Mark's 150 gallon
- Thread starter markalot
- Start date
markalot
...
Thanks Sprite.
KH still at 8. :headwally:
PO4 down to .08
NO3 5.
If trees don't grow they die, and it appears many SPS are the same way. I've got to turn this around or I'm going to lose the stags.
milsaltnewbie07
New member
have you dosed alk at all Mark, or its just staying there without dosing?
markalot
...
Just staying there, no dosing of anything.
This is my skimmer, PA still has the page though it's been discontinued.
https://premiumaquatics.com/products/super-reef-octopus-xp2000-cone-skimmer-sump.html
I think it's too small, even with the neck extender I have on it.
SRO 3000 is a different design but just a bit too big for my middle chamber, so the choice is SSS 3000 or SSS 5000. I'm thinking the 5000 with the honking big cup.
https://premiumaquatics.com/product...er-octopus-5000sss-internal-protein-skim.html
Though maybe the 3000 would work.
https://premiumaquatics.com/product...er-octopus-3000sss-internal-protein-skim.html
milsaltnewbie07
New member
http://affordableaquatic.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=18_312
http://m.fish-street.com/coral_box_cloud_c9_dc_protein_skimmer
The Aquamaxx em500 or 600 are animals. And so is that cloud 9. Cant beat it for the price
http://m.fish-street.com/coral_box_cloud_c9_dc_protein_skimmer
The Aquamaxx em500 or 600 are animals. And so is that cloud 9. Cant beat it for the price
aggie13reef
New member
Mark,
I have been considering upgrading skimmers as well. I cannot get my nuisance algae under control and it is one thing I have not tried. Also I figure a bigger skimmer never hurt anyone! Best of luck.
I have been considering upgrading skimmers as well. I cannot get my nuisance algae under control and it is one thing I have not tried. Also I figure a bigger skimmer never hurt anyone! Best of luck.
markalot
...
Well, good question and I don't know. I've never understood why PO4 rises so high if I don't run GFO, it was 1.8 and climbing with all acros browning before I put GFO back online.
I should add, so it's not all doom and gloom, that the Lokani looks fabulous. Someone point me to the store that sells fool proof acros, I need more.
nemodan
New member
Mark.....as Matt said....those numbers are fine. Without dosing Alk will go down, also if now is very slow because the coral growing has also been reduced.
Do you have polyp extension day/night , in those coral you know you had polyps going out before ?
For me, no polyps or very reduced extension (compared with previous observations of the same coral) , is a red flag. But if you see the polyps, in MY EXPERIENCE, just give time and do not modify anything. Those numbers are good.
Daniel
Do you have polyp extension day/night , in those coral you know you had polyps going out before ?
For me, no polyps or very reduced extension (compared with previous observations of the same coral) , is a red flag. But if you see the polyps, in MY EXPERIENCE, just give time and do not modify anything. Those numbers are good.
Daniel
Last edited:
reefmutt
Active member
I guess the no skim/over skim is a pain.. But I don't think buying a new skimmer will solve anything..
I agree with Dan.. You still need to just let things settle down..
Before the tear down, things were pretty good if I remember..
I Forget.. Do you have an algea fuge or dsb?
You're not dosing any carbon right?
Do you dose any bacteria?
I agree with Dan.. You still need to just let things settle down..
Before the tear down, things were pretty good if I remember..
I Forget.. Do you have an algea fuge or dsb?
You're not dosing any carbon right?
Do you dose any bacteria?
markalot
...
Hi Daniel,
Polyp extension is normal, even a little better on the blue stag, however the base of the slimer is in severe distress. It's an odd one when it has issues. Full polyp extension but purple brown skin that slimes and then tends to sloth off.
The numbers I posted today are good, two days ago they were bad, and I have no stability. If I take GFO offline PO4 will skyrocket, if I leave it online I have to make sure to feed heavy or it will drop too low.
I swear I've looked for PO4 dripping into the tank. 
I've got my feeding regime stable, trying to feed exactly the same amount daily. I suppose it's still an exercise in finding the right combination. I do need to feed enough to keep the fish healthy.
markalot
...
Hi Matt,
I was dosing 15ml vinegar daily via topoff but since topoff is offline I've been trying to match it by manually dosing. If I go up to 20ml of vinegar a day I get snot all over the tank, 15ml seems to be the limit, 10ml seems to equate slowly rising nitrates.
No bacteria.
No algae.
3 to 4 inch sandbed, a little too deep really.
I have always had my best results when trying to run the parameters as close to Natural sea water as possible although I tend to run a little higher on the ca side but try to keep my alk about 7 dkh and would recommend running your alk on the low side (no higher than 7-7.5) if you are carbon dosing to maintain ULNS.
I run a shallow sandbed which ranges from about 1'2 an inch to 2 inches where the wrasses sleep. For some reason a deeper sand bed always worries me.
I run a shallow sandbed which ranges from about 1'2 an inch to 2 inches where the wrasses sleep. For some reason a deeper sand bed always worries me.
markalot
...
Hi Greg, thanks. I was 7.5 for the longest time then let it creep up without acting on it. Hopefully I'll be back down to the low 7's sometime this month! :lolspin:
More good news, green is showing up on some "dead" frags using my blue flashlight, so things are not getting worse, might be getting better.
markalot
...
I had a frag toss party tonight, tossing anything that was mostly dead. Not included where the tenuis and Red Planet, which are hanging on.
Mr Anemone was moved back with his own rock on the left side. He's just too darn big for my smaller tank and I don't want to get rid of him, yet. Maybe, just maybe, the clowns will stop humping the back wall in favor of the anemone? :jester: Doubtful.
Quick shot under blue evening lights showing the layout. Note distinct lack of color.
The Miami Orchid has burnt tips now, but otherwise appears ok. KH is finally below 8 at 7.8. I'm shocked that so much damage could occur with a KH of 8.5 unless I missed a higher peak.
Mr Anemone was moved back with his own rock on the left side. He's just too darn big for my smaller tank and I don't want to get rid of him, yet. Maybe, just maybe, the clowns will stop humping the back wall in favor of the anemone? :jester: Doubtful.
Quick shot under blue evening lights showing the layout. Note distinct lack of color.
The Miami Orchid has burnt tips now, but otherwise appears ok. KH is finally below 8 at 7.8. I'm shocked that so much damage could occur with a KH of 8.5 unless I missed a higher peak.
markalot
...
Still looking pretty good to me Mark
Hi Dom, thanks for the encouragement. I'm seeing some marked improvement now spying with my blue flashlight. Getting under 8KH seemed to be the magic weapon. I used a new ALk test kit which gave em the same reading so call me confused about KH. My 40 looks best right at 7KH so I think that will be my target. I used to be scared of 9, now I'm terrified of 8.
milsaltnewbie07
New member
Nice Mark. . So happy for you. You will see that gorgeous tank color back up soon man. As far of being afraid of 8, i feel u. I used to run my alk at similar numbers, but for some reason ever since dropping to 7.7 it has done wonders.
joshky
Acros & Wrasses
"Frag toss party", ahaha... I'm sorry, I'm really close to doing the same thing once things stabilize and I have the courage to buy new acros. I'm going to give a few pieces a bit of time to recover and if they don't do anything I think I'm going to move on. I started my tank with mostly wild frags (granted they had been in captivity almost a year), so I knew there was no guarantee they would thrive in my system. Given my recent problems, they really didn't do well at all. And then there's my pink lemonade that NEVER skipped a beat, the worst that it ever got was it turned more green than yellow and PE wasn't as nice. You can probably guess my favorite acro in my tank. :lol:
