Lance's 225 gal tank

Lance · #1 06-28-2010, 06:26 PM

Whooooooo! Hoooooooooo!

After 19 months of battling nitrates and phosphates in this tank, using every method known: large and frequent water changes (20% weekly); refugium with macroalgae; reactor running Rowaphos; reactor running nitrate remover; vodka dosing; Tailored Aquatics phosphate & nitrate destroyer; the Bio pellets are the answer. At times the nitrates would get as high as 30mg/l and phosphates were never lower than .05 ppm. Since using the pellets NO3 & PO4 have been steadily coming down. This morning I did my bi-weekly testing and the results are..... (.......drum roll please.....)

NO3 on Salifert kit = 0.00 NO3 on Elos kit = 0.00
PO4 on Hanna checker = 0.00 PO4 on Salifert kit = 0.00

Pretty damn good for an overstocked, well-fed tank. And, the pellets are saving me money as well: down to 10% water changes every 2 weeks; no more phosphate & nitrate removers; no more perfectly good vodka going to waste. And, as a bonus, the pellets couldn't be easier to use.

If I sound a little giddy and like I'm trying to promote the pellets: You're damn right I am! I love these guys!

Now, I think I'm going to sit back, watch the soccer game and sample a little, or a lot of that vodka.

Delphinus · #2 06-28-2010, 08:01 PM

Lance · #3 07-07-2010, 03:38 AM

A very pleasant surprise today.
It's the first hot day we've had this summer and I discovered the new light fixture heats the tank less than the old one did even with the extra 570 watts. Huh! (Fans only went on a few times today for short periods, and the temp. never went above 80.8 F)
Because the 400W MH's have way better penetration I have the fixture 15" above the water whereas the old fixture, (Aqualight Pro), was only about 5" above. This fixture also displaces heat much better.
And to think when I bought it I was worried about the tank getting too warm!