RichtheReefer21
Scrap Yard Reefer
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Reef Tank 365
Article Contributor
Reef Squad Emeritus
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Hello Fellow reefers..
In light of the recent freezing cold temperatures effecting 100+ million people in the U.S. alone, we re facing temperatures that are shattering All-time records across the world... yesterday, Minnesota was colder than the current conditions at the south pole observatory...
;Cold
Why not share and reach out on #r2r and maybe #reefsquad to handle the issues that I came across.. and I thought a solid point of advice and ideas could be focused in one thread. This way everyone can read, learn, and share their own ideas on how to minimize fluctuations in temperature, as well as other less obvious issues that come along with it.
Feel free to suggest and add topics and fixes to this thread. We can always learn more from each other.
Issue: Temperature
Of course. A staple in reefing success is to maintain a stable temperature. Whether u prefer it tropical at 80°f or a chillier 76°, sub-zero temperatures will effect any living thing one way or another in your tank.
Recommendation(s): 2nd Heater
Add a 2nd heater to supplement the demand for operation. This will aid in keeping one heater from working too much, and more importantly can save you if yours malfunctions and you sustain a dangerous temperature drop in your tank.
Issue: Alkalinity swings
As I pondered the idea of temperature, and evaporation increasing, I also realize this continuous addition of fresh RODI water to my tanks volume, It made me think of swings this may cause in parameters. Alk (dKh) being the main focus. Even if your Alk is on a dosing schedule of sorts, or if you have figured out your specific need for Kalkwasser in your ATO(I dont recommend) your consumption and requirements to maintain the numbers you are used to seeing in regards to dKh will change based on evaporation.
Recommendation: Adjust dosing regemint. Add a lid or cover to help with evaporation loss.
In theory, your previous calculations of necessary dosing for dKh would no longer maintain the levels u prefer due to more RODI topoff than previously required. I would suggest to simply increase your dosing quantity very slightly as it gets colder outside and drier in your home.
A humidifier is a huge help to evaporation as well, but for most, they likely dont have one. And thus we make many more trips back to our water stations keeping the ever-disappearing water level stable in our tanks.
Hope it wasnt too much to read, and I'm hoping I see a LOT more tips and tricks for cold winter months to help any new comers or just to teach some old dogs new tricks! I know people who have been reefing for 30yrs and still learn something new on a regular basis!
You can avoid all this by moving south as well!
Best of luck keeping things healthy around these cold seasons that a lot of us deal with in the north! Thanks for reading! Reef on!
In light of the recent freezing cold temperatures effecting 100+ million people in the U.S. alone, we re facing temperatures that are shattering All-time records across the world... yesterday, Minnesota was colder than the current conditions at the south pole observatory...
;ColdWhy not share and reach out on #r2r and maybe #reefsquad to handle the issues that I came across.. and I thought a solid point of advice and ideas could be focused in one thread. This way everyone can read, learn, and share their own ideas on how to minimize fluctuations in temperature, as well as other less obvious issues that come along with it.
Feel free to suggest and add topics and fixes to this thread. We can always learn more from each other.
Issue: Temperature
Of course. A staple in reefing success is to maintain a stable temperature. Whether u prefer it tropical at 80°f or a chillier 76°, sub-zero temperatures will effect any living thing one way or another in your tank.
Recommendation(s): 2nd Heater
Add a 2nd heater to supplement the demand for operation. This will aid in keeping one heater from working too much, and more importantly can save you if yours malfunctions and you sustain a dangerous temperature drop in your tank.
Issue: Alkalinity swings
As I pondered the idea of temperature, and evaporation increasing, I also realize this continuous addition of fresh RODI water to my tanks volume, It made me think of swings this may cause in parameters. Alk (dKh) being the main focus. Even if your Alk is on a dosing schedule of sorts, or if you have figured out your specific need for Kalkwasser in your ATO(I dont recommend) your consumption and requirements to maintain the numbers you are used to seeing in regards to dKh will change based on evaporation.
Recommendation: Adjust dosing regemint. Add a lid or cover to help with evaporation loss.
In theory, your previous calculations of necessary dosing for dKh would no longer maintain the levels u prefer due to more RODI topoff than previously required. I would suggest to simply increase your dosing quantity very slightly as it gets colder outside and drier in your home.
A humidifier is a huge help to evaporation as well, but for most, they likely dont have one. And thus we make many more trips back to our water stations keeping the ever-disappearing water level stable in our tanks.
Hope it wasnt too much to read, and I'm hoping I see a LOT more tips and tricks for cold winter months to help any new comers or just to teach some old dogs new tricks! I know people who have been reefing for 30yrs and still learn something new on a regular basis!
You can avoid all this by moving south as well!
Best of luck keeping things healthy around these cold seasons that a lot of us deal with in the north! Thanks for reading! Reef on!
