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My First Marine Tank - Established Set Up - Gifted by Dad
- Thread starter Hodgy_2k5
- Start date
Hodgy_2k5
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Thanks for moving the thread, I'm aiming tonight or over the next couple of nights to update things on whats going on and where I'm intending to take things. I have loads of questions I want to ask which will help me in developing things further. Plus as of Friday I'll have some £££ burning a hole in my pocket which I firmly intend to spend on the tank.
One thing I find a little frustrating is LFS pricing, nothing is consistant or inline with another shop. Am I being naive or do the LSF prefer people who plan in advance and create shopping list to buy online. I can for the life of me understand the additional mark up on some products, surely they'd take alot more business as they already have a relationship with their customers.
Sorry for the rant.
One thing I find a little frustrating is LFS pricing, nothing is consistant or inline with another shop. Am I being naive or do the LSF prefer people who plan in advance and create shopping list to buy online. I can for the life of me understand the additional mark up on some products, surely they'd take alot more business as they already have a relationship with their customers.
Sorry for the rant.
Hodgy_2k5
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I've made some discoveries over the last couple of days, I know my phosphates have been high against what tests I've had done at our lfs. It turns out that the RO-Man my dad has given me has been dead for some time. Does that mean I've basically been adding tap water to my tank??? :blackeye:
I've asked him about when he last changed the resin and the filters and he recons it's over a year ago. How hasn't the system crashed???
I now have the full intent of ordering a full filter kit for the 75 USG per day RO-Man I have and a new membrane. I'll then dump what water I have in the water butt as it's reading at 114. I now feel slightly sick at the fact I thought I'd been doing the right thing.
As I've now realised the situation of things, I've done some extensive research into battling Phosphates and Nitrates (nitrates I dont have an issue with) using a carbon source. So today I've also started dosing with vodka, I only added 0.5ml and intend to do this for the 1st week and then up it to 1ml. As I'll hopefully have my replacement filters and membrane for the RO-Man by the weekend, hopefully I wont need to continue fighting phosphates for much longer than maybe 3months before reducing vodka doses.
Images to follow in the next post.
I've asked him about when he last changed the resin and the filters and he recons it's over a year ago. How hasn't the system crashed???
I now have the full intent of ordering a full filter kit for the 75 USG per day RO-Man I have and a new membrane. I'll then dump what water I have in the water butt as it's reading at 114. I now feel slightly sick at the fact I thought I'd been doing the right thing.
As I've now realised the situation of things, I've done some extensive research into battling Phosphates and Nitrates (nitrates I dont have an issue with) using a carbon source. So today I've also started dosing with vodka, I only added 0.5ml and intend to do this for the 1st week and then up it to 1ml. As I'll hopefully have my replacement filters and membrane for the RO-Man by the weekend, hopefully I wont need to continue fighting phosphates for much longer than maybe 3months before reducing vodka doses.
Images to follow in the next post.
merser
Registered
Where are you based mate? If your local I could probably sort you a few softies for free. Certainly Xenia.
My ten pence is I've never needed cooling fans. So wouldn't recommend them. The stc and the simply aquaria are the same thing for me. One just looks cooler!
Good skills on the water situation.
I wouldn't hold your breath on carbon dosing fixing your phosphate. I don't know many who have reduced it significantly through that method. I carbon dose and it nails my nitrates but barely touches phos. With your current stock and easyish to keep softies I'd personally go with water changes to reduce phos.
Your fish stocking list seems a bit ambitious for a tank that size but that's up for debate.
If you want to go lps or sps you may need to upgrade those lights.
Sounds like you have a plan though pal. Good luck with it.
Jamie
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My ten pence is I've never needed cooling fans. So wouldn't recommend them. The stc and the simply aquaria are the same thing for me. One just looks cooler!
Good skills on the water situation.
I wouldn't hold your breath on carbon dosing fixing your phosphate. I don't know many who have reduced it significantly through that method. I carbon dose and it nails my nitrates but barely touches phos. With your current stock and easyish to keep softies I'd personally go with water changes to reduce phos.
Your fish stocking list seems a bit ambitious for a tank that size but that's up for debate.
