The store actually wasn't from in town here, I was out of town a few times recently, and purchased them then.

Thanks Tony!

The enter button on the RKE doesn't work at all today. I've posted about it in the RKE bug thread, and we'll see what comes back from Digital Aquatics.

I am hoping that DA will eventually roll out support for an SG probe, Ca. prob, and dKH probe. Those three things would make my life so much simpler in terms of testing.

I've also noticed since running ozone, which is injected into the skimmer, that I can smell when my skimmer needs to be clean. The skimmer head needs to be cleaned every 2-3 days, and you can tell because the "tank smell" gets stronger. The downside to have to clean out the skimmer so frequently is that the smell is so foul, we have to keep the front door open for an hour after cleaning it. I don't know what we are going to do in the winter

Thats quite surprising, I found that my skimmate production decreased by about 3/4 when running ozone. Granted it did smell pretty bad when I had to change the cup. I found that I could go for almost a week and a half without cleaning the collection cup but I like to keep the skimmer neck clean so I clean it every 4-5 days anyways. One of the first things I noticed when I shut down my ozone was that skimmer production definitely increased and now I definitely have to clean the cup every 3-4 days.

looks like alot of cyano in those pics, is it still like that?

Nope, its not nearly as bad anymore. There is one patch, in the front left corner, but that is about it.

Since my holiday plans were cancelled I've been hanging out with my tank all weekend, and some very cool things have come around.

This morning my dKH is 9! I have hit my target level! My Calcium is a bit on the low side, but I'm super happy that I am almost at the point where I no longer have to fiddle with dosing!

Since we've added on the RKE almost everything in regards to my tank is automated, just the way I like it! I do a once a month day of maintenance; pump cleaning, reflector cleaning, probe calibration, etc. On a daily basis I clean the glass and feed the fish. A couple times a week the skimmer gets cleaned. My tank is now at the point where it is very hands free, and I get to spend a lot of time enjoying it, rather then working on it.

Now if I could only win the lotto so I could go buy more clams and corals.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0404.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0409.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0438-1.jpg

This is Friday, we fed double the Nori we normally due to cover for our absence over the next couple of days. However I ended up staying home....
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0421.jpg

The naso is getting wide!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0442-1.jpg

RKE is chugging along, aside from the fact that the enter button doesn't work.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0471-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0473.jpg

The mess of starting the tank is still around, but its slowly diminishing!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0489-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0485.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0491-1.jpg

From Coral Master
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0492-1.jpg

From WickedFrags.com
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0496.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0497-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0494.jpg

From Red Coral
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0495.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0499-1.jpg

Random Zoas that survived the move & subsequent disaster from my move in November 2007. They are open, and seem to have come back from where they were in December. However, they aren't growing, but damn are they pretty! :cool:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0493-2.jpg

Looking good :mrgreen:

Thanks Murray!

So my RKE is having some more problems. The enter button stopped working recently, and Digital Aquatics just recently got back to me. They are sending me a new head unit. Thankfully *knock on wood* I haven't been one of those whose unit has shut everything off in the tank.

I am also baking in here today, its 27.4 degrees in our place. So lesson learned, no more places with less then one window that opens. I also desire AC in our new place...

Just to tide you all over SUMP PHOTOS!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0511.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0512-1.jpg

This is what I frequently see every time I sit down on the couch.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0513.jpg

Goodness, what a pout.. :lol:

Ummm, how do you plan to get the sump INTO the bottom of the stand? Looks like a very tight fit, and when I say that, I mean impossible.. lol

Hahaha...it will be done through the magic of photography! :D

Honestly though we will be moving the center brace out, sliding the sump in and replacing the brace. There is not a lot of stress/pressure on the brace because of how the stand was build.

^^ Too simple.. :lol: I figured that brace was permanent.

Nah! We thought ahead for once!

Great job you two!!!!!!!!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0511.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0512-1.jpg


WOW Kevin Ain't You Sumpin!!!!!LOL

keep it up


Kevin

Nice choice to use the grey glass for part of the sump.
The tank looks great.

Thanks everyone!

The sump is about 75% done...I'd post photos, but its too hot in here to move anymore.

Alright so Kevin laid out the glass, cleaned it, and taped it all.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0533.jpg

Then he started to lay down the silicone, and I started to get silly from the fumes
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0542.jpg

A few side panes
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0545.jpg

Baffles included
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0546.jpg

Kevin started to drill probe holders, but the snapped it once he tried to cut the drilled glass.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0562.jpg

Now we are just waiting on either a 2" bulkhead to drill our own hole, and maybe to find the associated hole saw to borrow. This is all that is holding up the rest of the sump assembly.

