DanW's 187 SPS Dominated Reef Journal

[DanW]

Well it seems like ages since I last posted so I wanted to update the journal. Over the last three weeks (after feeling sorry for myself) I did a few big water changes (well big for me as I'm container challenged). For each of the last four weekends I did a 30, then 30, then 50, then 30 gallon water changes. I've also stopped dosing vodka and turned off the kalk and CA reactors. Picked up some new CA media for when I do turn it back on. I got a new bucket of salt and put in some Poly Filter. And lastly took everything out of my sump and vacuumed all of the accumulated material that I could. Didn't find any smoking guns that I'd hoped for in the sump. My plan is to dose two-part to see if the tank stabilizes. If it does, then one by one bring the equipment back on-line. The only things that I will continue to dose are Microbactor7 and Aminos (both new bottles). My hope is that the "œBack to Basics" approach will lead me down the right path. Anyother suggestions? I'm all ears.

I know that it's only been a few weeks and I definitely don't want to go for the head fake but I **think** I see improvement. Anyway, I know I have a long road to recovery ahead of me.

Most of this acro's tips were all bare/brown with algae a few weeks ago. Like the one on top. Thought that I was going to lose it.

New growth tips on this guy?

Color getting better?

 

[aquariumclown]

Looks good Dan...I think new growth tips are the ultimate sign.

 

[mpoletti]

Looks good Dan...I think new growth tips are the ultimate sign.

Ditto, If you really want to see if things are healing, just break off a couple tips and see how long it takes to heal

 

[porthios]

glad to see it coming back around for you. gl

 

[Jar*Head]

Dan, look like the corals getting better. Keep up the water change and it will be back to normal soon.

 

[DanW]

Thanks Leo, Mark, Jason and Steve, I've got my fingers crossed. You guys think I should clip the tip of the first acro? The one with the algae on it?

 

[aquariumclown]

I'd only clip it if it bothers you.

 

[pookstreet]

Glad to hear of some good news from your camp also. Hope it's a sign of better things to come. Did your setosa make it? If not, I have a nice 1.5" encrusted piece you can have when you are ready.

If you are going to clip that Acro, cut down into the healthy portion, not just the part with the algae on it. I think that's what Mark is suggesting.

 

[Dejavu]

Great to see things are starting to grow any Dan!

On a side note thought you were using prodiobio, not MB7? Did you stop prodiobio?

 

[Dave's Reef]

Dan,

Nice to see things on the upswing for you! I agree with aquariumclown, the new growth tips are definitely a good sign.

I wouldn't worry about clipping the algae tipped piece. I had a few pieces that had recessed a lot during transfer to my new tank back in April. I had lost almost ALL of my water and had only a small amount of pre-mixed on hand and had to make up about 50 gallons on the fly and it really stressed my corals bad. I ended up losing about a dozen pieces that day... :furious:

Anyhow, it took a little while but the pieces that survived had a few tips like yours and everything has grown back out now and you can't even tell.

Keep up the water changes and you should be fine!

 

[Jar*Head]

I had the same problem with most of my corals during the Cyano problem. I didn't clip them and the new growth eventually cover it...

 

[DanW]

Glad to hear of some good news from your camp also. Hope it's a sign of better things to come. Did your setosa make it? If not, I have a nice 1.5" encrusted piece you can have when you are ready.

If you are going to clip that Acro, cut down into the healthy portion, not just the part with the algae on it. I think that's what Mark is suggesting.

I'm holding out hope. What I'm nervous about is whatever is in the tank re-contaminates the new water. As far as the setosa, of the three small pieces that I tried to save one is hanging on. Thanks for the offer, I hope I don't need to take you up on it though.

 

[DanW]

Great to see things are starting to grow any Dan!

On a side note thought you were using prodiobio, not MB7? Did you stop prodiobio?

Thanks Brian, I did use Bio Digest but switched to MB7 when I ran out. I've heard of so many people having great experiences and the cost differiental is pretty significant so I thought that I'd give it a try.

 

[DanW]

Dan,

Nice to see things on the upswing for you! I agree with aquariumclown, the new growth tips are definitely a good sign.

I wouldn't worry about clipping the algae tipped piece. I had a few pieces that had recessed a lot during transfer to my new tank back in April. I had lost almost ALL of my water and had only a small amount of pre-mixed on hand and had to make up about 50 gallons on the fly and it really stressed my corals bad. I ended up losing about a dozen pieces that day... :furious:

Anyhow, it took a little while but the pieces that survived had a few tips like yours and everything has grown back out now and you can't even tell.

Keep up the water changes and you should be fine!

Thanks Dave, Do you (or anyone else) think that I should continue with the weekly water changes? I estimate that 30 gallons is approximately 20% of my water volume. My usual regiment is 20 gallons every other week.

 

[mpoletti]

If you are going to clip that Acro, cut down into the healthy portion, not just the part with the algae on it. I think that's what Mark is suggesting.

Yep, when my tank is rebounding, I will purposely break a coral to see how long it will repair. We all now how long it should take a coral. Yes, you can let them regrow and they will, I just like to be a little more experimental

I had the same problem with most of my corals during the Cyano problem. I didn't clip them and the new growth eventually cover it...

The cyano caused your tips to receed? Or was it somethings else?

 

[mpoletti]

Thanks Dave, Do you (or anyone else) think that I should continue with the weekly water changes? I estimate that 30 gallons is approximately 20% of my water volume. My usual regiment is 20 gallons every other week.

Yes, do water changes until you like to do water changes :hammer: I believe in weekely water changes though. I was shown the benefits from my friend tfp and my tank also looks so much better when I am doing my weekly 40.

 

[Jar*Head]

Yep, when my tank is rebounding, I will purposely break a coral to see how long it will repair. We all now how long it should take a coral. Yes, you can let them regrow and they will, I just like to be a little more experimental




The cyano caused your tips to receed? Or was it somethings else?

The Cyano grow on the tip of the acro. The purple slime stuff with bubble on it. Not sure what you expert call them

 

[mpoletti]

The Cyano grow on the tip of the acro. The purple slime stuff with bubble on it. Not sure what you expert call them

There are no experts around here I have never heard of cyano on the tips of a coral, especially when a tank has as much flow as yours does. Thats why I asked; I keep learning something new everyday.

 

[DanW]

Yes, do water changes until you like to do water changes :hammer: I believe in weekely water changes though. I was shown the benefits from my friend tfp and my tank also looks so much better when I am doing my weekly 40.

Wow weekly 40s :hmm4:. My back cringed when I read that and my ears cringed thinking about what my wife would say.:uzi:

 

[aquariumclown]

Yes, do water changes until you like to do water changes :hammer: I believe in weekely water changes though. I was shown the benefits from my friend tfp and my tank also looks so much better when I am doing my weekly 40.

Mark, with all due respect, I can't fully agree with this. WCs drove me to the ground 3 years ago and basically forced me to quit. I'm good with once a month wc, that's all I can do, any more than that, i feel very burdened. I used to think this was the only way, but now I realized that a properly balanced system does not need weekly wc by any means. I've gone weekly 20-30gal changes on my 150g and spent all my time buying and mixing salt. At one time I had exhausted all options and thought that the only way to success is frequent wc. I spent most of this year getting my tank chemistry balanced and tuned to self supplement and now I'm very happy to report all my inhabitants are happy even though I only do 10 gal per month. They don't complain at the end of the month either if I don't change. But for now I'm not going to push my luck to go longer. I do agree that wc are very important if a tank is not balanced or is having some contamination, so if that was all your saying then I wholeheartedly agree.