Wednesday 18 September 2013

Quietness...

I finally received my new returnpump (Royal Exclusiv Red Dragon) and skimmer (Royal Exclusiv Bubble King Mini 180) today. They replaced the loud stock pump and skimmer. What a difference! Still some resonance but nothing compared to the stock equipment.


Saturday 14 September 2013

Water parameters

Water parameters day 29.
Temperature: 25.2°F / 77.4°F
Salinity: 34.1 ppm / 51.9 mS / 1.0252 SG
pH: 8.13 (1 pm)
dKH: 6.6 (alkalinity)
NH3/4: 0 ppm (ammonia)
NO2: 0 ppm (nitrite)
NO3: 0 ppm (nitrate)
PO4: 0.08 ppm (phosphate)
Ca: 415 ppm (calcium)
Mg: 1460 ppm (magnesium)
RedOx: 337mV(reduction potential)

Alkalinity dropped to 6.6 again, I'll raise it with 50ml. Reef Foundation B. Same for Calcium.

Dimming lighting upgrade; sunset, sunrise and clouds

I received my new dimming ballasts yesterday. Replacing the stock ballasts is quite simple and can be done without damaging the RSM, so all modifications can be reverted. I used 5 dimming Philips HF-Regulator 254 TL5 EII 220-240V 50/60Hz ballasts. That's one for every 2 TL5's, which enables me to control 5 independent channels with a standard 1-10V (1-100%) interface. The Profilux is controlling these lights:

L1 = front section first two TL5's
L2 = front section second two TL5's
L3 = mid section two TL5's
L4 = back section first two TL5's
L5 = back section second two TL5's



L1 is leading and L2, L3, L4 and L5 are following L1 with 15 minutes interval. That way the sun will rise in the front of the aquarium and will set in the back. The Profilux is also simulating clouds, so the lights are fluctuating a bit to get more realistic lighting.




Wednesday 11 September 2013

Water parameters

Water parameters day 26.
Temperature: 25°F / 77°F
Salinity: 34.45 ppm / 52.4 mS / 1.0255 SG
pH: 8.39 (6 pm)
dKH: 6.4 (alkalinity)
NH3/4: 0 ppm (ammonia)
NO2: 0 ppm (nitrite)
NO3: 0 ppm (nitrate)
PO4: 0.08 ppm (phosphate)
Ca: 395 ppm (calcium)
Mg: 1480 ppm (magnesium)
RedOx: 312mV(reduction potential)

Alkalinity dropped further to 6.4. Also nitrate levels dropped further to zero. Because alkalinity and calcium levels are quite low, I decided to raise them with the Red Sea Reef Foundation Program; A for Calcium, B for Alkalinity and C for Magnesium. I raised calcium to 415 ppm and alkalinity to 7.7 dKH. I'll check the levels again tomorrow.

Monday 9 September 2013

Water parameters

Water parameters day 26.
Temperature: 78 °F
Salinity: 34.4 ppm
pH: 8.41 (8 pm)
KH: 6.7
NH4: 0 ppm
NO2: 0 ppm
NO3: 0.25 ppm
PO4: 0.08 ppm
Ca: 400 ppm
Mg: 1440 ppm
RedOx: 312mV

I'm using this calculator to determine the correct balance between dKH and Ca: calculator. Both dKH and Ca are quite low, but balanced. I measured Mg accurately. NO3 dropped significantly from 4 ppm to 0.25 ppm in the last days. I still have a lot of algae in the tank.

Saturday 7 September 2013

Water parameters

Water parameters day 24.
Temperature: 77.4 °F
Salinity: 34.8 ppm
pH: 8.37
KH: 7.5
NH4: 0 ppm
NO2: 0 ppm
NO3: 1 ppm
PO4: 0.08 ppm
Ca: 415 ppm
Mg: 1600 ppm
RedOx: 312mV

NO3 is dropping and Mg is quite high.