Teebone's Epic 210G SPS Build

[reefmutt]

looking good teebone!
Im sure the no3 is simply form the new set up and not fully colonized rock yet..

 

[teebone110]

looking good teebone!
Im sure the no3 is simply form the new set up and not fully colonized rock yet..

Thanks Matt, I am still patiently battling nitrates and doing my best to get control over the total nutrient balance.
About 2-3 months ago, I added about 3 cups of biopellets and also added 3 litres Sera Siporax about 2-3 weeks ago.

Oct 1- Nitrates still high >20ppm


Oct 18- Nitrates remain high >20ppm


Nov2- Nitrates still remain high >20ppm


Nov29- FINALLY, it looks like Nitrates are coming down to around 10ppm



I do have some nasty brown cyano crud covering my rock and some of the sand bed, but I know it just part of the new tank phase and should be over in a short while.

Thinking that I'm winning the war with nutrient balance and getting Nitrates to an acceptable SPS "worthy" level, I added a "survivor frag" of confusa for a real world test.

Its been somewhat thriving over the last week, with decent polyp extension is holding it colour.
See pic below, its kind of a blue pic, but its encouraging!



Hopefully a few more frags will be added shortly.

No more new fish for a while, as the current crew seem content and most importantly disease free!

 

[teebone110]

To continue working toward lowering my nitrates, here are a few pics of the 3 bags of Sera Siporax that I had added to the return area of my sump along with a special thank-you to Jroovers for hooking me up!

3 x 1 liter bags like this...




Combined into a nylon mesh bag


.. and in the sump

 

[reefmutt]

Thanks Matt, I am still patiently battling nitrates and doing my best to get control over the total nutrient balance.
About 2-3 months ago, I added about 3 cups of biopellets and also added 3 litres Sera Siporax about 2-3 weeks ago.

Oct 1- Nitrates still high >20ppm


Oct 18- Nitrates remain high >20ppm


Nov2- Nitrates still remain high >20ppm


Nov29- FINALLY, it looks like Nitrates are coming down to around 10ppm



I do have some nasty brown cyano crud covering my rock and some of the sand bed, but I know it just part of the new tank phase and should be over in a short while.

Thinking that I'm winning the war with nutrient balance and getting Nitrates to an acceptable SPS "worthy" level, I added a "survivor frag" of confusa for a real world test.

Its been somewhat thriving over the last week, with decent polyp extension is holding it colour.
See pic below, its kind of a blue pic, but its encouraging!



Hopefully a few more frags will be added shortly.

No more new fish for a while, as the current crew seem content and most importantly disease free!

Looking good.
That pic of the coral looks like an octopus..
Glad to see the nitrates coming down.

 

[teebone110]

It's been a while, but here is a shot of some of my frags starting to colour up, still a couple brown ones- but I'm getting closer finding the right nutrient balance.

 

[Hentz]

Looking good Teebone110!

This scape is sweet. It's going to look incredible once it's full of colonies!

 

[reefmutt]

That's what I call room to grow.
Looking good!

 

[tdb320reef]

Looking good!

 

[plyle02]

Nice shelf rock T-Bone !!! Those frags are very colorful, will be amazing in about 6 months when the fill in, great job!

 

[zzl630]

Where did you find your sump tank? Was that a PETCO 1$/gal sale thing?

 

[teebone110]

Looking good Teebone110!

This scape is sweet. It's going to look incredible once it's full of colonies!

Thanks, it was designed to minimize shading and allow for optimal sps placement, I even drilled the rock before hand so that each frag or colony can be easily accessed for fragging, dipping, or repositioning

That's what I call room to grow.
Looking good!

Lol, does that mean i have room for more frags? :thumbsup:

Looking good!

Thanks Tom, I might be looking to stop by again for some more frags

Nice shelf rock T-Bone !!! Those frags are very colorful, will be amazing in about 6 months when the fill in, great job!

Thanks, I have been very impressed with the colours, especially with a little AquaForest love

Where did you find your sump tank? Was that a PETCO 1$/gal sale thing?

It's a basic glass sump that was custom made and manufactured by Great Lakes Aquarium in Michigan . They installed the baffles and designed it to maximize the space inside the bottom of my stand. I still have space to squeeze in a couple five gallon jugs for two part.

 

[teebone110]

For my frags, I have been relentlessly seeking out proven aquacultured growers that have thrived in others' tanks in my area. I am a true believer in finding good corals with lineage and genetics, as I have seen what these corals can do in the hands of others under the right conditions.

Below are a few pics that will have to do until I either get a deal on a macro lens or jroovers can get over here to take some decent macro shots. :lol2:

Please have patience until I can dial things in correctly- I'm trying to capture the true colours without editing things too much.

