Dave's 150G Starphire Zeo Reef~

[Dave's Reef]

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

Yeah, I'm not thoroughly convinced of the result I got based on the GHA. Even though it read .02 still, I've got the GHA that could be eating up the Po4 leaving a misleading result and that's with or without a low or otherwise reading from the checker meter.

Still, I battle on!~

 

[Dave's Reef]

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

Thanks Dan, I'm hanging tough!~ :thumbsup:

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.

No problem Sara, I just hope your GHA doesn't linger as long as mine has. I'm going to need to re-order salt asap at this rate, lol!~ I've done some huge water changes in the last few weeks and many many smaller ones before that. Gone through two buckets of TM/TMP mixed a lot quicker than I ever thought possible... :fun5:

I'm going to be getting the new TM Bio-Actiff salt this time. Been hearing many good things about it!~

 

[SaraB]

No problem Sara, I just hope your GHA doesn't linger as long as mine has. I'm going to need to re-order salt asap at this rate, lol!~ I've done some huge water changes in the last few weeks and many many smaller ones before that. Gone through two buckets of TM/TMP mixed a lot quicker than I ever thought possible... :fun5:

I'm going to be getting the new TM Bio-Actiff salt this time. Been hearing many good things about it!~

So upon some manual removal, I found my algae is more of a slimey brown/green algae and not exactly what I would call the typical GHA ... so I'm not sure what I have at this point now. The growth looks like HA, but it somes off pretty easy and of course floats all over the display!

I just started doing W/C's with the TM Bio-Actiff just before vacation. In the past I've used just the standard TM salt. I guess time will tell with the new salt, but I've heard good reviews here as well.

 

[Dave's Reef]

So upon some manual removal, I found my algae is more of a slimey brown/green algae and not exactly what I would call the typical GHA ... so I'm not sure what I have at this point now. The growth looks like HA, but it somes off pretty easy and of course floats all over the display!

I just started doing W/C's with the TM Bio-Actiff just before vacation. In the past I've used just the standard TM salt. I guess time will tell with the new salt, but I've heard good reviews here as well.

How's it coming Sara???

 

[Dave's Reef]

Small update

Small update

Well,

I just did a round of 3 days with all lights out and covered the tank so no ambient light would get in and the GHA is just about all gone!~ There was some remaining but not anywhere near the level of concentration or growth. The remainder I siphoned off with a large water change and will see how things go...

I'm just going to light the tank with supplemental T5 lighting since all lights were out to give the corals a chance to re-acclimate and additionally to help stave off re-growth of the GHA.

Besides some lightening of the corals no other adverse side effects observed from the lights out. I feel it was a very positive move!~ :dance:

 

[DanW]

Well,

I just did a round of 3 days with all lights out and covered the tank so no ambient light would get in and the GHA is just about all gone!~ There was some remaining but not anywhere near the level of concentration or growth. The remainder I siphoned off with a large water change and will see how things go...

I'm just going to light the tank with supplemental T5 lighting since all lights were out to give the corals a chance to re-acclimate and additionally to help stave off re-growth of the GHA.

Besides some lightening of the corals no other adverse side effects observed from the lights out. I feel it was a very positive move!~ :dance:

Good deal Dave. How are your PO4 and NO3 levels looking? Hopefully the GHA is in the rear view mirror now!

 

[Dave's Reef]

Good deal Dave. How are your PO4 and NO3 levels looking? Hopefully the GHA is in the rear view mirror now!

Thanks Dan, I've been a bit lazy lately on testing (it's been a week). I'll try and get to it later today but last week everything was negligible.

I'm hoping it's in the rear view now too, next item of attack... BUBBLE ALGAE!~ Only have a few spots of it but don't want it to get a foot hold.

 

[SaraB]

How's it coming Sara???

I HATE algae as it's still kicking my butt! I'm keeping up the w/c's but I need to do more frequent manual removal :hammer:

 

[plyle02]

Dave,
Hope all is well! Algaes, mostly cyano and bubble and now hair upset me enough to dump zeo a few weeks back, however, the corals health began to decline and my water seemed somewhat cloudy, I suspect binding PO4 in my re-cycled liverock leaching it's way back into the tank. Well, I am back I truly like how zeo forces you to stay on top of things, I am the culprit to my errors, NOT zeo...lol Anyway, hope your lights out did the job, I will be doing the same in the upcoming weeks, how about a recent pic sir!!!

 

[Dave's Reef]

I HATE algae as it's still kicking my butt! I'm keeping up the w/c's but I need to do more frequent manual removal :hammer:

Hang tough Sara, it can be exasperating for sure that I can testify to personally very well!

Dave,
Hope all is well! Algaes, mostly cyano and bubble and now hair upset me enough to dump zeo a few weeks back, however, the corals health began to decline and my water seemed somewhat cloudy, I suspect binding PO4 in my re-cycled liverock leaching it's way back into the tank. Well, I am back I truly like how zeo forces you to stay on top of things, I am the culprit to my errors, NOT zeo...lol Anyway, hope your lights out did the job, I will be doing the same in the upcoming weeks, how about a recent pic sir!!!

Hey Perry,

Lights out was a great move for getting rid of the GHA, it's 90% gone with just a couple little spots left. However, it wasn't so kind to my corals all colors have faded and I lost several prized frags/pieces... :sad1:

I've been a bit disappointed with it all but I'm hanging in there... Not gonna give up the ship that easy!

As far as an updated pic I'm sorry but there's not much worth photographing at the moment. Perhaps in a few weeks once the colors have come back some I'll put a few up. I will post before during and after pics of the GHA battle though for anyone interested.

