Ashraf's window into the reef
- Thread starter amalick
- Start date
looking great man , Love the dorry
Eish, what a comeback- very nice
looking very very nice there man
awesome bra...
Update time
Hi Guys, I'm battling to keep me PH above 8.0 over the last few weeks and a bit scared to buff too much with bicarb since my DKH is already at 13. I think all of this is probably as a result of my calcium demand getting quite high so I'v tuned my CArx to delivery more calcium with the resultant PH decline and DKH incline.
As such my next investment is going to be a deltec kalwasser stirrer to counteract the PH / DKH / Calcium challange on a more sustainable basis. Thoughts ?
While Im at it I thought I would update with some random pics taken this evening.
Hi Guys, I'm battling to keep me PH above 8.0 over the last few weeks and a bit scared to buff too much with bicarb since my DKH is already at 13. I think all of this is probably as a result of my calcium demand getting quite high so I'v tuned my CArx to delivery more calcium with the resultant PH decline and DKH incline.
As such my next investment is going to be a deltec kalwasser stirrer to counteract the PH / DKH / Calcium challange on a more sustainable basis. Thoughts ?
While Im at it I thought I would update with some random pics taken this evening.
WOW Ashraf! Your tank is really looking FANTASTIC, mate! I love your fish selection! WOW!
And your soft-corals are really huge and healthy looking!
Regarding your question - It's not a bad idea, if you are struggling to keep your pH up. BUT, a quick question - what are you using to do you pH testing?
And your soft-corals are really huge and healthy looking!
Regarding your question - It's not a bad idea, if you are struggling to keep your pH up. BUT, a quick question - what are you using to do you pH testing?
Hi Jaques -Thanks for the complements.
I'm using 3 things to check my PH.
1) A permanently mounted Saga PH301 PH Meter with probe etc (PH Drops to 7.9 during the day and sometimes raises to 8.1 at night).
2) A digital PH Pen (Once a Week)
3) Normal manual testkits across the range so now and then (Sera, Red Sea and Nutrafin
HUH? pH being 7.9 in the day and 8.1 at night? WOW! That's really strange. It's usually the other way around.....
BUT, that said...... why don't you tune down your CA reactor a wee bit, and dose Sodium Bicarb for a week or so, just to get the pH stable - sodium bicarb will raise your pH to 8.2/8.3 - as the sodium bicarb has a pH with neutral RO water.....
You don't have many SPS corals. During this week or so, you can perhaps just manually dose some calcium hydroxide - both to assist with your Ca delivery, as well as increase your pH.....
Don't you perhaps get some Ca precipitation ("snow") at any time?
You kit seems to 100% you are using...... How often do you calibrate your electronic pH meters?
BUT, that said...... why don't you tune down your CA reactor a wee bit, and dose Sodium Bicarb for a week or so, just to get the pH stable - sodium bicarb will raise your pH to 8.2/8.3 - as the sodium bicarb has a pH with neutral RO water.....
You don't have many SPS corals. During this week or so, you can perhaps just manually dose some calcium hydroxide - both to assist with your Ca delivery, as well as increase your pH.....
Don't you perhaps get some Ca precipitation ("snow") at any time?
You kit seems to 100% you are using...... How often do you calibrate your electronic pH meters?
1) Oops, got the PH readings the wrong way around, I meant 8.1 during the day 7.9 at night.
2) As for dosing, I am dosing seachem buffer, but could switch to sodium bicarb, my worry is that DKH is already so high
3) I dosed cape coral care Calcium Booster a week ago as well (much like calcium hydroxide i guess)
4) And no "snow" / Ca precipitation for me - "ever".
5) PH meters calibrated yesterday (because I was in doubt), but normally once a month or so.
I guess now you may understand why I calling the PH / DKH / Calcium balance a challenge.
- I'm striving for a sustained DKH of 9, PH of 8.5 and Calcium of 450.
- I'm now at DKH 13, PH of 8.0 and calcium of 400, with constent manual interventions that swings at least once of them out of wack all the time. Hence the Kalk Stirrer idea ?
Just one suggestion from my side - don't worry about your kH/dkH so much. Mine was at 17 to 19 at some stage, and I did not have ANY problems during that time.... (it was like that for more than a year, until I lost my fish due to my sea cucumber causing crap!).... 
