Mhucasey's SPS obsession

[reefmutt]

I absolutely hate the random and seemingly unexplained stn.. Hope you get the the bottom of it, Matt.

Curious, why the iron citrate dosing?

 

[mhucasey]

Matt,

What is MB7?

Microbacter 7, A general bacteria mix for jump starting nitrifying bacteria.

 

[mhucasey]

Ha, tis the season for sps issues sounds about right! You and me both buddy. Sorry to hear that, hopefully they recover.
I have AIO on my shelf waiting to go but have not used them yet. But, like you, I am interested in the aquaforest line (after seeing some of the tanks on here that run it). I actually noticed your post in the aquaforest sponsor thread earlier! Do you know of places we can get hold of these products yet?

Luckily its only affecting a couple of pieces and its likely 100% my fault from dosing too much of everything at once, so Im crossing my fingers. I still am a big believer in the pellets, I just think they really require periodic replacement rather than just topping them off.

As for Aquaforest, the tanks running their stuff are pretty compelling, and I have the reactor already, so I'm very tempted. Salty Supply carries all their stuff, and the prices for the various supplements are pretty good. If I tried it out I would need to do a big water change with their probiotic salt mix, that isn't as cheap. The regular reef salt is 53.99 for 25KG bucket, looks like their stuff is on sale right now

 

[mhucasey]

Do we need to mark December as the SPS issues month ?

Last week at my return of a 3 day trip, my Aussie SSC was losing tissue at the base and in the first branch. solved it by cutting the affected branch and adding glue in all the affected area. All was documented on my thread with pictures.

Coral doing GREAT with crazy polyp extension and lost of tissue stopped. The only change was an upgrade from my 20G fuge to a 40G. All parameters before and after the same, no other coral affected beside this one...... Well it is what it is.....it is DECEMBER !!!

Daniel

with so many people having issues at the same time, Its pretty strange:sad2:

 

[mhucasey]

I absolutely hate the random and seemingly unexplained stn.. Hope you get the the bottom of it, Matt.

Curious, why the iron citrate dosing?

As part of my trace dosing, I have always dosed a small amount of iron, but recently I have really curtailed it since I think the pellets are contributing enough Iron on their own. Four drops is a very small quantity, but it may have been too much. I don't use the Green FM Color elements with Iron in it.

 

[mhucasey]

MB7 = Microbacter 7.

Sorry about the issues Matt. I took my AIO offline, the fines finally did it for me, I said no GFO and I mean no GFO! I'll stick with a low dose of vinegar and raise it if need be. I'm having the hardest time raising PO4 which is totally unlike my tank. My regular patches of algae have vanished, LPS dying, and I'm feeding heavily to attempt to get back to healthier water.

I may go back to regular bio-pellets in the future if vinegar doesn't work out.

I'm also a little concerned that the GFO fines in the middle chamber of my sump are not exhausted and helping to suppress PO4. I've always had elevated PO4 until now.

I still believe in them, I just think they need replacing or they grind down to where there is nothing but GFO left. But I'm with you on not wanting GFO in the first place and especially not as fines in the tank or sump. Im curious to see how the pellets do with a smaller quantity and whole pellets rather than bits and pieces.

 

[afernandez]

sorry to hear that Matt,

i pulled my AIO bps a few weeks ago, going back with my good old Warner marine pellets. i read this before leaving the house, i turned on my reefbrites just to check if everything was ok. i had a random episode of mystery stn of frags in my rack that baffles me bc the mother colony's are just fine. hope everything works out well

 

[MichaelW]

Matt, I was not aware aquaforest used any zeolite stones? I thought it was dosing bacteria and food etc? I know they recommend siporax as extra surface.

 

[mhucasey]

Matt, I was not aware aquaforest used any zeolite stones? I thought it was dosing bacteria and food etc? I know they recommend siporax as extra surface.

They have a range of products, but the ones that I'm interested and are the stones. Pawel is using them.

