Tank update:
Shopping around for a bigger skimmer, and almost purchased a Reef Octopus 150int with various 2 pump and controller. It's just a little to big to fit in my sump. So I went with a Nyos 160 skimmer to replace the Nyos 120. It's about double the skimmer from the 120 to 160. I've had a airline plumbed to the outside for fresh air into the intake of the skimmer. It wasn't making enough of a difference with the PH. It was definitely better than no fresh air. My PH would be 7.9-8.05 consistently with the fresh airline on the 120 skimmer. Just installed the 160 and it barely fit. Hooked the fresh airline up, and boom my PH is already hitting 8.1 beginning of the day. I now CO2 scrubbers work but if I can get away with a large skimmer and fresh air, it's a better option in my opinion. The Nyos 120 did a great job, but I think for the bio load in my tank and the direction I'm heading I needed a bigger skimmer. The CO2 in my house is really good between 500-600ppm and when I have a bunch of people over with the windows closed I get a reading to about 1000-1100ppm(CO2 meter monitored). Summers here in Socal get up to the 100's and the windows will be closed during that time. Preparation for that time of the year is key.
The reef moonshiner's method has been working out really good so far. The day after I started dosing my elements needed based on the ICP test my dKh and CA dropped. I really didn't think the Trident was measuring the two levels correctly. So I checked them with my Hanna checkers. Recalibrated the Trident(see the spike in the chart). Sure enough, it was right. So I slowly changed my dosing amounts up every day till I reached the correct ideal level. I went from dosing 30ml of dKH to 95ml to reach my ideal level and now I'm at 55ml/day and my CA went from 15ml to 30ml/day. Pretty interesting that it did that. I keep pretty good notes on my Apex log so I can go back and check the charts vs things I added to the tank.
My nutrient export has improved really good at this point. Still in the "dialing in" stage. My P04 is now .03 and my nitrates are 43ppm. I've been dosing vinegar slowly increasing based on the "Vinegar Dosing Methodology for the Marine Aquarium" article.
Vinegar dosing Currently dosing 7ml/day of vinegar this week and only when the lights are on from 1pm-9pm. The vinegar will take some time to lower the nitrates but I'm ok with that. Slow and steady. Feeding 2 cubes now a day of frozen with no other food for now. I may feed some pellets to keep my P04 from going to 0. My goal is to keep P04 at .08 to .1 and nitrates around 10-20ppm. I really don't want a ULNS.
I've been using GFO(1 cup) in the reactor along with dosing PNS Probio to control my P04 levels. PNS Probio was only used for about 1 week after that my P04 has dropped. Turned my GFO to a very slow trickle just to keep water flowing thru the reactor in case I have to kick it back up. Here's an article about the PNS Probio, and some really interesting stuff. Great read, and worth the try.
PNS Probio to consume P04 . I've dosing it twice a week right now, and will add it as needed to keep my P04 inline.
The algae scrubber(CW-50) is still on 24hrs/day and fills up with algae within 7 days. Last week I let it run to 14 days to see if that made a difference in my nitrates. It didn't change anything. I wondering if I go bigger on the ATS to help with the nutrient export? I'm sure it would, but I think sticking with the larger skimmer, ATS, dosing vinegar correctly with the aid of PNS Probio, biodigest, BW7 bacteria as maintenance for all the "good" bacteria that's needed to keep the "bad" bacteria away.
The vinegar dosing has been added to the Reefdose4. I made the DIY "Voss" dosing container 800ml. Dosing the vinegar directly into the return pump area for now.
One thing I noticed in my sump and in the tank is the growth of white sponges and orange in the tank. It's really cool to see the growth. I know that the vinegar really helps feed the sponges, and sponges consume P04 at the same time.
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