ESHOPPS Mariner 70 Build

[exnisstech]

At $10 for Ammonium Chloride and $11 for Sodium Nitrate at 10x the potency, is there any reason to dose Ammonium Chloride instead of Sodium Nitrate?

Not directed at me but I've read corals can use ammonium but have to convert nitrate before using it . I've also read it can be risky to fish if not used correctly. I'm sticking with sodium nitrate because I'm not willing to risk my fish on the chance I may get better coral growth.

 

[tbrown]

Not directed at me but I've read corals can use ammonium but have to convert nitrate before using it . I've also read it can be risky to fish if not used correctly. I'm sticking with sodium nitrate because I'm not willing to risk my fish on the chance I may get better coral growth.

Awesome, thanks! Cheaper, more potent, and potentially safer for fish.

My question was directed at anyone with any information so I appreciate the input.

I know Randy has been recommending Ammonium as another viable source of nitrogen.

 

[exnisstech]

I think this is the thread I gather info from.

DIY Ammonia dosing for low nitrate systems

Some reef aquaria have chronic low nitrogen availability. One indicator is very low nitrate. Nitrate dosing is a fine remedy, but it is possible that ammonia dosing may be more beneficial for some organisms since ammonia can be energetically easier to assimilate than is nitrate. For this...

www.reef2reef.com

EDIT : Not sure but I may be confusing ammonium dosing with lanthanum dosing as far as dangers. It's an old guy thing.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

@tbrown

So yes Ammonia is easier for the corals to consume. One less step and therefor less work (energy). Would I dose it to raise nitrates- not if your math is correct. Would I be willing to dose in smaller amounts to see if the corals could use it - probably.

I think the math you did was cat math - it’s the math they use to calculate the force needed to jump from point A to point B which is some ridiculously insane distance from where they are. Or maybe the math Merlin uses to jump from the floor to the top of a door because he felt like that was the best spot to perch.

 

[Stang67]

I don’t have any experience with the Ammonium Chloride, so I can’t say if one is better than the other, I just use what has been working for me. Eagle Steve used to use the ammonia I mentioned above in his tank, he knew his tank well enough that he basically just dumped some in without measuring lol. He also used the sodium nitrate that I told you about, and is the one that gave me the link to the calculator.

I miss him.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

I’m curious… and we can move over to your thread if need be, don’t wanna take up too much space here…
I skimmed through your build thread, just to try and get an idea of what you’ve got going on, but relatively few pics of the tank, except for the build out part, nice build. It looks like you’ve only had water in it since end of August, and you started with all dry rock, you’r

Thanks for the input, My "dinos" have not been identified by microscope. They do disappear from the sand overnight, by midday they are appearing back on the sand. The one Galaxia, was a freebie from Live aquaria that the wife wanted. The AFR is being used more for ALK , with the change to I.O. reef crystals this may not be needed until later. The choice for fish i have left it up to my wife as long as they are suitable to be in a 40 breeder, so far she has a spotted goby, 2 clowns, a six line wrasse, 1 rescue two stripe damsel fish from my crab tank, and a dreaded coral beauty angle fish which she purchased. I am looking to rehome the angle fish as I type. my fear of this fish is coral damage, Its still small (2.5-3 inch). I am OCD about a few things with my tanks, water parameters is one. I am still waiting on stability before adding the coral. Coral is my main objective with this tank.
No detectable ammonia or nitrites.

Side note on the ammonia, ACE hardware had the ammonia I used for cycling freshwater tanks. You need to shake the container, if it foams it has detergents in it. You want just ammonia and water. The ACE brand was 10% ammonia and water. Seems like I used 1 drop for every 10 gallons, cant really remember. I used Dr. Tim's for this tank

Edit: no tank pics because its "ugly" right now

 

[tbrown]

If you haven't seen it yet:

Cancer and reefing. Help one of our own.

Good morning reef2reef family. I am posting this thread with approval from the reef2reef staff. @revhtree thank you so much for allowing us to post this. Frank (@fishguy242) has had many recent setbacks in life. Just over a year ago, he was afflicted with an unknown brain condition that...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[tbrown]

Well that kinda stinks. LiveAquaria carries Hydros equipment. I was hoping to use some of my store credit on some Hydros accessories or another controller but they're sold out of almost everything. When I asked I was basically told they have no intention of reordering any of it so when they sell out, it's gone.