Also - I think that you are trying to be "too strict" on yourself regarding the calcium/alkalinity/pH....
The most important one is the pH..... this one needs to be within a narrow range. It does not HAVE to be 100% stable! As long as that it stays within a narrow range (between 7.8 and 8.4)......
Also - I think that you are trying to be "too strict" on yourself regarding the calcium/alkalinity/pH....
The most important one is the pH..... this one needs to be within a narrow range. It does not HAVE to be 100% stable! As long as that it stays within a narrow range (between 7.8 and 8.4)......
Kalkwasser Stirrer Question
Just a quick question on the kalk stirrer. It seems as though there are divided opinions on whether one should get one that is stirred by a recirculating pump vs a stir bar model
Pumps wear out and generate heat whereas magnetic stir bars tend to jam, bind and wear the acrylic.
Thoughts ?
Just a quick question on the kalk stirrer. It seems as though there are divided opinions on whether one should get one that is stirred by a recirculating pump vs a stir bar model
Pumps wear out and generate heat whereas magnetic stir bars tend to jam, bind and wear the acrylic.
Thoughts ?
Engine room upgrade
Hi Guys
Ive been very busy over the last 6 weeks upgrading my entire "walk in" engine room. I've done so much that I am probably going to miss something, but here goes anyway
Basically I replaced all my plumbing with high pressure blue PVC pipe. As a noob all my original plumbing was of the garden irrigation variety which started perishing over time.
All in all I used about 120meters of new piping and over 200 connection joints and several ball valves etc.. I got all of this from Astore in Cape Town (THese guys were great!)
Almost everything is now automated incuding water changes. Even my ro water, skimmer and tank waste is plumbed into my houses drainage system.
I also purchased / upgraded many new pieces of equiment (some via e-bay) - sorry sponsors but I did get a few things from you guys..
1) Ozone Generator - Ebay
2) New Power LAb H2 Skimmer - Phuture Lab
3) New 55w UV Sterilizer - Sams' Aquariums
4) New PH / ORp Controller with probes etc.. (e-bay)
5) New CO2 Solenoid - Peninsula Pneumatics
6) New R1 Power Lab Kalk Stirrer - Phuture Lab
7) New Artemia Reactor - Phuture Lab
8) New Waterboy Reef master plus RO Unit - The Waterboy
And a few other loose ends..
I have also switched to SSW and for this I had a 120l resevoir tank built which is plumbed into my system for semi-automatic water changes.
Too much too mention without boring you guys to death.
Some PICS (Sorry, but the engine room is at a very awkward position to take good pics - especially inside it)
Will take some full tank shots tomorrow
Cheers for now
Hi Guys
Ive been very busy over the last 6 weeks upgrading my entire "walk in" engine room. I've done so much that I am probably going to miss something, but here goes anyway
Basically I replaced all my plumbing with high pressure blue PVC pipe. As a noob all my original plumbing was of the garden irrigation variety which started perishing over time.
All in all I used about 120meters of new piping and over 200 connection joints and several ball valves etc.. I got all of this from Astore in Cape Town (THese guys were great!)
Almost everything is now automated incuding water changes. Even my ro water, skimmer and tank waste is plumbed into my houses drainage system.
I also purchased / upgraded many new pieces of equiment (some via e-bay) - sorry sponsors but I did get a few things from you guys..
1) Ozone Generator - Ebay
2) New Power LAb H2 Skimmer - Phuture Lab
3) New 55w UV Sterilizer - Sams' Aquariums
4) New PH / ORp Controller with probes etc.. (e-bay)
5) New CO2 Solenoid - Peninsula Pneumatics
6) New R1 Power Lab Kalk Stirrer - Phuture Lab
7) New Artemia Reactor - Phuture Lab
8) New Waterboy Reef master plus RO Unit - The Waterboy
And a few other loose ends..
I have also switched to SSW and for this I had a 120l resevoir tank built which is plumbed into my system for semi-automatic water changes.
Too much too mention without boring you guys to death.
Some PICS (Sorry, but the engine room is at a very awkward position to take good pics - especially inside it)
Will take some full tank shots tomorrow
Cheers for now
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