Paulie's Lagoon 25

[ReefingDaily]

What settings are you running on your prime?!

 

[Pauliex77x]

What settings are you running on your prime?!

I believe theyre the ones from BRS on a shorter period (about 6hours)

 

[Pauliex77x]

Nitrates were a bit high the other day as were phosphates (first time testing for them) so a water change was in order. Paramaters really didnt change and i learned a bit about salifert kits after asking why on the forums.

So to be more proactive about nitrates and phosphates i have some algaebarn chaeto coming and i ordered a grow light off of amazon (we'll see how it does). Im also keeping the lights off to prevent an algae outbreak. Fish and snails are doing fine.

Started the cycle today on the QT tank. Fishless this time with some bio spira and Dr tims ammonium chloride. The two bags are marine pure gems. After the cycle is done and the bags are seeded, one of them will find its home in the sump under the floss basket. The other will stay in the qt unless a fish has to be treated. If/when that happens ill just keep it in the return section of the lagoon until the qt tank is reset. Also dont mind the DIY frag rack lol.

I really like the light from the T5's and am actually thinking about a hybrid t5 LED fixture for the lagoon when im ready to dive into sps. Hoping though that when i do get my first corals in quarantine that the fixture wont be too much for softies.

 

[Pauliex77x]

qt tank is taking ammonia to zero and nitrites to less than .5 in just under 24 hours already. Still gonna give it a few more days of dosing and testing before i decide to add a fish (yellow watchman goby or something of that ilk will be next.)

Took the nitrite test kit downstairs to the lagoon and FINALLY there was no reading. Small grow light came the other day and today 2 golfball size chaeto jars from algae barn came.

Light is on a 12 hour cycle. Took the chaeto and loostend it up a bit so the light can penetrate to the false wall. If it wasnt stuck in a media basket it would be tumbling around so i think the flow is good.

Ill test tomorrow and if nitrates arent out of control over 50 i may wait a few days before a water change to see if/how fast the chaeto works.

 

[Pauliex77x]

Friday paramaters were good. 10ppm nitrates. .25 ppm phosphates. Resisted the urge to do a water change because those are good numbers. Did my mid week tests today. Phosphates still at .25 but nitrites are down to 5ppm. Does chaeto soak up nutrients that fast?

 

[Pauliex77x]

Weekly tests today showed nitrates at 10pp. And phosphates are down to .1 ppm. Chaeto in fuge basket has a few spots where it's mushy and slimy but otherwise its good. Cant tell if its growing or not yet but its only a week. There was a small spot of green algae starting to grow on the front rock so ive kept the prime light off for now. The fuge light has been running on a 12 hour schedule.

Ive decided for my lighting instead of getting another used prime i'll be building a DIY floating canopy. Ill install either a retrofit T5 kit or getting 2 t5ho fixtures off of amazon. The amazon fixtures save me about 50$ but the retro kits have the moisture proof caps. Also might be easier to add another retro kit in the canopy space wise if 2 bulbs and the prime arent enough. Not sure though if ill be ceiling mounting it or finding a wall mount solution. I like the reliability of the T5's and supplimenting them with the prime for some shimmer.

 

[Pauliex77x]

After 2 weeks the chaeto ball i put in the fuge basket has been slowly desintigrating and falling apart. I ordered the chaetomaxx light from IM after realizing the light i was using wasnt strong enough and just installed it. Ill leave it running for a day or two to see if it stimulates some growth then ill set it back to the 12 hour schedule i had the first light on. Also got some phosguard for phosphates. If the chaeto doesnt help with them ill drop in a bag of it.

I also have a bottle of Purple helix coming sometime this weekend. The plan is to get nitrates and phosphates in order so i can add the corraline spores and turn on the light. Should be ready for first corals after that.

 

[Pauliex77x]

Weekly testing today.
Nitrates 10ppm
Phosphate still .25ppm
PH. 8.15
Alk 9.6.

after leaving the new fuge light on for a little over 24 hours now there are some spots that seem to be growing finally (i think/hope) hoping i dont have to scrap the fuge idea i would really like to have a spot for pods so i can keep a Mandarin eventually.

Also added the bottle of Purple Helix that came today. it was cold out today and the bottle was outside for a while so i hope the spores were ok. but this means i have to keep the light running. If the chaeto doesnt start exporting Phosphate by next friday i'll have to drop in the Phosguard i think to prevent GHA from growing.

Calcium and Magnesium tests are next on the list of buys. then i think im ready to put my toe in the water and add a zoa or two. moving along.....

 

[Pauliex77x]

Quick FTS before i go silent for a while. Lighting schedule i picked is saxby's signature series off of the AI website. Its the spectrum i picked Now that i have to keep lights on for the corraline spores.

Clowns are really starting to grow. One is almost double the size of the other. Guessing shes the female. She eats first lol

The other guy is doing good as well

This will be my last update until i add the goby/pistol and some corals. Forgot how fun and addicting this hobby is.

 

[Pauliex77x]

Chaeto seems to have started growing a bit since starting to dose brightwell chaetogrow (6 drops 1x daily) and turning it every morning since it doesnt tumble in the media basket on its own. Tested today and these were the results

Algae has started to cover most surfaces now so i took a trip to absolutely fish for a few hermits and trochus snails. I was actually looking for a yellow goby and a pistol shrimp when i walked past all the frag tanks. I couldnt resist.

4 frags for $30 i couldnt say no. Dipped and dropped into the QT tank for a few days for observation. They dont have any signs of pests so i think im safe.

