Mike's Red Sea Reefer 525 XL build

[mta_morrow]

Ok. Sunday testing and 3 full weeks of Vibrant.

Only a few small patches remain.

Nitrates 16
Phosphate.15 (down from .196)
Alk and calcium stable.

I only ran 2 tsp of rowaphos.

I am going to run 3 tsp this week.

I will dose Vibrant again for the 4th week in a row (12ml)

I think the massive first die off really upped my phosphates and now I am getting them back down.

Once phosphates are <.05 I will see if nitrate reduction is needed

Also on a side note, sent my yellow tang to the sump. He was terrorizing the foxface and wouldn’t stop.

I’m mostly disappointed in myself for adding the tang as I said I wouldn’t have one in this tank.

Will be taking him to the LFS next Saturday.

@Brew12 , does may continued plan of attack and reasoning sound ok?

 

[Brew12]

Ok. Sunday testing and 3 full weeks of Vibrant.

Only a few small patches remain.

Nitrates 16
Phosphate.15 (down from .196)
Alk and calcium stable.

I only ran 2 tsp of rowaphos.

I am going to run 3 tsp this week.

I will dose Vibrant again for the 4th week in a row (12ml)

I think the massive first die off really upped my phosphates and now I am getting them back down.

Once phosphates are <.05 I will see if nitrate reduction is needed

Also on a side note, sent my yellow tang to the sump. He was terrorizing the foxface and wouldn’t stop.

I’m mostly disappointed in myself for adding the tang as I said I wouldn’t have one in this tank.

Will be taking him to the LFS next Saturday.

@Brew12 , does may continued plan of attack and reasoning sound ok?

Yup, sounds very reasonable!

And I'm sorry to hear about your tang.

 

[mta_morrow]

Yup, sounds very reasonable!

And I'm sorry to hear about your tang.

I feel bad, I’m sure you did too with your flame angel.

However, my foxface and tailspot are now happy and all over the tank.

 

[mta_morrow]

Quick video of the tank

 

[Fudsey]

Looks great Mike

 

[mta_morrow]

Today’s parameters
Alk 7.8
Calcium 465
Nitrate 18
Phosphate .113
79 deg
Going to bi weekly Vibrant
Continue running rowaphos
Doing nothing yet for nitrates

@Brew12 does that sound ok?

 

[Brew12]

Today’s parameters
Alk 7.8
Calcium 465
Nitrate 18
Phosphate .113
79 deg
Going to bi weekly Vibrant
Continue running rowaphos
Doing nothing yet for nitrates

@Brew12 does that sound ok?

I'd like to see PO4 a little lower but other than that it looks good.

 

[mta_morrow]

I'd like to see PO4 a little lower but other than that it looks good.

Thanks! Phosphates still coming down slowly. I’m using a mini reactor.

At this rate should be around.08 next Sunday.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Cant believe I haven't been here at all the last couple months...

Awesome build thread Mike!

 

[mta_morrow]

Cant believe I haven't been here at all the last couple months...

Awesome build thread Mike!

Thank you! I wish I had more time to dedicate to my build thread, but work gets in the way to much!!!!!

Thanks for reading it and following along!

 

[mta_morrow]

Just ordered Chaeto from a member on R2R. Second time from this person.

$20 shipped for a softball sized ball of nice chaeto full of pods.

I removed the last batch just before I started dosing vibrant. The reactor was getting full of GHA. I think I will place the reactor in the return pump section of the sump this time as any gha will have to make it thru the mesh socks and the bubble trap mat!

 

[cracker]

Good job Mike ! I just perused the entire thread. I also liked the step by step on the HA/Vibrant . Iv'e got a bottle of the stuff just apprehensive to try it.
Thanks !

 

[mta_morrow]

Good job Mike ! I just perused the entire thread. I also liked the step by step on the HA/Vibrant . Iv'e got a bottle of the stuff just apprehensive to try it.
Thanks !

Thanks! Incase you didn’t notice, @Brew12 held my hand throughout the whole. I rant process and even still as I am working to get nutrients under control from the massive die off.

Appreciate you reading the build thread!

I see you are not to far away from me.

Jacksonville?

 

[mta_morrow]

Got some chaeto today. The skins reactor is back online. 12 hour reverse schedule.

Will check in 30 days!

 

[pwilliaml]

Got some chaeto today. The skins reactor is back online. 12 hour reverse schedule.

Will check in 30 days!

Glad to see the macro reactor is up and running. I finally got chaeto to survive in my sump. I turned my H160 kessil light down in intensity and started dosing iron. One of those two did it as it's staying a nice solid green now and not withering away. I must be doing something right. Hope you have just as much luck as well.

 

[mta_morrow]

So I’m off today and it’s busy. Took the tang to the LFS. I miss him, but I am relieved and the tank seems much less stressed.

I know the foxface (Zorro) is happy.

I have already disassembled and cleaned my skimmer and UV pump. Running now in a vinegar bath.

Ready to do a 20 gallon wc.

I do my wc’s all in the sump.

I always wipe down and get the crud out first.

Here’s what I do

I have cut strips of filter material

I place it over my bubble trap material.

Place a small powerhead in the sump while I scrub a bit and ta da!

Now remove, rinse off, then wash with the next load of rags.

I also do this for a water polish now and then as I run mesh sock, not material.

 

[Brew12]

So I’m off today and it’s busy. Took the tang to the LFS. I miss him, but I am relieved and the tank seems much less stressed.

I know the foxface (Zorro) is happy.

I have already disassembled and cleaned my skimmer and UV pump. Running now in a vinegar bath.

Ready to do a 20 gallon wc.

I do my wc’s all in the sump.

I always wipe down and get the crud out first.

Here’s what I do

I have cut strips of filter material

I place it over my bubble trap material.

Place a small powerhead in the sump while I scrub a bit and ta da!

Now remove, rinse off, then wash with the next load of rags.

I also do this for a water polish now and then as I run mesh sock, not material.

That is a fantastic idea!

I keep a very dirty sump so I won't be doing it any time soon but this is great for those who want to keep theirs looking clean!

 

[mta_morrow]

Weekly testing is done.

I only have a few tiny patches of gha.
I’m going to bi weekly doses of Vibrant now.

Also my bioload should drop now that the yellow tang is gone.

Salinity 1.026
80 deg.
Alk 8.3
Nitrate 16
Phosphate .043 on Hanna ulr
I am going to check calcium and magnesium biweekly.

@Brew12 What do you think now for nitrates and phosphates?

Also chaeto reactor is back on line.

Probably not doing to much for another week or so until the chaeto grows a bit and can have an impact.

 

[mta_morrow]

Couple shots

 

[Brew12]

Weekly testing is done.

I only have a few tiny patches of gha.
I’m going to bi weekly doses of Vibrant now.

Also my bioload should drop now that the yellow tang is gone.

Salinity 1.026
80 deg.
Alk 8.3
Nitrate 16
Phosphate .043 on Hanna ulr
I am going to check calcium and magnesium biweekly.

@Brew12 What do you think now for nitrates and phosphates?

Also chaeto reactor is back on line.

Probably not doing to much for another week or so until the chaeto grows a bit and can have an impact.

I think they look great! Any visual signs that make you feel otherwise? No cyano or dino's?