Rock/substrate hwlp

[Salem-Novel Aquatics]

Mr. Mojo Rising- thanks for the article. I have heard Sem speak several times on different podcasts as well as reefbuilders. I do enjoy his content and knowledge. I will implement some suggestions.

Tikki-

Thanks for responding. Great pioints.
I mix my own water but have not changed out my RO filters. I have been thinking about it and trying to figure out when I need to. My TDS Comes out at zero so I thought (possibly because I have a 32 g BioCube and do 4.5 g water changes weekly that I have not used them up) but I have had the same filters since I set it up.

The return pump seems to be flowing well.

I don’t have sponges or don’t think I do. lol. Sorry for being naive here. I’ve had the system for about 3 years now but still learning. Do you purchase sponges and where would I put them in an AIO Biocube. I presume they need to be devoid of light (2 nd chamber???). Salems article makes good points at the effectiveness of sponges on DOC.

I will reduce the white light. Any suggestions of how long I should keep the white lights on per day as to not adversely affect corals?
I can keep blues.


I use a toothbrush although recently I pulled my top rock out and scrubbed it.

The Biocube lights are LED.

Thanks. I appreciate the suggestions.

Since I wrote that article there are many new methods to export DOC - sponges are likely the least efficient - try Seachem Purigen or Catalytic Activated Carbon

 

[Charlie G]

Hi Salem.
Thanks for responding. Any downsides to either product?
I am concerned with the possibility of HLLE with GAC. Is catalytic activated carbon any different?

Also any adverse or possible adverse effects of using Purigen?

That being said. I did order an N-DOC test. Should I test both before and after to see if it made a difference?

Of course I will also do larger water changes. Currently I do about a 14% water change weekly but I have not seen a difference.

Thanks.

 

[Salem-Novel Aquatics]

Hi Salem.
Thanks for responding. Any downsides to either product?
I am concerned with the possibility of HLLE with GAC. Is catalytic activated carbon any different?

Also any adverse or possible adverse effects of using Purigen?

That being said. I did order an N-DOC test. Should I test both before and after to see if it made a difference?

Of course I will also do larger water changes. Currently I do about a 14% water change weekly but I have not seen a difference.

Thanks.

I would do a before and after to see your baseline and then what you did correction wise. I am not one to speak on HLLE but I know there's alot of doubt with people that GAC causes it. I know that there's issues with most life if there's ingestion of carbon dust though so be sure to rinse/clean for sure. The negative impact of GAC/CAC is that is can strip some traces such as iodine out of the water and remove too much DOC (there is a healthy level). I am unsure of negative effects of Purigen - it could potentially lower inorganic nutrients but I am not sure of that. I would say ease into any of these absorption based approaches.

Thus, use them conservatively - additionally if you use CAC be sure to run it passively as it can strip out alot quickly in a reactor + it's smaller so can get crushed etc. The theory behind CAC is stated here

Reef Moonshiner’s Post DOC Reduction Method Using CAC | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Yesterday on the Reef Moonshiner’s support group owner Andre Mueller posted the following information. DOC Reduction and a specific CAC (Catalytic activated carbon), investigated closer on the Reef…

reefbuilders.com

 

[Charlie G]

Thank you.

I will do larger water changes.
I plan on testing DOC and may do an Aquabiomics test before using Purigen and maybe down the road test again.
I will also increase my cleanup crew.

Appreciate all the input.

 

[KrisReef]

Thank you.

I will do larger water changes.
I plan on testing DOC and may do an Aquabiomics test before using Purigen and maybe down the road test again.
I will also increase my cleanup crew.

Appreciate all the input.

I really liked your images. great for this thread so we can see what you are trying to improve.

This one:

Great details. I hope those zoa's get happy again.

 

[Charlie G]

I really liked your images. great for this thread so we can see what you are trying to improve.

This one:

Great details. I hope those zoa's get happy again.

Hey. Thanks.

For the most part my coral do seem happy. I just realized that this carpeting of algae on my rock and the gha progressed and wasn’t sure what I was battling and what else I should do. My nutrients seemed in check. It’s difficult to scrub the rock as the BIOCUBE is tight. The matt of algae or cyano on my substrate appears roughly around the 5-7 day mark after I removed it or did my 4.5 g (14%) water change and had been that way for a few months. I don’t want to scrap this DT as it is my first (and only for now) and I do feel that I’m learning a lot along the way. If in the future I upgrade I will be more experienced.

Just to update:

I did an ICP test and nothing seems to be out of the ordinary.

I did a 27% water change 2 days ago to hopefully dilute some of the DOC.

Last night I received my N-DOC test and sent it out this morning.

I am waiting for my an Aquabiomics test to arrive.

Once I take that sample and send out I will add Purigen. I figured might as well have some data. This hobby has reallly brought out the geek in me and I’m enjoying it.

I will add some pics as to what my coral look like despite dealing with this issue. Any advice is really appreciated. I have learned a lot while researching R2R and listening to podcasts.

My Acan seems to be thriving as well as my hammer but I have not grown any new heads on the hammer ( not sure why).

My Cyphastrea was doing really well and growing right up to my Acan but now seems to have receded and the bright uniform blue it once had seems to be fading. I think this is due to the fact I found some of that reddish algae on it.

My Goniopora seems to be doing well.

Zoa doing well. Growing.

My toadstool has not really shown any growth.

I though my green Slimer and digitata were dead but I realized it’s still alive (no growth though). I think it’s a PAR issue so I added some more rock to elevate it.

Please critique or add any advice.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Charlie G]

Hi all
Update- I am still dealing with g with this. I increased my water change volume. I also decreased the hours the full spectrum light is on. I did also add Purigen. I also added a turbo snail but it seems to prefer cleaning my glass instead of the rock.

I just noticed this purple coloration on my uppermost rock. Can’t tell if it’s just corraline algae or something else.

Thoughts?