Owners Thread: Innovative Marine Fusion 40

[mystikal]

I just finished up the MrSaltwaterTank.com virtual 10-week course and his parting advice to us was exactly what you just said. Basically, "Okay, guys... get ready for some algae and a diatom bloom. Prepare for it, be okay with it, and this, too, shall pass."

I had a bit of algae growth, too, but it came and went pretty quickly. I've been stirring my sandbed weekly and that seems to have helped. Also making sure to feed no more than the two clowns will (almost entirely) eat before the return pump comes back on.

Speaking of feeding the clowns... I picked up Thera-A small pellets and only one of my clowns will (reluctantly) eat it. The other won't touch it. My black-and-white gets pretty excited about PE Mysis and the orange one will at least eat it but doesn't seem to be nuts about it either. Have been thinking about trying Rod's Food. Any other recommendations??? I don't think the orange one is sick. Visibly it looks very healthy; is very active, and will go up to inspect the food... will even try the Thera-A but then spits it out and completely ignores the rest of the pellets.

Bizacon - take note of this: thankfully the clowns aren't like the kids. When one daughter states that she doesn't care for a particular food, then the other instantly also doesn't like it... So you have to get irrationally militant and issue all sorts of threats to the older one in the event that they say anything to the effect of, "I don't care for..." Just a friendly tip as you proceed down the path of multiple children!

I had the same issue when I got my clowns. The female (the fatter one) wouldn't eat...she would eat live brine, like destroy brine lol. So I figured she was just picky. I ended up continually feeding twice a day, and finally after starvation she started eating the pellets. BTW Im using New Era marine pellets. Every time someone walks up to the tank, they both swim to the surface for....foood lol. Good luck, be persistent, hunger will take over and they will eat.

 

[Mrs Fish]

Thanks Reduck ... I'm using API Master Test kits.

I don't have a phosphate reactor, but could run chemipure elite. I'm considering turning the lights off for 3 days this weekend - Saturday, Sunday, Monday ... maybe that will help. I also wont feed during this time and hopefully that will help ... although the clown fish as always going nuts for food. Are they really OK for a couple of days without food? What will they eat !?

I don't have much coral - just two tiny zoa frags. Forgot to mention that there's plenty of flow in the tank (although I'm not sure this will help !) - I have a MP10 going a lowest speed across the front of the tank.

I'll have to go buy another bucket to do a 15 gallon water change (which I will do tomorrow as working today!). I have 3 buckets - one to drain, two ready with prepared water. I always have 15g RODI ready just in case !!

Thanks for your help ... it's definitely getting better over the last week ... just want to get rid of it !!

 

[Reduck]

Thanks Reduck ... I'm using API Master Test kits.

I don't have a phosphate reactor, but could run chemipure elite. I'm considering turning the lights off for 3 days this weekend - Saturday, Sunday, Monday ... maybe that will help. I also wont feed during this time and hopefully that will help ... although the clown fish as always going nuts for food. Are they really OK for a couple of days without food? What will they eat !?

I don't have much coral - just two tiny zoa frags. Forgot to mention that there's plenty of flow in the tank (although I'm not sure this will help !) - I have a MP10 going a lowest speed across the front of the tank.

I'll have to go buy another bucket to do a 15 gallon water change (which I will do tomorrow as working today!). I have 3 buckets - one to drain, two ready with prepared water. I always have 15g RODI ready just in case !!

Thanks for your help ... it's definitely getting better over the last week ... just want to get rid of it !!

The API kits work ok for the most part. I'd still try to get a second opinion with another kit. Clowns will do fine without but you can still feed them lightly with the lights out. Very small amounts. I would bump the mp10 up in speed. Just under the point of moving sand, and leave it there. Just turn it off when you feed. And yes, stick a bag of CPE in to absorb the die off. You might also use s bag of .purigen. Be prepared to change them out in a few weeks. Keep skimming wet, and keep up with the wc. It'll pass...

Good luck!

 

[Reduck]

I had the same issue when I got my clowns. The female (the fatter one) wouldn't eat...she would eat live brine, like destroy brine lol. So I figured she was just picky. I ended up continually feeding twice a day, and finally after starvation she started eating the pellets. BTW Im using New Era marine pellets. Every time someone walks up to the tank, they both swim to the surface for....foood lol. Good luck, be persistent, hunger will take over and they will eat.

My clowns are pigs. Walk up to the tank, they want food. Walk by the tank, they want food. Feed them, they want more. They eat spectrum pellets daily and LRS reef frenzy once a week. Reef snow too.
The rest of the tank gets reef snow and reef roids 2x week.
I have to pick up some mysis. Keep forgetting..

