290G Peninsula Tank

[asylumdown]

This is really looking fantastic. I'm eagerly following this keeping a little log of what I'm going to do on my next build!

FWIW, I have never been happy with the noise level of my Reeflo pump. I've got the dart, and from day one it sounded like someone was using a hair dryer in the next room. I got replacement bearings from Reeflo and swapped them out myself, but it didn't help at all. Shortly there after the seal went (why, oh why can't they make the metal components on pump seals out of stainless?) and it started to leak, so I ordered new seals from Reeflo, but this time I went with my dad to one of the high end transmission/bearing places and bought the highest end bearings of that size that they sold. The pump is still louder than I think it should be, but it's reduced to more of a hum that fades in to the background as compared to the high pitch whine that made it hard to talk on the phone in the office before.

I don't think the bearings that come with the pump, or that Reeflo will send you as a replacement are necessarily the greatest quality. If you can't solve the noise issue any other way, I would try sourcing your own, much higher quality bearings and see if that helps. I'm not sure about your model of pump, but the swap on the dart was relatively painless to do, you just need a bearing puller (super cheap) and the right deep socket to help tap the new bearings in place. I found a photo tutorial online showing exactly how to take the dart apart and do the swap.

[AdamsB]

I absolutely fell in love with this whole setup when I saw it in person. And Marks so good at talking about it I learned a little and saw some very nice frags and fish. That Christmas wrasse is fantastic.

[AdamsB]

Those are nice pics for a phone! What Is your alk level sitting at?

[mseepman]

Thanks for all the advice guys (both tank and personal related...haha).

I have checked my Alk and it's sitting at 6.8 today. CA is at 450 and MG is at 1250. I use a Hanna meter for the Alk and Elos kits for the rest.

I'm dosing a crap load of Kalkwasser. I don't have my regular dosers going yet for the big three but I'm gonna have to do something pretty quick. i have changed out 150G of water in the last 3 weeks...but not much of a bump in Alk. Using IO right now and it's testing just over 9 in the holding tank before I do my water change.

[kien]

those corals look really happy !

[mseepman]

Thought I would do a little update.

The tank has gone through a little transition lately. On Monday I decided to use Chemi-clean. My total water volume is about 345G so I used the entire package which said will treat 300G. I had lot of pumps oxygenating the water but within about 6 hours, several corals were struggling and my birdsnest was dead. All of the corals struggling were very healthy before the treatment too.

I let it run it's course and after 48hours I did a 20% water change. More corals started to struggle and the water looked somewhat cloudy so I did another 20%. My skimmer went crazy if I turned it on, even after lowering the water and turning it all the way down. So I continued to change water. I've now done about 200g since Wednesday and things have turned around. The struggling corals are looking much better and some have polyp extension.

The Cyano appears to be mostly gone and one positive thing is that my PH has risen. If you read above, I was struggling with PH issues despite large water changes and heavy dosing of both Kalk and ALK. Now today my PH started the day at 8.04 and currently sits at 8.18 when before I was at 7.84 and 8.01 as a high during the best days.

Anyways, it's nothing without pics...so here you go. These are just phone pics as that's all I have for a camera.

FTS


Some corals:

[H2o2]

Holy cow I think I was at your place 3 or 4 months ago and I cant believe the growth well done

[AdamsB]

That blows. I went through the same issue although on a much smaller scale. Haven't had issues since, hopefully you won't either!

[Myka]

Well it looks good now! I've never had such a reaction when dosing ChemiClean; the corals look mad, but I've never lost anything. Too bad about the birdnest.

Also, Happy Anniversary for your tank!

[mseepman]

Thanks for the comments everyone. Today the tank is looking even happier. PH continues to rise...lets hope I can keep it high. Due for my first Prodibio dose tomorrow since doing the treatment...hope no meds left in there to react to bacteria being added.