Boomer's IM 20G Nano

TheShrimpNibbler · Nov 9, 2020

boomeraudio said:
Monthly update: Algae will not go away! AGH

Can't get rid of this stuff in the sand. Nitrates were up to around 15ppm so I did a water change. I'll stir the sand prior to a change and it still comes back. Does anyone know what I'm dealing with? The tank is almost a year now and I'm still fighting with this stuff.

Just turned the lights off but that seems to only be a temporary solution. The tank does not get hit by any sunlight and the schedule only has lights on for 6 hours with 1-hour ramp on each end.

I have zero corals because I'm afraid to invest in them given the current situation. Look forward to hearing someone's advice and expertise!

THANK YOU!

Could it be chrysophytes? That’s just a guess, but maybe look at some pictures and see if that could be it.

haitian_reefer · Nov 9, 2020

Holy cow, Boomer! your tank should be covered by coraline by now. PM and let's see if I can help you out.

sas226 · Nov 9, 2020

Have you checked phosphates? Sorry if I missed it.

boomeraudio · Nov 10, 2020

sas226 said:
Have you checked phosphates? Sorry if I missed it.

Nitrates are between 5-10ppm (Salifert Kit) tested today.
Phosphates are reading 0ppm via the Hanna Checker.

boomeraudio · Nov 14, 2020

Got it figured out thanks to my dude @Blue Demp ! Turns out, the RODI unit was producing water with a TDS of around 71ppm. (That's bad...)

I replaced every filter on the unit and re-measured, now it's producing 0ppm TDS. That would explain the algae outbreak after every water change.

I've had the tank blacked out for 4 days, going on 5 and the sand is back to being beautifully white again. Not going to rush things, but I'll say that I'm thrilled to have figured out what seems to be my issue. I'll post pictures after the blackout is done tomorrow.

reef-rc · Nov 14, 2020

boomeraudio said:
Got it figured out thanks to my dude @Blue Demp ! Turns out, the RODI unit was producing water with a TDS of around 71ppm. (That's bad...)

I replaced every filter on the unit and re-measured, now it's producing 0ppm TDS. That would explain the algae outbreak after every water change.

I've had the tank blacked out for 4 days, going on 5 and the sand is back to being beautifully white again. Not going to rush things, but I'll say that I'm thrilled to have figured out what seems to be my issue. I'll post pictures after the blackout is done tomorrow.

Great news.

I had thought back in mid-September you had mentioned you would be replacing all those filter in your next routine.

yea - I have a TDS monitor on mine and do check that regularly. Sediment filter is replaced most in my system. I also test for clorimeane to help with when to replace carbon. the water in my area these days tend to deplete the DI Ions more that it has in the past so that cost has also gone up within the last several years.

Good to see your heading back on track.

haitian_reefer · Nov 14, 2020

Glad I could help you. Ask Santa for a BRS 5 stage RODI unit.

boomeraudio · Nov 29, 2020

Took @haitian_reefer advice and picked up the @Bulk Reef Supply 5 Stage RODI unit and it's been a game-changer. 0 TDS reading on all of the water I've filtered this week!

I also added some coral this past week.

Here's the list:
Candy Cane
GSP Mat
Orange Mushroom
Zoanthids - Rastas, Blowpops, Orange Explosions, Scrambled Eggs, Candy Apples & Sakura Sunrise

I did a Bayer dip followed by a ReVive dip because I don't have a QT. They are in the tank for 4 days now and everything seems to be open and happy! Attached a few pics I took with my iPhone.

Anyone have any tips with 3rd party camera apps to get better photos with an iPhone? I tried the white balance at 10,000k trick and it seemed to help a little. Any other tips would be great.

Check out some pics.

(GSP - moved it to the center of the tank shortly after so it doesn't grow onto the side)

boomeraudio · Dec 23, 2020

The coral I got above is doing fantastic. I added a few more pieces as well.

Added a Cristata, 2x dark orange mushrooms, some rainbow cloves and a big red/b lue monti.

Check out the pics and the FTS! Let me know what you think! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

boomeraudio · Dec 23, 2020

Another sick FTS.

Nick Steele · Dec 23, 2020

Looking good!!

Corals look nice and healthy (zoas maybe stretching a bit but heathy). Also beware of that monti it will grow like crazy and most will regret adding it to their main rock work.

boomeraudio · Dec 23, 2020

Nick Steele said:
Looking good!!

Corals look nice and healthy (zoas maybe stretching a bit but heathy). Also beware of that monti it will grow like crazy and most will regret adding it to their main rock work.

Thanks man. Yeah the zoas are stretching a bit. Just updated my lighting to pump a little more juice. AI Prime. What you think?

Also - with the monti - it's already on a separate rock. Should I just keep it way from the other one so it doesn't grow onto it? What do you think the growth will be like if I just leave it on the one rock?

Nick Steele · Dec 24, 2020

It’s an encrusting monti so it will grow onto the rocks and will be hard to take off but if there’s decent gaps between each rock you might be able to keep up with it. I have a friend with it in his tank and it’s literally 1/4th of his redsea 750 and he hates the thing now. It’s encroaching on acros and not letting them base out. He’s getting rid of the whole rock soon.

As for the light I believe each system is different but BRS video on the AI 16hd is a good one to get a general feel for the light.

Will it win our best light of the year? Testing the AI Prime 16 on Nano, 40 Breeder and 120g tanks!

Using real PAR data, we find the optimal mounting configuration for the Aqua Illumination Prime HD LED lights over a nano tank, 40 breeder and standard 120 gallon aquarium. In addition, Randy explores just how capable this extremely popular pico sized LED light is and shares the BRS

www.bulkreefsupply.com

I have my two lights set to their 90% and 75% intensity one over sps and one over lps (respectively). I’ve seen good growth before I caught Dino’s. Many people said that was too much light but tank was looking good so I kept with it.

Full tank shot before dinos

boomeraudio · Jan 6, 2021

Happy New Year R2R! Couple of updated photos for you from the new year. I have adjusted my lighting and increased it a bit more to see if some of those zoas stop reaching so much.

Only issue I've run into now isn't even with the tank ha ha. My RODI adapter on my bathroom sink seems to cause backpressure on the water line leading it to leak underneath where the MUR-LOK connections are. I can't seem to figure it out. Right now when I make water, I put a bucket underneath to catch the leak. Might have to have a plumber come set something up for me. Overall though, not a bad problem when the tank is doing fantastic.

Sticking to once a week water changes which seems to be complimenting things very well. Every Sunday I do about 5 gal (20%) of the 20 gallon. Corals are happy, fish and shrimp are happy!

Would love to hear from you all and again, Happy New Year!

boomeraudio · Jan 6, 2021

Couple more shots.

Nick Steele · Jan 7, 2021

Looking good!

Happy mew years to you as well! Have you tried pushing the RO tubing into the fitting to make it tight again? I had mine pop out on a few occasions myself.

boomeraudio · Jan 8, 2021

Nick Steele said:
Looking good!

Happy mew years to you as well! Have you tried pushing the RO tubing into the fitting to make it tight again? I had mine pop out on a few occasions myself.

Thanks!

I have yeah - I'll give it another try this weekend and see. I have to make 10 gallons for ATO and Water Change anyways so might as well take the sink apart ha ha.

boomeraudio · Jan 24, 2021

Can anyone ID? Nothing has changed in the tank and here we are. Doesn’t look slimy like cyano. No bubbles or strings like dinos. Even after stir of sand it comes back. Happened after another weekly water change. 0TDS. 8ppm nitrate, .03 phosphate.

Do I need to dirty up the water a bit?