My Tank Thread (Take3) ★Total AUTOMATION★ DIY Doser, Sump, AlgaeScrubber, WaterChnges

[Wally.B]

This "TANK" must be Cursed.

Just got back from a week away.
Nothing went wrong.


Did a quick check to see if ALK was ok. Small drop to 7.3 from 7.7, but that's not a disaster of any sort. (Increased dosing a bit to stabilize).

However a quick peek with UV flashlight and I see more bleaching.

The Pac Man that has been doing extremely well is totally bleached. It's lower down next to a coral that is fine.

The Yellow acros looks partially bleached. Surrounding corals look fine.

Everything else looks ok. Mostly importantly the Pink Cadilac shows life.

But not looking forward to seeing how things are when light come on.

There has got to be something wrong with this tank. (Since I've struggled with it for Three Years)
Can't figure out what, since everything running it is near perfection.

Plus this time, I'm not fooling around and making any drastic changes or doing additives.
I did increase LED lighting 5% since I want to ramp up LOW PARS. But that is so small, and didn't affect most of the higher up corals.

Trition test of past showed nothing wrong with any Toxins.


Time to spark up the Frag Tank and see what happens with Corals in there.

 

[Wally.B]

3 Frags Bleached (Not too bad, since others doing Very Well)

Under normal lighting (this morning) things look better.

Only 3 FRAGS bleached. 2 were degrading before I left.
Too bad about the Pac Man, but at least the Red Dragon is fine.

Most of the Frags actually look pretty good with Coloration.

 

[Wally.B]

MYSTERY SOLVED (Hydor Koralia Pump - GROUND FAULT) Tripped GFCI Breaker

So I noticed my Other Tank was Idle today. No Lights, no Circulation.
It's runs on a Separate Apex (which controls JUST the Return Pump for SPS Tank).

The Hyrdo Koralia Pump had a ground fault failure, and Tripped the GFCI breaker which shut down the Apex, and EB8.
That tank is fine, but corals got no light/circulation for a few days. which is fine.
The pump is bad and trips all GFCI's I have. So not a Faulty GFCI breaker.

That Apex Controlls my DC waveline Pump for SPS tank and therefore for last few days, there was little or no return flow.
Not a reason, but certainly a problem in general.

Hydor pumps do have LifeTime Warranty (at least from my experience).
They replaced my 5 year old pump that also had a Ground Failure a year ago.

I now don't favour AC pumps since this can happen.

 

[reefmutt]

Wally, what's your latest numbers on that sps tank?
Odd how many frags are not doing well..

 

[Wally.B]

Wally, what's your latest numbers on that sps tank?
Odd how many frags are not doing well..

Yes, odd indeed. What's weird is that's the 2nd Sunset Acro that just went quickly. And why the PacMan that's been around for a while doing well?

I hope this is a bug that has passed.

What's promising is my Red Dragon looks awesome. Never had one show such vibrant purple tips.
Last 3 I tried, just bleached within hours or days.

Here are my numbers.

ALK=[7.7] (Rock Solid Stable for two weeks+)
CALC=[445] (Slight increase from all the Water Changes)
MAG=[1420] (Nice to see dropping from 1500)
NO3=[5.0]
PO4=[0.06 ppm]
SG=[1.025]

As good as I've ever been.

 

[Wally.B]

FRAG TANK (Started up) Few Sacrifice Frags (and Additives too !)

So after enough water changes to fill the Frag Tank 1/2 way, I added some Fresh Salt water to top it up.

Plenty of circulation since I am using the CP-25 for left side and a newly purchased CP-40 that I got funds from Selling a Skimmer on Ebay.

The CP-40 will eventually go into SPS tank since I want the MaxSpect XF150 on left and CP-25 on right for a good cross/crash circulation mix.

It's up and running with a few Frags from SPS tank from the Kong Rack.

But I will be getting a few fresh (Cheap) Frag.

PAR levels are a bit higher than SPS DT since I want to test for the eventual Ramp up on DT.

Yes, I started some Additives (very lightly).

-> Polyp Booster
-> Polhs Xtra
-> B-Balance
-> Vitalizer

Matt, this is not breaking Sept 2017 promise since nothing going into SPS DT.

 

[Wally.B]

FRAG TANK (Bio/Filtration) STARTUP

To keep some bio-diversity, I added a couple of clean pieces of Live Rock from DT Sump into the 2nd stage of the Baffle filter.

