Higher Calcium Level for SPS Growth? (vs Health)

[sensei]

Wally,
there is an excellent thead in RC for fish compatibility.
you can ask there and snorvich will answer you the same day

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2068112&page=635

 

[Wally.B]

Wally,
there is an excellent thead in RC for fish compatibility.
you can ask there and snorvich will answer you the same day

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2068112&page=635

Many Thanks. That's a Massive Thread. Looks great and the thread poster very helpful. Will read more, and consult as needed.

 

[Wally.B]

Green Hair Algae coming back (But IT'S OK)

So as mentioned, I continue to lower lights to reach the Target PAR levels that I measured with the Apogee Quantum meter (best thing I ever did).

- The BAD NEWS is that Green Hair Algae is coming back in full Force.

- The GOOD NEWS is that Corals are looking better across the board (All REALLY Healthy Looking)
- New growth, Polyps and buds on corals that never budged before.

- The EXCELLENT NEWS is that CyanoClean Treatment is working and not allowing the Cyano to come back.


Why am I optimistic and not as concerned as before?

- Corals are telling me they like more light, and are responding.
- Corals are resisting the Algae, so not being suffocated/entangled in any way.
- No Cyano. NO Cyano. NO CYANO!!


Also:
- Chemistry is really stable (Parameters all check good)
- I AM NOT FEEDING THE CORALS any Coral Foods or Additives. (Lesson Learned).
- Skimmer is skimming Properly.
- I Have *NEW* MacroAlgae Refugium with Opposite Lighting Schedule running.
- I added a 6 more Astrea Snails to tackle the Green Hair.
- For now Pruning the Hair Algae to keep under control (Really easy to prune).

I'm hoping that when I reach my Target PAR Levels, things will eventually cycle and stabilize.

I'm guessing another one of these cycles will happen again, when I increase PhotoPeriod to it's Target.

Then I'll add my next Fish.

 

[Wally.B]

Growth Check on Bird Of Paradise [+3 Months]

Wish all my corals grew this fast.

Starting to look like a coral, not just a Frag.

I know for you SPS Guru's this is boring stuff. But for me it's Very Cool and Exciting.

 

[Wally.B]

Cowrie Snail TimeLapse Video (ON YouTube)

So I was worried about the Arabic Cowrie Snail damaging SPS Corals, since I think other Cowrie in LPS tank ate some Zoa's.

This YouTube Video show's the Cowrie in action in this SPS tank. (Captured with two WebCams with Night Vision [Tank Front/Back] )

So far so good. (I actually put both Cowrie's in to really tackle the Green Hair Algae). Somewhat Safe while watching 24/7.


https://youtu.be/-y1LAOesI68

You can also see the other few dozen snails in action too!

 

[Wally.B]

Arabica Cowrie Snail (A Keeper)!!!

Cowrie is Cleaning up Hair Algae Like PRO.

I watched the Cowrie Snail a 2nd day at work.
Time-lapse Video's showed him working a rock on left side of tank.

Then I compared Photo's of Tank from Yesterday and Today. I was shocked!!

He cleaned up more Green Hair Algae (long stuff too), than all my 30 Snails, and 20 Hermits do in a week.
CUC actually didn't put a dent the Long Green Hair stuff at all. (I was pruning to help them).

Picture proves it.

If he doesn't touch my corals (which he hasn't), he is definitely a keeper.

Not sure if I can keep both Corwie's, but my tank is a Algae Machine (when Lights on Longer, and when I feed more). Especially Green Hair, so it might a perfect nutrition Balance.

At this rate he'll polish my tank clean.

Then I'll just feed him and other CUC, the Julian Sprungs (Sea Veggies) Purple Seaweed sheets, in that Magnet Holder I got. Just looked at the package and it says Source of Trace Elements (Cool).

The Best part is I might be able to really ramp up on the Fish Feeding, since I won't have any concerns about algae.
Heck, I can start pouring bottles of AcroPower & PolypBooster (Amino Acids) into this tank which triggered my Algae Problem back then. (Just kidding :worried2: ).

I assume Snail Eating Algae and producing waste, is Coral Food?? (Someone said that in a previous post).

Plus he's an Omnivore, so left over Fish Food he eat too.