If you want to go lps or sps you may need to upgrade those lights.
Sounds like you have a plan though pal. Good luck with it.
Jamie
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warby
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as jamie says carbon dosing won't hit phos an awful lot. speak to toby [MENTION=11655]LittleOcean[/MENTION] for new membrane,pre filters and di resin.
id look at getting a reactor and running rowaphos to lower phosphate sooner or later you will need one.
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id look at getting a reactor and running rowaphos to lower phosphate sooner or later you will need one.
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steve861uk
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I use elimi phos (as the name implies and comes in handy bags to add straight away) and chemi pure elite (good at stabilising your tank water and reducing nitrates, etc.. but it also polishes your water to the clearest you will have ever seen :w00t
in my external filter.
So if you don't have a sump these are great alternatives to rowaphos, etc.. (I have a sump but use my external filter as a reactor using the above products, plus siporax and a daily dose of nopox).
in my external filter.So if you don't have a sump these are great alternatives to rowaphos, etc.. (I have a sump but use my external filter as a reactor using the above products, plus siporax and a daily dose of nopox).
Hodgy_2k5
Registered
Thanks for all the messages.
I'm awaiting the funding to come in tonight before I can order my membrane and replacement filters. I think I'm going to go with the RO-Man direct replacements that I've found on eBay which are £2 more than the website but will be delivered alot quicker. Realistically will there be any difference between the manufactures own or another brand?
In reference to the phos levels, I firmly believe that it's phosphate in the water before going through the RO-Man thats causing my issues. I'm hoping that withing a few weeks of changing the filters and doing some decent water changes I can bring it down significantly. However to combat it from every angle, I've also added another 1.1kg of ceramic bio media to my external canisters in the last couple of days and started dosing the following day. I chose to begin Vodka dosing as of the bacteria benefits, help the new media become established alot quicker and combat the levels head on. I would have normally completed more water changes but 1. I've now I've run out of salt and again waiting for payday and 2. I'm only replacing the phos with more as the RO water I'm mixing with isn't the RO it should be.
I'm awaiting the funding to come in tonight before I can order my membrane and replacement filters. I think I'm going to go with the RO-Man direct replacements that I've found on eBay which are £2 more than the website but will be delivered alot quicker. Realistically will there be any difference between the manufactures own or another brand?
In reference to the phos levels, I firmly believe that it's phosphate in the water before going through the RO-Man thats causing my issues. I'm hoping that withing a few weeks of changing the filters and doing some decent water changes I can bring it down significantly. However to combat it from every angle, I've also added another 1.1kg of ceramic bio media to my external canisters in the last couple of days and started dosing the following day. I chose to begin Vodka dosing as of the bacteria benefits, help the new media become established alot quicker and combat the levels head on. I would have normally completed more water changes but 1. I've now I've run out of salt and again waiting for payday and 2. I'm only replacing the phos with more as the RO water I'm mixing with isn't the RO it should be.
steve861uk
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Ceramic media and vodka dosing are strategies more akin at reducing/controlling Nitrate issues....if your issue is phosphate then you will need something else like what [MENTION=20322]warby[/MENTION] says (rowaphos), or my suggestion of some elimi-phos in your filter (or whatever phosphate media you choose).
Hodgy_2k5
Registered
Good job it's pay day tomorrow and I can get salt and filters ordered. Once I have it all running and Tds down I'll be doing some small water changes regularly. I'm thinking 10% a day for 20days or do you think that's over kill. I think I forgot to mention when I added the media to the canister filters I also removed the old fluval clear max bags and put two new bags back in.
I also intend to buy a testing kit and other phosphate remover just incase I don't get the results I want.
Whilst I'll be compiling my shopping list tonight is there any salts and test kits you'd recommend?
I also intend to buy a testing kit and other phosphate remover just incase I don't get the results I want.
Whilst I'll be compiling my shopping list tonight is there any salts and test kits you'd recommend?
warby
Registered
test kits salifert are generaly pretty good apart from po4 elos and nyos are ok for that.
salts I prefer tropic Marin pro reef salt used loads of buckets no issues at all.
if your doing water changes to bring down po4 that's a very expensive way of doing so. it would be cheaper to use po4 remover. I'd go with water changes weekly 10-20% and use po4 remover.
