45g TankMe USA and Battlecorals SPS Build

Rozdab

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 27, 2013
Messages
146
Reaction score
38
Location
R2R Forum
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Everything looks great! I will be following along.

How are the coralline products you used doing at this point? Worth it?

Thanks
 
OP
OP
Silver14SS

Silver14SS

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 8, 2017
Messages
2,383
Reaction score
4,364
Location
NC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I think the ARC coraline worked, I used a bottle each of the purple and pink. There are spots on everything, the largest are on the bottom and are dime sized.

The snails from IPSF brought in coralline as well. I think both contributed and it's really taking off now that I'm dosing.
 
OP
OP
Silver14SS

Silver14SS

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 8, 2017
Messages
2,383
Reaction score
4,364
Location
NC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'm comfortable with how the Alkatronic is working, so I mixed up a bigger batch of reagent. The BRS gallon jug fits like a glove!
20190129_193144.jpg

Now that one gadget is dialed in, it's time for another. I ordered a phyto and copepod reactor from Poseiden, if this works well maybe I'll add a captive bred mandarin. https://poseidonreefsystems.com/products/phytotank-cl-copepod-system
 
OP
OP
Silver14SS

Silver14SS

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 8, 2017
Messages
2,383
Reaction score
4,364
Location
NC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The phyto and pod reactors arrived today. Poseiden Reef Systems has made a great first impression! Packaged well, came with a printed manual, all I needed to add was saltwater. All around excellent transaction, they emailed me an hour after I purchased to confirm a shipping date, and the product looks well designed.

20190201_122524.jpg 20190201_193233.jpg
20190201_193242.jpg
 

rushbattle

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 19, 2016
Messages
1,347
Reaction score
1,644
Location
Equality
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Tankme USA ,,, SPS corals from Battle Corals ,,, doesn't get any better than that ,,, tagging along for the ride ,,,
And alk monitoring on a sub 100 gallon tank! No that tank size has anything to do with it, but usually folks willing to spend that much have larger tanks. Very neat!
 
OP
OP
Silver14SS

Silver14SS

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 8, 2017
Messages
2,383
Reaction score
4,364
Location
NC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Thanks! Alk monitoring is very interesting, I had no idea how much it would swing throughout the day with only coralline growing. I re calibrated the Alkatronic pumps and pH probe, the test after read .1 lower than previous, nice that it wasn't a big change.

Coralline is growing, parameters are stable - I'm running out of reasons to keep waiting on ordering from BattleCorals.

20190205_094755.jpg
 

rushbattle

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 19, 2016
Messages
1,347
Reaction score
1,644
Location
Equality
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Thanks! Alk monitoring is very interesting, I had no idea how much it would swing throughout the day with only coralline growing. I re calibrated the Alkatronic pumps and pH probe, the test after read .1 lower than previous, nice that it wasn't a big change.

Coralline is growing, parameters are stable - I'm running out of reasons to keep waiting on ordering from BattleCorals.

20190205_094755.jpg
That's super cool! I am waiting for Reefbot so I can monitor N and P levels as well, as I have some strange circumstances that require more frequent monitoring for those parameters. The answer is clearly to call or message Adam and get it done!!!! I got an 8 pack from him in December and they got cold, and then I let N and P bottom out with too little feeding. Once I fixed that problem they are putting on some good growth, he has the good stuff!
 
OP
OP
Silver14SS

Silver14SS

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 8, 2017
Messages
2,383
Reaction score
4,364
Location
NC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Feeding time. I may be the worst fish photographer ever, but here we go :p The yellow damsels look different with the hybrid light, the T5s seem to be bringing out some blue along the top, and reddish/pink tails. Everyone looks fat and happy, only loss has been one of the yellow line gobies - MIA.
20190205_111012.jpg 20190205_111103.jpg 20190205_111238.jpg


As much as I like the Alkatronic, I have an Apex so I'm ok admitting to myself that I'll likely try one eventually as well. The Reefbot looks very interesting as well, it would definitely make me test more than just the big 3.
 

rushbattle

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 19, 2016
Messages
1,347
Reaction score
1,644
Location
Equality
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Feeding time. I may be the worst fish photographer ever, but here we go :p The yellow damsels look different with the hybrid light, the T5s seem to be bringing out some blue along the top, and reddish/pink tails. Everyone looks fat and happy, only loss has been one of the yellow line gobies - MIA.
20190205_111012.jpg 20190205_111103.jpg 20190205_111238.jpg


As much as I like the Alkatronic, I have an Apex so I'm ok admitting to myself that I'll likely try one eventually as well. The Reefbot looks very interesting as well, it would definitely make me test more than just the big 3.
That's the only problem with Reefbot, can't quite squeeze in a Mg test! I use Mg more or less to verify salinity myself though. I might measure once a month just to be sure nothing has moved around. But I am excited to have alkalinity, Ca, NO3 and PO4 tested automatically! Hopefully they will actually ship soon.
 
OP
OP
Silver14SS

Silver14SS

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 8, 2017
Messages
2,383
Reaction score
4,364
Location
NC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Lol to the submarine comments, I'd say it's just a bad angle, but the fish is fat! The fish all seem very social except for the dotty, it pretty much hides unless it's time to eat.

Texted Adam, I'm surprised I held out this long. I blame the Alkatronic, the alk swings of only 0.06 over the course of a day make me think it'll be fine.
 

Mastering the art of locking and unlocking water pathways: What type of valves do you have on your aquarium plumbing?

  • Ball valves.

    Votes: 38 48.1%
  • Gate valves.

    Votes: 41 51.9%
  • Check valves.

    Votes: 16 20.3%
  • None.

    Votes: 21 26.6%
  • Other.

    Votes: 8 10.1%
Back
Top