I am heading down to LA to work on the tank's monitoring system yet again.
Note, this level was achieved with poor care!
I have since discussed with the owner how to fine tune things.
I have a special CO2 meter than measures CO2 every 15 minutes and is accurate to 2ppm, it does not use pH or KH to measure the gas nor does it consume the gas.
Optochemical reaction based on partial pressures developed at Tuft's university.
While this type of tech stuff is way out for most aquarist, it does help when you do research or set up tanks for Zoos and public aquariums.
Monitoring is a lot of the $, research and care for such systems.
This tank uses a 400 gallon sump with a 6ft tall Biotower, has 4000w of MH, 600PC.
The flow is about 4000GPH.
Water changes are 2x a week with RO, 50%.
Semi automated water change, turn a valve to drain 1/2 the tank in 10 minute, refill= 2 hours.
500W of UV.
It's one of those tanks that has everything.
I take care of others.
My personal tanks are much smaller:
That is a small 180- gal tank.
Much easier to work on.
I think eventually, the 1600 gallon tank will be mostly Downoi in the foreground and Crypts.
The owner will hopefully do better with groupings, I've manged to sway him away from the really hideous types of displays and plant too many species.
The Java and all the epiphytes were attached by me.
They are well grown on now and the tank looks really primevil and aged now.
Regards,
Tom Barr