 

[mystikal]

If your having a cyno break out, I just went through the same thing with my tank.
It lasted 4 days. I had brown everywhere, rock, sand and corals.
My CUC; blue legs &I red legs (4-5) and a couple of trochus snails, with a hector goby. They all did a great job taking care of the outbreak. But it's part of the cycle your tank is going through. I did not turn off the lights, I ended up turning them up to 12hrs a days from 8. everything is turned green and now turning pink!
So if your seeing brown, don't stress out and let it run its course

And turn up the pressure on that mp! I have dual spin streams and two power heads causing some serious flow

Thanks Reduck ... I'm using API Master Test kits.

I don't have a phosphate reactor, but could run chemipure elite. I'm considering turning the lights off for 3 days this weekend - Saturday, Sunday, Monday ... maybe that will help. I also wont feed during this time and hopefully that will help ... although the clown fish as always going nuts for food. Are they really OK for a couple of days without food? What will they eat !?

I don't have much coral - just two tiny zoa frags. Forgot to mention that there's plenty of flow in the tank (although I'm not sure this will help !) - I have a MP10 going a lowest speed across the front of the tank.

I'll have to go buy another bucket to do a 15 gallon water change (which I will do tomorrow as working today!). I have 3 buckets - one to drain, two ready with prepared water. I always have 15g RODI ready just in case !!

Thanks for your help ... it's definitely getting better over the last week ... just want to get rid of it !!

 

[Mrs Fish]

Thanks all! Just got home from a long day in Boston ... about to turn up the MP10 and get that Chemi Pure Elite on the go !!

 

[OsiViper]

Ugh.. not exactly happy with my last order from inTank.. UPS Sure post is slow as hell and takes over a week to get to my house, so I paid for the Upgrade to USPS Priority shipping cause I was kind of in a hurry. I get the email saying my package shipped and lo and behold, it went out UPS Sure post..

I'll be lucky if i get it this month.

 

[Reduck]

Ugh.. not exactly happy with my last order from inTank.. UPS Sure post is slow as hell and takes over a week to get to my house, so I paid for the Upgrade to USPS Priority shipping cause I was kind of in a hurry. I get the email saying my package shipped and lo and behold, it went out UPS Sure post..

I'll be lucky if i get it this month.

It happens. I have one coming Saturday from intank. I wouldn't hold my breath either. Smart post in my town is slow, unless it's Amazon prime...I am waiting now for ups to deliver a big bucket of rscp. Hope it shows up whole...I've received 3 cracked drums so far. One was not usable. Spilled out so they put it in a big bag and left it on my porch...went back exactly the same..

 

[Reduck]

Thanks all! Just got home from a long day in Boston ... about to turn up the MP10 and get that Chemi Pure Elite on the go !!

Crank it up to at least 50% constant....if sand starts moving, dial it down 5% at a time. If it doesn't move sand, go up 5% at a time...some of us run them higher..I had 80% reef crest for a while but got tired of raking sand around...
Optimum placement is key. Not too high, and not too low. You'll need to move it around a little to see what gives the best overall flow. If you stick with one, try about dead center and 6" down from waterline. If a rock is in the way, go in front of it slightly. You get the idea. Experiment. Flow is important in keeping the nasties at bay...

 

[Reduck]

It happens. I have one coming Saturday from intank. I wouldn't hold my breath either. Smart post in my town is slow, unless it's Amazon prime...I am waiting now for ups to deliver a big bucket of rscp. Hope it shows up whole...I've received 3 cracked drums so far. One was not usable. Spilled out so they put it in a big bag and left it on my porch...went back exactly the same..

Wow, it came in one piece! First time ever. It even came with samples of reef foundations a&b. I think I'll mix some with some snow and see what happens...

 

[OsiViper]

Red, how much Alk and calcium were you dosing? I'm at 23 and 16 now with Kalk and almost stable

 

[Reduck]

Red, how much Alk and calcium were you dosing? I'm at 23 and 16 now with Kalk and almost stable

Doing 20 and 17. Been bumping the cal up slowly. it's very stable. I was looking for 9.5dkh and It's there. I may bump it to an even 10 now that it stabilized.
I'll test mag this weekend. Doubt it needs supplementing but I want to know for sure where it's at just in case.

I just fed the tank some of that sample red sea stuff. They liked it a lot. Looks a lot like reef snow though. I guess I'll use it up and see if there is a visible difference in the corals.

 

[OsiViper]

Yea, Sadly i had to cut my feeding back.. Dealing with a bit of Cynao which is eating up all my nitrates not letting corals get any.. I know high nitrates are bad, but having 0 also stunts corals from what I've seen.

 

[Reduck]

Yea, Sadly i had to cut my feeding back.. Dealing with a bit of Cynao which is eating up all my nitrates not letting corals get any.. I know high nitrates are bad, but having 0 also stunts corals from what I've seen.

Yes it does. Tank can be too clean. I had that issue at the end of my outbreak. Corals were not happy at all. Now, very happy. Nitrates are <.2 and I'd love to keep it right there. I think I finally found the balance of that and phosphates. I'm running about 1/2 cup phosban and it's holding it in check. I still have a couple isolated groups of gha but they are not spreading or growing. I should just scrape them off but I want them there. If I can find another sailfin this weekend he will have a snack...
Once the tank gets in its groove...it all works...