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salts I prefer tropic Marin pro reef salt used loads of buckets no issues at all.
if your doing water changes to bring down po4 that's a very expensive way of doing so. it would be cheaper to use po4 remover. I'd go with water changes weekly 10-20% and use po4 remover.
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Last edited:
Hodgy_2k5
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Thanks for the above advise, I've had similar advise from [MENTION=22376]Scott[/MENTION] who I've just spent nearly an hour on the phone to. Not that I even know him lol. I'm glad I'm off work for 10days as of Sunday so going to try and order bits tonight/tomorrow so I can crack on with some maintenance.
I'll be changing the activated carbon in the canister filters next week as I don't know how long its been there and I'll then replace it every month moving forward.
I'll be changing the activated carbon in the canister filters next week as I don't know how long its been there and I'll then replace it every month moving forward.
Hodgy_2k5
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Tank update - slightly late as I forgot to post about it when I did last update.
Heater has now been changed and has stabilised temps to around 25'C. Previously If I had the heater on it would lift the tank to around 28/29'C and drop as far as 23'C. Much happier with the Fluval E Series Advanced Electronic Heater 300w I bought.
The only question I have with this, is there any ideal location to position it?
Heater has now been changed and has stabilised temps to around 25'C. Previously If I had the heater on it would lift the tank to around 28/29'C and drop as far as 23'C. Much happier with the Fluval E Series Advanced Electronic Heater 300w I bought.
The only question I have with this, is there any ideal location to position it?
Hodgy_2k5
Registered
Here's the images that have been taken over the last couple of days.
This is the hair/bubble algae that I have growing in the tank, however things have started to decline without me having to do anything. I've also noticed that the red slime Cyano has halted it's attack. Strange, as at this point I've not done anything to combat it.
This is the hair/bubble algae that I have growing in the tank, however things have started to decline without me having to do anything. I've also noticed that the red slime Cyano has halted it's attack. Strange, as at this point I've not done anything to combat it.
Hodgy_2k5
Registered
So after [MENTION=22376]Scott[/MENTION]s telephone call and in-depth private messages/another thread with @Little Ocean, I ordered the new membrane and replacement filters for the RO unit I have, they we're half the price of a new unit so I couldn't say no.
So the removal of the old filters began, I found out it was approximately 18months+ since they were changed and the membrane we don't think has ever been changed So the membrane was lodged and took a little gentle persuasion but the filters we're fairly easy. Once replaced, I run the system with no DI unit or membrane connected to flush the 5micron filter and the carbon block for around 30mins. I then connect the membrane up and ran on flush setting for just over an an hour before connecting the DI which then ran for 30mins on produce. At this point I repositioned the unit back in the shed and started till fill the 120L water butt I have. At this point, I've filled my 25L canister and the system is still running to fill the butt nearly 20hours on lol. I can also firmly believe that this is what has been causing my phosphate issue. I've also attached images of the tds meter reading before the change and after. I'm now very happy and cannot wait to start doing top ups and water changes to tackle the po4. I've also uploaded an image of the Salifert PO4 test I've completed on the tank to show current level. Lets see what happens in the coming weeks.
So the removal of the old filters began, I found out it was approximately 18months+ since they were changed and the membrane we don't think has ever been changed
So the membrane was lodged and took a little gentle persuasion but the filters we're fairly easy. Once replaced, I run the system with no DI unit or membrane connected to flush the 5micron filter and the carbon block for around 30mins. I then connect the membrane up and ran on flush setting for just over an an hour before connecting the DI which then ran for 30mins on produce. At this point I repositioned the unit back in the shed and started till fill the 120L water butt I have. At this point, I've filled my 25L canister and the system is still running to fill the butt nearly 20hours on lol. I can also firmly believe that this is what has been causing my phosphate issue. I've also attached images of the tds meter reading before the change and after. I'm now very happy and cannot wait to start doing top ups and water changes to tackle the po4. I've also uploaded an image of the Salifert PO4 test I've completed on the tank to show current level. Lets see what happens in the coming weeks.
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