 

[mhucasey]

sorry to hear that Matt,

i pulled my AIO bps a few weeks ago, going back with my good old Warner marine pellets. i read this before leaving the house, i turned on my reefbrites just to check if everything was ok. i had a random episode of mystery stn of frags in my rack that baffles me bc the mother colony's are just fine. hope everything works out well

Its strange that there seems to be a rash of issues. Perhaps its seasonal. It looks like the two corals affected aren't getting any worse, so hopefully everything will work out fine

 

[scrapz]

Sorry to hear about the troubles. I look at it this way, the more you things you add, the harder it is to pinpoint the source of the problem. I'll be refraining from using anything besides a calcium reactor, large fuge, and undersized skimmer this time around.

 

[mhucasey]

Sorry to hear about the troubles. I look at it this way, the more you things you add, the harder it is to pinpoint the source of the problem. I'll be refraining from using anything besides a calcium reactor, large fuge, and undersized skimmer this time around.

I hear you, though other than the Calcium the stuff I added is my normal weekly trace element dose. I will be switching to a Calcium Reactor after the new year - they seem to be a much more stable option and some of the best tanks use them.

 

[scrapz]

I hear you, though other than the Calcium the stuff I added is my normal weekly trace element dose. I will be switching to a Calcium Reactor after the new year - they seem to be a much more stable option and some of the best tanks use them.

CA reactor /w reborn media and Kalk dosing. Should take care of your trace elements and keep your PH balanced. Your corals will love it.

 

[mhucasey]

CA reactor /w reborn media and Kalk dosing. Should take care of your trace elements and keep your PH balanced. Your corals will love it.

Yep, I know they will I already have the peristaltic pump, I just can't purchase the reactor and CO2 stuff right now with the holidays coming up.

 

[scrapz]

Yep, I know they will I already have the peristaltic pump, I just can't purchase the reactor and CO2 stuff right now with the holidays coming up.

Heh, I feel you. I lucked out, I just got a MTC minical and ph controller from a buddy for practically $10 bucks. Last night I went and picked up a 10lb tank and regulator for $10 and another 5lb tank for $5. Being a forum whore has paid off

 

[swk]

I hear you, though other than the Calcium the stuff I added is my normal weekly trace element dose. I will be switching to a Calcium Reactor after the new year - they seem to be a much more stable option and some of the best tanks use them.

*THIS*

a good calrx, with Cole parmer, or similar peri pump, carbondoser reg and reborn media = SPS wonderland.

In addition to switching to t5 lighting, this was the THE BEST thing I've ever done for my tank.

 

[scrapz]

*THIS*

a good calrx, with Cole parmer, or similar peri pump, carbondoser reg and reborn media = SPS wonderland.

In addition to switching to t5 lighting, this was the THE BEST thing I've ever done for my tank.

I cried a little when I google cole palmer pump, cost more than my whole setup so far. Good thing about MTC minical, no need for a peri pump.

I was actually looking to build my own regulator, which is apparently better than the aquariumplants one. Just so hard to find the regulators on ebay nowadays

 

[swk]

Mhucasey's SPS obsession

Meh - even guys with mtc run them.

And, eBay is the only way to go. I got the idea digital brushless model for aquarium use. Brand new in box with manual, warranty card, etc for 250 shipped.

There are definitely better regs, but I've had tremendously fantastic experience with mine and the price is right compared to some of the other, beefier regs

 

[MichaelW]

They have a range of products, but the ones that I'm interested and are the stones. Pawel is using them.

Yeah I saw that in his thread and was confused at the time 2. What is the benefit of the stones over the bacteria and polymer dosing as I believe Damien and Deborah are doing? I guess I have more reading to do.

 

[mhucasey]

I cried a little when I google cole palmer pump, cost more than my whole setup so far. Good thing about MTC minical, no need for a peri pump.

I was actually looking to build my own regulator, which is apparently better than the aquariumplants one. Just so hard to find the regulators on ebay nowadays

I work in Biotech, and got one when we shut down one of our facilities, so it was free The Aquarium Plants regulator design sounds the the ideal one, ill be interested if you can DIY it.