BubbleMyTip
New member
What news?
TMC Signature 600
- Thread starter gex23
- Start date
I used a second (known working) refractometer and it shoed mine was only out by 0.001 SG, thus my tank is sitting at 1.025 SG.
My weekly cheato harvest - about 4 handfuls! :
DSC_0095 by DEAF N1NJA, on FlickrI don't know if it's just a bad day, however i'm feeling very deflated with the tank right now.
- Algae continues to be sprouting everywhere, various macro algae, some GHA and a lot of Dinos.
- Said algae has killed a a few of my rainbow acan frags too
- Lost a couple of larger acan colonies
- When dealing with said algae, i'm having to have my hand in the tank causing me to break off SPS tips due to clumsiness and upset then having to scrub algae off their bases.
- Diatoms on the glass within hours of removal.
I can't accept it's an issue with the rock as the algae is all over the base and back glass too.
Still need to order a low range phosphate kit.
Also can't see it being a nutrient issue as the skimmer is performing very efficiently along with removing lots of cheato every week.
A weeks worth of skimmate :
DSC_0114 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
A weeks harvest of cheato :
DSC_0095 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
And the tank as it with the various algae issues :
DSC_0116 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
DSC_0117 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
DSC_0115 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
DSC_0118 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
DSC_0120 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
DSC_0119 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
I keep trying to convince myself that this is all part of the 'cycle' but my optimism is sadly wearing thin.
A very deflated owner right now.
- Algae continues to be sprouting everywhere, various macro algae, some GHA and a lot of Dinos.
- Said algae has killed a a few of my rainbow acan frags too
- Lost a couple of larger acan colonies
- When dealing with said algae, i'm having to have my hand in the tank causing me to break off SPS tips due to clumsiness and upset then having to scrub algae off their bases.
- Diatoms on the glass within hours of removal.
I can't accept it's an issue with the rock as the algae is all over the base and back glass too.
Still need to order a low range phosphate kit.
Also can't see it being a nutrient issue as the skimmer is performing very efficiently along with removing lots of cheato every week.
A weeks worth of skimmate :
DSC_0114 by DEAF N1NJA, on FlickrA weeks harvest of cheato :
DSC_0095 by DEAF N1NJA, on FlickrAnd the tank as it with the various algae issues :
DSC_0116 by DEAF N1NJA, on FlickrDSC_0117 by DEAF N1NJA, on FlickrDSC_0115 by DEAF N1NJA, on FlickrDSC_0118 by DEAF N1NJA, on FlickrDSC_0120 by DEAF N1NJA, on FlickrDSC_0119 by DEAF N1NJA, on FlickrI keep trying to convince myself that this is all part of the 'cycle' but my optimism is sadly wearing thin.
A very deflated owner right now.
BubbleMyTip
New member
Hang in there, mate. The skimmer and chaetomorpha are doing well because there is DOC etc to be taken out. Not sure where the source would be though as you said your rodi is 0 tds and you're not feeding that much. Must be coming from somewhere though.
If you have spare rock in the tank, could try putting some in fresh sw for a week in darkness but with flow to soak and then measure phosphates etc.
If you have spare rock in the tank, could try putting some in fresh sw for a week in darkness but with flow to soak and then measure phosphates etc.
So yeah.... 
20160315_171705_001 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
20160315_171654_003 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
20160315_171705_001 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr20160315_171654_003 by DEAF N1NJA, on FlickrBubbleMyTip
New member
Looks like a lawnmower blenny's dream!
What exactly are you feeding? Brands etc. rinsing frozen food well before adding?
What are the trace elements you're adding?
Latest no3 and po4 results? A lot of it might be getting locked up almost immediately into the algae... Removing most by hand and water change and then addressing the source would help. Have you tested every element you're adding to the tank for phosphate? There must be a source.
Besides chaetomorpha are you running any po4 remover like gfo? Do you regularly rinse your chaeto?
Considered Biopellets?
What exactly are you feeding? Brands etc. rinsing frozen food well before adding?
What are the trace elements you're adding?
Latest no3 and po4 results? A lot of it might be getting locked up almost immediately into the algae... Removing most by hand and water change and then addressing the source would help. Have you tested every element you're adding to the tank for phosphate? There must be a source.
Besides chaetomorpha are you running any po4 remover like gfo? Do you regularly rinse your chaeto?
Considered Biopellets?
I'll answer your questions shortly bubblemytip
It's tricky as it's got a strong foot hold on the rock so you can't simply scrub it off.
Not tried Prodibio as I think it's just for ULN systems
A few shots from my new S7 edge, trying the camera out, got it a bit wrong as I went into the electronic zoom mode so blurry / grainy as a result :
20160316_210947_001 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
20160316_211118 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
20160316_211148 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
20160316_211247 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
20160316_211821 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
20160316_211507 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
20160316_211355 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
20160315_171654_003 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
It's tricky as it's got a strong foot hold on the rock so you can't simply scrub it off.
