Ed Reef's '295-gallon Peninsular ZEOVit SPS tank'

[Ed Reef]

Meanwhile, in my continued quest to achieve zero PO4, I tested my Ca Rx output last night and I was shock with the result. I know Ca media gives out some Po4 but was not expecting anything so high

➢ PO4 â€"œ 0.24 (Salifert test kit)
➢ PO4 â€"œ over the charts (D&D PO4 test kits)

Guess I have to now make a cup to treat my Ca Rx output before letting it go into the tank :eek2:

Any great ideas out there?

 

[mpoletti]

Re: NOV NOT LOOKING TOO SLOW….

Re: NOV NOT LOOKING TOO SLOW….

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13714246#post13714246 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ed Reef

Those are a very nice addition Ed

 

[Ed Reef]

Thanks Mark - any idea or experience on my clam issue??

 

[mpoletti]

Sorry Ed, I don't have much clam experience as I have a joculator and copperband butterfly; both have a taste for clam mantles.

 

[melev]

It may be best to replace the media in the calcium reactor. Or maybe you could add either Caribsea's Phosbuster Pro or Blue Life's Phosphate Control directly into the reactor to nuke that stuff. I did that once or twice.

Keep an eye on the clam to see if the problem progresses. You could make a cage out of eggcrate to put over the clam to rule out nipping fish.

 

[ReefEnabler]

I hate to say this but to me it looks like the early signs of pinched mantle disease... it looks like the clam is trying to expand but has tiny creases.

From what I have read about pinched mantle, it can sometimes be reversed by a 30min FW dip of matching alk/pH/temp, but it is only effective if done early one.

I'm curious what others say tho.

 

[Ed Reef]

Thanks Marc - I like the idea on a cage for the clam....I was actually thinking of moving him to my sump tank but concern that the lights there mgiht not be sufficient so cage for me then!!

I'm using Rowalith C+ media?? Anyone out there with experience to see if this media actually produce so much PO4?? I have no experience with other media, i.e. A.R.M, etc so I'm not convince changing the media will solve my issue as I believe all medias will produce PO4 to some extend

So, I'm actually thinking of making a container to hold the Ca Rx output (like a mini FR) and treat it there with RowaPhos before letting it drip into the tank...not sure if i'm making much sense or not?? Anyone done something like this before??

 

[Ed Reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13722860#post13722860 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefEnabler
I hate to say this but to me it looks like the early signs of pinched mantle disease... it looks like the clam is trying to expand but has tiny creases.

From what I have read about pinched mantle, it can sometimes be reversed by a 30min FW dip of matching alk/pH/temp, but it is only effective if done early one.

I'm curious what others say tho.

At this moment it does look pinch but I think it's the left side of the shell that is somehow chewed that makes the clams not fully open.

Anyway, i also posted in the clams forum so hopefully someone can figure it out. Meanwhile, tonight after work, i will make a cage for it as I don't want it to become easy target for my fishes.

Hope it's not too late thou' :eek2:

 

[melev]

Yes, that is another method. Some will have the effluent pour into a small container of PO4 remover, and the effluent then drips out of that into the reef.

I thought about it often, but never pursued it. It was easier to treat the reactor itself. I know that sounds crazy, but I knew it couldn't hurt anything since those products are used in a full blown reef.

Perhaps your reactor has detritus accumulating in the media, which could be the source of the P04. The media <i>could</i> be the source. People have stated ARM contains PO4, but I've not had that happen consistently to the point that I would agree.

 

[ReefEnabler]

I hope thats what it is, and that a cage will help as marc suggested.

if you are in the clam forums... you will see I have my own puzzling clam issue... some unidentified tiny white parasites. not pyramidellids that I can tell..

 

[Ed Reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13722924#post13722924 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefEnabler
I hope thats what it is, and that a cage will help as marc suggested.

if you are in the clam forums... you will see I have my own puzzling clam issue... some unidentified tiny white parasites. not pyramidellids that I can tell..

I saw that when I was posting this morning...never seen anything like that thou'.

