tastingSalty's Nano-Reef

Mg Update

2009-06-10T18:08:00.000-07:00

My magnesium is finally on the rise. I got some good help from guys on RC. I ended up having to QUADRUPLE the dosage amount to get it going. It will take another 2 or 3 days to get the level to where I want it, ideally. So far so good.

Check out this awesome calculator that I used for dosing my Seachem Magnesium:

Reef Chemistry Calculator

My Magnesium Misery

2009-06-10T09:51:00.000-07:00

So after purchasing this:

I added 1/2 a teaspoon at first to my tank to raise my Mg from +-1040ppm to 1300-1500ppm. After testing my Mg an hour later, Mg stayed the same. I added a whole teaspoon . . . and then another whole teaspoon. STILL, my Mg levels remain THE SAME. I am pretty frustrated right now. I can't add any more for another day as I am only supposed to add about 15 grams (3 teaspoons) maximum per day. I really want to raise my Mg specifically to stimulate coralline growth. It's really got me baffled, I think I might have to go to RC for this one . . .

RKL Order Update

2009-06-10T09:47:00.000-07:00

Woo!! Almost Here! (It's an email from Digital Aquatics that my order shipped lol)

Update - Becoming a more accurate aquarist . . .

2009-06-09T15:05:00.000-07:00

Well,

Today a shipment came in that I was excited about. I ordered the supplies from birch03 on Reef Central. He was awesome. He was very flexible with prices and shipment arrived the NEXT DAY! Can't get much better than that folks.

Here's what came:

Salifert Test Kits: Magnesium, Phosphate, and Nitrate
Refractometer

I was running out of my API nitrate tests, so had to pick up another one. I wanted a more accurate phosphate test kit than the Red Sea one I have so I got the salifert one. And I needed a magnesium test kit to test my Mg for the first time. As I suspected (because I never had good coralline growth), it was low: 1140ppm about 200ppm short. I was using Red Sea Coral Pro salt for the last 6 months. I have picked up D-D Ocean Plus Pro salt which features high amounts of magesium. I'm hoping the D-D salt will help maintain a good magnesium level.

I got the refractometer to replace my hydrometer. After being shown by Gary and Russ's podcast, American Reef/ReefBuilders, just how innacurate hydrometers can be, I realized that I needed to get a refractometer. After testing the refractometer against my hydrometer, the hydrometer actually ended up being fairly accurate. (fhew :) ) I can finally rest easier now knowing that my tank is at the correct salinity. The refractometer was a purchase long overdue - especially after getting SPS corals in my tank.

Link of the week:

John Cena's 800 Reef Tank - Tank Build Thread on RC (and yes it's really his tank)

On its way to ME:

Koralia Nano powerhead
TLF Phosban reactor with pump
ReefKeeper Lite L1

Reef Aquarium Intro/Recap

2009-06-08T09:25:00.001-07:00

Hey guys.

This'll be the first post on my tank. I wish I did a complete build thread when I started the tank, but oh well. Here I'll give you some background on the tank.

The aquarium is a saltwater reef tank and it's been running for 9 months as of right now. The display tank is 12 gallons. It has a sump in the stand that is 10 gallons.

Livestock (Fish):

False Percula Clownfish - 'Perky'
Scooter Blenny (Dragonet)
Small Blue Leg Hermit
2 Turbo Snails
5 Nasarius Snails

Livestock (coral):

Mushrooms
Pink Xenia
Leather Tree
Branching Hammer
Branching Frogspawn
5 Acroporas: Birds Nest, Purple Tricolor, others I don't know their name . . .

Equipment in/on the tank (currently) includes:

Lighting:

2 x 24 watt T5 VHO - one 18K white and the other actinic (they both run 10 hours each day)
Dual LED moonlight (This runs for 2 hours before and after the T5's run)

Filtration:

14 lbs. Live Rock
(Drumroll please . . . the Beast:) Reef Octopus NW-150 Protein Skimmer [rated for tanks up to 150 gallons]
Marineland canister filter: I run carbon and GFO in this. But I currently am switching over to:
2 x TLF Phosban Reactors - one for carbon and the other for GFO (run by a rio 90 pump)

Mechanics:

Water movement is accomplished with 2 koralia nano powerheads
Return pump: Quiet One 5000 - pumping about 125gph up to the display tank
Auto top off - from AutoTopOff.com - connected to a aquaclear 20 powerhead
CPR Overflow - rated for up to 300gph
Heater is some $20 glass heater
Computer fans for lights and water cooling

Dosing:

Only kalkwasser is dosed at this time for pH stabilization at night. I drip only at night with a Kent Marine Aquadoser

Controllers:

(On it's way!) ReefKeeper Lite - Level 1 - I will be controlling the heater, fans, and powerheads with this. PH's will be wavemakers.