Well I have not updated the tank thread in a while. Here's a summary on how things are going:
Water parameters are still the same.
Nitrates at 5
ppm. My
salinity was a wee bit high at 1.027, so I have gradually reduced this back down to the optimum 1.026. I am currently using ESV B-Ionic to help raise/maintain calcium/trace ions and alkalinity. Right now my Salifert
Ca test results are 380.
I seem to be the only one I know who has a
DSB in an ELOS tank.
Slowly, gas bubbles are appearing on the edges of the tank. I have seen some clumping in the sand that was revealed by one trough created by my Vortech. Should I break the clumps when I see them? All in all - the sandbed is definitely forming a bio-film. The sand does not get blown like it used to. I will be ordering some micro-fauna from
IPSF based on Amphibious's rec.
Two minor
diatom blooms have come and gone. The two fighting conch I have make quick work of the brown dust. I have several types of algae that I find curious. I will take a set of pictures and post them soon.
I installed the ELOS Osmocontroller II that came with the tank. I quickly broke the glass snail guard. I thought it was plastic, and I tried to mount the guard onto some egg crate in order to avoid using the suction cups it came with. I pulled on the zip-tie firmly and PING! - the guard cracked in half! Oops. A new guard would cost me $12, but I would just find a way to break it again. Therefore, I devised a new (rock solid) mount for the sensor that I was pleased with. I ended up using a Maxi-jet bracket and rim clip and fastened them (quite soundly) to some eggcrate. All I have to say is that Zip-ties are fantastic when one is trying to avoid using adhesives.
The Osmocontroller draws water from the ~4.6g reservoir and pumps it into the
sump for a certain number of seconds, adjustable by the user. The time limit helps to safeguard the
Sump from being filled in error. Seems to work well so far. My evap is at about 3/4 gallons per day, so the reservoir should last about 6 days. I have never had a
ATO, so I really am enjoying the one less task to perform.
Here's a pic of the built-in reservoir and the
ATO pump:
More to come...
