Paul’s 240 gallon upgrade!
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Dubs83
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Update on VarioS 6S pump. CoralVue was very quick to respond to my ticket. They recommend an over night soak in a 1:1 ratio of water and vinegar. Due to the purchase date, they reminded me it was out of warranty- which makes me a little nervous. Lol. Let’s see what happens.
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Dubs83
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Well, soaking the pump overnight in a 1:1 water to vinegar solution did nothing to get the pump working. Carlos at CoralVue and I noticed there was a small wobble when spun to the plastic plate just aft of the pin wheel. I wonder if it’s enough to create some friction between the impeller and the housing in which the impeller spins in. Here’s a video of what I’m talking about
On the aquarium front- parameter are holding steady with Alkalinity at 8.4. Added 45ml of BRS Soda Ash concoction to bring it up into the 8.7. I’ve only got about a days worth of data but as of now it appears as the consumption rate is .3 dkh / day. I’ll stay the course for another few days before automating this portion of it.
Calcium dropped to 401 which is only a 1ppm difference so I’m going to say it remained the same. I’m working on bringing this up to 430 over the next two days.
Nitrate and PO4 stay unchanged at 15 and .17.
I’m going away for work this weekend so it’ll be a much needed break from the tank. Weird saying that but I’ve been armpit deep in it the last week catching up with the clean up.
I’d also like to copy @Brew12 FTS updates and post the same here. Thinking twice about every two weeks or so to track the progression.... or regression!
On the aquarium front- parameter are holding steady with Alkalinity at 8.4. Added 45ml of BRS Soda Ash concoction to bring it up into the 8.7. I’ve only got about a days worth of data but as of now it appears as the consumption rate is .3 dkh / day. I’ll stay the course for another few days before automating this portion of it.
Calcium dropped to 401 which is only a 1ppm difference so I’m going to say it remained the same. I’m working on bringing this up to 430 over the next two days.
Nitrate and PO4 stay unchanged at 15 and .17.
I’m going away for work this weekend so it’ll be a much needed break from the tank. Weird saying that but I’ve been armpit deep in it the last week catching up with the clean up.
I’d also like to copy @Brew12 FTS updates and post the same here. Thinking twice about every two weeks or so to track the progression.... or regression!
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Dubs83
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Received new impeller from CoralVue and no new result. The controller does show a Float Switch light on that I can’t seem to turn off. I wonder if that’s something that’s causing a problem. Waiting on response from CoralVue
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Dubs83
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Heard back from CoralVue and not to thrilled about the news. The pump is finished and needs replacing. I had plans for that $400 involving some fins and polyps!
I take back everything I said here. I may have typed this somewhat too soon. The Rep with CoralVue went way further then above and beyond- offered the credit and then some. Truly excellent customer service. Really nice job @CoralVue I’ll be throwing more of my money your way soon!
I take back everything I said here. I may have typed this somewhat too soon. The Rep with CoralVue went way further then above and beyond- offered the credit and then some. Truly excellent customer service. Really nice job @CoralVue I’ll be throwing more of my money your way soon!
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Dubs83
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Some photo updates on a few of our inhabitants.
How can you not love this face!?
And a current FTS. I’ll also post this on the original thread to consolidate my screw ups and hopefully successes.
How can you not love this face!?
And a current FTS. I’ll also post this on the original thread to consolidate my screw ups and hopefully successes.
Victoria M
5000 Club Member
Look at that tank! it is beautiful!
Man those are some seriously beautiful fish pictures. I am so impressed.
Man those are some seriously beautiful fish pictures. I am so impressed.
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Dubs83
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Thanks, Neil! He didn’t always look so hot. Not sure if you remember but s/he had two large bites in fins from a LARGE tang he was housed with at the store. Probably the fish with the most personality.
And thanks man! In hindsight, I wish I listened to @VictoriaM and moved it slightly to the right and extended the over hang another 3”-5”
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Dubs83
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Why thank you! I’m using a canon dslr. Nothing fancy, it’s actually the smallest dslr in the market and it does a great job. I believe it was the SL3... or 2. Don’t recall. I picked it up because I was flying for a company called Atlas Air at the time and was all over the world for 17 days at a time. So packing became a thing and this camera didn’t take up any space!
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Dubs83
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Update on parameters.
Salinity 1.025
Alkalinity is 8.74 and seems to swing at .3 per day. Dosing 38ml of BRS two part to maintain and close to setting this on a doser
Calcium tested at 351 today which I’m a little confused because it was 402 on Friday and then 401 on Sunday without any dosing. I checked today and it tested at 351. I suppose it could an outlier so I will test again shortly.
Phosphates are down from .17 to .14.
Nitrate is down to 10
I think these two are coming down because I finally turned the lights on the chaeto and have been swapping filter socks every 3 days.
