Thank you! Some great ideas I will definitely use!
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IMHO Its all about 'coral cover' - or some other cover.I think the key to controlling unwanted algae are herbivores. I don't buy the idea of nutrient control for stopping algae growth because we see so many tanks with 'good' levels and algae. So besides the cycles tanks go through when new, its all about the herbivores. A few times I have had to remove a particular herbivore (like a foxface with a taste for clams!), and had algaes pop right up.
Also, coral cover helps by robbing algae of a place to grow. There are a couple of spots that bryopsis grows that I deal with manually every couple of weeks.
Really great video. You had some massive water flow going in the tanks in your office - could go surfing
You really have a great attitude, clear passion, and an amazing job that ties it all together. It is like the trifecta of awesome. I honestly believe you would be great at speaking to certain age groups who are interested in marine biology and the hobby as a whole. You can just feel it if that makes sense (like how Jack Burton felt after taking a drink from the six demon bag in big trouble in little china ).
Anyway I am really interested in the whole water movement you had going on in the lab. I don't recall how it was in the display but I think it is a really great topic if you can list it for future skimate podcasts. I've personally always wanted a surge type setup but worried about the pressure it would cause on the tank side walls. I'd like a larger tank or at least redo the design I currently have and see if it is possible to design it in. I know people do not like rock walls but I think a peninsula type design with a 30" tall rock wall being crashed into could make for an interesting look. Not sure but anyway I know you mentioned previously about water movement in the tank vs flowing through the sump. Something I continue to investigate.
Edit: I also am not sure what my phosphates are at. I checked after watching this and Hanna's HI736 kit reports 33 ppb 0.101 ppm.
It is harder for algae to grow where cca or coral are living, but there are tons of nooks and crannies where it can flourish and gain a toehold in my tank and any tank.IMHO Its all about 'coral cover' - or some other cover.
You compared me to Jack Burton? That is the 3rd most awesome comparison ever.
Let me know if you have specific flow questions I might be helpful with
I probably have too many questions on flow but do you run a similar velocity or flow within your home display? If you look at the tank in your discussion on Raising Octopuses in Home Aquarium at the 9:41 mark the holding tank or sump has a 2 to 3 inch wave it seems. A few times in the video I can see the tanks in the back having similar patterns.
I was just curious as it is something I'm working on in my display. Gyres have some nice options but placement is key. I'm also using 1" sea swirls on my returns so those are somewhat static although I adjust them using the apex
Trying to keep a young mixed reef is challenging for me anyway so always learning so my torch and hammer corals don't get mad at me. Flip side is I see some really interesting coral polyp extension.
No matter way I was really impressed with the flow in that tank. You could probably surf on the wave Hope all is well with you and yours.
Here is what the home systems looked like a couple years ago. This was just made public
Fine. I don't do much and think I am mostly just using it to help feed the coralsHow has vinegar dosing worked out for you so far?
Here is what the home systems looked like a couple years ago. This was just made public
A lot has been redone, but I would be happy with a fund raiser!Loved the video, how do we start a Gofund me to re-plumb, re-wire and organize your crawlspace? I mean that will all due respect.
In your opinion I assume you do not have colored PVC obsessively compulsively under your tanks?BTW, salt creep and messy wires were a point of pride for me for a long time because both are just fine .
Yeah in my opinion! No no, colored PVC.In your opinion I assume you do not have colored PVC obsessively compulsively under your tanks?
It was a great video.Yeah in my opinion! No no, colored PVC.
The rant below has almost nothing to do with the recent posts on this topic!
I think the difference for me is that I don't really ever talk about how I think an OCD system is a waste of time and an really annoying waste of time when you have to move or replace something! Some people love it, which is fine, but OCD systems aren't practical or wanted by everyone.
For a long time my systems were constantly evolving, and perminizing anything was a pita. In the vid, many things under the house were pointed out as expiremental, so why perminize it? It's out of the way, safe, and ready to be changed at a moments notice. Why all the dangling tubing? Because I wasn't sure of 'final placement' and didn't want to waste tubing. Why is there some schedule 80 and some 40? Because I reused valves that had chunks of tubing glued in and didn't want to waste the pieces. Reuse and eco minded use of resources lead me to just not care that much how practical things look when they are out of sight for 95% of the time. Again, that is just me, and I love me some clean installs - the new secret home lab coral breeding system is pretty dang clean.
Part of the joy of having a built in and a crawl space is that it is out of sight out of mind. Though wiring in the pic below is more cleaned up now (Cleaned up - I wonder if it is actually organized any better or if it just cosmetic), but I still I cannot bring myself to do something fancy and spend time and mone, to make the APEX stuff more pretty - close the door and it it vanishes....
Thanks!It was a great video.