A carbon baggie at first stage.

And some filter floss at last stage.

Too early to add any snails, but I will as soon as I see signs of algae film.

Was thinking of putting in the Power Brown Tang, but he eats like crazy and pollutes water.
The QT he is in quickly had NO3 go up to 25ppm, and I did a water change to bring down.

Adding a few drop of KZ Zeo Bak and AF -NPpro to kickstart things off.

DT water changes (2.5 Gal twice a week) will be throw into this tank and what comes out is throw out.

For now this should be a good start to allow bacteria to thrive.

No Alk / Calc dosing for now, since barely a few frags. Will watch a see if/when needed.

 

[Wally.B]

Power Brown Tang (in Kitchen Tank) QT Release Early

So with a trip to "Turk and Caicos" coming up in a couple of weeks, I've decided to end the Brown Tangs QT time.

He is a good size for the 90 Gallon tank which doesn't have anything other than Hawkfish, 3 Chromis, and 1 Algae Blenny.

Main reason is don't want to have 4 tanks to manage (QT, Frag, Kitchen and SPS Tank).

Plus he has shown no sign of any Ick, and the water he has been in is from the Same Tank he is in now.

He looks very comfortable, and better off than the 10 Gallon QT tank.
Swimming around and enjoying the Current right away.

He has taken to eating his Favourite Pellets, and what I like is he picks up Lost Pellets from the Glass Bottom, so less waste.
The STore I got him from Fed him "Tetra Color - Tropical Granules" and I got a jar. They float around nicely compare to other Sinking Pellets I have.
This is the first Pellet fish I've ever had in this tank, so much the better than (Flake and Frozen of the past)

Now we'll see how the Blue Chromis's behave. There are scared as **** of him!!

 

[reefmutt]

That's a gorgeous pb tang! I'm sure he's good if he's eating so well.
Careful with that frag tank,you don't want it n and p free.. an algea eating fish in there probably isn't a bad idea....
So, Wally, what is vitalizer, b balance and pohl's extra??
I do like what you've added to the frag tank filter. Good start.
Not sure you need the nutrient reducing np pro and zeobak, however...

 

[Wally.B]

That's a gorgeous pb tang! I'm sure he's good if he's eating so well.
Careful with that frag tank,you don't want it n and p free.. an algea eating fish in there probably isn't a bad idea....
So, Wally, what is vitalizer, b balance and pohl's extra??
I do like what you've added to the frag tank filter. Good start.
Not sure you need the nutrient reducing np pro and zeobak, however...

Zeo Vit (B-Balance)
Zeo Vit (Phol's Extra)
Aqua Forest (Vitality) not Vitalizer

 

[Wally.B]

Careful with that frag tank,you don't want it n and p free..

I will be watching n & p.

Twice a week water changes from SPS tank will be bringing in N=5 and p=.06 water.

However if Frag tank needs more N and P, I can do a water change from Kitchen Tank with N=20+ P=???. Free N&P additive. Natural too.

 

[reefmutt]

Zeo Vit (B-Balance)
Zeo Vit (Phol's Extra)
Aqua Forest (Vitality) not Vitalizer

I know the products, I'm curious about what's in pohl's extra and b balance..
Vitality I know..

I will be watching n & p.

Twice a week water changes from SPS tank will be bringing in N=5 and p=.06 water.

However if Frag tank needs more N and P, I can do a water change from Kitchen Tank with N=20+ P=???. Free N&P additive. Natural too.

That's good fertilizer to have on hand!

 

[Wally.B]

With ZeoVit Products, ingredients are unknown. But both are for Color and Growth.
All left overs, I'm not buying any more additives.

I only put a few started drops. Enough for now.

But I am starting some SPS coral Foods. (Very tiny bit each NIGHT, or every other night. 1/8 Teaspoon combined. NOT Each).

Time to give this FRAG tank the Utimate test.

The Pink Calidalic is on it's last bit of life. Just noticed that today.
Just alive at the tips. So sad. Depressing.

What is the world is wrong with my SPS tank.

All is perfect. Not making any changes. No additives. Just water changes (matched) and ALK/CALC dosing.
Lighting (Par Mesured, a bit low), Circulation great. Water Parameters Ideal. Temp Sure stable 77.5-78
What is wrong? What could be wrong?
Tank is stable across all things that run a tank.

I do notice there is a Hermit that is contantly pecking and hanging on the SPS Frags. I doubt that could be it.

