Rob's Cesspool of neglect
- Thread starter rob189
- Start date
OK, I see my initial question was answered in subsequent posts so I'm editing my reply.
If DT is approximately 24" high, and DT is lit by 2 x 150 watt MH + 2 x 54 watt T5s, I think you will have problems keeping a wide array of SPS. I'd go with LED fixtures or at least 3 x 250 watt metal halide fixtures.
I'd also watch out for the xenia and GSP in your DT. They can take over tank.
Your fish look incredibly healthy and I love your huge sump!
As others have recommended, I would not add any additional SPS until you get calc/alk dosing down to maintain constant alk levels of 7.0 dKH or above and calc levels of 400 ppm or above. If you're not using RO/DI to filter water used for top offs and water changes, I'd also defer adding SPS until you have source of zero TDS water that RO/DI filter can provide.
Good luck,
Mike
Last edited:
Hey guys. I'm back with a quick update, and some questions.
So, first off the tank has had some dark days (nudibranch invasion wiping out 98% of my monti population, then my dad forgetting to turn on the return pump after dosing calcium resulting in all the fish dying. Then one return pump failing then releasing some toxic nonsense into the water, wiping out a couple colonies in the process.)
Other than that, its been smooth sailing lol.
Filtration: got a bigger skimmer (bubble magus). Added a reactor running a mix of orca nitra cubes (the original and the titaniun). Also added a dosing pump (red sea A, B, C, and Coral Colours).
Had a green hair algae problem for a long period of time. Fixed it by dosing nitrates (the nitracubes worked a bit too well....nitrates were 0, while PO4 never dropped below 0.04 ppm. So the added nitrates helped me to drop the PO4 (something about redfields ratio )
Current problems: 1) ugly algae on substrate wont go away. 2) i want my sps to be more colourful
Pics to follow ☺
So, first off the tank has had some dark days (nudibranch invasion wiping out 98% of my monti population, then my dad forgetting to turn on the return pump after dosing calcium resulting in all the fish dying. Then one return pump failing then releasing some toxic nonsense into the water, wiping out a couple colonies in the process.)
Other than that, its been smooth sailing lol.
Filtration: got a bigger skimmer (bubble magus). Added a reactor running a mix of orca nitra cubes (the original and the titaniun). Also added a dosing pump (red sea A, B, C, and Coral Colours).
Had a green hair algae problem for a long period of time. Fixed it by dosing nitrates (the nitracubes worked a bit too well....nitrates were 0, while PO4 never dropped below 0.04 ppm. So the added nitrates helped me to drop the PO4 (something about redfields ratio )
Current problems: 1) ugly algae on substrate wont go away. 2) i want my sps to be more colourful
Pics to follow ☺
Long overdue update.
Current sump setup:
Curve 9 skimmer
BM reactor with 2kg maxspect biospheres...moving them into bags rather
Some phosguard and pyrogens by return (temporary)
Total water volume around 800L
Lighting: 5x radion G2
Kessil A150 over frags in sump
Currently dosing AF Ca, alk, mg, components A,B,B,K
Occasionally feed the corals
Carbon dosing a vinegar glucose mix (slowly weaning the tank off of it)
I'm keen to fully commit to the AF way of life. Any suggestions on the perfect setup? What changes should I make?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Current sump setup:
Curve 9 skimmer
BM reactor with 2kg maxspect biospheres...moving them into bags rather
Some phosguard and pyrogens by return (temporary)
Total water volume around 800L
Lighting: 5x radion G2
Kessil A150 over frags in sump
Currently dosing AF Ca, alk, mg, components A,B,B,K
Occasionally feed the corals
Carbon dosing a vinegar glucose mix (slowly weaning the tank off of it)
I'm keen to fully commit to the AF way of life. Any suggestions on the perfect setup? What changes should I make?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Oldreeferman
New member
Its well stocked that is for sure looks nice. I agree a mixed LPS, SPS, Softy tank at first then monitor it & if you can keep EVERYTHING stable for 1 yr..........then go SPS tho dump all the softys at that time to save headaches later from toxins.
I don't have the heart to dump the softies [emoji22]
I won't lie, the lps make setting the flow pumps an absolute nightmare
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Oldreeferman
New member
I know what you mean,
My Acans don't like too much flow, has to be random & fairly gentle, A lot of LPS are delicate when inflated to be sure, the encrusting SPS & LPS love the flow much stronger.
Placement is tricky for sure, took me many re-arrangements to get it just right.
I did at one time mix everything together but found the softys disturbed the more delicate corals over time so best thing i ever did was remove most all softys except a ricordea mushroom, couple gargonians & a small island of GSP ( wife just loves the waving grass look).
One thing i do like about some softys are the fact that they have larger polyps & filter the water column well like Gargonians etc...i just avoid toadstools & the like as they are just too toxic and absolutely NO Palys or Zoos ever in either tank due to Palytoxins. ill never own any until it can be proved a certain type is free of any toxin, better to look at that at the LFS & watch the workers whince when cleaning the tanks..............
My Acans don't like too much flow, has to be random & fairly gentle, A lot of LPS are delicate when inflated to be sure, the encrusting SPS & LPS love the flow much stronger.
Placement is tricky for sure, took me many re-arrangements to get it just right.
I did at one time mix everything together but found the softys disturbed the more delicate corals over time so best thing i ever did was remove most all softys except a ricordea mushroom, couple gargonians & a small island of GSP ( wife just loves the waving grass look).
One thing i do like about some softys are the fact that they have larger polyps & filter the water column well like Gargonians etc...i just avoid toadstools & the like as they are just too toxic and absolutely NO Palys or Zoos ever in either tank due to Palytoxins. ill never own any until it can be proved a certain type is free of any toxin, better to look at that at the LFS & watch the workers whince when cleaning the tanks..............
