Reef Discussion

RobbieMVFC · Oct 13, 2013

vpreef said:
Any system running very low nutrients (vsv, zeovit, biopellets etc) are recommend to keep you ALK in the low range 6-8dkh. High ranges can burn your sps. Best to use a salt with a natural dkh and avoid stuff like H2ocean and Red Sea Coral Pro salts with ridiculous amounts.

My alk is always around the 7.6 dkh range, running phos at 0.0 and never had any issues.

Sarg, looks like another week or 2 and you will be there. Although those numbers are great and your tank is looking Awesome!!

Thanks mate , I am using Red Sea coral pro but my Alk as of Thursday night was
8dkh. I might switch back to normal Red sea salt just to be safe.

Sarg · Nov 27, 2013

Took a while but its all 0000000's

Turned the flow down leaving the reactor but keeping the pellets tumbling. I used more pellets than recommended (not that it reduced it any quicker!) figuring since I can control the effluent leaving the reactor its all good so now I have turned it down im hoping the numbers will creep up just a little otherwise I may remove a few pellets.

Fingers crossed I can manage a low nutrient system!

Joshwaaaa · Nov 27, 2013

Good work

I have been reducing my pellets slowly, I have been reading 0.00 for quite a while now. While some SPS seems to be loving it others I dont think are so much

Sarg · Nov 27, 2013

A plating green monti I have really doesn't seem to be likening it but that's the only thing. Even the lps are fine.

Agent M · Nov 27, 2013

You have a case of 'starving monti' as an old reefing friend used to say - they aren't as fond of low nutrients as you'd think according to him.

OSCAR85 · Nov 27, 2013

my plating monti loves the low nutrient. He is by far the fastest growing coral in my tank. However dallas seems to be closed but going through a upward growth spert stage. Elegance coral and fungi def not in agreeance lol

Ben S · Nov 28, 2013

I took my pellets offline on Tuesday. I was not getting the results I have seen in the past. I put this down to the skimmer I have not being big enough to handle the pellets slim. On my old tank the skimmer was more than sufficient, but on my new tank it's borderline on it's capacity for use with pellets. Went back to Cheato and in a few weeks will plumb in a P04 reactor.

Ben

Joshwaaaa · Nov 28, 2013

I must say my monti's are loving low nutrients, I had one which was almost completely dead due to high nitrates and that has almost made a complete comeback. My plate is also growing pretty nicely too.

jayellul · Nov 28, 2013

Hey all. I've been running tlf pellets in a alpha 1 reactor for a few months now. I thought I would be down to zeros by now!

I'm running ~150mls on a 120litre system. I've ordered more pellets and will add another 50mls. I'm also still dosing 20mls of vinegar

Thoughts?

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OSCAR85 · Nov 28, 2013

jayellul said:
Hey all. I've been running tlf pellets in a alpha 1 reactor for a few months now. I thought I would be down to zeros by now!

I'm running ~150mls on a 120litre system. I've ordered more pellets and will add another 50mls. I'm also still dosing 20mls of vinegar

Thoughts?

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Have your nitrates of phosphates moved?From my understanding i think you are suppose to slowly ween yourself off any other from of dosing so the bacteria can live in the reactor rather than in the tank.

jayellul · Nov 28, 2013

Yeah they are down to .04 and 3ppm

I'm weening off the vinegar over the next couple of weeks.

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jayellul · Dec 3, 2013

Added another 50mls of pellets. See how it goes.

Also started dosing Zeobak.

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Sarg · Dec 3, 2013

Good luck!

jayellul · Dec 4, 2013

Thanks. Dead topic it seems lol

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Sarg · Dec 5, 2013

Joshwaaaa said:
I must say my monti's are loving low nutrients, I had one which was almost completely dead due to high nitrates and that has almost made a complete comeback. My plate is also growing pretty nicely too.

The encrusting montis are loving it and a frag of rainbow has come back from the brink, although atm different colouration, and a plating green frag from the Vic frag meet is glowing but the scrolling type is the only one unhappy!

RobbieMVFC · Dec 5, 2013

Sarg said:
The encrusting montis are loving it and a frag of rainbow has come back from the brink, although atm different colouration, and a plating green frag from the Vic frag meet is glowing but the scrolling type is the only one unhappy!

DAM !!, I love the scrolling ones

Miller · Dec 5, 2013

What type of pallets do you guys use?
I'm about to start up a reactor in a couple weeks and switch over from zeolite stones (to time consuming for my current work schedule)
Hey @Sarg what size fitting is on the top of your reactor? I'm making my own recirculating reactor and just about to buy the john guest fittings

Sarg · Dec 5, 2013

No idea @Miller ill have a look when I get home.

I'm using these.... http://store.drtimsaquatics.com/NP-Active-Pearls_c_88.html

OSCAR85 · Dec 5, 2013

hey @Sarg how many weeks would you say it took to kick in?

Joshwaaaa · Dec 5, 2013

4-5 weeks for me before notice slight differences in levels, moved along pretty quickly from then on though