Reefer 250 Build. 15 years away from the hobby but I am back

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Dal-Reef

Dal-Reef

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Thank you Kessil @Kessil
I was out on Kessil FB page were they were talking about Texas and the issues reefers may have with the Kessil lights because of the winter storm. I am in Dallas and had some really bad power surges trying to keep my tank up running off a generator. It was one heck of a ride. 1 degree outside 48 degree inside the house with no power for 3 days. I posted about my controller X being fried and how to go about fixing if maybe a firmware update would help. Out of no where I got a PM from Kessil and they are shipping me a new one on Monday. Wow.. I was not looking to get free stuff. Its not their fault but still are replacing it. You don't see companies do that anymore. I love my Kessil lights I even love them more know. So many of my reefing buddies down here have lost it all. I was one of the lucking ones with little lose. Pic just for awareness on how bad it was

 
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powers2001

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Thank you Kessil @Kessil
I was out on Kessil FB page were they were talking about Texas and the issues reefers may have with the Kessil lights because of the winter storm. I am in Dallas and had some really bad power surges trying to keep my tank up running off a generator. It was one heck of a ride. 1 degree outside 48 degree inside the house with no power for 3 days. I posted about my controller X being fried and how to go about fixing if maybe a firmware update would help. Out of no where I got a PM from Kessil and they are shipping me a new one on Monday. Wow.. I was not looking to get free stuff. Its not their fault but still are replacing it. You don't see companies do that anymore. I love my Kessil lights I even love them more know. So many of my reefing buddies down here have lost it all. I was one of the lucking ones with little lose. Pic just for awareness on how bad it was
@Dal-Reef I tell people now you know why we still need a lot of fossil fuels energy to go along with the green energy. For times like these. ;-)
 
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Dal-Reef

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@Dal-Reef I tell people now you know why we still need a lot of fossil fuels energy to go along with the green energy. For times like these. ;-)
Being a 5th generation Texan and Texas being the largest energy producing state there is no reason for this.
 
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Been so buys but took quick pics of the tank. Starting to hit its stride 1 1//2 years old

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hans4811

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Hey Dal,
I know you use RM method and I’ve been reading up on it, think I’m gonna try it to get to that next level. I joined that FB group but went to ask a question and it says, question will be reviewed by admin...what the heck !? And then I don’t see my question posted, so thought I’d just ask you.

Do you use all the Brightwell -P line of products for your daily dosing of alk, calc and mag as suggested in Andres handbook ? ie...alkalin8.3-p, calcion-p and magnesion-p...and if so what are your daily amounts you dose as we both have the same tank, rs250...what levels do you run your tank at ?

thx pal

ken
 
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Hey Dal,
I know you use RM method and I’ve been reading up on it, think I’m gonna try it to get to that next level. I joined that FB group but went to ask a question and it says, question will be reviewed by admin...what the heck !? And then I don’t see my question posted, so thought I’d just ask you.

Do you use all the Brightwell -P line of products for your daily dosing of alk, calc and mag as suggested in Andres handbook ? ie...alkalin8.3-p, calcion-p and magnesion-p...and if so what are your daily amounts you dose as we both have the same tank, rs250...what levels do you run your tank at ?

thx pal

ken
Hey there.. I would for sure try out the Moonshine process best thing I have done. When something is posted its screened before showing up. Too much spam getting in also this site is not for those just starting out reefing. Need have all the basics down 1st so that's why the screening. I just switched from BRS alkalinity to Brightwell 8.3 but still use BRS calcium and magnesium. I switched the alkalinity since the pure BRS soda ash messing with my sand bed. I have been running Brightwell 8.3 for little over month and really like it and seeing really good growth in my acro's. If your question does not show up on FB ping me. Hope this helps
 

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Thanks. I ask cuz I’m using Oceans Blend for all 3 and alk and calc both have trace elements, calc having a lot, a dozen or more, and just rereading his manual he says to avoid that as it can lead to overdosing of trace elements.

So I guess I’ll be making the switch there as well for those 3 macro elements. Its cheaper at least, but kind of a pain having to mix em all now, just used premixed liquids before.

Sending off my first ATI ICP test tomorrow and plan to just go ahead and order all the dailies, think there’s like 6 of those and start dosing those right away, then order the others when my test comes back.

Did you do that or just order them all at once ?
 
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Dal-Reef

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Thanks. I ask cuz I’m using Oceans Blend for all 3 and alk and calc both have trace elements, calc having a lot, a dozen or more, and just rereading his manual he says to avoid that as it can lead to overdosing of trace elements.

So I guess I’ll be making the switch there as well for those 3 macro elements. Its cheaper at least, but kind of a pain having to mix em all now, just used premixed liquids before.

Sending off my first ATI ICP test tomorrow and plan to just go ahead and order all the dailies, think there’s like 6 of those and start dosing those right away, then order the others when my test comes back.

Did you do that or just order them all at once ?
Yep don't want to use alk, cal and mag that has trace elements in it. BRS stuff does not have additional trace elements in it. All the Brightwell are good BRS is cheaper. I do like the Brightwell 8.3 helps maintain the buffering of the water. Besides the issue with the sand using soda ash I was also having way high PH sometimes it would be 8.6 in the evening. I would go ahead and order all of the Moonshine elements and once you get them start on the dallies not need to wait. When you get the ICP test back then can start the corrections. The dailies elements will always be 0 on the ICP since they are used up so quickly. After sometime you will learn what you tank is always low when getting the ICP test back and can do like I do making weekly corrections to try to keep everything stable but this take months. I have attached my screen shot of my dosing on shine( I am behind on getting a couple of test added)
Shine Trend Capture.JPG
. Also download the tool as well.
 

hans4811

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So another RM question for ya...got my ICP test back...posted it in RM group if you wanna take a gander...and did my first correction doses.

