Gilroy 425g Build Thread (All Apex, all the time)

Terence · Aug 20, 2017

OK, first testing I have done in weeks - many weeks. AMI (Alk Monitoring Invention) keeps me on track with Alk and my pH/ORP/Salinity are all in Apex so I haven't really been following anything else - tank has been looking good - growth has slowed a bit though. Looks like my nutrients are rising so I need to check my RODI and also I really needed to thin out the macro. That done, I think they will start to come down again.

120reefkeeper · Aug 20, 2017

Terence said:
OK, first testing I have done in weeks - many weeks. AMI (Alk Monitoring Invention) keeps me on track with Alk and my pH/ORP/Salinity are all in Apex so I haven't really been following anything else - tank has been looking good - growth has slowed a bit though. Looks like my nutrients are rising so I need to check my RODI and also I really needed to thin out the macro. That done, I think they will start to come down again.

You know what I love most about this picture??

You have a pending update ! Lol [emoji38]

eschulist · Aug 20, 2017

Is AMI (Alk Monitoring Invention) an official name?

MarylandTang · Aug 20, 2017

Do you think you need for of the Kessil 380 lights in the fuge/sump? One has a pretty good spread for growth purposes.

Terence · Aug 21, 2017

eschulist said:
Is AMI (Alk Monitoring Invention) an official name?

Hahaha, no, that's just what we have called her.

MarylandTang said:
Do you think you need for of the Kessil 380 lights in the fuge/sump? One has a pretty good spread for growth purposes.

The 380 have a narrow lens on them so unless you are mounting them three feet up, they do not spread too much. I have a lot bigger area (about 1m^2) of macro than most and David from Kessil recommended this configuration.

eschulist · Aug 21, 2017

Terence said:
Hahaha, no, that's just what we have called her.

Whew.. I was about to give you crap if you used Invention as part of the name. Like calling a television a moving picture box invention, doesn't quite roll off the tongue.

You are testing Potassium more than the others. What are you trying to get to and what is its purpose for your tank?

Terence · Aug 21, 2017

OK, so I just got my results from ICP. It appears I have some things quite a bit higher than they should be and I have no idea how it could have got that way.

One in particular is insanely out of balance and could account for my Zoanthids and a couple of other corals not doing so well. Iodine. It was measured at 2601 ug/l and it should be 60! I have only dosed TLF Trace Elements three times in two months - the combined total of all was maybe 100ml. So what could have caused this high level? I am going to post on the chemistry forum.

Lninwa · Aug 22, 2017

The ledge is very cool

Terence · Aug 22, 2017

A few shots I took tonight

Terence · Aug 22, 2017

oops, missed one

Terence · Aug 22, 2017

Lninwa said:
The ledge is very cool

Thanks!

Daniel@R2R · Aug 22, 2017

Looking good, @Terence! That PBT is a beauty!

chef choy · Aug 23, 2017

wow man, love all the tangs. Is the powder blue a bully?

Terence · Aug 29, 2017

mdbannister said:
Looking good, @Terence! That PBT is a beauty!

Thanks, big thanks to Robert from Neptune Aquatics who let me adopt it.

chef choy said:
wow man, love all the tangs. Is the powder blue a bully?

No, When I put him in, he was actually bullied himself by the Achilles half his size. Now he chases the convict from time to time but other than that he is a tame little lumbering giant.

Terence · Aug 29, 2017

So I am back from MACNA and it looks like I might be jumping in on the Trident train. As you already know, I just did my first test a couple of weeks back. I also pulled off my filter socks, thinned out my macro algae, and upgraded my fuge lighting to those sweet new Kessil grow lights.

I spoke to Triton and a few other people at MACNA and I think I will take the plunge.

I am almost out of CO2, so assuming I can get the Triton stuff here soon, it should be perfect timing. Anyone reading this have any advice for me?

flagg37 · Aug 29, 2017

I'm all for not doing water changes. I don't think it's necessary to use the triton method to accomplish it though. Their core 7 system seems great for those that dose two part since it's essentially the same thing but 4 part instead. Those that use other methods like a carx (like you), will have to dose the individual trace elements. It's nice that they give you a complete package and tell you exactly what you need to dose and how much but it's more expensive than other options. You can get icp testing done domestically now for about $20/test instead of $45-$50/test through Triton and individual trace elements can be had cheaper as well.

Terence · Aug 29, 2017

Great feedback. I am going to explore possibly keeping the CaRx online and doing the other dosing. I will see what Ehsan thinks.

I happen to think a system though is a system. Other things may work, but if someone has an easy to follow system and for 20-30% more money it is more of a sure thing - less variables - less searching around - then I am for going that way. After all, this hobby is not cheap. Keeping an aquarium like this is not cheap. So if I am going to spend the money, I am all for spending 20% more if it gets me 10% more success.

puffy127 · Aug 29, 2017

Terence said:
So I am back from MACNA and it looks like I might be jumping in on the Trident train....

You better be on the Trident train as it is your product

Broadfield · Aug 29, 2017

puffy127 said:
You better be on the Trident train as it is your product

LOL, I was going to give him the same grief for the typo. But after being present at the MACNA Neptune breakfast and me literally tearing up when he announced the Trident, I would also be hard pressed to get the Trident off of my mind.