EXT 170 Build

[X-37B]

Do you think the crabs came with the coral or rock?

I think they were always there I did not notice but saw one when the new colony went in.

 

[Finn450]

Thank you! The Stags should be at the surface in another 1.5 or less.
I will be able to work on the front once I get the 112 online in a few months.
I just purchased a used Sea Sweep today for the 112. Was going to do an ORCA but I already have a few pumps for the sweep.

Excellent. Actually, I've decided on the 112 for my next build...love the dimensions. Center "Bommie" with 5-6 Acro colonies. 3 yellow tangs....cuc...that's it.

 

[X-37B]

I currently feed esv dried phyto around once a week at night.
Other than that I only feed the fish.

So I'm looking to enhance color and ordered the V3 concoction.

I look forward to see if it does anything for color. The reviews I has seen indicate it does improve color if all else is inline.

 

[X-37B]

Today co2 was empty and I went to change it and my other 2 10lbers were empty. So much for backup, lol.
Alk was 7.2.
Added esv 1and 2 to bring it to 7.5.
Welding shop is 2 miles from my house so I got 3 filled for just under just $100.
The one I replaced was 2 weeks short of 6 months.

Pics of my 2 9430dc skimmers.
Cleaning the cup requires lifting off the cup and replacing it.
I have 2 spare cups so it takes only a few seconds to do.
Skimmer one has not been cleaned from startup 1.5+ years ago.

A couple reasons I like Tunze skimmers so much.
Skimmer 1

Skimmer 2

 

[X-37B]

When it rains it pours, lol.
That was the commercial for Morton salt, the company I worked at for 7 years.

Last night I noticed no drip from the Kamoer.
The Sicci 3.0. recirculating pump was not running.
Pulled the pump and replaced it.
Not the easiest to do as you can see the pump in the pic.

This is what the impeller looks like. It split down the middle.
Pump was very warm, almost hot!

Always have backups!

Back up and running in less than 10 minutes. Not the easiest pump to change but I can do it without removing the 818.

 

[69cam]

Nice build. Just wondering what you are doing for nutrient export.

 

[X-37B]

Nice build. Just wondering what you are doing for nutrient export.

2 Tunze 9430dc skimmers. One runs ozone.
400 micron mesh socks.
Rox in skimmer effluent that runs ozone.
Nothing else except some P-minus for po4 control when it hits .2 I bring it down to .1.
Took no3 reactor offline. Was holding <5 now no3 sits at 15.
Current sump setup.

 

[X-37B]

I setup this 20×12.5×12.5 as a hospital tank.
Seachem 35 with some Eheim substrate pro from my 50 and floss.
100 watt Hygger heater
12 Watt Hygger crossflow
16hd
1 liter gravity ato
Frag rack.
I have 2-8"×8"×3"
racks comming.
Couple rocks
Potato chip and
Purple Stylo testers
I had the 16hd new in box from 5 years ago.
16hd
First 4 100%
Last 3 80%

 

[69cam]

2 Tunze 9430dc skimmers. One runs ozone.
400 micron mesh socks.
Rox in skimmer effluent that runs ozone.
Nothing else except some P-minus for po4 control when it hits .2 I bring it down to .1.
Took no3 reactor offline. Was holding <5 now no3 sits at 15.
Current sump setup.

How often are you doing water changes?

 

[X-37B]

How often are you doing water changes?

5% once a month.

 

[MegabiteOG]

5% once a month.

I'm thinking of doing the same once a month WC of 5% or just doing a gallon a day. I've been doing 10% a week and everything is doing so well in this new tank (26 days since transferring things over) that I kind of hesitate.

Also, very nice build. Went through most it and really like the progress. I also noticed you're running 2 skimmers. I have a BK Supermarin 250 on hand that I didn't use thinking it was too big. Opted for a smaller Reef Octopus that working really well. I wonder if the much bigger BK would have done fine? Maybe I'll hold on to it instead of sale it.

Again, GREAT build!

 

[X-37B]

I'm thinking of doing the same once a month WC of 5% or just doing a gallon a day. I've been doing 10% a week and everything is doing so well in this new tank (26 days since transferring things over) that I kind of hesitate.

Also, very nice build. Went through most it and really like the progress. I also noticed you're running 2 skimmers. I have a BK Supermarin 250 on hand that I didn't use thinking it was too big. Opted for a smaller Reef Octopus that working really well. I wonder if the much bigger BK would have done fine? Maybe I'll hold on to it instead of sale it.

Again, GREAT build!

The 9430dc skimmers have a 8" neck. Each is rated for a 270g full acro system.

 

[X-37B]

Today's 1 month test
10-1 11-3
Sg 1.0265-1.0263
Temp 77-77
Alk 7.8-8.1
Ca 440- 480
Mag 1260-1380
K 410-410
No3 8.9-19.3
po4 .12- .15

Numbers look good.

No3 has gone up from 15 mid month. Everthing looks good so I will check again next month.

I brought mag up. The sytem uses alot of mag due to the amount of coralline present.

Po4 looks good at .15. I brought it down from .2 with 1/2 cup of p- currently running.

Kalk and carx working well together. Low ph is hanging at 7.9.
System looks better with visible growth on corals that were just hanging out.

The CRR Concoction is to early to tell. It is recommended at 1 gram per 250g's. Once a week or twice a week for heavy systems.
I have been dosing .7 grams a day spread over the day.
After one week, Thursday, I will start 2 times a week.

For reference I am running the 2 50's at.
Rb, B, V @ 70%
R-G @ 40%
W @ 50%
OR4's @ 100% 5hrs a day

 

[MegabiteOG]

The 9430dc skimmers have a 8" neck. Each is rated for a 270g full acro system.

That's a lot of skimming power!

 

[vandy]

How you liking running higher nutrients? I saw you took off your nitrate reactor.

 

[X-37B]

How you liking running higher nutrients? I saw you took off your nitrate reactor.

Keeping po4 between .1-.2.
No3 was 20 up from 15.
No real visible difference from running <5 for the last 18 months.
Probably from dosing CRT for 5 days straight now 2x a week.
I have never directly fed the corals prior to CRT.
I would like to keep no3 @ 10-15 now so I will watch it
Colors look good and growth is better since kalk.
Only algae is on a few snails and shows no difference with the higher levels.

 

[X-37B]

Today
Po4 .17
No3 17
Alk 8
Ph 7.9-8.2
No3 is staying below 20. I increased skimmers for a wet skim.
Po4 only gets adjusted when it hits 2.0. I bring it down to .15.
Alk has been steady at 7.5-8.
3 mlm kalk 24/7
12 bpm co2 at 11mlm is still 50% less than before adding kalk.

Running cuprisorb and a poly filter for a week or so. I forgot to do it 2 weeks ago when the rotor split.

 

[X-37B]

A pic of my Jedi Mind Trick today and a good end shot.
It has always been one of my favorite Montipora.

 

[Finn450]

A pic of my Jedi Mind Trick today and a good end shot.
It has always been one of my favorite Montipora.

this thread may force me into the 170.

 

[X-37B]

this thread may force me into the 170.

Can't beat their systems. I have the ext 170, ext 50, and am waiting delivery of an ext 112.
Also have an im 15g nano