thetedinator's As-built 240g System

[GoVols]

ARID

thetedinator, Great build!
Love a reefer who knows how many led's it truly takes to get the job done.
Question: Is your ARID reactor able to handle your phos. and nitrates on it's own?

 

[thetedinator]

thetedinator, Great build!
Love a reefer who knows how many led's it truly takes to get the job done.
Question: Is your ARID reactor able to handle your phos. and nitrates on it's own?

Thanks.

I don't regularly measure PO4 or NO3. Since the system cycled, I have never seen any NO3 results other than 'zero'. Since running the ARID, the PO4 levels have been low. In March, I saw PO4 hit 0.38. When I put the ARID on line in May, the PO4 was running 0.07. Since then, the PO4 has been averaging 0.04.

To reduce PO4 you have to export what is in the system (and quit adding PO4 to the system). I do regular water changes (which is how I reduced the PO4 from 0.38 down to 0.07 before bringing the ARID on line) so I DO NOT claim that the ARID is the reason my system has low phosphate levels. One (or more) of the foods I feed is the source of the PO4. Since my fish are happy and healthy, I am not inclined to change what I am feeding so I live with the fact I am introducing PO4 into the system.

 

[GoVols]

Thanks.

I don't regularly measure PO4 or NO3. Since the system cycled, I have never seen any NO3 results other than 'zero'. Since running the ARID, the PO4 levels have been low. In March, I saw PO4 hit 0.38. When I put the ARID on line in May, the PO4 was running 0.07. Since then, the PO4 has been averaging 0.04.

To reduce PO4 you have to export what is in the system (and quit adding PO4 to the system). I do regular water changes (which is how I reduced the PO4 from 0.38 down to 0.07 before bringing the ARID on line) so I DO NOT claim that the ARID is the reason my system has low phosphate levels. One (or more) of the foods I feed is the source of the PO4. Since my fish are happy and healthy, I am not inclined to change what I am feeding so I live with the fact I am introducing PO4 into the system.

Well, I'm old school and still a water change "Junkie"
I was curious if you were carbon dosing or anything else. With your #'s, I wouldn't change a thing:)
Thanks for sharing your 1 year pictures yesterday, very nice.
I noticed your running bb. I ran substrate for decades. I would slowly change out my thin beds about once a year. Always felt like no matter how much I vacuumed and so on that the beds were still turning into organic sumps. So about two years ago I slowly pulled out the thin bed and gave BB a shot. For myself it's been a nice move. I now run higher flow and when I do my weekly water change it's so easy to siphon out the remaining detritus.

I'm going to keep tagging along for the ride on your build thread, if you keep it going.

Thanks for taking the time and sharing your experiences and "Happy New Year"

 

[thetedinator]

I am old school as well. I do water changes regularly and I don't dose anything regularly except calcium, alkalinity and magnesium. I ran BB on my last system as well. Both times to try to minimize the scratches to my tank. I failed at this and am now learning how to remove scratches.:(

 

[GoVols]

I am old school as well. I do water changes regularly and I don't dose anything regularly except calcium, alkalinity and magnesium. I ran BB on my last system as well. Both times to try to minimize the scratches to my tank. I failed at this and am now learning how to remove scratches.:(

I feel for you on the acrylic scratches.
You haven't failed, just learning the trade of "Acrylic Scratch Removal":)
I have the soft "Sapphire" glass. Nothing like acrylic but you have to be careful too.
Since I went BB, I no longer have to worry about a grain of sand making me want to cry after cleaning the glass and understand why you'd want to be BB with acrylic.
Seems like I saw Elos has just starting to sell tanks that are like Starphire glass clarity with regular glass scratch resistance.

 

[thetedinator]

This is my 3rd acrylic tank. First one had a DSB. Bare bottom after that. 2nd tank was not nearly as scratched after two years as this one is after one. Part of the reason I made some nasty scratches in the acrylic when setting up the tank. Once you get over that, normal scratches don't seem so bad. The lesson learned is to NOT clear the display of algae film without wearing your glasses.

Here is a short time-lapse I shot of some zoanthids. Did this while polishing out some scratches in one section of the tank.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[GoVols]

This is my 3rd acrylic tank. First one had a DSB. Bare bottom after that. 2nd tank was not nearly as scratched after two years as this one is after one. Part of the reason I made some nasty scratches in the acrylic when setting up the tank. Once you get over that, normal scratches don't seem so bad. The lesson learned is to NOT clear the display of algae film without wearing your glasses.

Here is a short time-lapse I shot of some zoanthids. Did this while polishing out some scratches in one section of the tank.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

That's an awesome time lapse:)

Fully understand the: "The lesson learned is to NOT clear the display of algae film without wearing your glasses." line:eek:

 

[thetedinator]

Got out the camera and my 100mm macro lens and shot this image of my Ricordea yuma.

 

[Paul87]

Looking good! So much can happen to a tank in a year.

 

[thetedinator]

Looking good! So much can happen to a tank in a year.

Thanks!

 

[thetedinator]

A macro of a Chalice in my system.

 

[GoVols]

A macro of a Chalice in my system.

Simply a awesome picture. Those happy polyps are more than words can describe :)

 

[mlb7225]

Sweet pic man!!! Save me a chunk when i get my tank back up and running. ;)

 

[thetedinator]

Simply a awesome picture. Those happy polyps are more than words can describe :)

Thanks!

Sweet pic man!!! Save me a chunk when i get my tank back up and running. ;)

You got! When is the tank going back up?

 

[mlb7225]

Soon! Im gonna start cleaning everything this weekend.

 

[thetedinator]

A few pictures of some corals in my system. Two of the pics are frags that came from Brent (Chefzilla) - Thanks!

Red Planet from Chefzilla - forgive the glue mark.


Green with Blue frag from Chefzilla - Brent will know what this is....


Green polyp'd with Purple Tips Acropora somethingother

 

[GoVols]

@thetedinator
Thanks for sharing! Their polyp's are out, and about :)

 

[mlb7225]

Nice shots.....again!!

 

[thetedinator]

@GoVols and @mlb7225 - Thanks!

 

[thetedinator]

Short video update.

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