Gimmito's 450 Gal L-Shaped Display

gimmito · Jul 9, 2011

It's nearly a 600 gallon total system, so I'm going to have to fill the trough again. :sad:

gimmito · Jul 9, 2011

I made 150 gallons of saltwater last night and filled up the tank up to the top of the overflows. I moved one of the rocks from the bommie to the right side and placed the Tunze rock on top of it. It stopped the sand from moving and being kicked up. I also added Dr. Tim's One and Ony Bacteria and will be adding reagent grade ammonium chloride daily. I'm shooting to get a 2 ppm reading.

Aquaph8 · Jul 9, 2011

Awesome scape Gimmito. Its really coming along great. I bought one of those skimmate lockers too, seems like a good idea, I havent got to use it yet though.

xcorallusx · Jul 9, 2011

How do you like the kold steril unit? I bought a large system and it came with it. I replaced the filters which were about 70 bux. I dont have a tds meter but everything seems to be fine. The first cartridge with the disks is getting a little yellow. I like how the water comes out relatively fast and doesnt have a waste line.

gimmito · Jul 9, 2011

Aquaph8 said:
Awesome scape Gimmito. Its really coming along great. I bought one of those skimmate lockers too, seems like a good idea, I havent got to use it yet though.

Thanks Aquaph8,

I hope to get my new return pump soon so I can hook up the skimmate locker. Did you get a swabbie also ?

gimmito · Jul 9, 2011

xcorallusx said:
How do you like the kold steril unit? I bought a large system and it came with it. I replaced the filters which were about 70 bux. I dont have a tds meter but everything seems to be fine. The first cartridge with the disks is getting a little yellow. I like how the water comes out relatively fast and doesnt have a waste line.

I've always used the Kold Sterile from the get go. I liked the idea of no waste water, and running it in conjunction w/the Kati Ani resins gives me 0 TDS for 2,500+ gallons (and with nearly 750 total gallons between the 3 systems it comes in handy). I would advise to invest in a TDS meter, I bought my Hanna TDS meter at Walgreens for like 15 bucks.

Aquaph8 · Jul 9, 2011

gimmito said:
Thanks Aquaph8,

I hope to get my new return pump soon so I can hook up the skimmate locker. Did you get a swabbie also ?

Not yet, buts its on the list of things my wife wont let me have yet.

gimmito · Jul 10, 2011

Aquaph8 said:
Not yet, buts its on the list of things my wife wont let me have yet.

Every hobbyist needs a slush fund.

gimmito · Jul 10, 2011

Re: Gimmito's 450 L-shaped display
Update:

Temp-78
PH-8.3
Ammonia-1.0 ppm
Nitrite-0.5 ppm

Added 100 drops more (400 total) of ammonium chloride. Shooting for 3.0 ppm.

gimmito · Jul 12, 2011

Cycle update:

Specific Gravity-1.026
Temp-78
PH-8.4
Ammonia-1.0 (added 100 drops ammonium chloride)
Nitrite-0.2 ppm
Nitrate-100 ppm

Note: I'm trying to raise the ammonia slowly, but the Red Sea Test kit I'm using goes from 1.0-2.5 ppm, so it's hard to gauge. Glad to see the Nitrite creeping up and I have a Nitrate reading already. :xd:

xcorallusx · Jul 13, 2011

Kati Ani resins what is this and where can I get it? I bought the replacement filters from marine depot for 69 bux. I thought they were supposed to last for 150,000 gallons? Kold Ster-il Hi-Flow Three Stage Water Filter

GR808 · Jul 13, 2011

Really nice tank coming along.. Love the scaping, it'll look great overflowing with coral and life..
Great job

gimmito · Jul 13, 2011

xcorallusx said:
Kati Ani resins what is this and where can I get it? I bought the replacement filters from marine depot for 69 bux. I thought they were supposed to last for 150,000 gallons? Kold Ster-il Hi-Flow Three Stage Water Filter

The Kold Sterile Filters are suppose to last 5,000 gallons (if they lasted 150,000 gallons everybody would own one). :bigsmile: Also, you have to take in consideration what your TDS readings are from your source water (the higher the reading, the faster you are going to go through your filters). Typically, you should shoot for a 0 TDS reading, but can get away up to a 10 TDS reading. I hope you picked up a good TDS meter with your Marine Depot order. :wink:

Shoot John a e-mail at www.readyaquatics.com for more info and price on the Kati Ani system. I have the model 5 and it's been a great investment.

gimmito · Jul 13, 2011

GR808 said:
Really nice tank coming along.. Love the scaping, it'll look great overflowing with coral and life..
Great job

Thanks ! ....now comes the part where I'm thinking about stocking list and coral placement.

GR808 · Jul 13, 2011

with that amount of space, you can get just a little of everything... crazy... or should I say lucky..

gimmito · Jul 13, 2011

LOL...with the remodel on the house, I really wanted to have my "dream tank." I didn't want to have a woulda, coulda, shouda situation. So, as long as the wife got her kitchen and baths, I got my tank. :angel:

Gitsoe · Jul 13, 2011

this Is looking awesome

gimmito · Jul 14, 2011

Gitsoe said:
this Is looking awesome

Thanks Gitsoe...where are you in the bay area ? I'm near SFO. Are you a BAR (Bay Area Reefers) member ?

gimmito · Jul 15, 2011

Re: Gimmito's 450 L-shaped display
Cycle update:

Specific Gravity-1.026
Temp-78
PH-8.4
Ammonia-0.5 (added 150 drops ammonium chloride)
Nitrite-1.0 ppm
Nitrate-250 ppm

Note: Nitrite & Nitrate are really starting to take off. :bigsmile:

gimmito · Jul 17, 2011

Cycle update:

SG (1.026)
Temp (78)
PH (8.4)
Ammonia (0.25 ppm)-added 250 drops of ammonium chloride
Nitrite (1 ppm)
Nitrate (100 ppm)

Note: I found my Salifert test kits, they are so much easier to use than the old Red Sea test kits. I'm still looking into the Hanna checkers, or I might just bite the bullet and get a Hach or LaMotte colorimeter.