OP
OP
Saltgator
Tang Keeper
Thanks Ryan. You like the ecobak? You have pics in your thread of your pellets in the reactor?
Country Boy using tapatalk on his EVO
Saltgator's 240 Build
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Thanks Ryan. You like the ecobak? You have pics in your thread of your pellets in the reactor?
Country Boy using tapatalk on his EVO
Aquaph8
Love The Fish
I started with vodka a few years ago and switched after the first year just cause vinegar was easier to sneak on my wife's grocery list. I've had my alk down in the 6s on accident a couple times with no issue but if I get over 8.5 DKH a few of my colonies will get burnt tips. The RR yellow Mamba seems to be really sensitive to this.
OP
OP
Saltgator
Tang Keeper
Thanks Brett. I hear ya about sneaking things on the list. My wife was worried about the house when i put 2 cups of baking powder in the oven!!
Looks like I'm gonna be deciding between vinegar and ecobak pellets. Thanks guys.
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schooleyosis
2500 Club Member
I should have photos somewhere of the reactor. If not I'll take some this weekend and send them to ya. I don't have a lot of tumble as I run the GFO reactor off of the same pump and I'm directing a lot of the flow the GFO currently.
mcarroll
10K Club member
Do you happen to monitor your pH? I noticed you mentioned burnt tips earlier, so I was curious. If you are able to get some numbers, I'd be curious what you see for pH immediately after lights-out and right before lights-on.
As far as deciding, I would probably pick vinegar since no additional equipment should be needed. In fact, I'd get double duty out of it and put the vinegar in your ATO and run it through your kalk reactor first to supersaturate your reactor's output. It's a perfect solution all the way around. (You should get or make a kalk reactor like the Tunze 5074 if you don't already have one.)
One last thought: In most cases, I would skip baking your baking soda. The slight bit of extra CO2 won't hurt anything unless your water's pH is already seriously depressed. (It's worth knowing your pH...don't guess.) If you are dosing very slowly throughout the day there's a large chance it will make no net difference on your pH at all. And of course it's a huge waste of energy to run the oven just to make washing soda. Now if you're baking cookies too it might be a different story.
-Matt
7ysoon
New Member
Thanks heaps Gator! The swc is similar to the recent reef octopus design? I'm still in the equipment choice stage on my 200G system. I have been researching like crazy trying to find the best equipment and filtration choices. I have narrowed it down considerably but still unsure as to the skimmer I shall purchase. Any tips would be greatly appreciated! I'm building my own acrylic DT and sump and it is similar to yours so I'm very interested to your success and learning for you.
Tyson
Tyson
OP
OP
Saltgator
Tang Keeper
OP
OP
Saltgator
Tang Keeper
Do you happen to monitor your pH? I noticed you mentioned burnt tips earlier, so I was curious. If you are able to get some numbers, I'd be curious what you see for pH immediately after lights-out and right before lights-on.
As far as deciding, I would probably pick vinegar since no additional equipment should be needed. In fact, I'd get double duty out of it and put the vinegar in your ATO and run it through your kalk reactor first to supersaturate your reactor's output. It's a perfect solution all the way around. (You should get or make a kalk reactor like the Tunze 5074 if you don't already have one.)
One last thought: In most cases, I would skip baking your baking soda. The slight bit of extra CO2 won't hurt anything unless your water's pH is already seriously depressed. (It's worth knowing your pH...don't guess.) If you are dosing very slowly throughout the day there's a large chance it will make no net difference on your pH at all. And of course it's a huge waste of energy to run the oven just to make washing soda. Now if you're baking cookies too it might be a different story.
-Matt
Matt, you never seem to sleep,stop helping others or making excellent points. Your comments are always welcome.
I don't know my Ph. Sorry. Once I sold my controller, I have no idea. I ran my skimmer line to the outside as a caution. I don't have a Kalk reactor, so maybe the top off might work for vinegar. I did just order 10 x 7g containers, 1 possibly for a carbon dosing like vinegar.
I thought about not baking the baking soda, but didn't throw caution to the wind. I do dose 8 times throughout 24 hrs so maybe I'll try it without baking.
