6k Setup and Still Issues...

[MrTang13]

Update: My Helrichi fire Fish is unresponsive in his cave. We suspect he might be dead.

When I went to dose the Dino X, all my fish ran up to my feeding door thinking they were being fed. Since instead they got the dose directly to their faces, I’m concerned it might be related.

Clownfish are confirmed fine. I pray my 8 line wrasse is okay.

 

[stacksoner]

You should have a bubbler in there. Dino X will make your O2 levels drop and suffocate all of your fish

 

[MrTang13]

You should have a bubbler in there. Dino X will make your O2 levels drop and suffocate all of your fish

ORP remains at 350. What is Dino X actually doing?

 

[W1ngz]

ORP remains at 350. What is Dino X actually doing?

ORP is not a measure of dissolved oxygen. However, from the photo it looks like your skimmer is running, so you have no need for a bubbler.

 

[stacksoner]

ORP remains at 350. What is Dino X actually doing?

ORP is not a measure of dissolved oxygen. Download the instructions on fauna marins site. See citation about o2 levels as captured below.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-12/rhf/feature/index.php

 

[FoxyFace]

As a side note, I would recommend purchasing a reef keeping BOOK. Choose one that has a method you'd like to follow and supplement that method with advice from members online. That way, you can always refer back to your plan or style of reef keeping. The information I just read through on here is contradicting and confusing to a new reefer.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

hope your fish is ok. you could dump diesel on a clown fish and they would live.

 

[Guttersnipe]

I did not read this entire thread. All I know is your tank is still very new. There is no fast way to get your tank to mature and out of its ugly stage. Stop adding chemicals and trying different things. Just let your tank mature and don’t buy any more corals or fish. I know it’s hard to not buy stuff when all you have in your tank is rocks. Patience will save you a lot of money and headaches. Just let your tank do it’s thing and soon it will be ready for fish and coral.

 

[stacksoner]

I did not read this entire thread. All I know is your tank is still very new. There is no fast way to get your tank to mature and out of its ugly stage. Stop adding chemicals and trying different things. Just let your tank mature and don’t buy any more corals or fish. I know it’s hard to not buy stuff when all you have in your tank is rocks. Patience will save you a lot of money and headaches. Just let your tank do it’s thing and soon it will be ready for fish and coral.

This is the best advice and a great life lesson. "If you love something, let it go". Our nature is to control the things we love. If you really want your reef to be happy and flourish, take a step back and let it breathe, rest, and grow.

 

[MrTang13]

Update: So the Helrichi is not dead after all; I woke up to find him extremely active.

I guess he was just asleep.

I’ve decided against a U.V. sterilizer—Randy Holmes Farley references in his content that he doesn’t see the ROI as most of these organisms have populations that are within the substrate and live rock.

I’m thinking of doing an algae reactor next but I want one with an intergrated pump.

As of right now, tank is Dino Free but I’ll know more by the end of the photoperiod today.

 

[W1ngz]

Update: So the Helrichi is not dead after all; I woke up to find him extremely active.

I guess he was just asleep.

I’ve decided against a U.V. sterilizer—Randy Holmes Farley references in his content that he doesn’t see the ROI as most of these organisms have populations that are within the substrate and live rock.

I’m thinking of doing an algae reactor next but I want one with an intergrated pump.

As of right now, tank is Dino Free but I’ll know more by the end of the photoperiod today.

Glad your fish is ok. Firefish are notoriously skittish.
Now would be a really good time to take the repeated advice to stop doing, adding and changing things and just monitor your parameters and let the system do what it needs to do.

Edited to reflect the excellent suggestion below about skipping water changes for a few weeks.

 

[Hella_Reef]

Dont do any water changes until u are sure the dino is gone. It will feed off the new silicates being put into the tank and you'll just refuel the fire. Having a dirty tank is ur best friend when it comes to dino.

 

[fulltang]

Did you ever get a cheap microscope to actually identify your strain

 

[CindyKz]

Did you ever get a cheap microscope to actually identify your strain

I was wondering the same thing. The initial picture of your sand looks like everyday diatoms to me - expected in a two month old tank.

In addition to echoing all of the advice to stop tinkering, I will add to adjust your expectations. A tank fully stocked with flourishing corals and fish at 2 months is just not very realistic. Time takes time.

 

[MrTang13]

Did you ever get a cheap microscope to actually identify your strain

No, what do I look like, a scientist?

Course of action has been a 3 day blackout, copepod/phyto dosing, and Dino x. There are virtually no Dino’s in my tank right now. I can see very, very small remnants if I press my head to the glass and squint at the sand.

All in all, treatment seems to be working and other than the Dino X, nothing I’ve done otherwise would be really damaging to the tank.

Adding pods is never a bad thing a blackout is relatively benign.

 

[DSC reef]

A lot of members here can help identify the dinos if you just post a pic from a cheap microscope. In fact, that little bit can most likely help you save time and money from all the actions you've taken. People are just trying to help you from there own experiences but carry on with the current method you choose...

 

[MrTang13]

The take away from this thread is that while the community is helpful and well-intentioned, there is a constant stream of contradictory advise that can be dangerous.

I am continuing my course of treatment with conviction and will post updates to help future reefers.

Right now, everything seems to be going well.

As for my fish, with the exception of yesterday’s scare everyone looks healthy and active. My zooanthids, despite the blackouts and me pausing the 2 part DOS, look fantastic and have definitely shown tissue growth. I attribute this to the phytoplankton dosing and the incredibly high flow (right now I’m 100x)

The torch seems to be extended.

So far, things seem to be stabilizing.

 

[MrTang13]

I am also noticing there is a paranoia in the community about dosing chemicals, even if done in a responsible way.

Dino X markets itself as a treatment, why would I not use it on my tank? Because the tank is young? The instructions reference nothing about the tank age.

I’m happy to document my experience for anyone that is considering Dino X.

 

[brandon429]

Regarding the above

Scientists were going to look at the pics you posted from the microscope, since actions are to be species-specific considering the advice to only undertake measures for your tank that come from one person's approach and not a random amalgamation of approaches as a total experiment.

how are we doing in that department

 

[MrTang13]

Update: I’m bringing in the invert mafia.

As I type this, my Girlfriend is at the famous Absolutely Fish in Clifton, NJ. Their M1 certified sales reps agreed that Dino X would not be a complication to adding additional clean up crew members, which never hurts. I am going to use this as an additional tactic for my strategy of lowering nutrients.

I will report back as I know exactly what their inventory levels are.

It’s war.