120gal mixed predatory reef tank

trilinearmipmap · #1 07-28-2010, 01:30 PM

OK here are a couple of ideas regarding the lack of reliability of kH test kits.

My Salifert kH test kit came with a reference standard to check the kH test results against. If no one in town has a reference standard to lend you, I can bring one out next time I am in town.

The other idea is to use a pH monitor (recently calibrated against known standards) to measure the pH of a sample of tank water that has been aerated outdoors for a few hours. By aerating the water sample, the concentration of CO2 in the water will be equal to the concentration in the atmosphere. Since carbonate/bicarbonate is the predominant buffer system in seawater, you can take the pH and the concentration of CO2, and calculate the kH.

By using both these methods you should be able to come to some approximation of how accurate your kH test kit is.

whatcaneyedo · #2 07-28-2010, 05:42 PM

A lot of coral looks ****ed off this morning and some of the fish aren't breathing right so I'm going to take some of the pellets out so that I only have 250ml running and do a water change.

I dont think I'll have a problem finding someone in town with a KH kit that I can try but thanks for the idea.

globaldesigns · #3 07-28-2010, 05:47 PM

Hey, I haven't used the Vertex Pellets, but with NP BioPellets they need to be tumbling very aggressively... I may be incorrect, but doesn't the Vertex ones need to be used in the same way? I see that you have your reactor stuffed, with no room to move.

If the Vertex are on the same principle as NP BioPellets, then the reactor is just going to get bunged up with mulm and garbage... I would suggest removing half of them and get them really moving around.

This is way I use 3 reactors in my setup, with about 1 litre in each, and have them going crazy (tumbling and whipping around).

I hope this helps, If the vertex pellets are different, please enlighten us all.

Thanks.

whatcaneyedo · #4 07-28-2010, 05:54 PM

No they all tubling. I posted a picture and not a video so its hard to tell. I guess I could take a snap of them with the pump off and then with the pump on so that you could see... But I've already made some changes and removed a lot so there isn't really any point now. With the amount that was in there the reactor was about 2/3 full with the pump off. With the pump on it looks like its completely full.

globaldesigns · #5 07-28-2010, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatcaneyedo

No they all tubling. I posted a picture and not a video so its hard to tell. I guess I could take a snap of them with the pump off and then with the pump on so that you could see... But I've already made some changes and removed a lot so there isn't really any point now. With the amount that was in there the reactor was about 2/3 full with the pump off. With the pump on it looks like its completely full.

Ah cool, pic is very decieving.

Not saying you have to do this, but I run 3 liters on my system (180G, with 100G sump/refuge) How much are you running, maybe run more.

I know I run alot for my system, but I have researched that it is quite hard to overdose on these, and since I have a big bioload, I found what I run to be working well.

whatcaneyedo · #6 07-28-2010, 06:08 PM

I had posted that I was running the minimum recommended amount for my systems net water volume which was 400ml. However I just removed some this morning because some things in the tank didn't look so good. So now there is just 250ml. Yes I'm kind of paranoid but I think that trait has helped me to avoid a lot of disasters already. If everything starts looking better I'll go back up to 400ml eventually. If I try to fit any more I'll need another reactor. And since Nitrate and Phosphate are already undetectable in my system and my bioload isn't too bad I don't think I'll be doing that.

whatcaneyedo · #7 07-30-2010, 04:42 AM

I'm having a pretty busy week. The tank finally settled down after a few days of bacteria bloom from the pellets. The water is looking clear again and the coral and fish are no longer oxygen deprived and distressed. Here is how the reactor looks at the moment with just 250ml inside. It is tumbling, its just hard to tell because it is just a picture.

As I think I mentioned the skimmer was pulling quite a bit out for the last few days. Here is how it looked and underneath is how it normally looks.

I've got big plans for my frankensump tomorrow (note: I just fed the fish so my foam head has collapsed, this is normal). I've decided to tear down my 50gal frag tank and convert the sump into a frag trough. I'm going to remove the 50gal's return and overflow and the area where I've been trying to grow macro algae. Then I'm going to move the skimmer to the left outside of the sump and part all of the rocks to the sides as well. Once everything has been moved out of the way I'll put all of the coral that is in the 50gal in the middle and hang one of my Lumenmax pendants above.

For some extra flow in the sump I've picked up two Hydor Koralia Evolution 1400 powerheads. I may leave them to run constantly or I may plug them into the controller and have them alternate... I haven't decided yet. (EDIT: after reading some reviews I'll just leave these to run constant and not on a wave maker) I'll post some more pictures tomorrow when the dust clears.