A yet another algae, diatoms and dinos post

[martin.a]

Hi Guys,

the tank is 2 months old, started on 1 Feb. Current residents are a 2 small Clownfish, 1 GSP frag, 1 Xenia frag, 2 peppermint shrimps, 4 snails, and these... pesky residents proudly presented on the clips below.





Can I assume this is normal for such a young tank and I should not make any interventions? Tank was started with dry rocks and 'bacteria in a bottle'. Livestock gets pellets x4 a day, plus frozen rotifers x2 a week, and I dose a few mils of vodka daily to boost (buzz) the bacteria.

Current params:

• pH: 8.2
• alkalinity: 6 dkH
• total ammonia: 0.1ppm (a snail just died)
• nitrates: <1ppm (it's a bit strange as it was 5-10ppm 7 days ago and I did not make any change)
• phosphates: <0.05ppm

 

[Subsea]

OK. Does your setup include a protein skimmer? If not, why are you dosing carbon? Food is enough to grow bacteria.

Also, if nitrate is dropping without you performing export then your nutrients are being absorbed into tank life forms which is normal.

Considering your use of dry rock and bottled bacteria, get ready for the uglies. I suggest you get some mature live rock into your system. I also suggest that you keep your nitrate higher than 5 ppm.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Personally I would leave the tank alone to progress and mature. I don't feel there is any need for vodka dosing at this point either, I would just leave the tank alone.

 

[martin.a]

Well, I started dozing vodka when my nitrates were ~30ppm. It got them down to 5 where they stayed for weeks. Likely I overdosed, I have this problem with alcohol. Will stop now. Skimmer - yes, of course there is one.

I gave a good serving or frozen (thawed) rotifers today. But I am worried that I might be feeding the wrong life forms.

I can get live rock which supposedly can go straight into the tank, no curing needed. But it will be a tad expensive and logistically complicated. Will it really be that beneficial? Can I keep all live rock in unlit sump? Sorry for all the questions not exactly related to the topic.

 

[Subsea]

“Sorry for all the questions not exactly related to the topic.“
It’s your thread.

“gave a good serving or frozen (thawed) rotifers today. But I am worried that I might be feeding the wrong life forms.“
With dry rock & bottled bacteria, you have no micro fauna or fana. Tell me what is eating the rotifers.

“Is diver collected live rock worth it?”
To me it is. It’s your pocket book.

I have no protein skimmers in my reef tanks: 25 year mature 75G display and 7 year mature 120G display.

Can I keep all live rock in unlit sump? If it’s diver collected live rock, the answer is no. It depends on what is on the live rock.

 

[martin.a]

It’s your thread.

“gave a good serving or frozen (thawed) rotifers today. But I am worried that I might be feeding the wrong life forms.“
With dry rock & bottled bacteria, you have no micro fauna or fana. Tell me what is eating the rotifers.

Is diver collected live rock worth it. To me it is. It’s your pocket book.

I have no protein skimmers in my reef tanks: 25 year mature 75G display and 7 year mature 120G display.

I am trying to feed the peppermint shrimps and some of the snails. Interestingly, clownfish are clearly filtering them out of the water too. And I was hoping the bacteria are growing on the rest of the bioload.

But, if not bacteria, than it must be dinos and algae taking all the nitrates and phosphates from the water. I hoped that with carbon dosing I can get bacteria outcompeting them. There is bacterial film visible on cables and plastics. Or, so it seems... Will check.

I will research feasibility of live rock. Funny, I could just drive to the coast and bring what I need. Sadly it is temperate, not tropical. Our temperate tank is full of live rock.

Thanks!

 

[X-37B]

Carbon dosing without a plan is not something you want to do, especially in a new system. Carefull with vodka dosing. I dose it in my 150. No3 was 26 I got up to 22ml a day then had to back off because no3 got below 1. I now dose 8ml a day to keep no3 around 5.
Is live rock worth it and why is it exspensive, really? GLR delivered to my door for $12lb. Lfs sells dead for 6-$9lb so think about it.
Live rock needs light if you want to keep it in the sump and alive.
Live rock starts dont get the uglies like dead rock starts.
I just put 35lbs of premium GLR into my 112. I had 3 pieces of dead colored rock from the lfs.
Tank is 1 month old and i removed 2 piece of the dead with uglies only visible on the dead.
one month and I have over 10 frags already in the system and its stable.

 

[Subsea]

“There is bacterial film visible on cables and plastics.“

@martin.a
I don’t see this as a desirable thing in a captive reef tank.