Highland Reefer

I have been using Reef Crystals. I have to increase calcium, ph & kh pretty much as what the test results show. I just bought Instant Ocean due to the price difference. I have been testing the Reef Crystalls everytime I do a water change with the same readings each time. It will be interesting to see what I get for the readings on Instant Ocean. Great Article, I would like to see a broader base for the samples. I wouldn't mind having my water tested once, just to see how accurate my tests are. The price is not that bad for what you get. If you go to the lab in Rockville, MD to have tests done, their prices are much, much more. I have used this lab to have my well water tested.

When I added a new pump, my temp. went up to about 87 degrees. At first the corals were somewhat withdrawn, but after a few days they went back to normal. It stayed that way until I bought a chiller about a month later. Everything survived ok. I lost a bunch of fish years ago when my heater went wacko, After that I switched to two small heaters which individually could not kill everthing if one went on the blink.

Great Article.

What if you add Kalk to vinegar in a balanced soultion?

I think that this articel by RANDY HOLMES-FARLEY pretty much sums it up: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm Depending on which zone your water parameters fall into, he tells you what supplements will work best, be it kalk or calcium chloride, etc.

I am looking to install a refugium also and have been doing some research and came across an article where many of the reefers are using the new power compact bulbs for the refugium with excellent results. The heat is much less. This is the link for what they are using: http://www.lightbulbsdirect.com/page/001/P...ectors/1P381951 I like what you have put together. Very impressive. Good luck

Welcome, I too am a new member and am planning on attending the meeting. I will be watching this post as I am looking for sand to install a DSB in my tank for a good price.

My last post envolving high levels of nitrates in my reef resulted in getting rid of my crushed coral. I have removed part of it and have been doing research on the sand. With my tank it would take approximately 300 lbs of the sand to get a 6" deep sand bed at a cost of approximately $260.00. During my research I discovered that many of the reefers were using a white oolitic play sand that is sold at Home Depot called Kolorscape made by OldCastle which has the same make up as Caribsea, according to an experiment run by Jon Finch. Here is the link from Advanced Aquarist's Magazine: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/2/short#h1 Anybody have any input on using this type of sand for DSB?

I am using a Chiller on my system and I do not have any fans over the tank or sump. If I put fans over lets say the sump, would that increase the evaporation when using a chiller to any significant amount?

I have a 125 gallon system. I had been using Liquid chemicals to keep the water parameters up. The parameters were: Temp - 80 degrees; PH - 8.2; KH - 13; Salinity 1.025; Calcium - 420. I then decided that I would try out Kalk water. I only loose about 1 gallon to evaporation each day. I mixed the kalk at 2 tsps. / gallon of RO water and added it to my top off system instead of regular RO water. The results after two days: Temp - 80 degrees; PH - 7.8 ; KH: - 11.5; salinity - 1.025; Calcium - 365. I brought the water parameters back to the original levels with the liquids. I then decided that I would try mixing vinegar to the kalk @ 2 tsp. kalk/ 100 ml 5% white vinegar/gallon RO water. The results after two days were: Temp - 80 degrees; PH - 7.8; KH - 11.5; salinity - 1.025; Calcium - 365. No Change using the vinegar? I guess I do not have enough evaporation with only one gallon per day. So Kalk water is out of the question or AM I doing something wrong? Any advise or help would be appreciated.

What the dealer called a Mustard Tang @ $75.00

110 gallon display + 20 gallon sump = 130 gallons Total.

I am not familiar with your type of skimmer, but it sounds like the inlet where the water is pumped into the skimmer has a nozzle which creates the bubbles. This is the way mine works. When the intake nozzle gets clogged with a little debris, then it does not create bubbles properly. If you can take the intake apart, then I would check that. Good Luck, I am in Howard County Maryland.

It would help to know what kind of skimmer you have. There could be alot of possiblilites depending on the type of skimmer.

Measure the pipe you have available from the junction to where you cut it off. You need about 1.5" to attach it so it will hold properly with the glue. If the bulk head is glued together and you can not unscrew it, you will have to carefully cut it apart with a drummel. Hopefully you have at least 2" of pipe left to glue to. If you can unscrew the bulk head nut, then you can pull the bulk head out from the inside and you will have to replace it with a new one. I live in Highland, in Howard County, not to far from Columbia, if you need help, send me a PM and will be glad to come up and help you out.

It looks like you have enough to do the couplings, you did cut it close. If you do the PVC coupling you need to buy the pvc cleaner and pvc glue. First you apply the cleaner to about 2" of the pipe ends, and inside the coupling lip, Then you apply the pvc glue to the same areas. Insert the coupling in place and hold for 30 seconds unitl dry enough to hold on its own. Do one joint at a time. You can use a pvc junction, which you apply the same way as above. The difference is that you can use channel locks to un-twist it after installation to take it apart without cutting it. That way if you decide to move it again you do not have to go through this process. I used these junctions on all my critical points where I have to take pumps & other equipment apart for cleaning (etc). These junctions cost around $3-$5 depending on the size and the regular couplings are around $2.00. Both are sold at home depot. If you do not like the idea of the cleaner and glue, you can use the rubber couplings, which I also have used. This is simply a piece of black rubber materal which slips on the end of each pipe and then you use the stainless steel car radiater type screw clamps to tighten at each end. You need to put two of the clamps on first before you put the rubber coupling on. These work well, just check after installation to make sure they do not leak and tighten if necessary. These couplings can also be take apart if you need to later on. Their cost is about $3-$5. All you need for installation is a screwdriver. These are sold at Home Depot also in the pvc pipe area.

You can use pvc couplings or you can use rubber couplings. Both are sold at Home Depot.

I was going to go up to the Aquarium Center in Randallstown, MD but I heard they were closing down in February. That was one of my favorites. I was in the Tropical Lagoon a while ago & all they had was a few live rocks.

That sounds like a neat trick. Can't wait till I can try it. LOL. I know I can buy live sand online. Do you know of any local dealers that would be close to say Silver Spring MD.

I ready another post regarding to sand beds and they are recommending to add 25% live sand. Should this be done in my already established tank?

After I mix my saltwater mix and let it set for a day, I run tests on the PH, KH & Calcium levels. The results are always pretty much the same, whether I use the whole bucket or just a protion,I have to add extra buffer to get the KH & PH right and I have to add extra calcium to get it to the right levels. I am using RO water and Reef Crystals.