Red_Beard's 75 Tank Build

That Crusso Kid · Apr 3, 2026

Red_Beard said:
I studied this time, came prepared! I tested alk yesterday. Ive been concerned that removing those 2 large colonies would tank it and i would be over dosing. I found the opposite to be true. Got too many new frags i guess, it was at 6.0 dkH. I dosed 40ml soda ash (i don't know how much that is, didn't use a calculator it just felt like a good number, you know?) Other than that, po4 was around. 25 and no3 was between 5 and 10. That is all I've tested in over a month (parameters, not occasions)
Thank you for asking!

I know you know the major importance of stability and I believe it to be of more importance than chasing specific numbers. Sometimes, I have seen successful reefers have their tanks on "cruise control" and stop testing because it's dialed in. Then something changes to upset the tank, which often has a domino effect and it becomes a problem to get the tank back on track. This, IMHO, happens because they hadn't been testing and do not know the numbers they were running on cruise control. I have some mixed feelings on ICP for mixed reasons but feel they can fall into this category too.

Now, if I can only remember why I asked you about testing. Oh well.

That Crusso Kid · Apr 3, 2026

Red_Beard said:
Updated my stirrrrerrer design a bit and got some more parts printed up. Also stress tested the motor in the housing to make sure it doesn't overheat. It got warm but not overly hot. One step closer!

BTW - we all blew past a milestone and no one caught it. Until now.

The post quoted above was the 1,000th in your thread and I am happy you got it, if even by accident.

Congrats on 1,000! (62 posts ago.)

steveschuerger · Apr 3, 2026

Thank for the reminder. I’m overdue for tests. Did that modest 4 gallon WC yesterday. I think it’s funny that call 4 gallons modest, considering when I had the 90, 5 gallons was my minimum. Smaller tanks are different beasts. These were my results almost weeks ago.considering how most of the corals look I’m hoping for mostly similar results. Wouldn’t mind a somewhat lower Alk and the pH has been stubborn about bumping up.

Stang67 · Apr 3, 2026

steveschuerger said:
The biggest problem I see for Mel Brooks movies today is except for a mostly older fan base I don’t feel that his brand of in your face humor resonates. Especially with the current generation.

You mean Blazing Saddles wouldn't go over well these days?

steveschuerger · Apr 3, 2026

Stang67 said:
You mean Blazing Saddles wouldn't go over well these days?

I honestly am unsure. I hope I’m wrong.

That Crusso Kid · Apr 3, 2026

Stang67 said:
You mean Blazing Saddles wouldn't go over well these days?

Unfortunately, if it was released at theaters today, I believe it would bomb.

steveschuerger said:
I honestly am unsure. I hope I’m wrong.

We are in the same camp but see the comment above. I am basing this on personal experience with young people these days. By young, I mean mostly under 35.

steveschuerger · Apr 3, 2026

That Crusso Kid said:
Unfortunately, if it was released at theaters today, I believe it would bomb.

We are in the same camp but see the comment above. I am basing this on personal experience with young people these days. By young, I mean mostly under 35.

In my heart I know that it’s a no go in today’s environment. It would melt down faster than 3 mile island or Chernobyl

Red_Beard · Apr 3, 2026

That Crusso Kid said:
I know you know the major importance of stability and I believe it to be of more importance than chasing specific numbers. Sometimes, I have seen successful reefers have their tanks on "cruise control" and stop testing because it's dialed in. Then something changes to upset the tank, which often has a domino effect and it becomes a problem to get the tank back on track. This, IMHO, happens because they hadn't been testing and do not know the numbers they were running on cruise control. I have some mixed feelings on ICP for mixed reasons but feel they can fall into this category too.

Now, if I can only remember why I asked you about testing. Oh well.

For sure, cruise control is awesome, but you still have to have your hand on the wheel. Anytime I change anything I get a little more agressive with testing. I usually test every week or so, maybe miss one here or there when things are in cruise control. But that is comparable to driving the Nebraska interstate, flat and arrow straight as far as you can see. Now im up in the mountains and have to turn a bit so i look at the dash a little more often, so to say.

steveschuerger said:
Thank for the reminder. I’m overdue for tests. Did that modest 4 gallon WC yesterday. I think it’s funny that call 4 gallons modest, considering when I had the 90, 5 gallons was my minimum. Smaller tanks are different beasts. These were my results almost weeks ago.considering how most of the corals look I’m hoping for mostly similar results. Wouldn’t mind a somewhat lower Alk and the pH has been stubborn about bumping up.

I sometimes wonder in newer tanks, if the sand leeches out a bit of alk or something. I have seen quite a few do that, my own included.

Red_Beard · Apr 3, 2026

Stang67 said:
You mean Blazing Saddles wouldn't go over well these days?

That Crusso Kid said:
Unfortunately, if it was released at theaters today, I believe it would bomb.

We are in the same camp but see the comment above. I am basing this on personal experience with young people these days. By young, I mean mostly under 35.

steveschuerger said:
In my heart I know that it’s a no go in today’s environment. It would melt down faster than 3 mile island or Chernobyl

I think that the hollywood stars wouldnt make it. They are too full of self righteous virtue signaling that they would even go so far as to verbally attack any of the ones that would star in it. I think the American public would love it though. Youd see one of those rotten tomato inverse scores where critics give it 3% but the audience gives it a 90%. Thats how you can tell its a really good one. If critics score it high and audience is under 60%, i usually dont bother.

That Crusso Kid · Apr 3, 2026

Red_Beard said:
I think that the hollywood stars wouldnt make it. They are too full of self righteous virtue signaling that they would even go so far as to verbally attack any of the ones that would star in it. I think the American public would love it though. Youd see one of those rotten tomato inverse scores where critics give it 3% but the audience gives it a 90%. Thats how you can tell its a really good one. If critics score it high and audience is under 60%, i usually dont bother.

I do agree that the American public would love it too. However, I do not believe there would be a lot of viewership in the under-35 demographic. Okay, maybe under-30 demographic.

Red_Beard · Apr 3, 2026

That Crusso Kid said:
I do agree that the American public would love it too. However, I do not believe there would be a lot of viewership in the under-35 demographic. Okay, maybe under-30 demographic.

I dunno, but my views may be a tad skewed. I live in one of the most conservative leaning areas of an already conservative leaning state. I think the humor would go over fine, as long as they got the references. Deep humor as a whole is lost on the under 30s. Not to wax political, but i fear they have not been learned critical thinking skibilities