Zoa's of some description, a favia, an Acan, and some GSP which is opening back up as i write this post. Is it bad that i want more already?

 

[TheWB]

Chaeto seems to have started growing a bit since starting to dose brightwell chaetogrow (6 drops 1x daily) and turning it every morning since it doesnt tumble in the media basket on its own. Tested today and these were the results

Algae has started to cover most surfaces now so i took a trip to absolutely fish for a few hermits and trochus snails. I was actually looking for a yellow goby and a pistol shrimp when i walked past all the frag tanks. I couldnt resist.

4 frags for $30 i couldnt say no. Dipped and dropped into the QT tank for a few days for observation. They dont have any signs of pests so i think im safe.

Zoa's of some description, a favia, an Acan, and some GSP which is opening back up as i write this post. Is it bad that i want more already?

But did you also get the hermits and snails Gotta keep the clean up crew beefed up. 4 frags for $30 is a great deal.

 

[Pauliex77x]

Yes sir! Three trochus snails and 3 hermits to go along with 4 nessarius snails i had already. Algae starting to bloom alot

 

[Pauliex77x]

Here's a few pictures of them after their first night in QT. Lights came on and they opened up and seem happy. Zoa's seemed orange yesterday now have a green mouth.

I moved the tank and raised the quad T5 fixture im using to 12 inches off the surface. 2 actinics are running for 12 hours. The 10k white bulbs will only be on for 4 hours for now to see how they react this afternoon. Reef roids and a baster should be here tomorrow. So far so good.

 

[TheWB]

Yes sir! Three trochus snails and 3 hermits to go along with 4 nessarius snails i had already. Algae starting to bloom alot

Good idea to get some grazers in there. Nassarius snails won’t help with the algae.

 

[Pauliex77x]

Good idea to get some grazers in there. Nassarius snails won’t help with the algae.

Yeah its not out of hand. Mostly brown algae with a few green spots spread out. The phosguard did a good job in 4 days dropping my phosphate from .1 to .03 ppm and my nitrates are almost undetectable at 1-2 ppm. Gonna start dropping in some frozen food now for the hermits and clowns now that the chaeto is growing. Phosguard was removed after 5 days. The skimmate is starting to get darker as well guessing thats a sign of maturing.

I do need to get a new wavemaker because the fluval one i got seems to keep reversing its flow randomly where i have to turn it off and on to reset it. Thinking of a Nero 5 or the jaebo version (SLW10 i think). That should help with keeping the sand surface cleaner than it is right now.

 

[TheWB]

Yeah its not out of hand. Mostly brown algae with a few green spots spread out. The phosguard did a good job in 4 days dropping my phosphate from .1 to .03 ppm and my nitrates are almost undetectable at 1-2 ppm. Gonna start dropping in some frozen food now for the hermits and clowns now that the chaeto is growing. Phosguard was removed after 5 days. The skimmate is starting to get darker as well guessing thats a sign of maturing.

I do need to get a new wavemaker because the fluval one i got seems to keep reversing its flow randomly where i have to turn it off and on to reset it. Thinking of a Nero 5 or the jaebo version (SLW10 i think). That should help with keeping the sand surface cleaner than it is right now.

I’ve been thinking about adding a wave maker too. Nero5‘s are on sale for $199 at marine depot right now. My current eflux pumps work fine but but they have pretty narrow flow And I have some dead spots where green cyano is taking hold. I’d like to add something with wider, more gentle flow capability.

 

[Pauliex77x]

I’ve been thinking about adding a wave maker too. Nero5‘s are on sale for $199 at marine depot right now. My current eflux pumps work fine but but they have pretty narrow flow And I have some dead spots where green cyano is taking hold. I’d like to add something with wider, more gentle flow capability.

The jaebo ones are like 50 on ebay 75 on amazon. I like the controllability of the Nero though so might treat myself with it for an income tax present lol. Just have to watch because there are complaints about them eating nems and fish.

 

[Pauliex77x]

Camera is terrible but everyone is in the pool lol. First corals in

 

[Pauliex77x]

Today the new wavemaker came. An Aqamai KPS. Its a strong wavemaker that has a really easy app to customize flow patterns. Really happy with it and corals seem happy as well. Some pics of them in their new home.

Also made a trip back to the LFS. Absolutely Fish in Clifton NJ is a great shop with a helpful staff and really good prices. Picked up these four new frags and a Green clown Goby for just under $45.

3 more zoa's and a Galaxea. Plan is to grow a zoa garden around the base of the middle island with 2 different acan colors at the top. Favia im not sure about and the GSP is quarantined on the little rock.

The goby is adjusting to the quarantine tank by hiding so ill grab a pic of him when i get a chance.

 

[Pauliex77x]

Yesterday I added the 4 new frags into the display. The one zoa frag had closed up on me because I left the HOB filter off in the quarantine tank and there was no water movement for a few hours. I turned it off to help the clown goby get something to eat. Don't notice any pests (used seachem reef dip) and just 24 hours before it closed up it was fed reef roids. I put it in a spot on the zoa garden where hopefully it's going to turn around

Here are some pics of the rest in hopefully their permanent spots. The Acan is a fatty loving life.

The zoa garden

The favia seems to be OK and the GSP is loving the flow from the Aqamai kps.

The galaxea was just moved to a higher flow higher light spot so I'm gonna have to watch it for a few days I think. Seems to be ok so far.

And here's a FTS. So far so good.