Randy's Tank and Learn Thread

[jonelder68]

Day 64

I’m going to start tracking days since the refugium was set up, and put together a live timeline for folks who might be interested in, say, how long after rock did you add that anemone, etc.

Day 1 Refugium Started
Day 37 TBS Live sand and base rock added
Day 45 Phyto dosing started
Day 45 Copepods added
Day 66 TBS premium rock and CUC crew (planned)

I’ll also be starting a stocking list to go along with the equipment list that I will post periodically.

What have you been dosing for the refugium? Especially with no bioload? I recall you mention dosing ammonium? Anything else?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What have you been dosing for the refugium? Especially with no bioload? I recall you mention dosing ammonium? Anything else?

I dosed sodium phosphate a few times. The phosphate level by Hanna is about 0.16 ppm.

I also have dosed iron and manganese.

I’ve also dosed some TDO chromoboost pellets (very small size) a few times to support creatures that came with the live rock.

The goal of the ammonia and phosphate was to help build up the several types of gracilaria and other algae in the refugium. Some of the gracilaria is also in the display, but I’ll remove that before adding the tbs premium rock, then add it back.

Here’s a picture of some of it temporarily in the display, where the mithrax crab (s) clean it of any microalgae. It is rubberbanded to an old piece of dead rock that was in my refugium.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I ordered a bunch of supplies to be ready for fish.

From chewy:
Ocean Nutrition Prime Reef and Formula 2 flakes to feed by Eheim doser. Two feeding rings, a fish net (mostly to be used to remove floating scum from the refugium), and an Aquaclear size 50 powerhead for refugia flow.

From Saltwater Aquarium dot com:

Tunze care magnet long

 

[jonelder68]

I dosed sodium phosphate a few times. The phosphate level by Hanna is about 0.16 ppm.

I also have dosed iron and manganese.

I’ve also dosed some TDO chromoboost pellets (very small size) a few times to support creatures that came with the live rock.

The goal of the ammonia and phosphate was to help build up the several types of gracilaria and other algae in the refugium. Some of the gracilaria is also in the display, but I’ll remove that before adding the tbs premium rock, then add it back.

Here’s a picture of some of it temporarily in the display, where the mithrax crab (s) clean it of any microalgae. It is rubberbanded to an old piece of dead rock that was in my refugium.

Day 1 (March 8) added with first fish

This week. Growing but lost its dark red. Assuming from low nutrients &/or the white full spectrum light? Just ordered everything to start dosing ammonia and phosphate. Hopefully will help color back up.
Nitrate- 0
Phosphate- .02

Been dosing a capful of chaetogro daily and 1ml of iron weekly.

The TBS remote fuge is sure growing all kinds of variety of algae’s. New kinds popping up daily. It’s fun to check everyday to see what’s new.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Day 1 (March 8) added with first fish

This week. Growing but lost its dark red. Assuming from low nutrients &/or the white full spectrum light? Just ordered everything to start dosing ammonia and phosphate. Hopefully will help color back up.
Nitrate- 0
Phosphate- .02

Been dosing a capful of chaetogro daily and 1ml of iron weekly.

The TBS remote fuge is sure growing all kinds of variety of algae’s. New kinds popping up daily. It’s fun to check everyday to see what’s new.

The gracilaria i have lost its bright red in the refugium but is growing well. It gets more green/brown there. It regains is red color in my display where the light is very white (I’m using the freshwater blades only right now) but is not as bright as the refugium.

Thus, it may be an intensity thing, though my refugium lights are much more yellow than the display.

 

[jonelder68]

The gracilaria i have lost its bright red in the refugium but is growing well. It gets more green/brown there. It regains is red color in my display where the light is very white (I’m using the freshwater blades only right now) but is not as bright as the refugium.

Thus, it may be an intensity thing, though my refugium lights are much more yellow than the display.

Could be. I’m using a full spectrum plant grow light. Originally had it at 75% and was measuring 350 par. Believe red algae’s require less light? So I’ve lowered it to 25% lowest setting/100 par now. It’s regaining some color. More brick red than the original dark red though. But same, it’s growing pretty fast even with all things considering. Waiting on my scale to show up to start mixing and dosing your ammonia & phosphate.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Could be. I’m using a full spectrum plant grow light. Originally had it at 75% and was measuring 350 par. Believe red algae’s require less light? So I’ve lowered it to 25% lowest setting/100 par now. It’s regaining some color. More brick red than the original dark red though. But same, it’s growing pretty fast even with all things considering. Waiting on my scale to show up to start mixing and dosing your ammonia & phosphate.