Did you buy the nano sized bottles for the dailies ?

Kinda wish I did, as I’m dosing values like 0.02 and 0.04, which is almost impossible to measure out. So I’m just doing 1 or 2 drops for those, hope that’s okay ?

I guess the good thing is they’ll last a lifetime !!
 

hans4811

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Yep don't want to use alk, cal and mag that has trace elements in it. BRS stuff does not have additional trace elements in it. All the Brightwell are good BRS is cheaper. I do like the Brightwell 8.3 helps maintain the buffering of the water. Besides the issue with the sand using soda ash I was also having way high PH sometimes it would be 8.6 in the evening. I would go ahead and order all of the Moonshine elements and once you get them start on the dallies not need to wait. When you get the ICP test back then can start the corrections. The dailies elements will always be 0 on the ICP since they are used up so quickly. After sometime you will learn what you tank is always low when getting the ICP test back and can do like I do making weekly corrections to try to keep everything stable but this take months. I have attached my screen shot of my dosing on shine( I am behind on getting a couple of test added)
Shine Trend Capture.JPG
. Also download the tool as well.
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Second question...lol...you said you were having high ph issues. So am I as you can see here.

thought maybe I need to replace my probe as I tried recalibrating it 3x or so. is your ph still real high or did the alk8.3 help you out ?
 
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Dal-Reef

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1621592602261.png

Second question...lol...you said you were having high ph issues. So am I as you can see here.

thought maybe I need to replace my probe as I tried recalibrating it 3x or so. is your ph still real high or did the alk8.3 help you out ?
My probe is coming up on almost 2 years old and sure I need to replace it. I have one just need to do it. I have since switched from BRS soda ash for alk to Brightwell 8.3 and my PH seems to be more stable. Bright well has buffers in their alk to help keep the PH from dropping to low or spiking to high. With my PH not getting as high the growth on the acros seem better. With soda ash and PH getting really high I would get a lot of fast growth but the zooxanthellae could not keep up and the coral would look white almost bleached with the new growth but its not. It would take the zooxanthellae about a week to catch up. I would recommend the 8.3 for sure.
 

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Hey brother let me ask you cause I got mine right around the time you got yours, how do your seams look? Mine not so good. The front is bad enough for RS to send me a new tank. I appreciate the company taking care of issues but ticked because of what I will loose. I have so many encrusting corals and corals just growing over the rocks and naturally glueing everything together. Very bittersweet
 

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Hey brother let me ask you cause I got mine right around the time you got yours, how do your seams look? Mine not so good. The front is bad enough for RS to send me a new tank. I appreciate the company taking care of issues but ticked because of what I will loose. I have so many encrusting corals and corals just growing over the rocks and naturally glueing everything together. Very bittersweet
Wow that sucks. Is yours Reefer 250? I did not know they were having issues on the 250.. I too would be very disappointed. I got acro's encrusting and growing everywhere. I look at my often now will watch even more. Here are some pics of mine front. Not the best pics but my seams look fine but hell you know know. Thank you so much for posting this to my thread. My tank is just now starting to hit its stride and sure don't want to take down. Keep me posted on your progess..
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Wow that sucks. Is yours Reefer 250? I did not know they were having issues on the 250.. I too would be very disappointed. I got acro's encrusting and growing everywhere. I look at my often now will watch even more. Here are some pics of mine front. Not the best pics but my seams look fine but hell you know know. Thank you so much for posting this to my thread. My tank is just now starting to hit its stride and sure don't want to take down. Keep me posted on your progess..
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Definitely not trying to make you paranoid, I debated posting because of that. You started you 250 in oct2019 right? Set mine up Nov 2019 and I have been watching your progression. Your tank is Gorgeous! I don’t know if my issue was related to all the other bigger RS issues but Red Sea was quick to replace and for that I am grateful. I was getting bored with my tank anyway because it was just maintenance and trimming so it will be cool to try something g different even though I will be using all the same stuff on the same tank but it will give me an excuse to get rid of my mistake corals. It’s obvious when it happens so don’t worry. Here is my 250
 

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Dal-Reef

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Definitely not trying to make you paranoid, I debated posting because of that. You started you 250 in oct2019 right? Set mine up Nov 2019 and I have been watching your progression. Your tank is Gorgeous! I don’t know if my issue was related to all the other bigger RS issues but Red Sea was quick to replace and for that I am grateful. I was getting bored with my tank anyway because it was just maintenance and trimming so it will be cool to try something g different even though I will be using all the same stuff on the same tank but it will give me an excuse to get rid of my mistake corals. It’s obvious when it happens so don’t worry. Here is my 250
You are not making me paranoid at all and grateful you posted so I can keep an eye on mine. I filled mine with water August of 2019 so tank was most likely made 6 months before that. I bought mine in Dallas area were did you buy yours.? I just retired in February (only 57) and the wife is in October. We got a new Forest River GT7 Class A motorhome on order and should get it later in the year. We plan to sell everything here in Dallas and will be build on our 5 acres in south Texas in a couple of year but will travel for a year or so. At least that's the plan. Reason for explaining is I would be pulling the tank down mid next year but sure don't want to do it now. The new house will have 300 gallon tank. Your is great and looks nice healthy and well established. I too have learned a lot on this build. I put my corals way to close they are all encrusting and growing over each other but hey that's what the real does so I am just letting it do its thing. Thanks for the compliment on my tank :)
 
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