DKoKoMAN’s 305g Basement Reef

[DKoKoMan]

Originally Posted by Dash

Haha, that familiar blue glow.... it’s so great when it’s all looking good eh. I just did my monthly water change today and was feeling pretty pleased with myself.

I name all my livestock, even the inverts

How old is your Dory & how big is she?

It’s totally a nice feeling just to see everything happy and growing. I have had my battles and I am still waiting for my cyano to burn out. But overall I’m pretty happy with the tank right now. My Skimmer is back to normal, still running wetter then I would like but it’s nice and dark. Takes about a week to fill up to around half of the collection cup.

My Dory is roughly 5 years old and approximately 6” now. Last time I was at the LFS and be Dorys are so tiny!

[DKoKoMan]

Finally got the chaeto growing like crazy! Nitrates are stable at 2.5ppm using a salifert test kit. It really took off out of nowhere with this new light.

[albert_dao]

Originally Posted by DKoKoMan

Tanks looking great tonight! Thought I would share a quick photo.

Try downloading the Open Camera app. It has some decent white balance control features. I've found it very useful for taking pictures of my tanks straight off the phone.

[DKoKoMan]

Sounds good Albert. I will give it a try!

[DKoKoMan]

Here is the foam head being produced by my Vertex Alpha along with the skimmate in the collection cup. It is still watery but it is nice and dark. Also it smells horrible and my nitrates are steady at around 2.5ppm between my Skimmer and chaeto in the Fuge. Let me know your thoughts on the consistency of the skim.

[DKoKoMan]

On another note... I’m finding it harder to find Reef Crystals at the LFS these days. I picked up a pail of Fritz Rpm salt as big als now carries this as a replacement to the Reef Crystals. I only bought be one pail as I have never used be Fritz products and I want to ensure it mixes well and within stable parameters.

Parameters*
Salinity 35 ppt (1.0264 sg)
Calcium 400-450 ppm
Magnesium 1300-1400 ppm
Alkalinity 8.0 - 9.0 dKH
Strontium 9 ppm
Potassium 400 ppm


These numbers seem to be good if they are true to the mixing table. I will be using RODI water as my source. Anyone have experience with this salt? Used it and went away from it? Looking for feedback. Thanks.

[albert_dao]

Reef Crystals is old technology. These newer mixes are much better, mixing clear within minutes and ready to use within the hour. I go through a pallet of this every month. It's great.

[DKoKoMan]

Originally Posted by albert_dao

Reef Crystals is old technology. These newer mixes are much better, mixing clear within minutes and ready to use within the hour. I go through a pallet of this every month. It's great.

You go through a pallet of Fritz RPM every month? In your opinion the new mix is worth the switch? Looking for a new go to as I go through a fair amount of salt due to biweekly water changes.

[albert_dao]

Yah, 50pcs of 200 gal mix. I wouldn't go back to reef crystals if a pallet was dropped at my front door and Taylor Swift asked me nicely.

[DKoKoMan]

Well I feel a lot better about my purchase of this new salt