120g tank build

So I was sicker than a dog yesterday with the flu so I didn't even look at my tank as it is downstairs and I didn't leave my bed, but today it is clear as clear!!! Yay!! It has been a bit cloudy everyday and getting better but today it is crystal clear finally.
If I have enough strength to check all my params I will however I still can't sit up or stand for too long:(

Tanks always look better the longer you leave them alone. 

If you let your Ca drop just a little bit, like down to 400 - 420 ppm, it will be easier to keep your alk closer to 10 or even 11 dKH.

Doing a water change with high Ca salt is making the Alk/Ca balance go the wrong way. I would stop the water changes. They may have helped the Ammonia level drop slightly during the emergency, but they are not helping anymore.

bstuver wrote: Alk-8 dosing daily to get up to at least 10 but if I miss one day I am back to 8

How much of what alkalinity additive are you dosing? You will need to increase the dosage, even double it.

Algae eats Phosphate. Is the algae in the Refugium growing well?


Edited by Mark Peterson - August 22 2010 at 11:46am

So today the brown algae is green:) Do you suppose I can turn my lighting schedule to normal now? I think everyone gets a bit sick of the lights being on 24/7

Some pics would be helpful. I love seeing new tanks as they mature.

Oh and thanks to Dan for giving me pieces of some of the corals I lost!

Ok I had moved it from being right by my glass so it didn't interfere when I used my magnet cleaner, I will move it back again as there was probably more flow where it was before.

How's the flow in the tank?  I just looked at the overflows and I like it.

Over the years we have noticed that the greater the area of sand exposed to water flow, the better it can do it's job. When sand is covered up, pollution is worse and the tank suffers.

And LS's job is a big one. I believe that the LS does a larger share of the biofiltration than any other single component. The other biofiltration components are LR, Algae and LW. LS is especially good at the reduction of Nitrates into N2 and H2O.

I said "stilts" but I often describe it as the Tripod Method. It's the method of placing some small flat or slender ends of rocks into the sand so that other rock can be placed on those raised places. Try to use the small ends of rock in the sand so that the least amount as possible of sand is covered. The water then can flow between the upright rocks over the sand to allow it to breathe; to capture nutrients and expel waste/byproducts. Here is a pic of the principle:



Edited by Mark Peterson - August 25 2010 at 6:04pm