Learning/rebuilding from my epic fail

[reefmutt]

Your colors are sooo vibrant. Plus you are getting beautiful multi color tones which is awesome

Thanks, Mark.. probably the extreme nutrients giving the rich colours..
That's the thing about nutrients. I find some corals look better with rich deep high nutrient colours and others look better when more pale from lower nutrients..

Looking incredible Matt! Looking at your tank really makes me want to start from scratch with a wide tank... the depth of your tank looks incredible and allows for some a really picturesque scape. Obviously the colourful acros help in that department

Hey Brok, thanks!
When I ordered this tank, I made it as deep as possible and as high as is reasonable for being able to reach in with my arm.
I don't think I'd go higher than 26 inches.
My old tank was 42 inches deep but I had access from the back of the tank as well as the front. It was bloody awesome.
The scape was fantastic.

Kevin, I missed a question of yours.. you asked about the bubble algae that wasn't there in the second pic..
I have a chop stick with a pin on the end. Periodically, I go around the tank stabbing bubbles. Very satisfying and it gives the tangs some work when the bubble gets soft.

 

[kevlow]

Thanks Pife!


Hey Kevin, here's a thought.. maybe nutrient levels are actually meaningless.. high or low.. maybe it's just the stability that is important. Yes, nuisance algea may become an issue with high nutrients but maybe as long as the corals are getting what they need, in terms of micro elements and nutrition- and of course stable maintenance of macro elements and minerals, maybe the nutrient levels don't play a part... Just throwing that out there al la Richard Ross.
Maybe all these years, all those people claiming that the low nutrients were the cause of their success were not correct in their assumption.. maybe it was all the other stuff they were doing that made them successful.
Kevin, do you consider my tank to be 'high bacteria driven'? I never thought of it that way but I gues with regular additions of bacteria, I guess it is- even though it doesn't seem to be reducing nutrients..
I'm beginning to think that when a coral has access to the minerals, elements, and nutrition it needs to be healthy, it will properly maintain its zoox levels, itself.. it's not necessarily that something is 'blocking' the zoox, it's just that the coral is able to properly control them..
I really don't know..


.

That is a lot to think about and maybe a lot of our previous thinking was not exactly correct.
A possibility: If a coral is getting all its requirements from available nutrients, elements, proteins, vitamins, and light; then it may not need to depend on the symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae for nourishment. The zooxanthellae are regulated simply because they are not needed. They become obsolete.

A healthy coral without the need for zooxanthellae then must color up with it's pigment to protect itself from the intense light in our systems.

I think our corals may be adapting and evolving to live in an environment that is rich in nourishment and light, with efficient waste export.

In the past, tanks with high nutrients turned brown, crashed, or became too unstable, because export, feeding, lighting, dosing elements and vitamins, and general husbandry had not risen to the levels reached today.

 

[reefmutt]

Technically speaking, in the ocean corals are getting ultimate stability as well as proper nourishment, elements etc. but the zoox are there. They aren't redundant, they are managed by the coral.. I guess you mean in a system with such high nutrients that the zoox aren't required anymore.. I suppose they could become obsolete in that case.
I have always been under the impression that we don't give our tanks anything close to the intensity of noon day sun on the ocean. I thought I read par can hit 1000..
Perhaps, it's the lower intensity coupled with proper nutrition etc that allows the coral to really thin out the zoox.
I'm sure it's mind bogglinglymore complex than that..
anyways..pics!
Couple old one from last batch.
Here's my JF aqua delight being less than stellar. Growing slowly but not very impressive colour wise.

Here's a good colour trio. RR fruity pebbles, a mystery yellow (maybe millie) and good ol' garf bonsai. Aquadeligjt is down in lower right.
These are all stubborn growers but the yellow has recently started to bud.

A macro deepwater.

A nice contrast. Unfortunately the red coral has died. It started fading so I fragged few branches (half of which has also rtned) the rest is gone. It never really recover from the alk drop. Just sat there all this time.

