My 65G Shallow Reef Tank

[Big E]

Hi Bulent,

That polyp extension looks great.............makes sense as you have dropped your nutrient levels lower.

Were you at nutrient levels where you couldn't drop them lower with just the Bacto balance?

 

[DiscusHeckel]

Hi Bulent,

That polyp extension looks great.............makes sense as you have dropped your nutrient levels lower.

Were you at nutrient levels where you couldn't drop them lower with just the Bacto balance?

Thanks Ed.

Can you please re-phrase your question as I did not quite follow the highlighted bit?

I can lower nutrients to really low levels if I want to by simply increasing the dose slowly without worrying because of the way Bacto-balance is designed means that some nutrients remain in the water column. That said, instead of lowering nutrients by increasing bacto-balance dose I decided to experiment with a Reef Actif instead. I did it simply because of my curiosity. I have insatiable appetite for experimentation.

Hopefully, I will give you a better answer once I understand your question.

Cheers

 

[Big E]

Sorry for the quirky wording in my post.......I was bacically asking what you were tyring to accomplish with the Reef actif? I did see your nutrients have settled to new lower levels.

You did answer the question in that you are experimenting with Reef Actif........I'm not sure I see what it offers that Bacto balance doesn't? Bacto balance contains a carbon source, correct?

 

[DiscusHeckel]

Sorry for the quirky wording in my post.......I was bacically asking what you were tyring to accomplish with the Reef actif? I did see your nutrients have settled to new lower levels.

You did answer the question in that you are experimenting with Reef Actif........I'm not sure I see what it offers that Bacto balance doesn't? Bacto balance contains a carbon source, correct?

Thanks Ed.

I am working on an intellectually acceptable answer to your perceptive question. I will come back to you once I have an answer.

 

[DiscusHeckel]

Here are some NO3 and PO4 data. Below is some relevant information, which is worth noting. I will update these charts as I go along and will try to analyse them at some point in the future.

• TM Reef Actif dosing began on 25th May 2017.
• The peaks in NO3 and PO4 readings in the middle of July 2017 are due to the fact that I stopped dosing TM NP-Bacto-Balance between 5th July and 15th July as I was away.
• Both NO3 and PO4 tests were carried out in the same day at the same time, NO3 followed by PO4.
• TM NP-Bacto-Balance dose remains constant.
• Feeding amount remained constant (more or less, but cannot be guaranteed) until 28th July 2017 after which it was increased to ~4 cubes per day from ~ 3 cubes per day.
• I have included NO3 and PO4 data prior to the commencement of Reef Actif to see nutrient trends without it. The starting date was chosen randomly.

 

[Big E]

I read the comments from Hans you amassed on your facebook page from the German forum and some of it seems nonsensical..........that's not unusual as some of his posts can tend to contain psychobabble:spin1:

The quotes on copper seem confusing. It expels zoo but not like other products?

From what I gather it's a "pastel color enhancer" that may not be as damaging as straight dosing of copper and/or other metals that expel zoo.

I did notice from your comparison (facebook) pics the gomezi does have some expelled zoo on the branch skin (lighter-whitish) in the after photo.

 

[DiscusHeckel]

I read the comments from Hans you amassed on your facebook page from the German forum and some of it seems nonsensical..........that's not unusual as some of his posts can tend to contain psychobabble:spin1:

The quotes on copper seem confusing. It expels zoo but not like other products?

From what I gather it's a "pastel color enhancer" that may not be as damaging as straight dosing of copper and/or other metals that expel zoo.

I did notice from your comparison (facebook) pics the gomezi does have some expelled zoo on the branch skin (lighter-whitish) in the after photo.

All these coral product companies should do themselves a favor and just give us straight info on the results we should expect......that's all people care about.

What you read on my Facebook page is a translation submitted by someone to Google. This translation may or may not be faithful to Hans' original words. I do not know. I can also send you the original link in German. I will approach Hans-Werner and ask him to clarify a few points.He is good at responding to queries.