Might be a (Win/Win/Win) Situation.
Could be the beginning of a shift toward a significant positive improvement for this tank and SPS Corals.

This is the first Lucky Break I've gotten on this tank

[[ I'm now 90% convinced that the reason my other Tank went 100% Algae free is because of Cowrie #2 (he was there a few weeks). I thought it was because I reduced lighting, however in that Tank he may have eaten some Zoa's (but I wasn't feeding him) . I never put on a TimeLapse Camera on that tank, but I will if I put him back. ]]

Stay tuned. More observations to come.

 

[icy1155]

So, I'll have to read back through, but are you running any GFO in your tank? If you are still having algae problems, it may be time to change it. In addition, have you considered building a DIY coil denitrator? I have one on my 180g, and I don't think I'll ever run another tank without that and a little gfo. It lets me feed pretty heavily and I never see algae.

 

[Wally.B]

I used to run GFO. That never helped with ALGAE at all.

Folks posted for me to remove to get my P up since I was 0.00.

Now I'm up to 0.04 so I thought this was a good thing.

I don't want to change anything right now since Coral look best ever, and growing at a good rate.

With Corwie converting Alage to more easily exportable form of nutrients I want to see results after he catches up on clean up.

 

[icy1155]

I was thinking that you could run a small amount of GFO to help lower the phosphates, but not to 0. For instance, if you were running 2 cups, maybe like 1/4 cup. The trick is you don't want them undetectable, but very low.

 

[Wally.B]

I was thinking that you could run a small amount of GFO to help lower the phosphates, but not to 0. For instance, if you were running 2 cups, maybe like 1/4 cup. The trick is you don't want them undetectable, but very low.

Just tested water:

NO3=2.5
PO4=0.04
Rest stable and normal (CALC=425, ALK=8.5, MAG=1325, SAL=1.025)

I believe this is good. Possibly ideal?

(There is GFO in the system but very small, like 1/5 of a cup, since that is all I had). So I considered this nothing.

I'm no longer concerned about Green Algae that much. This morning, Camera's picked up both Cowries. (#2) cleaned right side of tank. Amazing.

 

[Wally.B]

My first ** Good ** Problem (Coral Prune/Adjustment Time):

So I'm facing a good problem in my tank for first time. Been waiting for this moment for a long time.

The Green Coral (Can anyone ID it?) is moving along with growth, but it's about to collide with it's neighbour (soon).

- I think my best option is to move it (since not quite encrusted like neighbour).
- Or I leave it and see what happens?

Any suggestions?

BTW. Lights are now at 12" (Target), so Tank is at ideal PARS. (Next will be slowly increasing Photoperiod)

ALSO. Moved Purple Firefish out of QT into DT. He's hiding, but did jumped out of QT when trying to catch him (so put on a Temp. glass top on DT for now).

 

[Myka]

Fwiw, when there is nuisance algae growing in the tank your true phosphate and nitrate readings will be consequentially higher. If that algae was magically removed overnight the phosphate and nitrate would rise in the following days. What your test kit is reading is the difference between what is available in the system and what is being used up by the algae (and corals, etc). Those numbers look good for coral health, but be aware that there is still excess. I think you're working in the right direction - a couple weeks of significant overfeeding can take weeks to clean up, especially because you were very timid at first with your clean up.

 

[Wally.B]

WATCHING ALL Cowries (Oh OH):

I've been monitoring all Cowries on TimeLapse Cameras. All good except today a bit of suspicious behavior.

Cowrie #1 is a bit to close for comfort on my Green Pocillopora.

Cranked up TimeLapse Camera to 30 second intervals.

We'll see what Pocillopora looks like after lights come on. If polyps missing, Cowrie's go back into sump.



** AS I WAS Writing this post, he just kept moving up the Pocillopora, where there is no Algae, but lots of Polyps (I couldn't watch anymore). So he's back in Sump **

** Too bad, he was doing great on the Green Hair ** (I'll check if he did damage, when lights come on). May get a 2nd chance if no damage.

If Damage, then I'm hunting down Cowrie #2

On Positive, side. The Purple FireFish came out of hiding, and is getting along with Everyone, (Other Fish don't even notice him). (Nice Color Add to Tank).

