Trying something new... Revisiting old methodology.
- Thread starter WDLV
- Start date
WDLV
Skunk Hybrid Freak
I added some new colonies. They were adopted from a friend's tank who no longer had time for them. There was a little STN on the bases of some of the corals but with exception to one there was no further STN after addition to this system. The one exception had fresh STN that continued for a few days after addition, but that has subsided and the polyp extension is awsome.
Here's a few new shots.
Here's a few new shots.
WDLV
Skunk Hybrid Freak
Part of the system concept was that the flow of the system would exceed 50 times the tank's volume per hour. I have had no problems with detritus collecting, however the rocks rubbing together and regular scraping of corraline has produced little collections of white sand in a few spots. Which admittedly are difficult to reach. I have a friend with a BB tank that I would describe the same way... very little liverock. I think his is about two years old and looks great but he is using a skimmer and various high tech gagetry to keep his system running.
You should post some shots of yours and tell us about your system concept.
You should post some shots of yours and tell us about your system concept.
My tank shot is as below. This is the rock work for my tank. Unfortuately not able to show you the rockworks for the office as i am currently taking a break from work. but its of similar arrangement.
What i have is just 4 big pieces of rocks and some clams on the bottom. For me, it becomes actually quite easy to move the pieces around and remove the stuff that is trap underneath.
This tank is only about 2 months old. I have able 30,000 liter of flow in the tank because of close loop and tunzes. Tank volume only about 350 Litre. so movement about 85 time. However, volume exchange between the tank and sump is only about 10 times or slightly less then 4000 litre per hours.
Even with this type of water movement, i am still quite surprise that i am able to suck out about 1/2 a shot glass worth of dirt every day....<br>
What i have is just 4 big pieces of rocks and some clams on the bottom. For me, it becomes actually quite easy to move the pieces around and remove the stuff that is trap underneath.
This tank is only about 2 months old. I have able 30,000 liter of flow in the tank because of close loop and tunzes. Tank volume only about 350 Litre. so movement about 85 time. However, volume exchange between the tank and sump is only about 10 times or slightly less then 4000 litre per hours.
Even with this type of water movement, i am still quite surprise that i am able to suck out about 1/2 a shot glass worth of dirt every day....<br>
WDLV
Skunk Hybrid Freak
Thanks for sharing. I'm liking the onyx perculas.
You're right. I too am surprised that you're collecting that kind of detritus with the flow you have and small amount of rock work.
Are you using any filters, skimmers etc.?
- I noticed you're using Litres. Where are you posting from?
You're right. I too am surprised that you're collecting that kind of detritus with the flow you have and small amount of rock work.
Are you using any filters, skimmers etc.?
- I noticed you're using Litres. Where are you posting from?
I'm from Singapore. I guess the detritus will reduce with time. It was extremely bad in the first month, i had to suck out the dirt 2 times a day. Now after month 2++ i am doing less and less of that....I am quite confident it will stop shedding so much as my office tank is running stable now on month 6 with out siphoning out twice a week....
WDLV
Skunk Hybrid Freak
I can't justify letting this thread die until I post my results. I will post these on both of my favorite sites.
Early this month I noticed a lot of green film algae on my glass. Some of my SPS corals were showing STN. I decided to put my old POS skimmer on line until I can get something better to replace it.
I think there are some contributing factors to consider in addition to the fact that there was no skimmer.
1. I had a 7" hippo die and decompose without my noticing it. That fish was the last of about 4-5 fish to be killed by my purple tang. I removed the Purple Tang and sold it to a reefer with a much larger tank and more competition.
2. The impeller in my kalk reactor pump broke 3 of its 5 fins and ceased to function. I had been monitoring pH as a sole means of determining the output of the kalk reactor. It remained at a stable pH of 8.2 I do not normally test for calcium or alkalinity. - I also noticed the growth of hair algae in my sump during this time.
In all I think it was a good experiment because I was able to walk away with some knowledge. Here's what I learned.
1. 30% water changes once a week is too much new water for an established system.
2. 30% water changes once a week is a pain in the rump.
3. The water is too hard when done in this way. You can actually feel it. A skimmer allows for a slower build up of nutrients over a period of time, enabling the hobbyist to make smaller changes in the water parameters with each water change and allows for less frequent water changes.
4. Detritus or Pulverized Organic Matter (POM) is good food for coral polyp extension. Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) is not. I will continue to avoid mechanical filtration for this reason.
5. As much as I hate doing it, I need to test my calcium, ammonia cycle components and alkalinity on occasion and especially when things don't look quite right.
6. Count your fish!!! Just because it's been in the system for three years and looked healthy yesterday doesn't mean it won't die tonight.
Happy reefkeeping.
Early this month I noticed a lot of green film algae on my glass. Some of my SPS corals were showing STN. I decided to put my old POS skimmer on line until I can get something better to replace it.
I think there are some contributing factors to consider in addition to the fact that there was no skimmer.
1. I had a 7" hippo die and decompose without my noticing it. That fish was the last of about 4-5 fish to be killed by my purple tang. I removed the Purple Tang and sold it to a reefer with a much larger tank and more competition.
2. The impeller in my kalk reactor pump broke 3 of its 5 fins and ceased to function. I had been monitoring pH as a sole means of determining the output of the kalk reactor. It remained at a stable pH of 8.2 I do not normally test for calcium or alkalinity. - I also noticed the growth of hair algae in my sump during this time.
In all I think it was a good experiment because I was able to walk away with some knowledge. Here's what I learned.
1. 30% water changes once a week is too much new water for an established system.
2. 30% water changes once a week is a pain in the rump.
3. The water is too hard when done in this way. You can actually feel it. A skimmer allows for a slower build up of nutrients over a period of time, enabling the hobbyist to make smaller changes in the water parameters with each water change and allows for less frequent water changes.
4. Detritus or Pulverized Organic Matter (POM) is good food for coral polyp extension. Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) is not. I will continue to avoid mechanical filtration for this reason.
5. As much as I hate doing it, I need to test my calcium, ammonia cycle components and alkalinity on occasion and especially when things don't look quite right.
6. Count your fish!!! Just because it's been in the system for three years and looked healthy yesterday doesn't mean it won't die tonight.
Happy reefkeeping.
