Keith's Tank

[weileong]

sorry keith.. borrow yr thread, since we're all taking about CA, KH, effluent, maintaining the tank and so on.

I jus run my dual chamber CR for about 3 weeks, my Kh drops about 0.5-1 everyday. I've set my PH controller at 6.48 plug into my CR chamber. My CR will stops at about 6.47-6.48 and it will starts again around 6.52. My effluent is about 2 drops per sec same goes to my bubble count. BTW i'm using ARMS media, with 10% grotech magnesium

My Q is, should I :

1. increase bubble count together with effluent

2. increase effluent without touching bubble count

3. increase bubble count without touching effluent.

Those with experience please comments, no "cut n paste"

1 2 3 all will work

Easier way is to lower the pH setpoint.

But there is a limit as to what you can achieve with. So if that still cannot hold the parameters then next thing is increase the effluent flow and of course at the same time check the main chamber pH and increase the CO2 bubbles count if necessary.

[hamannbmw]

I thought the 1st is better ?? Cos, increase bubble count will burn more media with higher count of KH and CA hence increase the effluent so as to support the tank

[weileong]

Lower pH setpoint is like increasing the pH setpoint but be careful with that and don't lower too much else later your ARM turn milky.

Also as you sets the pH in the main chamber lower there is a limit as how high the dkh in the effluent can go, so at a certain point in time you will need to increase the effluent flow instead.

[nutx]

in my opinion, the pH controller will not solve the tunning and dripping problem.

pH controller is to stablised the water pH level in the CR chamber, so that the Ca Media will dissolve at a CONSTANT rate.

With this constant rate, measure dKH, Ca Level and pH of the output effluent.

you can do a calculation of how much you need to add the effluent into your tank to maintain the desired dKH, Ca, and pH. (there are detailed tuning guide in the 2003/04 thread)

If you want to skip the calculation part, which I is something I like to do ....

I use the following trial and error method.

I dun use pH controller, so I tried to fix the Co2 rate and water input rate at a standard rate.

I tune the CR drip to 2-3 drips per second. let it run for for 3 days, measure every day the decrease/increase in dKH (if any), and Ca, monitor the pH...best to measure at same timing, like 9pm every night.

(bec the parameter changes thru out the day)

change the drip rates to let the parameter stablished for 3 days.

if the reading dun drop or increase, I guess we are about there....

nowsday.....I use visual instead of test kit leow...

[keithtty]

BTW i'm using ARMS media, with 10% grotech magnesium

Is deficiency of Mg a common observation?

I have never tested it, not to mention understand it. Have been using Coralife salt all this while. But there are signs that my tank does have areas where abiotic precipitation of CaCO3 occurs.

Next, if Mg is too low, then what is the preferred method of getting it up? Have seen those liquid Salifert additives. Is using the CR a better way to do it?

Anyway, as for the pH controller, looking around for something. Any recommendations? I'll admit that I am a bit of a vanity person when it comes to equipment.

[alanseah]

Is deficiency of Mg a common observation?

I have never tested it, not to mention understand it. Have been using Coralife salt all this while. But there are signs that my tank does have areas where abiotic precipitation of CaCO3 occurs.

Next, if Mg is too low, then what is the preferred method of getting it up? Have seen those liquid Salifert additives. Is using the CR a better way to do it?

Anyway, as for the pH controller, looking around for something. Any recommendations? I'll admit that I am a bit of a vanity person when it comes to equipment.

you can try zeomg.. just add in an amt which is 10% vol of your CR and it will provide Mg to your tank...

and best of all it's p04 free..

[kueytoc]

you can try zeomg.. just add in an amt which is 10% vol of your CR and it will provide Mg to your tank...

and best of all it's p04 free..

where do u buy the stuff ?

[alanseah]

where do u buy the stuff ?

Hi,

you can buy from PR...the blue sign board...

[keithtty]

macro a bit

[keithtty]

Bought a bag of ZeoMag today...but no time to put in.

[keithtty]

I had to quickly hide this from the wife. Almost like having an affair....need to keep the money spent hush hush...

[acidjazz]

I had to quickly hide this from the wife. Almost like having an affair....need to keep the money spent hush hush...

Mine was double of that. PUB bills total up to $480. Cheers.

[keithtty]

I hand feed this guys everyday. Seems to be paying off....

[nutx]

I had to quickly hide this from the wife. Almost like having an affair....need to keep the money spent hush hush...

hey...I think u are doing well in controllig this....

you probably average out to about $150 per month only........

U still got lots of capacity to chill down your tank to 24degree!

[blueheaven]

Wow nice macros

Seems like I need to retune my skills!!!

[keithtty]

Hey Dickson,

Is this what you were referring to? Or isit something else?

[blueheaven]

Looks cool

Here's mine

Sure got potential

[LoReNsIa]

wow.. all zoos soo nice.. frag some for mi can.. haha.. blue heaven.. frag some for mi too.. lol..

[keithtty]

Full tank shot. Put in my ZeoMag today.

Tank parameters last night:

Ca:500ppm

KH: 8

Mg:1290ppm

So how do I get the Mg up? Read that the ZeoMag will only be good for maintaining but not getting Mg up.

[weileong]

Mg: 1290ppm is good, why you need to increase it?

[keithtty]

Mg: 1290ppm is good, why you need to increase it?

The test kit I have (Salifert) says the target should be between 1300 - 1500ppm.

Anyway, I was adding reef builder last week. The week before, Ca was 390ppm.

[weileong]

What abt your kH? Are you dosing addictive too?

[loster]

Full tank shot. Put in my ZeoMag today.

Tank parameters last night:

Ca:500ppm

KH: 8

Mg:1290ppm

So how do I get the Mg up? Read that the ZeoMag will only be good for maintaining but not getting Mg up.

hi keith, notice that u use 14kk MH bulbs. is there any problem of the growth rate of your sps?

[blueheaven]

I try to keep my Mg levels at 1400ppm to accomodate for the coralline algae.

Keep us updated on the usage of the Zeomag

[loster]

The test kit I have (Salifert) says the target should be between 1300 - 1500ppm.

Anyway, I was adding reef builder last week. The week before, Ca was 390ppm.

magnesium chloride can help u to raise your Mg for your tank size i guess 500ml can raise about 150ppm