★ 110 Gallon (In-Wall Office Dream SPS Reef Tank) ★ PROJECT GENESIS [Total Automation, DIY & More ]★

[Rakie]

Removing the socks tends to give corals some food -- Removing the algae scrubber will also help. Every morsel of food that becomes available gets taken up by the algae. You're already saying you've gotta feed your corals because your tank is being stripped to near sterile.

The less you do, the better your tank likes it

I know... It feels like an oxymoron that couldn't be true. But in the environment of a reef tank, missing all the nutrition from plankton and other small prey items SPS eat -- They like nutrients.

 

[WallyB]

Removing the socks tends to give corals some food -- Removing the algae scrubber will also help. Every morsel of food that becomes available gets taken up by the algae. You're already saying you've gotta feed your corals because your tank is being stripped to near sterile.

The less you do, the better your tank likes it

I know... It feels like an oxymoron that couldn't be true. But in the environment of a reef tank, missing all the nutrition from plankton and other small prey items SPS eat -- They like nutrients.

I know you are pushing for me to remove the Algae Scrubber.
But for me the SCRUBBER is Meter of a Sort.
A PULSE on the Tank Nutrient Level since there is no kit for nutrients. (I bought the Salifert Organics kit a while and it's useless)

The Scrubber is NOT producing any algae to talk about. Barely a 1" ball of algae every 4-6 weeks. When it was running HOT it was producing piles of algae bi-weekly.
What is does for me......... is when/if it wakes up, it will tell me I am reaching higher nutrient level.

Plus, I do believe in one Philosophy.... "High Nutrient Import / High Export " ....But allowing Corals to have Access to Nutrients (Coral Consumption) for a reasonable period....before Export Happens.
The export I believe in is Bad Nutrients that build up over time, and cause problems in the long run. (Most of this is done by Skimmer and Water changes)

 

[Rakie]

I know you are pushing for me to remove the Algae Scrubber.
But for me the SCRUBBER is Meter of a Sort.
A PULSE on the Tank Nutrient Level since there is no kit for nutrients. (I bought the Salifert Organics kit a while and it's useless)

It's not producing any algae to talk about. Barely a 1" ball of algae every 4-6 weeks. When it was running HOT it was producing piles of algae bi-weekly.
What is does for me......... is when/if it wakes up, it will tell me I am reaching higher nutrient level.

Algae also stops growing and removing nutrients when it has pulled all the magnesium, iron, and other trace metals from the water. So that's a false positive. A friend of mine dealt with the same issue. He had a 16x22" section of just chaeto. It stopped working, he got more, didn't help, he upgrade from cheap lights to a pair of Kessil horticulture lights. DIdn't help. He nothing helped it work, or grow. Because it was stripping his tank of all the trace elements instantly. Before corals even got a swing at it, and without the trace it physically can't remove no3/po4, or grow... So it'll just sit there, being a false positive

This is the whole emphasis behind the "Triton Method" and the "other method". The triton method is based on you having chaeto, or macro in general, and it's based around dosing metals for your algae to thrive. That's why the other methods has much less metals, it's based around NOT using macro algaes.

The metals make such a huge difference, Triton developed two separate formulas.

 

[WallyB]

Algae also stops growing and removing nutrients when it has pulled all the magnesium, iron, and other trace metals from the water. So that's a false positive. A friend of mine dealt with the same issue. He had a 16x22" section of just chaeto. It stopped working, he got more, didn't help, he upgrade from cheap lights to a pair of Kessil horticulture lights. DIdn't help. He nothing helped it work, or grow. Because it was stripping his tank of all the trace elements instantly. Before corals even got a swing at it, and without the trace it physically can't remove no3/po4, or grow... So it'll just sit there, being a false positive

This is the whole emphasis behind the "Triton Method" and the "other method". The triton method is based on you having chaeto, or macro in general, and it's based around dosing metals for your algae to thrive. That's why the other methods has much less metals, it's based around NOT using macro algaes.