 

[Wally.B]

Fwiw, when there is nuisance algae growing in the tank your true phosphate and nitrate readings will be consequentially higher. If that algae was magically removed overnight the phosphate and nitrate would rise in the following days. What your test kit is reading is the difference between what is available in the system and what is being used up by the algae (and corals, etc). Those numbers look good for coral health, but be aware that there is still excess. I think you're working in the right direction - a couple weeks of significant overfeeding can take weeks to clean up, especially because you were very timid at first with your clean up.

So should I add more GFO (or continue manual Pruning (easy) and wait), but now "NO more Cowrie" to help me)? Just a tiny bit of GFO in Reactor now (Left over from old Jar), but have a fresh Full Jar. (Green hair is growing a bit aggressively).

ALL Corals doing REALLY WELL (So GFO could be a bad Shock)

 

[Wally.B]

Overhead Comparision (+3 Months)


[2015-06-26]

[2015-10-05 TODAY]

 

[Wally.B]

Cowrie Put Back (2nd chance), BUT UNDER CLOSE WATCH

So after spending time pruning Green Hair Algae in tank, realized how well Cowrie did in hard to reach places.

Web Cam is watching at 30 sec intervals, and I programmed a tight motion control trigger around Pocillopora to send me emails and capture short video's (if anything get's close).

He may not have been eating the Pocillopora Polyps, since I noticed there was green hair tangled in it. (Hope he was just cleaning it. Since I see no damage.)

 

[Wally.B]

LOPSIDED (Hair Algae Growth) ? Why ? (Lighting & Water Chem is Symmetrical)

Can anyone shed some Light on this observation.

While pruning Hair Algae, I noticed a particular observation.

- Algae seems to be growing on one side of tank more than other (Left rock pile, ALMOST ALGAE Free, Right Pile Infested).

WHAT IS SYMETRICAL:

- Lighting is evenly distributed between two MH bulbs and T5 Bulbs.
- Water has same nutrients across whole tank.
- Rock types are symmetrical:
-------------- (Left & Right Piles are new 1+ year old rocks)
-------------- (Center Rock pile is old rock from other tank 15 years old)
- Left and right Power Heads are flowing in symmetry.

WHAT IS "NOT" SYMETRICAL:

- There is an extra Powerhead at back of tank
- Gyre paddles are opposite (but run forward and backward)
- Fresh water (from sump) comes from Sump Return on Low Algae area side (Left Side).
- Tank Return Overflow-Drain is on (Right Side).

Is the extra flow from the Powerhead cleaning up the LOW algae Area (Blowing-off Ditritus )

OR

Is the Powerhead pulling in nutrients towards the algae growing areas.


See picture for details.

Anyone seen this kind of Algae pattern before?

Looking to adjust flows if a FACTOR, but Want to Improve, not worsen.

OF COURSE, it all Algae goes Away (this doesn't really matter).

I'm Trying something different as experiment. (I'm picking up snails around tank, and dropping them in Algae area).

 

[reefmutt]

My guess would be that it's random algae growth..
I like the 'snail air/aqua drop'..
Maybe those particular rocks have more bound up p?? Not sure..
How about another dose of snails?

 

[bobssecrtsn]

What you should do is, read back to how algae forms, when it forms, and where.


Typically algae will grow and expand onto the surrounded rocks,
They will produce in lower flow area.
It will not matter how intense or minimal the light is, algae will grow if theres lights period.

But all in all, your corals are getting much more color ! keep up the good work

 

[Wally.B]

Cowre #1 Attacks Pocillopora Again.

So the Pocillopora wasn't damaged after Last Cowrie grazing, so I gave him a chance.
(The Pocillopora actually fully's polyped back nicely in area's he was touching, so what he cleaning?)

Today's I checked WebCams, and he SPECIFICALLY attacked the Pocillopora again. Nothing else!!!!!

Cowrie #1 has been removed.

Will see later when lights come on if Pocillopora is damaged, or just cleaned (and Polyps receeded).

Doesn't look good this time.
But good news is I'm watching, and Pocillopora still has tips (and does grow fast).
If he touched my treasured "Bird of Paradise", he'd be in my Daughter's Bead Necklace Set as an Ornament.
TOO BAD, he was a great Algae Cleaner.

Watching Cowrie #2 VERY CLOSELY !