ridetheducati

Not sure if you can find Lumatek ballasts any more. Luxcore is available. Never was a fan of running a zero and zero system (NO3 and PO4) for a SPS dominated system. I like a dynamic high energy system, high inputs and aggressive exports.

After further review, it was a faulty bulb.

Sorry for the delay. The system is maturing, not as quickly as I would like, but maturing. I can attribute the slow pace to using 100% dead rock. High quality seasoned live rock, such as Tampa Bay Saltwater is the best method. Never doing 100% dead rock again. 22 months in and I am just starting to see signs of a mature system. With a mature system mistakes can be made and the system does not reactor negatively. The old salts out there know what I am talking about. Still running AF. I run my nitrates at 2 - 5 PPM and phosphates at .02 - .05 PPM. I stopped running AF ABVE because of my moderate nutrient levels. Only running Pro BIOS and NP Pro. For those hobbyist that rinse Zeomix several days in advance of using it, ensure that you make note of the day the media was rinsed. Otherwise, a blanket of silicate based brown algae film will form on glass and sand bed. Guess how I became aware of this scenario. Came home today to a Luxcore metal halide ballast not working. Initial troubleshooting indicates a ballast problem, not a bulb problem.

Add a ball valve to the siphon to manage flow.

Over the years I have not had success with large groups of anthias or chromis. Very disappointing. Females turn male and the battles begin.

Consider Odontanthias borbonius.

With frequent water changes with a good salt and small dosages of a product I am trying out; I most likely will not use AF Components A,B, or C. I am running 2.5 liters of Zeomix in a Vertex reactor at 250 gph. No need to shake the stones. Shaking the stones helps keep them clean of detritus, but AF does not require it. I am running the following AF products in order of preference: AF Zeomix - 2.5 liters changed every six weeks AF Pro Bio S - 6 drops per day - maintains nitrates at 2ppm and phosphates .02ppm AF NP Pro - 6 drops per day - maintains nitrates at 2ppm and phosphates .02ppm AF Aminos - 12 drops per day AF Vitamins - 12 drops per day AF Build - not currently using AF Energy - not currently using due to experimentation with another product AF Micro E - not currently using due to experimentation with another product Test product #1 and #2 - 5ml per day I recently matched one Reefbrite XHO with the Radiums. 1,200 watts of Radiums are overpowering the Reefbrites, I can barely tell they are on. I am going to try running at 250w for six months to see how well the system responds.

Appreciate the input Graham. I have the SRO 5000 with all the bells and whistles. I agree with your assessment of the BB5K, it is an excellent pump that maybe slightly too strong for the skimmer body. That is a key reason why I installed the neck extender, more dwell time. I am considering setting up ten more QT tanks in order to get more fish through the process. My fish bio-load is extremely low; I need about 20 more fish.

The Red Dragon 3 Mini Speedy skimmer pump is $550.

The current skimmer is working well and removing all the nasties. I just want, sorry need a new toy. A replacement pump for the ATB is approximately $350.

It includes that waste as well.

I do not have enough DOCs to keep the 250 viable.

The BK keeps calling me, collect.

On the fence, what do you think? 300g SPS dominated.

From above. ...approximately 50g...