 

[Mrs Fish]

Flow is up and the fish are looking a little bewildered! It started to move sand, but I dialed it back a little. I have an 'island' rock design - space all round (no more leaning rock walls for me again ... LOL ... this is my 3rd reef). MP10 is positioned about 2/3 down tank on side wall and about 3/4 towards front so it fires right across the front to give great circulation.

Chemi Pure Elite is in ... switched out floss again. Ordered Phosphate removed too.

What brand would you recommend as a 2nd Phosphate test kit?

Sue

 

[jguinn]

What brand would you recommend as a 2nd Phosphate test kit?

Have a look at the guide published here: http://www.mrsaltwatertank.com/testkits/

I'm using the Hanna phosphate colorimeter and Salifert for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Have not started testing alkalinity or magnesium yet.

Actually Reduck's info about the tank being too clean has me wondering how things will look when I do start thinking about coral. Right now I have floss in the top compartment of the inTank media basket, then a bag of BRS ROX carbon & a bag of Purigen in the middle compartment, and the bottom compartment is filled with Marine Pure balls. One IM mid-size reactor has about a third of a cup of BRS GFO. And the other reactor has a quarter cup of BRS bio-pellets. Consistently zero phosphates even though I didn't do anything except rinse the reef saver rock off with tap water to literally knock the dust off of it. Never been able to measure any ammonia, other than immediately following dosing the tank with ammonium chloride. Nitrites are now consistently immeasurable (they did peak about 48-72 hours after I bombed it with Dr. Tim's One and Only). And nitrates - after tossing in the bag of Purigen - are barely at 0.2ppm. Does make me think it might be a little too "sterile"... Hmm...

 

[jguinn]

I had the same issue when I got my clowns. The female (the fatter one) wouldn't eat...she would eat live brine, like destroy brine lol. So I figured she was just picky. I ended up continually feeding twice a day, and finally after starvation she started eating the pellets. BTW Im using New Era marine pellets. Every time someone walks up to the tank, they both swim to the surface for....foood lol. Good luck, be persistent, hunger will take over and they will eat.

Thanks!! I will definitely keep trying with the pellets. Good to know that they can be a little picky at first. I went ahead and fed mysis again this evening and they both absolutely devoured it, so I'm with you - I think I just need to convince it that pellets are acceptable, too.

 

[jguinn]

I am waiting now for ups to deliver a big bucket of rscp. Hope it shows up whole...I've received 3 cracked drums so far. One was not usable. Spilled out so they put it in a big bag and left it on my porch...went back exactly the same..

Glad to hear your final bucket finally arrived in decent shape! Mine showed up (via UPS) broken, too. A little spilled out but thankfully wasn't enough to cause a huge problem. I did shoot an e-mail to BRS customer service and they said they were planning to put some big red stickers on the box in hopes of getting the buckets delivered without the big cracks. Also said they had considered just shipping the bucket itself without the box around to make it obvious that it was breakable plastic.

 

[Reduck]

Flow is up and the fish are looking a little bewildered! It started to move sand, but I dialed it back a little.

What brand would you recommend as a 2nd Phosphate test kit?

Sue

They'll be fine. Ocean doesn't have an on/off switch. There is always motion...

I'd look at the Hanna meters if $ allows it. I'm using their calcium. Alk, and phosphate checkers. They are a bit finicky with procedures but once you get used to them they work. Red Sea Pro are my second fav for nitrates and magnesium. I have salifert for back up testing.

 

[Reduck]

Have a look at the guide published here: http://www.mrsaltwatertank.com/testkits/

I'm using the Hanna phosphate colorimeter and Salifert for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Have not started testing alkalinity or magnesium yet.

Actually Reduck's info about the tank being too clean has me wondering how things will look when I do start thinking about coral. Right now I have floss in the top compartment of the inTank media basket, then a bag of BRS ROX carbon & a bag of Purigen in the middle compartment, and the bottom compartment is filled with Marine Pure balls. One IM mid-size reactor has about a third of a cup of BRS GFO. And the other reactor has a quarter cup of BRS bio-pellets. Consistently zero phosphates even though I didn't do anything except rinse the reef saver rock off with tap water to literally knock the dust off of it. Never been able to measure any ammonia, other than immediately following dosing the tank with ammonium chloride. Nitrites are now consistently immeasurable (they did peak about 48-72 hours after I bombed it with Dr. Tim's One and Only). And nitrates - after tossing in the bag of Purigen - are barely at 0.2ppm. Does make me think it might be a little too "sterile"... Hmm...

It does not sound like you are on the wrong path. I wouldn't stress over it until you see something wrong. Once you start feeding coral you will start seeing some phosphates. They waste a lot of food even if you target feed. And it takes a while for the rock to start leeching it. If it had some bound up, it will surface eventually.

Keep doing what you are doing till then...