Lets start with a few of purple and blue


RR Purple Passion



Darryl_V's Cobalt Tort



Darryl_V's Palmer's Blue Millie



AdInfinitum's Indestructible Acro






...and this one, I'm still looking for, it's a pic from my previous tank.... Myiagi Tort

 

[teebone110]

Since there are a number of AquaForest users in this SPS group, I thought to share my initial experience too. I have been asking some questions and exchanging posts with Perry over at the Aqua Forest area and below is more information as it relates to the usage and dosing in my tank.

It might be helpful for some who may be running bio-pellets and looking to switch over..

In terms of my situation, I am running about 2-3 cups of bio-pellets on my system of about 250 total water volume. This is about half the amount that is recommended through BRS.

In regards of Aqua Forest products, a LFS received a full line shipment so I grabbed the following:

Pro Bio S
Pro Bio F

AF Amino Acids
AF Vitality
AF Build
AF Energy

I chose not to get the NP-Pro, but thinking that maybe I should get it too?
Since I am running bio-pellets I thought that this would suffice with producing a carbon source. Let me now your thoughts on this?

I went with the Pro Bio F because I was thinking that it would be beneficial to add another strain of bacteria into my system, and I thought I read within the directions that it suggests that it is fine to combine ProBio F with biopellets? I will likely discontinue the biopellets down the road

I have been following the dosing instructions with starting with half dosing, so it looks like this..

Pro Bio S 3 drops every day
Pro Bio F 2 spoons per day

AF Energy, Build, Amino Mix, Vitality - 2 drops, 3 times a week

Tank background..
Feeding NLS pellets in a feeder daily, with PE Mysis 1-2 cubes per day
Medium fish load, 100-150 lbs of live rock, 3 litres of siporax in sump
small fuge with various macro algae in sump
BK SM200 skimmer
GFO and Carbon in a dual reactor
ATI Sunpower 8x80w + 2 strips of RB LED supplement

So far been dosing over a week and colours and PE have improved. Overall appearance of corals are definelty better

I am using BRS 2 part, along with IO Salt changed 10% per week

Also have AF Component A,B,C that I will supplement weekly at half doses.

So, not exactly the full program- but I am hoping that this helps with any further guidance that you can provide. If you need more info please let me now

Hello,
Thank you for the response Ok, to me I think you seem to have a great grasp for AF products, as well as your approach to running your tank, this is great If you are satisfied with test results for N&P running your current setup, by all means keep that program running. Please indicate your test results for N&P as well, it may be useful information. Once the siporax begins to seed, and if you add more, you may have no need for the AIO pellets, so the use of NP Pro in connection to Pro Bio S would replace the need. I still use Pro Bio F like once a week in place of NP Pro, I have seen no positive or negative effects, just using product up that likely will not be replaced. It seems that NP Pro and Pro Bio S would be the combo now and in the future. I would imagine you could let the pellets run, until they run out, and maybe down the road replace with Zeomix or with more siporax. I would do 1/2 doses, like you are now, and again monitor the tank, and test to see where your nutrients are at. I cannot stress enough to observe what is going on in the tank. As far as Vitality, Aminomix, Build, and Energy go, continue the use like you have and observe the corals. Sounds like you have a solid plan, look forward to seeing the results. I like that you are slowly working your way into the system, much better that than too much too quick
Cheers!

Once again, I appreciate the AF coaching tips!
I forgot to mention that my Nitrate was steady between 5-10ppm API and Salifert, Phosphates are 0.00 on Hanna checker for months before I started supplementing with the AF additives.

Siporax has been in the tank for about 3-4 months too.

After a week, Nitrates have dropped to below 5ppm and the macro algae in my huge is starting to brown up and die off - very interesting stuff in a very short time.

Corals are closely monitored for colour and PE, which has been slowly improving daily.

I do like the automation of biopellets without having to think about dosing the tank daily with supplements- but its the price to pay for an awesome colourful sps reef!

 

[sahin]

How is the tank? How did the AF products work out for your tank?

 

[teebone110]

How is the tank? How did the AF products work out for your tank?

Yes, its doing very well! Thanks for asking Sahin

The AF products seemed to pull my Nitrates down to acceptable levels <5ppm and my Phosphates are at 0.05

I did run into some cyano by overdosing, but cut things back and think I found the sweet spot a few months ago.

I continue to dose weekly a few drops of AF Vitality and AF Aminos along with Reef Roids as needed and things seem to be flourishing.

Trying to get my blues to stay blue- any suggestions:uhoh3:




Here are some 5-6 month growth shots...

Palmer's Blue Millie - May 2016





October 2016

 

[teebone110]

Yellow Efflo - May 2016



October 2016



RR Orange Passion - May 2016



October 2016


cobalt tort - May 2016




October 2016



Red Dragon - May 2016



October 2016

 

[teebone110]

and some others...









I really do need to work on my photo skills

 

[teebone110]

Just a few update pics-

Right side view...



Left side view...

 

[Geeray]

Very nice man! Have you changed anything in your routine lately?

 

[Piper27]

Wow looking great! That's the one thing I miss about using proven frags from other people. You already know they are going to grow amazing. Can you take an updated front tank shot?