On Friday we had someone over and my urchin started to spawn for the second time.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0529.jpg

Friday FTS
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0532.jpg

The green digi is becoming more of a mustard green. The purple cap close to it as well isn't looking as hot as it used to. I really don't care for the AquaConnect bulb. I just don't like the colours it brings out, they all seem very muted.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0567.jpg

Everything else on that side of the tank doesn't grow as quickly, but these look pretty nice so far. The dark purples are still dark, but they seem to be lacking the blue undertone that really makes purples pop.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0573.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0580.jpg

Shots from down the left side of the tank
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0586.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...a/DSC_0587.jpg

I'm hoping by the time we find a house and move I will be done with the cheap salt we bought to kick this tank off. We used Reef Crystals to start this system and its just driving me nuts. After a water change it takes me 2 weeks to get my levels back up to where I like them, and then its time for another WC and I have to start all over again.

Post water change I'm seeing;
dKH 5-6
Ca 340-350
Mag 1100 -1170.

Pre water change levels that I am barely hitting are:
dKH 7-8
Ca 380-420
Mag 1250-1300

I just get so close to my optimal levels, and you can see it in the tank too. The moment I hit the right numbers I can see the SPS take off, and I can see the colours start to change and brighten up in a few pieces. Then as soon as the levels drop again the brightening fades, and I stop seeing growth.

What type of salt do you plan on using?

My preference is to go back to my favorite; Red Sea Coral Pro. However, I am looking at trying out Aquamedic.

I recently tried out the Aquamedic salt. At first I wasn't happy with it because my tank was cloudy for a few days (new tank/new water/new salt--not setup) When it cleared I tested it, and I was very happy with the Ca and alk. They were right where I wanted them to be, and higher than any of the other salts I had tried (ocean pure, ocean pure pro, biosea). I haven't noticed any cloudiness in my wc water. Might just stick with the AM salt. :smile: I haven't tested wc water in a while but I think the test was something like 8dKH and 420-470 Ca (can't remember, lol)

Something about this just sounds wrong. Who was over, a street urchin? :lol::razz::lol:

Interesting you are having problems with reef crystals. I have used RC almost exclusively for about 4 years and had no issues like that. Ironically I have been using "Reefers best salt" and was considering going back to RC because for some reason the RBS makes my skimmer too sensitive for my liking. There must have been a bad batch of RC I'm glad I missed out on.:wink:

The last time I used RC, IO, or was probably when we first started the hobby. I've been using Red Sea, either the regular or the pro since 2005, and haven't had to look back until recently.

You make a very good point though. I haven't really tested any freshly mixed up RC beyond SG and temperature. Maybe I should do that this time around! Did you ever add to your salt before a water change?

I usually don't worry about it since I dose about 500ml of both ca & alk every day and it only takes a short time to get back to snuff and I only do a 10% water change.

How do you dose again? Is it the bailing method?


This is kind of what we are hoping to do for our big system. However ours will be in wall. The shape is about right though! Tank!

how am i suppose to read that!.. :lol:

Easy... look at all the pic and go ..oooooo....:lol:

:mrgreen: HAHAHA... i did that.. but I want more info!

You just need to run it through the Google Translator, then it comes out like this :biggrin:

That tank is gorgeous http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/images/smilies/luv.gif

I think we just found the perfect house for our next big system!!

Really? Where?

Side note, my balling method is SO ghetto compared to this guy and his Grotech dosing pumps, etc. *sigh*

high performance pump of bacon........
That is a line in the translation...lol

mmmmmmm bacon!

The house is in woodbine, and its huge...but, I want to see a few more properties before we make an offer. I've also found someone who will jack up the floor in whichever basement we decide and pour a new floor for the tank.

I'm no rocket scientist but from what I can see, Red Coral has the best bang for your buck...Unless of course you were willing to pay $100 or more for each colony of sps...

RC does have great prices, and a nice selection. I particularly love the wide variety of clams that Kevin frequently brings in. I'm very pleased with everything I've purchased from him.

So in regards to this very large house. We are trying to get some details about the winter heating costs. We've asked for 3 winter heating bills, and a few additional pieces of information. I am going to try and visit the house again and this time take photos.

Well we've been outbid...again. We aren't having much luck finding any new replacement properties so far. Every time I look at my Vlamingi tang I feel guilty knowing that our disappointing search is pushing back it getting the large home it deserves.

In the mean time I'm trying to source out more SPS, and clams. I am also actively looking at bringing in more rock to seed. The plan is to add about 10-15 more lbs in the display in the form of shelf pillars, and hopefully about 30lbs into the new sump.

The sump is STILL sitting in our "entryway " (haha its so full of material its hard to enter), as we are still waiting on a 2" bulkhead. This is the second time I've been held up due to late or non-arriving plumbing parts.

Alright so now onto the good things;
- Lots of growth to be had in the SPS and the clams when my chemistry is in check
- Its starting to cool down here so the chiller is running less, yay for smaller utility bills!
- Fish are all happy, healthy and plump. I don't think I will be adding any more fish (save one that has already been decided on) until we set up our next system. I think the hierarchy is stable and good as it is, and I don't want to disrupt it.
- The RKE head unit's enter button started working again spontaneously. We are still checking it regularly and keeping our lighting off of it.
- There is no more cyano in the system

phew... I just got thru this thread... wow!!! Nice job!

Thank you.