 

[Big E]

That would be great if he could give us more straight forward information. He used to occasionally post on RC, but I'm not sure he still does.

I've seen him posting at the "other" reef site.

 

[codydemmel4]

What do you think of using Reef Activ by itself?

Or do you think you need to add in the other Tropic Marine products, such A-, K+ and Bacto Balance?

 

[DiscusHeckel]

What do you think of using Reef Activ by itself?

Or do you think you need to add in the other Tropic Marine products, such A-, K+ and Bacto Balance?

I have not used Reef Actif one its own. So I cannot comment on it. I do not think there is any prerequisite that it should be used in conjunction with Bacto-Balance. However, information I read suggests that it is a good idea to use trace elements with it. In the context of TM, I refer to A- and K+ elements. Reading between the lines Reef Actif (or biopolymers contained in the products) binds not only nutrients, but also trace elements. Biopolymers are then broken down (i.e. decomposed) by symbiotic bacteria living on corals and filter feeders. I am getting the feeling that Reef Actif is like a transport mechanism.

 

[codydemmel4]

I have not used Reef Actif one its own. So I cannot comment on it. I do not think there is any prerequisite that it should be used in conjunction action with Bacto-Balance. However, information I read suggests that it is a good idea to use trace elements with it. In the context of TM, I refer to A- and K+ elements. Reading between the lines Reef Actif (or biopolymers contained in the products) binds not only nutrients, but also trace elements. Biopolymers are then broken down (i.e. decomposed) by symbiotic bacteria living on corals and filter feeders. I am getting the feeling that Reef Actif is like a transport mechanism.

Thanks for the response! Also the video is awesome, love seeing how the corals polyps move with the flow

I do have some bottles on hand and it looks like you have not used them and I have not used them in awhile. Such as Flatworm Stop, Coral Booster and Acropower. Possibly I could use one of these along with the reef activ to try to achieve better growth going forward.

 

[kainic]

Thanks for the response! Also the video is awesome, love seeing how the corals polyps move with the flow

I do have some bottles on hand and it looks like you have not used them and I have not used them in awhile. Such as Flatworm Stop, Coral Booster and Acropower. Possibly I could use one of these along with the reef activ to try to achieve better growth going forward.

Flatworm Stop will make your SPS tissue much thicker. I've been using it for its originar purpose (battling AEFW) and I won't discontinue its use even with no more flatworms to battle.

 

[DiscusHeckel]

Thanks for the response! Also the video is awesome, love seeing how the corals polyps move with the flow

I do have some bottles on hand and it looks like you have not used them and I have not used them in awhile. Such as Flatworm Stop, Coral Booster and Acropower. Possibly I could use one of these along with the reef activ to try to achieve better growth going forward.

You're welcome Cody.

I have never used any of the products you mentioned. I used to use an Amino Acid product, Salifert Coralline Amino Acids. I do not remember any observable benefit to my corals as a result of its use in my set up. Amino acids generally boost cyanobacteria. This is exactly what happened in my tank.

Based on my observations over the years, there are two types of products that triggered visible coral. First, I used KZ Cyanoclean and KZ ZEObak a few years ago. Both contain some form of bacteria/bacterial cultures. There was visible acceleration in coral growth during their use. I reported this at the time in this thread. Second, I use TM NP-Bacto-Balance and TM Reef Actif along with TM K+ and A- elements. I have recently compiled a few photo albums on my Facebook page, each of which shows the growth rates of some of my favourite Acros. Proof is in the pudding as "they" say.

You are probably familiar with my reefkeeping strategy. I run a high energy reef, by which I mean high nutrient input and output throughput, high temperatures to boost metabolism of all animals living in my tank, high-strong random flow to transport nutrients to corals and move their waste products away from them, and intense T5 lights with the correct spectrum, which is heavy on blue. Furthermore, presence of some nutrients, in particular phosphates, help with coral growth, providing that they are less than 0.1 mg/L.

