Mark's 150 gallon
- Thread starter markalot
- Start date
markalot
...
About 140 gallons? 150 tank + rock + 30 gallon sump. It's just a guess. I did two drops for a while and PO4 stayed around .06, upped to 3 drops when I started feeding a little heavier and that seemed to work well.
markalot
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Things continue to go well.
I am still chasing KH, still under 7.0. Good problem to have.
Some coral colors were a little light for my taste and the end of month Phosphate test cam back at 9 on the ULR, or just under .03 PO4. Too low fo rmy taste so reducing to 2 drops PhosphateRx daily.
Growth is tremendous on most acros, with my old friends now really taking off, which makes me extremely happy.
It's pink with a blue blush on the tips!
I am still chasing KH, still under 7.0. Good problem to have.
Some coral colors were a little light for my taste and the end of month Phosphate test cam back at 9 on the ULR, or just under .03 PO4. Too low fo rmy taste so reducing to 2 drops PhosphateRx daily.
Growth is tremendous on most acros, with my old friends now really taking off, which makes me extremely happy.
It's pink with a blue blush on the tips!
FloformAustria
New member
nice FTS Mark!
looking good!
Cheers
looking good!
Cheers
milsaltnewbie07
New member
Holy cow Mark that tank is on autopilot brother wow. Insane how good it looks . That red robin ia looking so sexy.
DiscusHeckel
Acropora Gardener
I would be very happy with the colours you are pulling. The sight of your mushrooms has spooked me though.
Keep up the good work Mark. Thanks for sharing your photos.
Keep up the good work Mark. Thanks for sharing your photos.
markalot
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Thank you all for the kind words, it really makes the hobby more fun.
Things are still slowly improving, especially the reds. I have realized now that I had been running too low Alk for months, and this has helped to explain why some SPS did well while others refused and even died. I don't think this had anything to do with the original crash but it may have contributed.
During this last episode I lost one frag of my blue stag, half of another, while others showed stress but have returned to full health. I had to toss two small milli frags as well which ended up dying on the frag rack.
So how bad was the Alk issue? Over the past month I've gone from 1 tsp Kalk per two gallons topoff to fully saturated at two tsp per gallon and I still haven't hit 7.0 KH, though I am holding steady now around 6.7. How long was the tank ready to take off but struggling with low Alk? All I can do is make sure it doesn't happen again.
In addition to fixing Alk I dosed CaNO3 once, just 1/2 tsp, but enough to get a shade of pink in the Nitrate test (Salifert). Still near 0, but not clear. It's been 4 days since dosing and overall colors seem a little richer with no observed negative effects.
The subulata (Katropora) is still lacking the vivid greens and purples that I'm used too.
However the red one right next to it ... my gosh.
Valida on teh left, subulata on the right for comparison.
Red Robin on the left and the smaller frag of Katropora on the right.
KBG
This one is stuck at these dullish colors.
The hairy twins, horrida on the left with a really nice turquoise base and Cousin It, which has spots of intense red but a lot of brow as well, not that you can actually see it.
This one is exciting. It's hard to photograph but the appearance is a deep red with no hints of brown, unlike the millis which are red + tan.
Things are still slowly improving, especially the reds. I have realized now that I had been running too low Alk for months, and this has helped to explain why some SPS did well while others refused and even died. I don't think this had anything to do with the original crash but it may have contributed.
During this last episode I lost one frag of my blue stag, half of another, while others showed stress but have returned to full health. I had to toss two small milli frags as well which ended up dying on the frag rack.
So how bad was the Alk issue? Over the past month I've gone from 1 tsp Kalk per two gallons topoff to fully saturated at two tsp per gallon and I still haven't hit 7.0 KH, though I am holding steady now around 6.7. How long was the tank ready to take off but struggling with low Alk? All I can do is make sure it doesn't happen again.
In addition to fixing Alk I dosed CaNO3 once, just 1/2 tsp, but enough to get a shade of pink in the Nitrate test (Salifert). Still near 0, but not clear. It's been 4 days since dosing and overall colors seem a little richer with no observed negative effects.
The subulata (Katropora) is still lacking the vivid greens and purples that I'm used too.
However the red one right next to it ... my gosh.
Valida on teh left, subulata on the right for comparison.
Red Robin on the left and the smaller frag of Katropora on the right.
KBG
This one is stuck at these dullish colors.
The hairy twins, horrida on the left with a really nice turquoise base and Cousin It, which has spots of intense red but a lot of brow as well, not that you can actually see it.
This one is exciting. It's hard to photograph but the appearance is a deep red with no hints of brown, unlike the millis which are red + tan.
markalot
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Wanted to add this shot of a recovering green poci. I almost lost this one, with it finally improving once the Alk issue was fixed. Extremely intolerant of low Alk. I know, it's a poci, but the green polyps and yellow base are very attractive when healthy. The pink Poci right next to it did not have any issues with the low Alk.
I mentioned I lost a couple of blue stag frags ... put two down on the sandbed expecting to lose both, one died but this one came roaring back and even at 100 PAR is very healthy with decent color.
Meteor Shower cyphastrea might be considered invasive.
I wonder if it will continue to kill the digi until I have a cyphastrea tree?
Colors only a true Acropora aficionado would love. :lolspin:
I've always enjoyed when a random coral from back in my early reefing days finds a nice spot and thrives. Xenia NOT included.
Will end with the Lokani. *click for full size*
I mentioned I lost a couple of blue stag frags ... put two down on the sandbed expecting to lose both, one died but this one came roaring back and even at 100 PAR is very healthy with decent color.
Meteor Shower cyphastrea might be considered invasive.
I wonder if it will continue to kill the digi until I have a cyphastrea tree?
Colors only a true Acropora aficionado would love. :lolspin:
I've always enjoyed when a random coral from back in my early reefing days finds a nice spot and thrives. Xenia NOT included.
Will end with the Lokani. *click for full size*
FloformAustria
New member
:bigeyes: :bigeyes:
i like it alot
i like it alot
markalot
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Some colors are good, others are meh. Thanks though!
:bigeyes: :bigeyes:
i like it alot
Thanks Flo.
Hi Mark
Keep up whatever you're doing because the colors are amazing.
I just wish some of those colors at home. I run a half brown - half green sps tank...
Green is a start.
Yea, I'm shocked every time I see it.
I added a second half teaspoon of CaNO3 yesterday after seeing a notable uptick in colors, especially the greens and purples. Reds unchanged but I've had issues with reds in the past but it may have been PO4 rather than NO3.
I took a couple of tank shots so I can compare later. Slowly but surely things are filling in.
