Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Generally not a gyre fan due to cleaning but after cleaning iceCap 3k unit the first and then second time- it’s quite quick and easy. The Maxspect were a bear and a halfIt's been a little while huh?
Where do I even begin....
Since my last update things in the tank haven't been so great, trouble in paradise. I randomly decided to start feeding less and around mid June my phosphates bottomed out to 0. That allowed for an absolutely vengeful return of the dinosaurs... :mad: They were not messing around this time. I did everything the same as before... worked on increasing phosphates (went back to feeding normal), dosed bacteria, did a UV vacuuming, and scrubbed all my rocks down. Cleaning the tank lasted all of 2 days... so worth it.... not.
In the meantime my corals are getting covered and irritated by the dinosaur feet stomping on them. So a few have gone to a better place. As a last(ish) resort, I did a 3 day blackout period. Simply just turned my lights off... This was Tuesday last week. On Friday I turned back on the LED bars in the evening. Saturday 2 out of the 8 T5 bulbs were back online, then Sunday everything went back on. So far... everything looks okay. The corals are definitely not happy about the blackout period. There isn't much I can do at this point other than provide them a stable environment. Phosphates are back up to 37ppb /.113ppm. Alk is stable at 9.5. It's extremely annoying to have this problem, it seems like you're doing everything right and then boom, things go crazy.
A few equipment updates...
My kamoer dosing pump needs to head in for some service. The problem I'm facing is the pump will automatically (without me touching the knob) increase the dosing amount. Example.. I have it set on 1ML/min... anywhere between 1 hour to 3 days it will increase to 2ML/min... then to 3ML and so on. This is not by design of the pump, so coralvue told me to send it in...
Skimmer... I took out the skimmer to clean it because all it ever does is overflow anyways so it was disgusting. Well, either the Texas heat or too strong of vinegar ruined the epoxy coating where the cable goes into the back of the pump. So there's no way I'm putting that thing back in. It's very debatable if I even needed that skimmer. (but Owl, what about all that oxygen exchange!? You need that!)... well, after taking it offline my pH hasn't changed, so its arguable.
Gyres... I've determined I hate this pumps. After using them roughly a year and a half I just hate them. Why? Great question... Two reasons. 1) They're a little bit too loud for me. They don't scream necessarily... but every so often I can hear them wining. Minor annoyance honestly. 2) This is my main reason I hate them... Cleaning. I.HATE.CLEANING.GYRES! This is the absolute worst process to clean a pump out there. They loose power quickly and take 67 years to clean properly. Even then good luck getting them clean.
With the hate for the Gyres in mind... I'm in the market for some used MP40's. Nothing can compare to just being able to swap out wet sides and no wires in the tank! It just comes with a very steep cost.
Anyways, this is enough to catch everyone back up. Let me know what you guys think of everything and ask questions!
Thank you! It is very frustrating for sure.I feel your pain, happened to me some years ago.
Keep up the good work, things will stabilize some day.
I'll have to take a look at these as well, thanks for sharing!Generally not a gyre fan due to cleaning but after cleaning iceCap 3k unit the first and then second time- it’s quite quick and easy. The Maxspect were a bear and a half
Well, the gyre 250's claim 5300gph, while mp40s are at 4500. So I need at least 2 but I'd like to eventually end up with 4. I just can't stand the cleaning and power loss over a short period of time.How many mp40s you think you will need to get the same amount of flow as the gyres. I have always loved the gyres - didn’t think anyone would go back after they experience what these babies can do.
I will have to check the books, I believe last time I tested NO3 it was around 8ppm. Interesting correlation though vs phosphates.Where's your NO3 sitting? When i dealt with Dino in my newer setup i needed to keep NO3 at or above 10ppm for a stretch to get a handle on them. My PO4 number didn't seem to matter so much as NO3 did at that point.
My PO4 ranged from .2 to .55 when they popped up on me which was at a few different points between months 3 and 7. The only difference i could pin point at each onset was the NO3 number which ranged from 0 to 10. Once at or above 10 they would seemingly recede overnight.I will have to check the books, I believe last time I tested NO3 it was around 8ppm. Interesting correlation though vs phosphates.
Makes me wonder if my WC strategy is somewhat flawed. The thinking is to help reset the tank and get some fresh clean water in the system. I have the option to dose nutrients if required.My PO4 ranged from .2 to .55 when they popped up on me which was at a few different points between months 3 and 7. The only difference i could pin point at each onset was the NO3 number which ranged from 0 to 10. Once at or above 10 they would seemingly recede overnight.
If you are that close to 10 then dosing a bit to see what happens before diving into that kind of water change schedule to me would be worth a shot. Depending on how much of a foot hold they have, blowing off the rocks each night, running socks/floss and replacing often would be advisable as well. Im sure you're re-searched it enough to know the routine.Makes me wonder if my WC strategy is somewhat flawed. The thinking is to help reset the tank and get some fresh clean water in the system. I have the option to dose nutrients if required.
Man we really need a Hanna Nitrate checker! Ive never used this kit but .5 looks about right. Is that your actual number or do you multiply by 5 or something?Tested no3 and alk, seems stable based on previous numbers. I can't tell if the red sea high range is reading .5 or .75.. you guys tell me
Sorry I forgot to say lol .5 is 8ppm and .75 is 12 ppmMan we really need a Hanna Nitrate checker! Ive never used this kit but .5 looks about right. Is that your actual number or do you multiply by 5 or something?
Dang, So hard to tell for certain...Sorry I forgot to say lol .5 is 8ppm and .75 is 12 ppm
Yea its a bit annoying. Either way I should be good though... or at least you'd think huh?Dang, So hard to tell for certain...