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This style what? Expound on your question please.Do you think this style would be ideal for non photosynthetic corals?
Beautful tank! I think we share similar thought processes with tank design/ maintenance, although I am just getting into reefing. I also run a wet / dry filter in my sump with a refugium , the bio balls are coated with many sponges / pods running aroundThe tank has seen little change in 25 years. Jaubert Plenum was designed to use facultative bacteria in a low oxygen environment to perform denitrification biochemistry. Substrate was 6” deep with false bottom making a Plenum under substrate. Plenum performed well until the introduction of Melanarious Wrasse to control Red Planaria, which unknown to me eliminated my detrivore crew. With a 6” dsb with 25 years of detritus, I made the major decision to vacum sandbed down to < 2”.
After removing several hundred pounds of substrate while syphoning out over 500G of water over a two week time period, I now have a thriving mixed garden with ornamental sponges and ornamental macro along with numerous other filter feeders including flame scallops and numerous fans & feathers that I have no clue to the name, but I consider it a healthy bioindicator.
So, water flow from top to refugium goes into rock rubble first chamber (wet/dry) where gas is exchanged and detritus is broken up and settles into large second compartment with mud. In 25 years, I have never replaced mud. The depth in mud filter has increased in depth from .75” to 1.5”. It felt spongy to the touch and was crawling with worms. When I converted from macro refugium to cryptic refugium, I turned out the lights, composted tomatoes, added eggcrate in mud bed so rock was clear of mud, seeded cryptic sponges and have been very pleased. The flow thru this refugium is much higher than recommended by Steve Tyree.
Flow in my tank is supplied in tank with one HOB at 400GPHR and one Cannistar filter at 300GPHR.
Flow from refugium is 500GPH.
Lighting is supplied by three 4’ BMI 108W bars with a color spectrum of 12K.
Fish include:
Blue Damsels(7)
Flame Angel
Coral Beauty
BiColor Dottyback
Green Mandarin
Blue Chromis
Banggi Cardinalfish
Melanarious Wrasse
Sailfin Blenni
Sponges include:
https://www.live-plants.com/orangesponge.htm
https://www.live-plants.com/elephantearsponge.htm
https://www.live-plants.com/yellowball.htm
Softies:
GSP
Yellow Colonial Anemone
Xenia
Green Sinularia
Cabbage Leather
Red Mushroom
Ornamental Macro
Bortacladia (Red Grapes)
Chemical filtration is seldom used, but due to some cynobacteria, I am using phosphate resin and GAC.
Thank you for kind words. It’s all about diversity and recycling, I emulate nature.Beautful tank! I think we share similar thought processes with tank design/ maintenance, although I am just getting into reefing. I also run a wet / dry filter in my sump with a refugium , the bio balls are coated with many sponges / pods running around
Beautful tank! I think we share similar thought processes with tank design/ maintenance, although I am just getting into reefing. I also run a wet / dry filter in my sump with a refugium , the bio balls are coated with many sponges / pods running around
You’d be right , the hooks are in deep. Wow I love that quote!! Partly budget is one reason that I don’t have the apex / trident combo but at the same time I think that letting nature take its course is equally important. All tanks are different ecosystems and I think chasing numbers is a never ending rabbit hole rather would let the biological filters do the work. Another benefit is I get to enjoy the tank more rather than stress the numbers“although, I am just getting into Reefing”
After I looked at your thread list, I must comment that I think you are an “addicted reefer”. It’s good that your future soul mate supports you. Who knows, you guys living on Pacific Coast could collect stuff together. I used to make an outing for the family when I went fishing at the Gulf of Mexico coast In Louisiana.
My biggest surprise with your post embracing old school nutrient recycling was your age of 27. What kept you from being a techie to manage your reef?
My two favorite quotes for the techies that want to micro manage their ecosystems are
Less Technology / More Biology
Natural Reef Aquarium by John Tullock
As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance,
our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey
@Subsea I bet you were 27 using natural methods before!
I further thought on what you said about what style would be ideal for NPS. While I can’t brag about success with NPS, I firmly believe that diverse food webs that recycle nutrients as live food are best for all systems.Do you think this style would be ideal for non photosynthetic corals?
You would be fine with an NPS gorg with how you manage things. I shall try to enable you and say "GO FOR IT!!!"I further thought on what you said about what style would be ideal for NPS. While I can’t brag about success with NPS, I firmly believe that diverse food webs that recycle nutrients as live food are best for all systems.
At this point, I would try a deepwater Gorgonion.
Thanks!@90's reefer
Kudos to your integrated system. I went to your last post on your build thread. The picture you posted does no justice to the inhabitants in your gorgeous tank. With that many fish, your oversized skimmer is required. Are those metal halides, how big?
I do like your remote macro refugium. What are your goals for it? Consider a display refugium to double your viewing pleasure.
Six months ago, I started up two ornamental seaweed lagoon tanks (55G & 30G) using diver collected live rock from Gulf of Mexico. Once these live rocks are removed from heavy herbivore grazing, they sprout what can’t be bought. I have allowed everything to grow at its own pace and just did harvest prune much red macro. It displays nicely with the tangs until they eat it.
If phosphate reduction is a goal, I suggest you target feed nitrogen to encourage growth in everything. The N ratio for many macro is 30:1.Thanks!
Yes MH 250 watt de 14K phoenix.
Macro fuge goal is to eliminate po4 reducing agents and go natural.
Also it will be a display fuge with alot of the things I cant keep in my display.
Not sure the exact directìon it will go but for now focused on po4.
I have been looking at all display refugiums for ideas.
My fuge has a 3' sandbed and should help down the road.If phosphate reduction is a goal, I suggest you target feed nitrogen to encourage growth in everything. The N ratio for many macro is 30:1.
In my mature sand-beds, phosphate is always available.
If I test for PO4 right after stirring up the sand bed, would that alter the PO4 test results ?My fuge has a 3' sandbed and should help down the road.
I think of it as po4 managment instead of reduction.
I am looking at the fuge as a natural way to acomplish it.
Po4 levels in my system have been as high as 0.4 with no issues except some loss of color.
Time will tell as my fuge matures.
I would say yes if your sandbed is older , stirring up a bunch of organics and filter feeders would enjoy itIf I test for PO4 right after stirring up the sand bed, would that alter the PO4 test results ?
what is that? Some type of cool snailLights just came on and I found this guy.
Yes. Same as turkey basting rocks.If I test for PO4 right after stirring up the sand bed, would that alter the PO4 test results ?
I think it’s a limpet. This one is dull yellow. Years back in the same tank, it was bright orange and stayed in light somewhat. They come in with diver collected rocks every few yrs I bring in a 200 lb shipment via air freight.I would say yes if your sandbed is older , stirring up a bunch of organics and filter feeders would enjoy it
what is that? Some type of cool snail