Pat's 120

[pterfloth]

Please tell me exactly what you want me to do. I have posted my current additive addition rate.

[Aqua-Digital]

I just have 3 posts up from your reply, but here is exactly what I wrote again

Dosing -

If i read your system correctly taking the sump and everything else into account you have after 20% displacment 758L.

if this is correct your dosing should be as follows

week 4

900ML of Lith Rock (call it 1L for argument)
8 drops a DAY of Ultra Bio
3ml a day of ultra Bak
3ml a day of Ultra Min-S

The above will be reviewed one week from now

You mention Ultra MIN a few times, I am assuming you mean min-S, but if you are referrring to the product Ultra MIN (without the S) stop this dosing also.

So to clarify

Ultra BIO
Ultra BAK
Ultra MIN S

Nothing else

PLEASE do not add anything else other than what I have listed

[pterfloth]

Just saw that. Posts only come in when I refresh. Will follow your instructions to a "T".

Thanks for the specific dosages.

[Aqua-Digital]

Hiya

Please make sure I have calculated your litres correctly this figure is based on 20% displacment. The dosing has been provided according to that figure.

If it is different then let me know asap.

[pterfloth]

The tank is 120 US gal or 454 liters, I think 30% displacement would be more accurate, bringing the total tank volume to 320 liters. The sump has another 80 liters in it, bringing the total volume to 400 liters.

[Aqua-Digital]

Argh OK that changes everything then

You should be on 500ml of Lith by now

4 drops of bio a day
2ml of bak
2ml of Min-S

Based on 400L total volume.

[pterfloth]

I am up to 1 liter of Lith already, having increased the Lith by 250 ml once per week for the past 4 weeks since beginning the UltraLith program.

For the past week, except for the past 2 days I have been dosing (nothing else):

3 drops Bio
2 ml UltraBak
2 ml UltraMin S

The past 2 days I dosed:

8 drops Bio
3 ml UltraBak
3 ml UltraMin S

as you instructed the other day.

Even though this may have been too much, it has dropped nitrates to barely detectable levels (almost no color at all in the test) and my phosphate is now back down to to 0.02 ppm. I am doing total phosphate, not ortho, using a HACH DR890 photometer. I have been testing daily, so the results are indicative of trends, not one offs.

The hair algae is much heavier than it was 4 weeks ago but cyano is much reduced.

Prior to beginning the UltraLith program, I was vodka dosing 2 ml/day, 4 ml Ultra Amin SPS/day and 5 ml of Coral Vite once/week. I was also feeding UltraClam twice per week. A Phosban reactor with RowaPhos was also being used. My nitrates at the beginning of the UltraLith treatment were 5 ppm and phosphates were 0.06 ppm.

Obviously every system is unique and I have made a lot of changes over the past 4 weeks. The RowaPhos was been replaced with carbon and I ceased feeding UltraClam on Day 1. I reduced and then eliminated the Ultra Amin SPS and the Coral Vite last week.

Given the readings today, do you still suggest reducing the additive and Bio levels? I am keenly interested in making this program a success and having a tank which you can use as a reference (because it will be so good!). The Ultra Amin SPS is a great product that gave me terrific colors and it was based on my success with it that I decided to embrace your full program. Your recommendations are appreciated.