Perry's 120 Gallon Reef

[Chrisq0904]

Yes you can automate and dilute NP Pro or purchase the diluted dosable version, Pro Bio S as well, but you need the magnetic stirrer, and the Kore 5th doser. ABEV cannot be diluted. While at MACNA I had dinner one night with the owner of Pacific Sun and Co-Owner of AF, and the Deepwater team, we were all discussing a unit that would handle the entire probiotic lineup at a realistic price, one that would have 10 dosing heads. Hopefully we will see something like that in the not so distant future

I really hope something like this comes out! Although I'm not fully Aquaforest yet but I'm inching along and slowly adding as I run out of my current products.

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[Chrisq0904]

Am I correct that you are still dosing Pro bio F daily? For some reason I was thinking this was only needed for new tanks. :facepalm: Either way, I am not currently using Pro Bio F but maybe I need to be? Im currently using NP Pro, Pro Bio S, Vitality, and Build and just got component 1-3 in the mail today. Not using the salt yet, that will be next once I finish my current bucket of Fritz.

 

[plyle02]

Great colors and tank!

Thank You Very Much!!! I appreciate you looking in on the journal

I really hope something like this comes out! Although I'm not fully Aquaforest yet but I'm inching along and slowly adding as I run out of my current products.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

Awesome, thanks for stopping in, the beauty about the AF lineup is that you do not have to adapt fully to the system, you can choose bits and pieces and try products as you feel fit

Am I correct that you are still dosing Pro bio F daily? For some reason I was thinking this was only needed for new tanks. :facepalm: Either way, I am not currently using Pro Bio F but maybe I need to be? Im currently using NP Pro, Pro Bio S, Vitality, and Build and just got component 1-3 in the mail today. Not using the salt yet, that will be next once I finish my current bucket of Fritz.

Yes, Pro Bio S and NP Pro are to be used in conjunction with the Probiotic Method, sure you can use Pro Bio F on occasion in replacement of NP Pro, but it is really designed for an AIO type of carbon dose system, like really good for small/nano tank users. Sounds like you are on the right track, and yes you seem to understand the system well. PM me if I can help in any way! Cheers

 

[bobssecrtsn]

Probiotic Reef salt :

I've already used almost 2 buckets of these since setting the tank up. and its only been about 2-2.5 months in thats about a bucket a month! doing 15gallons a week in a 140gallon tank .

Whats your WC schedule like? It would really help if I can extend WC to every other week or once a month if possible... Its killing me!

 

[plyle02]

Probiotic Reef salt :

I've already used almost 2 buckets of these since setting the tank up. and its only been about 2-2.5 months in thats about a bucket a month! doing 15gallons a week in a 140gallon tank .

Whats your WC schedule like? It would really help if I can extend WC to every other week or once a month if possible... Its killing me!

Hey Bob,
I do 10% every 2-3 weeks, as I have lower nutrients, and using the Component 123 which is replenishing trace. So I feel I can extend changes a bit

 

[reefmutt]

Hey Perry, I have a questions for you..
Do you think it could be detrimental to add NP Pro to my saturated kalkwasser?
I figure it's a good way to dose the np pro slowly but I have no clue how it might be reacting with the kalk..
Any insight would be much appreciated..

 

[plyle02]

Hi Matt,
Sorry for the delay, but I am not sure at all whether that is possible. I think the idea is that you want to replace the carbon source of vinegar in your kalk to NP Pro, but this is a polymer in liquid form. In theory I have heard of users making there own dosable version of NP Pro by diluting it with RODI, then using the ml feature of dosing versus drop. If you want, next time I message Debora or Sever, I can ask? Hope all is well my friend!

 

[plyle02]

Update:

I have a bit of unfortunate news regarding the tank. I will do my best to keep it short. I acquired 2 liters of Life Bio Fil in San Diego, months back, brought it home and put it online passive in a basket. I then removed 4 liters of matrix, it was already in a basket passive, so I simply took the basket and set it outside, where it was exposed to weather. At first this transition went well, and I was able to still achieve my same normal parameters, despite a net loss of 2 liters of bio media. I still had 2 liters of siporax that ran active in a reactor, and now 2 liters of Life Bio Fil.

During this time, My nano was empty, so after a couple of weeks of the matrix sitting outside, I though what the heck, there is nothing in the tank, so I put the matrix in the nano, there was no life, so I thought maybe the bacteria would come back. So after 2 weeks, of running in the nano, I had the great idea to put the matrix back in my display, HUGE MISTAKE! My nitrates were steady around 5ppm, increased due to the net loss of 2 liters of bio media, still a good number, and corals looked great, so I thought the matrix would then bring me down to 1-2ppm, then I could feed like crazy. Well, after a few days and into the next week or two, I noticed my Red Robin was looking really drab, like washed out. My nitrates had increased to 20ppm, other corals were really starting to darken, so I pulled the matrix.

I did some water changes, and managed to pull nitrates back down to 10ppm, but the damage was done, because the Red Robin was irritated, it stopped growth, and due to it being a larger colony, this caused my KH to increase. I was steady at 7.56 dkh for several months, but due to this one coral stopping it's growth, my alk shifted to 8.5 slowly, unsuspecting to me. This process began with the increased nitrates, but over several days and weeks, the alk was growing, given my params were super stable, I did not see the firestorm coming.

When I tested at 8.5dkh, I was now experiencing tip burn on the Red Robin, which then went to my Blue Tort, Chips Acro, and Slimer. It seems the stags do not like this alk level. I should have not stayed at 7.56dkh, given a 1 point increase is most certainly where the corals will start to get ****ed, so I have since brought that value to around 6.8-7.0 dkh, this gives me a bit more wiggle room. So, all in all not a good month, but the tank is on the mend, and the other sps in the tank look amazing, so a few ****ed corals won't ruin my day

Biological/ Equipment Update:

So I was lucky enough to get the AF 150 Reactor recently, and I found some Sera Siporax at the last Aquatics show I attended. So I am now running 5 liters of siporax in the AF 150 reactor, and 2 liters of Life Bio Fil in a TLF 550 reactor. So that is a total of 7 liters of bio media. This switch happened a week ago, and with no water changes I am now back down to 2.5ppm on nitrates and 0.02 on Phosphates. Isn't life on the reef a blast

 

[seachange]

Perry's 120 Gallon Reef

Update:

I have a bit of unfortunate news regarding the tank. I will do my best to keep it short. I acquired 2 liters of Life Bio Fil in San Diego, months back, brought it home and put it online passive in a basket. I then removed 4 liters of matrix, it was already in a basket passive, so I simply took the basket and set it outside, where it was exposed to weather. At first this transition went well, and I was able to still achieve my same normal parameters, despite a net loss of 2 liters of bio media. I still had 2 liters of siporax that ran active in a reactor, and now 2 liters of Life Bio Fil.

During this time, My nano was empty, so after a couple of weeks of the matrix sitting outside, I though what the heck, there is nothing in the tank, so I put the matrix in the nano, there was no life, so I thought maybe the bacteria would come back. So after 2 weeks, of running in the nano, I had the great idea to put the matrix back in my display, HUGE MISTAKE! My nitrates were steady around 5ppm, increased due to the net loss of 2 liters of bio media, still a good number, and corals looked great, so I thought the matrix would then bring me down to 1-2ppm, then I could feed like crazy. Well, after a few days and into the next week or two, I noticed my Red Robin was looking really drab, like washed out. My nitrates had increased to 20ppm, other corals were really starting to darken, so I pulled the matrix.

I did some water changes, and managed to pull nitrates back down to 10ppm, but the damage was done, because the Red Robin was irritated, it stopped growth, and due to it being a larger colony, this caused my KH to increase. I was steady at 7.56 dkh for several months, but due to this one coral stopping it's growth, my alk shifted to 8.5 slowly, unsuspecting to me. This process began with the increased nitrates, but over several days and weeks, the alk was growing, given my params were super stable, I did not see the firestorm coming.

