Devoted Reefer 250

pelphrey · Dec 18, 2018

GEM5 lights siliconed to some acrylic in perpetration for a refugium!

Also something strange I noticed this morning. When the lights go out the “diatom” sandbed disappears?

shred5 · Dec 18, 2018

Diatoms usually disappear at night, pretty normal.
I add a little bit of silicate to my tank to help with a little diatom growth. Diatoms are the preferred algae of allot of herbivorous like snails so it is easy to take care of. Diatoms seem to be able to out compete other algae like dinoflagellates too.
I also grow allot of sponges so bonus.

pelphrey · Dec 19, 2018

shred5 said:
Diatoms usually disappear at night, pretty normal.
I add a little bit of silicate to my tank to help with a little diatom growth. Diatoms are the preferred algae of allot of herbivorous like snails so it is easy to take care of. Diatoms seem to be able to out compete other algae like dinoflagellates too.
I also grow allot of sponges so bonus.

Thanks for the information @shred5 - I was completely unaware of this and I was stunning to see the sandbed with no diatoms on it! I thought I was dreaming! haha

CDavmd · Dec 19, 2018

Be sure it’s not Dino’s. They can look and behave the same way.

pelphrey · Dec 19, 2018

CDavmd said:
Be sure it’s not Dino’s. They can look and behave the same way.

You think so even if my glass is dirty everyday?

I tested phosphates and nitrates over the weekend -

Nitrates 4ppm
Phosphates .06

CDavmd · Dec 19, 2018

pelphrey said:
You think so even if my glass is dirty everyday?

I tested phosphates and nitrates over the weekend -

Nitrates 4ppm
Phosphates .06

yes unfortunately. You had pretty low nutrients for some time a while back. That is all it takes for Dino's to get a foothold. The Amphidinium species behaves like what you are seeing- golden brown on the sand, gets worse during daylight, goes away at night. You need a microscope to be absolutely sure if you are dealing with simple diatoms versus Dinos. There is a simple test with peroxide that you can do as well- it is outlined on the first page of the thread with is linked in this newer thread:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/amphidinium-dinoflagellate-treatment-methods.365850/

I hope its just diatoms but Dinos are a real possibility.

Scurvy · Dec 19, 2018

CDavmd said:
yes unfortunately. You had pretty low nutrients for some time a while back. That is all it takes for Dino's to get a foothold. The Amphidinium species behaves like what you are seeing- golden brown on the sand, gets worse during daylight, goes away at night. You need a microscope to be absolutely sure if you are dealing with simple diatoms versus Dinos. There is a simple test with peroxide that you can do as well- it is outlined on the first page of the thread with is linked in this newer thread:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/amphidinium-dinoflagellate-treatment-methods.365850/

I hope its just diatoms but Dinos are a real possibility.

I see you're in MA.... Norwood here. Always like to say hi to locals.

pelphrey · Dec 19, 2018

Couple images from my phone before I delete them!

pelphrey · Dec 20, 2018

New rocks are changing colors! Rock on the right is starting to get some purple! Rock on the right had a sinus infection! Haha

5280Reefer · Dec 21, 2018

Looking good bro! Haha sorry I have not been in touch been out of country for over 3 months. Like the new scape looking clean!

Crabby48 · Dec 21, 2018

The new scape and corals are looking great. It is blending in and looking at home.

I’m sure it makes you enjoy the tank more, like a new start

Love the photographs

pelphrey · Dec 21, 2018

5280Reefer said:
Looking good bro! Haha sorry I have not been in touch been out of country for over 3 months. Like the new scape looking clean!

Welcome back!! Saw the 90 is getting water, that’s exciting! Thanks for checking in!

Crabby48 said:
The new scape and corals are looking great. It is blending in and looking at home.

I’m sure it makes you enjoy the tank more, like a new start

Love the photographs

Right!! It for sure gives me the push I needed all along!

pelphrey · Dec 21, 2018

Planned to use these GEM5 lights for my refugium, but I have a bad light. Light is labeled 36 and is on the right side of the acrylic, it’s gone bad. When I unplug it all the lights work as they should. ATS has been in a box in my garage for a few months, no physical damage to the lights. Any ideas @SantaMonica ?? Thanks in advance for any input!

Also, I took a few extra days off work for the holidays. This morning power went off for a second and back on. I do use a UPS on my tank, granted it won’t run it for an hour but it will run it for a short time. More importantly it will prevent power surges to my equipment. Really need to get the Neptune apex power cord for the apex and plug that into the wall. That will let me know when power is lost before heart beat!