New 100gal Reef setup
- Thread starter Jerm77
- Start date
Jerm77
New member
Algae really starting to bloom today
according to the LFS the live rock was well cycled. I haven't performed any water quality tests yet - but I assume my phosphate levels are high.
I was able to get my poly reactor going today. I was missing a part for the pump it was supplied with. so I just bought another pump. a mini-jet 400 and adjusted the flow so the RowaPhos wouldn't blow out of the chamber. the RowaPhos is really fine, so on the higher flow rates it just blows by the supplied sponges. I dont really know how much flow I need, so I'll set it to the lowest level and see what happens in a couple of days.
Note: I started dosing B-Ionic 2 part today. i will do so until I get my calcium reactor going. today I put in 60ml of each part in. the ph rose slightly. meters read 7.9, 8.17, 8.3... to an average of 8.1
Jerm77
New member
Day 12
Day 12
So I decided to test some of the water parameters today.
Temp: 74-75d F
PH: regent test 8.4. metered tests 7.9, 8.0 , 8.1 <--- concerned with wide variant in readings
Calcium: unknown (regent test missing regent)
Alkalinity: regent test reads High Alkalinity. concentration unknown.
Nitrite: unknown (regent test missing chart )
Nitrate: regent test between 5-10 mg/L (broken digital meter)
Ammonia: unknown (no test kit)
Phosphate PO4: regent test Between .25 mg/L and .5 mg/L in tank. 0 mg/L coming out of GFO reactor.
Note: Cut back on the lighting today. was set to 12 hours of light. now giving tank 8 hours. hoping this will combat the algae. will discontinue dosing of B-Ionic until I can get a calcium reading.
there looks to be some die off in the algae today, if not some halt in growth.
GFO reactor been running for 24hrs now
Day 12
So I decided to test some of the water parameters today.
Temp: 74-75d F
PH: regent test 8.4. metered tests 7.9, 8.0 , 8.1 <--- concerned with wide variant in readings
Calcium: unknown (regent test missing regent)
Alkalinity: regent test reads High Alkalinity. concentration unknown.
Nitrite: unknown (regent test missing chart )
Nitrate: regent test between 5-10 mg/L (broken digital meter)
Ammonia: unknown (no test kit)
Phosphate PO4: regent test Between .25 mg/L and .5 mg/L in tank. 0 mg/L coming out of GFO reactor.
Note: Cut back on the lighting today. was set to 12 hours of light. now giving tank 8 hours. hoping this will combat the algae. will discontinue dosing of B-Ionic until I can get a calcium reading.
there looks to be some die off in the algae today, if not some halt in growth.
GFO reactor been running for 24hrs now
I dn't know that you need to worry too much with the 2 part dosing quite yet without any corals in the tank.
The alge and diatoms are natural parts of the cycle I wouldn't worry too much about them yet either.
The skimmer section water level should settle in once you get your ATO regulated. Properly set up all the water you need in the pump section is just at the baffle height. That in itself will help regulate the skimmer section.
The alge and diatoms are natural parts of the cycle I wouldn't worry too much about them yet either.
The skimmer section water level should settle in once you get your ATO regulated. Properly set up all the water you need in the pump section is just at the baffle height. That in itself will help regulate the skimmer section.
buccard
Premium Member
Good idea on the lights...I have read some people recommend not using lights at all during the cycle and then introducing them slowly.
Glad to hear the growth is slowing or stopping.
Everybody seems to say dont worry-normal for a new tank! Easier said than done!
I posted a Question about 2 part dosing and whether I should start before the coral is in the tank and most replies indicated it was fine...would promote coralline growth but wouldnt need to do it very often since calcium consumption is low or nil.
Smart idea for you not to dose, since you cant measure.
Good luck...love your frequent updates!
Glad to hear the growth is slowing or stopping.
Everybody seems to say dont worry-normal for a new tank! Easier said than done!
I posted a Question about 2 part dosing and whether I should start before the coral is in the tank and most replies indicated it was fine...would promote coralline growth but wouldnt need to do it very often since calcium consumption is low or nil.
Smart idea for you not to dose, since you cant measure.
Good luck...love your frequent updates!
PaulieWalnuts
New member
in one of the pictures i see your camera in the glass....i have the same one...how do you take good pictures with it lol i never have luck
Jerm77
New member
thanks for the comments.
I do plan for a shelf, and I do plan to move the skimmer to the first chamber.
I don't really like my sump though,and I didnt really like it when it was made for me. the center chamber only has a dual set of baffles, and wont allow for a DSB. so I will probably just put some macro in the center and maybe some rocks.
I think I've finally found the sweet spot for the skimmer. and the ATO seems to be working nicely.
I do plan for a shelf, and I do plan to move the skimmer to the first chamber.
I don't really like my sump though,and I didnt really like it when it was made for me. the center chamber only has a dual set of baffles, and wont allow for a DSB. so I will probably just put some macro in the center and maybe some rocks.
I think I've finally found the sweet spot for the skimmer. and the ATO seems to be working nicely.
PhilTheEel
New member
Very nice looking setup
Jerm77
New member
day 15
day 15
not much new today. I have had the lights cut back to about 6hrs of lighting. the skimmer is working really good now. the algae growth is about the same. I haven't tried to suction off any the algae, but the algae is pretty much staying on the rocks, hasnt covered the sand or the acrylic as of yet.
day 15
not much new today. I have had the lights cut back to about 6hrs of lighting. the skimmer is working really good now. the algae growth is about the same. I haven't tried to suction off any the algae, but the algae is pretty much staying on the rocks, hasnt covered the sand or the acrylic as of yet.
Jerm77
New member
Day 18
Day 18
sorry for the lack of updates, but things are happening rather slowly at this point. no new additions to the setup, only minor changes.
Note: I have begun dosing vodka since Day 17. I started by following the recommendations listed in this article.
Vodka Dosing
Some of the brown algae breakout that started on Day 9 has started to fall away from the live rock.
old pic from day 11 (heaviest bloom, and just before addition of Phos reactor)
Day 18 Pic
One more things has been really bothering me is the "Live"sand I bought. the sand is real fine and it tends to blow around alot. I have used this type of sand before, but only in my 12g Nano - and the blow around really wasn't much of a problem. Is there a heavier sand I can use? Do you think my pumps are blowing too hard (2 X 6160's running at no more that 40% performance)? It's been real Difficult keeping the sand in place - and it tends to cover the rocks. some particles got on my magnet cleaner and have already scratched the inside of my tank.
here are some pictures... any thoughts?
Day 18
sorry for the lack of updates, but things are happening rather slowly at this point. no new additions to the setup, only minor changes.
Note: I have begun dosing vodka since Day 17. I started by following the recommendations listed in this article.
Vodka Dosing
Some of the brown algae breakout that started on Day 9 has started to fall away from the live rock.
old pic from day 11 (heaviest bloom, and just before addition of Phos reactor)
Day 18 Pic
One more things has been really bothering me is the "Live"sand I bought. the sand is real fine and it tends to blow around alot. I have used this type of sand before, but only in my 12g Nano - and the blow around really wasn't much of a problem. Is there a heavier sand I can use? Do you think my pumps are blowing too hard (2 X 6160's running at no more that 40% performance)? It's been real Difficult keeping the sand in place - and it tends to cover the rocks. some particles got on my magnet cleaner and have already scratched the inside of my tank.
here are some pictures... any thoughts?
Jerm77
New member
Day 20. Happy Thanksgiving!
Day 20. Happy Thanksgiving!
Today I am on my 4th day of dosing vodka. I have doubled my dose from .4ml to .8ml.
Today I also noticed that my pump for my RowaPhos reactor was getting bubbles stuck in the intake chamber and stoppin the pump. I found a valve and installed one so I could open the pumps intake and reduce the flow with the valve.
Video of reactor
The bubbles mentioned above are coming from my overflow. I'm thinking I don't exactly have my standpipe built or adjusted right.
Note: Today I also noticed that I'm getting some green algae growth, the brown seems to be dieing off slowly. I'm not sure if this is some coralline or just a green algae. I do see some stringy type green algae, they are single strands like a hair algae, but grow very long. one hair is about 8 inches long.
If anyone has any comments or advice to tackle some of these problems, please post.
thanks,
Jerm
Day 20. Happy Thanksgiving!
