★★★ Project " GENESIS (II) 2020 " ★ [ Re-Engineered / REBOOT ] ★ SPS 110G ★★★

[WallyB]

OVERHEAD FRAGS ( REFERENCE PHOTOS )

I hate doing overhead shots. However best way too see encrustment at this Early Stage.

Things look a little better than side photos.

Notice the Cyano problem in some shots....It's Fading slowly.

That Bonsai in photo below (TOP CENTER), has been around the longest!! So if others do this well, Great!!

Nothing Spectacular, but all showing future potential.

 

[WallyB]

I HATE CYANO ( It's finally ENDING!! ) FRAGS really Coloring up !!

The fight with Cyano outbreak was no fun. I WAS REALLY PATIENT and it paid off.
I am pretty sure the Cyano was caused by the extra 3 fish, and the acclimation of lights to Max.
Tank did a bio cycle of some sort adjusting to nutrient load increase.

I did use the Cyano Clean and ZeoBak Baceteria. (Soaked in Coral Snow). It always helps.

Also...Kept siphoning off the Cyano, and using Filter Sock after blowing off the remaining cyano.

Took about 2 weeks to get to today. Today it's still there but barely hanging on.


POST CYANO.....THE FRAG SUDDENLY LOOK Colored UP.
Maybe Frags really didn't color up, (JUST AN ILLUSION)
When The RED Cyano clears away ( The lack of Overpowering Red of Cyano, makes everything look better.).

They might be a bit more colorful, since the Side Photo's now look like the TOP photos.


AND SOME (minor) BAD NEWS. I lost TWO $5 frags in Frag Tank. 4 Left.
It's the ALK swings dong Manual random dosing.
I need to build the Doser.

 

[WallyB]

Only been 10 Days since Last FTS ( But I see change. Little growth, More Color )

Tonight I sat in front of Tank and said Wow....Things look better!!

A Pro Reefer once told me once. Never go for Fast Growth. Slower is better if you keep Colors.

Fingers crossed.....I don't mess anything up. I've never had this kind of Simlutaneous Coloration before.

The AquaMon Alk Monitor must be helping due to the Better Alk Stability I never had in past.

The rule right now is ( DON'T TOUCH ANY DIALS!!! )

 

[rishma]

Fun thread. Fathead anthias are my all time favorite fish. I had my first one about 20 years ago. Hope your pair is doing well.

 

[WallyB]

Come to think of it, The Pro Reefer that said that was @tenurepro. (I think)

Wish I could invite him to drop by to see that his recommendations are working, to improve my tank.
Not possible with COVID-19 lockdown.

 

[WallyB]

Fun thread. Fathead anthias are my all time favorite fish. I had my first one about 20 years ago. Hope your pair is doing well.

Funny you mentioned that. I was looking at them tonight thinking.....Should I ever move them to DT?

They are very cosy in the small but tall, Refuge section of Sump.
All the space to themselves. (Except for snails, and hermits). No bully fish to bother them
They sleep in the Castle.
They don't need much swimming room , since they just hover.
The Larger One is becoming more and more dominant, but just in command. (Not a bully)
They are both eating extremly well, and always hungry. (Last Fat Head I had died since other fish got to food before he did)

They keep me entertained when I'm on back side of Tank.

I think they should just stay there. It's perfect for them right now.
They are a pair, and you never know if they may mate one day.

 

[WallyB]

HOLY ( BUBBLE SWEEPERS) BAT MAN!!

Not my SPS Tank, my Kitchen 90 Gallon Mixed Tank.

I started noticing some Palys, and my Hammer receeding.....So I started looking for a cause.

FOUND The Cause.

My Bubble Coral has grown a lot, and the Sweeper Tentacles are crazy long and Lots of them (after feeding fish)

That one long tentacle hitting the Paly's is over a foot long!!

The feeders subside after fish food goes away. They probably come out again at night.
I moved the Hammer to give the Bubble more room.

 

[crusso1993]

HOLY ( BUBBLE SWEEPERS) BAT MAN!!

Not my SPS Tank, my Kitchen 90 Gallon Mixed Tank.

I started noticing some Palys, and my Hammer receeding.....So I started looking for a cause.

FOUND The Cause.

My Bubble Corals has grown a lot, and the Sweeper Tentacles are crazy long and Lots of them (after feeding fish)

That one long tentacle hitting the Paly's is over a foot long!!

The feeders subside after fish food goes away. They probably come out again at night.
I moved the Hammer to give the Bubble more room.

Is that your sweeper or are you just happy to see me!

 

[WallyB]

ZERO FRAGS LEFT ( In Frag Tank) Taking a Break till Smart Doser is built

Today I looked and the rest of the remaining Frag have all bleached.

All just $5 frags, so small lesson learned. I'm not ready for a Frag tank till I have a stable Frag tank.

They never had a chance without a Doser, and my lack of attention to keep on top of Alk (manually by hand).
Plus I think I also fried them with the 2x XR30 (and no par meter)

The DT is doing fine, and that's all that Matters.

 

[WallyB]

[[ AQUAmon Doser-IQ+ ]] Hardware Completed [ Software Next ]

The Frags are not quite Dead, since I still see some Glow with a UV Flashlight.

Doubt I'll save them, but this might help.........When it's completed.

Came out nice.

The hard work was the Internal Electronics. (Most tidy wiring I've ever done)

This is as Smart as a Doser will ever be.. Raspberry Pi and Ardiuno Dual Controllers.

