400g Reef thread

[melev]

It's 2018, and I'm going to try to be better about updating this thread about my reef.  The 400g v2.0 has been running 50 months as of yesterday.  It's a starphire glass aquarium made by Marineland, sitting on a steel stand.  Lit with three 400w TwinArc 10,000K/20,000K Metal Halides staggered 7 hours each per day, plus Reefbrite XHO Super Actinic strips for 11 hours a day.  The sump holds a Nyos 300 skimmer, a calcium reactor, biopellet reactor, carbon reactor, and a full length refugium.  I have a 45g ATO reservoir that replenishes the reef's evaporation throughout the day, refilled via RO/DI system once a week. Currently the return pump is the Abyzz 200, and all in-tank flow is generated with Vortech pumps. Using a dosing pump, I add 90ml of Magnesium daily.I use Eheim autofeeders daily on all my aquariums, and feed frozen food every evening. I run a mixed reef, with a little bit of everything I like. I may add a clam or two this year.View attachment 3931

 

[rickyb]

Gorgeous tank! I see that you are dosing 90ml of Magnesium daily. Have you considered adding magnesium media to the CA reactor?

 

[melev]

I've done that but still needed more. Then again, I had way more Monti in the tank before.  Basically I mix up a gallon of Mg solution, and set the doser to add 90ml daily until it empty. A couple of weeks later, I mix up another gallon.  This seems to be helping the reef's magnesium level rise. I finally hit 1300 ppm; it's been around 1200 for probably a year or so. The trick is making a new gallon and not ignoring the empty jug under my tank.

 

[jenkinscrew]

Looking good Marc!

 

[bump1]

Marc, your tank is always awesome looking.  How many vortech pumps do u have in your tank? 

 

[melev]

There are two Mp60s on the left end, one Mp40 on the back facing forward (far right end), and the two flow accelerators where water pushes toward the overflow.

 

[melev]

Pictures from last night. View attachment 4349

 

[melev]

I installed my new sump a few days ago, and here's the video. I showed some of how we removed the old part, courtesy of Shane's son Gabriel that filmed us, and then I covered the entire installation and explained how everything works.https://youtu.be/Aswo8ojNTGw

 

[jenkinscrew]

Wow love the new changes with the new sump. I bet you feel so happy now with that all done.Looks great man!

 

[melev]

Thanks! Yeah, it came out great. I may do a couple of minor tweaks, but it's good to go as is. 

 

[fjiiolks]

 see that you are dosing 90ml of Magnesium daily. Have you considered adding magnesium media to the CA reactor?

 

[melev]

I tried that a couple of times, but it didn't seem to do anything beneficial.