 

[Brisk]

Well that kinda stinks. LiveAquaria carries Hydros equipment. I was hoping to use some of my store credit on some Hydros accessories or another controller but they're sold out of almost everything. When I asked I was basically told they have no intention of reordering any of it so when they sell out, it's gone.

What are you wanting to add on hydros?

 

[tbrown]

What are you wanting to add on hydros?

I'm looking at adding a leak rope for sure but I was considering adding either an X2 or XS controller after I save up a little money so I can expand and add a level sensor for my sump and possibly a second leak detector. That overflowing Plank last month got my wife a little worried.

The X3 only has 2 Sense ports and a pH.

XS has 4 Sense ports and X2 has 2 Sense and 2 Drive ports.

 

[Brisk]

I think you can add the leak rope extensions twice to the leak rope and you can save a sense port. If I remember, it's cheaper too.

 

[tbrown]

I think you can add the leak rope extensions twice to the leak rope and you can save a sense port. If I remember, it's cheaper too.

Sorta. The leak rope kit is a 9' rope and the adapter plug for $40 while the extensions are 4' ropes for $30. I'd almost rather buy 2 kits and not use the second adapter.

 

[SpyC]

I'm looking at adding a leak rope for sure but I was considering adding either an X2 or XS controller after I save up a little money so I can expand and add a level sensor for my sump and possibly a second leak detector. That overflowing Plank last month got my wife a little worried.

The X3 only has 2 Sense ports and a pH.

XS has 4 Sense ports and X2 has 2 Sense and 2 Drive ports.

I had mine get a bit clogged a few months ago. I cut part of the top to allow any overflowing water to be redirected back into the tank instead of over the back. You can also drill a few holes into the pipe towards the top as another option

 

[Brisk]

I'm looking at adding a leak rope for sure but I was considering adding either an X2 or XS controller after I save up a little money so I can expand and add a level sensor for my sump and possibly a second leak detector. That overflowing Plank last month got my wife a little worried.

The X3 only has 2 Sense ports and a pH.

XS has 4 Sense ports and X2 has 2 Sense and 2 Drive ports.

BTW, how does the plank get overflowed? I just got mine, so curious.

 

[SpyC]

BTW, how does the plank get overflowed? I just got mine, so curious.

The water exit could get blocked or clogged. My issue was due to a snail blocking the exit

 

[tbrown]

I had mine get a bit clogged a few months ago. I cut part of the top to allow any overflowing water to be redirected back into the tank instead of over the back. You can also drill a few holes into the pipe towards the top as another option

I had considered notching the front of the feeding tube to do that and may eventually.

 

[SpyC]

I had considered notching the front of the feeding tube to do that and may eventually.

It was easy and the added peace of mind it nice. I also have the Hydros leak sensor rope. My only issue is getting it to lay flat without using the floor attachments that use double sided tape. I would say mine is 60% flat. I also use a secondary leak sensor linked to the security system. It won’t trigger turning anything off, but I will be notified if the rope was to fail. I use these same sensors in other parts of the house. Really nice and cheap investment

 

[tbrown]

BTW, how does the plank get overflowed? I just got mine, so curious.

Algae can also start growing. Mine looked like I was getting some buildup of food restricting the outflow from the tube. I tore it all down and scrubbed the tube and cleaned the pump and it's running good.

It also looked like maybe the pump had come slightly loose in the bracket that holds it which may have had some impact on flows.

 

[Stang67]

Well that kinda stinks. LiveAquaria carries Hydros equipment. I was hoping to use some of my store credit on some Hydros accessories or another controller but they're sold out of almost everything. When I asked I was basically told they have no intention of reordering any of it so when they sell out, it's gone.

Don't be sad I heard it from one of Santa's elves that you were very good this year.

 

[tbrown]

Uh oh! @Connor At CoralVue 's ears were burning! He heard us talking about Hydros.