Got my new Canopy delivered to work today, looks like it will be perfect. My wife asked why I needed a "can of peas" for the tank. I can't blame her, I've had all sorts of chemistry and testing apparatus on the dining room table for weeks, maybe I should add a can in to see if it helps. LaSeur or Jolly Green Giant, anyone?
Ha, yes, I wouldn't forget my reefing buddies. Bubble Kings for all! I just ordered a BK mini 160 and it should arrive next week with the new sump and RO/DI unit. I will have my hands full making everything fit into place. I am going to mod the canopy this weekend to fit the Solaris and I may mod my tank returns for more flow. Currnetly the returns come out of the overflow box, 90 down along side it, 90 under gravel, 90 up at the front corners of the tank, and then 45 out to the tank. I understand the design, but have always been a little skeptical of it once I found out about head loss pressure, and it's a little hard to clean around the returns plus they are slightly unsightly. My new plan is to cut the return pipes about 3" down and install elbows with flow accelerators. This will cut out 6 bends and about 8 feet of tubing. I also am going to send in my Vortech driver for the update to gen 2 software and get the new wetside updates to boot. Phew, at some point I'll get everything sorted and get back to stocking and enjoying the tank, not the equipment!!!!! I'm working hard.
Yeah, I'm trying to spread it out so it is many weekends work and no more new ideas. Got the canopy squared away, a lot more difficult than I thought and it is HEAVY with the I4 screwed to it. Got the new skimmer today! It's a beauty. Levels are improving. I'll post some pics and some numbers later this week, it's just too hot to think.
New Skimmer, new "modded" canopy ( I think the stand will look better black as well) and the new doser for when and only when my levels are straight and consistent.
Got the Bubble King Mini 160 installed last night. We'll see what it does over the weekend, looks like it needs a little breaking in period. Going out of town this weekend so I stopped dosing. I'll do a test on a sample I took this morning and on one when I get back to see what the uptake is.
Yes, I'll just wait for the break in. Got my Vortech driver back with the updated Gen 2 software. Uploaded the other driver and the new options like "Night Mode" are really great. Finished painting the stand black and it looks really good, shows off the tank more. This week is sump and RO/DI install.
Things are progressing well. Can you post larger pictures?
Dick
__________________ Amphibious
Reaching my 70th BD, I realize that I cannot help but grow old. However, I refuse to grow up!!! My wife would tell you, "He may be 70 but, He's going on 17". Life is wonderful with a woman like that.
OK, so here are the results from thew sample I took Friday and the sample I took last night (Tuesday), 5 days no dosing.
Alk before 3meq/l , 2.5meq/l after
Calcium before 400ppm, 390 after
Magnesium before1260, 1350 after.
Is it odd that my magnesium crept up? Should I add more of the one part Alk mix to catch up? I forgot to do a ph, so I'll do that tonight. It's been holding steady around 8.2.
Those numbers look fine. Anything Randy writes is good chemistry! This article Reefreaders - Chemistry 101 also lays out the numbers for basic parameters.
Keep in mind that Caulerpa is a nasty invasive species that can KILL reefs and natural habitats if released in the wild. I would suggest just keeping some other non-invasive types of macro instead. From an advert in Reef Hobbyist Magazine, caulerpa is blamed for invading ovrer 30,000 acres in the Mediterranean Sea and even caused $7 million in damage to control in a infestation in California. Reminds me of the seaweed that is invading the lakes in the midwest, being spread in waterways from recreational boaters.
Check out CCAT, IIc for more info on banned caulerpa species.
icon under their name to add to their reputation. 
