Mark's 150 gallon

[markalot]

These are really good news mark,happy for you:beer:

Do you ever think of stopping vinegar dosing?

Thanks Mike.

I never considered it because without vinegar I could not keep NO3 below 10, but something changed. Perhaps it's feeding more pellets and less flake, or perhaps it's the matrix I added months ago finally kicking in. I'd rather not use it so I guess I'll see what happens as I lower the vinegar dose.

 

[reefmutt]

Thanks guys!

PO4 = .05
NO3 = 1
KH = 7.0

I was a little surprised at the low nitrates. I'll drop my vinegar dose just a little to compensate. The 2 drops of PhosphateRx seems to be the ticket for keeping PO4 steady, nice and easy.

Colors continue to improve and at the moment every coral looks healthy.

Phosphate rx.. Is that lanthanum chloride? Brightwell?
Do you use two drops a day only?
Also, it's been 37 hours since your last lokani shot... I'm starting to jones...

 

[nemodan]

Hi Matt

I have been kind of silent last weeks, but I have been reading and following all the thread. Pretty amazing the recovery in your tank. That is so nice. Keep it on that was and sooner we will see an explosion of colors there as the colonies fill the tank.

Congrats !!!!

Best Daniel

 

[markalot]

Phosphate rx.. Is that lanthanum chloride? Brightwell?
Do you use two drops a day only?
Also, it's been 37 hours since your last lokani shot... I'm starting to jones...

LOL,

Yep, it is lanthanum (diluted at some unknown amount) and just 2 drops a day in the first chamber before the skimmer. I don't know who makes it but it's not Brightwell. I am assuming the sump will need a good vacuum from time to time due to the precipitate.

 

[markalot]

Hi Matt

I have been kind of silent last weeks, but I have been reading and following all the thread. Pretty amazing the recovery in your tank. That is so nice. Keep it on that was and sooner we will see an explosion of colors there as the colonies fill the tank.

Congrats !!!!

Best Daniel

How's it going Daniel, has your tank stabilized? I hope you don't remain quiet!

 

[reefmutt]

LOL,

Yep, it is lanthanum (diluted at some unknown amount) and just 2 drops a day in the first chamber before the skimmer. I don't know who makes it but it's not Brightwell. I am assuming the sump will need a good vacuum from time to time due to the precipitate.

Do you use a filter sock?

 

[markalot]

Do you use a filter sock?

No, nothing to catch any precipitate and the tank never clouds, probably due to the low amount used. Every issue I've read using lanthanum has involved someone using a pool product rather than an already diluted reef product.

 

[markalot]

Frag rack shot, which includes the Lokani.

FTS. Colors continue to improve. Most notable here is the purple cap turning purple. Not a big fan of the purple cap and I still don't know where it came from, I just know I did not buy it on purpose.



The sandbed is showing less and less brown dust, a happy surprise.

 

[mhucasey]

Frag rack shot, which includes the Lokani.

FTS. Colors continue to improve. Most notable here is the purple cap turning purple. Not a big fan of the purple cap and I still don't know where it came from, I just know I did not buy it on purpose.



The sandbed is showing less and less brown dust, a happy surprise.

The whole tank looks generally healthier, it's hard to put a finger on what it is but something certainly changed. It may be the bulb change or it may be chemistry related, the exact cause may be hard to track down at this point, but I'm happy for you man!

 

[markalot]

The whole tank looks generally healthier, it's hard to put a finger on what it is but something certainly changed. It may be the bulb change or it may be chemistry related, the exact cause may be hard to track down at this point, but I'm happy for you man!

Thanks Matt, I feel the same way. Certainly not in top form but everything just a little more colorful which makes the tank look better.

 

[nemodan]

How's it going Daniel, has your tank stabilized? I hope you don't remain quiet!

I stay quiet because there isn't any positive news in my tank. The only thing stable is Alk at ~7.5 Dkh. Nutrients are a disaster high (phos 25 and NO3 50 ). Corals still RTN. Some of the new ones surviving.

That's it. That was my update.

BTW .... thank you for asking !!

Best !!!
Daniel

 

[MichaelW]

So happy to see things are getting better. Display is looking good. And I still cream of your lokani... I have been looking for one like it forever. No I,a round ever gets them or has anything like it that I know of

 

[markalot]

I stay quiet because there isn't any positive news in my tank. The only thing stable is Alk at ~7.5 Dkh. Nutrients are a disaster high (phos 25 and NO3 50 ). Corals still RTN. Some of the new ones surviving.

That's it. That was my update.

BTW .... thank you for asking !!

Best !!!
Daniel

Daniel that sucks, I wonder where the PO4 is coming from? This sounds like the problem I was having a few months ago, PO4 would spike regardless of what I did. I do hope things turn around soon!

So happy to see things are getting better. Display is looking good. And I still cream of your lokani... I have been looking for one like it forever. No I,a round ever gets them or has anything like it that I know of

Pretty excited about that Lokani eh? I love auto correct. I really lucked out with it, I had no idea what it was and bought it because another coral I wanted was losing flesh. I would have never known.

I wanted to mention that I have to clean the glass every day, EVERY day. I've done a couple of PO4 tests and always get .04 - .06 so I guess it's just available Po4 in the water column. Corals look too good to do anything so I wipe, and wipe, and wipe again.

Going to back off dosing the Flatworm Stop to see if that's causing the problem.

 

[plyle02]

Mark,
Looking great, I only have 1 advisory tip to make, just let whatever you are doing continue, less human interference right now. The corals polyps are noticeably expanded, even the LPS corals look very happy. In my tanks, I have ALWAYS used this as my leading indicator on the well being of my sps corals. I know it has been a long journey, but whatever is happening looks great. Give the tank, corals, and most importantly yourself an opportunity to simply settle. The daily glass cleaning is a good thing, and I think it gives the corals an additional food source each time we swipe. Not only are algaes present, but also copepod/isopod eggs are usually present on the glass. That said, most heavy established tanks need this daily service, and I bet your corals love it! I think the best thing you did is to nuke the tank with interceptor, that was the move that seems to have turned things around for you, so great job! Oh btw, I just spit out my coffee when I read Michael's response, now that is funny stuff right there, lol.... Cheers Mark!!!

 

[reefmutt]

One word: (besides cream! )

Fanfrickintastic!

 

[Wrangy]

Im definitely creaming too :lolspin:

Looking really good Mark I'm stoked to see the tank coming along in bounds with each update!!

 

[Myka]

Those photos with only 4 days between - wow! That is very fast!

 

[markalot]

5 more days.

nasuta or subulata

Hawkins

Sarmentosa

I credit this Rose milli for forcing me to dip. It stayed green with bright red highlights on the frag rack for 2 weeks but after placing it on this rock within days it lost polyp extension and quickly turned a very unhealthy grey/brown. Never saw any bugs but I think the results are obvious.

A few more.

 

[Wrangy]

The difference is like night and day and it's only been 5 days :eek1: lol

There's definitely some eye popping colour coming back! the acro's are getting their glow again

 

[Pife]

Wow. The turn around is amazing! I might start a thread in here just so I can try and keep up with the Jones's. Your tank is looking great.