Tank with TBS rock after 3 months--

[Grand Wazoo]

Some new additions--

My first frag--

Call Richard--order The Package--you can have the same...

 

[HowardW]

Nice pics, is that first pic a frag of bushy pumping xenia?

 

[flameangel88]

Very nice.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7370771#post7370771 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HowardW
Nice pics, is that first pic a frag of bushy pumping xenia?

Hey, Howard--how've ya been?

No--that's a frag of the toadstool (fourth picture).

 

[Grand Wazoo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7370979#post7370979 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flameangel88
Very nice.

Thanks, Angel...

 

[flameangel88]

Grand Wazoo,

Since your tank is doing so well and you started a bit ahead of the few of us here I have to get some pointers from you as to your daily/weekly routine that perform on the tank. Such as: feeding for fish /coral (I looked back to your earlier thread that you use the part A & part B thing), how often you do wcs & %. What are your water parameters?

I'm fighting a nitrate problem but can't find the root of it yet and trying to see what other folks here do since the few of of us here have similar tank size and started within a month apart.

Thanks.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7377040#post7377040 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flameangel88
Grand Wazoo,

Since your tank is doing so well and you started a bit ahead of the few of us here I have to get some pointers from you as to your daily/weekly routine that perform on the tank. Such as: feeding for fish /coral (I looked back to your earlier thread that you use the part A & part B thing), how often you do wcs & %. What are your water parameters?

I'm fighting a nitrate problem but can't find the root of it yet and trying to see what other folks here do since the few of of us here have similar tank size and started within a month apart.

Thanks.

Be more than happy--

I did a 25% water change 1X and like a gallon now and then when needed to vacuum the detritus off the bottom. I feed the coral every third day with PhytoPlan Phytoplankton made by Two Little Fishes--my coral are all doing great and are growing--I also add a Alkalinity stabilizer every other day--'bout a cap full and a Calcium stabilizer the same--they are made by a company called RESTORE down here in Florida (Orlando). I got my first fish Friday--a common false clown. Feed a tiny bit every other day.

To keep my nitrates and phosphates in check I added a 10g refugium to increase my water volume (I only have a 20g tank) that has macroalgae and live rock in it.

I have a Remora protein skimmer which is great and good surface circulation..

I do not have a mechanical filter at all...

My ammonia and nitrites are zero--my pH at 8.2--8.3...

That's all I check--

Oh, and the salinity is at 26 and temperature at 80...

I also have 100 watts of T5 lighting plus acitiics...

The base TBS rock is the key--it's the fountation of a great ecosystem with natural filtration--it has all the bacteria needed for the bioload I currently have. I try to get good flow through the rock...

Try adding a refugium to combat your nitrate problem. Stock it with live rock--a lot of calurpa [sp] and cheato...

 

[flameangel88]

Grand Wazoo,

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. I've the Remora also and has been doing a pretty good job and that's the reason I'm so confused as to what is causing the nitrate so high. Good point on the flow in the base rock area and all my flow is from top angling down but noting to move the water from the bottom across. I'll find a way to add flow at the base level.

 

[bbyatv]

Grand Wazoo,

I have recently added a TBS "The Package" to a 30 gallon tank. The tank has a skimmer, mechanical filter, wet/dry, and a refugium. The live rock I have received from TBS has lots of barnacles and other filter feeders living on it (for now). I would like to keep it all alive. How soon would you recommend I start feeding it Phytoplankton? Should I start right away or should I wait until I am dome cycling the tank (7 days or so)?

Thanks,

bbyatv

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7379031#post7379031 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Grand Wazoo
Be more than happy--

I did a 25% water change 1X and like a gallon now and then when needed to vacuum the detritus off the bottom. I feed the coral every third day with PhytoPlan Phytoplankton made by Two Little Fishes--my coral are all doing great and are growing--I also add a Alkalinity stabilizer every other day--'bout a cap full and a Calcium stabilizer the same--they are made by a company called RESTORE down here in Florida (Orlando). I got my first fish Friday--a common false clown. Feed a tiny bit every other day.

To keep my nitrates and phosphates in check I added a 10g refugium to increase my water volume (I only have a 20g tank) that has macroalgae and live rock in it.

I have a Remora protein skimmer which is great and good surface circulation..

I do not have a mechanical filter at all...

My ammonia and nitrites are zero--my pH at 8.2--8.3...

That's all I check--

Oh, and the salinity is at 26 and temperature at 80...

I also have 100 watts of T5 lighting plus acitiics...

The base TBS rock is the key--it's the fountation of a great ecosystem with natural filtration--it has all the bacteria needed for the bioload I currently have. I try to get good flow through the rock...

Try adding a refugium to combat your nitrate problem. Stock it with live rock--a lot of calurpa [sp] and cheato...

 

[Jocko]

Definitely do NOT feed during the cycle. Unfortunately, you will have to deal with the fact that you will not be able to keep alot of that stuff alive. We as hobbyists simply cannot replicate the high planktonic content of the ocean. There is living plankton floating around and being produced constantly in the ocean. We have no way to do the same in our closed little systems. Overfeeding will degrade water quality and kill everything.

I think this is one reason we need so much light for our tanks. It allows the corals to get more of its energy from photosynthesis to help make up for the lack of plankton.

Also, moving forward you might want to think about removing the mechanical filtration. Most reefers do not use it because it tends to get filled with detrius which leads to water quality issues. In general, the combination of a great skimmer, plenty of live rock and a refugium seems to work well for most people. But of course there are a million little variations in everyone's setups so YMMV.

 

[goslugsgo]

Hey Wazoo, are the red (cup?) corals in your last pic hitchhikers?
Thanks, ordering in July and would love to get some if they are!

Chris

 

[Grand Wazoo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7578758#post7578758 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by goslugsgo
Hey Wazoo, are the red (cup?) corals in your last pic hitchhikers?
Thanks, ordering in July and would love to get some if they are!

Chris

Indeed--TBS live rock house lots of that red tube coral. Almost every piece of rock I received has it on it. Look at the others' pictures. They all have it...