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Jeremevans

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Posts posted by Jeremevans

    Anyone Culturing Phytoplankton?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I have been watching too many reefing youtube videos lately and I saw a few about culturing phytoplankton. So, is anyone here currently culturing their own?

    I remember a few books saying that bottled versions have limited viability, especially if it is not refrigerated. I'm not sure if that is proven, but a fresh culture surely seems better.

    Right now I'm looking at Florida Aqua Farms culture and thinking about getting some F/2 from Fritz.

    Tell me how you culture and what you would recommend.

    • Like 1

    Generator Sizing

    in Equipment

    Posted

    I'm considering buying a generator. The problem is I don't know anything about them. How do you figure out what size would be needed?

    I have a large system that is plumbed to the garage so there is a substantial pump and other accessory pumps as well a big heater (and some fail safe heaters that might be needed if the house temp starts dropping).

    Vacation Problem

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I'm using a smart ATO and it failed. I've had a buggy experience with it periodically being resets.

    I've looked at the apex topoff kit but it seems to be getting mixed reviews. A second temp probe and a second topoff at a lower level might be what I need.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Vacation Problem

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    So... I'm on vacation and I spent the wee hours of morning teaching my father in law about my setup over the phone.

     

    I woke up at 4 am local time (Maui) thanks to my little monster (son)...And then I looked at my phone to find a string of Apex alarm emails.

     

    1a6b4e9133dd1219a352c83015290653.jpg

     

    The temp in my tank was falling and falling and falling. I have backup heaters and a second controller so I started to get concerned something catastrophic was happening. My setup is plumbed from the garage so lots of problems are possible.

     

    After getting my father in law up and to my house I started to get him oriented. He used a meat thermometer from the kitchen to double check the temp. The reading was 84. Now my concerns switched to a running too high malfunction.

     

    Back in the garage he checks the sump and it is also high. I send him to the bin of QT equipment and pull a different thermometer. It reads 77. Phew! I now know my kitchen meat thermometer isn't accurate.

     

    Next thing he notices is that my Apex screen is blank...Yikes. trace the wire to the bus and disconnect and reconnect. Ok...It's fine now.

     

    Now he's searching for probes to check because I can only figure the ATO has failed. I then remember I drew sharpie lines for high and low water on the sump. He looks and we are low and the temp probe is almost entirely out of the water.

     

    Luckily I keep a brute garbage can full of rodi water for emergencies. He topped up the tank and the alarms turned off. But then the leak detector alarm went off. Not a big deal though just a spill while topping up.

     

    So, there was no real crisis in the end. Why do these things always pop up when you go on vacation?

     

     

     

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    Zoa blowout

    in Pacific Corals

    Posted

    Yes there are some sunny ds. I'll be open from 9 am to 7 pm Saturday and Sunday.  Address is 244 sparks Dr kelso wa


    I'll see you Sunday morning. Probably between 9 and 10.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Low calcium

    in Reef Chemistry

    Posted

    I'm a big fan of that that article. Figuring out which zone you are in is a big step in understanding the right action to take. 

    Something that I think is mentioned in the article, but might be worth reiterating is that magnesium levels can be important. If you have low magnesium and try to raise calcium you might have some frustration. I think the rule of thumb is that you need about 3:1 magnesium to calcium or the calcium can precipitate out as calcium carbonate.

    • Like 1

    Zoa blowout

    in Pacific Corals

    Posted

    Im having a zoa blow out this weekend.  Come up and check it out.  All zoas are 50% off!
     
    zoas.thumb.jpeg.0a1e91652e1783c665f1c7a084f77151.jpeg


    I'm going to be passing through your neck of the words on Sunday...I should probably stop in.

    Any sunny D's in there?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Vodka dosing.

    in Reef Chemistry

    Posted

    After you eliminate the nutrient source you will need to be patient and wait out the algae. Get your toothbrush (mechanical removal) out and make sure your export schedule is excellent (socks every few days, water changes).

    If you haven't reduced feeding and nutrients coming in then the algae could be uptaking them quickly and leading to low readings in tests. If algae is a problem then either to much nutrients are and / or are continually entering. I would consider eliminating any non frozen foods as they are much more nutrient dense than frozen.

    An algae living fish isn't a bad idea as a second piece of algae control but nutrient in control and export are the first line.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    • Like 1
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