Bif's SPS Reef

ikolbaba06 · Aug 25, 2017

I don't think photobucket will increase quality as it is only a way up post photos online. Unless they have changed since I've used it. An editing program will likely do you good to try and edit out some blue. I have the same issue and I need to tinker a little bit with my photoshop program.

ikolbaba06 · Aug 25, 2017

I think it was easier with mh or t5 to get better pics but led are so blue.

bif24701 · Aug 25, 2017

Scorpius said:
You have to pay to use Photobucket now.

What!? That sucks

bif24701 · Aug 25, 2017

ikolbaba06 said:
I think it was easier with mh or t5 to get better pics but led are so blue.

For sure! LEDs make it very difficult to take good pictures.

bif24701 · Aug 25, 2017

Let's try this

So these seem a little better?

ikolbaba06 · Aug 26, 2017

bif24701 said:
Let's try this

So these seem a little better?

Yea much better. Not as washed out with blue.

bif24701 · Aug 26, 2017

Ok, let's post some more the n!

acropora spathulata
I am hoping this one will color up likes its mother colony. If it looks half as good as the mother it will be the best coral I have, a show stopper! Apparently these acros can be much more difficult to keep than most others.

bif24701 · Sep 1, 2017

Lots of updates:

My new GBTA I've had for three weeks now not only split but began hosting my pair of snaowflake clowns. It also appears happy and healthy, I mean *they lol.

I sent in samples to Triton Labs and ICP-Analysis last week and received my results.

ICP-Analysis:

Triton Labs:

The results are pretty clear. My water quality is great and my methods are working! I am pleased that today we have these kinds of things available allowing us to know with certainty that the water is good.

Wanted to show everyone how I run my ROX 0.8carbon because I think it would help lots of folks.

ROX is small so larger particles easily clog the flow in a reactor. To avoid this I use the first chamber of my BRS Dual reactor as a prefilter. I have tried several things in the first chamber but this dual density filter pad by Marineland works the best.

I have observed a large difference in the time the flow begins to slow. Before the reactor could clog in just days now it's more than a week, almost two. This at least provides adequate flow until the carbon it's self is exhausted which I feel is 7-10 days before the carbon has maxed out.

ikolbaba06 · Sep 3, 2017

I'm liking the pics bif.

bif24701 · Sep 4, 2017

Harvested about another 4 gallons of chaeto today. This refugium is great, so many pods and the growth is intense. Keeping %100 of any green algae out of the display.

Doing a ~100 gallon water change tonight since my Triton and ICP results indicated an imbalance of Sulfate and Mag. I'm sore it's because I added a little too magnesium sulfate to my last water change.

Just got back today from a three day trip and the tank did well. Had an autofeeder going and a house sitter feeding some frozen too.

Adjusted one of mine Tunze 6105s to improve flow at the far end of my display with several acros mounted. They all have already showed more PE.

Homewrecker · Oct 7, 2017

bif24701 said:
What!? That sucks

You probably resolved your photobucket issue but Flickr gives you 1TB of high quality storage for free!

bif24701 · Oct 7, 2017

Homewrecker said:
You probably resolved your photobucket issue but Flickr gives you 1TB of high quality storage for free!

Nice! Thank you, I did not know that.

bif24701 · Oct 7, 2017

Update time! With a BIG surprise at the end.

I haven't updated things in awhile so here goes. The chaeto fuge upgrades (doubled flow and LED grow light) have resulted in more than 5 gallons of growth every two weeks, 2 weeks!!! PO4 had been dropping like a ROCK without any GFO or organic carbon dosing. I have to add more Potassium Nitrate to keep the 2-5ppm that my corals need in this system.

I recently purchased the Neptune WAV starter kit and should be here Tuesday! I already have a lot of flow but I was still not completely satisfied that every acro was getting hit with decent flow. Also I plan to make some crazy random flow patterns that should really get thing moving around in the display.

The BIG News is I have bought a Walt Disney frag from a club member and added it to the display just a few days ago. The mother colony is beautiful so I'm sure once the frag grows out it will be a stunner too. Thing is however my frag is only about a 1/4" maybe 1/3" LOL, don't laugh, it's all I could afford! It look like it's very happy and has good PE, colors haven't shifted at all (lighter or darker) which I will take as a good sign. Don't have pictures yet, my phone camera has decided to stop focusing for me anymore. So I'll have to borrow the wife's camera. I'll post them as soon as possible.

So all fish are well, corals are good and growing and everything seems good.

ReeferMadness80G · Oct 7, 2017

Following along! I'm jealous!

bif24701 · Oct 8, 2017

So I have a bit of a dilemma right now. My chaeto has been doing so well since I increased the flow through it and lowering PO4. Today tested PO4 with my Hanna ULR and have 0.00. Which I'm sure is correct and if not very close. Few days ago was only 0.01 and PO4 has steadily been dropping for the last month or more.

So what should I do if anything?

For now, I plan to do nothing drastic. I have decreased the fuge lighting period back to 12/12 from 18/6 hours. I'm not using GFO or anything else that would removed PO4 so certain my water isn't completely absent of PO4. I feed a really good amount of food too. I think I'll also remove my filter socks.

Those not using Zeo and/or keeping an ULNS have you kept 0.00 PO4? What issues did you have if any?

Corals seem just fine right now so I don't see an need to make big changes yet. I will keep a close eye it. If needed I can add a small amount of Seachem Florish Phosphorus and that will instantly bring up the Phosphate.

The new WD coral still looking good, polyps extended and holding color so far.

bif24701 · Oct 8, 2017

ReeferMadness80G said:
Following along! I'm jealous!

Thank. Though certainly not as fancy or as well organized as others but it gets the job done just as well if not better. This is my dream tank, unless I win the lottery then I'm going to build a 21,000 gallon system and it will be the largest personnel tank in North America.

ReeferMadness80G · Oct 8, 2017

Check out my build and lend your advice! I'm dealing with algae problems, it maybe be new tank uglies but it's been bad and I've lost several sticks although some appear to be growing quickly. I'd love to hear your advice. Thanks!

bif24701 · Oct 9, 2017

Ok so I got the WAV starter kit today and just got it temp hooked up. I've now got the power to push the water literally out of the tank. I think that should do it for flow now.
MP60
2x Tunze 6105
2x Neptune WAV