Dave's 150G Starphire Zeo Reef~

[Dave's Reef]

To keep things interesting I thought I'd post a growth / progression shot from last year to this year. Nothing too special but figured since I don't want to post any new pics I can post an old one and a newer one before the GHA got too much to handle. I posted this in another thread here on RC.

Here's one from last year shortly after set up

And from a couple months ago

 

[Joel A]

ever think about vortechs? Tank looks great, but i think the looks of a few vortechs on the sides instead of tunzes would go a long way..

some people prefer tunzes, which is understandable because they are quieter, but you can't beat the look of a vortech IMO.

Mind sharing how much you paid for the goldfalke, i'm drooling over it =)

 

[Dave's Reef]

ever think about vortechs? Tank looks great, but i think the looks of a few vortechs on the sides instead of tunzes would go a long way..

some people prefer tunzes, which is understandable because they are quieter, but you can't beat the look of a vortech IMO.

Mind sharing how much you paid for the goldfalke, i'm drooling over it =)

I thought about Vortech's but they cost too much. I do like the idea of no wires in my tank though very much!~ The Tunze's weren't cheap but I was able to get a really great deal on them, wavebox too. :thumbsup:

As far as the Gold Flake goes I don't like to share such information but let's just say I got him for a real good deal as well!~ Retail is about $389.00 for one and mine was much less, how bout that, lol...

 

[skyrne_isk]

Hey Andrew,

Yeah it's definitely a bummer, I really feel bad about the poor guy. I actually think I know when he jumped too. I heard a really loud SPLASH the other night after the lights were out but didn't think too much of it. I won't make that mistake again. Just wish I would have checked it out when I heard it. :mad2:

I don't know if it's any consolation....but being in the middle of a tank move, all my reef is in a kiddie pool on my living room floor. I heard a splash followed by a slap on my wood floors and jumped off the couch like I had been shot late Saturday night :eek1:. Sure enough, my Lineatus had spooked for no apparent reason and was on the floor. Luckily, we were watching TV and I scooped him up right away with no problems. Being temporary, not a lot I can do about the pool being uncovered, but reading your thread the day before immediately brought that sound to my attention - else I would have thought nothing of it and likely found him the next morning myself.

You never know how these threads are going to be helpful....many thanks!

 

[SaraB]

I finally got caught up on your thread today. I must say your stand and canopy are beautiful and kudos to the builder!

I also love your rockwork and you have a great collection of coral!

I'm also a big over-feeder and it's coming to bite me in the butt as of last week. I had been fighting cyano and now some tufts of HA have replaced it on the rockwork. I currently just thaw my frozen and then pour off all the liquids before feeding. Maybe I should be rinsing? I guess I can give it a try as well. Hope you beat it soon!

Yes, Orange-Spot rabbitfish are huge zoa eaters and they will take our your collection overnight ... be careful!

 

[Dave's Reef]

I don't know if it's any consolation....but being in the middle of a tank move, all my reef is in a kiddie pool on my living room floor. I heard a splash followed by a slap on my wood floors and jumped off the couch like I had been shot late Saturday night :eek1:. Sure enough, my Lineatus had spooked for no apparent reason and was on the floor. Luckily, we were watching TV and I scooped him up right away with no problems. Being temporary, not a lot I can do about the pool being uncovered, but reading your thread the day before immediately brought that sound to my attention - else I would have thought nothing of it and likely found him the next morning myself.

You never know how these threads are going to be helpful....many thanks!

Glad my misfortune was of help to someone else... You never know what you can learn around here!~

Happy you saved your Lineatus, they're a beautiful species!~

I finally got caught up on your thread today. I must say your stand and canopy are beautiful and kudos to the builder!

I also love your rockwork and you have a great collection of coral!

I'm also a big over-feeder and it's coming to bite me in the butt as of last week. I had been fighting cyano and now some tufts of HA have replaced it on the rockwork. I currently just thaw my frozen and then pour off all the liquids before feeding. Maybe I should be rinsing? I guess I can give it a try as well. Hope you beat it soon!

Yes, Orange-Spot rabbitfish are huge zoa eaters and they will take our your collection overnight ... be careful!

Hi Sara & welcome!~

Glad you could stop in and thanks so much for the kind words... Sorry to hear you're having some HA pop up. That's how it started for me too, the cyano first and then up popped the GHA and it has yet to dissipate. I'm gonna really start attacking it this week though with manual removal and water changes at least every other day and everyday if I can make the time.

Thanks for the heads up on the Orange Spot. 1st John and now you... Are there any other fish that would be helpful in the elimination of GHA or bubble algae? I know the Blonde Naso's are pretty good at bubble algae but I don't think they eat GHA? I've got a Lawn Mower Blenny but he just can't keep up with how much I have... :sad2:

As far as rinsing goes it's made a difference so far albeit a little too late at this point. It may be a long road to recovery but I don't give up too easy!~

 

[SaraB]

I had a Zebrasoma desjardini that loved bubble algae, but you have to deal with a potential attitude as well. I've got the Naso Tang and the ones I've seen typically love the bubble algae. Mine is so large that he prefers meals from the turkey baster and not by nibbling on any algae in the tank. I was amazed when I dropped in small tangs and how they liked to clean the rock!

I plan on tackling the HA when I get back from vacation on the 9th ... wish me luck!