I think there’s likely a conundrum.

If you want it dark red, it may need less light but grow more slowly (good for a display in less bright areas; mine will likely get too bright unless I find a semi shaded place).

.More light means less color but faster growth (good for a refugium)

 

[Miami Reef]

Very interesting observation about the red algae’s color change depending on lighting.

 

[jonelder68]

I think there’s likely a conundrum.

If you want it dark red, it may need less light but grow more slowly (good for a display in less bright areas; mine will likely get too bright unless I find a semi shaded place).

.More light means less color but faster growth (good for a refugium)

The reds that sprouted from my TBS rock in my remote 20L remote refugium are in 300 par black box light dialed more white spectrum.

They’re pretty bright colored red. Same system just different lighting. So either lighting somehow or maybe depends on the type of algae?

Excited for your TBS premium rock? :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes: Will be real nice looking once this brown snot/fuzz algae is gone.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The reds that sprouted from my TBS rock in my remote 20L remote refugium are in 300 par black box light dialed more white spectrum.

They’re pretty bright colored red. Same system just different lighting. So either lighting somehow or maybe depends on the type of algae?

Excited for your TBS premium rock? :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes: Will be real nice looking once this brown snot/fuzz algae is gone.

Yes, I’m sure it does depend on species. I’ve read that before about some of the red macro only looking their best in low light.

Yes, I’m very excited for the new rock! :)

 

[strich]

Still reading through this build thread but I just find it hilarious that @Randy Holmes-Farley is so much messier than I imagined! I had painted a picture in my mind of Randy as some tidy white coat wearing scientist that couldn't possibly condone even a little mess. I hope no insult given - I think it's just funny!

 

[strich]

I’m a big fan of skimmers for aeration and organic export, and the Tunze is working well as I have described in earlier posts.

Drawback will be more accumulation of organics (mostly from the refugium algae) and yellowing of the water. Benefit will be that the phyto stays in the water until something consumes it, instead of skimming it out again.

Are there not alternatives for organic export or repurposing in the food web to a skimmer? I do worry that they ultimately can harm the pool of life available in the system when they suck out beneficial life as well. Aeration can of course be solved a multitude of ways.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Are there not alternatives for organic export or repurposing in the food web to a skimmer? I do worry that they ultimately can harm the pool of life available in the system when they suck out beneficial life as well. Aeration can of course be solved a multitude of ways.

All the procedures we use have pros and cons. There are organic binders such as GAC and Purigen, and water changes, of course, remove organics. But skimming can also be useful in removing bacteria to keep it from getting unusually high.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Rock and CUC Delivery

The premium rock and clean up crew are slated to arrive in Boston tomorrow afternoon. They will take in a country music concert in Nashville on the way. Hope they make it back to the airport in time for departure. :)

Last batch with the sand was nine boxes with buckets inside. This batch is seven boxes/buckets. I won’t have to put any in the front seat of the car. lol

 

[Freenow54]

Looks like a nassarious snail or a related species. :)

A little late but if it is amazing rock cleaners, and even better at knocking off unsecured coral lol. Absolutly worth the inconvenience

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

A little late but if it is amazing rock cleaners, and even better at knocking off unsecured coral lol. Absolutly worth the inconvenience

Folks decided it was a whelk and needed to go. It’s on the removal list along with the mantis.

 

[Freenow54]

Folks decided it was a whelk and needed to go. It’s on the removal list along with the mantis.

Too bad that's the thing I don't have time to be an expert and you have to trust sometimes. I went in blind, and my guy is extremely honest to a fault. If what he sold me is what he advertised then I would not hesitate to get quite a few. After years of not having them because I always thought them to be disease carriers I folded, and could not be happier. If you want a photo I will provide you with one. Still having issues with following your build as to notifications. Have to figure out what I am not doing correctly

 

[twentyleagues]

Too bad that's the thing I don't have time to be an expert and you have to trust sometimes. I went in blind, and my guy is extremely honest to a fault. If what he sold me is what he advertised then I would not hesitate to get quite a few. After years of not having them because I always thought them to be disease carriers I folded, and could not be happier. If you want a photo I will provide you with one. Still having issues with following your build as to notifications. Have to figure out what I am not doing correctly

I would be interested in a pic. If Randy does not want it posted here just pm me. Whelks are typically meat eaters and typically other snails are top on the menu.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don’t mind someone posting a photo related to the whelk discussion. :)

 

[Freenow54]

I would be interested in a pic. If Randy does not want it posted here just pm me. Whelks are typically meat eaters and typically other snails are top on the menu.

Ok will have to be tomorrow