The tank has been chugging along pretty well since my last update.
Yesterday my float valve for my auto top off failed in the on position, and my tank's SG dropped from 1.025 to 1.021 overnight. I have returned it 1.023.
Tank parameters from today, after the big freshwater flood:
Temp: 79.7
pH: 8.1
SG: 1.023 (aiming for 1.024)
dKH: 6
Ca: 320 (Before adding the Kalk Reactor)
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 0ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm
Magnesium: ~1200ppm
Today I added on a kalk reactor to help maintain my calcium levels. I'm using a Kent Phosban reactor filled with kalk powder. So far the output is testing well, Calcium is off the chart, and pH is higher the 8.8 (the max my kit tests for).
The biggest hurdle right now in the way of tank parameters is dKH. Hopefully the Kalk reactor will maintain my calcium, and then I won't have to worry about that. I looked at getting a Calcium reactor, but right now the only one I could find wouldn't fit in my sump. I am considering a DIY reactor, but for now I will continue to dose with a suppliment.
Magnesium levels are holding nicely, especially in light of the fact that I have two red mangrove plants sucking it back. I am hoping to come up with a dosing regiment for magneisum in the next few weeks.
Pretty much everything is going well. I've taken steps to correct the lighting, and to try and prevent any forseeable water quality issues. The next hurdle will be continuing to monitor the levels, and to come up wtih a schedule for dosing, etc.
I am also looking into a controller again, so far I'm not having a lot of luck finding a system that is mac compatable.
Along the way I have accidentally made a few frags, which I promptly glued to some rubble. My goal, once I move in a week, is to start trying to add more colorful frags to the system, oranges, pinks, bright purples, etc.
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