Last but not least, a bellus shot.. I didn't quite get it perfect because the eyes are not in focus but it's cool that the pectoral fins are so crisp. ..and ya gotta love the background.

 

[slin1977]

Nice photos Matt, that deep water acro, how far from the lights did you position it?

 

[carlosmos]

Hello. Let me ask you what micro elements are you adding? Thanks


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[reefmutt]

Nice photos Matt, that deep water acro, how far from the lights did you position it?

Hey Nils, thanks!
That coral is about 2 inches off the sand bed. 20 inches below water line and 29 inches below the lights.

Hello. Let me ask you what micro elements are you adding? Thanks


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Hi Carlos
About 5 weeks ago I started using Prodibio's Biodigest (bacteria) and Bioptim which is a comprehensive additive.
Here is the info from the Prodibio website on Bioptim:

Bioptim information

Contains all the microelements needed for aquarium life (amino acids, enzymes, natural vitamins…)

Bioptim also provides trace elements:
- sulphur for proteins
- iron for plants and fish blood
- cobalt for B vitamins
- calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, molybdenum and potassium

Dynamises the cellular metabolism of most of the bacteria living in freshwater aquariums
Bioptim speedily accelerates the digestion of organic matter
It also facilitates the elimination of nitrates and phosphates.

Besides adding this every Saturday and Wednesday, I also add:
- a heaping tablespoon of Seachem's powdered strontium chloride (into a filter sock where it dissolves)
- 10 drops AF iodine
- 10 drops AF vitamins.

The only other thing I may consider adding is boron- I've read it is necessary for proper macro algea health- not that I have any.. yet.. not ruling out going back to macro algea, although it is a pain..
I also do a 10% water change every week with Red Sea blue bucket.

 

[reefmutt]

Well.. figured I'd do a little update..
It's been about 5 weeks of Prodibio Biodigest and Bioptim additions.. so far I am pretty happy with the Bioptim but the Biodigest has done nothing for lowering nutrients- yet. Many say it takes a few months... I am getting impatient.. I wanted to see at least a small reduction..
Numbers:
No3 30-40 ppm salifert
Po4 .17-.21 ppm Elos HR/ Nyos
Ca 470 ppm salifert
Alk 7
Mag 1410 ppm salifert
K 440 ppm
Sr. Somewhere around 4 mg/l

I'm not liking how my ca is trending up along with mag..
I have turned off my car reactor and will buffer only for a few days..

Since starting the Bioptim, I have seen a solid but not earth shattering turn around in many corals and growth has begun on many. I'd say it's a modest improvement. It is still early but I like what I am seeing so far..
As for nutrients, despite the bery high levels, bubble and bryopsis is not growing rapidly but is growing. I am
Cleaning the glass about twice a week.
Here a couple before and after shots of corals that were not happy before Bioptim additions.
Apple jax/ palletta pink tip copy:
April 15

May 20:

No name blue tenuis:
April 15

May 20


Here's a lates shot of my JF Flame. It is quite happy..

Here it is a couple months ago.. march 12. Also neat to see how the corals around it have grown..

Another starfish shot..

And a couple random shots..
Upper left corner. The red coral has decided to do a rapid push. The others are just growing slowly..but growing

General top down..


I have been reducing my photo period lately.. I have always run long but I keep seeing so many stunning sps tanks with shorter photo periods.. gonna give it a try..
I have blue LEDs, in my AI primes opening at 9 am and only going to about 20% and whites at 3%. At 11:30 2 blue + come on, 12:30 2blue + and two coral +, then 3x150w radium at 1pm. Radiums are off again by 6:30, the 2b+ and c+ off at 7:30, last 2 b+ off at 9pm and leds off by 10:30
So the big lighting - all6 t5 and mh are only on together from 12:30-7:30p I have also but a 20-30 minute break in the mh in the middle..
I'm trying to get rid of some white patches in one coral which is high up. It's the only coral left with those light stress patches..
We shall see.. so far there has been no reduction in colour in any of the corals..

