my re-build thread

[stingythingy45]

I'm using BRS recipes. Recipe 1 raises ph, recipe 2 lowers ph...

Huh,never heard of any Alk supplement lowing PH.
From what I'd read and experienced,Alk supplements either raise it a little of raise it quite a bit.

 

[stingythingy45]

Interesting,had to check it out.Never heard this before.Must be specific to their recipe 2 at BRS.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Two-Part-Instructions/t1/articles.html

 

[KSC]

I don't think there is anything different with their recipe. I tested the recipe 1 alk mix (soda ash)- PH 11.6. The recipe 2 alk mix (baking soda) had a PH-7.9. I do know that adding 60 ml's of the soda ash mix raises the ph from 8 to 8.2 in about 5 minutes in my 90g. The baking soda mix has no affect.

 

[stingythingy45]

I don't think there is anything different with their recipe. I tested the recipe 1 alk mix (soda ash)- PH 11.6. The recipe 2 alk mix (baking soda) had a PH-7.9. I do know that adding 60 ml's of the soda ash mix raises the ph from 8 to 8.2 in about 5 minutes in my 90g. The baking soda mix has no affect.

I bake my baking soda in the oven for an hour on 300 to drive off excess Co2,per Randy's instructions for higher PH.Never really had the time to check if there's a difference between the two,baked or not.
I do know the baked,baking soda enters the water cloudy,while the unbaked doesn't.

 

[Joel A]

Joel: have you re-calibrated your pH probe recently?

i did not too long ago, but i'm going to recalibrate again today just in order to take another variable out of the equation.. only reason i haven't yet is because i just got the calibration fluid.

I'm using BRS recipes. Recipe 1 raises ph, recipe 2 lowers ph...

Correct, my only issue is that i don't want to "lower ph" per say like recipe 2 does... in fact in the past i've had the exact opposite issue of low PH, so i'm still not sure if recipe 2 is right for me either... BRS mentions in an instructional video that you can create a buffer that has "minimal effect" on ph, by mixing soda ash and sodium bicarbonate.... maybe i will try that.

 

[Joel A]

so it turns out, my PH probe was indeed out... i re-calibrated it a few days ago, and PH is now actually a bit low... but i think that's mainly because i haven't dosed any 2 part in a few days...

I'm monitoring calcium and alkalinity levels, and when they are where i want them, i will start up 2 part dosing again...

I've also (over the past few weeks) begun to dose Iodine and Strontium... so far so good... not noticing a huge difference, but the iodine is helping bring out the blues in my Acropora.

 

[Joel A]

So it's official, a "rebuild" thread has turned into a "build thread"

Big big plans for the future... they include upgrading tank size (you guys already knew that ) to a 48x24x20... i may make it a few inches longer, something like a 52x24x20... haven't really decided yet though..

anyways, aside from upgrading tank size, i'm also going to be constructing a brand new stand, which differs from my original plan... the reason I'm doing this is because I'm also changing the location of the tank, moving it out into the family room... The stand will be built to match cabinetry/woodwork in the kitchen, which is a light maple color... and the stand will be 72"x26"x36" give or take a few inches in all dimensions there...

The extra 2 feet or so of space that the tank won't be on will have a piece of kitchen counter top over it, as a work space for testing, acclimating, you name it really... the main reason for adding this to the stand is because i needed to add an extra cabinet underneath for water storage...

here's a quick draw-up i did of it so you get a better feel for what i'm planning here...


One big concern i have with the current plan however is that the green countertop wont look good next to the fish tank.. as the background will likely be black, as will the silicone used on the tank, and the overflow in the back left hand corner... so the color scheme is black, black, black, and then a light green counter top??? .. Looking for opinions on this...

 

[Nikkoli110]

So the counter top will match the rest of your kitchen area right? I don't think that'd look silly at all, I think if you keep it all uniform it would be good. I'm going to tag along on this thread for some future ideas

 

[paulthomas]

Doo, who are? Martha Stewart? I think the green counter top will look fine. Other options are to change all of the tops to match your black background or go with a green background. I say stick with the plan.

