Susan's 125 gal re-reboot. 3rd Times the Charm

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Susan Edwards

Susan Edwards

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A bit of a whine....
My tank is so trashed with algae. Different types. Tried a scrubber, vibrant, brightwells stuff, yanking it out etc. Some of it is like a thick turf of grass, some of it green and almost slimy, other might have some bryopsis in there. I had it all clear last October and looking so good! Even have my parameters in range--a bit high on nitrate yet but way better. Algae on back wall, overflows, return lines, even powerheads. On all the rock to the left of the leather on the left side, the rock on the right but not much on rest.

I've had it so I am going to treat with fluconazle stuff : ReefHD Reef Flux Anti-Fungal Treatment (100 gal)

I will not be transferring the rock to the new tank except the rock with my corals. So far, most of those rock do not have much, or even any algae, while the rest of the rock is just trashed. Took out 3 big rocks today that were really bad. Not going back in. If I can't clear up some of the others, they might get pulled! Need to leave most of the rest for the fish though.

Mounted a couple zoas on a frag rock. Have 2 more that need mounting but will wait for my caribsea frags to arrive.

Had to adjust the huge blue toadstool. Irritated the 2 clowns. Netted the nasty one so I could work... Need to decide what to do with the leather. It is too big. I don't want it in my new tank lol's but my hubby loves it. Just so big. It'll take up so much room!
Here is the big guy with a rock of gsp
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Palys taking over the zoa rock! Rhodactis below. 3 kinds
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zoa frag rock
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another zoa. blasto and candy cane not surviving
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another zoa
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giant paly's. Hubbies favorites
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The decent part of the tank that I'll keep. Hairy mushroom below the gps.
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fishguy242

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@Eagle_Steve can we get a expert "mad scientist " recipe for eliminating this algae ? suggestions?..:cool:
 
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Susan Edwards

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@Eagle_Steve Here are some shots. The previous pics I was just focusing on the coral left. I am seeing some white, possible die off but may still treat the tank as there is just so much and it keeps clogging the overflows and the back and even the return pumps, the tops that are out of water have the really tuffy stuff on them. I'll lower them once I dose. I want the rocks with coral clear for the new tank!

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Susan Edwards

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So I may have an answer as to why I can't keep LPS corals. Or SPS. I think my ginormous toadstool is putting out toxins. It is so huge, and as the clowns host it, I think it is always irritated

So it is not going into the new tank. If I can't find a new home for it, I'll put it in the observation tank, but it is actually too big for that tank, esp. with 2 white Tipped leathers.
 

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Susan Edwards

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1 week in of reef flux (fluconazle) and seeing algae turning white. Tomorrow, I'll go in and remove what I can

Trying to find a lfs to take my leathers. If not i'll try craigslist or local reef clubs. I want to get them out, and after my water change and carbon for the fluconazle, I want to try a couple of cheap lps's to see if they survive.
 
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Update:
2 weeks into the Reef Flux treatment (fluconazle) and most of the algae is gone. So happy! Will leave it for another week. The observation tank isn't doing quite as well. Have some pills left, so will add another 1 or 2.

Huge blue toadstool leather is gone!! And a rock with 2 white-tipped leathers. Thanks @OceanGlassBox . Hope they do very well for you! My tank is now leather free. Still have a few leathers in the observation tank to rehome.

Clowns are trying to figure out if they can host the gps. That huge leather was their home. Will see if I can get a torch or other flowy coral for them to host after I add carbon back in to get rid of the reef flux.

Sort of sad that this thread will soon be abandoned. Hope to have all livestock out in October. Then put tank and such up for sale.
 
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Susan Edwards

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Finally, looks like all algae is gone from my tank. Will upload a pic tomorrow once my lights are on. Almost 3 weeks of reef flux (fluconazle). Also was dosing brightwell microbacteria and started dosing phyto.

Nitrates were 5, back to 10. Will test tomorrow as that test was after cleaning the glass
PO 4 needs recking or new phosguard. Was .1 now 2. Will retest.

Will cut back on the microbacteria to 1 or 2x's a week. Phyto daily. Maybe rotate vibrant in there to try to keep algae down.

I have some zoas to mount and am thinking in putting in my zoa garden new rock and putting them on that and see how it does. Also need to put the hairy mushrooms on a bigger rock. Might do the same. Also some palys. That way, I can just move the rocks over. All free standing, so nothing to tumble if it goes onto the sand (and wiggled down).

