JBJ 45 G Rimless Build (KCV)

So you take your readings daily for a week or two, don’t add anything once you see that they have stabilize then you raise it to what Red Sea wants then you test again once you have it where you need it then your good

Perfect. Let's give that a try and see how it works! Just got everything lined up to match the recipe last night, and I'll see where we are in a few days. Not much to update this week, other than just keeping a balance between the algae and the chaeto. Here is a FTS of the tank after getting a nice cleaning of the glass.

IMG_20190216_181858.jpg
 
Perfect. Let's give that a try and see how it works! Just got everything lined up to match the recipe last night, and I'll see where we are in a few days. Not much to update this week, other than just keeping a balance between the algae and the chaeto. Here is a FTS of the tank after getting a nice cleaning of the glass.

IMG_20190216_181858.jpg
Why so pinkish. By the way once you get it up to where Red Sea and want it start dosing.you still need to test for a while to make sure your on track. Test daily making sure it stays.
What are you using to dose by the way I forgot.
I have two APEX DOS, the 4th DOS I use it for NO/POX,
I manually dose the A&B and the four elements. ( the four elements I do not do daily and only every other day and only one mil each. A&B Energy I dose 4 mil daily.
Hope all the above helps you
 
Why so pinkish. By the way once you get it up to where Red Sea and want it start dosing.you still need to test for a while to make sure your on track. Test daily making sure it stays.
What are you using to dose by the way I forgot.
I have two APEX DOS, the 4th DOS I use it for NO/POX,
I manually dose the A&B and the four elements. ( the four elements I do not do daily and only every other day and only one mil each. A&B Energy I dose 4 mil daily.
Hope all the above helps you

Why so pinkish? I have no clue. It was too much blue without the filter, and too much pink with. Let me take a few more when the lights are up tomorrow. Who would have thought that photos would be the large challenge of aquarium?

I'm manually dosing A&B, and haven't had the need for C yet (although it's standing by ready). What is the Mg test that you use--I want to try a second test because my Red Sea has always tested above 1300 ppm. I'll probably be manually dosing for a while because an automated system like Apex is next on the project list for this aquarium.

Do you test for the trace elements or do a regular ICP test? I am nervous about adding in something I cannot at least indirectly test for.
 
Why so pinkish? I have no clue. It was too much blue without the filter, and too much pink with. Let me take a few more when the lights are up tomorrow. Who would have thought that photos would be the large challenge of aquarium?

I'm manually dosing A&B, and haven't had the need for C yet (although it's standing by ready). What is the Mg test that you use--I want to try a second test because my Red Sea has always tested above 1300 ppm. I'll probably be manually dosing for a while because an automated system like Apex is next on the project list for this aquarium.

Do you test for the trace elements or do a regular ICP test? I am nervous about adding in something I cannot at least indirectly test for.


I have done the ICP tests in the past and I looked at the the important ones and to be honest most of it was gibberish to me.
I decided to try and print it off and I couldn’t the colors wouldn’t print correctly ( triton) it was bad. I did it three times
After watching BRS videos and talking to several different LFS people the best thing is you and your tank.
Do your main tests, do the tests that are available let’s say on bulk reef supply) and don’t worry about the the rest.

You watch your tank. You know your tank you can see your tank if you look at your tank every day twice a day let’s say ( all of this is of course depends on how busy you are, I have plenty of time myself, I spend lots of time staring at my tank)
You see your tank, you get to know, you know the very subtle changes , I even know by noise when it’s time to change filter socks

What I’m saying what my other post was talking about additives and what I add. Once you get to the amount of coral I have you know, you have had the tank for a while. You have have grown into it.
Yes you still have maintain it and all things we need to do don’t get me wrong. But been it come to those extra additives that Red Sea has for any other you’ll know. Just take the time to watch, learn be amazed, pay attention to the fish
 
Why so pinkish? I have no clue. It was too much blue without the filter, and too much pink with. Let me take a few more when the lights are up tomorrow. Who would have thought that photos would be the large challenge of aquarium?