 

[Joel A]

Doo, who are? Martha Stewart? I think the green counter top will look fine. Other options are to change all of the tops to match your black background or go with a green background. I say stick with the plan.

thanks guys, i guess i just needed some reassurance.. hopefully it won't disappoint me once it's all done... .

Here's another drawing done on sketch-up that gives a bit of an idea on what the location is like... 2 full sized glass sliding doors in the same room, as well as multiple windows provide lots of natural sunlight, which i think will make the tank look cool, and maybe possibly add a bit of extra light...

 

[Joel A]

I should add that in the same room is a desk with the same colored counter top, as well as cabinetry.. and the next room over is the kitchen with all the same cabinetry and countertops... it's not really even a room over, this tank will be viewable from the kitchen...

 

[paulthomas]

Whoa son! :: You've got some massive sliding doors in your house. . I'd guess they're 96" x 40" each.

 

[Joel A]

not quite.. but they are pretty big.. probably more like 72" tall though . The drawing of the tank and stand is to scale, everything else is a rough sketch.. but not horribly far off...

 

[coralcor]

well my dads tank has a window across from it and the extra light causes a lot more hard algae on the glass the a mag float wont remove.

oh and i can already picture the extra 2' you added to the stand just covered in paper's and other stuff that know one wants to put away.

but definitely cant wait to see this one come together

 

[paulthomas]

not quite.. but they are pretty big.. probably more like 72" tall though . The drawing of the tank and stand is to scale, everything else is a rough sketch.. but not horribly far off...

Oh, ok. So it's not all to scale. For a moment, I wondered if Harry was living with you and if your last name is Henderson. Damn, I'm more of a geek tonight than usual. Need seepy.

 

[Mr.HaHa]

alright i dunno where i've been but i had no idea you were rebuilding...

ill be following this!

 

[Joel A]

well my dads tank has a window across from it and the extra light causes a lot more hard algae on the glass the a mag float wont remove.

oh and i can already picture the extra 2' you added to the stand just covered in paper's and other stuff that know one wants to put away.

but definitely cant wait to see this one come together

typically speaking i don't think natural sunlight should cause algae issues... my father asked me about this as well, but as long as it's a healthy tank and the nutrients are in check, a tank lit with sunlight or in a really sunny room shouldn't really have any more algae growth than the next I wouldn't think...

I've seen people put their tanks in sunrooms and have great success (like reefkeeper her in our club) and a lot of people on RC are even using solar tubes to light there tanks.... which basically means they are lighting their tank with almost nothing but direct sunlight... and they don't speak of any issues either.

 

[Joel A]

hmmm so here's a question... i have a little more than 6' to work with... do i go for a 6 foot long tank?

a 6 foot tank presents some different issues... one of those is lighting. If i went with a 6 footer i'd likely switch back to Metal halides and run 3x250 watt or 2x250 and a 400...

Just kinda throwing the idea around a bit in my head... i love the idea of an extra 2 feet of swimming room, really opens up a lot in the fish department, and extra water volume isn't bad... but it does make everything a lot more costly.. =/ . I also don't know what size i would go with... probably something like a 180, which would be 72x24x24... but a 180 with starfire, reefready, you know, the works.. well that gets expensive really fast...

 

[paulthomas]

I was tempted to say that your level of indecisiveness is as bad as mine. But that'd be a lie. A 6' 180 would be sweet, but you have college and all the other stuff that comes with it to consider, young man.

 

[Joel A]

I was tempted to say that your level of indecisiveness is as bad as mine. But that'd be a lie. A 6' 180 would be sweet, but you have college and all the other stuff that comes with it to consider, young man.

boy you and my parents both keep talking about this college stuff... who say's im ever leaving :: .

yeah lol... i thought about it for a while.. still probably makes sense to keep it 4' and go forth as planned