Hello all, I'm new here

[brewercm]

WOW, Gary must have been typing that book out when I posted this.

[PeeperKeeper]

I appreciate all the comments on my mistakes. Love them, in fact! That's why I posted them, and it helps that some of the comments you made I had already heard along the way, or knew about myself. Hearing it from other sources is always good.

Yes, I know turning off the pumps was probably the root cause of my downfall. You know how I said I would figure out a problem, fix it and think everything would be okay from then on? The pump thing was the first thing I knew to stop doing (because I really knew better in the first place) when things started going downhill.

It was usually that I would come in on a Monday morning to see millions of bubbles in the tank coming from the return. Of course I'd turn it off to keep from burning up the pump, but then work would call and I'd be tied up all day. If I forgot or didn't have time to take care of it at lunch or the end of the day, there we'd be. I offer this not to make excuses, but just as an example of how daily life can sometimes get in the way of what we know we should or shouldn't be doing with our tanks.

There are actually two forms of phosphate and you kit only tests for one. Any positive indication from a test kit usually indicates the other, untested for form, is pretty high.

That I didn't know, Gary. That actually makes more sense because I wondered why it wasn't testing high with all that luxuriant HA growth.

Actually, the bottled water you mentioned is usually RO/DI that has some minerals added back for taste. I would have considered sacrificing a jug of water in that situation.

Well, it isn't one of those bottled water coolers. It's the kind that filters by RO and chills at point of service, which is nice for getting small amounts, but I would have been standing there for 15 minutes to get a gallon. I do use it for top off most of the time when it's not so low. I can put 3 or 4 large cups in each day and it works out pretty well.

The oxygen factor is another piece of the puzzle that I learned about/was reminded of during the whole process. Mind you this was all going on over a period of about 8-10 months. I stopped turning off the pumps as the first step, but I think it had already kicked off a domino effect where all the other mistakes/inattentiveness I was guilty of came into play. Without that, I probably could have gotten away with sporadic WC's, not having a heater, using old bulbs, etc. But once things started to go badly, I had to mend my ways to get it back to being healthy again.

Anyway, thanks for the thoughtful responses. I don't feel at all picked on. On the contrary, I love this forum! All of the mistakes I mentioned have been addressed and then some. I've got an RO filter that just needs another part which is on order, then I'll have my own water source just for the tank. I've been better about WC's and testing the water regularly (actually I take it to RiverCity and let them do it) and I'm upgrading my protien skimmer to a Turboflotor 1000 Multi. I'm also changing my return pump from a Mag 7 to a Mag 9.5 and adding a SCWD to increase circulation and current action, and I put one of those spinner thingies on the 802 powerhead I have in the tank. I'm also going to upgrade my lights from having just two 96W PC's to either adding 4- 54W T5 HO's to the PC's or just replacing them altogether with 6 -54W T5's.

Those changes will be done over a period of 4 months or so unless I get impatient and just decide to splurge all at once (again the hubby is a factor). After that, I may replace my W/D filter box with a regular sump and add a refugium. In fact, when the Turboflotor comes in, I may be forced to do that sooner because I'm not sure it's going to fit in my current sump.

[brewercm]

Is there any way you can run a line from that water source to your sump, add on a float valve and have it auto top off for you?

[PeeperKeeper]

Not really, but that's a good idea. The water cooler/dispenser is right next to the tank, but staff and patients use it for drinking water. I don't think I can tear into it because it's on lease and is maintained (replacing filters, etc.) by the company who provides it. I just stand there and pour cups of water in the tank from it.

I'd like to have an auto-top off with kalkwasser in a jug with a float valve, but I don't think I have room under the tank. Maybe when I redo the sump.

[Ram_Puppy]

PepperKeeper, I don't regret asking a thing, actually glad someone here is capable of writing a novella for a post other than me and gary.

I am dissapointed your in Austin as I am looking for a new peeperkeeper for me and my wife. The last one was a friend and now is no longer a friend, so I don't want to go back. I had lasik a few years ago and my wife is in contacts...

Anyhow..

I am glad you seem to be on the right path correcting your tank. I too once stewed a tank with 92 degree temps but it took me a couple days to notice as I had just started working nights. that sucked.

[GaryP]

It sounds like you are definitely on the right path with this tank. Just imagine, you figured out all this without us. Just a few other things I noticed from your latest posts:

1. Can you have a small cabinet built to match your stand in which you can put extra equipment and even a top off tank? That;s what I am going to do on my new tank and I have seen a few others do something along the same lines.

2. Good move on the turbofloater. That should solve a lot of your nutrient problems.

3. You might want to reconsider the SCWD. Ask some folks here that have used them. There are some negatives with them. I've never run one but have seen the comments of people that have used them. I think most of them have moved on to Oceans Motions. If you are only going to be running FOWLR tank then it may not be necessary. The same thing applies to a lot of extra lights. Are you planning on moving up to a reef tank?

4. I assume there is no one taking care of your tank on the weekends. What are you doing about top off and feeding? I have the same issue with the tank I have in my office. Fortunately, I only live a few blocks from the office and I am usually in there on weekends to do water changes anyway.

[Ram_Puppy]

did anyone mention a ph osban reactor? this would also help with phosphates...

sorry, my brain leaked out a few months ago and i don't remember so well anymore.