But Frag Tank is isolated. If I can save the Cadillac it will be wonderful.
I do have plan to drop by my Favourite GTA Reef Frag Seller and get a bunch of cheap test frags. To fool around in the Frag tank.

 

[Wally.B]

This is the only Thing WRONG, I see in SPS tank (A bit of brown algae on Sandbed in one corner)

Since I do auto water changes, I don't siphon water from tank, so not cleaning Sand Bed.

Sand is only on left side of tank with Gyre pushing it there.
Below the Koralia Pump there is no direct flow so kind of a quiet flow spot and thus the algae.

I feel like Siphoning whatever little sandbed there is left.
Sand snails wouldn't be happy.

 

[reefmutt]

I'd remove a hermit that was picking at acros...
How many fish in your sps tank?
I can only see the yellow tang.

 

[Wally.B]

I'd remove a hermit that was picking at acros...
How many fish in your sps tank?
I can only see the yellow tang.

Matt, I believe you are wondering about my Nutrient levels.

I think the amount I fish I have is fine for a 65 Gallon.
Yes, the yellow Tang is always out for Photos.

- Yellow Tang
- Spot Breast Angel
- Tomini Tang
- Mandarin Goby

Here is a photo to show their size.

The Wrasse is gone after it jumped out over a month ago.

I feed them 3 times a day.

BUT I HAVE A CLUE. (Since the SPS were doing well when I started this TANK Fresh a few weeks ago)

The Monti was showing White Growth Tips. Quite aggressive growth before I stopped all the Additives.

Now it just stopped growing. No more white tips.

Maybe I don't need the Color and Growth Additive Crap.

Just increase feeding, or do a bit of the Coral Food at night.
(Maybe get some fine Coral Food like Reef Nutrition RotiFeast, or OysterFeast).

 

[reefmutt]

The problem is that one can't gauge a reef tank's health or lack thereof, over a couple week's time.. you need months, or at least a month to 6 weeks..
It often takes two weeks for a coral to die. It may look great even when it isn't getting what it needs and then, only after many days does the decline show itself. Same goes for the reverse.. even longer for the reverse..
An unhappy coral can take several months to to regain its health..
If I were you, I wouldn't add any new frags.
I would say let what you have either begin to grow or die off.

Above, you said 'maybe I don't need the colour and growth additive crap' not sure I understand, I thought you weren't adding any and that's why you suspect your monti stopped growing.
Isn't that the stuff locked up in the box?
I'm a fan of Reef roids, by the way.. I add a pinch to my reef every night. Have since I start S this tank 3 years ago.. it's rich in omegas and aminos.. and no I no longer own the company! been many years. But I do like the stuff.

 

[Wally.B]

Above, you said 'maybe I don't need the colour and growth additive crap' not sure I understand, I thought you weren't adding any and that's why you suspect your monti stopped growing.
Isn't that the stuff locked up in the box?
I'm a fan of Reef roids, by the way.. I add a pinch to my reef every night. Have since I start S this tank 3 years ago.. it's rich in omegas and aminos.. and no I no longer own the company! been many years. But I do like the stuff.

You are correct. Stuff if locked up. Not using.
Leaving SPS tank alone as is, since some corals do look promising.

Will fool around in FRAG tank.

 

[Wally.B]

RED Planet SPS Bleached (Time for a 3 Part "Green Slimer" Test)

So my Red Planet was slowly showing signs of Brown Algae at tips and it just totally bleacher.

Nothing was touched in tank. Not even a water change just before.

I need to solve this tank problem. There has to be a reason.

So I moved a few more loose SPS corals into FRAG Tank, where I am Feeding "Oyster Feast" and "Reef Roids".
Two days is too early, but they are not showing signs of any stress.

I ALSO GOT A Nice Green Slimer that should be a good test Coral that can handle large range of lighting.

I cut it.

I have one piece in SPS TANK.

I put one piece is FRAG TANK

And I did something totally new.

I put a piece into my Mix/LPS tank that is doing very well.
I've never put a SPS Coral into it ever.
Lighting isn't the most Powerful, but 4 T5's and 1 Kessil should be adequate to keep it alive at the TOP.

Let see what happens.

 

[reefmutt]

Nice. Very curious to see how that little guy does in the mixed reef.
Personally, I don't think you have a specific problem in that sps tank.. I think it just needs to settle with stability for a while.