Field Trial of Ultralith System as of May 24/10

[fencer]

Notes
The use of this system has a an unexpected side effect all the softies are doing very well in the tank. I had trouble getting duncans to grow which now not an issue. The other issue is that it has spurred the growth of Apistia. SPS polyp extension has been excellent and growth has been good. I have plans to increase the lighting of the tank to 250 MH to increase growth rates.


Prams May 17

Some pictures will follow.

Ca...450 ppm
Mg...1400 ppm
Potassium....not done
pH...7.92
dKH.....7.4
Phosphate...less than 0.15ppm
Nitrates.... 3 ppm (due to the introduction of fish)
Salinity 32 ppt
Conductivity.....55.5 mEq
Redox...avg 320 mV( would like it higher)


I would like to review:

Currently I am dosing:

PT 1.........5 ml
PT 2.........10 ml
PT 3.........10 ml
PT 4.........5 ml
MinS.......3 ml
Bak...........1.0 ml
Bio............4 drops every week
zeolite........0.5 l added an additional 0.5l
Amin...........not dosing
Organic ......not dosing
10% water change/week
Carbon change one / month
Phosphate remover......not using

[fencer]

Here are some picture shots as of May 20 under 12K/Actininc VHO's:





Here is the same filed with 14K MH and actinics much earlier

[fencer]

Update Aug 2
This is a short update.
1. I had a chance to use DDH20 salt. If you are considering the ultralith system: DO NOT use this salt. It is not compatible with this system. 95 % of SPS's all browned out or lost their color. This is not a bad salt...just not for Ultra users. I have switched back to Coralife
2. There are now 250 MH's on the main system with 4 t5 HO's
3. The skimmer was upgraded to a Vertex 180
4. There was a major accident in the tank(lost 75% of the volume) due to a bad check valve and a bad storm. I had to refill the tank using DDH2O. Note the loss of color happen before this accident. Lost several colonies because of stress, temp etc. The system is stable but far from normal
5. All additives dosing have remained the same. I have started dosing with Ultra Amin at the rate of 5 ml per day
6. Pictures when the system heals

[buddyreefer]

curious to know what the reason dd is not compatible with an ulns.

[fencer]

I wish I knew....I can only comment on what has happened. And I don't want to start a flame war....so I no longer comment about the DDH20 Salt

[bignose]

Hi fencer how's the tank? Last time we talked you said that your corals browned out.

[fencer]

The tank is has bounced back after I restarted using my old salt. It may take a bit longer for the colours to come fully back. No frags at the exchange this month...next month. I switched from MH to T5HO...lets see how that affects the growth rate