Mark's 150 gallon
- Thread starter markalot
- Start date
markalot
...
It's just so boring not to change things to see if I can get improvements. This is why I moved to all droppers, it prevents my personality type from screwing things up. :fun4:
Living on the edge with that alk! Corals looking great though
Thanks!
I wanted to take pictures but the memory card on the camera says corrupted. I was finally able to get the computer to recognize the card so I could reformat and it seems to work but by that time it was too late for pics. Buying a new memory card just in case.
I am now adding 30ml of each two part daily and KH is at 6.5 and still slowly falling. Has the tank been Alk starved, does this explain some of the issues on a few corals? My goal remains 7KH but I rarely achieve that level for long.
Growth on the slimer is now alarming with new buds everywhere (more than last week). Other easier SPS are showing a ton of new growth as well. The brown acros remain brown and reds remain off so I am reducing Nitrate dosing again and seeing if I get any changes. I've also increases PhosphateRx to 4 drops a day with PO4 hovering around .06. As I referenced above, all of these changes are very gradual due to the way I do things but if I move in the wrong direction it might take weeks to notice and move back.
3 drops MicroE
3 drops Kalum (same dose instructions as MicroE)
4 drops PhosphateRx (up from 2)
5 drops vinegar
0 drops CaNO3 (Stopped for now, nitrates at ~5)
5 drops SpongePower
1/4 tsp Reef Roids or Reef Chili or Coral Frenzy
2 squirts (dropper full) of AcroPower.
Alk and Calcium provided via timed topoff with saturated Kalk plus 30ml 2 part daily.
As far as PhosphateRx, it's difficult to tell what the dose needs to be. Overdosing will apparently not starve the tank of PO4 as it can only reduce it so far. 4 may be overdosing a bit, trying to sort this out with PO4 tests.
Last edited:
markalot
...
Thank you both! As always, can I keep it going or not.
I had some serious cleaning of my smaller tank to do and didn't get to photos until after the t5's shut off so these are LEdelicious as far as colors go.
That tank does look bright under the LED's, it's the daylight colors I'm working on.The slimer was reduced to 3 awkward branches but has recently put on one of those growth spurts that is nothing short of incredible. It's ain't artwork, but it's healthy. :lolspin:
On the right side I'd like to point out another green one, the super easy to grow green digi. Small frag in back, primary piece being overtaken by the cephastrea, and the small 'frag' on the frag rack which is about as big as the parent.
I can grow green SPS like no other. :wildone:
KH is stuck at 6.1, getting a little frustrated as I feed the addiction. Next stop is 40ml a day, each part dosed at alternate hours 12 times a day. This could get costly.
markalot
...
The Cousing It frag RTN'ed yesterday evening and it appears the colony will soon follow. Something happened months ago and it's dead. RIP.
One of my brown frags will soon be cooking up high to see what happens. Either than or I move a frag of the other milli up there to see how it responds, keeping the parent down low where it's happy but lacks good color.
One of my brown frags will soon be cooking up high to see what happens. Either than or I move a frag of the other milli up there to see how it responds, keeping the parent down low where it's happy but lacks good color.
HuskerBioProf
New member
Are you still running the ATI T5/nanobox hybrid? I am building a 150 gallon (5'x2'x2') and I have Dave building me a custom hybrid from a 8 bulb 60" ATI unit (will be 6 bulb plus 2 rows of LED). Are you still liking it and would recommend?
Too late for me to change, but I am pretty excited about it so I want a little confirmation of my decision..haha. I have loved running mostly T5s on my 40 breeder. My LEDs will mostly be for morning/evenings and for extra blue pop during the day.
Too late for me to change, but I am pretty excited about it so I want a little confirmation of my decision..haha. I have loved running mostly T5s on my 40 breeder. My LEDs will mostly be for morning/evenings and for extra blue pop during the day.
markalot
...
Hi Prof,
yes, I like it a LOT. I think you'll be happy with it, just don't underestimate how bright the LED's are, even though they may look dim compared to the T5's.
KH sitting at 6.8 after maybe a day at 7. Cousin It is not dead yet, and perhaps raising the KH is helping. Both It and the blue stag seem to be extremely sensitive to low KH. My new target is 7.2 and to get there I'm now dosing 35ml two part along with the Kalk.