Today I am on my 4th day of dosing vodka. I have doubled my dose from .4ml to .8ml.
Today I also noticed that my pump for my RowaPhos reactor was getting bubbles stuck in the intake chamber and stoppin the pump. I found a valve and installed one so I could open the pumps intake and reduce the flow with the valve.
Video of reactor
The bubbles mentioned above are coming from my overflow. I'm thinking I don't exactly have my standpipe built or adjusted right.
Note: Today I also noticed that I'm getting some green algae growth, the brown seems to be dieing off slowly. I'm not sure if this is some coralline or just a green algae. I do see some stringy type green algae, they are single strands like a hair algae, but grow very long. one hair is about 8 inches long.
If anyone has any comments or advice to tackle some of these problems, please post.
thanks,
Jerm
Jerm77
New member
Day 22
Day 22
Still Dosing at the reccomended .8ml Vodka dose
I had moved my GFO reactor because it was getting alot of bubbles in the pump I also added the valve - I think I have it adjusted where it needs to be now.
The bubbles I was getting in my overflow return chamber was due in part to the filter sock. notice above it was rather brown. I washed it in hot water and bleach and rinsed it well. it seems it was pretty stopped up.
still messing around with the euroreef skimmer. don't think I'll be able to adjust it correctly until I build that shelf for it.
I soaked some dead rock I had in a tap water / bleach solution with powerheads going for 24hrs. I am now drying them out in the sun. I will them let them sit in some R/O water for a couple of days changing at least 50% of the water.
a close up of one of the rocks. these were really great rocks - its very sad that I didn't have the means to save the tank that these belonged to.
some of the grape caulerpa and some Halimeda(wish I could have kept)
some comparison of the algae cycle on my live rock
day 5
day 11
day 12
day 18
day 20
day 22
Day 22
Still Dosing at the reccomended .8ml Vodka dose
I had moved my GFO reactor because it was getting alot of bubbles in the pump I also added the valve - I think I have it adjusted where it needs to be now.
The bubbles I was getting in my overflow return chamber was due in part to the filter sock. notice above it was rather brown. I washed it in hot water and bleach and rinsed it well. it seems it was pretty stopped up.
still messing around with the euroreef skimmer. don't think I'll be able to adjust it correctly until I build that shelf for it.
I soaked some dead rock I had in a tap water / bleach solution with powerheads going for 24hrs. I am now drying them out in the sun. I will them let them sit in some R/O water for a couple of days changing at least 50% of the water.
a close up of one of the rocks. these were really great rocks - its very sad that I didn't have the means to save the tank that these belonged to.
some of the grape caulerpa and some Halimeda(wish I could have kept)
some comparison of the algae cycle on my live rock
day 5
day 11
day 12
day 18
day 20
day 22
Jerm77
New member
Day 24
Day 24
Continuing with the Vodka dose recommendations. today I dosed at 1.3ml.
I have some more algae growing. the green coralline looks to be fading away again. looks like I might have some red hair algae or the dreaded cyano.
I forgot to mention I added a few cleaners to my tank on day 22.
15 Astrea snails.
3 Turbo snails.
12 tiny Blue leg hermits.
Update: New life in tank!! looks to be an explosion of pods(?) I'm guessing they hitch hiked on the snails - I may have gotten some cyano with them too.
sorry for the pic. can't get a good closeup. I promised to take out the d40 once there was life in there - its charging now...
Possible cyano
did the cyano hitch hike on this guy?
and an algae update pic
Day 24
Day 24
Continuing with the Vodka dose recommendations. today I dosed at 1.3ml.
I have some more algae growing. the green coralline looks to be fading away again. looks like I might have some red hair algae or the dreaded cyano.
I forgot to mention I added a few cleaners to my tank on day 22.
15 Astrea snails.
3 Turbo snails.
12 tiny Blue leg hermits.
Update: New life in tank!! looks to be an explosion of pods(?) I'm guessing they hitch hiked on the snails - I may have gotten some cyano with them too.
sorry for the pic. can't get a good closeup. I promised to take out the d40 once there was life in there - its charging now...
