110g Mixed Reef V2

fishytime · #1 04-14-2009, 03:51 PM

That dosing regiment is indeed everyday. I have not yet tested my make up water to see if that is the culprit. After Tony's posts I am pretty sure it will test out low as I too am using KZRB salt. I had decided about a week ago that I would switch to the Deltec salt after reading some of the reviews and tests done on it. Most people seem to be pretty happy with it, with the only complaint being that it mixes up slightly dirty. I plan on mixing the H2Ocean with the KZ to slowly phase it in, but will test the first batch before I mix in the KZ and post my results. Im a little nervous about switching salts as aside from the algae trouble the tank seems to be doing well. I cant resist the lure of a shiny new salt that is being billed as "bang on" as far as Ca and Mg levels. I also like idea that it is a natural salt as opposed to a synthetic.

No new pics for you Catherine

. The idea was, to get the tank cleaned up and presentable and take a round of pics, but one of my ballasts in my tek light pooped out last week so the tank is running on half wattage right now. This might actually be a good thing considering the algae. Really not impressed with my tek lights. This is the second ballast that has crapped out on me in less than a year. I think I saw that Kevin is looking into trying to get on board with ATI. If that pans out I will be ordering a power module for the tank, if not....Im gonna order a geissmann. The whole light thing has thrown my plans to upgrade the skimmer (bubbleking probably) on the back burner.

Another thing that I am not to happy with is timers for the lights. Cant anyone make a timer that lasts more than a couple months? Ive tried the coralife ones, Ive tried the no name ones(similar to the coralife), Ive tried the cheap rotary dial ones....they are all pieces of crap. If I added up all the coin Ive spent on timers, I would probably find that I could have bought a controller instead, which I am considering now. Im on the fence about which one though. After reading about Catherines (and others) troubles with the RKE, I think I have ruled that one out. So that leaves aquacontroller and the profilux. Anyone wanna chine in with experiences?

Pazil · #2 04-15-2009, 02:09 AM

Hey Doug.. I used the digital coralife timer like this one...

http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/s...t_ID=WM-ESUPCD

It has not failed on me (used for about 6 months). I still have it and am not using it if you need one we can swap for something

Cheers
Lawrence

sharuq1 · #3 04-15-2009, 04:34 PM

My intermatics have not failed me yet. Just make sure you get the ones that can handle the voltage as there are several that can't. I read something on it, may have been on RC. I'm sorry I don't remember where I found that article.

Rbacchiega · #4 04-15-2009, 05:01 PM

I've recently switched over to H2Ocean and am stoked about it. All of a sudden I'm noticing good growth in between each water change, and I'm not having to dose as much Ca or Mag.

Delphinus · #5 04-15-2009, 05:08 PM

Oh no I'm not falling for that again. As soon as I buy a bucket they will suddenly all lose their Mg and it'll still be my fault for not stating the proper incantation before opening the lid or something. Randi I didn't realize you were part of the world conspiracy. Next you're going to tell me you have peppermints eat all the hundreds of aiptasia in your tank overnight, or emerald crabs clean up valonia .. or .. or .. oh never mind. I'm going to go put on my tinfoil hat now so you can't hear my thoughts anymore!

Rbacchiega · #6 04-15-2009, 05:20 PM

did you try the vodka with the Dinos? Seriously, mine were GONE in a matter of 2 days.
I've never tried pepermint shrimp, as I don't have aiptasia in my tanks (Mwahahahahaha)

But I'll let you know if I ever need to

Delphinus · #7 04-15-2009, 06:58 PM

It's an interesting thought but I have some doubts vodka will do anything as I'm already dosing TA NO3 Destroyer and I'm sure that stuff has vodka in it (smells like vodka anyhow??). It's a zoanthid tank with no seriously light dependent things in it so I'm just shutting the lights off for a week and see what happens. Sorry here I go hijacking poor Doug's thread again. Just so it's not a complete hijack: I'm not sure what brand of timer I use, but it's just some standard thing from Rona/HD/whatever with an electronic timer and 3-prong plug. I've got some that are 4 years old by now and still working .. Maybe it's Intermatic? I'm not sure offhand. I'll check out what it is and post back because I totally have no hesitations with them. Not bad for $20 or so. Also, I tried the dual-plug Hamilton timer, it generally is OK except 1) the plugs are not independent, it's just a convenience factor that you can plug 2 items into it without a plug extender, and 2) the clock does drift, after a few months I notice it's a good few minutes off the rest of the house. I'd guess around 15 minutes every 6 months or so.

Of course if you REALLY want a Profilux or something, don't let me stop you.

fishytime · #8 04-18-2009, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Oh no I'm not falling for that again. As soon as I buy a bucket they will suddenly all lose their Mg and it'll still be my fault for not stating the proper incantation before opening the lid or something. Randi I didn't realize you were part of the world conspiracy. Next you're going to tell me you have peppermints eat all the hundreds of aiptasia in your tank overnight, or emerald crabs clean up valonia .. or .. or .. oh never mind. I'm going to go put on my tinfoil hat now so you can't hear my thoughts anymore!

You slay me Tony.

fishytime · #9 04-18-2009, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rbacchiega

I've recently switched over to H2Ocean and am stoked about it. All of a sudden I'm noticing good growth in between each water change, and I'm not having to dose as much Ca or Mag.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDigital

I just finished switching my tank over from Aquamedic salt to H2Ocean, and bought my first full size bucket of H2Ocean yesterday... Tank seemed to respond well as I am seeing noticeable growth every week.

Colors haven't been affected either IMO.

Well hopefully the H2Ocean is what its cracked up to be. Ive switched salts a couple times now and have seen no ill effects. Mind you I started mixing the two salts together when there was a half a bucket of the first salt left.