155 Dirt tank, circulation, dosing questions

[Dutch]

I am into 9 weeks of a dry start, everything is doing well (except my glosso) and I'm getting ready to flood it this weekend.

Week1:

Present:

Built a custom wet\dry sump using a 40 breeder. top cover seals the sock and bio chambers:

I will be using a Mag 18 fractioning pump for circulation and CO2 injection.

My question is, should I put the overflow box and pump returns on the same side of the tank (left), or would it be better to put the returns on the the opposite side (right) of the overflow? With ~1200 gallons\hr @5 ft head do you think this will be enough circulation for the tank, or should I throw a couple of Koralia 750's in there as well?

Also planning on dosing EI from the start, and blasting CO2 until I get some shrimp (how long to wait to add them) into the tank.

Dosing will be for about 180 gallons (tank + sump):
2 tsp KNO3 @3x week
1 tsp KH2PO4 @3x week
1 tsp trace @3x week
1 tsp iron chelate 13% @1x week (will need to check levels to see how much is consumed)

I will also be using RO water reconstituted with GH boost and baking soda to get around 3gH and 2-3kH.

Does this seem adequate for the tank?

I plan on 50% water changes 3x\week for the first 2-3 weeks and then 1\wk after that.

Does this seem about right?

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

 

[mike]

Looks like your plants took really well with the dry start. What are the plants you have in the back middle? Did you plant them early in the dry start period?

Mike

 

[Dutch]

The middle back is Rotala Indica, Rotala Magenta, and Rotala Wallichii. They were planted about 3 weeks ago.

 

[Rodney]

This is looking really great!

What did you cap the dirt with?

 

[Biollante]

Very Nice Start

Hi,

Looking good!:excitement:

Personally, I like output and intake at opposite ends.

What is the GH Booster you are using?

Dosing, I think it would be safe to back off the KH[SUB]2[/SUB]PO[SUB]4[/SUB] to [SUP]1[/SUP]∕[SUB]4[/SUB] teaspoon, three times a week.

Biollante

 

[Dutch]

The cap is 1 1/2 inches of 20/40 Black diamond blasting compound. The mud is a dirt\red clay mix. Dolomite and potash on the bottom.
The GH Booster is Barrs GH Booster from AquariumFertilizer.

Biollante,

if I cut back the KH2PO4 to 3/4 tsp per week, would I need to dose something else for Potassium? (K2SO4?) or will I get enough from the KNO3 alone? I guess the gh booster has K2SO4, so maybe more is not needed.

I originally planned on going opposite sides for the input outputs, but then noticed as I was looking at other large tanks that some have theirs setup all on the same side. Wondered about other's experience with circulation and flow setups. Seems like the circulation would be better when opposite.

 

[Biollante]

A Koralia 750 Or Two will Not Hurt Either Way You Go

Hi,

I think you are getting plenty of Potassium, around 20-ppm K[SUP]+[/SUP] with the Potassium nitrate and Monopotassium phosphate if the water column is a full 180-gallon, that is pretty much, non-limiting.

Barr’s GH Booster is about 43% Potassium sulfate that would add a lot of K[SUP]+[/SUP], while adding very little Calcium and Magnesium to raise the GH.

To raise the RO water 3-dGH I recommend mixing tap water, in fact getting to 4-dGH+ is a good range.

To raise RO to about 3-dGH I recommend 19 teaspoons (75-grams) of Calcium chloride hexahydrate (CaCl[SUB]2[/SUB]•6H[SUB]2[/SUB]O) and 2[SUP]3[/SUP]∕[SUB]4[/SUB] teaspoons (14-grams) of Epsom salt (MgSO[SUB]4[/SUB]•7H[SUB]2[/SUB]O). The Calcium chloride hexahydrate will get hot when mixing, therefore needs to be mixed before dosing and allowed to cool. Do not mix the Epsom salts with the Calcium chloride hexahydrate.

To 180 gallons this will add about

• 20-ppm Ca[SUP]++[/SUP]
• 38-ppm Cl[SUP]-[/SUP]
• 55-ppm H[SUB]2[/SUB]O
• 2-ppm Mg++
• 8-ppm SO[SUB]4[/SUB]

[CaCO[SUB]3[/SUB]]=2.5[Ca[SUP]++[/SUP]] + 4.1[Mg[SUP]++[/SUP]]

=2.5 X 20-ppm + 4.1 X 2-ppm
=50-ppm + 8.2-ppm​

=58.2-ppm CaCO[SUB]3[/SUB]
​

[SUP]58.2-ppm CaCO[/SUP][SUP]₃[/SUP]∕[SUB]17.9-ppm CaCO[/SUB][SUB]₃[/SUB] = 3.25-dGH

---

I suspect that with circulation the only “right” answer is what works.

Based on my observations, I like the “uphill, downhill” approach, flow in one direction. If you are using a spray bar arrangement, I really like Dutchy’s front to back roll.

Having said all of that I have seen plenty of aquariums with the input and output in a corner, right next to each other.:chuncky:

Biollante

 

[Dutch]

Thanks for all of the info Biollante.
I think that I will try mixing RO and tap first to get my dGH and dKH levels at 4 and 4.
The problem with my water is that it is hard as granite, and has other things I wanted to limit in my tank (Total hardness CACO3 = 330, TDS = 480, phosphates, silica, etc)
Going to start with opposite in\out flows.

Where is a good place to get Calcium chloride hexahydrate?

 

[Tom Barr]

CaCl2 can be found at pool supply places. Also used as a deicer for side walks etc.

 

[Biollante]

4:1

Hi,

4-parts RO to 1-part tap water should give you 4-dGH. Assuming the CaCO[SUB]3[/SUB] is as general hardness.


Do you have a water report you can share?


Planted Aquarium Fertilizer carries Calcium chloride hexahydrate, CaCl[SUB]2[/SUB]•6H[SUB]2[/SUB]O, almost all Calcium chloride is actually the hexahydrate, unless otherwise stated, or will be shortly after opening.:chuncky:


Biollante

 

[Dutch]

kansas city kansas water report:

http://www.bpu.com/Portals/0/BPU_Reports/2011_Water Quality Report PDF.pdf

I have the mix of RO\Tap right at 4 GH which matches your 4 to 1 ratio which is spot on.

Thanks!