 

[Ed Reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13722920#post13722920 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Yes, that is another method. Some will have the effluent pour into a small container of PO4 remover, and the effluent then drips out of that into the reef.

I thought about it often, but never pursued it. It was easier to treat the reactor itself. I know that sounds crazy, but I knew it couldn't hurt anything since those products are used in a full blown reef.

Perhaps your reactor has detritus accumulating in the media, which could be the source of the P04. The media <i>could</i> be the source. People have stated ARM contains PO4, but I've not had that happen consistently to the point that I would agree.

Thanks Marc, reason I suggest ROWAPros is because I have a whole container full left over from my previous tank when I was not using the Zeovit system. Don't want to go out and start buying PhosBuster just yet!! Not to mention you used less media too

Now, I need to find myself a suitable container thou!

 

[melev]

Less media? How much do you use? I fill the reactor with a 10 lb container of whatever product I have. For now, I have Tropic Eden media in my reactor, and three more reactor's worth in storage.

 

[Ed Reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13722976#post13722976 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Less media? How much do you use? I fill the reactor with a 10 lb container of whatever product I have. For now, I have Tropic Eden media in my reactor, and three more reactor's worth in storage.

Sorry - i mean using less FR media as it's going into a small container compare to treating my Ca Rx.

 

[Ed Reef]

CLAM IN PROTECTED CUSTODY

CLAM IN PROTECTED CUSTODY

OK, got home and he look worst compare to yesterday with his mantle even more retract inside its shell.

Quickly did a cage out of egg crate to protect my clam, which hopefully will recover?

So far no feedback on what happen in the Clam forum??

 

[melev]

I doubt it, Ed. You would have to try the freshwater dip. You need to match temperature and pH exactly, put the clam in it and leave it in there for 30 minutes (not a minute more). However, that clam looks just to be too far gone.

Clams die very quickly, unfortunately. It 24 to 48 hours.

 

[Ed Reef]

Thanks Marc, if it survived today, I will do the dip. Wanted to do it last night but decided not to stress it as it already is

Here to praying he will be OK !!

 

[Leonardo_]

I had my reactormedia in RO water for several months (changing the water out every two weeks) and still measure high PO4 in the effluent of the reactor now. Much of it is trapped in and can't be soaked out.
I made a small container with little holes in the bottom and placed it between the baffles in the sump. I filled it with GFO.

The advantage of this method instead of an inline Po4 reactor connected to the effluent is that the effluent is already mixed with tankwater in the small container (because of the upward flow between the baffles)
This way you prevent the low pH dissolve somthing out of the GFO (does it?) or precipitation in/between the media.

Hope this makes sense, of it doens't, please say so

Leonardo

 

[ReefEnabler]

ouch ed I'm sorry to see that.

hopefully when you go to remove the clam for the dip it will make an effort to close up. if it doesn't respond and feels limp in your hands, then its certainly gone.

 

[Ed Reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13732608#post13732608 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Leonardo_
I had my reactormedia in RO water for several months (changing the water out every two weeks) and still measure high PO4 in the effluent of the reactor now. Much of it is trapped in and can't be soaked out.
I made a small container with little holes in the bottom and placed it between the baffles in the sump. I filled it with GFO.

The advantage of this method instead of an inline Po4 reactor connected to the effluent is that the effluent is already mixed with tankwater in the small container (because of the upward flow between the baffles)
This way you prevent the low pH dissolve somthing out of the GFO (does it?) or precipitation in/between the media.

Hope this makes sense, of it doens't, please say so

Leonardo

Thanks Leonardo - i understand what you're saying. Only problem is I'm using a Zeovit system and would like to avoid that method as it can cause unbalance elements in a zeovit system. That's why I'm thinking of installing a camber at the reactor outlet filled with some Al based PO4 absorber to remove the PO4 and then this PO4 free effluent is then drip into the tank sump.

With this method I treat only the effluent from the Ca Rx and will not affect my tank water much.

Hope I make sense here :rolleye1: