Hello Everybody

[stocky]

Hi to all

Seeing as I have added to a few posts thought that I should do the right thing and introduce myself. Started up in this reef thing at the beginning of the year and haven't looked back. Have sorted a lot of my initial major mess ups by referring to this site - so a big thanks to everyone. There's still a load that I don't get but it wouldn't be much fun if it was just water and money would it?

I've got one system running right now: it's an Aquamedic Percula 120. I've stuck an overflow box on this and cobbled together a sump with a Deltec 850 skimmer and a Schuran Jetstream calc reactor. Live rock is the filtration route but I've still got a trickle tower running (I know, I know...). SPS and LPS corals are what I want to keep and I am slowly edging in that direction with Turbinaria, Porites, Hydnophora and the like doing well alongside pulses, clavularia and a couple of tridacna maxima. I am going to transfer all of this to a new tank (larger with a properly organised sump) in the next couple of weeks.

I have had a couple of really low moments including watching the addition of a Kent anti-phosphate compound kill two really nice sacrophyton pretty much instantly.

I want to put a piece on here about what newcomers should look out for, or at least be aware of but I want someone to vet it first - any advice here? anybody else done this?

While I am on a couple of questions:

Is the regular addition of additives mandatory? I am using Coral Vite, Strontium, Iodine, Trace Elements (all Kent).

I am using large grain Rowalith in the Jetsream - what dkh should the effluent be? Is a higher than usual ph required to dissolve this grain size?

When I turn the pump into the 850 off (to clean it, or feed) it takes ages for it to crank up to its usual skimming power is this normal, or is it me?

Given that I am a dodgy DIY'er what's the next best alternative to the Watson marlow peri?


Thanks again and I'll post some pics soon.

[Garry thomas]

Firstly well come m8, hope you stick at this some what rewarding hobby/obsession. :lol: The dkh coming out of your reactor should be between 30 to 40, and you are better off measuring that at the outflow than worrying about the internal ph. If the dkh is to low, well turn your co2 up. if it's still to low then turn your water flow down coming back to the tank/sump. As for the deltec skimmer question, i just dont know, i have no experiance with any of there skimmers sorry!!!! :)
As for ads, you should only put in what you can test for. So that you keep an even balance.

[stocky]

Thanks Garry. Yep I'll stick at. Good of you to reply to my post. I did search around the site for answers to the calcium reactor question but there are a few conflicting threads. Nevertheless I am starting to get my head around some of the variables and will stick to your advice.

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