My 125g build thread

[gmoney243]

Dr. F&S has npx pearls for 17.99/400ml same ammount ecobak runs about $60

 

[thejoshdavis]

Dr. F&S has npx pearls for 17.99/400ml same ammount ecobak runs about $60

Never used them, but wouldn't hurt to give them a shot at that price. Any experience with them?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[Dowtish]

Never used them, but wouldn't hurt to give them a shot at that price. Any experience with them?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

Luis uses them and likes them. Ecobak and the Pearls are the pellets I would run personally.

 

[schooleyosis]

What about running both types in the same reactor? Best of both worlds???

 

[gmoney243]

What about running both types in the same reactor? Best of both worlds???

Been thinking about this but im not sure they produce different bacteria if they dont then it wouoldnt matter

 

[gmoney243]

Also if they arent different then why buy ecobak at twice the price.

 

[Dowtish]

Also if they arent different then why buy ecobak at twice the price.

Because I have never paid full price. I got 1500 ml at 50 percent off from Jon Warner when he was at the swap.

Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

 

[Dowtish]

Been thinking about this but im not sure they produce different bacteria if they dont then it wouoldnt matter

I know Kevan mixed his pellets as he was slowly going from npx to ecobak. He didn't have any issues. Also it will just help seed the new pellets. But I wouldn't mix them if I didn't have to. But from what I've read it doesn't give you different strains of bacteria no matter what the pellet. Its more about what kind of polymer the pellet is and how it is produced. most pellets are made through a solvent based extraction method. But ecobak and dr tims are water based extraction. I don't know what solvent it is, but I'm sure I don't want it in my tank.

Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

 

[thejoshdavis]

Water change weekend. I may go smaller and do 10% and make it a weekly thing.

Changing carbon, GFO, and swapping pellets for Dr. Tim's Pearls. Added 2 bags of purigen yesterday. Schooly got me hooked to the aquaplanner pro app. Sure beats my excel file!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[bknapp]

I am a big proponent of smaller more often water changes, so I think changing your schedule to once a week smaller ones is a great idea.

 

[Dowtish]

I am a big proponent of smaller more often water changes, so I think changing your schedule to once a week smaller ones is a great idea.

+1 to this.

Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

 

[thejoshdavis]

Finally painted my 2x4s last week

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[ToXIc]

Nice


____________________________
Sent from my iThingy using Tapatalk

 

[thejoshdavis]

Swapped out what little BRS pellets I had going last night with Dr. Tim's Pearls. Cut back the intensity of my lights and a bit shorter photoperiod. Still fighting some diatoms issues.

This weekend I finally plumbed in my BRS reactor with GFO into the manifold and replaced the media. No way a MJ1200 could do the job like this. Perfect tumble and tons of flow. I've been keeping the water levels really high and have the pump wide open trying to generate more flow in the sump.

For those of you with cheato. What type of bulb are you using, how long are you running that light, and how's the flow over the cheato? Schooly hooked me up with some and still not seeing any growth yet. It's dark green still but nothing like some of you guys who report trimming it down every couple of weeks. I have a water test tonight to see where I'm at especially with my trates.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[Dowtish]

I use the $5 clip on fixture with what looks like a par 38 led bulb from lowes. It cost about $12. Its very yellow in color and my chaeto is out of control. My fuge is small and really doesn't get any flow. I should trim it back more often.

 

[thejoshdavis]

I use the $5 clip on fixture with what looks like a par 38 led bulb from lowes. It cost about $12. Its very yellow in color and my chaeto is out of control. My fuge is small and really doesn't get any flow. I should trim it back more often.

It has to be my bulb. I'm using a 6500k white CFL with the lowes special clip on.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[Dowtish]

It has to be my bulb. I'm using a 6500k white CFL with the lowes special clip on.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

That bulb should work fine as long as it isnt old. If you are not feeding the tank enough then their isnt enough nutrients for it to grow.

 

[thejoshdavis]

That's a great point. I feed daily but probably not the right stuff. I tend to do pellets and flakes more than anything, the frozen cubes every 2-3 days. I usually drop reef chili in before I leave for the gym during the week and feed at night.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[schooleyosis]

I believe I use a 8000K LED Strip that is 18 Watts. I run it from 10pm to 10am and I would say the flow around the Chaeto is light to medium. It does not tumble but once a week or so I grab the clump and turn it over 180 degrees.

 

[fireman23]

Looks good. I use a 6000k led light from Lowes in my sump and my macro algae is growing like crazy