Reefahholic
New member
Tank is looking great with the new sand!
drummereef's 180g in-wall build
- Thread starter drummereef
- Start date
jc-reef
New member
UPDATE:
Well here's some wild and wacky stuff... The API Nitrate test kit I had been using was getting old so I decided to pick up another at the LFS today. Well, the results were a little shocking to say the least. All along I thought my NO3 was sticking around 17-20ppm but after testing with the new kit they are actually reading ~5ppm. :eek2: I thought the colors in the corals were starting to come back slightly so I couldn't see how the NO3 was still ~20ppm but didn't have a fresh kit to compare numbers.
So suggestions guys... Should I remove some of the pellets from the reactor now that I know for sure they've kicked in, or leave it alone for a while and see what happens?
Colors are a little darker in the pic but you can see the difference between the two tests.
NEW Test Kit - Left..................................................................OLD Test Kit - Right
WOW~~:eek2: I wonder if I am having the same issue. I have an API NO3 test kit that has been recently testing my water ~20ppm, but my corals have never been as colorful. I thought that at ~20ppm, I would have brown SPS. I only recently tested NO3 again cause someone asked what my parameters were and I was curious myself....and the last time I used it was probably a year ago...and it was always near 0...lol. I got the kit when I started my tank a little over 2 years ago. I need to get a new test kit and double check. That is crazy!!
Thanks for sharing this!
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110galreef
New member
Brett.....
Stop thinking and analyzing......
Its driving you mad!!:spin3:
Seroiusly tho,:beer: I feel you are still trying to mess to much. Honestly, i would pull the pellets and let the tank do it's thing or go very small amount of them.
Also the over testing is going to lead to you going insane.:uzi::headwally: Keep your calk, alk & mg spot on, let your corals setlle ina nd see hwo they look, if browning start tolook at your nutrient issue and slowly tackle one thing at a time so you know what is or isn't working. The test value in general isn't the key, i think it is more the directions of the test....ie(down trend=less of what your testing, up trend, increasing qualntity of what your testing, consistent tests...level values and KEY)
Overall things appear to be fine. Just over analyzed!
KISS:
Good Flow....(check)
Good lighting....(check)
RO/DI......(check)
ATO....(check)
regular WC....(check)
good live rock....(check) but may need to add more to sump as stock increases
ALK, CAL, Mg ....steady....(check)
carbon....(check)
Feed your fish and enjoy!!
We all have seen many very successful tanks with 5-10 Nitrates, .03-.05+ PO4, heck even red bugs and what not and still excellent SPS tanks.
As long as colors are there and polyps extension as well...then fine.
Stop thinking and analyzing......
Its driving you mad!!:spin3:
Seroiusly tho,:beer: I feel you are still trying to mess to much. Honestly, i would pull the pellets and let the tank do it's thing or go very small amount of them.
Also the over testing is going to lead to you going insane.:uzi::headwally: Keep your calk, alk & mg spot on, let your corals setlle ina nd see hwo they look, if browning start tolook at your nutrient issue and slowly tackle one thing at a time so you know what is or isn't working. The test value in general isn't the key, i think it is more the directions of the test....ie(down trend=less of what your testing, up trend, increasing qualntity of what your testing, consistent tests...level values and KEY)
Overall things appear to be fine. Just over analyzed!
KISS:
Good Flow....(check)
Good lighting....(check)
RO/DI......(check)
ATO....(check)
regular WC....(check)
good live rock....(check) but may need to add more to sump as stock increases
ALK, CAL, Mg ....steady....(check)
carbon....(check)
Feed your fish and enjoy!!
We all have seen many very successful tanks with 5-10 Nitrates, .03-.05+ PO4, heck even red bugs and what not and still excellent SPS tanks.
As long as colors are there and polyps extension as well...then fine.
drummereef
Team RC
Thank you Reefahholic!
