Beautiful! I’ve had many of those but few who established themselves in such a nice spot.Rose BTA provisioned itself and I really hope it stays there. Not too near any corals and in a good spot to see it.
Red Sea E170 max AIO mixed reef build - first reef tank
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kiswanson
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So I made a significant mistake chasing a higher pH and not thinking through what an additive can do. My pH has been on the low side around 7.7-7.9. I added a CO2 scrubber to my skimmer intake and that helped a little, maybe 0.1 on average. I was looking for another option. I would like to add a algae scrubber, but that’s not that easy on a smaller AIO, and the external ones that look good and are reasonably priced are all out of stock (specifically the Tunze).
I happened upon Aquavitro Balance in my LFS - as the bottle says, “balance™ is an optimized blend of sodium and potassium hydroxides with a NSW ratio (27:1)”. Well, I thought, if my pH is low, as some base! I started out with small amounts and there was some bump in pH. I slowly increased the amount I was doing until the pH was up around 8.1-8.2 on average. I thought this was a good solution. I was surprised that the pH dropped quickly if I missed a dose, and I didn’t want to have to keep dosing it long term, but I didn’t think it was too big of a deal if it would help coral growth.
Then I noticed my bubble coral really started retracting and I started getting bleaching/tissue loss on some of my SPS that had previously been doing just fine. At first I thought maybe my nitrates and phos were too high (36 and 0.12), so I started carbon dosing, doing some additional water changes and added some GFO and overtime got my nitrates down to 7-10 and phos down to 0.03-0.06. However those corals weren’t looking better, they were doing worse. I don’t know why I didn’t really pay attention to my alkalinity, but it has been creeping up, but I hadn’t checked it in awhile because I really was only concerned it might get too low and that has not been an issue since I still have small frags and do regular water changes. When I rechecked, the alkalinity was 16.3 (!).
Why so high? I couldn’t figure it out at first. I didn’t think it was the balance, because that wasn’t adding carbonate. My first thought was a problem with my RODI water. I checked that and there was no issue.
Then I listened to the Reef Therapy podcast and there were talking about pH and CO2 in the tank and I finally realized how stupid I had been. Of course there a constant supply of CO2 to the tank and by adding hydroxide I was driving significant addition of carbonate to the tank. 2 NaOH (s) + CO2 (g) →Na2CO3 (aq) + H2O (l). It was so obvious when I realized it that I obviously felt like an idiot. I stopped dosing and have done a series of large water changes. It’s not down to 11.5.
I ended up losing a number of SPS frags and the bubble coral. Definitely learned some important lessons.
I happened upon Aquavitro Balance in my LFS - as the bottle says, “balance™ is an optimized blend of sodium and potassium hydroxides with a NSW ratio (27:1)”. Well, I thought, if my pH is low, as some base! I started out with small amounts and there was some bump in pH. I slowly increased the amount I was doing until the pH was up around 8.1-8.2 on average. I thought this was a good solution. I was surprised that the pH dropped quickly if I missed a dose, and I didn’t want to have to keep dosing it long term, but I didn’t think it was too big of a deal if it would help coral growth.
Then I noticed my bubble coral really started retracting and I started getting bleaching/tissue loss on some of my SPS that had previously been doing just fine. At first I thought maybe my nitrates and phos were too high (36 and 0.12), so I started carbon dosing, doing some additional water changes and added some GFO and overtime got my nitrates down to 7-10 and phos down to 0.03-0.06. However those corals weren’t looking better, they were doing worse. I don’t know why I didn’t really pay attention to my alkalinity, but it has been creeping up, but I hadn’t checked it in awhile because I really was only concerned it might get too low and that has not been an issue since I still have small frags and do regular water changes. When I rechecked, the alkalinity was 16.3 (!).
Why so high? I couldn’t figure it out at first. I didn’t think it was the balance, because that wasn’t adding carbonate. My first thought was a problem with my RODI water. I checked that and there was no issue.