I've been too busy to take many pictures. I shot this looking down the steps. Colors are good, but not great.
Hi Prof,
yes, I like it a LOT. I think you'll be happy with it, just don't underestimate how bright the LED's are, even though they may look dim compared to the T5's.
KH sitting at 6.8 after maybe a day at 7. Cousin It is not dead yet, and perhaps raising the KH is helping. Both It and the blue stag seem to be extremely sensitive to low KH. My new target is 7.2 and to get there I'm now dosing 35ml two part along with the Kalk.
I've been too busy to take many pictures. I shot this looking down the steps. Colors are good, but not great.
That FTS is absolutely brilliant. I love when individual colonies jump out at you from across the room.
Having the back wall blacked out eliminates a lot of eye clutter.
I hope the Cousin It makes it. My own experience seems to point to low alk spikes being more detrimental then high alk spikes.
Congrats! That post looks more like a masterpiece canvas then an actual photo.
Hi Mark,
First, thank you for all of your detailed reporting and documentation! You have really been through it all my friend. I've been following your thread for quite sometime now and I was wondering why you stopped dosing the Lugols Iodine? I recently had the Trition test done and my iodine was very low. Just wanted to see if you've seen any adverse affects to dosing a drop a day.
Thank you and please continue to keep us posted on your beautiful reef.
Kevin
First, thank you for all of your detailed reporting and documentation! You have really been through it all my friend. I've been following your thread for quite sometime now and I was wondering why you stopped dosing the Lugols Iodine? I recently had the Trition test done and my iodine was very low. Just wanted to see if you've seen any adverse affects to dosing a drop a day.
Thank you and please continue to keep us posted on your beautiful reef.
Kevin
markalot
...
Hi Kevin,
thanks for the kind words. I've actually started back up with Lugols, 3 drops daily as of last week. So far no change. I've never seen any adverse effect of Lugols other than the fact the Xenia pest love it.
KH sitting at 6.8 after maybe a day at 7. Cousin It is not dead yet, and perhaps raising the KH is helping. Both It and the blue stag seem to be extremely sensitive to low KH. My new target is 7.2 and to get there I'm now dosing 35ml two part along with the Kalk.
Mark, what were your findings at running KH at 8? That's where I'm currently at and think I need to lower it...
thank you.
Mark, what were your findings at running KH at 8? That's where I'm currently at and think I need to lower it...
thank you.
markalot
...
In my experience a spike from 8 to near 9 did a lot of damage so I'm fearful of running near 8. It may not be a rational fear, a lot of folks run at 8 without any issue, but I prefer some breathing room.
I say this and note that I've had some real damage from KH getting too low, but not the kind of damage a KH spike causes.
watchguy123
New member
I understand the change in alk and nitrate levels but it just seems a few years ago people were running dKh at 11plus. I run mine around 7.5 but am so impressed with your tank and where you manage your alkalinity. Fascinating where the sweet zone of alk actually may be. Thank you for sharing all your info and beautiful results, your acros are stunning.
HuskerBioProf
New member
Do you have a stock list somewhere? I am planning a 5'x2'x2' 150g tank and am curious about how SPS folks are stocking theirs. No problems with the 2 tangs?
reefmutt
Active member
I really think that for whatever reason, that 'sweet spot' varies wildly from tank to tank.. no clue why..
But Mark, you certainly seem to have found yours!
markalot
...
Thanks all.
I usually use the kit lens for the Nikon when taking top downs. If I want a good frontal shot, and who doesn't, I should use my 35mm prime lens but I am usually too lazy to switch. The kit lens is just so convenient but in general the detail and therefor the color will usually be washed out.
For macro shots I use a fairly cheap but reliable Tamron 90mm fixed 1:1 macro lens. It's the older version with manual focus, not the newer version that works with the current auto focus mounts.
---
Alk back down to 6.7 again. Grrrr.
I have been ramping up the use of PhosphateRx which has brought out more blue in the tips of my fabulous brown maricultured frags. Watching for signs of too low nutrients but so far no issues. Up to 5 drops daily.
Last edited:
