melev

I tend to prefer to show you pictures of the reef when it is gorgeous, naturally. Not often do I post pictures like these.

Fear not, nothing is amiss. It was more cloudy before I took these pictures, and at this point post photo edit and typing up the blog, it's already a little more clear.

The calcium reactor burned through a lot of media over the past six weeks, pretty much liquefying ...

I don't know when I got the Dart pump that runs the 400g's return flow (from the sump), but I'm guessing 2011. Maybe it's a newer, because the serial number label doesn't match the image from back then. So maybe 2012. Last night I was working in the tank with the flow off. When I turned on the return pump, it needed a little help to get started - which has been the case for the past week. Using a flathead screwdriver, I can insert it into the driveshaft's slot and give it a small twist and ...

Last year I finally ran out of salt and shopped around for something new. I've enjoyed using Sybon Reef formula, but it's nowhere to be found. I did the Fritz brand for a few months, using about 750g worth... maybe more. I ended up buying a barrel of the Aquavitro Salinity salt, and today I cracked open the barrel for the first time. Here's the official page about it: http://www.aquavitro.com/products/salinity.html

The white polytank has ...

I snapped a few pictures today. Here's a view from the end of the 400g.

The left end is looking nicer but I need to tidy it up.

The skunk clownfish are still grouped, but during the daytime they like to spread out. If you can spot the Torch coral in the background on the green Montipora plate, you'll spy one under the torch.

I ...

I got two more tests done today. Calcium is 450ppm, Magnesium is 1300ppm. I prefer Magnesium to be higher, more like 1400ppm.

My reef has a liquid volume of 450g including the sump volume and satellite tanks.

I took a graduated 8oz cup to measure solution into a plastic jug (formerly a pretzel container), and 15 of those cups filled it up. That's 120 oz.

The recommended recipe is 10 grams per 8 oz (or 2 tsp per 8 oz) of water, I determined I'd need 30 ...