Acropora sp. - |LF|a-cro-POH-rah; alternate: a-CROP-o-rah|RF| - a species of calcium-based coral that causes frustration and loss of expendable income but brings joy and exuberance to the more detail-oriented caregivers.
Some areas have softer water, while others quite the opposite. Source water that measures less than 300 TDS is best; anything higher is harder on the system. Measuring the source water's TDS levels can provide some idea of the conditions you are dealing with. The higher the TDS, the harder the membrane has to work, and decreases its life. Lower TDS-laden water is always better. Keep in mind that those numbers may vary throughout the year, affecting the way your RO system works.
1) Turn off the water going into the RO/DI system.
You're ready to take the plunge into saltwater at last. No doubt you've already heard a number of opinions by now, but have decided to forge ahead and do this. Good, this is a wonderful hobby and the experience of watching your hard work turn into something stunning is what this is all about. Let me be honest though, there are times when your frustration level may peak, which is the exact opposite of the 'relaxing hobby' you were hoping for. That's just part of the experience, and remember that period is temporary.
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I have read countless threads on discussion forums asking for assistance with water quality issues. Considering how many forums are available to hobbyists everywhere, it wouldn’t be difficult to imagine that hundreds of queries are posted on a daily basis just in the United States. With the availability of search engines, the information is readily available having been answered time and time again. Why is it so hard to master this particular area of our hobby? Are our personal circumstances so uniquely different from everyone else’s?
A tank with a single overflow can still run to two zones of a sump. I recommend running the drainline into both the skimmer section and the refugium zone, and I'm often asked how this is accomplished. Using gravity and a few extra fittings, you can direct water to two different zones from a single drain pipe.
Congratulations! Your reef will thank you for providing excellent water quality from now on. This 100gpd 5-stage RO/DI is very easy to install, but if you have any further questions, you can email me any time. Contact info: Marc Levenson • Ft Worth, Texas • (817) 946-5271 • sales@melevsreef.com
Congratulations! Your reef will thank you for providing excellent water quality from now on. This 100gpd 5-stage RO/DI is very easy to install, but if you have any further questions, you can email me any time.
I'd seen pictures of Sun Corals in forum discussions many times, but always thought they were too picky to be a good coral to keep in my own aquariums. I'd heard how important it was that every single polyp was carefully fed food daily or at least every other day. People came up with feeding domes and syringes with tubing to target feed it. All in all, it seemed like a lot of work and more than I was interested in performing.
Bringing home livestock on a flight can be challenging, but it sure is nice to get your newest acquisitions into your quarantine system as soon as you get home rather than having someone ship them to you a day later and worry about the transit times. Plus it costs extra to ship overnight when you are already taking a plane home!
Many people have thought I've been SCUBA diving for a long time, but the truth is I only got certified about four years ago. I wanted to do it sooner, but life didn't work out that way. Those divers on my business card and website were put there as a goal to aspire to, and in 2012 I was able to reach that goal. Getting certified wasn't too difficult, I just had to purchase some gear, schedule some classes, do my bookwork and complete my checkout dives. Mere weeks later, I was diving off O'ahu and loving that down time. I felt very comfortable, in fact.
