I am currently dosing 1.3 ml a day of each part (0.1ml 13 times through the day)

As said before, you may be dosing too much right now. Water changes have been suggested BUT, what type of salt are you using? Realize that you want to use salt that has an Alk closer to 7. At first I was using REd Sea coral pro, then realized the Alk was closer to 11-12. I am now using tropic Marin Pro Reef. That mixes at about 7.

I have been having some Low nitrate problems, but doesn’t look like you’re at that point yet.

 

[DJ Suess]

Doser is off now. Did a water change. When I tested the water the the refractometer showed my salt level was low. Not sure how but it was wrong. Before I thought it was wrong I tried to get the levels right according to the meter. Big mistake. I ended up testing the water with the cheap Hydrometer that came with the tank. Good thing I did cause I found my salt level over 1.30. I calibrated the refractometer with calibration fluid. Now I am making more RODI water to bring the levels down to 1.26. That will teach me to not trust my meter. Lol geez

 

[webmanny]

Remember to take it slow. Don't rush. In this hobby, nothing good happens fast.

Keep up with the water changes every week or maybe every 3 to 4 days, if you want to go a bit faster.

Keep testing weekly and after maybe 5 to 6 weeks you can feel comfortable to start dosing again.

 

[CSJIII]

What brand of salt are you using?

 

[DJ Suess]

What brand of salt are you using?

Red Sea the weaker one.

 

[CSJIII]

I suggest to test the Alk level on a freshly mixed batch

 

[Paul Bradford]

Red Sea the weaker one.

Did this get all handled? Have your parameters fallen more inline?

Also, are you dosing from four different containers vs. combining 3a & 3b? Do you have any Alk 2-part around to raise that up. Your alkalinity can deplete pretty quick if the doser is off. Maybe you should run 3a & 3b (the Alkalinity components).

 

[DJ Suess]

Still working on this issue. The tank has had a diatom problem due to high nutrients. I decided to feed my fish less and start dosing slowly to see how the parameters act.

 

[Paul Bradford]

Still working on this issue. The tank has had a diatom problem due to high nutrients. I decided to feed my fish less and start dosing slowly to see how the parameters act.

Your Alk is the biggest issue that can cause real problems. You should try to keep it between 7-8.

 

[DJ Suess]

 

[DJ Suess]

Checking this every other day for now.

 

[Paul Bradford]

Looks to me like you still need to let the Calcium fall. I'd leave TritonCore7(#2) off for now until you get it back under 450, which should only take about a week depending on your uptake.

Also, I'm no chemist but I believe if you lower your temp a little (I target 77-78, or 77.5) it will bring up the pH a little.

 

[Paul Bradford]

Also, looks like your Alk is perfect for now.