Wow, very interesting jc-reef. I just wonder once these API kits hit their age limit if they start trending upwards like this. Thanks for posting!
Ha! All good points 110g.
My corals and fish are definitely the first measure I take when looking at the tank. Test kits are always second. I'm certain there's an ongoing nutrient issue though. There has been a consistent browning of just about all the SPS in the tank with the exception of my green slimers. Battling the Dino issue, I went through a period of a few months where I didn't do any water changes. As you could imagine, NO3 became an issue. NO3 was upwards of 20-25ppm during the worst period. Had a nice explosion of bubble algae to confirm the problem. The no water change period was necessary (and just about the only thing that worked) simply because it limited the trace elements that the Dinos feed on. But the end result was a NO3 issue. Even recently, I did a couple water changes and saw the Dinos start to come back, so I knew making even more frequent water changes would lead me back to where I was months ago.
That brings me to a couple weeks ago when I decided to put the pellets back online. I needed to employ a method to reduce nutrients but not feed the Dinos. Honestly the tank hasn't looked this good for probably 9-12 months. Now that the NO3 is down to ~5ppm I'm starting to see some color come back in the SPS. First time in probably 6-9 months. I'm going to continue to monitor how they look and if things start to take a turn I'll reevaluate. But so far so good.
The biopellet mod is still in the works, that should pretty much eliminate the concern of completely stripping the water of all available nutrients (in theory). 
drummereef
Team RC
UPDATE:
Slowly but surely color is starting to come back in the corals. Here's a few pics from tonight.
0.000109 Leagues under the sea.
Tri-Color Acropora is starting to show some nice color on the new tips it's growing.
Purple Staghorn is showing some color in it's tips.
Top down of the same Purple Staghorn.
Top down of the electric blue Acro. Hasn't quite returned to it's electric glory yet, but it's making progress.
Here's an Acro that should be purple but because of the nutrient issue it turned blue/green. Hoping in time the purple will return.
This is a different frag but the same coral as above. You can see how the tip is coloring up to it's former purple color.
The top down pic doesn't show it's pinks very well but the tabling acro is coloring up nicely.
Slowly but surely color is starting to come back in the corals. Here's a few pics from tonight.
0.000109 Leagues under the sea.
Tri-Color Acropora is starting to show some nice color on the new tips it's growing.
Purple Staghorn is showing some color in it's tips.
Top down of the same Purple Staghorn.
Top down of the electric blue Acro. Hasn't quite returned to it's electric glory yet, but it's making progress.
Here's an Acro that should be purple but because of the nutrient issue it turned blue/green. Hoping in time the purple will return.
This is a different frag but the same coral as above. You can see how the tip is coloring up to it's former purple color.
The top down pic doesn't show it's pinks very well but the tabling acro is coloring up nicely.
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drummereef
Team RC
Thanks Pete. :beer:
This guy has been hanging out in the sump. Do you know what it is? I was afraid to move it up to the display for fear he would mow something down. :lol:
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iwishtofish
Active member
I'm glad to see that the corals are coming around. Everything is looking beautiful!
Care to share what's on your wish list? Any particular fish or corals?
Care to share what's on your wish list? Any particular fish or corals?
Taqpol
New member
110galreef
New member
Everything appears to be doing great. Colors look good, and appear to be getting better!
drummereef
Team RC
Perfect. Yeah, the pics online I looked at definitely matched. In the tank you go little buddy!
Thanks iwish.
I wouldn't mind adding a Green Coris Wrasse or maybe a Potter's or Leopard Wrasse. I don't have a DSB so I don't know how happy they would be and I really need to add a screen top to the tank openings before I think about adding any wrasses. Definitely on the project to-do list. :thumbsup:
Thanks 110g. Tank is looking better and better every day. Not quite the intense color the original frags had but they are making progress.
110galreef
New member
FYI...on wrasses, I have a few that liketo burry them selves at night: melanarus and divided wrasse, and I too have the SSB of like 1/2"-3/4" and they do just fine!