Possible cyano
did the cyano hitch hike on this guy?
and an algae update pic
Day 24
Jerm77
New member
Day 26
Day 26
Still dosing vodka at 1.3ml. Haven't done a phosphate or nitrate test lately. I need to do one tomorrow.
the pods are everywhere now. they are even thriving in my GFO reactor!!
I spotted a HH on one of my snails today. got another thread going on to see what he is.
the bright red algae (cyano) seems to be fading
but there was a rapid growth of some new algae. looks like a deep red or purple. carpet like. not so hairy.
My filtersock is already clogging up again. I'm going to get to work on my bubble tower.
I also want to build a sandbox to hold a small DSB. but, I understand the surface area is what makes the difference. I think I'll just plant some mangroves in there. its what I really wanted one for anyways
pic of the sump, sandbox, and bubble tower
Day 26
Still dosing vodka at 1.3ml. Haven't done a phosphate or nitrate test lately. I need to do one tomorrow.
the pods are everywhere now. they are even thriving in my GFO reactor!!
I spotted a HH on one of my snails today. got another thread going on to see what he is.
the bright red algae (cyano) seems to be fading
but there was a rapid growth of some new algae. looks like a deep red or purple. carpet like. not so hairy.
My filtersock is already clogging up again. I'm going to get to work on my bubble tower.
I also want to build a sandbox to hold a small DSB. but, I understand the surface area is what makes the difference. I think I'll just plant some mangroves in there. its what I really wanted one for anyways
pic of the sump, sandbox, and bubble tower
Jerm77
New member
Day 29
Day 29
Still dosing at 1.3ml of vodka. no phosphate or nitrate readings taken yet. Ammonia level at or near 0.
on day 28 I added my dead rock. I prepared the rock by with soaking 1 day in bleach and RO water mixture, 3 days of drying out, rinsing with RO water for 24hrs, and they putting it directly in my tank.
I also put together my "bubble tower" and "sand box"
installed- you can also see I built a shelf for the skimmer. I can noewfinally able to adjust it where it needs to be.
I had to make a modification to the overflow on my bubble tower. its was overflowing constantly. I didnt make the tower tall enough. I need to remove the threaded union on the flex pipe - it doesn't fit into the 4x4 area of the tower - it also makes it sit higher than I want, causing bubbles to splash out of the tower.
Note: It took 10lbs of "live sand" to fill about a third of the level I want it at. looks like I'll need another 20lbs. seems like alot of sand.
I also ordered a cleanup crew from reefcleaners.org. this is what they recommended.
Thanks for stopping by www.reefcleaners.org! Here is what I would get for the tank:
100 Dwarf Ceriths - small effective cleaners
27 Nassarius - for now, get more when you fill the wish list
15 Limpets
5 Chitons (Express Mail)
35 Florida Ceriths
22 Blue Leg Hermits (Express Mail)
1 five packs of mangroves
1 chaeto
All the Best,
John Maloney
www.reefcleaners.org
Day 29
Still dosing at 1.3ml of vodka. no phosphate or nitrate readings taken yet. Ammonia level at or near 0.
on day 28 I added my dead rock. I prepared the rock by with soaking 1 day in bleach and RO water mixture, 3 days of drying out, rinsing with RO water for 24hrs, and they putting it directly in my tank.
I also put together my "bubble tower" and "sand box"
installed- you can also see I built a shelf for the skimmer. I can noewfinally able to adjust it where it needs to be.
I had to make a modification to the overflow on my bubble tower. its was overflowing constantly. I didnt make the tower tall enough. I need to remove the threaded union on the flex pipe - it doesn't fit into the 4x4 area of the tower - it also makes it sit higher than I want, causing bubbles to splash out of the tower.
Note: It took 10lbs of "live sand" to fill about a third of the level I want it at. looks like I'll need another 20lbs. seems like alot of sand.
I also ordered a cleanup crew from reefcleaners.org. this is what they recommended.
Thanks for stopping by www.reefcleaners.org! Here is what I would get for the tank:
100 Dwarf Ceriths - small effective cleaners
27 Nassarius - for now, get more when you fill the wish list
15 Limpets
5 Chitons (Express Mail)
35 Florida Ceriths
22 Blue Leg Hermits (Express Mail)
1 five packs of mangroves
1 chaeto
All the Best,
John Maloney
www.reefcleaners.org
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