Getting different information on blackouts.

[Tweaked]

A bit different, but currently doing as I do once a month, so thought Id share.

Turn off all halides and t5's and run just the reefbrite blue leds on the tanks for 5 days. Algae dies and coral is fine.

 

[davocean]

Is 1/2 cup to much to start with? I was planning on changing it every Sunday.

You have to be careful not to use too much, it will drop your alk if you do, follow the dosage instructions, don't go overboard.

 

[Bent]

You have to be careful not to use too much, it will drop your alk if you do, follow the dosage instructions, don't go overboard.

So I probably have 90-100 gallons of water. I thought 1tbs/4 gallon was the dose. That's 25tbs right? That's easily 1.5 cups.

So seems like 1/2 cup is mild. Yes no?

 

[Mark75]

I would start low and "wean" your tank off the nutrient source. The sudden drop my negatively effect the unwanted algae as well as the needed algae in your corals.

I would rid the algae at the same speed it appeared, maybe even slower.

 

[Bent]

Ok. Sounds good.

I'm starting my photoperiod back in the morning. I turned the lights back on their regular schedule tonight so they will come back on.

 

[Bent]

So the lights are back on and here are the results. Other than my rock flower moving to where I can't see him, it was a resounding success.
Counting last night, it was a total of 86 hours of blackout.

Before:

After:

 

[Allentown]

This is usually the point after about 3 or 4 years that I assume the natural substrate is saturated in organics and is leaching into my tank no matter how clean the water is and wind up pulling the sand bed and cooking part of the rocks.

Already considering a schedule where I do a 50g water change or daily 14g water changes for a solid week once every 2 or 3 months.

Would love to see the maintainable schedule of someone who has managed to never have a massive gha or cyano outbreak .

FWIW I'm starting out with a healthy dose of GFO, 15 gallon per week water changes and a large carbon reactor from the start this time.

If it turns out that my tank runs so low nutrient that corals don't do well, so be it.. I'll run a fowlr.

I'll make that sacrifice to rid myself of algae

 

[Sk8r]

The reason not to do a total blackout is that fish fall deeply asleep and may be eaten at by marauding snails and crabs while they are still alive. The ambient lets them stay aware and moving enough to prevent this.

 

[Allentown]

The reason not to do a total blackout is that fish fall deeply asleep and may be eaten at by marauding snails and crabs while they are still alive. The ambient lets them stay aware and moving enough to prevent this.

Learned this the hard way. Crabs and shrimp always end up going for torch and frog spawns no matter how safe. That and I've seen hungry Royal Grammas devour shrimp.

I get the really large turbo snails only...nothing else but pods. They live for years, look cool, couldn't imagine one being able to take down a fish.

 

[Bent]

My new snails are annoying. I keep having to flip them over.

How an animal who can't flip itself over survived the evolutionary process is beyond me.

 

[TylerHaworth]

The tank looks MUCH better! Make sure you keep up with those water changes to get rid of the nutrients released back into the water column!

I know I spaced out for a few days, but BRS recommends 1.5 cups of regular GFO...

So if I were in your situation, I would do 3/4 cup and change it out twice as often until you have everything stable and under control.

 

[Tweaked]

My new snails are annoying. I keep having to flip them over.

How an animal who can't flip itself over survived the evolutionary process is beyond me.

Much more tidal flow and surges in the ocean which helps flip them over. Trochus snails are my favorite and only snail as they don't have that issue..

 

[Bent]

That big bta on the top left split last night. I wonder if it was from the stress from the blackout?

 

[Bent]

FTS sans the algae

Some close ups:

 

[Sounds Fishy]

I have blacked out before....but not for 3 days

 

[TylerHaworth]

The BTA's may have split from stress, but to me they look nice and healthy...

 

[Quiet_Ivy]

Looking very nice! Did you find the rock flower? Weird that it bugged out and your BTA didn't.

Ivy

 

[Bent]

Looking very nice! Did you find the rock flower? Weird that it bugged out and your BTA didn't.

Ivy

Yes, he's actually pointed toward the back glass on that little rock island in the last pic that he was on in the first place. It definitely took its ball and went home.

Stupid thing, now I can't see it. Grrr

 

[bdehlin]

Looks much better, great job!

 

[Bent]

So far everything has done well except my elegance coral. It's looking very rough. Which sucks.