1st Acro tank Reefer 300. (Retired)

[tbrown]

I switched to ammonium bicarb myself. I don't know why but after a month or so I no longer had to dose to keep NO3 detectable. What's strange is I no longer have to dose PO4 either to keep levels detectable. I just take it as a blessing and question why lol

Phosphates just have to saturate the sand and rock and then very little dosing would be required if there's some in the food, except that SPS do uptake phosphates.

 

[exnisstech]

Phosphates just have to saturate the sand and rock and then very little dosing would be required if there's some in the food, except that SPS do uptake phosphates.

I edited my post. Tank was not new.

 

[exnisstech]

Alk consumption is still on the rise. Up from 30ml a day 8/12 today 52ml currently. pH is staying above 8 usually 8.1 - 8.3.
NO3 5
PO4 0.09
dkH 8.2

Everything is doing well so I'm just plugging along. No longer having to look at previous images to tell if a coral is growing is kinda cool.
I got a notice from reefbreeders that I needed to move the lights to the new app. I've been putting it off figuring it won't go well but it was pretty easy.

FTS for the record

 

[exnisstech]

Up to 60ml of AFR daily and corals are really showing growth.

I'm in grow out contest on another forum so I added a rock to place the frags on.

Now I need to plan a path forward I should have known better than to add a redsea tank so shame on me. Its not through the seam protector yet so maybe it will last but I have no idea how long

EDIT: I was looking at it some more and this isn't a typical seam separation and probably is scraper caused. I'm not sure why the algae continues to eat away at the silicone tho. I've never had algae start to eat away at a silicone seam in many years of scraping with all kinds of blades.
Still makes me wonder what is up with RS silicone.

 

[reef’r]

Up to 60ml of AFR daily and corals are really showing growth.

I'm in grow out contest on another forum so I added a rock to place the frags on.

Now I need to plan a path forward I should have known better than to add a redsea tank so shame on me. Its not through the seam protector yet so maybe it will last but I have no idea how long

EDIT: I was looking at it some more and this isn't a typical seam separation and probably is scraper caused. I'm not sure why the algae continues to eat away at the silicone tho. I've never had algae start to eat away at a silicone seam in many years of scraping with all kinds of blades.
Still makes me wonder what is up with RS silicone.

That PH boost really seems to have set things off for you. I’ve always had what I would call slow growth in SPS and have been wondering about ways to try and increase my PH. I don’t have a probe so the only testing I’ve down is with salifert and trying to figure out which shade of green I’m looking at lol my house is older so not sealed up air tight like modern construction but my wife works from home and we have two dogs, one small and one medium size. They go in and out of the house a lot during the day so doors are always opening and closing and now that temps are finally somewhat decent here in Florida we’ve been having windows and doors open but I’m considering adding a CO2 scrubber to my skimmer. Im also going to put the tank on kalk which will help, the increase in your consumption has at least doubled with your PH increase which is awesome

 

[exnisstech]

That PH boost really seems to have set things off for you. I’ve always had what I would call slow growth in SPS and have been wondering about ways to try and increase my PH. I don’t have a probe so the only testing I’ve down is with salifert and trying to figure out which shade of green I’m looking at lol my house is older so not sealed up air tight like modern construction but my wife works from home and we have two dogs, one small and one medium size. They go in and out of the house a lot during the day so doors are always opening and closing and now that temps are finally somewhat decent here in Florida we’ve been having windows and doors open but I’m considering adding a CO2 scrubber to my skimmer. Im also going to put the tank on kalk which will help, the increase in your consumption has at least doubled with your PH increase which is awesome

I has really helped. I swear I can see that bright green stag growth daily. Probably not true but dang it's growing fast. I'm not into controllers but I did add a Milwaukee pH monitor. It was well worth it IMO being able to see my highs and lows. As long as I don't turn the skimmer off and forget to turn it back on i never get below 8.0 pH over night. We're closed up for the winter now with 3 adults who are home all day and two pretty good sized dogs in a sub 1200 sf house and I'm still not dropping below 8.0. I'm only getting 8.2 as a high vs 8.3 when the house is open but im fine with that. I'm glad I was able to get a bump without a scrubber. I won a scrubber a few years ago but never bothered to get a CO2 tank and regulator to set it up.

 

[exnisstech]

May as well make a post before the year ends. Things are cruising along smoothly so not a lot to report. I'm dosing 10ml ammonium bicarb a day trying to keep nitrates 5ish. PO4 is running 0.02 - 0.04. Ph is still not dropping below 8.0 with the outside air line on the skimmer. Alk went up a bit to 9.5 dkh then down to 9.0 dkh. My new bottle of reagent tested 0.5 dkh higher than the previous bottle so I'm kinda rolling with 9 as a target figuring a + or - 0.5 cushion and making adjustments to the AFR as needed. Coral seem happy and are growing well so I'm just rolling along enjoying things.

Few stills.

And a video

 

[tsharpe291]

looks amazing!

 

[exnisstech]

looks amazing!

Thanks. It took a while (over 2 years) but I'm happy with the way its coming together.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

That last group of pictures is amazing. Makes me want to get a digitata.. I bought one when I first started but ended up being a stylo.

