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

[sensei]

I have five 400W halides in sps tank and you can see the particles in water, in the same system I have a 2ndo tank with leds and you can not see any particle in water and it is the same water runing in both tanks. IMO halides favor the tindal effect were light is reflected in particles much more than any other light.

I have also seen photos of others that run halides in sps tanks and you can see the particles. Be carefull, if you clean the water of particles you will also starve your acroporas to death.

 

[reefmutt]

My tank has gone through periods of high particulates and times of better clarity.. I wouldn’t worry about it, Wally. I agree with sensei.
That type of thing is variable and shouldn’t be too closely controlled.. one, it’ll make you crazy and two.. it’ll make you crazy..
An sps tank does not HAVE to look crystal clear but like sensie said, as the colonies mature, it often ends up that way..
As for that monti frag, have you ever had a good hard look at it for nudis?

 

[Wally.B]

As for that monti frag, have you ever had a good hard look at it for nudis?

I better look. And look fast.
The RED plating Monti just below it hasn't changed for 3 years.

All of a sudden it developed a spot, and that spot is rapidly increasing.

This is the spot where I saw that Tentacle, and we decided it an Bristle Star.

These two Photo's are 1 Week apart (Big WHITE Spot is yesterday)

I think I'm moving both Monti's to Frag Tank.
I never really liked either.
That Rock I planed to scrape off the Monti and mount the Tubinaria on it anyway.

Plus a dip.

Time to Read up on Nudis......

 

[Wally.B]

Possible Nudis (QT & Treatment)

So I can't take any chance with the recent good progress.

I don't even want to contaminate Frag Tank.

So Rock and Monti Frag in Bucket.

I'll deal with this later.

Tank is a bit safer now.
The 2nd Monti same Plating in SPS Tank is doing great.

 

[Wally.B]

NUDIS or NOT. ( Good Riddance to the Monti. )

Hello to the Tubinaria on a nice Perch Spot. (Same Rock).
Much better then sitting on Glass bottom. It was always the plan to move it up.

Higher up means higher flow, Bit more light, and less particulates settling on it.

I broke off the Monti. There were no Nudis or Nudis Eggs.
To be safe I soaked the Rock in Revive for 20 minutes in strong bucket circulation.
Then soaked in Fresh Salt water with Circulation Pump on for 1 hour to flush it.

Lot's of Critters came out.

Onward....

 

[Wally.B]

RESET COMPLETE ( Trial Begins ) Frag Reference CATALOG [2017-10-09]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
** THIS IS THE LONGEST I've Gone without Any SPS CORAL DAMAGE or DECLINE **
And surprisingly some significant recovery as well. :dance:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've been Semi-Manually chasing ALK/Dosing for last couple of days to keep ALK=7.0 (Will Raise to 7.5 eventually)

I finally feed confident enough to Stop Hand-Dosing, and I've put tubes into SUMP, dosing 10ml of ESV-Two-Part/Daily. (Will adjust as needed).

At this point, it's only Feeding Fish for nutrients (No Additive or Coral Foods), and 5% twice-A-week Water changes with Tropic Marin Pro.

The Algae Scrubber is active and Algae growing for Nutrient Export.

I am fighting a bit of Red/Green Cyano with Coral Snow/ZeoBak.
(Hope it's Cyano and nothing worse...Mostly appearing Rocks on where coral's have died and left Skelton, OR on Certain Un-Encrusted Plugs)

ALSO, all critters, and expired Frags have been removed from DT, so this is clean FRAGS going forward.

TODAY...I Took Photo's of each Healthy or Recovering SPS Coral:

-> Front Thru Glass (LEFT PHOTO)
-> Top/Back thru Viewer (RIGHT PHOTO)
-> MH Lighting ONLY
-> No Photoshop Color Touch ups (Just Contrast/Exposure)

These are not World Class/Show Stopper Frags, but Ideal for the Final Tank Validation.

I have some Nicer Frags on Hold and if things go Well, some of these will be move to Frag Tank, for more experiments (with Coloration, etc).

I get feeling even if I can keep these Frag Healthy and get them growing...Soon I'll be struggling with Coloration.
-> But you never know, since Nutrients, Stability and Water changes may just be Good Enough.