Not tried Prodibio as I think it's just for ULN systems
A few shots from my new S7 edge, trying the camera out, got it a bit wrong as I went into the electronic zoom mode so blurry / grainy as a result :
20160316_210947_001 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr20160316_211118 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr20160316_211148 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr20160316_211247 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr20160316_211821 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr20160316_211507 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr20160316_211355 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr20160315_171654_003 by DEAF N1NJA, on FlickrBubbleMyTip
New member
Still no nutrient source figured out?
BubbleMyTip
New member
TMC Signature 600
http://www.*********.com/threads/rights-of-passage-a-little-encouragement.243185/
Probably should be "rites of passage" but maybe it's wordplay.
"Reef 2 reef forum" is the xx
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
http://www.*********.com/threads/rights-of-passage-a-little-encouragement.243185/
Probably should be "rites of passage" but maybe it's wordplay.
"Reef 2 reef forum" is the xx
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
BubbleMyTip
New member
Wowza! Hopefully with some good export you can now get on top of things! 
Apart from pulling apart the filters what would give you a heads up, apart from algae? TDS or testing your rodi water for po4 and no3?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Apart from pulling apart the filters what would give you a heads up, apart from algae? TDS or testing your rodi water for po4 and no3?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I never tested for PO4 or NO3 on the R) water in recent times. TDS came up as 000 using the inline TDS meter and 001 using a TDS pen.....
Even the RO unit and spares manufacturer said it's the worst they've seen.
15 months and no consumables being changed with an incoming TDS of 204 has resulted in that!
Hoping this is the root cause of my algae and SPS issues.
Even the RO unit and spares manufacturer said it's the worst they've seen.
15 months and no consumables being changed with an incoming TDS of 204 has resulted in that!
Hoping this is the root cause of my algae and SPS issues.
A FTS as of today :
20160424_182849 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
20160424_183634 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
20160424_182849 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr20160424_183634 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickrpatrick8929
New member
Hair algae is looking better! Corals look great!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Don't be fooled, still plenty of hair algae, bubble algae and bryopsis in there. However it's slowly heading in the right direction.
I'm in genuine disbelief at how well the corals (not all of them) have responded to something as simple improving the quality of the RO/DI water. Corals which literally didn't grow a single mm since purchase have actually got growth tips (though I could be looking for positives I guess).
Next is to maintain the new found recipe thats bringing results.
A couple of months down the line I plan on adding more rock, probably a branching piece along the back up towards the top right for more SPS placement.
Pretty much it.
sahin
Ultimate Reefer
Hi mate nice little you have here. Judging by the equipment and stock range I take it you are from the UK?
Found your thread after searching about the Deltec skimmer.
With regards to the algae; using zero TDS RO/DI water will most certainly help. Dont know why but whenever I use RODI water that has more than 2-3 TDS reading I get brown slime on my sandbed. As soon as I get a TDS reading anything other than zero, I switch out the DI resin.
Using Prodibio does help. I've used it many times over the years and as soon as I start using it various algaes start to disappear. Its not fast acting like with other systems like vodka dosing, but thats a good thing because your corals are safe. I've used BioDigest and Bioptim.
Found your thread after searching about the Deltec skimmer.
With regards to the algae; using zero TDS RO/DI water will most certainly help. Dont know why but whenever I use RODI water that has more than 2-3 TDS reading I get brown slime on my sandbed. As soon as I get a TDS reading anything other than zero, I switch out the DI resin.
Using Prodibio does help. I've used it many times over the years and as soon as I start using it various algaes start to disappear. Its not fast acting like with other systems like vodka dosing, but thats a good thing because your corals are safe. I've used BioDigest and Bioptim.
I really think it's tank maturity, but I hope that the RO/DI helped with stability.
Sahin is right, prodibio is easy to use and does help, and as long as you follow the directions, you won't have too much of a problem. I used the reefkit and alternated biodigest, bioptim, and I think coralvites, then alternating week iodi+ and stronti+. I wouldn't use the lipid one.
That worked for me, but if I'm honest, the biggest gain you'll see is from the biodigest and bioptim, which are basically carbon dosing, with a bacteria supplement. You can probably get a lot more for cheaper if you bought some cheap bad vodka and some brightwell microbacter7 which is pretty inexpensive as well. That's how I brought my nutrients down from my last nutrient spike.
Low and slow whatever you do is always the most important part.
Sahin is right, prodibio is easy to use and does help, and as long as you follow the directions, you won't have too much of a problem. I used the reefkit and alternated biodigest, bioptim, and I think coralvites, then alternating week iodi+ and stronti+. I wouldn't use the lipid one.
That worked for me, but if I'm honest, the biggest gain you'll see is from the biodigest and bioptim, which are basically carbon dosing, with a bacteria supplement. You can probably get a lot more for cheaper if you bought some cheap bad vodka and some brightwell microbacter7 which is pretty inexpensive as well. That's how I brought my nutrients down from my last nutrient spike.
Low and slow whatever you do is always the most important part.
