Bills CDA 225 gal 72x30x24 tank upgrade/SPS Dream Tank!!!

[Billldg]

Man you have that skimmer working over time. I'm looking forward to seeing you control cabinet, it's looking great so far.

LOL!!! That's that not my skimmer, that's @fishguy242 skimmer. Mine is barely breaking a sweat, LOL!!!

The control cabinet is coming along. I finished the panel that will hold the powerbars and some other controllers and I am currently painting it.

 

[MuscleBobBuffPants]

Just read through your entire build and thought it was great. Following to see the updates!

 

[fishguy242]

New baby name reveal in approx 9-10 hours...
just FYI...

 

[Billldg]

Still dealing with Diatoms...UGH!!!

About to put some bottles of NeoNitro and NeoPhos on some pumps to dose daily. Even when using a portion of live rock, the portion of dry rock will suck it up, thus, Dino issues. I see some bubbles, but, not concerned yet. I am trying to prevent the Dino issue.

 

[Billldg]

Triton received my sample, lets see what it shows!!!

 

[Billldg]

As I said before, I will be doing the @Bulk Reef Supply hybrid balling method. I hooked up the container with the Tropic Marin Part C to the GHL doser and I will start with 100ml p/day. I just dosed my first 100ml just now. Lets see how this works out.

 

[Billldg]

I have to put this out here as...IT ALWAY'S COME AROUND MY BIRTHDAY...and I have been watching it since it's beginning...WHO IS WAITING FOR SHARKWEEK!!!

 

[Billldg]

Just doing some maintenance on the tank today. Still dealing with a major diatom outbreak. I am not sure if its still the new tank uglies, or something else. I am cleaning as much of the diatoms as I can. I am cleaning the glass and scraping the back of the DT, I am brushing off the aquascape and letting everything collect in the filter socks. I will likely order a bunch more Cerith snails as well to help clean up some of the diatoms.

 

[ScottB]

Just doing some maintenance on the tank today. Still dealing with a major diatom outbreak. I am not sure if its still the new tank uglies, or something else. I am cleaning as much of the diatoms as I can. I am cleaning the glass and scraping the back of the DT, I am brushing off the aquascape and letting everything collect in the filter socks. I will likely order a bunch more Cerith snails as well to help clean up some of the diatoms.

Have you confirmed diatoms and not dinos? Coffee filter test?

Either way, this early in the progression it is likely to get eventually outcompeted by the next set of organisms.

 

[Billldg]

Have you confirmed diatoms and not dinos? Coffee filter test?

Either way, this early in the progression it is likely to get eventually outcompeted by the next set of organisms.

I thought about dinos, as I am having a hard time getting N03 and P04 above 0. I started feeding even heavier and dosing NeoNitro and NeoPhos. I am about to do test to see if they have risen any. Until I get the next load of fish in, not having a load on the tank makes it hard to keep N03 and P04 up. I do believe its diatoms though as the tank started going thru the ugly stage, and just hasn't come out of it yet.

This is the drawback to using any amount of dry rock, it will absorb N03 and P04, thus bottoming out your N03 and P04. Its the reason you are seeing an increase in dino outbreaks.

 

[Billldg]

I currently have my GHL KHD reading 7.8 DKH while my Apex Trident is reading 8.29 DKH. My Trident Alk reagent is about to be empty, so I don't truly trust the reading as I have constantly seen measurement drift as the reagents empty out. I went to test my Alk with my Hanna, and wouldn't you know it, my Hanna is not acting right. It read 5.2 and 5.3 DKH. I am not sure that is even possible. I changed cuvettes and the same, 5.3 DKH. The reagent is good, it doesn't expire until 2/2022. I just sent a message to Hanna, lets see what they say. It go's to show you that Hanna checkers are not the golden standard, and are subjected to issues and errors just like anything else.

 

[Billldg]

AND I AM STILL WAITING ON MY TRITON ICP ANAYLSIS...LOL!!!

Inquiring minds want to know...MAINLY...ME!!!

Of course its only been a few days since they received it, but I am not impatient.

 

[Billldg]

I just ordered 3 Lt's of Brightwell Aquatics Purit. I will run in in my carbon reactor to help strip the water of silicates. My only concern is that it will also remove N03 and P04. If need be, I will just dose twice as much NeoNitro and NeoPhos. I need to get over the new tank uglies and move on. I may also send a test to Trident to test my RO/DI mixing station water. The silicates have to be coming from somewhere, just not sure where. I use a 7 stage RO/DI BRS system, so I doubt its coming from there.

 

[fishguy242]

SHARK WEEK meme ,does not count as pic ,Bill... ;Hilarious;Hilarious
ANNND....SPBLAMMED...;Happy

 

[Billldg]

SHARK WEEK meme ,does not count as pic ,Bill... ;Hilarious;Hilarious
ANNND....SPBLAMMED...;Happy

Such a cutie, and the SPS colony looks good as well ...But the puppy looks far better, LOL!!!;Hilarious;Hilarious;Hilarious

 

[Billldg]

Got my first Triton ICP test results in. They are surprisingly good, with a few exceptions. None are bad. I just need to adjust a few things. The Cal I already knew was low and already had adjusted it. The other things are a few trace elements. I will not chase them as it often leads to bigger issues. Like I said, nothing was bad, just some tweaks. I did notice my silicates were within range, but on the higher end of the range. I ordered, and will run, Brightwell Aquatics Purit to help remove and silicates and get over the new tank uglies. I will have to monitor my N03 and P04 as it also removes it as well.

 

[Billldg]

KInda GEEKING OUT as I will receive my next fish order from @tsmaquatics this Friday. It will include a Gem Tang, Purple Tang, D. Sailfin Tang, True Blonde Naso Tang, Orange Back Fairy wrasse, and a Eightline Flasher wrasse.

I CAN"T WAIT ANY LONGER!!!

 

[fishguy242]

;Happy ;Woot;WootBut...;Facepalmgoing to make us wait THREE weeks for pics...;Hilarious;Hilarious

 

[Billldg]

;Happy ;Woot;WootBut...;Facepalmgoing to make us wait THREE weeks for pics...;Hilarious;Hilarious

SERIOUSLY, YOU THINK I WILL WAIT 3 WEEKS FOR PICTURES OF MY NEW FISH!!!

7-23-21...maybe 2022...BUT!!! ;Hilarious ;Hilarious ;Hilarious

 

[ScottB]

I thought about dinos, as I am having a hard time getting N03 and P04 above 0. I started feeding even heavier and dosing NeoNitro and NeoPhos. I am about to do test to see if they have risen any. Until I get the next load of fish in, not having a load on the tank makes it hard to keep N03 and P04 up. I do believe its diatoms though as the tank started going thru the ugly stage, and just hasn't come out of it yet.

This is the drawback to using any amount of dry rock, it will absorb N03 and P04, thus bottoming out your N03 and P04. Its the reason you are seeing an increase in dino outbreaks.

Agreed. Dead rock is my nemesis. I will take (most) hitch-hikers any day over the many months of labor from a dead rock start. Or in my case, a re-aquascape with dead rock. Live is so expensive these days but so worth it to me.

You should be able to raise nitrate okay, it is the phosphates that do all the binding to rock. I dosed 2 liters of DIY (trisodium phosphate) before I could keep a reading. Only 200ml of nitrate and could've been much less if I had enough fish. Now with enough fish, I dose vodka instead.