 

[exnisstech]

That last group of pictures is amazing. Makes me want to get a digitata.. I bought one when I first started but ended up being a stylo.

Thanks. I was trying out the camera on my new pixel 10 pro. That digi has been difficult but I think I finally have it in a spot it likes. They're just so darn fragile. I swear pieces break off if I sneeze next to the tank lol.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

Thanks. I was trying out the camera on my new pixel 10 pro. That digi has been difficult but I think I finally have it in a spot it likes. They're just so darn fragile. I swear pieces break off if I sneeze next to the tank lol.

I noticed early you said this is 2 years of growth, is that 2 years with acros or 2 years since wet? Or both?

 

[exnisstech]

I noticed early you said this is 2 years of growth, is that 2 years with acros or 2 years since wet? Or both?

I filled the tank February 2023 and added my first batch of frags from Adam at battle corals in late April of 2023 so a bit over 2 years now. I had a few losses as expected but some of the largest ones currently in the tank are from that shipment. Ive added a few more along the way but I'm poor at keeping track of dates things were added.
It was a struggle and the first year was tough. TBO things did okay but when I was able to bump my pH last August is when things took off to the point I could see new growth without having to look at before and after images. I no longer pooh pooh the idea of chasing pH like I used to lol.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I filled the tank February 2023 and added my first batch of frags from Adam at battle corals in late April of 2023 so a bit over 2 years now. I had a few losses as expected but some of the largest ones currently in the tank are from that shipment. Ive added a few more along the way but I'm poor at keeping track of dates things were added.
It was a struggle and the first year was tough. TBO things did okay but when I was able to bump my pH last August is when things took off to the point I could see new growth without having to look at before and after images. I no longer pooh pooh the idea of chasing pH like I used to lol.

I have ph issues myself but I think short of an air exchanger for my basement i've done all i can. Hoping its enough! Never drops below 7.95 now. Definitely getting new growth but yours is impressive haha. I got a bunch of little nubs and a couple turning into mini colonies. I agree ph is bigger than some say. I think its more of a hindrance mitigation strategy than a growth booster if that makes sense.

 

[Tahoe61]

Do you still have the Flame Angel?
Amazing progress, the system is beautiful.

 

[exnisstech]

Do you still have the Flame Angel?
Amazing progress, the system is beautiful.

Unfortunately I do not. I moved it to my 330 where it co-existed with a coral beauty for a year then one day the CB decided to start attacking the flame and by the time i could catch it it had injuries that resulted in it's death.

 

[exnisstech]

Just a brief update. Tanks cruising along. I'm currently dosing 55ml AFR daily to keep alk 8-8.5 dkH. I'm also dosing 10ml of ammonium bicarb which keeps NO3 3-5 ppm and also 1ml PO4 to keep levels 0.02 - 0.04. I've Just resigned myself to the fact that this tank is going to need to be dosed to keep N and P detectable. Still running a reefmat as the only mechanical filtration and I don't want to removed that so it is what it is. I'm just manually dosing for N and P as part if my morning routine so it's simple enough. AFR is in a doser. Calcium has been 425-450 for so long I don't test often any longer. Some people report calcium levels creeping up using AFR without water changes so I'm guessing my very random 2g WCs is enough to prevent that in this tank.
I brought a few LPS over and placed them on the bottom and they seem to be doing fine in the light and flow.

Tank is starting to fill in.

Currently watching the seams fail on the right end. RS says its not a concern and just to monitor it so they're aren't willing to offer any warranty replacement at this time. Not that I would fill another redsea tank in my home after 2 failures. I'm dumb but not that dumb

I'm undecided how I'm going to move forward at this point. I thought about shutting it down and moving everything over into my 330.7 but I like the idea of being able to focus primarily on SPS needs. Mixed reefs can be very challenging trying to please everything. I don't know that i could even come close to replicating the flow I have in this tank. I'm currently running two MP40s, two Nero 5s, a jebao MP40 knock off and two Tunze orca 6075s and coral are giving no indication it's too much flow. I'll probably end up with a replacement tank but we'll see.

 

[UncommonSense]

I'll probably end up with a replacement tank but we'll see.

A 4ft 90-120g would fit nicely in more or less the same footprint… just food for thought!

 

[exnisstech]

A 4ft 90-120g would fit nicely in more or less the same footprint… just food for thought!

Exactly what I've been pondering. I'm thinking a 4ft tank with an external overflow would give quite a bit more room. Problem is I already have two tanks on that wall along with my Gals antique ice box. I flipped her $100 to get her move all her knick knacks a few years so I could set a 180g against the wall. I'm not to sure she'll be as accommodating this time lol.

 

[UncommonSense]

Exactly what I've been pondering. I'm thinking a 4ft tank with an external overflow would give quite a bit more room. Problem is I already have two tanks on that wall along with my Gals antique ice box. I flipped her $100 to get her move all her knick knacks a few years so I could set a 180g against the wall. I'm not to sure she'll be as accommodating this time lol.

Hmm… could you sneak a 5ft internal overflow tank in? There’s numerous options in that size range these days!

Alternatively, you could always run peninsula plumbing if you don’t want the tank to hang off the wall!