UNS60A 8 month update!

[jordangdoee]

This tank had a very rough start. Everything you can imagine has happened. Large parameter swings, equipment mal functions, rookie mistakes, pests, and even a stroke of bad luck LOL. NOW 8 to 9 months later, the tank is starting to mature more and coralline is growing at a nice pace corals are more happy and growing. Every tank is different, and the journey has been quite the learning experience, as this is my first reef tank. I have kept fresh water for many years I enjoyed high tech(c02 inject) builds but always liked salt water. Finally pulled the trigger and the reef bug bit me, hard haha (already have two more reef tanks lol). The first 6 months there was a lot of instability with parameters like ALK and salinity. The filter socks would clog to fast then lead to ATO over filling. Ended up pulling the socks and switching to a coarse foam block, then went with a filter roller as its the easy to maintain. Another issue I ran into the first 6 months was keeping PO4 and NO3 up. I resorted to feeding more and adding more fish. Before this happened I had a massive dino outbreak followed by loads of cyno. All cleared up within one month of being patient. I was running UV and a small amount of ozone for 20 mins at night, but ended up Turing them off for now due to impact on mirco biome. I had a few unfortunate high stress events that killed some coral, heater controller failed and cooked the tank to 84 before I noticed. Nothing happened at first then a few days later lost some frags. Another was 150ml of AFR getting dosed to the tank. Alk spiked vary high, did a few 20% WC for a few days in a row to get ALK down. There is many more events (power outages) that were learning experiences but that was a few worth sharing. I will try to keep this thread updated with pics and growth changes. Currently feeding brine, and reef nutrition TDO pellets. Feeding benapets and reef roids biweekly. Cutting back on feeding lately due to .6 PO4, down to .17 now. I found that feeding other things to the tank was counter productive like aminos or bacteria as the impact on DOC. The only product I use now for bacteria is Reef mud by Aqua Forest, there is a thread on humble fish about bottle bacteria that I found interesting and slightly alarming lol. To maintain the big 3 elements I am running Kalk in my ATO and 1 gram per gallon, and dosing a small amount of all for reef (AFR), I like this combo a lot so far. Any questions or suggestions?!?!

Equipment
(Tank is 20Gallons AIO )
2 Nero 3s
Nero return pump (axis 40)
2 Kessil 360xe with 55 degree (running at 30%)
Mag-tool skimmer
Reef n Roll filter roller
Apex controller
Apex trident
WIFI inkbrid
F zone ATO (have a duetto ATO ready to swap)
Trigger ATO rev
(have a INVO M refugium light but not running)
9w UV (not on)
Ozone (not on)
Ecotech versa (for AFR)

 

[sfin52]

This tank had a very rough start. Everything you can imagine has happened. Large parameter swings, equipment mal functions, rookie mistakes, pests, and even a stroke of bad luck LOL. NOW 8 to 9 months later, the tank is starting to mature more and coralline is growing at a nice pace corals are more happy and growing. Every tank is different, and the journey has been quite the learning experience, as this is my first reef tank. I have kept fresh water for many years I enjoyed high tech(c02 inject) builds but always liked salt water. Finally pulled the trigger and the reef bug bit me, hard haha (already have two more reef tanks lol). The first 6 months there was a lot of instability with parameters like ALK and salinity. The filter socks would clog to fast then lead to ATO over filling. Ended up pulling the socks and switching to a coarse foam block, then went with a filter roller as its the easy to maintain. Another issue I ran into the first 6 months was keeping PO4 and NO3 up. I resorted to feeding more and adding more fish. Before this happened I had a massive dino outbreak followed by loads of cyno. All cleared up within one month of being patient. I was running UV and a small amount of ozone for 20 mins at night, but ended up Turing them off for now due to impact on mirco biome. I had a few unfortunate high stress events that killed some coral, heater controller failed and cooked the tank to 84 before I noticed. Nothing happened at first then a few days later lost some frags. Another was 150ml of AFR getting dosed to the tank. Alk spiked vary high, did a few 20% WC for a few days in a row to get ALK down. There is many more events (power outages) that were learning experiences but that was a few worth sharing. I will try to keep this thread updated with pics and growth changes. Currently feeding brine, and reef nutrition TDO pellets. Feeding benapets and reef roids biweekly. Cutting back on feeding lately due to .6 PO4, down to .17 now. I found that feeding other things to the tank was counter productive like aminos or bacteria as the impact on DOC. The only product I use now for bacteria is Reef mud by Aqua Forest, there is a thread on humble fish about bottle bacteria that I found interesting and slightly alarming lol. To maintain the big 3 elements I am running Kalk in my ATO and 1 gram per gallon, and dosing a small amount of all for reef (AFR), I like this combo a lot so far. Any questions or suggestions?!?!

Equipment
(Tank is 20Gallons AIO )
2 Nero 3s
Nero return pump (axis 40)
2 Kessil 360xe with 55 degree (running at 30%)
Mag-tool skimmer
Reef n Roll filter roller
Apex controller
Apex trident
WIFI inkbrid
F zone ATO (have a duetto ATO ready to swap)
Trigger ATO rev
(have a INVO M refugium light but not running)
9w UV (not on)
Ozone (not on)
Ecotech versa (for AFR)

Love the colors