Tanks itself has been running since 2009. Liverock and some corals are up to 10-15 years old. Additional info on my website, it is mostly up to date.
Been running Algae Turf Scrubber and no skimmer for over 4 years on 180g show tank. Keeps nitrates near undetectable and phosphates will hover around .06-.08ppm. If I add 2 tablespoons of GFO to the weekly carbon it easily gets to .02 but haven't seen any benefit, .06ppm range seems to be the sweet spot for my tank.
Near Zero Water change since March 2015 ( approx. 15month ).
Just prior to March 2015 a number of sps/acropora where show very slow ressession I lost about 4 larger colonies over a 3 month period, fragging didn't help. While not 100% sure my best quess at this point is high salinity ( 1.028-1.030 ) for a long period of time. This is when I decided to give Triton tests a try.
I've done 4 Triton tests so far:
Instant Ocean freshly mixed. ( This is where the Li and Al are coming from )
March 2015
8 months later
Latest is this June.
I've got my dosages tweaked pretty good now adjusting the monthly dosages ( below ) after each test results, Only real thing is sulphate has been steadily going down. Will switch to Epsom Salt for the Magnesium and see what happens on next test around Thanksgiving/Christmas time frame.
Exports:
1 cup of carbon changed weekly and a little bit of filter floss to keep the carbon well packed which does trap some organics.
Algae harvest of between 32oz- 64oz cup of hand squeezed and rinsed algae.
Occasional siphon of the substrate into a disposable filter sock.
I've have a couple different spills and selling trading corals so about 20g maybe 40g tops of water change over the 15month period.
Imports:
I feed pretty heavily about 3-5 times per day, 1 sitting of frozen mysis, 1 full sheet of nori, several pinches of flake, several pinches of pellet ( primarily for the mandarin ).
Elements:
I'm a long term Kalkwasser user and didn't want to change. Triton doesn't sell just the 3A/3B supplements so I have come up with my own regiment trying to use DIY as much as possible. I do use a few Triton supplements becuase it made sense $ wise and hard to source.
Ca/Alk: Kalkwasser using Randy's resevoir method.
Daily round robin 20mil so each is dose every 3rd day: HW Miro-tip Trace-tip 1, Trace-tip 2
Mag: Randys DIY supplement as needed. I knew before the last test it was going to be above 1400ppm.
Randys DIY Iron: 10 drops daily
DIY Iodine ( from Iherb ) 2 drops, I added too much last go around and will reduce for next time.
Monthly:
I started out with just the HW as a starting point and waited 8 months. Then made one time additions of a number of elements and came up with some monthly dosages to bridge the gap.
1/3 cup of Potassium Chloride ( Now brand from Iherb, 2 8oz in 1 gal ro/di )
.25 mil Triton Vanadium
8 drop Manganese DIY solution
1 capsule of Molybdenum ( from Iherb )
Triton Zinc - .5mil
Triton Nickel - 4mil
Silicate - AKA Liquid Glass 5mil per month
Attached is the latest test results. Will tweak the dosages again after next test but getting pretty darn close where they should be.
Tank is doing well no losses of anykind. Convict tang seems to be loosing weight despite eating lots. Zoanthids colonies have slowed growth but thats all I have notice. No color issue with corals etc.
Been running Algae Turf Scrubber and no skimmer for over 4 years on 180g show tank. Keeps nitrates near undetectable and phosphates will hover around .06-.08ppm. If I add 2 tablespoons of GFO to the weekly carbon it easily gets to .02 but haven't seen any benefit, .06ppm range seems to be the sweet spot for my tank.
Near Zero Water change since March 2015 ( approx. 15month ).
Just prior to March 2015 a number of sps/acropora where show very slow ressession I lost about 4 larger colonies over a 3 month period, fragging didn't help. While not 100% sure my best quess at this point is high salinity ( 1.028-1.030 ) for a long period of time. This is when I decided to give Triton tests a try.
I've done 4 Triton tests so far:
Instant Ocean freshly mixed. ( This is where the Li and Al are coming from )
March 2015
8 months later
Latest is this June.
I've got my dosages tweaked pretty good now adjusting the monthly dosages ( below ) after each test results, Only real thing is sulphate has been steadily going down. Will switch to Epsom Salt for the Magnesium and see what happens on next test around Thanksgiving/Christmas time frame.
Exports:
1 cup of carbon changed weekly and a little bit of filter floss to keep the carbon well packed which does trap some organics.
Algae harvest of between 32oz- 64oz cup of hand squeezed and rinsed algae.
Occasional siphon of the substrate into a disposable filter sock.
I've have a couple different spills and selling trading corals so about 20g maybe 40g tops of water change over the 15month period.
Imports:
I feed pretty heavily about 3-5 times per day, 1 sitting of frozen mysis, 1 full sheet of nori, several pinches of flake, several pinches of pellet ( primarily for the mandarin ).
Elements:
I'm a long term Kalkwasser user and didn't want to change. Triton doesn't sell just the 3A/3B supplements so I have come up with my own regiment trying to use DIY as much as possible. I do use a few Triton supplements becuase it made sense $ wise and hard to source.
Ca/Alk: Kalkwasser using Randy's resevoir method.
Daily round robin 20mil so each is dose every 3rd day: HW Miro-tip Trace-tip 1, Trace-tip 2
Mag: Randys DIY supplement as needed. I knew before the last test it was going to be above 1400ppm.
Randys DIY Iron: 10 drops daily
DIY Iodine ( from Iherb ) 2 drops, I added too much last go around and will reduce for next time.
Monthly:
I started out with just the HW as a starting point and waited 8 months. Then made one time additions of a number of elements and came up with some monthly dosages to bridge the gap.
1/3 cup of Potassium Chloride ( Now brand from Iherb, 2 8oz in 1 gal ro/di )
.25 mil Triton Vanadium
8 drop Manganese DIY solution
1 capsule of Molybdenum ( from Iherb )
Triton Zinc - .5mil
Triton Nickel - 4mil
Silicate - AKA Liquid Glass 5mil per month
Attached is the latest test results. Will tweak the dosages again after next test but getting pretty darn close where they should be.
Tank is doing well no losses of anykind. Convict tang seems to be loosing weight despite eating lots. Zoanthids colonies have slowed growth but thats all I have notice. No color issue with corals etc.
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