I'll try the rinsing method on the food as well ... can't hurt!

 

[Dave's Reef]

I had a Zebrasoma desjardini that loved bubble algae, but you have to deal with a potential attitude as well. I've got the Naso Tang and the ones I've seen typically love the bubble algae. Mine is so large that he prefers meals from the turkey baster and not by nibbling on any algae in the tank. I was amazed when I dropped in small tangs and how they liked to clean the rock!

I plan on tackling the HA when I get back from vacation on the 9th ... wish me luck!

I'll try the rinsing method on the food as well ... can't hurt!

Thanks Sara,

I will be thinking of you as I siphon mine out, lol!~ Good luck and I hope yours doesn't get as out of control as mine? :sad2:

I think there's light at the end of this tunnel, though it may be awhile before it's reached. Still, at least there's hope!~

I hadn't thought of a Desjardin? I really like them and have had one in the past. I guess I have some thinking to do as my fish budget is a little tight these days.

 

[Oldude]

SaraB - I had a Zebrasoma desjardini that loved bubble algae, but you have to deal with a potential attitude as well.

I am quite fond of my Sailfin tang but I've only seen it eat bubble algae when it free floats around in the water. I don't notice many of my fish picking it off the rocks. Fish are so hit & miss with their eating habits & behavior.

 

[tbone28]

My desjardini is a pig, but ignores my bubble algae. He is my most peaceful fish.

 

[Dave's Reef]

I am quite fond of my Sailfin tang but I've only seen it eat bubble algae when it free floats around in the water. I don't notice many of my fish picking it off the rocks. Fish are so hit & miss with their eating habits & behavior.

Yeah, that's one of the risks we take when getting a fish or invert for a specific reason. Hopefully I'll have some luck with whatever I wind up with!~

My desjardini is a pig, but ignores my bubble algae. He is my most peaceful fish.

My Desjardin was very peaceful as well I had him housed with a purple tang at the time and they were both fine together with no signs of aggression.

 

[Dave's Reef]

Parameters as of today...

Parameters as of today...

Well,

I just got my new Hanna Checker meter and thought I'd run my weekly parameters and see where things came out. I do it weekly but was particularly curious to see what my Po4 was since it hasn't been checked in some time and I've had the GHA.

Dkh= 7.5
Ca= 430
Mag= 1200
Po4= 0.02

Po4's not as bad as I thought it might have been but I think changing my food prep up by rinsing and so forth has made a positive impact. GHA is not reproducing as quickly and with stepped up water changes and manual removal, I think I'm heading in a positive direction!~

Finally... :dance:

 

[DanW]

The PO4 number is good Dave. The dKH and Mg looks a little low is that becuse of the zeo or do you like to target that?

 

[Dave's Reef]

The PO4 number is good Dave. The dKH and Mg looks a little low is that becuse of the zeo or do you like to target that?

Hi Dan,

The dkh and ca are optimal for running Zeovit but I do like the mag a bit higher than 1200. I like to keep it around 1300-1350 which is the high side of optimal for Zeovit.

I'm happy about the Po4 though, definitely a good number. Gonna see if I can get it lower over the next few weeks though to help rid myself of the dreaded GHA.

Also, got the effluent rate fixed for my Ca Rx today. It was a simple fix, I added some pinch valves to the two outputs of the Rx and it was as simple as that!~

Thanks for your advice....

 

[DanW]

Dave, how's the algae fight going. Seeing any improvements yet?

 

[SaraB]

Dave, how's the algae fight going. Seeing any improvements yet?

I'm curious too. I sure hope you found a "magic fix" as I came home from vacation and mine is still there! :fun5:

 

[Dave's Reef]

Dave, how's the algae fight going. Seeing any improvements yet?

I'm curious too. I sure hope you found a "magic fix" as I came home from vacation and mine is still there! :fun5:

Hi Dan & Sara,

Well it's still with me but slowing somewhat since changing up my feeding regimen. I've been hitting the tank with manual removal of the GHA and large water changes but despite these measures it still seems to have "roots" that ultimately grow back.

This weekend I'm planning on doing yet another of the treatments described above and then doing a lights out treatment to see if that helps kill off the roots!~

I'll keep you posted....

 

[dvanacker]

Keep in mind Dave that the checker has a +/- .04ppm accuracy. So you could have 0ppm or .06ppm PO4.

 

[DanW]

Hi Dan & Sara,

Well it's still with me but slowing somewhat since changing up my feeding regimen. I've been hitting the tank with manual removal of the GHA and large water changes but despite these measures it still seems to have "roots" that ultimately grow back.

This weekend I'm planning on doing yet another of the treatments described above and then doing a lights out treatment to see if that helps kill off the roots!~

I'll keep you posted....

Stick with it man, you're slowly beating it down!

 

[SaraB]

Hi Dan & Sara,

Well it's still with me but slowing somewhat since changing up my feeding regimen. I've been hitting the tank with manual removal of the GHA and large water changes but despite these measures it still seems to have "roots" that ultimately grow back.

This weekend I'm planning on doing yet another of the treatments described above and then doing a lights out treatment to see if that helps kill off the roots!~

I'll keep you posted....

Thanks for the update! I started the manual removal last night myself on a small section and I'll continue to pick my way through the tank through the weekend. I'm also brewing up some fresh saltwater and need to change some reactors with new carbon and GFO too.