It will be capable of Standalone Operation, but the PLUS is Fully Integratable with the AquaMon Alk Monitor.

 

[Fudsey]

So, when does production start?

 

[WallyB]

So, when does production start?

Well @Fudsey , You raise a very probable point.
You may be able to have one. But DIY. (By Yourself )

This time I am very organized, and the Doser is something anyone can wire up since so simple.
No complex robotics like the Alk Monitor.

So I am documenting all the steps, so anyone can make a DIY Doser like this.

The Code I'm also documenting and keeping tidy, so it will be a simple Drag And Drop install.

The Dual CPU power, and Operating system opens up many possibilities for this to Evolve to other Capabilities, beyond a Doser.

Let's see what I dream up with the Final Features.

 

[WallyB]

I Give up on the CYANO Battle ( SPS Frags have never looks so GOOD )

Things got better for a while after doing the Cyano Clean Bacteria, but slowly the Cyano Came back.

However I've noticed that my SPS have all started to Encrust, and even grow new TIPS.
So something is right with Nutrients and the Extra Attention on Parameter Stability.

Tank looks awful....with the Bubbling Cyano Patches.

I'll just let the Cyano do it cycle.....and just siphon the Cyano to limit the Ugly look on the rocks.

 

[bobssecrtsn]

Wow I just read the entire thread, it’s looking good Wally! Besides the cyano! You haven’t given I haven’t seen your filtration system yet ! Do you mind sharing it ? I took a 3 year break hiatus but I’m back. Glad your still one of the reefers that is still around !

 

[WallyB]

More Good NEWS ((( FREE FRAGS.... Under Cyano )))

So I blew off the Cyano Yesterday, and put in a Sock into Sump to catch some of it.

Today, when Blue Lights came on, I saw a few spots of Glowing SPS remenants from Past..

Nothing better than Free Frags

 

[WallyB]

Wow I just read the entire thread, it’s looking good Wally! Besides the cyano! You haven’t given I haven’t seen your filtration system yet ! Do you mind sharing it ? I took a 3 year break hiatus but I’m back. Glad your still one of the reefers that is still around !

Hey there @bobssecrtsn ,

Welcome back. Got a thread going, or coming soon?

Sure I'll share my current Filtration method with some Photo's (If needed)

It's actually a little different from Past, since I've broken down and started using GFO after seeing other folks success.

Bascially my 110 G Tank has the following FILTRATION, all contained in my 55 Gallon DIY Sump:

-> Algae Scrubber is stage 1 in SUmp (Grows Cheato, not Hair Algae)
-> Sometimes a Run a Sock briefly, like last night.
-> Skimmmer is a Classic 10+ year old EuroReef (Works like a charm).
-> I do use ChemiPure Original Carbon/Resin Bags, and change them once every 3-4 months.
-> I meticulously use RowaPhos (GFO). 1 Cup changed fresh every 2 weeks.
-> There is a little 5 Gallon Refuge Section in Sump (but not a refuge, it's just a nice cosy in-line tank for my Fathead Anthias)
---------> It does have a 1.5" Sand bed (Since my DT is Glass Bottom)
-> A Little filter floss at final Stage of Sump.

 

[WallyB]

OLD FRAGS (Progress) NEW Frags (Acclimating)

All surving Frags are doing very well. I see a spurt of positive improvments.

I did lose a few frags this last time. Possibly bad placement.. ?? No sure.

Got replacements and a couple of new Frags to TRY AGAIN.

Acclimating them this time on a Frag Rack, lower down at Back of Tank.

 

[WallyB]

The Good, BAD, UGLY and GREAT (Tank is Maturing) SPS Coloration

Well the Good is I've been really on Top of Stability. ALK, CALCIUM, MAG and N&P.

The Bad is everything is doing well, including stuff I don't like..... little-Cyano, Macro Algae on Rocks.

So the UGLY is with so many little Frags, the Ugly Stands out. But's it all natural...

The Great is I can really see the SPS appreciating Stability, and Nutrients.......

This is one EXAMPLE: (Pheonix Monti)

--> When I first bought the Pheonix, it was really peachy colored, with Shimmer, and purple polyps.
-------> It quickly lost is multi-colors and went Dark Purple. (and stayed that way)
--------------> NOW it's slowly be steady getting is Original Coloration Back.


This is another Example: Forest Fire ((( *** I NEVER EVER managed to Keep Green TIPS *** )))

Things are not prefect since I've lost another Frag, but those that survive are doing best ever.

 

[WallyB]

THE Cyano-Cycle (Timeline) 2 MONTHS

It's not 100% gone, but getting close.

This was just Just when Cyano started. 2020-02-29

This was PEAK Cyano 2020-04-29

This is Now Cyano Ending 2020-05-06

2 Painful Months. (No Chemicals)....SPS LOOKING GREAT, like never before!!

Patience pays off.

 

[WallyB]

FRAGS (TOP SHOT) 1 Month Later

This must "boring-to-tears" stuff for folks with Mature Colonies(A Dream come true for me)......
(I'm just happy making it this far, without a FLOP!! )

Few posts up, I posted A TOP shot of Frags on April 6th.

TODAY....Things look better (100%) !! Color, PE, Growth (Even start of new TIPS!!) .

The growth/ecrustment is slow but steady.

The coloration is getting Richer!!!

I guess at some point when enough Ecrustment happens, growth MAY SPEED UP?
That will be Amazing if Colors HOLD.