Not sure how the bigger rocks will be as 1 is attacked to a pc of egg crate and I want that to go in before sand. It is gsp. So thinking I can just use wet paper towels over it and put it in before sand and water? I hope.

Will decide whether to do a water change tomorrow or give it a few more days to be sure I got all the algae. Need to look more closely tomorrow under full lights.
 
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Did water change yesterday and added carbon to sump to get rid of reef flux. Tank looks nice again. Testing numbers later tonight.

Added 4 new coral to add to the new build if they survive in this old tank, which at least was (I hope) an lps and sps killer. My test to see if with the leathers gone, it I can keep lps and sps alive! At 15 bucks each, not a large loss. But I hope they survive and maybe I can then add a few more. Put the pavonas on frag rock so they don't encrust the tank rock as no room to add in the display with the new rockscape

Green pavona--already has tentacles out. Previous attempts they never came out
Orange pavona--a bit slow in coming out
Pavonas are placed higher up in higher flow
Duncan-opening
Galixea opening.

Will give them some RS AB food in a while before lights dim. Convince them this tank is a nice home.... lol's. Will also check parameters tonight

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Susan Edwards

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Lols. Found them a good home.e where the big guy willl be the show piece. Have 2 white tipped leathers in another tank to rehome
 

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wow wow and wow. A lot done today. I'll do separate posts!

First up: LIGHTS We have new lights
Hubby got everything done, and lights are up. Running them 60% blue 5% white right now. Only 2 leathers, and some mushrooms/palys in there right now. It is so cool being able to shift the lights against the wall and then pull them back.

We ordered a cord cover which we'll paint to match the walls. If the lights are too mcuh while sitting on couches, we'll box in on 3 sides but that is later. What I especially like is that there is just 1 cord, not 3 as that can be unsightly! Bravo Lynn!!!

Set them
ch 1 on at 9 blues 60
ch2 on at 10 5%
Off
ch1 off at 9 but may change to 10
ch 2 off at 8

Question to ask: they don't ramp, but wondering if I could set each slightly different.
#1 ch 1 on 830 off 930 ch2 on 930 off 830
#2 ch 1 0n 8 off 10 ch2 on 9 off 10 (just so I have a bit of color before bed)
#3 ch 1 on 9 off 9 ch2 on 9 off 9

would this give a slight ramp effect?


Lights assembled
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Cord made into a hotdog mold. 3 cords in, 1 cord out
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Lights up. Full power. About 14.5 above water.
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Lights 60 blue, 5 whites. TV mounts pushed to side. Not used to so much blue lol's
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Hi susan I love what you did with your lights. Do you know the part # from McMaster carrying for the screws for the lights? I am going to try and replicate this as best I can for my new build also 6 ft. Thanks
 

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Dang Susan.. I wish I could have gotten in touch with you before you rehomed the leathers.. I would have liked to snag a frag or 2 from you... Oh well.. next time
 
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Dang Susan.. I wish I could have gotten in touch with you before you rehomed the leathers.. I would have liked to snag a frag or 2 from you... Oh well.. next time
I ha ve some left. 1 person wants some, but there is enough for 2!!! I have 2 big ones on rocks and some little ones on bottom of tank. PM me
 

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Ugh. If LA can't ship my order by Wed. then I will cancel. Will take a day before I can reorder because I used 2 gift Certif. So I have to wait for those to be credited. They are so out of stock on fish!

Test my water yesterday
Ca 360 Turned up the doser
Mg 1410 Turned down the doser
Alk 9.3 Might need to turn up a tad to keep it there as it is falling. Or get the CA up. I'll add some extra tonight.
NO3 20 Or somewhere between 10 and 20. So happy about that!!
PO4 .02 This drives me nuts as the hannah is sometimes much higher and then a couple days later it is lower. Not sure if it is because more or less powder gets in? I get as much as I can and shake it like crazy!

Overall, numbers not bad

considering adding an algae scrubber--santa monica drop at marine depot or see if my hubby can make one of their hog (hang on glass) style.

off to see if I can a powerhead working again. soaking it in vinegar. I think it might be new from November!
Tank as of the 21st. Not bad except the algae...
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I really like how these lights turned out. That's such a clean build. Do you have any more photos or details on how they were built?
 

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