Then I listened to the Reef Therapy podcast and there were talking about pH and CO2 in the tank and I finally realized how stupid I had been. Of course there a constant supply of CO2 to the tank and by adding hydroxide I was driving significant addition of carbonate to the tank. 2 NaOH (s) + CO2 (g) →Na2CO3 (aq) + H2O (l). It was so obvious when I realized it that I obviously felt like an idiot. I stopped dosing and have done a series of large water changes. It’s not down to 11.5.
I ended up losing a number of SPS frags and the bubble coral. Definitely learned some important lessons.
Sorry about your troubles. The dosing mistakes I have made could fill a thread. Alkalinity (too high or too low) and nitrate/ phosphate (if too low) seem to be he least forgiving. Keep an eye on N&P since you are dosing carbon.
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kiswanson
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Yeah, I have been checking those frequently. I wish I had been checking the alkalinity as frequently!
Logical_Plan
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Wow! I am really impressed at how your tank progressed. So awesome so fast. I am less concerned about the ambition of my own build now. This is a really great thread and I will keep following for sure! Great job with the documentation and pictures too!
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kiswanson
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My one torch coral (two head green with blue tips) lost one head in the past day. Down to just skeleton. I thought I saw some brown jelly, so I took it out, cut off the skeletal branch for the dead head, did a 1:20 hydrogen peroxide dip for 4 minutes with constant swirling (as recommended here on r2r) and then rinsed really well with Tank water. I put it in the opposite side of the tank my other euphyllia and will be keeping a close eye on it. I don’t have coral qt tank or time to set one up today. We’ll see. It was my favorite (and single most expensive) coral, so I hope it pulls through
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kiswanson
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Video of my tank at 6 months
Wisconsin Reef
Wisconsin Reef
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kiswanson
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Overall tank is doing well. I've added a new replacement bubble coral (after losing the last with the alkalinity splike). I also added two trumpet coral colonies and some new sps coral. No new fish, but I did add a red thorny star fish.
My rose bubble tip anemone is still alive, but definitely but thriving. It's moved to a spot with a little more light so hopefully that will help
I would like to add a tunze algae scrubber, but it is not available for sale anywhere.
While taking the pictures I did spot one colony of aiptasia, so I'll have to take care of that soon.
Anyway, enjoy the pictures and the video on the prior post
My rose bubble tip anemone is still alive, but definitely but thriving. It's moved to a spot with a little more light so hopefully that will help
I would like to add a tunze algae scrubber, but it is not available for sale anywhere.
While taking the pictures I did spot one colony of aiptasia, so I'll have to take care of that soon.
Anyway, enjoy the pictures and the video on the prior post
Logical_Plan
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Awesome job on the video, tank is looking great!
Where in Wisconsin are you? I wouldn't ming grabbing some if that aiptasia from you for my berghia nudibranch farm I want to get running.
Where in Wisconsin are you? I wouldn't ming grabbing some if that aiptasia from you for my berghia nudibranch farm I want to get running.
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kiswanson
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I'm in Brookfield. That's the only aiptasia I know of in the tank
Logical_Plan
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kiswanson
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Frag plug
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kiswanson
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Got my cabinet all nicely organized. I found some nice Cabinet locks to toddler proof the door. These with great to automatically lock the door and have a hidden latch that can be opened with a magnet. If doing a lot of work the locking mechanism can be disengaged. The latch has adhesive tape to attach to the door, but also has holes for screws to really secure the latch.
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kiswanson
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Proof my cabinet and equipment of all nicely organized.
I also really like these bamboo holders for all the miscellaneous stuff. I have one for my Reef Tank, one for my testing equipment, and one for my freshwater tanks
MobileVision Bamboo Multi-Purpose Caddy with Handle
I also really like these bamboo holders for all the miscellaneous stuff. I have one for my Reef Tank, one for my testing equipment, and one for my freshwater tanks
MobileVision Bamboo Multi-Purpose Caddy with Handle
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kiswanson
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