The metals make such a huge difference, Triton developed two separate formulas.

I agree on your Elements stripping points. It could explain why my scrubber isn't producing Algae and why my glass isn't growing Algae film.
That is why I am trying to do water changes once every two weeks minimal to counteract any missing elements.

I have a feeling it might be something different.

I got a hunch that it all could be related to not enough Tank lighting. Working on that slowly. That wouldn't explain the slow scrubber since it is lit up 18hours a day.

 

[Rakie]

Yep. But plenty of people run the same amount of lighting you do or less with no issues.

I would put my money on missing elements. You may consider dosing trace elements. OR, getting the brightwell algae booster stuff. It's iron, manganese, malybdinum and a few other goodies chaeto loves.

 

[Rakie]

Don't stress too much Wally -- If there's a problem with SPS health, we'll fix it. One step at a time. I just like to serve people food for thought. I was born to play devil's advocate.

 

[tenurepro]

Strange!! I haven't had to clean my tank glass for a Couple of weeks.

When tank started up I was cleaning like twice a week.

Maybe this is part of maturing/stability, but it does seem odd.

Coincidentally....I did get a Gold Ring Cowrie Snail a few weeks ago.
I haven't seem him since I put him into the tank.
Maybe he comes out at night and polishes the glass clean.

I will put on a WEB CAM with NIGHT VISION Timelapse to see if this is the case.

In my tank - i also notice periods of time when my tank/glass appear cleaner then usual. they seem to be related to changes in the balance between nitrates and phosphates; my working hypothesis is that such shifts lead to a change in the dominate types of micro algae in your tank, and transition from one to another lead to a period where the tank temporary looks clean (think of a house that is between tenants)... did you note any changes in N and P ?

 

[WallyB]

In my tank - i also notice periods of time when my tank/glass appear cleaner then usual. they seem to be related to changes in the balance between nitrates and phosphates; my working hypothesis is that such shifts lead to a change in the dominate types of micro algae in your tank, and transition from one to another lead to a period where the tank temporary looks clean (think of a house that is between tenants)... did you note any changes in N and P ?

I noticed P went up from 0.29 to 0.34, but N is stuck at 30.
Not much of a change.
All other parameters are Stable.
I decided to check K (which I don't test much). It's a bit low at 370.

 

[Rakie]

Oh wow, your N and P are that high and your algae isn't growing? They need some metals! More importantly, your corals need some metals, that the greedy fat algae is eating up.

 

[WallyB]

LAST LIGHTING CHANGE ( Quantum Meter going back)

Today I got a call from Canada Corals who have been very nice to lend me the Apogee PAR meter for a few months.
They need it back.

So I decided I'll do the Fixture Drop while I can do Par tests.

I already did a bunch of PAR maps before, so keeping this simple.
I measured the highest Mounting POINT on my rocks. With light at a level I want to leave things at.

400 PARS at the highest point. The other measurement can be figured out relatively from this Older MAP.

Since this is a increase in Intensity......I adjusted the PhotoPeriod a bit (DOWN on the MAIN PAIR of Non-Dimmable Coral Plus Bulbs).

This change also improves the dim down at the end of the day.

 

[WallyB]

Oh wow, your N and P are that high and your algae isn't growing? They need some metals! More importantly, your corals need some metals, that the greedy fat algae is eating up.

Yes, I am getting that feeling too. This isn't normal for Algae not to be growing.

I think the safest thing is a few water changes.

Then I can consider metals (When I get a test kit for Iron, to give me an idea on depletion)

 

[Rakie]

water changes will help for sure. Otherwise, this might interest you!

