Mark's 150 gallon

[markalot]

The water changes have really done wonders. The middle of damaged corals look really good, tips getting better. I purchased a bunch of cheap frags so I'm all in now.

First up the existing corals that show the most improvement.

Slimer has been able to repair a few tips and polyps are now evident where none was before. How do they do it?

The teal stag did not lose any tips but did suffer color loss. This has busted out the bright blue since yesterday.

This makes me want to puke. Cousin It appears to have been able to repair one top but the others are in pretty bad shape.

A day before I started the serial water changes the Palmer's Blue, which had shown no issues, suddenly lost a tip and had another falling fast. Hopefully I put an end to it.

The SSC replacement, a random unknown frag, has held on through the entire ordeal.

I love the Lokani. This thing is blue under a white flashlight. :fun4: In the last 2 weeks it has managed to put on some tip growth and the base has extended to the edge of the disc it sits on. Now that the tank is improving watch it decline.

 

[markalot]

A couple of the purple stylo frags have greatly improved over the last two days. I haven't seen this good a coloration in a long time.

Now for the new frags, all from a Tidal Gardens live sale.
"red" dragon

"icefire" echinata

"purple" acro

setosa

undata

spongodes (I am daring the MEN to show back up )

blue pavona

Obviously I will be doing more water changes in the near future, it's really helped to reset whatever was wrong. In addition ORP rises to a higher max value after each change. This tank used to run in the 300's but had slowly dropped to the low 200's over the last 6 months. I assumed the probe was dirty but perhaps it was an indication of a real problem?

I could easily get addicted to water changes if the positive results continue.

 

[reefmutt]

Wow! That's great news, Mark.
Forgot, do you use a ca reactor?

 

[markalot]

Wow! That's great news, Mark.
Forgot, do you use a ca reactor?

Just Kalk with 2 part and a doser ready if it doesn't keep up.

 

[rovster]

Not to hijack, but here are some pics of my corals during my "funk"...





Some SPS did not seem affected, most were. Montis and BN were first to show signs of discontent. Anxiously awaiting your results. I first blamed it on nutrients, but later concluded that it was alk related.....

 

[sprite]

That's awesome things are looking up Mark. I might of missed it but did you pin it down to any one thing?

 

[markalot]

Not to hijack, but here are some pics of my corals during my "funk"...

Some SPS did not seem affected, most were. Montis and BN were first to show signs of discontent. Anxiously awaiting your results. I first blamed it on nutrients, but later concluded that it was alk related.....

Did you have any serious tip burn? That's what really got me, just about every acro had some sort of tip issue, either a loss of color or complete dieback.

 

[rovster]

Mine had both tip and burn at the base. Some of the burn would course through the branches. Overall appearance looked burned, dull, lackluster, and took on a flat bluish-greyish appearance.

 

[nemodan]

HURRAY !!!!!

:celeb3: :celeb3: :celeb3:

:beer: :beer:

Daniel

 

[milsaltnewbie07]

Wow Mark. That is so sweet that that tank is turning around man.. yayy

 

[markalot]

Wow Mark. That is so sweet that that tank is turning around man.. yayy

Thanks, about time it turns around.

So for whatever it's worth ORP continues to slowly rise with no maintenance being done to either the probe or that section of the sump. :reading:

 

[markalot]

Apparently I bought my test kit a year ago and at the time postage WAS paid so i got the results. Seems like some tests are missing? How about that PO4!

 

[M007]

Isn't that P04 at the bottom under "Nutrient Group"?

 

[markalot]

Isn't that P04 at the bottom under "Nutrient Group"?

Yea, I meant how about how High it is.

 

[markalot]

I do find it rather humorous that strontium is a little LOW. :lolspin: I should dose more.

 

[drawman]

Interesting Mark. What was your test kit reading?

 

[markalot]

Interesting Mark. What was your test kit reading?

I tested once and tossed the kit 20 minutes later with a few choice words. It tested somewhere between low and high. Seriously a terrible test.

 

[mhucasey]

Zero zinc, way high phosphate, but strontium and potassium are good. Weird. I've been hearing about depleted zinc being an issue for SPS but I haven't seen more details.

 

[markalot]

Zero zinc, way high phosphate, but strontium and potassium are good. Weird. I've been hearing about depleted zinc being an issue for SPS but I haven't seen more details.

I think the tank was just plain filthy due to poor exports and irregular water changes. I notice now the colors of both the male and female anthias have improved as well as the midas blenny. Food is the same so this must be water quality.

Sandbed is still covered in green cyano so I think the best plan of action is to continue larger than normal water changes, at least weekly if not twice a week. I did another deep cleaning of the skimmer and will see how it performs over the next few days. I've got it skimming wetter which used to work ok but lately leads to overflows. Perhaps not sucking air from outside will help.

 

[markalot]

Interesting Mark. What was your test kit reading?

Did you mean PO4? I just realized that I tested a day before and after I sent the Triton test and got .03 and .08 via the Hanna ULR. Could it be jumping around that much?

Sample was taken on the 21st and sent out on the 22nd.