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omedman 
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 Posted: April 19 2010 at 12:44pm |
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There was an initial drop off in the pH of the tank, so I had to dose some Kent buffer, twice, but it is now back in the normal range. I guess I have another week before it is official, but the tests before adjusting were:
Ca - 500+
Mag - 1020
Phos. - 0
Nitrates - 0
( I can't remember the Alk/Dk off hand because I am at work, but they were low also )
I brought the Mag back up with epsom, and the Alk/Dk back up with the Kent buffer.
Next Sunday (4/25) will be the two week mark that they say will be the completion of the cycling.
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sterling18
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Posted: April 24 2010 at 9:20pm |
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Hey Joe,
After talking to you and seeing Burt's tank, he's running a hiatt filteration system. This looks similar. Only difference I can see is the hiatt is using some special carbon while this system is using sulfur.
Interesting indeed.
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omedman
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Posted: April 25 2010 at 6:32pm |
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OK,
So this is the two week mark, which is when the bacteria on the sulfur has fully cycled through out the tank.
These are the water parameters without any additional dosing or adjustment from last weeks adjustments:
pH - 8.0 (NS= 8.0 - 8.4) ( I got a new digital meter )
kH - 7dkH (NS= 7 - 8)
ALK - 2.5 (NS= 2.5 - 2.9)
CA - 500 (NS= 400 - 450)
The important parameters are the Nitrates and Phosphates. Unfortunately I got a little zealous and started feeding profusely. ( Daily proteins, Phytoplankton, copepods and double Nori clips for the tangs )
So the Phosphates were slightly elevated, and the Nitrites were slightly elevated. Both were within normal ranges, but not the spectacular readings I had expected.
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sterling18
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Posted: April 25 2010 at 7:08pm |
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Do you see any difference in the tank inhabitants?
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omedman
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Posted: April 26 2010 at 1:20am |
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They all seem to be happy. The only concern I have is with My Linkia starfish, and a blue tang with ich. The Blue Tang was introduced about a week prior to starting the process, so I am not sure how much stress came from the fluctuating water parameters, and how much came from the new environment anyway. I am pretty sure I can associate the Linkia starfish deterioration with the pH drop, because it was almost immediate ( The next morning ) The Linkia starfish has survived the transition, as has the Blue Tang, but I wish I had known before starting this.
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omedman
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Posted: June 15 2010 at 7:56am |
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I have been asked by a few people how things are going, so I figured I better update the diary.
It has been about a month and a half since I installed it, and I am pretty proud to say, I have actually fought the urge to change the water successfully. Not one water change yet.
Here is what I have added:
Top off water
SeaChem Reef plus ( maybe once a week )
Aquavitro vibrance ( Iodine ) ( maybe once a week )
one strip of Nori twice a day for the Tangs ( and eventually the crabs )
Frozen Brine Shrimp ( every other day ) mixed with phytoplankton
re-stock various live rotifers and copepods about 3 times a month
Casualties since starting the new process
two emerald crabs
one arrow crab
one flame scallop
( All died within a month of being added so I'm not sure what contributed to it, but will list them here )
I still have 3 healthy emerald crabs, one healthy flame scallop, one healthy arrow crab, so it is by no means systemic.
Water parameters are excellent
Ca+ 460 - 500 consistently
Magnesium 1300 - 1500
Phosphates 0
Nitrates 0
ALK normal range ( I'm at work and will update this when I get home )
pH 7.9 - 8
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sterling18
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Posted: June 15 2010 at 9:47am |
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Nice write up Joe.
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: June 15 2010 at 9:51am |
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Along with Sterling18, I'm curious. How has this changed the environment in the tank or what you can do with the inhabitants?
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Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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EagleEyez5
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Posted: June 15 2010 at 10:59am |
 Mark Peterson wrote:
Along with Sterling18, I'm curious. How has this changed the environment in the tank or what you can do with the inhabitants?
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This has essentially allowed him to increase his feeding regimen dramatically without effecting the Nitrate and Phosphate levels.
While I would not allow this to replace a calcium reactor or kalk reactor, I believe that this would be ideal for coral propagation. Allowing you to spot feed a high protein diet, twice daily, without effecting water quality, nor having to do massive and weekly water changes. Thus getting maximum growth while maintaining maximum color of the specimen.
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bugzme
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Posted: June 15 2010 at 4:10pm |
Good job explaining it Jerry. Have you noticed a color change in your sps? (better color)
Lower nitrates usually+better color
Edited by bugzme - June 15 2010 at 7:42pm
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Jeff
125 tank
50 gallon sump
T-5 lighting
Rum drinker, Carbon User
I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
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Aquatic Evolution
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Posted: June 15 2010 at 7:39pm |
People were wondering if it will replace some of your calcium, yes it will. Ca reactors use CO2, (carbonic acid). Sulfur reactors produce Sulfuric Acid and either one injected into calcium media will disolve it. Will it replace all calcium? It depends on your coral bioload. As far as replacing refugiums in Europe, it didnt. They dont use refugiums in Europe much. Its mostly a US thing.
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omedman
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Posted: June 15 2010 at 10:44pm |
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I hope I haven't mislead anyone. There are draw backs to this " Miracle cure ". It did not do as much as I thought it would for phosphates. I have added a BRS carbon/GFO filter to my system since adding the Denitrator.
I also checked my log book and if there is a fly in the ointment of my particular Denitrator, it is the fact that adjusting the flow rate through it would be much easier with a more accurate valve.
I am assuming that the fluctuating flow rate accounts for the fluctuating ALK. The dKH and ALK have had to be watched more closely than any of the other parameters. Unless I saw a big swing in pH ( I have an electronic meter, so I would check it several times per day and night when the flow rate had been drastically changed ) I was still only checking it weekly, but as far as how often I needed to add Kent marine Superbuffer-dKH, it was directly related to the flow rate.
Once the sulfur denitrator had fully cycled, I could tell whether the flow rate needed to be adjusted by the sulfur smell. If for some reason the flow rate decreased, I would smell a sulfur smell. It was quickly solved by increasing the rate, but if increased too much, that also decreased the pH in the tank because it was going too quickly through the last chamber that has aragonite in it and not all able to be buffered before entering the tank.
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omedman
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Posted: June 15 2010 at 10:49pm |
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Sorry Jeff, once again I am not sure which has had more of an effect on the color of my SPS. I have added an ozone generator since starting the Sulfur Denitrator which has drastically increased the permeability of the light. I had many of my SPS at the top of the reef under metal Halides ( 250W ) and have actually had to move some to the sand bed because the light is too intense.
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