I have $89.02 + tips-General Reef Topics - Page 4-3reef Forums

Matt Rogers · 12-27-2007, 10:03 AM

That's all in a 55 gallon right?
I need to watch your crazy video again to see what's going on.

cuttingras · 12-27-2007, 04:14 PM

Yep! But I know you just wanna get another peek at the doll.

amcarrig · 12-28-2007, 05:28 AM

She's onto you Matt

Matt Rogers · 12-28-2007, 10:57 AM

heheh.
Well, you are sumpless right?
I think it's time to get a sump and a nice GPH return pump and a better skimmer (you have a remora?).
With a strong return pump you will get better flow and if it's strong enough, you can remove some of the heads from the tank.

Plus a better skimmer that will remove more organic phosphates.

cuttingras · 12-28-2007, 05:30 PM

Currently sumpless, I do have a remora. I also am buying from some guy a 20 gal nano for 20 bucks, new in the box. I'm going to use that as my sump is 20 gal good?

Matt Rogers · 12-28-2007, 06:37 PM

20 isn't too bad as long as you can fit everything in there.
Yeah, I had the Remora for a while... it's plug and play but there is not a lot of contact time going on there between the bubbles and water... limited bubble production in my book. If money is an issue, those needlewheel Coralife skimmers kick out the gunk and fill the tube with air.

But I think a strong return pump and a better skimmer would help. And get your alk in shape as suggested. Good luck!

We want the tank to look good for the next video.

cuttingras · 12-28-2007, 06:45 PM

Alk and KH are the same? That Osmo stuff...will that lower my alk without messing with any other level? I still like my remora it pulls out nasty, nasty green gunk I clean it every other day I'll take a pic tomorrow of the gunk and post it

Matt Rogers · 12-29-2007, 12:15 PM

I dug out my kit to get this right...

KH refers to a way of measuring alkalinity. KH refers to the German abbreviation for carbonate hardness. dKH is an abbreviation for the degrees of carbonate hardness. My kit uses the metric unit of measurement - mEq/L.

To convert mEq/L to dKH - multiply by 2.8.
To convert dKH to mEq/L - divide by 2.8.

The recommended range for alkalinity is 7-12 dKH.

I tried to keep my tank around 4 mEq/L or 11.2 dKH.

I've had all sorts of weird algae when my alkalinity is wacked. It also affected my skimmer. Get that in shape and maybe try some of my other suggestions too and you might see progress.

(I am not familiar with the Osmo stuff, sorry!)