nogascans
Member
First i want to thank all on this forum for the help in setting up our first reef tank. The help and feedback has been awesome, and help immensely in getting the tank to where it is today. At times it is frustrating with the amount of information and different views/opinions on topic, especially for beginners. My had swells after reading!
Tank Overview
72 Gallon Bowfront (48w X 22 h X 21 d)
set up June 5, 2012 (tank cycled with LR/dead shrimp)
Instant Ocean Reef Crystals
80 Lb Live/Base rock
60 Lb Argonite Sand
Emperor 400 HOB
SeaClone 100 Skimmer (side mounted)
3 Koralia Evo 1200
2 Fluval 300 watt heaters (redundancy)
T5HO 6 x 39 (36") fixture, 4 Blue+, 1Coral+, 1 Purple+
Current water paramters (post below treatment)
Utilize a BRS R/O D/I with TDS meter (tap water, no cloramine added by water department, verified)
Salinity 1.026
PH 8.2 Red Sea
N03 < 0.25 Red Sea
P04 < 0.04 Red Sea
Ammonia 0 Red Sea
Nitrite 0 Red Sea
Ca 460 Red Sea
Alk 7-8 dkh Red Sea
Mag 1320 Red Sea
Inhabitants
(2) two Ocellaris clowns
(2) two Yellow Skunk clown
(2) two Bengali cardinals
(1) Royal Gramma
(1) Male Lyretail Anthia
(1) Yellow cleaner wrasse
(1) Cleaner Shrimp
(6) Peppermint shrimp
(2) dozen (approx) Snails
(2) Conchs
Various LPS
Various SPS
Colt Coral Softie
Sebae Anemone
LTA Anemone
Carpet Anemone
OK, so to try and deflect some flack, I have a heavy bioload, I know. I know I need a new, better skimmer, and need to get rid of HOB filter. But budget, especially with (2) two 255 lb high school football players in house, and DBD not keeping up with CSupport, I do what I can. Hopefully Xmas will bring gifts..
I know I still need to make changes to equipment, but one driving element is the lack of much space for a refugium below tank, or room for hang on elements of water treatment. Possibly a standalone skimmer with return pump and with tank pump feed that could sit below? BRS 2 2 way media reactor?
In any case, I have been researching for solutions for the above skimmer needs, possible GFO, Carbon reactors, as well as carbon dosing, with Biopellets (i'll come back to this in a second), RedSea N03/p04X, vodka, etc..
Up unit recently, i have been battling some Nitrate/Phosphate issues, with Nitrates hobering around .20 and phospahte at around .36, with slow/no coral growth and some browning. Anytime I would use Reef Snow, readings would climb but not decline later.
As the recommended practice is to go slow, I have tried reduced feedings to every other day, larger, more frequent W/C, etc..
I also removed one of the carbon/floss pads from HOB, leaving one pad that is changed out weekly, and two gray media trays with Fluval Pre-Filter media, but left Biowheels in place (I have heard arguments both ways on these)
No change over 2 weeks. Was still doing 30% W/C (20 gal) weekly.
I was reading up on solutions to these popular issues, and I came across the use of Biopellets, with carbon dosing, or No3Po4x, and found that most are increasing the amount of available beneficial bacteria to allow for the export of N03, P04, etc.. It occured to me to try something, which I have been now for past two weeks and the above water parameters show the results.
So, on November 3rd, to try a theory, I took some Brightwell Microbacter that had used during tank cycling, and dosed it daily into the back of the HOB (cap), as well as a capful into tank. Closely monitored livestock and parameters. I kept this up until a cyno startup on the 11th (9 days).
For the first few days the water got slightly cloudy compared to normal crystal clear, and then I picked up some small areas of red cyno along with green coraline on front glass (for 1st time in tank since startup). The cyno has subsided on it own, as well as light brown algea and green coraline on glass. Sand is now almost completely clean of algea deposits.
SPS Coral growth has virtually exploded in last week, water crystal clear, softies and LPS doubling in size. Fish and anemones never looked better. Been back to feeding Rods Reef Food twice a day with spot feeding for corals as well as Reef Snow.