When I tested at 8.5dkh, I was now experiencing tip burn on the Red Robin, which then went to my Blue Tort, Chips Acro, and Slimer. It seems the stags do not like this alk level. I should have not stayed at 7.56dkh, given a 1 point increase is most certainly where the corals will start to get ****ed, so I have since brought that value to around 6.8-7.0 dkh, this gives me a bit more wiggle room. So, all in all not a good month, but the tank is on the mend, and the other sps in the tank look amazing, so a few ****ed corals won't ruin my day

Biological/ Equipment Update:

So I was lucky enough to get the AF 150 Reactor recently, and I found some Sera Siporax at the last Aquatics show I attended. So I am now running 5 liters of siporax in the AF 150 reactor, and 2 liters of Life Bio Fil in a TLF 550 reactor. So that is a total of 7 liters of bio media. This switch happened a week ago, and with no water changes I am now back down to 2.5ppm on nitrates and 0.02 on Phosphates. Isn't life on the reef a blast

Hey Perry,

That is some painful lesson learnt. I think we all have been through that point where, we just had to go and 'do something' when everything is settling in nicely. I call it itchy syndrome [emoji23]

I am sure it will bounce back in no time.

Are all your biomedia in reactors? I take it your sump is free of any biomedia in baskets,bags etc?

Riz.


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[plyle02]

Hey Perry,

That is some painful lesson learnt. I think we all have been through that point where, we just had to go and 'do something' when everything is settling in nicely. I call it itchy syndrome [emoji23]

I am sure it will bounce back in no time.

Are all your biomedia in reactors? I take it your sump is free of any biomedia in baskets,bags etc?

Riz.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Hi Riz,
Yeah the corals are all ok, just burnt tips on the Red Robin, and slightly on the other corals mentioned. Not to worried over it, but it goes to show how important observation is in the hobby. The day I saw burnt tips, I immediately tested alk, and it had indeed increased to 8.5, which is the threshold indeed. Only a total of 4 corals effected, so out of 60, I think that was no real big deal. I use the AF 150 Reactor for 5 liters of siporax, and the TLF 550 for the Life Bio Fil, it is 2 liters. Total of 7 liters on my 120 gallon. I have room in the AF 150 reactor for 2 more liters of siporax, or Life Bio Fil, when it becomes more available. I doubt it will be necessary though, I see my nitrates bottoming out in the upcoming weeks, as the 3 liters of siporax becomes seeded. I am down to 9 fish right now, due to being back to work full time, and travel and vacation, my anthias did not get fed 3 times per day, so I lost all but one lyretail.

 

[reefmutt]

Hi Matt,
Sorry for the delay, but I am not sure at all whether that is possible. I think the idea is that you want to replace the carbon source of vinegar in your kalk to NP Pro, but this is a polymer in liquid form. In theory I have heard of users making there own dosable version of NP Pro by diluting it with RODI, then using the ml feature of dosing versus drop. If you want, next time I message Debora or Sever, I can ask? Hope all is well my friend!

Hey Perry, thanks for the info. I would be curious to know if the np pro will keep its chemical properties when mixed in Kalkwasser. However, In the end, I didn't do it as I wasn't sure if it would work.. I would be curious to try it down the road, though.
I seem to have a rampant bacterial infection going on in the tank now, stn everywhere, so I'm not doing anything experimental right now.

I hope your tank recovers without a hitch!

 

[markalot]

Sorry to hear of the troubles Perry. That darn Red Robin is finicky!

I hear ya about the Alk, I was trying for 7 but the tank likes to stick at 6.7 KH so I will leave it well enough alone.

 

[spkennyva]

When I tested at 8.5dkh, I was now experiencing tip burn on the Red Robin, which then went to my Blue Tort, Chips Acro, and Slimer. It seems the stags do not like this alk level. I should have not stayed at 7.56dkh, given a 1 point increase is most certainly where the corals will start to get ****ed, so I have since brought that value to around 6.8-7.0 dkh, this gives me a bit more wiggle room.

Sorry to hear of your problems. I always enjoy reading your posts and seeing your pics. What do you believe was the biggest issue, the 1 dkh uptick or the absolute value of 8.5? Don't lots of people successfully keep alk near 8.5dkh or higher?

