OK! Enough chat...Starting a 1000g+ Reef
- Thread starter JohnL
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jnarowe
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That's not a bad idea.
So Sherman and I were doing a a little fragging a couple of nights ago, and while I was laying on top of the tank, I discovered what i believe is probably a cause of my recent tank problems. There is about a 2.5' square area of the tank bottom that is not readliy visisble from the sides, and what I saw was a large pile of detritus.
On further investigation, I found that my center flow pipe has been nearly completely clogged with coraline algae. The same goes for the spray bar I have under the rockwork along the back of the tank. What this means is that a decent size area of the tank was not getting flow and building up nutrients.
I was unable to clear the clog by hand so I have to get back in there and yank the DIY "head" off.
I would like some input on how to create a better head. Currently the feed is a 1" pipe under the rocks terminating in an elbow and about 6" stand pipe. I had then capped it with a cap I cut slots into to provide downward flow in the center of the tank. For a long time this kept the center of the tank very clean, but clearly it has an achilles heel.
So Sherman and I were doing a a little fragging a couple of nights ago, and while I was laying on top of the tank, I discovered what i believe is probably a cause of my recent tank problems. There is about a 2.5' square area of the tank bottom that is not readliy visisble from the sides, and what I saw was a large pile of detritus.
On further investigation, I found that my center flow pipe has been nearly completely clogged with coraline algae. The same goes for the spray bar I have under the rockwork along the back of the tank. What this means is that a decent size area of the tank was not getting flow and building up nutrients.
I was unable to clear the clog by hand so I have to get back in there and yank the DIY "head" off.
I would like some input on how to create a better head. Currently the feed is a 1" pipe under the rocks terminating in an elbow and about 6" stand pipe. I had then capped it with a cap I cut slots into to provide downward flow in the center of the tank. For a long time this kept the center of the tank very clean, but clearly it has an achilles heel.
jnarowe
New member
good news to report. it looks like I have the upper hand on my tank now and with only a few losses. I still have several large colonies alive and decent frags of everything else.
I cleaned the center port out an it is operating well, as well as did anther vacuum procedure on that center area. My method is working well, but only removes a small amount at a time.
All parameters are good and ORP has been averaging higher each day. I still have a lot more work to do, but I am re-energized when I view the tank so that is a big plus. I also have put a one hour "nap" into the mid-day light cycle.
I believe I have whittled down the possible causes to lack of flow and not enough mechanical filtration. I also have plans for each issue but it will take some time to make the corrections. The great thing is that the water is looking so much better, there are no dinos, and the livestock is perking up. I do think I may have lost my cleaner shrimp as I haven't seen them in a while.
Not sure if that is due to the dinos, overall water quality, or perhaps even predation...I have yet to see the CBS I put in there over a month ago!
I cleaned the center port out an it is operating well, as well as did anther vacuum procedure on that center area. My method is working well, but only removes a small amount at a time.
All parameters are good and ORP has been averaging higher each day. I still have a lot more work to do, but I am re-energized when I view the tank so that is a big plus. I also have put a one hour "nap" into the mid-day light cycle.
I believe I have whittled down the possible causes to lack of flow and not enough mechanical filtration. I also have plans for each issue but it will take some time to make the corrections. The great thing is that the water is looking so much better, there are no dinos, and the livestock is perking up. I do think I may have lost my cleaner shrimp as I haven't seen them in a while.
Not sure if that is due to the dinos, overall water quality, or perhaps even predation...I have yet to see the CBS I put in there over a month ago!
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