Pete's 110 build
- Thread starter psteeleb
- Start date
psteeleb
Team RC
thanks Seabass
thanks, and never give up :thumbsup:Pictures like these are the reason I don't give up, lol
haha - I think I know you better Brett but thanks
I run it 24/7 due to using Caulerpa, with coil bulbs. Though I susect it's no big deal but just don't want it goin asexual on me
thanks Brett
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General update
Nitrates still hanging around 3-5 (without biopellets), considering a DIY nitrate reactor if they ever climb again.
MG was low (around 1170) and I started using that Ca reactor media that has Mg in it so something is pulling it down. I usually don't check it that often maybe every 2-3 months and dose it up to 1400 or so, but maybe the corals or just sucking up more of it.
In talking to a good friend in the business (that I don't see often enough, Frank of Franks Tanks), he is convinced that new Zeo product for flatworms is a fantastic coral color/health enhancer; even without AEFW's and as expensive as it is I may have to try it.
I need to change out the RO/DI filters this week, it's been a while, and I've notice an outbreak of bubble algae lately. A few weeks back I lost my foxface (had for about 4 years) as he decided to jump on top of my Tunze wave maker. The bubble algae may more be a result the foxface not being around to graze on it then the filters being old but it's time. My TDS tested at 007.
One of my LED strings blew the pair of fuses - I'm sure it's due to salt creep so I'll be pulling it apart to check and clean everything up. It's my bad as I started to make splashguards for them but never finished them. My LED's are only about 3-4" above the water line. I decided as long as I need to work on the LED's I'm going to add some more (high noon) white to the outside to hit the rock faces and change out my T5's for more spectrum between the blues and whites (considering 2 purples and 2 coral growth) but I'd like to alternate the placement between the T5's and LED's to get more mix. Currently I have T5's in the center and LED's on the outer edges. This arrangement has created mixed growth and color results for some of the corals mainly for the SPS that sit between the 2 zones.
After I change the filters I plan on doing a large water change, as part of it I want to stir the tank up real good to pull out excess detritus build up in the low flow zones. My tank could use some more flow so I picked up a couple Tunze 6045's the problem is, being a peninsula, everything is on one end of the tank and I don't want a pump mounted to the other 3 walls. As a backup I always thought I may need to install an over the top closed loop system. This is mainly an issue with the uppermost zone in the tan, as the corals grow out the flow zones decrease creating problems for them. So there's an upcoming chapter on adding more "“ so stay tuned if you're interested.
drummereef
Team RC
Do you have any plans drawn up for the nitrate reactor build? Or is there a product you are going to use as a model?
psteeleb
Team RC
I have not decided for sure yet, but I've kicked around a couple concepts
I like the simplicity of the coil/bio media type, but I'm also considering reworking my TLF recirc reactor into a mini sulfur reactor.
I am still running a reactor with denitrate rocks in it and I do know it has a healthy anaerobic bacteria culture working (by the smell if opened) but apparently it’s not quite enough to knock the total count below that 3-5 range. That said I may just try to improve on it by adding a coil upstream to reduce the O2 levels entering the reactor and/or daisy chain a second reactor to the outlet of the first containing more of the denitrate rocks.
Or, I may go for a combination of coil (to reduce 02) to a the TLF mini sulfur (to feed anearobic) to a daisy chained second reactor for more surface area and final processing (limestone / GFO). In other words I'm still doing research
psteeleb
Team RC
iwishtofish
Active member
Are you using a macro flash for the space shots? Very nice.
Very nice.
psteeleb
Team RC
thanks
thankyoulove your photos and great videos
I need to work on a FTS; you know, clean the glass tell the fish to act their best, get the hermits to stop fighting and pose, get teh snails to brush their teeth or whatever those things are that scrape the glass.
no flash, no macro - just my video camera under low but blue lights, but now that you mention it I do want to look into and maybe invest in one of those Florescence exciter and barrier filter type set ups. The pictures are out of this world incredible!!!Are you using a macro flash for the space shots?
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here's a short video of pulsating xenia in my 29g tank
The 29g is my Rodney Dangerfield tank, other then water changes it gets no respect (no additives, no testing of parameters, etc), it keeps me in tune with a KISS approach can and sometimes does work.
best viewed in HD
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Z8iyRDD7HZk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
drummereef
Team RC
I have not decided for sure yet, but I've kicked around a couple concepts
I like the simplicity of the coil/bio media type, but I'm also considering reworking my TLF recirc reactor into a mini sulfur reactor.
I am still running a reactor with denitrate rocks in it and I do know it has a healthy anaerobic bacteria culture working (by the smell if opened) but apparently it's not quite enough to knock the total count below that 3-5 range. That said I may just try to improve on it by adding a coil upstream to reduce the O2 levels entering the reactor and/or daisy chain a second reactor to the outlet of the first containing more of the denitrate rocks.
Or, I may go for a combination of coil (to reduce 02) to a the TLF mini sulfur (to feed anearobic) to a daisy chained second reactor for more surface area and final processing (limestone / GFO). In other words I'm still doing research
I see.
What brand denitrate rocks are you running in your reactor?
psteeleb
Team RC
I see.
I'm using the Seachem brand - they say it should get nitrates down and keep it around 4-5, mine always reads right there.
I also started using zeovit flatworm stop 3 days ago. I don't have flatworms but a person I trust in the business talks highly on the stuff as a coral enhancer, so we will see. I have a couple corals that never seemed to recover from the bio pellets, I'm looking forward to see if they make a comeback.
drummereef
Team RC
Thanks for the info! I also very interested in seeing how the corals recover with the Flatworm Stop. Definitely post results.
psteeleb
Team RC
Today, I broke up my birdsnest coral again. The birdsnest gets so large it takes over everything. So started by cutting the bottom off, it was full of those small brittle stars, sponges and pods. The bottom chunk was out of water for about 15 minutes then I put it in my 29g to help repopulate it (no acclimation). About a half hour later I walked by and saw this smokey film coming from it and decided to grab the video camera
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7xLif3IIvCU?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7xLif3IIvCU?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
drummereef
Team RC
That is truly amazing. ^^^ :thumbsup:
iwishtofish
Active member
Unbelievably cool! So that's what brittle stars watch late at night...
