Mark's 150 gallon SPS heavy reef
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OP
OP
I'm not thrilled, but I think my reactor is pretty crappy as well. A lot of brown dust is coming out and messing up the sump and while Nitrates dropped they seemed to bottom out about 2 and then PO4 started to rise. I've been dosing 1/4 tsp of CaNO3 every 3 days and adding 5ml of NOPOX to help things along. The biopellets should be doing all the work now and they're not. My fault, reactors fault, skimmers fault??? I'm focussed on keeping all the params steady so whatever works, even if I have to keep dosing NOPOX at low doses.
My goal is around 5 nitrates and < .06 PO4. KH has been steady right around 8.
Thanks!
Reefmon
Active Member
Thought about going with regular biopellets? I figured the all in one would kick up dust particles. Excellent tank by the way
OP
OP
Thanks Jeremy!
Yep, will probably transition to regular biopellets or take it offline and dose NOPOX with regular additions of CaNO3 to help keep PO4 low.
Thanks!
OP
OP
Thanks.
I have been slowly reducing my PAR levels (raising up the T5 fixture) on top from 450 down to 375. This puts PAR on the sandbed at 240. I've also been reducing the photo period. It's been working well to help color up corals but the anemone suddenly decided it was time to move after a year in generally the same spot. GOING UP!
I stayed up late and was able to catch it with barely any foot attached, teased it off, and put him into the sump. He'll be going into my 29 gallon today.
On the move.
Carefully placed a rock in his way.
At 10:30PM he starts to detach. I have all the pumps on wave mode to help prevent him getting sucked in so I turn them off, carefully remove the new rock, and then tease the foot loose with a pair of plastic tipped tongs.
Sumped!
It was an interesting experience that I would rather not repeat ever in my life. I've been really lucky with this guy because he never moved.
TinpanVA
Active Member
Mine up and decided to move a week ago. It's freaking nerve wracking. He seems content where he is now, but I have a feeling he will move again. His bubble tips are'nt bubbling. They are stretched out like he's hungry or wanting more light. Been that way ever since I pulled him from the 29.
Your tank is looking great and the photography top notch!
Your tank is looking great and the photography top notch!
OP
OP
So I was organizing my photos on imageshack into albums this morning so I could see what kind of growth and color changes I've been getting. Some of these acros are growing a lot faster than I thought they were. All I need is the colors.
Maricultured Valida.
May 5th
August 19th
Teal Stag. Growing almost as fast as the slimer.
May 5th
August 19th
Not so Red Robin
May 19th
August 19th
Blockhead
April 22nd
August 6th
Maricultured Valida.
May 5th
August 19th
Teal Stag. Growing almost as fast as the slimer.
May 5th
August 19th
Not so Red Robin
May 19th
August 19th
Blockhead
April 22nd
August 6th
OP
OP
Thanks Paul! My anemone has settled down in my 29 for now, but if he expands full size he'll take up most of the tank.
OP
OP
I re-configured the biopellet reactor, changing the recirculating piping to what I think is an improved layout. I added a feed pump as well and the result is a lot more tumbling and flow out of the reactor.
Nitrates dropped from 5 yesterday to 2.5 (matched the salifert color) today. Pretty fast drop for this tank. I dosed a little CaNO3. Will test again int he morning and possibly back off the reactor if it's really that more efficient. I kind of doubt it, I'd rather suspect a test error.
Colors are looking good, and more new coloration showing on the margins of a few frags. The slimer is showing the bright green it gets when nitrates are a bit elevated.
Fear my epoxy artwork.
Nitrates dropped from 5 yesterday to 2.5 (matched the salifert color) today. Pretty fast drop for this tank. I dosed a little CaNO3. Will test again int he morning and possibly back off the reactor if it's really that more efficient. I kind of doubt it, I'd rather suspect a test error.
Colors are looking good, and more new coloration showing on the margins of a few frags. The slimer is showing the bright green it gets when nitrates are a bit elevated.
Fear my epoxy artwork.
jayjigga
Active Member
I'm sure you know this, but just in case, make sure the output of your recirc reactor is positioned so it's feeding the skimmer. It increases the chances of skimming out that excess bacteria a bunch.
Great looking tank, sorry to hear about the nem move. I have the same problem, but it's more like a little army of 10+, haha
Great looking tank, sorry to hear about the nem move. I have the same problem, but it's more like a little army of 10+, haha
OP
OP
Thanks. I need to get better at taking pics from the same location to better judge growth. I love looking at growth pics as well.
Hey, thanks for stopping by. Subscribed to your thread.
awesome tank
Thanks!
I'm sure you know this, but just in case, make sure the output of your recirc reactor is positioned so it's feeding the skimmer. It increases the chances of skimming out that excess bacteria a bunch.
Great looking tank, sorry to hear about the nem move. I have the same problem, but it's more like a little army of 10+, haha
I do, but a great reminder anyway. I have the hose near the skimmer intake but I need some kind of hanger thing to get it really close. Thanks for having a look.
OP
OP
I call this one Blockhead because it's on a large block and no idea what it is, other than an acro. It might be red, it might be purple. It's gotten darker of late and looks interesting from the top, brown from the front.
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