Please let me know if your proposed plan benefits your corals.

 

[codydemmel4]

Thanks for detailed response, I greatly appreciate it.

I like the high energy way of things. I just need to make sure everything is stable in the alk/calc area before I do anything.

Can you link me to your facebook page? I think for now, I am going to continue what I am doing with feeding a ton and then I am planning on using TM Reef Activ starting next week.

 

[DiscusHeckel]

Thanks for detailed response, I greatly appreciate it.

I like the high energy way of things. I just need to make sure everything is stable in the alk/calc area before I do anything.

Can you link me to your facebook page? I think for now, I am going to continue what I am doing with feeding a ton and then I am planning on using TM Reef Activ starting next week.

I would start with a really low dose. Otherwise, you will get bacterial slime on your pumps heads and return pipes. Good luck with it.

I am getting some new sphere-shaped sponges that was not there before my dosing had begun.

 

[DiscusHeckel]

You may remember my aiptasia scrubber.

After the death of Mr E.T. the file fish, aiptasia started to reappear in my display tank. This was no surprise. So, I bought Mr E.T. Jr. the file fish. Sadly, as a young fish it probably never fancied aiptasia and went for the polyps of A. gomezi instead. I had to place it in sump with a view to take it back to my lfs. I kept feeding it separately. A few months passed, as the fish grew in the sump, the population of aiptasia increased in my display tank.

The problem slowly but surely got worse and worse. Eventually, I decided to do something about it. About two weeks ago, I contemplated a few options to deal with the impending crisis in my tank. I know for the fact that the only way to deal with this anemone is biological control. This is what years of experience in dealing with this menace has taught me. I decided to do an experiment with Mr E.T. Jr. and placed it in my overflow box where the aiptasia scrubber is situated. My hypothesis was that if I did not feed the fish, it would start to eat aiptasia sooner or later and would become a confirmed aiptasia terminator. Nothing happened for the first ten days. Then all of a sudden some gaps started to appear in the scrubber as shown below:

At this stage, I cannot confirm that Mr E.T. Jr is consuming aiptasia as I have not established a visual contact with him yet. However, it is reasonable to assume that he is responsible. Since the above photos were taken yesterday, the number of aiptasia has declined even further. I am delighted with the outcome so far. I will wait until the weir is completely clear from aiptasia. In the next stage of the experiment, I will release the fish into my display tank. My expectation is that it will go for aiptasia first (hopefully).

Watch this space. :frog:

 

[janci]

Mr. Bulent, you are a brave man to put a fish in a weir in order to clean it. :thumbsup:

That fish will be trained as a pro for aiptasia removal!!

 

[DiscusHeckel]

Mr. Bulent, you are a brave man to put a fish in a weir in order to clean it. :thumbsup:

That fish will be trained as a pro for aiptasia removal!!

Thanks for your comments on my bravery sir.

I admit that it was a risky endeavour to put a fish in a weir full of aiptasia as aiptasia can sting and paralyse fish on contact. However, I ensured that aiptasia withdrew their polyps first before putting the fish in. I did that by brushing my fingers against their polyps. I probably contributed to their sporulation in this process, hence the increase in their population in my display tank. I will be sad when the weir is cleared as aiptasia always consumed excess food and prevented it from going into the sump, but hey they broke the truce between us first. I hope I won't be the loser in the end. :hmm1:

 

[reefmutt]

Earth to Mr. ET.. are you responsible??
Once he comes out of there, the aptasia will grow back, so don't worry, Bulent.
Hopefully, he will continue to eat aptasia once back in the display and not revert back to gomezie polyps..
When I had my aptasia infestation several years ago, the addition of 30 or so peppermint shrimps eradicated the problem.. But if i recall, you don't have access to peps where you are..

 

[codydemmel4]

I have a aiptasia problem now too but I dont think I can add a filefish now that I have a pair of blue throat triggers??

I am sure my wrasses will attack the pep shrimp is I add them