Country Boy using tapatalk on his EVO
OP
OP
Saltgator
Tang Keeper
Your more than welcome Tyson. The link to my swc is: http://www.shop.reeffiltration.com/product.sc?productId=56&categoryId=2
I started with a swc 160 on my 125g and love them,so no other skimmers have I used or could comment on,sorry.
Personally, as far as equipment, plan out all the way, including what kind of reef you want and it's residents. If your going for a mixed reef vs strictly sps, not too much difference, but, if your thinking big fish, big skimmer is needed,IMO. Plan on a fuge,even if it's small. It creates food for your corals and fish (my reason for one). A large fuge for a 200g+ system would assist nutrient export. Get a multiple head doser for dosing, unless your going with a cal reactor (which I have no experience with). I chose 2 part for the simple fact of stories about a cal reactor and setting it up.
Flow,flow,flow. Make sure to get plenty of flow throughout.
I know there's more I forgot, so I'll be back writing more as I remember,lol.
Country Boy using tapatalk on his EVO
OP
OP
Saltgator
Tang Keeper
Np Tyson. Ask any time.
OP
OP
Saltgator
Tang Keeper
Well... I had to brag up my regal didn't I !!! Saturday I received a few frags from a buddy, 1 which was fire/ice zoas. Today the plug was upside down and no zoas. My sunny d frag was mia a couple weeks ago. Without blaming anyone, I said oh well. After i tried some new scaping tonight, my regal ate 2 sponges then picked at a colony of button polyps!! It happens, so oh well. He ain't going no where,lol. No z/p for me.
Good news though, my garf bonsai has encrusted more and started throwing more nubs out!! PO4 has been my nemesis. Removing the sand couldn't have been better for me.
Old pic, but playing with pisca on phone. Here's my boy!
Good news though, my garf bonsai has encrusted more and started throwing more nubs out!! PO4 has been my nemesis. Removing the sand couldn't have been better for me.
Old pic, but playing with pisca on phone. Here's my boy!
Last edited:
chadderboxx
Well-Known Member
my bad
OP
OP
Saltgator
Tang Keeper
Lol. Ha ha. It's all good. All the pretty z/p caused me to venture out from sps. Not swaying away anymore.
schooleyosis
2500 Club Member
Lol. That regal is awesome. I don't blame ya.
OP
OP
Saltgator
Tang Keeper
Well, no pics but quick update.
Sps are looking happier then they've been in months after realizing my sand bed was a PO4 bed. Removing it has it's rewards.
My only fish remaining are: red sea regal angel, black longnose tang, blue jaw trigger and a Picasso clown pair. Boy the tank looks fishless now. The vlamingi and foxface went to another reefer who could house the vlamingi in more space.
I'm intending on getting the fish I've been after for months, but not right away. My PO4 needs to drop more and a lack of poopers will aid this.
Sps are looking happier then they've been in months after realizing my sand bed was a PO4 bed. Removing it has it's rewards.
My only fish remaining are: red sea regal angel, black longnose tang, blue jaw trigger and a Picasso clown pair. Boy the tank looks fishless now. The vlamingi and foxface went to another reefer who could house the vlamingi in more space.
I'm intending on getting the fish I've been after for months, but not right away. My PO4 needs to drop more and a lack of poopers will aid this.
schooleyosis
2500 Club Member
I'll be curious to see how quickly your p04 drops.
Also curious if the sand bed is the main culprit.
Also curious if the sand bed is the main culprit.
OP
OP
Saltgator
Tang Keeper
I have a 1/4 cup of gfo in the sump that I know is probably exhausted by now, but other than that, it's been w/c of 30-50 gallons every 2 weeks. PO4 started at .20, and now it's .15. I'll try and remember to check it in Friday (a full 24+ hours after pulling those 2 fish). I'll post results. If it doesn't go down after their removal and removing the sand (I only have a small amount left), I'm gonna start vinegar dosing.
schooleyosis
2500 Club Member
Keep working at it. Those phosphates will be gone soon.
