Jason's Tank Journey

[jason2459]

Hi. I’m not a paid scientist. I’m not even an unpaid scientist, but I wish I was.

I really wish I had a turf algae scrubber. It looks so satisfying to harvest the algae every week. I would love to have one, but it’s so expensive!

Check out the WSR on eBay for a nice ATS with lots of configuration options and a pretty good price.

| eBay

 

[Miami Reef]

Thank you. I’m following your build thread! It needs much more love.

 

[jason2459]

Thank you!

I just had to do an impromptu cleaning of the WSR tonight too. It was over flowing but the design didn't let it flood and the design of the mount flowed it all back into the tank. Another huge wad pulled out of the pipe and this thing is just producing like crazy. I may have to clean weekly. I have the Turbo Aquatic harvesting tomorrow scheduled.

 

[Miami Reef]

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Scraping that turf algae looks SOOO satisfying!

 

[jason2459]

Turbo's aquatics ATS amazing as always. I also have to say it runs much quieter then the WSR.

 

[jason2459]

Already seeing algae headed to the pipes on the WSR again. Then I looked in one of the windows.

 

[Miami Reef]

What is that? Are those rocks or live sponges?

 

[jason2459]

What is that? Are those rocks or live sponges?

Just crazy algae. The pink/red lights make it look browner


Tried to shine the blueish ones on it better here and looks greener

 

[jason2459]

Not sure what kind of SPS this is but I liked it. Not flashy super colors but it's fuzzy I like the movement.

 

[Miami Reef]

Not sure what kind of SPS this is but I liked it. Not flashy super colors but it's fuzzy I like the movement.

Stylophora.

 

[jason2459]

Awesome, thanks!

 

[jason2459]

You might have a mushroom problem when your dragon is throwing them up...

 

[Miami Reef]

You might have a mushroom problem when your dragon is throwing them up...

lol

Are those 2 corals you attached as “eyes?”

 

[jason2459]

lol
That's it's engraved nose with Coraline growth

 

[jason2459]

Here's a little bit better picture of that dragon. I got it back in 2011 a gift from my son. It makes a great cave entrance now.





And the submarine I got from him to back in 2016 which my fish love grazing on and my smaller fish swim through as there's a hole on the back side to you can't see.

 

[jason2459]

Harvest time on the WSR

 

[jason2459]

Did some test for the first time.

Salinity 36 PSU/35 PPT
Ca 450
Alk 13
Mg 1350
Nitrate 10
PO4 0.03

For Ca and Alk I use kalk in my ATO and looks like I could reduce it from being fully saturated. The ATO runs 24/7 spread out pretty well too. I don't allow it to run more then 5 seconds at a time with at least 10 minute between runs.

Mg I add about 1/4 cup to my water change water of Instant Ocean that changes out about 30% monthly at about 1% daily. IO has an Alk around 10-11 so I could add some muriatic acid to reduce this a bit too. I've done this before until my stonies started taking off.

I feed super heavy. I have an Apex AFS that runs at 11am, 3:30pm, and 9pm with two turns each time. Filled with NLS little pellets.

I put in at least one 8x8 sheet of nori every day. Sometimes twice or three times.

I feed at least one cube of something meaty everyday. Sometimes 2 or 3.

My fish then feed the corals and disgustingly themselves as well with their own poop. They go nuts chasing each other when they see something starting to come out or they smell it. I'm pretty sure that's all my yellow tail damsel eats.

Between water changes and food my trace elements should be taken care of.

I do dose Iron. So, I'm sure that's elevated above natural sea water levels.

I dose vinegar as well which the acetic acid can be consumed by many things.

Nutrient export is obviously the ATSs that are both doing great and the water changes. No more skimmer right now. No socks. No mats. I don't vacuum out and clean the sump.

 

[jason2459]

I finally decided on the leather and fit a perfect spot hopefully. I've never had a sinularia before so going to give it a go.

 

[jason2459]

My LFS had this in today and I've never seen a pipe organ in person before. I had to get it.

Though I may have to return it...

My filefish is running to hide. He had to of been a dog in its previous life. I noticed it nipping at it.

 

[jason2459]

Pulled out the Turbo's Aquatics ATS tonight. Amphipods galore. I've had an explosion of them it seems. They tend to wax and wain.

Seems like half my pictures didn't turn out but it was thick.

This one did take and can see it filling out the bottom



And this was after I already squished out the water and tried to catch some pods with a pipette. Not that I didn't have plenty already. None of the amphipod pictures captured for some reason. I need a new phone.