Just throwing it out there

[glparr]

Don, assuming things continue as last reported, are you still using GFO? carbon? Did your chilis recover? Dendronephthya still showing well? Other NPS coral reactions? Is your pellet level now at full capacity? I'm ordering a reactor and pellets this week. Just want to know what to look for as I go through the process.
Thanks,
Gary

 

[slapshot]

Don, assuming things continue as last reported, are you still using GFO? carbon? Did your chilis recover? Dendronephthya still showing well? Other NPS coral reactions? Is your pellet level now at full capacity? I'm ordering a reactor and pellets this week. Just want to know what to look for as I go through the process.
Thanks,
Gary

I removed my GFO after the second addition of the 1/4 of pellets. I continue to use carbon. Yes, everything looks great and all my Chilis are back open and feeding strong. Dendrons still look good. In fact a little piecs broke off of one of them while I was cleaning the glass. I just left it in the sand. Is has not attached itself to the sand and is standing upright. I am at full capacity for my pellets. It is holding steady in the 2 range. I suppose I could add another cup and it would drop to zero but Mike told me he kept getting better results as time went on. Plus, it is my feeling the Dendronephthyas like the water a "little dirty". The catch is what is a "little"?

Just remember to soak the pellets over night in r/o and go slow!!! It is the most important fact. Add 1/4 every time your NO3 drops and you will love the results. Remember, the PH drops the 24 hours before the NO3 so you get a warning when to check your NO3. You should see noticeable results by day three or four.

 

[carlo80]

Carlo I believe the NP Pellets are the ones that are distributed in the Netherlands (they are Netherlands based, D. van Houten)

You tank is close to the same volume as mine. If my math is correct you tank is almost 53 US gallons. I usually don't like to compare grams to ml but in this case (hopefully I don't put my foot in my mouth) they are most likely equal I don't remember packaging ever being sold in gram weight. That being said, using 75ml of pellets is a good starting point for that size aquarium. I would turn back the flow going into the reactor and have the pellets turn over slower. Nice, slow, tumble. When you noticed the bloom, how high were your nitrates initially? As the bloom has been clearing, what are your nitrates testing at now? Is there a difference since the initial setup? Each time you plan on increasing pellets, test your nitrates and phosphates. Also, try and not to do a water change prior to testing You want to see how well the pellets are working by themselves before you continue to fine tune the setup.

Mike

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk

Hi Mike
your wright about the brand of the pellets .
i fine-tuned the flow,this weekend .to a nice tumble:spin1:

the nitrates are now 5 and PO4 0,05,to be honest the nitrates where 5/10ppm before i started.
I strarted using them to prefent problems in the futher (and maybe less waterchanges :fun2
Yesterday i added a nother 25gram/ml of pellets.

greetings Carlo

 

[slapshot]

Is has not attached itself to the sand and is standing upright..

Now, not not.....sorry!

Is has now attached itself to the sand and is standing upright

 

[Aquabacs]

Hey Don, leave it planted in the sand and tell me how the growth of it does. About how deep of a section is it in?

Mike

 

[slapshot]

Hey Don, leave it planted in the sand and tell me how the growth of it does. About how deep of a section is it in?

Mike

The sand it a couple of inches deep where it ended up. Thus far it is standing up tall all the time. Damn clowns keep digging near it I'm afraid they are going to take it out but so far it lives.

 

[Aquabacs]

Good. If you can, leave it there and watch how it expands compare to the parent colony mounted to the rock. Want to work on a planted Dendron project but I have had limited time lately plus wife has a bun in the oven.

Mike

 

[glparr]

Mike,
Are you suggesting that, if I bury the rock/base of my Dendron in sand it might behave better or is this a cutting-only application? In other words, will Dendrons do better if their base in in sand instead of open water?
Gary

 

[slapshot]

Good. If you can, leave it there and watch how it expands compare to the parent colony mounted to the rock. Want to work on a planted Dendron project but I have had limited time lately plus wife has a bun in the oven.

Mike

I plan to. I am curious what will happen. I find it interesting that it has attached itself and expanded. It must be getting something it likes. I'll keep you in the loop. Oh and congrats!! :celeb1::celeb1::celeb1:

 

[Aquabacs]

Gary possibly yes. I didn't do the study myself so I can't say definitely yes. I wanted to continue the project I previously spoke to you about.

Quick refresher IIRC, dendrons were planted in small ceramic pots, filled with substrate, kept in very high current. The corals kept in this manner, with the base of the coral planted under the substrate, showed greater inflation than those that were not. I need to make another call to the person who did the study to refresh my memory.

Thanks Don...it is my first and we are very excited. We had some issues & scares but should be clear sailing to March (told my wife that she can't have the baby on a few certain days in March because I wanted to go to 2 reefing events ).

Mike

 

[glparr]

Mike, Congrats. Kids are great, but grow up too fast.

I'm tempted to cut a piece off of my dendrons and try that. But after I get the pellets cooking.

Gary

 

[Aquabacs]

Thanks Gary!

 

[Aquabacs]

Give them a few weeks and you should be happy...especially with nitrate control. Right now desiding on either MRC or Avast to make up a large custom reactor...something future proof so I can use it on my next tank.

Mike

 

[uhuru]

Good. If you can, leave it there and watch how it expands compare to the parent colony mounted to the rock. Want to work on a planted Dendron project but I have had limited time lately plus wife has a bun in the oven.

Mike

Haha, when I first read this, I took it literally. I thought, you don't have time to explain because your wife is baking?

Congrats Mike! Given your addiction, he/she will be a future reefing genius I'm sure.

 

[Aquabacs]

Thanks Mike. I will do the best I can influence her...she has a pink seahorse already waiting for her....and maybe a custom pink Elos Mini too.


Mike

Haha, when I first read this, I took it literally. I thought, you don't have time to explain because your wife is baking?

Congrats Mike! Given your addiction, he/she will be a future reefing genius I'm sure.

 

[fullmonti]

Yes congrats, Your first?

 

[Aquabacs]

Thanks! Yep...our first. Deal with my wife was...if it is a boy...I get x size of a fish tank when I move next year...if it is a girl...I can get an even bigger tank one...so me and the swimmers had a talk ... a girl it is


Mike

 

[fullmonti]

Wow baby girl & bigger tank. You must have been very good this year indeed.

 

[Aquabacs]

You can add to 2011 the stress of buying another home...for work...taking on managing the cleaning/recycling & waste management / hazardous materials/ laundry services of an additional hospital and nursing home. Thank God they are both not as big as the other two hospitals I have.

Mike

 

[slapshot]

Well my nitrates are now at 0. Not sure if that is a good thing or not. That is pretty low. My PO looks to be the same to slightly higher but still under .25 on the test kit. So the question of the day is do I remove my Cheato? It for sure has stopped growing. The thought of it is freaking me out honestly. I did remove most of the Calupura from my macro fuge. That filled a 5 gallon bucket.

I was kind of hoping to keep my nitrates around 2. So should I feed more or just remove my cheato?