First Big 3 Test (Cal, Mg, and ALK)- Prestige Worldwide

[thelawnwrangler]

Just in case you are need of a cool story lol

Putting in the man hours

KH- 9.8 DKH
MG- 1400
Cal - 330

Other Test
PH- 8.2
PO4- .25
Nitrate- 5

Ammonia and Nitrite I didn't bother. I think part of my PO4 issue is I through a sponge in the bottom of my back sump to mechanical filter and kind of left it for a month or 2. Pulled it out yesterday and the tank clouded it up and it was gross. Next water change I am going to siphon back there.

 

[gone fishin]

looking pretty good other than as you pointed out calc and phosphate are off a bit.

If I recall the tank is still pretty young.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

Thanks- I was looking at my aquarium log ap and I am only in 2 months 7 days. I am going a little fast I think. It feels like longer.

I want to watch calcium, and solve phosphate. Going to do two small water changes before my work trip Tuesday. (I know I would get more results from 1 big one, but not quite comfortable that I don't swing things too much with the bigger changes-plus one heater and one pump so 5 gal at a time)

Thanks for all the advice so far

 

[gone fishin]

no problem on the advice.

What is the plan for phosphate reduction? If it was that sponge I would guess it would clear up pretty quick.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

no problem on the advice.

What is the plan for phosphate reduction? If it was that sponge I would guess it would clear up pretty quick.

Short Answer:
probably reactor

Long Answer:
I have Seachems Phosguard in there now will see what that does. I don't believe it is a long term solution. I am going to stay up on weekly water changes 10% or so (and do a few extra in between).

I have a refugium light and a open compartment in my sump begging for chaeto, but seem to get mixed reviews on it being successful. I want it to be the answer because I think it is cool. (just like I got a peppermint for two apatasia that I also killed with apatasia x) Really I thought shrimp were cool more than anything. Through my research sounds like the volume of chaeto I could have would do little more than ornamental talking point tank wise. The down side is if I struggle to keep it and have rotting chaeto so I haven't pulled that trigger.

Which leads me to think a GFO reactor is the answer. In terms of reactors though seems like there is a 1000 things you can put in them. I was thinking carbon and GFO mix, but unsure.

I am also likely to buy the intank media basket and run purigen and chemipure elite. I am running both of those now, but they are squished together so hopefully the effectiveness will increase. One big upside to the media basket is it will force the flow of my water over filter floss that will be easily reached and discharged so hopefully that helps me remove gunk as well. So wondering if I get that see if the media basket and PhosGuard helps. If not look at reactors.

Feeding I will keep posting pictures of my clowns and have Dkuhlmann fat shame them into me feeding them less. I also got a shrimp net to strain water off frozen food after it is defrosted. Hopefully that will decrease nutrients.

Synopsis - media basket (include chemipure elite, purigen, and remove filter floss diligently) see what that does, if it doesn't work reactor (which I am partially assuming will be the answer).

Thoughts?

Addressing issue of what is causing it - has to be over feeding? The liverock was $3-400 so it isn't going anywhere (I am going down with the ship if that is it). All my inhabitants look good so I don't think I have a hidden rotting body.

 

[gone fishin]

If it is the rock it will eventually play itself out, that would be the long game. I kinda think rock has turned into a convenient excuse for phospates.

for whatever reason I have never had any luck whith cheato, it just withers away. I tried it in a section of my sump and in my display fuge. I had a 29g kicking around and decided to try a display fuge. I had some halimeda in the DT that came in on a frag so that went into the fuge along with some red gracliara and hold onto your hat some Caulpera. It has been up for about 4-5 months now and everything is growing like mad. The only DT correlation I got is I don't have to clean algae of the glass as much. I think the key to a fuge is to get one setup that will actually do something. I read quite awhile back 10-20% of DT volume is a good size for a fuge.

I got a couple reactors kicking around. GFO for sure will pull some phosphates out but can get costly. I have another one I have carbon in and I run it maybe a couple weeks a month.

 

[A.Astore]

When you say a mix of carbon and GFO or do you mean a reactor of carbon then a separate GFO cylinder? Only reason I am asking is because if you are looking for phosphate control you will end up wasting a lot of carbon in the process. I run the phosphate and carbon in a series for that reason only, just so I am not dumping the carbon because the GFO is spent.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

When you say a mix of carbon and GFO or do you mean a reactor of carbon then a separate GFO cylinder? Only reason I am asking is because if you are looking for phosphate control you will end up wasting a lot of carbon in the process. I run the phosphate and carbon in a series for that reason only, just so I am not dumping the carbon because the GFO is spent.