 

[seachange]

Hi Riz,

Yeah the corals are all ok, just burnt tips on the Red Robin, and slightly on the other corals mentioned. Not to worried over it, but it goes to show how important observation is in the hobby. The day I saw burnt tips, I immediately tested alk, and it had indeed increased to 8.5, which is the threshold indeed. Only a total of 4 corals effected, so out of 60, I think that was no real big deal. I use the AF 150 Reactor for 5 liters of siporax, and the TLF 550 for the Life Bio Fil, it is 2 liters. Total of 7 liters on my 120 gallon. I have room in the AF 150 reactor for 2 more liters of siporax, or Life Bio Fil, when it becomes more available. I doubt it will be necessary though, I see my nitrates bottoming out in the upcoming weeks, as the 3 liters of siporax becomes seeded. I am down to 9 fish right now, due to being back to work full time, and travel and vacation, my anthias did not get fed 3 times per day, so I lost all but one lyretail.

What is your dosage of pro bio s and np pro at right now Perry?

I am also in the midst of seeding a couple litres of siporax and will be taking out 1 marine pure block in it's place.

I need to ask you a question, as I am using the component 1,2,3,I pour them out from the bottle and into my custom made reservoir. Over time, I have these iron settling at the bottom. As I keep replenishing, the iron accumulates as sometimes I just forget to stir them. This accumulation does it have any dire effects over time? Will this change the balance in my dosing ie. too much iron?

Can this imbalance be cause of pale corals?


Many thanks,
Riz.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[plyle02]

Hey Perry, thanks for the info. I would be curious to know if the np pro will keep its chemical properties when mixed in Kalkwasser. However, In the end, I didn't do it as I wasn't sure if it would work.. I would be curious to try it down the road, though.
I seem to have a rampant bacterial infection going on in the tank now, stn everywhere, so I'm not doing anything experimental right now.

I hope your tank recovers without a hitch!

Hey Matt, and thank you for the kind words I think the corals are on the mend now, and only a few, so I am very fortunate indeed. Will be getting some cool videos soon.

Sorry to hear of the troubles Perry. That darn Red Robin is finicky!

I hear ya about the Alk, I was trying for 7 but the tank likes to stick at 6.7 KH so I will leave it well enough alone.

Very finicky Mark, when the nitrates were up, this coral was really upset, no PE and the color changed to drab quickly, funny how one coral shutting down can impact the alk like it did. I have decreased in consumption, as that occurrence and a bulb change has slowed overall growth. Thanks for checking in Mark!

Sorry to hear of your problems. I always enjoy reading your posts and seeing your pics. What do you believe was the biggest issue, the 1 dkh uptick or the absolute value of 8.5? Don't lots of people successfully keep alk near 8.5dkh or higher?

Hello,
Thanks again for the nice words, I appreciate you looking over and checking in on the journal. Yes, many tanks certainly run higher with alk and I believe it was the increase in nitrates that upset the first coral, and with a volley ball size colony shutting down, that increase was not quick by any means, but slowly over the days and weeks, that kh value did creep. I mix my own Components 123, and every batch is made identical, using a digital scale to measure in grams, so I am certain it had nothing to do with dosing, but at 230 ml per day, one coral shutting down could easily account for a 25 ml uptick per day, and over time, I now know exactly what happened. I have been traveling and vacationing a lot over the past few months, so that did not help either. In systems that run with Zeolites, carbon/bacteria dosing, I have never seen anything good at 8.5dkh or higher, for algae or berlin type setups, indeed 8.5 is actually a low value for kh, but NSW values are target in Probiotic/ C-Source systems. Thanks again, hopefully I will get some updated pics soon.

What is your dosage of pro bio s and np pro at right now Perry?

I am also in the midst of seeding a couple litres of siporax and will be taking out 1 marine pure block in it's place.

I need to ask you a question, as I am using the component 1,2,3,I pour them out from the bottle and into my custom made reservoir. Over time, I have these iron settling at the bottom. As I keep replenishing, the iron accumulates as sometimes I just forget to stir them. This accumulation does it have any dire effects over time? Will this change the balance in my dosing ie. too much iron?

Can this imbalance be cause of pale corals?


Many thanks,
Riz.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Hi Riz,
The Components should be ok, this is normal based on what AF indicates. That said, I usually discard the last bit of Components and rinse my containers with RODI each time. As far as Pro Bio S and NP Pro go, I dose 4-5 drops per day of each. I also use the same for Energy, Build, and on opposite days, Vitality and Amino Mix. With pale corals, I would associate it to nutrients myself, so more fish feedings and corals supps and foods would be my first gut instinct, as far as what I would do to correct. Cheers!

