Passaggper Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 So, I used to be a pretty active member lurker. I've learned a lot here. Then some life things happened and I ignored my tank maintenance. I'm getting back into it now so I'm starting this tank thread/journal for myself and you if you give a damn. If you don't, GFY. Here is a link to the original tank setup thread. http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/323850-jps-pico-ii-featherduster-hosting-clown/ Here are my current parameters as of today Aug 20. Temp: 79.7 SG: 1.023 Phosphates: 0.0 (Red Sea) Nitrates 0.0 (Salifert and API) Trace elements have not been tested today. Current FTS: Link to comment
Passaggper Posted August 21, 2016 Author Share Posted August 21, 2016 I went ahead and took a water sample to the LFS and they confirmed my lack of nitrates in the water column. They're also short on aiptasia for their berghia so they're going to take most of this rock while I make some changes. First, I had to get the gunk out. So I used a turkey baster to blast those rocks of detritus and made a literal sh!t storm. Doing a 4 gallon change tonight or first thing in the morning. Link to comment
Passaggper Posted August 21, 2016 Author Share Posted August 21, 2016 So, I kinda went for it today. Mixed 4 gallons RODI with AV Salinity. I scraped the tank and pulled some small pieces of rock with coral still attached and gave them a dip and brushed the rocks. vacuumed the thin sand bed and put rocks back in. Salinity:1.020- I forgot to unplug the ATO as I drained the tank so I got some dillution there. Mixing another 2 gallons now to adjust salinity. Nitrates: 10ppm Temp: 80.0 Coral are livening up after the dip and no signs of stress in the fish. Emerald crab was found dead. Link to comment
debbeach13 Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Welcome back. Everyone falls behind once and awhile Link to comment
Passaggper Posted August 21, 2016 Author Share Posted August 21, 2016 Welcome back. Everyone falls behind once and awhile Thank you. So far so good with the water. KH- 9.8dKH Ca- 400ppm Mg- 1500ppm Link to comment
MakoMan36 Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 The MP10 photo is epic. Link to comment
Passaggper Posted August 22, 2016 Author Share Posted August 22, 2016 The MP10 photo is epic. Crazy, huh? That was a pain to clean. Here it is now. I'm going to go lights out for a week for now and leave things alone. Link to comment
Cencalfishguy56 Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 Crazy, huh? That was a pain to clean. Here it is now. I'm going to go lights out for a week for now and leave things alone. wow major difference, keep at it Link to comment
debbeach13 Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 I was wondering did you use vinegar to clean the mp10? Link to comment
Kellie in CA Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 My PicO was looking pretty similar until recently. Having my daughter put the tank on the back burner. A couple of weeks with no light helped drastically. Link to comment
Passaggper Posted August 22, 2016 Author Share Posted August 22, 2016 I was wondering did you use vinegar to clean the mp10? vinegar, water and a toothbrush. I think the vinegar did very little to help remove the red hair algae. That was all scrub work. My PicO was looking pretty similar until recently. Having my daughter put the tank on the back burner. A couple of weeks with no light helped drastically. Mine sits pretty close to a window that really causes problems in the fall/winter due to the position of the sun mid-afternoon. I usually cover one side with black paper to keep that yellow light out as much as possible. In this case, I think I'm going full blackout. No ambient light at all. What are your thoughts on that? Link to comment
Kellie in CA Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 My tank sits in the middle of the room, so no direct sunlight. But, I would guess my light was off for 3-4 weeks. I only had a couple of corals in the tank at the time. One was an encrusting gorgonian that came right back with no problem. The other was a lobo that bleached out completely white. But, it's been several months and the color is already about 50% back. I almost threw it out.... so glad I didn't! Link to comment
Passaggper Posted August 22, 2016 Author Share Posted August 22, 2016 Good news! 24 hours after the great disturbance and purge, My nitrate level has declined from 5 to about 2ppm. Now I just wait. pH is 8.2 and I've removed the Purigen and Chemipure from the filter chamber. Running floss only for now. Link to comment
Passaggper Posted August 24, 2016 Author Share Posted August 24, 2016 So, I'm going full black out. Bad Idea? I posted this:http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/376267-algae-die-off-in-a-balanced-tank/#entry5384715in the bio filtration forum. Link to comment
tk3445 Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 I have never had luck with black outs generally ended up losing more coral than algae. when i lack behind like that i increase my cleaning crew(scarlet reef hermits and 1-2 emerald crabs) and do 20-30% water changes every other day and my red hair algae has disappeared in past tanks within a week or two.. might cost me a little extra in salt but have always seen positive impact, I have even scrubbed the pumps right in the tank before i did the water change and sucked up as much floating matter as possible. Link to comment
Passaggper Posted August 24, 2016 Author Share Posted August 24, 2016 I have never had luck with black outs generally ended up losing more coral than algae. when i lack behind like that i increase my cleaning crew(scarlet reef hermits and 1-2 emerald crabs) and do 20-30% water changes every other day and my red hair algae has disappeared in past tanks within a week or two.. might cost me a little extra in salt but have always seen positive impact, I have even scrubbed the pumps right in the tank before i did the water change and sucked up as much floating matter as possible. Thanks for the reply. Maybe after my CUC arrives, I'll reduce light frequency drastically and see how that plays out. I scrubbed the tank and rock with a toothbrush and scraper before my 30% change a couple days ago. Made a HUGE difference. Link to comment
vegasgundog Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 So, I'm going full black out. Bad Idea? I posted this:http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/376267-algae-die-off-in-a-balanced-tank/#entry5384715in the bio filtration forum. I ended up doing a full 7 day blackout after two separate 3 day blackouts in a battle on dinos. The only thing I lost was an urchin that starved. I used black trash bags wrapped around my bc. Make sure you still have adequate oxygen exchange. Good luck Link to comment
Passaggper Posted August 24, 2016 Author Share Posted August 24, 2016 Snail call! Tank looks pretty good. Link to comment
Passaggper Posted August 24, 2016 Author Share Posted August 24, 2016 I couldn't resist putting a little light on it. My all powerful IM 6W 14K and a dark blue night light. Link to comment
Passaggper Posted January 6, 2017 Author Share Posted January 6, 2017 Ok, I found some money and would like to upgrade my tank. I kinda want to stay away from the AIO systems this time- in favor of the idea of a fuge for pesky creatures and biological benefits. Any quick thoughts on this in terms of a turnkey type of system? Thanks! Link to comment
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