North Dakota Mini-Ocean

[Reefaquariumnut]

I did get the rest of the test done too...

Nitrates - 20
Phosphates - 0.05

So much for the DeNitrafier doing its job...I did turn it up some more. The phosphates are okay, but it tells me i probably need some new RowaPhos.

The Frag Tanks Parameters were around the same except the Nitrates were around 5 and phosphates were 0.02. So i added coral (55 frags) and a Kole Tang. The lighting on this frag tank is 10K MH and T5 Supp.

 

[Reefaquariumnut]

I am saving the top tank for the Conspic and Gem Tang that will come in the end of the month. I will probably add the black tangs to the frag tank pictured (bottom tank).

 

[jnarowe]

hmmmm... .05 and 20 are kinda high eh? I don't understand why such a young tank would have those numbers unless it was coming in with water changes. Have you tested your fresh salt water?

 

[Reefaquariumnut]

I think the nitrates are the food (er, the amount of food...) because when I lay off the food the nitrates drop...I have had them down around 5ppm in the last 6 weeks. The phosphates have been around 0.02 in the last 6 weeks too. I have checked the RO/DI water and it is at 0 and 0.00 for both. I have not checked the fresh salt mix water though.

I did change the UV bulbs and cleaned the tubes this weekend too. I also cleaned the Ozone reactor this weekend. I will see if that has some positive effects.

My Chaeto is growing like weeds. It started out a fist size around 8 months ago and now is 5' x 5' x 1"! I was assuming that would help with the nutrient export. but my nitrates have never seen zero. I have just begun the last two weeks to take a powerhead to the sumps every weekend to "blow" the ditritus off the bottom and into the water column so the skimmers, fish, filter feeders, snails, etc can assist in removing it. I will probably start to do this to the rocks in the display too.

 

[Reefaquariumnut]

Here is what I feed and how much...

2 x 2 x 1/4" square of mysis and brine shrimp (frozen) every morning and night.

6 x 6 square of purple, red, or brown nori (dried) every morning and night.

2 tsp reef chili, coral frenzy, or similar 2x per week (weekends)

3 tsp DT's oyster eggs 2x per week (weekends)

The mysis and brine are pretty much gone 30-45 seconds after they hit the water. The nori is usually gone within a few minutes. They are not fed at the same times usually.

Remember this is what I have...

12 - Blue/Green Chromis

1 - Blue Reef Chromis

1 - Spotted Mandarin

1 - Scooter Blenny

2 - Yashia Goby

3 - Carberryi Anthia

4 - Lyretail Anthia

5 - Bartlett Anthias

1 - Square Spot Anthia (female)

1 - Flasher Wrasse

1 - Mystery Wrasse

2 - 6-Line Wrasse

1 - Perc Clown

2 - Diamond Goby

1- Moorish Idol

3 - Heniochus Butterfly

1 - Naso Tang

1 - Purple Tang

1 - Yellow Tang

1 - Vlamingi Tang

1 - Fowleri Tang

1 - Flame Angel

 

[Reefaquariumnut]

In regards to the salt I am going to try the H2Ocean Pro+

 

[benihana]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15029752#post15029752 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefaquariumnut
I would even guess my car is not the fastest in FARGO of all places.

That is sad AND probably true...nothing else there to spend the money on...except property taxes!

Nice list of fish! Sounds like everything is headed in the right direction with the coraline algea. You going to leave it or scrape it?

I should be up there at the end of July/early Aug...my brother is having his baby, and if you are around I would love a tour AND a ride!

 

[cdness]

I would even guess my car is not the fastest in FARGO of all places. [/B]

I have seen a Ford GT in Fargo which might give you a run for your money but it would sure be fun to ride along, that's for sure. One of these days you'll have to take me for a spin in your car.

The tanks are looking good! Did you get all new frags for the frag tank or did you pull them from the display to grow out a bit?

 

[Reefaquariumnut]

I pulled all the little "sticks" from the display to grow out a bit in the frag tank. I am going to get about 50 more frags in a couple weeks once i know these are doing well.

We can take a spin anytime! I have been so busy with the tank and yard work i haven't even fired up the beast in two weeks

 

[jnarowe]

A Ford GT beat a Ling 800? :lol:

Well, you are feeding quite a bit of polutant type food like the coral foods, and the brine really is not an adequate food for fish. It's like living on popcorn.

If you keep feeding all the coral foods not only will your water quality suffer, but the corals themselves may not color up. With all those fish, you should have plenty of stuff in the water column anyway.

Personally I feel there is no reason to feed coral foods to an SPS dominated tank. This is where sales/marketing kind of beat out practical experience. Try testing those foods for nitrate and phosphate.

 

[Reefaquariumnut]

I will try and just feed mysis alone for the next 2 weeks. I know brine is not adequate, but they like it

I know the food has nitrates and phosphates, but its almost impossible to get rid of it.

 

[jnarowe]

Man, you've got to step up your feeding game. I even buy wild harvested seaweed for my fish.

DIY Fish Food

And don't give me that crap about how you like to pay people to do stuff...it ain't about that. It's about having really healthy fish and good water quality.

 

[Reefaquariumnut]

Okay, I will use your advice and get some good quality food, some vitamins, and a big blender.

 

[jnarowe]

Not a blender...food processor. I am sure there's one in your "appliance garage". It's usually a roll-up or bi-fold door in a corner of your kitchen. Does your wife let you in the kitchen? :lol:

Not sure what your fresh fish situation is in Fargo, but I do try to incorporate as much fresh stuff as possible, and same rules that apply to me. Like no farmed seafood if I can help it.

Want brilliantly colored, fat and happy fish? Feed them a mixture of wild-caught scallops, shrimp, seaweed, mysid, krill, & vitamins. Make the mixture blended to the right size too. Each fish will have its comfort zone for food size, so you want to make sure you have a variety of sizes in your mix. This comfort zone changes as the fish grows too.

 

[Reefaquariumnut]

LOL, I am actually the cook in the family...It's probably what I should be doing in life (so i have been told).

I can get pretty much all fresh seafood in town. So I will have another project this weekend!! Since i have mostly smaller fish i will get everything down to a smaller size particle for now.

 

[jnarowe]

You can call me if you want to talk about it. I have done this a lot and refined my method over the last couple of years. And props to Marc (melev) for introducing me to DIY food. I started very early in my reef's life and attribute the fantastic health of my fish to using this method.

 

[Reefaquariumnut]

PM your number.

 

[Ian]

Great build, I got to page 35 last night before the nightly back-ups kicked in :eek1:

To keep the 'Vette theme going, here's a stereo system I built a couple years back in a z06, hope you don't mind...

BTW, PM sent...

 

[EleganceMan]

then when you have a good recipe....and a nice label marketed....DB's Exotic Fish Food. You can sell me some!!!

I dont know if you have read much about vodka dosing...i had not until tonight but from this short read, it sound like it may be just what you need to finallly finish off that last bit of NO3/PO4 problems and get those corals growing like weeds.

 

[EleganceMan]

almost forgot the page....
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php