Long time lurker, first time poster

phishtank · May 25, 2018

Hey Reefers - first time posting here on R2R but I guess I'll start by thanking everyone for years of advice. I always start here when I have issues and usually have no need to go anywhere else.

I've had my biocube 29 for almost 5 years now and have been through all the normal growing pains. Over the years it has evolved with the following modifications:
- kessil a160 w/ spectral controller & gooseneck (topless)
- eshopps PSK-75 HOB skimmer (a bit overkill I know)
- innovative marine desktop minimax reactor (running biopellets)
- inTank media basket and fuge (chaeto and led light)
- ecotech mp10 quiet-drive
- Tunze 5017 ATO

Over the years I've been through most of the fads and made a majority of the rookie mistakes. I feel like I'm still making rookie mistakes sometimes haha. I'm at a point where I think all I need is a chiller to be "done" with this tank's upgrades - will start to move into the acropora stage of my reefing evolution -- and then eventually be ready to upgrade to a large tank. I;ll likely be moving in a year or two, and do not want to upgrade to a larger tank before then.

After interacting with the R2R instagram account, I figured I should finally start getting involved here. If anyone is interested my instagram is @_phishtank_

Here are a few questions I have for everyone:
1) I've only been running biopellets not for two months, and recently I have started to notice a slimy build up on the pumps, and horrifyingly enough even inside my mp10's wetside -- which has resulted in full stalls (loud and scary) that require citric acin to clear up. What am I doing wrong??

2) What are the best test kits?? I want to step my game up and am thinking about the Hanna checkers...

HAPPY REEFING!!!

Crabs McJones · May 25, 2018

Welcome to R2R

#WelcometoR2R
Not sure on your biopellet issue, hopefully well get a user to chime in whose had experience with one ;) but I will say that the hannah checkers and salifert test kits are my kits of choice. And make sure to share lots of pictures, we go crazy for pictures :D

samnaz · May 25, 2018

Welcome (officially)! As far as testing goes, Hannah Checker for Alk, and Milwaukee Digital Refractometer made life so much easier. For everything else I use Red Sea kits.

DSC reef · May 25, 2018

Welcome to R2R. Try taking some biopellets out of the reactor. It's hard to control the carbon dose with pellets and when I used to much I'd get an excess of bacterial mulm. Try looking into NOPOX. We ran biopellets for 7 years and when I switched to NOPOX it was so much easier. Hannah alk (dkh) tester, salifert test kits are all great.

KJ · May 25, 2018

Welcome to R2R!!!

mike werner · May 25, 2018

welcome to a great time.

pelphrey · May 25, 2018

Welcome!!! I use hanna for alk and phosphates. For calcium and magnesium I use red sea. Don't know they are the best, its just what I've used since I started and stuck to it!

Reefer Deez · May 25, 2018

Hello and welcome to R2R :) I'm going to agree with everyone else and go with the Hanna for alk and red sea for the rest ;)

Lovemyreef2015 · May 25, 2018

Welcome to R2R

4FordFamily · May 25, 2018

Welcome home, you will love it here!

Let's see some tank pics! :)

Turbo's Aquatics · May 25, 2018

samnaz said:
Hannah Checker for Alk, and Milwaukee Digital Refractometer made life so much easier

^^^This, then I use Salifert for Nitrate, Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium

Hanna for Phosphate also

Abhishek · May 25, 2018

#WelcometoR2R

Hanna checkers are worth the investment especially Phosphate and Alkalinity .
Nowadays , almost all of the testkits available from Salifert, Red Sea, Aquaforest and others are pretty good .

My only advice would be if you really want to step up the game, look into setting up a routine for testing - doesnot matter what testkits you use but do it on a regular basis . Example - I test my alk everyday at 7 am in the morning , Test my Calcium and Magnesium at 7 pm on Sundays and Nitrates and Phosphates at 7 pm on Saturday .

Since I do it exactly at the same time , any major changes can be easily caught and rectified if needed.

Don't forget to enjoy while testing :)

Regards,
Abhishek

WWIII · May 25, 2018

Welcome to R2R! Everyone has good advice so far on the test kits! I personally use hanna for phosphate (ulr phosphorus), Lamotte for alkalinity (used to use hanna), and basically salifert for the rest. The 2 most important imo are hanna for phosphate and hanna (or Lamotte) for alkalinity. For calcium, magnesium, nitrates I find that most of the "big name kits" do the job.

Sounds like you're well on your way with this hobby! Post up some pics if you want, everyone here likes pictures! :-)

Fin · May 25, 2018

hdsoftail1065 · May 25, 2018

Welcome to R2R!

SPR1968 · May 25, 2018

Welcome to R2R!

I use Hanna for Alkalinity and ULR phosphate and Red Sea for everything else.

+1 to Nopox use as well which has already been mentioned