andysgirl8800
Blenny Badlands
Update: I am wrapping up my third day of blackout. I've been monitoring my pH daily, but ran the full spectrum of tests today to check my progress to date. First, I will show you the preliminary test results on the left from 2/19/2010, the day I connected the dual reactor. On the right, are today's values:
Most notable changes are in my pH, my phosphate, and (most exciting to me) the Nitrates :^:. This is the first time in MONTHS that I've registered this low. AWESOME!
The Kalkwasser drip seems to have done its job in raising my pH as well as my calcium and alkalinity.
My hippo tang doesn't seem too happy though. She is a very active swimmer (and eater) and doesn't like this prolonged darkness. If only I could explain that this is for her own good! :mrgreen: Her ich spots are showing through again and since she hides when its dark, she hasn't been visiting the cleaner shrimp as often. I am beginning to consider if I need to turn on the lights for at least an hour each day just so she can get her swim time in. Hmm....
Tomorrow, I will be doing the first water change. The new salt water has been "aging" and mixing for 48 hrs. Oh boy do I LOVE water changes!! :grumble: I will also be removing the sand from my fuge area and replacing with additional live rock rubble. The return pump and skimmer will also be getting a thurough cleaning.
I must also note that earlier, I was asked if I will also be blacking out my algae scrubber. I originally planned to do just that. However, my brain kicked in and told me that even if it is only pulling brown slimy muck....it's still pulling SOMETHING out of the water! So ultimately, I left it running.
The way I have my sump set up, the water has to pass through the skimmer, then the scrubber, then the live rock, then the reactor before being pumped back to the tank. Perhaps if the scrubber and reactor shared the same compartment, there wouldn't be much point in keeping it going.
Thanks for following my thread fellow reefers! I will keep you posted.
Most notable changes are in my pH, my phosphate, and (most exciting to me) the Nitrates :^:. This is the first time in MONTHS that I've registered this low. AWESOME!
The Kalkwasser drip seems to have done its job in raising my pH as well as my calcium and alkalinity.
My hippo tang doesn't seem too happy though. She is a very active swimmer (and eater) and doesn't like this prolonged darkness. If only I could explain that this is for her own good! :mrgreen: Her ich spots are showing through again and since she hides when its dark, she hasn't been visiting the cleaner shrimp as often. I am beginning to consider if I need to turn on the lights for at least an hour each day just so she can get her swim time in. Hmm....
Tomorrow, I will be doing the first water change. The new salt water has been "aging" and mixing for 48 hrs. Oh boy do I LOVE water changes!! :grumble: I will also be removing the sand from my fuge area and replacing with additional live rock rubble. The return pump and skimmer will also be getting a thurough cleaning.
I must also note that earlier, I was asked if I will also be blacking out my algae scrubber. I originally planned to do just that. However, my brain kicked in and told me that even if it is only pulling brown slimy muck....it's still pulling SOMETHING out of the water! So ultimately, I left it running.
The way I have my sump set up, the water has to pass through the skimmer, then the scrubber, then the live rock, then the reactor before being pumped back to the tank. Perhaps if the scrubber and reactor shared the same compartment, there wouldn't be much point in keeping it going.
Thanks for following my thread fellow reefers! I will keep you posted.