Smite's Stout CDA - 205G

[Smite]

Short on rodi line for the reactor. I’m tappin out for now. Once I get the reactor back up I’ll be good to go.

I’ve got 40lb of sand for the DSB but I think I need another 20-40lb to get 4-5”.

anyone got a macro light recommendation that’ll work well on the cheaper side?

I like they made the farthest bubble trap a small tray. It’ll work perfect for running carbon and placing the rock that’s now in the fuge section.
Man that Tunze skimmer barley fit at an angle. Touching both sides

 

[Jimbo327]

You make it look easy! I think you did more work on the last 2 days than me in last 2 months. The new sump looks great and spacious. I love how there is still room for you to put other equipment in front of sump. That’s a big bonus.

 

[CoralNerd]

Loosing a dog is tough must be even tougher when you don't expect it. Sorry for your loss.

DSB wow is your n03 high or something?

 

[Smite]

You make it look easy! I think you did more work on the last 2 days than me in last 2 months. The new sump looks great and spacious. I love how there is still room for you to put other equipment in front of sump. That’s a big bonus.

Haha, thanks Jimbo. The existing flex PVC made it easier . I straight up cut my old sump out at the fittings and then just had to plumb to the flex line. I'm very happy with the new sump, it's layout and how everything ended up piecing together under there. Much more serviceable and easier to work on. The small windows on the AA made it hard to see what was going on with my stand being so short.

 

[Smite]

Loosing a dog is tough must be even tougher when you don't expect it. Sorry for your loss.

DSB wow is your n03 high or something?

Thanks man. Part of me feels that way but then I've had to make the call in the past and that sucks too. We named her Mayday and she lived up to that name until the very end thats for sure.

I'm more doing the DSB for the microfauna but I've got a decent amount of no3 in the system.
po4 .09-.12
no3 15-20 lately.

 

[drexel]

That looks great, Matt! Just pick up an amazon grow light, I think they have IP65 rated ones for cheap. That's what I'm using on my nano and cheato grows like crazy.

https://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-G...234&sprefix=ip65+grow+led,aps,279&sr=8-9&th=1

 

[drexel]

Also, shoot for at least 5" of oolite, that will help, then start looking for spaghetti worms to put down there.

 

[Smite]

That looks great, Matt! Just pick up an amazon grow light, I think they have IP65 rated ones for cheap. That's what I'm using on my nano and cheato grows like crazy.

https://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Grow-Spectrum-Technology-Dissipation/dp/B0776SXJSS/ref=sr_1_9?crid=2GQBDN2KJPKJO&keywords=ip65+grow+led&qid=1664035234&sprefix=ip65+grow+led,aps,279&sr=8-9&th=1

Thanks man, I'm stoked on it! That looks perfect I'll order that one.

I've seen them in a few spots on my rock. I'll pull them and toss them down there. For 5" I'll need another 40 lb for sure.

 

[Dipan00]

The light @drexel recommended is the one I am using also. I ditched all the metal hardware it came with as it will rust quick and just used fishing line to hang it. Seems to be growing chaeto great.

 

[Smite]

The light @drexel recommended is the one I am using also. I ditched all the metal hardware it came with as it will rust quick and just used fishing line to hang it. Seems to be growing chaeto great.

Awesome Dipan, thanks for the tip!

Does it get pretty hot/warm?

 

[drexel]

Just put a little molykote 111 on all of the exposed parts that will rust. Molykote 111 is great for fragging tools as well. A little goes a long way in protecting and prolonging the life on whatever you use it on.

 

[Dipan00]

Awesome Dipan, thanks for the tip!

Does it get pretty hot/warm?

I dont think it gets hot at all. But I will double check it tonight to confirm.

 

[Dipan00]

Forgot to message you back. Light stays pretty cool. Gets luke warm but nothing that would change the temp in your system.

 

[Smite]

Forgot to message you back. Light stays pretty cool. Gets luke warm but nothing that would change the temp in your system.

It came Sunday night. My fuge section has an acrylic cover that I was tempted to just place it on but I think that'd kill the passive cooling and make it run too hot. I ran it on the floor for a few minutes to mimic running it that way, it got borderline hot. I propped it up with some pvc fittings for now until I know right where I want it.

 

[Smite]

Starting to see some small improvements here and there. Some of the recent additions seem to be settling in very well.

I've got bryopsis and bubble algae currently taking hold. I've been trying to avoid dosing any kind of flux but I may end up to doing it at a 1/2 dose. I could care less about bubble algae but the bryopsis is just a pain in the ass.

Not all but some of the pieces from my last tank have been waking up as well

I pulled my 6500k while troubleshooting thinking I had way too much par. Once I see a little more health those will be going back in, the tank is just way to blue for me. I really had to pull blue out of these pictures just to get them to appear somewhat normal.

 

[Smite]

FTS:

I've started to dose kalkwasser. I thought my bubble magus was jacked up but it was a brain fart on my part. I've got it running max, 1999ml a day with a low saturation kalk solution (1/2 tsp/gal) to try and feel it out. That's no where near my evap in a day so I may run doser head 2 on kalk also. That will get me dosing 2x an hour and possibly closer to my evap until I get a better high/ml pump.

I'm still manually topping off in addition to the kalk dosing. I broke my float bracket during the swap. I've had a few close calls and really need to remedy that. It ran dry at 2 am last night, opened my valve half asleep and spaced out while it overfilled as you can see by my skimmer cup.

I completed my first corrections with the RM method since I started running into issues. It took about 2 weeks with needing to order more shine but I've seen some improvements since then. If I can dial in this kalkwasser and keep my ph higher I'll be happy.

 

[Dipan00]

Tank looks like its starting to get better. Be ready for those high end sticks in no time.

 

[gofor100]

Looking great!

Before going the ReefFlux route for the bryopsis, have you tried using H202? You can suck some up in a syringe and squirt it right on the algae underwater (if you can't remove the rock infected with the algae). I did this to get rid of green turf algae patches in my tank when my tank was struggling late last year.

 

[Smite]

Looking great!

Before going the ReefFlux route for the bryopsis, have you tried using H202? You can suck some up in a syringe and squirt it right on the algae underwater (if you can't remove the rock infected with the algae). I did this to get rid of green turf algae patches in my tank when my tank was struggling late last year.

Maybe I'll give that a go first. I did it a few years ago without issue but I feel like I ended up doing flux that time as well.

Kill flow, squirt byropsis and let it sit for a bit? I'm guessing during daylight hours or does that matter?

 

[Smite]

Tank looks like its starting to get better. Be ready for those high end sticks in no time.

Once everything is dialed in and no algae treatments needed. Maybe my sign should be that damn 4 loko finally doing well, ha!