I'm manually dosing A&B, and haven't had the need for C yet (although it's standing by ready). What is the Mg test that you use--I want to try a second test because my Red Sea has always tested above 1300 ppm. I'll probably be manually dosing for a while because an automated system like Apex is next on the project list for this aquarium.

Do you test for the trace elements or do a regular ICP test? I am nervous about adding in something I cannot at least indirectly test for.
By the way

Use this for your phone

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/coral-view-lens-polyplab.html
 
No worries, I didn't make it clear enough--seems to be a brain to keyboard issue. I am also following the Red Sea Mixed Reef Recipe, so I am trying to raise the KH to 11.5 dKH (albeit slowly). I'm still trying to figure out the depletion rate of the KH to likely add a little bit every day or other day rather than having this issue where I am fighting to get above 10.5.

Interestingly enough, my Ca and Mg are doing well enough from the salt mix so far, so I haven't had to dose any Mg and very little Ca. This is the first week I really opened the bottle of Ca and dropped in any bit more than 10 mLs.

I know the Red Sea products are expensive, but it is nice as a beginner to just be able to take the reading from the test, look on the back of the bottle and then add in that amount (after doing a volume conversion--I teach this stuff to students and techs all the time, and I'm glad I have a good real world example!).

I've been keeping a log for my Nano Cube 28g for the last year or so, and evolved an auto-dosing schedule for ALK, CA and NOPOX over time. Using Kalk in the ATO - the ALK and CA doses have increased significantly as the corals have grown. Haven't ever had to dose Mg, though, for some reason (using Red Sea Pro salt and BRS 2 part).
 
I've been keeping a log for my Nano Cube 28g for the last year or so, and evolved an auto-dosing schedule for ALK, CA and NOPOX over time. Using Kalk in the ATO - the ALK and CA doses have increased significantly as the corals have grown. Haven't ever had to dose Mg, though, for some reason (using Red Sea Pro salt and BRS 2 part).
I use very little Mg myself less than 1 ML a day, I use ALK the most
 
I remember reading somewhere that you could replace the two JBJ return pumps with a single high quality pump - anyone know about this? Does it require a Y adapter?
 
I remember reading somewhere that you could replace the two JBJ return pumps with a single high quality pump - anyone know about this? Does it require a Y adapter?

Yes, I replaced both JBJ 45 return pump with a Vectra S1.
 
I remember reading somewhere that you could replace the two JBJ return pumps with a single high quality pump - anyone know about this? Does it require a Y adapter?

I did this with a reef octopus varios silent 2 something or other. Used a reducing Y barb fitting from marine depot. 3/4” split to two 1/2” hose barbs
 
Sorry I've been MIA for the past little while. Things have been picking up, so I have not had the chance to browse the internet for fun.

Params:
Temperature: 77°C
Salinity: 1.0255 sg
Mg: 1600 ppm
Ca: 440 ppm
KH: 10.1 dKH
pH: 8.20
Phosphate: 0.04 ppm
Nitrate: 2 ppm

Fish have settled in, some of the corals are showing amazing growth (sadly everything is super blue right now), and dosing has been okay. There's been a little algae growth, but nothing that a toothbrush cannot fix.
 
So I've crossed over the 100 day mark (okay, yesterday was 109 days)!

Here are the latest stats:
Calcium: 400 ppm (um... looks like I need to recalibrate that dosing schedule)
KH: 10.6 dKH (still slowly increasing this)
Phosphate: 0.015 ppm
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 7 ppm
pH: 8.15
Magnesium: 1580 ppm
Salinity: 1.0255 sg
Temp: 77 F

In all honesty, my biggest challenge is still GHA. Does this fluctuate in your experience? I was hoping I could keep this under control, but right now it still feels like it's everywhere! I am manually removing what I can with brushes, etc. but is there anything else I can do? I'm trying to keep the nitrate/phosphate under control.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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