Yeah I am not sure sounds like I need to research cost more. I was thinking I was okay with the loss of carbon due to GFO being expended faster, but unsure what we are talking on price.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

If it is the rock it will eventually play itself out, that would be the long game. I kinda think rock has turned into a convenient excuse for phospates.

for whatever reason I have never had any luck whith cheato, it just withers away. I tried it in a section of my sump and in my display fuge. I had a 29g kicking around and decided to try a display fuge. I had some halimeda in the DT that came in on a frag so that went into the fuge along with some red gracliara and hold onto your hat some Caulpera. It has been up for about 4-5 months now and everything is growing like mad. The only DT correlation I got is I don't have to clean algae of the glass as much. I think the key to a fuge is to get one setup that will actually do something. I read quite awhile back 10-20% of DT volume is a good size for a fuge.

I got a couple reactors kicking around. GFO for sure will pull some phosphates out but can get costly. I have another one I have carbon in and I run it maybe a couple weeks a month.

how quickly does GFO get spent

The display fuge sounds cool

 

[gone fishin]

how quickly does GFO get spent

The display fuge sounds cool

The GFO rate really depends on the phosphate concentration IMO. With your phosphate I would take a guess at 3 weeks.

I really like the fuge. I honestly don't know why I did not do it sooner. I had everything in the closet, except PVC. I am looking for a critter to put in but it would probably get lost in the jungle LOL.

If you got the space maybe that is an option. Look at gulf coast eco systems for what's available. I got the starter pack.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

The GFO rate really depends on the phosphate concentration IMO. With your phosphate I would take a guess at 3 weeks.

I really like the fuge. I honestly don't know why I did not do it sooner. I had everything in the closet, except PVC. I am looking for a critter to put in but it would probably get lost in the jungle LOL.

If you got the space maybe that is an option. Look at gulf coast eco systems for what's available. I got the starter pack.

Thanks- talk me down from my 3rd visit to the LFS this week. I really have a purple tip green frogspawn frag on my mind, and a $15 frequent flyer discount. I am going to have too many euphyllia sweepers wrecking my tanking as I sleep lol

 

[gone fishin]

Thanks- talk me down from my 3rd visit to the LFS this week. I really have a purple tip green frogspawn frag on my mind, and a $15 frequent flyer discount. I am going to have too many euphyllia sweepers wrecking my tanking as I sleep lol

LOL it has been to cold here lately for me to leave a perfectly warm house to go shopping. But I think this week when I get off I will make the rounds. The ole debit card could be in for a work out.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

LOL it has been to cold here lately for me to leave a perfectly warm house to go shopping. But I think this week when I get off I will make the rounds. The ole debit card could be in for a work out.

lol I hope so

I am going to have to go into my lfs store tomorrow morning to see if they still have that purple tip green frogspawn frag- ugh

plus follow up to my hermit crab potential murder - he grabbed that empty shell, bc I see his old shell where the empty shell was. I haven't seen him but glad he hasn't chosen snailicide. Now I need to find a non clownish shell for the scarlet hermit so he can make good choices

 

[gone fishin]

Wow when I had hermits they always seemed to bypass an empty shell and go straight for the snail jack LOL

 

[thelawnwrangler]

Wow when I had hermits they always seemed to bypass an empty shell and go straight for the snail jack LOL

purple tip green hammer made it to the tank- plus un-quarantined watchmen goby and royal gramma. I know I know, but wife wanted it. the local fish store guys don't quarantine and it is a great store. Still unacceptable risk level.

I got a tiny candy pistol shrimp, and I haven't seen him again after dropping him in yesterday. Surprisingly I haven't seen the Royal Grama since dropping it in (so he is probably white spotted ready to nuke tank.) The watchman who I thought I would never see again eats and just chills out in the open.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

big pile of sand is randomly blowing out from under my liverock candy pistol shrimp found

 

[thelawnwrangler]

Also when I am scraping coraline reminded me how bad I wanted it

 

[thelawnwrangler]

Updates- Royal Gramma found his own cave and happy. Frozen food made him come out like a ninja.

Also we have a double switch on hermit crab shells. The black hermit grabs trash is the scarlet hermit crab treasure.

 

[gone fishin]

I have always liked our pistol shrimp. Mrs. fishin calls him dozer. My goby/ pistol have taken to the back of the tank the last few months. Glad everyone found a place and is out and about.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

Will the gramma stay in the cave are is he still just fearful