Walkthrough of my 180g Setup

[Dr B]

I ran the skimmer both ways and it does much better on a dual injector.
Mojo, I can understand that thinking... however I guess under these circumstances I am not getting to much of violent flow of bubbles.
Two reasons I think that I am not getting that.
1. The pump... its not creating too much violence even with two injectors.
2. I am running the silencers on there. This is basically a cotton ball. Andy claims it doesnt affect the skimmer, however I can notice that it does affect the bubbles by making less. So the fact that I am running two silenced injectors may be only equivilent to 1 or 1.5x a normal injector. Does that make sense?

So I agree that there is a efficiency factor with some skimmers etc. However under these circumstances the 2nd injector improved the skimmer. And If not, I would like to see data otherwise on my system. You may have played with water for 30 years, but have you played with my system and skimmer 30 years? >
Hope that helps...

 

[mojoreef]

Ok boys play nice now, lol
Could be Dr. also if you wet skim it doesnt play as much of a role either.


Mike

 

[Dr B]

SOLAR DIMMER 750
As far as equip goes, the Solar Dimmer 750 sucks. I have to send it back because it wont work off of a timer. It only works when I physically plug and unplug the cord. I talked to blueline about this and they dont have a answer. So far it was the worst 180 I spent on the tank. The few times I did get it to dim, it didnt work very well either.

ALGAE
I have been getting quite a bit of film algae on the glass. I have been way overfeeding I think. I will be scalling back some, and I actually think getting a few more fish in there might help, more of the food will get consumed that way. I am only getting some film algae(more than normal), and some fuzz on the rocks. No hair algae or bubble algae, nothin too nasty.

I also am not running any rowaphos yet, which I plan to once I get my reactor. Either that or phosban. I havent quite decided what to do about it yet. So far the deltec reactor will still be a while before i get my hands on one.

I have been doing biweekly small water changes to get some detritus out that collects in the sump, and one area on my tank. I am going to bump that to weekly maintinence.

I am not quite sure why I am getting the algae bloom, but its not too major. I will work on my husbandry a little more and see how that goes. So far my water is crystal clear, and my skimmer is pulling out amazing ammounts of gunk.

Thats about it fow now... all the pieces of coral that lost color, or had probs are fine now. I havent had any casualties, and my bleached samoensis is almost back to normal. It is a slow grower, wich is why it is taking so long... but it is very healthy.

 

[Maxx]

Dr B,
If I read, and more importantly understood the information correctly, In this months Advanced Aquarists Online Magazine has an article that implies that the Phosban is a little more stable in its removal of of phosphate. If I understood the graph properly, the Rowa media appears to leach a minute amount of Phosphate back into the water column. I dont know if the Phosban is cheaper, but just something to think about.
Mike, Ya got any comments? I know you have a real good understanding of these things, and you run Rowaphos in your tank......
Nick

 

[Dr B]

I am hoping Mike will chime in with some thoughts.
I did read that article Nick... and wasnt sure quite what to take away from it.
Phosban I do believe is cheaper. I wonder what kinda reactor I could go with, and maybe I wouldnt have to wait around for a deltec either.
Thanks Nick

 

[NaH2O]

Nick and Dr B - I started a thread about the article: Phosphate Remover Article

 

[Ed Hahn]

Doc,
I have to admit this one of my favorite threads. You have a fan in Tri-cities. Thanks for sharing your experience with Reef Frontiers so others can learn and admire your work.


Judging area..
10 from Germans, 10 from France, 10 from USA, 9.5 Chek, 10 Poland, 10 Swed,10 Canada......damn, those damn Cheks

 

[Dr B]

Thanks,
I will be continuing the thread out in the general area. It looks like things wont mirror over like planned.
I will eventually in like 2 months when my cabinetry is done start a new thread purely of pictures of the setup and my coral.

 

[tankgirl]

Just bumping so I can be subscribed to the thread. Nice setup!