Budget Beginnings

[Euphylliaphyle]

FTS, 6/14/2026

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

6/17/2026
Skimmer growling after AWC cycle. Water level was 1/16 - 1/8" low, ATO not activated. High water sensor had moved down and was crooked. (Pencil Urchin was seen next to high water sensor earlier that day.) Moved sensor back up, instantly triggering ATO. Net result: some of the water removed by AWC was replenished with RO/DI. This must have decreased salinity somewhat. Tested 34.6 ppt (1.0256 SpG @ 79.8°F), down 0.4 ppt from 6/12/2026 corrected value. No idea what it was immediately prior to this incident; suspect it had increased above 35 ppt since 6/12/2026 correction, based on my hypothesis noted on that date.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Added a new torch yesterday - 24k with blue tips, two heads. I can't wait until it colors back up. I won it in an UWA auction, $95.01 including tax and shipping.

Temp acclimated for 15 minutes, then KCl dip (6g/250 ml tank water), rinse in tank water, then H₂O₂ dip 5 min (70 ml of 3% H₂O₂/250 ml tank water) and a final tank water rinse before placing in tank. Barely anything visible came off in either dip - it was a very clean coral. It had decent polyp extension within hours of acclimation. Video is from morning after arrival.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

7/3/2026 test results:

● Dosing 5.0 ml/day AFR starting 6/26/2026. New AFR mix batch starts 7/3/2026.
● Tests are post-today's AFR dosing.
● Phosphate, nitrate tested before a.m. feeding.

○ Ca: 440 ppm (+25/7d)
(target: 400-450 ppm)
per Salifert titration
○ Alk: 6.7 dKH (+0.3/7d)
(target: 8-12 dkH)
per Salifert titration
○ Mg: 1,365 ppm (+225/7d)
(target: 1,250-1,400 ppm)
per Salifert titration (New test
kit 7/3/2026)
* Stay with 5.0 ml/d AFR.
○ pH: 8.1
(target: 8.1-8.4)
per API colorimetric
○ Salinity: 1.0251 SpG/ 34 ppt
(target: 35 ppt)
per TropicMarin hydrometer
○ Temperature: 79.9°F
(target: 73-84°F)
per (new 7/3/2026)ThermPro
digital meat therm.
○ Nitrate: 52.6 ppm (+0.9/7d)
(target: 5-50 ppm*)
per Hanna HR Checker
○ Phosphate: 0.47 ppm** (+0.09/7d)
(target: 0.06-0.3 ppm*)
per Hanna ULR Checker
** Add 1-1/2 tbsp RowaPhos to filter bag
in canister filter. 3 tbsp
recommended for reactor use to get
to 0.20 ppm, 2x for filter bag.

* https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/randy’s-thoughts-on-nutrient-target-ranges.1087/

*** Add Rox 0.8 GAC, 1-1/2 tbsp (3 is recommended by BRS) Replace in 2 weeks.


Last (6/26/26):
● Dosing 4.0 ml/day AFR starting 6/12/2026.
● Tests are post-today's AFR dosing.
● Phosphate, nitrate tested before a.m. feeding.

○ Ca: 415 ppm (-25/7d)
(target: 400-450 ppm)
per Salifert titration
○ Alk: 6.4 dKH (-0.3/14d)
(target: 8-12 dkH)
per Salifert titration
○ Mg: 1,110 ppm (-150/14d)
(target: 1,250-1,400 ppm)
per Salifert titration
* Increase to 5.0 ml/d AFR.
* Dose additional 1.0 ml AFR
immediately.
○ pH: 8.0 pre-dawn, 8.0 mid-day
(target: 8.1-8.4)
per API colorimetric
○ Salinity: 1.0255 SpG/34.4 ppt
(target: 35 ppt)
per TropicMarin hydrometer
○ Temperature: 79.6°F
(target: 73-84°F)
per Weber digital therm.
○ Nitrate: 51.7 ppm (-2.0/14d)
(target: 5-50 ppm*)
per Hanna HR Checker
○ Phosphate: 0.38 ppm (-0.19/14d)
(target: 0.06-0.3 ppm*)
per Hanna ULR Checker

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Urchins and Zebra Turbo keep moving my AWC/ATO sensors. Plus, rim interference with the top of the upper sensor results in too much gap between bottom of the rim and water surface for my liking (i.e., waterline right at the bottom of the rim).
["Before" image of highest possible waterline: https://www.reef2reef.com/posts/14393264/]

I fabricated a "T" bracket from 3/16" acrylic for use with AvidAqua ModMag Mega aquarium magnet. I dovetailed the upright of the bracket to fit into the groove in the magnet housing. I then superglued the sensors to the cross part of the "T" so that the high-level sensor is higher than the low-level sensor by 7 mm. I calculated this for my tank and a desired daily water change of 1/2 gallon thusly:

36 gallons / 20 inches tall = 1.8 gal / in
0.5 gal desired / 1.8 gal / in = 0.278 in
= 7.06 mm

The bracket now clears the rim, so I can adjust the normal water level to my preference. The structure and the powerful magnets with silicone anti-slip pad should give me critter-resistant stability as related to sensor position durability.