** NO MORE TANK OR FRAG PHOTO POSTS till there is something warranting Attention **

 

[Wally.B]

 

[Wally.B]

 

[Wally.B]

 

[Wally.B]

There are a few FRAG more at the back of DT recovering, but not worthy yet to be shown.

Keeping Finger Cross that things continue to be positive.

HANDS OUT / HAND OFF !! (No Magic Potions, Foods or Additives)

 

[reefmutt]

Well, in general, those frags look really good!
Very nice, Wally!

 

[Wally.B]

Well, in general, those frags look really good!
Very nice, Wally!

I certainly know I'm not out of Danger quite yet.
I expect different challenges if I get past this hurdle.

My Guard is high.
I burned off almost a Whole Salifert ALK kit watching things.
My tinkering is over (I got the point. Took 2 years to sink in)

I have been analyzing things. My feeling is I did start this TAKE 3 on the right foot.
Everything I built into this tank was right.
Sure a few adjustments on Lighting/Flow, but all else is the same (Algae Scrubber, Auto Water Changes, Dosing)
I even think Lighting/Flow was fine, and probably need to restore back "SOME" Flow down the road.

That PH swing thing with Airline messed things up, and I was totally caught off Guard. (Never again. I watch my PH Meter before I look at tank).


But this Survival Phase it is a TINY STEP in the right direction.

Much better than the past.

I made enough Coral Media to stock my my Refuge.

 

[Wally.B]

24 is a hard number to remember.....I like 24 better!!

This is Frag Number 25. A Blue Acropora Gomezi which is one of my Favourites.

 

[Wally.B]

ALL FRAGS PHOTO/TANK (RGB LED's) 2017-10-08

Somehow my Cheapo 5050 RGB LED Strip makes for the best Color Photo.
It must be the 3 Separate (Red,Green,Blue) Color LEDS.

The SLR Camera also likes the Lower Lighting Intensity since MH is overwhelming.

I am getting a Radion LED Loaner for the Frag Tank, so will be interesting to see MH vs Quality Multi-Color-LED Lighting.

Next Tank Photo's Will be in approx. 2+ months. December Christmas Break.

Hoping for some Good Luck this time.
Need Some since Bad Luck got me last attempt.

 

[Wally.B]

So I checked my age of MH bulbs....just over 18 months.

Normally I would replace at 12 months at 8 hr daily running time.
But I have been running only 6hrs recently and less before.

Regardless it is time for bulb replacement.

I always use bulb replacement time as a point to consider changing to LED. OR go fully to T5.

I did just replace one ballast so have some sunk costs.

I just ordered two new Pheonix 14000k DE bulbs since too risky too make any changes at this point in time. Plus on sale.

So one more year, till I have to think about changes to lighting.

No harm in staying with the Gold standard in SPS lighting (MH/T5)

 

[reefmutt]

Good choice for now..
Those are the bulbs you are using now?
By the way that blue gomezi is awesome.
Love that tone of blue.. absolute favorite.

 

[Wally.B]

Yes. Exact same bulbs so NO changes to lighting except a Bulb Refresh.
For curiosity I may rent the PAR meter to see before and after, and do one last PAR test on deep points in tank since I will have to space out the frags when it comes to mounting time.

 

[reefmutt]

I’d be interested to see how much par change there is with the new bulbs..

 

[Wally.B]

FIRST FRAG (Only ONE [#4] ) Showing some Problems ** NO Worries **

So FRAG #4 which never really looked Good From the Beginning is showing some Brown Algae build up.

This was just couple of days ago.

I maybe just One Bad Apple out of 25. Hoping so.

It could have been weak and affected by my ALK dosing Chase (Range 6.4-7.0) hasn't been an issue for any other.
I am close to stable at 6.8-7.0.

But I dusted it off with a Light Syringe Spray right in Tank, and it cleared up.

COULD I POSSIBLY NEED TO CRANK UP CIRCULATION A BIT (It's really a lot Lower than I originally had things)

 

[reefmutt]

I see nother starfish under it.. no issue but same type as was on your monti.
I agree was iffy from beginning.
It’s not an easy coral. I don’t think I’ve ever kept one alive.
I’m not concerned yet..
Tough call on flow as I really don’t know what it’s like now.
Probably not necessary to increase because of this coral..