Water changes are down from 4.5 gallons to 3 gallons per day as this creates a nice balance of how much work I ask the boss lady to do when I start traveling to FL for two weeks. Basically frees her up from makin saltwater on days I’m away.
That’s all for now.
Salinity 1.025
Alkalinity is 8.74 and seems to swing at .3 per day. Dosing 38ml of BRS two part to maintain and close to setting this on a doser
Calcium tested at 351 today which I’m a little confused because it was 402 on Friday and then 401 on Sunday without any dosing. I checked today and it tested at 351. I suppose it could an outlier so I will test again shortly.
Phosphates are down from .17 to .14.
Nitrate is down to 10
I think these two are coming down because I finally turned the lights on the chaeto and have been swapping filter socks every 3 days.
Water changes are down from 4.5 gallons to 3 gallons per day as this creates a nice balance of how much work I ask the boss lady to do when I start traveling to FL for two weeks. Basically frees her up from makin saltwater on days I’m away.
That’s all for now.
Victoria M
5000 Club Member
Nah, it looks perfect the way it is.
I’m kinda jelly of his overhang.
I opted for a shelf platform on top of a Pukani base rock . I wasn’t confident I’d have enough mass in the base to provide counterweight for the plate, do didn’t do the cantilever. Wish I’d kept trying it. I got s little 2.5-3” overhang going on but when I bought the rock, I’d wanted it to essentially float in free space out the side of a pillar. The thing is 22” long...
Nice update. Always good to see numbers with the pics. Looks great.Update on parameters.
Salinity 1.025
Alkalinity is 8.74 and seems to swing at .3 per day. Dosing 38ml of BRS two part to maintain and close to setting this on a doser
Calcium tested at 351 today which I’m a little confused because it was 402 on Friday and then 401 on Sunday without any dosing. I checked today and it tested at 351. I suppose it could an outlier so I will test again shortly.
Phosphates are down from .17 to .14.
Nitrate is down to 10
I think these two are coming down because I finally turned the lights on the chaeto and have been swapping filter socks every 3 days.
Water changes are down from 4.5 gallons to 3 gallons per day as this creates a nice balance of how much work I ask the boss lady to do when I start traveling to FL for two weeks. Basically frees her up from makin saltwater on days I’m away.
That’s all for now.
Where are you aiming for with NO3 and PO4? I’m dosing 5/0.15 until I get rid of the Chrysophytes. I’ll need to dose in order to keep my planted macros happy - I literally can’t feed enough and avoid poisoning thevtank- but I think if I have steady state levels there it might work out ok.
Staying FAR FAR away from 0/0 moving forward
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Dubs83
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I’m going to try for 10 and .06 to .1.
I think I have a much heavier bio load then you which I’d assume is only helping to keep my levels elevated.
My skimmer pump comes in today. Exciting stuff!
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Dubs83
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Then you know what to do, sir!! Lol
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Dubs83
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Yes!!!
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Dubs83
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Replacement skimmer pump is here and we are back in business. Confirmed it was the pump it self and in turn have me a back up controller and lower supply. It’s skimmer rather wet right now even though I let the pump run in some water:vinegar solution to try and wash off some of the dust/oils/dirt but still had to back off the pump speed.
Performed an accidental overdose. It seems I have a hard time with consistency using the Hanna calcium checker. Tested last night in the 370, so I dosed enough to bring the levels up to 400... tested this afternoon- 550. ****!
Don’t think it’s a big deal. Did two tests to confirm and figured I’ll just let the water changes bring the levels back down.
Other parameters are:
SG: 1.026
Alk: 8.8
Calcium: 551 (oops)
Mag: 1305
Nitrate: 10
PO4: 0.14
Now, onto more pressing issue. How many tangs is too many in a 240 gallon (8’x2’x2’). Would you advise against 2 purples (currently established) a trio of yellows and a scopas tang? I understand the potential for aggression and am ready to combat this including rehoming if necessary. I just want to make sure my system can support them
Performed an accidental overdose. It seems I have a hard time with consistency using the Hanna calcium checker. Tested last night in the 370, so I dosed enough to bring the levels up to 400... tested this afternoon- 550. ****!
Don’t think it’s a big deal. Did two tests to confirm and figured I’ll just let the water changes bring the levels back down.
Other parameters are:
SG: 1.026
Alk: 8.8
Calcium: 551 (oops)
Mag: 1305
Nitrate: 10
PO4: 0.14
Now, onto more pressing issue. How many tangs is too many in a 240 gallon (8’x2’x2’). Would you advise against 2 purples (currently established) a trio of yellows and a scopas tang? I understand the potential for aggression and am ready to combat this including rehoming if necessary. I just want to make sure my system can support them
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