I plan to add a few more soon as well
I plan to add a few more soon as well
cromedogg33
Member
Brett, I wouldn't worry about the sand as much as I would the top. I've lost a scott's and a lineatus.
Lets just say no more wrasses until I figure out my top.
Lets just say no more wrasses until I figure out my top.
drummereef
Team RC
Cool! Have you had any wrasses that have jumped? And/or do you have a screen top on your tank?
great tank!!!
It took me a while to get to the last page
Thanks for taking the time dzidek. Much appreciated.
Woah Josh, sorry for the losses. Please tell me the Scott's wasn't $250 either...
What are you going to do for the top, a mesh screen?
cromedogg33
Member
I'm not sure what I'm going to do for a screen. I like coral more than fish so I'm having a hard time giving up some par that I feel screens take away. It might be minimal so I'll look into it.
On a side note since we have the same overflows, I would look into covering those
I woke yesterday morning to about 10g of water on the floor in my basement (luckily it's concrete) and my tank overflowing. I had a massive turbo snail crawl all the up into my drain pipe and slow the flow down enough to overflow. Just food for thought.
On a side note since we have the same overflows, I would look into covering those
I woke yesterday morning to about 10g of water on the floor in my basement (luckily it's concrete) and my tank overflowing. I had a massive turbo snail crawl all the up into my drain pipe and slow the flow down enough to overflow. Just food for thought.
110galreef
New member
Josh and Brett,
In regards to my experience and the wrasses I have had:
Blue Cleaner Wrasse --Labroides dimidiatus 1yr
Divided Leopard Wrasse---Macropharyngodon bipartitus 1yr
Melanurus Wrasse---Halichoeres melanurus 1yr
Leopard Wrasse---Macropharyngodon meleagris 6mos..(died on me??)
Sixline Wrasse----Pseudocheilinus hexataenia 2 yrs and mony other in multiple tanks.....
I have never used a net nor had any jump. Maybe I am lucky or maybe they are not likely jumpers???
I plan to replace the dead leopard wrasse, as well as maybe 2-3 more wrasses. The net for me will not be added.
However as how much a typical net setup that BRS sells can't affect PAR all that much. But just one more thing I don't feel like hassling with.
In regards to my experience and the wrasses I have had:
Blue Cleaner Wrasse --Labroides dimidiatus 1yr
Divided Leopard Wrasse---Macropharyngodon bipartitus 1yr
Melanurus Wrasse---Halichoeres melanurus 1yr
Leopard Wrasse---Macropharyngodon meleagris 6mos..(died on me??)
Sixline Wrasse----Pseudocheilinus hexataenia 2 yrs and mony other in multiple tanks.....
I have never used a net nor had any jump. Maybe I am lucky or maybe they are not likely jumpers???
I plan to replace the dead leopard wrasse, as well as maybe 2-3 more wrasses. The net for me will not be added.
However as how much a typical net setup that BRS sells can't affect PAR all that much. But just one more thing I don't feel like hassling with.
Taqpol
New member
For anyone interested in tops that don't trap humidity/block light, these guys are clear and have 1/4" openings. Comes with a DIY kit for making everything.
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...items/clear-1-4-screen-netting-6-5-x-6-5.html
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...ems/diy-aquarium-screen-top-netting-kits.html
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...items/clear-1-4-screen-netting-6-5-x-6-5.html
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...ems/diy-aquarium-screen-top-netting-kits.html
cromedogg33
Member
Interesting you haven't had jumpers, I've had a 6 line for close to 3 years now who hasn't jumped but had a scotts/lineatus/lawnmower all jump. Let's just say I would have paid the 20$ for a DIY screen rather than buying those fish again.
Brett, If I can reccomend a wrasse...the lineatus was absolutely spectacular.
Brett, If I can reccomend a wrasse...the lineatus was absolutely spectacular.