 

[DanW]

...Lights out was a great move for getting rid of the GHA, it's 90% gone with just a couple little spots left. However, it wasn't so kind to my corals all colors have faded and I lost several prized frags/pieces... :sad1:

I've been a bit disappointed with it all but I'm hanging in there... Not gonna give up the ship that easy!...

:sad1: Sorry to hear that Dave but I do like your preserverance. Sometimes this hobby can be very rewording and other time very discouraging, hang in there man it's all worth it in the end :thumbsup:

 

[Dejavu]

Hey Perry,

Lights out was a great move for getting rid of the GHA, it's 90% gone with just a couple little spots left. However, it wasn't so kind to my corals all colors have faded and I lost several prized frags/pieces... :sad1:

I've been a bit disappointed with it all but I'm hanging in there... Not gonna give up the ship that easy!

As far as an updated pic I'm sorry but there's not much worth photographing at the moment. Perhaps in a few weeks once the colors have come back some I'll put a few up. I will post before during and after pics of the GHA battle though for anyone interested.

Man that tough Dave. I hope you can get this resolved soon and get back to enjoying your tank.

 

[Tony Romano]

Hang tough Sara, it can be exasperating for sure that I can testify to personally very well!



Hey Perry,

Lights out was a great move for getting rid of the GHA, it's 90% gone with just a couple little spots left. However, it wasn't so kind to my corals all colors have faded and I lost several prized frags/pieces... :sad1:

I've been a bit disappointed with it all but I'm hanging in there... Not gonna give up the ship that easy!

As far as an updated pic I'm sorry but there's not much worth photographing at the moment. Perhaps in a few weeks once the colors have come back some I'll put a few up. I will post before during and after pics of the GHA battle though for anyone interested.

I can't bring myself to do the light out thing again, I've gone back to GFO. (As additional PO4 removal in tandum with ZEOStart2)

 

[igot2gats]

The Doors...

Well, my cabinet maker broke on through to the other side and installed my stand doors the other day. Wow, did they turn out better than I expected...

Check em' out!~

Now I just need to get the lighting set up and suspended over the tank and I'll be rockin!!!

Also, still waiting for my Vertex Alpha 250 Skimmer to arrive but thanks to John (vanillagorilla), I won't have to wait to get the tank up.... THANKS JOHN!!!

Stand looks awesome, bro. How do you open the doors? Are you going to put handles on them?

 

[Dave's Reef]

I can't bring myself to do the light out thing again, I've gone back to GFO. (As additional PO4 removal in tandum with ZEOStart2)

Yeah, I'm glad the GHA is gone but not too happy about what it did to my corals either, the ol' Catch 22 I guess?

Stand looks awesome, bro. How do you open the doors? Are you going to put handles on them?

Thanks very much! The doors are opened by pushing them in at the top, they are on magnetic push latches that can be purchased at Home Depot or Lowes quite easily.

Not planning on handles, I like the flush smooth look!

 

[Dave's Reef]

Little update...

Well, as I mentioned above there were some adverse side effects after all from the lights out period. I lost a couple pieces and several frags as a result and I'm kind of bummed about it....

The good news is however that the GHA is definitely a gonner! I haven't even done a water change since May 20th (ran out of salt and no money to buy more) and the couple of spots of GHA that were left have pretty much gone. Just a couple little very thin spots left but not anything like before, it's clearly a gonner!

So, I just got a new bucket of TM Bio-Actiff that I'm going to start using as I've been hearing very good things about it and I'm looking forward to things turning around now.

I've been very busy but will try to post up some before and after shots of the GHA so you guys can see just what a headache I had on my hands.

 

[mnml]

Sorry to hear about your lost but I'm glad you won the GHA battle. I'm curious to see how you like the TM BA. I've been using TMP and wouldn't mind trying it out some day.

 

[DanW]

Little update...

Well, as I mentioned above there were some adverse side effects after all from the lights out period. I lost a couple pieces and several frags as a result and I'm kind of bummed about it....

The good news is however that the GHA is definitely a gonner! I haven't even done a water change since May 20th (ran out of salt and no money to buy more) and the couple of spots of GHA that were left have pretty much gone. Just a couple little very thin spots left but not anything like before, it's clearly a gonner!

So, I just got a new bucket of TM Bio-Actiff that I'm going to start using as I've been hearing very good things about it and I'm looking forward to things turning around now.

I've been very busy but will try to post up some before and after shots of the GHA so you guys can see just what a headache I had on my hands.

Well :dance: for the demise of the HA but :sad1: that you lost some frags. That is a tough trade but one that I would make, now you can focus on rebuilding and getting things colored back up. Would love to see the before, during and after picts. Congrats man.

 

[Dave's Reef]

Sorry to hear about your lost but I'm glad you won the GHA battle. I'm curious to see how you like the TM BA. I've been using TMP and wouldn't mind trying it out some day.

I've been a long time TM user and for the last few users the TMP. Both have been tops with me but I've been curious to try the new BA as I hear good things about it!

Well :dance: for the demise of the HA but :sad1: that you lost some frags. That is a tough trade but one that I would make, now you can focus on rebuilding and getting things colored back up. Would love to see the before, during and after picts. Congrats man.

Thanks Dan!~ It's a been a long arduous battle but it's finally drawn to a close and I couldn't be happier about it. Just wish some of my more prized pieces would have weathered through it a little better but oh well, such is reef life.

 

[eran]

you know it's funny. I have done the lights out strategy on several tanks without any issues. Some where mixed tanks with sps and others almost all sps. BUT, the one time I did it on my own mixed tank, I had some issues with my sps as well. It was mostly the smaller colonies on plugs that took the beating