Renton's Evolution from 200 to 440 gallons

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Very cool bro! Thanks for sharing!

 

[bubbaque]

I like data like this. Does the alkatronic keep alk at 8.4 no matter the time of day? The alk should never move correct?

 

[heifinator]

Really good looking tank man, some inspiration here for sure!

 

[Renton777]

I like data like this. Does the alkatronic keep alk at 8.4 no matter the time of day? The alk should never move correct?

The Alkatronic will only make adjustments after it tests (then it doses to bring Alk back up to 8.4). I currently have it testing every 2 hours. I am going to use the data from the Alkatronic to adjust my dosing via the apex to smooth out the decline during the day. So at peak demand I may change my apex programming to dose 20ml/ hour instead of 10ml/hour

 

[Renton777]

Update: My Alk dosing pump was not hooked up correct today. So, the Alk levels are correct on the graph but my overall dosing amounts were not. Hope to have that all sorted away correctly tomorrow.

 

[Renton777]

I am adjusting my apex dosing schedule as I go based on test results.

Today was the first day I started the day at my target of 8.5. After each test is reported throughout the day I have been going in to adjust the apex dosing schedule and increasing the amount when needed. So tomorrow hopefully the Alkatronic does not need to make as many or as much corrective doses.

The Alkatronic does not change anything with the Apex, just provides data via a PH probe socket. (I think you could actually program the apex to take certain actions based on those readings, but that is now how I am running it currently) The Alkatronic has its own dosing pump built in that it uses to bring that Alk level up to my stated target of 8.5

Here is the updated Alkatronic test results. The red dots indicate each time it doses with its built in dosing pump to bring alk up to my target.




And here is my up to date Apex dosing pump programming. I expect to make more adjustments after seeing the rest of todays test results and then doing it all again tomorrow to fine tune it. As you can see, ALK demand increases significantly when the lights are on.

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 01:30 to 01:32 Then ON
If Time 02:30 to 02:32 Then ON
If Time 03:30 to 03:32 Then ON
If Time 04:30 to 04:33 Then ON
If Time 05:30 to 05:33 Then ON
If Time 06:30 to 06:37 Then ON
If Time 07:30 to 07:37 Then ON
If Time 08:30 to 08:39 Then ON
If Time 09:30 to 09:39 Then ON
If Time 10:30 to 10:39 Then ON
If Time 11:30 to 11:41 Then ON
If Time 12:30 to 12:41 Then ON
If Time 13:30 to 13:44 Then ON
If Time 14:30 to 14:44 Then ON
If Time 15:30 to 15:42 Then ON
If Time 16:30 to 16:42 Then ON
If Time 17:30 to 17:40 Then ON
If Time 18:30 to 18:37 Then ON
If Time 19:30 to 19:37 Then ON
If Time 20:30 to 20:35 Then ON
If Time 21:30 to 21:35 Then ON
If Time 22:30 to 22:33 Then ON
If Time 23:30 to 23:33 Then ON
If Time 00:30 to 00:33 Then ON

 

[293482398]

Very cool, in the kH Guardian thread I recall that some people changed their daily dosing to basically start 1h after lights on and stop 1h or 2h after lights off to smooth the curve.

Following!

 

[Renton777]

Alkatronic Update: I have been adjusting my hourly dosing based on the test results.

On the Alkatronic graph red dots indicate where the unit tested ALK below the low tolerance target, in this case I have set that at 8.5dkh. The red dots then dose alk to bring it up to 8.5. White dots indicate where the test falls within my target range and the Alkatronic takes no further action. The blue dots indicate Alk above the target range, in this case, using an included bluetooth outlet, the Alkatronic will shut off the outlet, thus turning off a dosing pump unitl the next test that is back in the target range.

So, based on the previous test results I adjusted my hourly dosing and have resulted in 2 days of white dots (Alk within my target range). I actually want to lower my dosing a bit so that once or twice a day I get a red dot where the Alkatronic will dose a bit. That way the Alk doesnt creep up too much over the course of several days.

Here is my test results graph

And here is my current hourly dosing graph. Much higher Alk demand with the lights on.

 

[Makers Marc]

A short video of a Kuiteri Wrasse's introduction to the tank from a week ago. It is now out and swimming and eating during the day.

How long have you had that yellow tail tamarin? Does it hold its own against all those other wrasses?

 

[Renton777]

How long have you had that yellow tail tamarin? Does it hold its own against all those other wrasses?

The yellow tail tamarin has been in my tank for 3 months and was in a local hobbyists tank for a year before that. When first introduced my large leopard wrasse chased it a bit but nothing to drastic and that ended within 2 days. None of the wrasses show any aggression towards each other now. I added a small flame wrasse about a month ago using and acclimation box and had no problems with her introduction.

 

[Renton777]

Took some cellphone pictures. They look decent on a cellphone, not so much on a PC. Gives me motivation to get the Nikon out soon. In any event, since I got them, might as well post them.

 

[Renton777]

I got the good camera out and took a bunch of shots. Inspired by @bubbaque I am going to post one or two pictures at a time, every day or two.

First up. Cherry Corals Meltdown Favia (I think I have the name right) I bought this a few years ago and have only recently been able to get it back to the original color.

View attachment 789429

 

[lolgranny]

You’ve always had some awesome stuff bud! Glad to see everything’s going well for you :)

 

[bubbaque]

It has beautiful colors for sure. You got me curious what the yellow one is the corner, lol. I am looking forward to the updates, as I know you have a lot of nice corals!

 

[Scurvy]

I’m with bubbaque.... Looking forward to the new pics!

 

[Renton777]

It has beautiful colors for sure. You got me curious what the yellow one is the corner, lol. I am looking forward to the updates, as I know you have a lot of nice corals!

That is a 24k leptoseris, not sure I took a picture of it this time. I will go back and look.

 

[Renton777]

Red Devil Nasuta

 

[bubbaque]

Red Devil Nasuta

I always thought about getting one. I see some different colored polyps through the coral. How do you like it overall?

 

[Renton777]

I always thought about getting one. I see some different colored polyps through the coral. How do you like it overall?

Its one of my favorites. I don't know if it is typical to have those goldish polyps like the ones in the middle of that picture, but they are very cool. I am trying to get the base a bit more color, but the coral seems happy and is growing well so I dont want to mess with it much.

 

[Renton777]

Gecko Skin Chalice