 

[Usernam Invalid]

Things are looking better and better. Love the way the flame looks [emoji106]

 

[markalot]

That tenuis really turned it around, I've never been able to keep one alive for long.

I have to clean my glass every other day yet Nitrates are near 0 and PO4 around .06. What is up with that? What are we missing about nutrients?

 

[reefmutt]

Things are looking better and better. Love the way the flame looks [emoji106]

Thanks! The flame is doing really well. Can't wait to see it a bit bigger ..

That tenuis really turned it around, I've never been able to keep one alive for long.

I have to clean my glass every other day yet Nitrates are near 0 and PO4 around .06. What is up with that? What are we missing about nutrients?

Hey Mark, tenuis is an odd coral. I have a couple pink matrix pieces that are on fire with growth and other 'tenuis' pieces that do not do much.. I suspect that are not all true tenuis..
As for class cleaning, I am in the same boat. When my nutrients were lower, I was cleaning my glass every day.
Clearly, it's more than just nutrients .. overall water chemistry, as it shifts over time, must favor different types of algea.
I'm this close to adding a bucket of Fiji mud to my sump.. maybe that'll lower my nutrients and raise the film algea population.

 

[kevlow]

Absolutely spectacular! Growing and glowing.

The Blue Tenuis turnaround is remarkably improved but so is the blue and purple piece to the left of it. It is surely worthy of a mention. I would be proud to have a piece of that in my tank.

The flame is awesome. The blue and the green corals growing next to each other look like two fireworks explosions in the sky.

Whatever course you are on I would maintain without wavering one degree.
I would want to see just how far I could take it.

Good Show!

 

[DiscusHeckel]

Matt, have you got rid of AEFWs? Your corals look so healthy that I would not be able to tell that you had AEFW infestation.

 

[Pife]

What is the one in the top? It is beautiful in shape and color.

 

[reefmutt]

Matt, have you got rid of AEFWs? Your corals look so healthy that I would not be able to tell that you had AEFW infestation.

Thanks Bulent. I wouldn't say I ever had an infestation. I've certainly seen aefws in there at times but as far as I'm concerned, peppermint shrimp are a tried and true control for them. Ever since I saw my first aefw in the tank, I have had peppermints in there. They are voracious hunters of the eggs. They will, on occasion even eat an aefw right off an acropora but I guess I CAN NOT say they will eradicate them from a system but I bet they could.... with enough of them... I guess they'd have trouble getting to all worms on larger colonies but if the worm have to come out to lay eggs, the eggs won't last long...
Anyways, I really don't think about aefw.. I still clip and dip all additions but I don't worry about them in my tank. I thought some of my ailing corals had aefws but I have yet to see a bit mark in my tank anywhere and when I dipped several sickly frags, I found nothing.

What is the one in the top? It is beautiful in shape and color.

Thanks Brandon, I'm really not sure what it is but it was sold to me as an ice/fire exhinata- but not an Aussie.. originally, it had more of a traditional shape but since it's been up high in the back corner, it has grown that way. It gets a fair bit of flow there..
Here's a macro:

Here's a frontal shot from a month ago..

 

[Pife]

It's amazing!

 

[slavetonet]

Well done Matt. Looks like its all nice a healthy even with such higher nutrients.
All have bounced back to A1 condition.

 

[reefmutt]

It's amazing!

I agree! It is amazing. I absolutely love it..Now that I have showed it off and high lighted it, it will rtn overnight..

Well done Matt. Looks like its all nice a healthy even with such higher nutrients.
All have bounced back to A1 condition.

Well.. healthy is relative, I guess.. the corals don't look anything like what's happening in your tank.
But thanks!

 

[codydemmel4]

wow everything is looking great!

 

[Bulldog88]

Reading this entire thread is so encouraging. These are the types of tanks in our hobby we strive to achieve. Thanks for sharing your mistakes and lessons learned so others don't me the same.

 

[Alex Costa]

Great photos....and the corals look very healthy.....

Well done man!