So,what did I do? Is the current tank status a result of this or just a fluke? Suggestions. I'm not asking for validation, but I do want to offer this for review and discussion.
Sincerely,
David :fish1:
Tank Overview
72 Gallon Bowfront (48w X 22 h X 21 d)
set up June 5, 2012 (tank cycled with LR/dead shrimp)
Instant Ocean Reef Crystals
80 Lb Live/Base rock
60 Lb Argonite Sand
Emperor 400 HOB
SeaClone 100 Skimmer (side mounted)
3 Koralia Evo 1200
2 Fluval 300 watt heaters (redundancy)
T5HO 6 x 39 (36") fixture, 4 Blue+, 1Coral+, 1 Purple+
Current water paramters (post below treatment)
Utilize a BRS R/O D/I with TDS meter (tap water, no cloramine added by water department, verified)
Salinity 1.026
PH 8.2 Red Sea
N03 < 0.25 Red Sea
P04 < 0.04 Red Sea
Ammonia 0 Red Sea
Nitrite 0 Red Sea
Ca 460 Red Sea
Alk 7-8 dkh Red Sea
Mag 1320 Red Sea
Inhabitants
(2) two Ocellaris clowns
(2) two Yellow Skunk clown
(2) two Bengali cardinals
(1) Royal Gramma
(1) Male Lyretail Anthia
(1) Yellow cleaner wrasse
(1) Cleaner Shrimp
(6) Peppermint shrimp
(2) dozen (approx) Snails
(2) Conchs
Various LPS
Various SPS
Colt Coral Softie
Sebae Anemone
LTA Anemone
Carpet Anemone
OK, so to try and deflect some flack, I have a heavy bioload, I know. I know I need a new, better skimmer, and need to get rid of HOB filter. But budget, especially with (2) two 255 lb high school football players in house, and DBD not keeping up with CSupport, I do what I can. Hopefully Xmas will bring gifts..
I know I still need to make changes to equipment, but one driving element is the lack of much space for a refugium below tank, or room for hang on elements of water treatment. Possibly a standalone skimmer with return pump and with tank pump feed that could sit below? BRS 2 2 way media reactor?
In any case, I have been researching for solutions for the above skimmer needs, possible GFO, Carbon reactors, as well as carbon dosing, with Biopellets (i'll come back to this in a second), RedSea N03/p04X, vodka, etc..
Up unit recently, i have been battling some Nitrate/Phosphate issues, with Nitrates hobering around .20 and phospahte at around .36, with slow/no coral growth and some browning. Anytime I would use Reef Snow, readings would climb but not decline later.
As the recommended practice is to go slow, I have tried reduced feedings to every other day, larger, more frequent W/C, etc..
I also removed one of the carbon/floss pads from HOB, leaving one pad that is changed out weekly, and two gray media trays with Fluval Pre-Filter media, but left Biowheels in place (I have heard arguments both ways on these)
No change over 2 weeks. Was still doing 30% W/C (20 gal) weekly.
I was reading up on solutions to these popular issues, and I came across the use of Biopellets, with carbon dosing, or No3Po4x, and found that most are increasing the amount of available beneficial bacteria to allow for the export of N03, P04, etc.. It occured to me to try something, which I have been now for past two weeks and the above water parameters show the results.
So, on November 3rd, to try a theory, I took some Brightwell Microbacter that had used during tank cycling, and dosed it daily into the back of the HOB (cap), as well as a capful into tank. Closely monitored livestock and parameters. I kept this up until a cyno startup on the 11th (9 days).
For the first few days the water got slightly cloudy compared to normal crystal clear, and then I picked up some small areas of red cyno along with green coraline on front glass (for 1st time in tank since startup). The cyno has subsided on it own, as well as light brown algea and green coraline on glass. Sand is now almost completely clean of algea deposits.
SPS Coral growth has virtually exploded in last week, water crystal clear, softies and LPS doubling in size. Fish and anemones never looked better. Been back to feeding Rods Reef Food twice a day with spot feeding for corals as well as Reef Snow.
So,what did I do? Is the current tank status a result of this or just a fluke? Suggestions. I'm not asking for validation, but I do want to offer this for review and discussion.
Sincerely,
David :fish1:
