What are you dosing? Sps keepers.

[Troylee]

That sucks, those look like decent pumps too. ATOs are one of the few things i would consider essential. I built my ato, v1 was using optical sensors and they kept failing on me after about a year too. After round 2 i found out the top of the sensor, which very much looked submersible was in fact not. Every time i turned off the return pump for a water change they would get totally dunked. Swapped them for basic float switches and it's been going strong since.

That’s so the the ticket! Jbj made the best top off in my opinion with a aqua lifter pump.. of course they’re discontinued now sigh.. I never had a problem with a top off till this go around. Tunze has a new pump for these I will get one soon hopefully and cure that problem.. as for the sensors idk with the new electronic crap! Manual float switches never failed me!

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

Bicarbonate would work the same.. dry rock or some live rock?

Well I decided for this route this time. And its all dry rock, I found some for $1 a lb so I did an acid wash to get the junk out before building my structures. I planned to seed some rock from my zoa tank

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

That’s so the the ticket! Jbj made the best top off in my opinion with a aqua lifter pump.. of course they’re discontinued now sigh.. I never had a problem with a top off till this go around. Tunze has a new pump for these I will get one soon hopefully and cure that problem.. as for the sensors idk with the new electronic crap! Manual float switches never failed me!

I always ran float switches until end of last year. I am using the HydroFill ATO with the conductivity sensors and love it. Works perfect and no issues so far

 

[Troylee]

Well I decided for this route this time. And its all dry rock, I found some for $1 a lb so I did an acid wash to get the junk out before building my structures. I planned to seed some rock from my zoa tank

Great way to knock the p04 out! I acid wash all my rock!

 

[Troylee]

I always ran float switches until end of last year. I am using the HydroFill ATO with the conductivity sensors and love it. Works perfect and no issues so far

I did too till I didn’t! I had 2 over doses and then switched to tunze and they held up for a year.. I can say the fail safe work great I’ve had zero accidents with tunze but I’ve had issues with a dirty sensor and need cleaning all the time now… the pump would be expected as I top off with fully saturated kalk.

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

Great way to knock the p04 out! I acid wash all my rock!

Yessir! I started acid washing rock years ago, I never trust rock from someone else. This rock came from a 600 gallon fish only system so figured it was nasty and I was right

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

I did too till I didn’t! I had 2 over doses and then switched to tunze and they held up for a year.. I can say the fail safe work great I’ve had zero accidents with tunze but I’ve had issues with a dirty sensor and need cleaning all the time now… the pump would be expected as I top off with fully saturated kalk.

Yea typically how it goes huh lol What I liked about this ATO was the 2 titanium sensors do not get dirty like the optical sensors. the most iv done is wipe it off 1 time, only fail point I can see is the controller. Only time will tell but I bought another one for the main, I always hated how float sensors hung off the side of my sump lol

 

[bubbgee]

who’s still awake? Let’s go west coast! What we dosing in the tank?

Just turned on the kalk doser since I finally got out of 500-600 calcium range. Dosed 2ml of ammonia, 4 drops of acropower, 4 drops of coral vitalizer, 10 drops of manganese to keep the gonis happy and a 10 drops of boron and a cup of phytho I am growing.

I just do things as I would do in the kitchen. I am no expert and have no idea what I am doing for the most part lol. So far things are happy and I can't complain.

Yes, I am due for an ICP. I plan to do a 20% water change this weekend (I do at least 10% a week).

 

[Jasonak]

@Troylee Funny you mentioned the contest as I had no idea either and still really dont know what the heck it is lol

 

[Curiousbranching]

Basically, I use two parts of Randy’s formula combined with DIY trace elements and dose about one shot of vodka per day. Occasionally, I do a small water change just to feel like I’m being responsible for the fish.

 

[Aquariumaddictuk]

The scary thing is that I am 39 lol.

I’m the same age & must admit I still reference old books over forums at times.
This one is from 1985, my birth year, & has numerous references to protein skimmers, trace metals & remote algae beds for nutrient reduction.
It also features a lot of undergravel filters & tap water references so we’ve definitely moved on in some ways

 

[Troylee]

Basically, I use two parts of Randy’s formula combined with DIY trace elements and dose about one shot of vodka per day. Occasionally, I do a small water change just to feel like I’m being responsible for the fish.

What diy elements are you using?

 

[Troylee]

I’m the same age & must admit I still reference old books over forums at times.
This one is from 1985, my birth year, & has numerous references to protein skimmers, trace metals & remote algae beds for nutrient reduction.
It also features a lot of undergravel filters & tap water references so we’ve definitely moved on in some ways

My first tank had a ugf I mean it worked lol

 

[Troylee]

@Troylee Funny you mentioned the contest as I had no idea either and still really dont know what the heck it is lol

I didn’t either man… it just said start a new thread so I did.. I didn’t read the small fine print I guess lol.. @Mschmidt brought it to my attention.

 

[Troylee]

Yessir! I started acid washing rock years ago, I never trust rock from someone else. This rock came from a 600 gallon fish only system so figured it was nasty and I was right

Only way to go! I normally do 30 min bath and rinse with my hose.. dry for a day and toss it in my tank and ive never had an issue.

 

[Jasonak]

My first tank had a ugf I mean it worked lol

UGF we're in the the way way back time machine now. Lol

 

[Troylee]

UGF we're in the the way way back time machine now. Lol

That was my first big tank back in 2000 you can see the aqua clears and tubes

 

[Jasonak]

I had a hot rod version of a UGF made from egg crate and window screen state of the art man

 

[Jasonak]

Love the bleached coral in the second one that was only way to go! Lol

 

[Jasonak]

I guess it's like big hair and center line rims that second tank still looks good to me.