 

[DiscusHeckel]

Update:

I have a bit of unfortunate news regarding the tank. I will do my best to keep it short. I acquired 2 liters of Life Bio Fil in San Diego, months back, brought it home and put it online passive in a basket. I then removed 4 liters of matrix, it was already in a basket passive, so I simply took the basket and set it outside, where it was exposed to weather. At first this transition went well, and I was able to still achieve my same normal parameters, despite a net loss of 2 liters of bio media. I still had 2 liters of siporax that ran active in a reactor, and now 2 liters of Life Bio Fil.

During this time, My nano was empty, so after a couple of weeks of the matrix sitting outside, I though what the heck, there is nothing in the tank, so I put the matrix in the nano, there was no life, so I thought maybe the bacteria would come back. So after 2 weeks, of running in the nano, I had the great idea to put the matrix back in my display, HUGE MISTAKE! My nitrates were steady around 5ppm, increased due to the net loss of 2 liters of bio media, still a good number, and corals looked great, so I thought the matrix would then bring me down to 1-2ppm, then I could feed like crazy. Well, after a few days and into the next week or two, I noticed my Red Robin was looking really drab, like washed out. My nitrates had increased to 20ppm, other corals were really starting to darken, so I pulled the matrix.

I did some water changes, and managed to pull nitrates back down to 10ppm, but the damage was done, because the Red Robin was irritated, it stopped growth, and due to it being a larger colony, this caused my KH to increase. I was steady at 7.56 dkh for several months, but due to this one coral stopping it's growth, my alk shifted to 8.5 slowly, unsuspecting to me. This process began with the increased nitrates, but over several days and weeks, the alk was growing, given my params were super stable, I did not see the firestorm coming.

When I tested at 8.5dkh, I was now experiencing tip burn on the Red Robin, which then went to my Blue Tort, Chips Acro, and Slimer. It seems the stags do not like this alk level. I should have not stayed at 7.56dkh, given a 1 point increase is most certainly where the corals will start to get ****ed, so I have since brought that value to around 6.8-7.0 dkh, this gives me a bit more wiggle room. So, all in all not a good month, but the tank is on the mend, and the other sps in the tank look amazing, so a few ****ed corals won't ruin my day

Biological/ Equipment Update:

So I was lucky enough to get the AF 150 Reactor recently, and I found some Sera Siporax at the last Aquatics show I attended. So I am now running 5 liters of siporax in the AF 150 reactor, and 2 liters of Life Bio Fil in a TLF 550 reactor. So that is a total of 7 liters of bio media. This switch happened a week ago, and with no water changes I am now back down to 2.5ppm on nitrates and 0.02 on Phosphates. Isn't life on the reef a blast

Thanks for the information Perry. I was going to remove some siporax, but have decided not to tinker with an established system. I am glad that you recovered from your misadventure.

 

[plyle02]

Thanks Bulent! Here is a quick little video I made, nothing special, but I was able to go under water with the new Samsung 7 with the submersible casing. Really excited with the camera options on this phone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqvnKLt5IIw&t=2s

 

[milsaltnewbie07]

Dan Perry thats a nice video brother. What case is that your using??. I got the active version of that galaxy, but its not as waterproof as they claim. Also what is that nasty green algae?? Cyano?. Dang

 

[seachange]

Thanks Bulent! Here is a quick little video I made, nothing special, but I was able to go under water with the new Samsung 7 with the submersible casing. Really excited with the camera options on this phone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqvnKLt5IIw&t=2s

Nice video nice colors on the corals. I made some screenshot as I really want to know the id for the following I hope you do not mind Perry!







Cheers,
Riz.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[plyle02]

Hey Jorge,
Thanks man, yeah a bit of green cyano started up again when nitrates grew, still persist with lowered nutrients, I have not intervened yet, so we will see if it goes away naturally.

Hi Riz,
1. Acid Trip Milli
2. Wild Aussie, I think A. Anthroceris(pikachu looking)
3. Pink Lemonade
4. PC Rainbow