Brightwell Aquatics ChaetoGro <--- LINK

"Potassium - Protein synthesis, water and charge balance, enzyme activation.
Boron - Chlorophyll production, flowering, root growth, cell function.
Carbon - Required for all organic compounds.
Calcium - Cell wall stability and permeability, enzyme activation, cell response to stimuli.
Chlorine - Water and charge balance, photosynthesis.
Iron - Required for photosynthesis, component of enzymes utilized in redox reactions.
Magnesium - Component of chlorophyll, enzyme activation.
Manganese - Formation of amino acids, enzyme activation.
Molybdenum and Cobalt - Required for nitrate reduction.
Nickel - Enzyme activation, processing of nitrogenous material.
Sulfur - Component of proteins and the coenzymes that are involved with nutrient utilization and growth.
Zinc - Chlorophyll production, enzyme activation."

 

[WallyB]

water changes will help for sure. Otherwise, this might interest you!

Brightwell Aquatics ChaetoGro <--- LINK

"Potassium - Protein synthesis, water and charge balance, enzyme activation.
Boron - Chlorophyll production, flowering, root growth, cell function.
Carbon - Required for all organic compounds.
Calcium - Cell wall stability and permeability, enzyme activation, cell response to stimuli.
Chlorine - Water and charge balance, photosynthesis.
Iron - Required for photosynthesis, component of enzymes utilized in redox reactions.
Magnesium - Component of chlorophyll, enzyme activation.
Manganese - Formation of amino acids, enzyme activation.
Molybdenum and Cobalt - Required for nitrate reduction.
Nickel - Enzyme activation, processing of nitrogenous material.
Sulfur - Component of proteins and the coenzymes that are involved with nutrient utilization and growth.
Zinc - Chlorophyll production, enzyme activation."

I use something similar for my LPS TANK.

Seachem AquaVitro FUEL. (I TRUST It 100%)
https://www.aquavitro.com/fuel.php

Has everything That ChaetoGro has, a few more trace elements and some Aminos/Vitamins.

I've used it for a few years to Keep my LPS happy, and helps when I don't do water Changes as much as my SPS tank.

Dangerous Stuff if used too much (WILL CAUSE ALGAE BLOOM......I know since it happened to me a long while ago).

I may start adding a bit to the SPS tank. (Actually I added my first dose yesterday)

 

[Rakie]

Awesome! I'm glad you're being adventurous.

I don't care what anybody says. This hobby is not hard, and SPS aren't mythical things. But I do believe in self fulfilling prophecy, so do yourself a favor and stay positive!

Your SPS system will be thriving in no time.

 

[WallyB]

FIRST EVER (TOP DOWN) Frag Photos

I have been wanting to do this for a while, but my Net Top Makes it tough.

I pulled it back a bit and crammed my Camera with Viewer in for a few Reference Photos of Frags.

These are not show stopper quality, but for me at least they are alive. (APPEARS LIKE A BIT of ENCRUSTING )

PACMAN

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE (Mimic Acro)

PINK CADILLAC & Ice Fire Enchinta

Blueberry Wine Acro

Sunset Acro

Blue Cali Tort

RAINBOW Loom

 

[Rakie]

Rainbow loom is one of my favorites, great looking coral! They all look good to me

 

[WallyB]

Rainbow loom is one of my favorites, great looking coral! They all look good to me

Yes, I do have high hopes for the Rainbow Loom after seeing what it can become.

Here are the last few I missed. (I want these posted to compare later)

PINK LADY (not very pink )

BLUE GOMEZI (Cheap, but one of my favourites)

UNKOWN ACRO name (Might be a Bonzai of some sort)

Blue Tenius (left) Yellow Jacket (Center)

SARMENTOSA

GTA Reef (no-name) Acro

The others I'll try another day. When I take off the whole Tank Net. (Couldn't reach them).

 

[NY_Caveman]

Nice shots, @WallyB ! This is a beautiful collection.

 

[tenurepro]

Nice shots Wally... you can see good color on most of the frags which is a good sign

 

[WallyB]

Nice shots, @WallyB ! This is a beautiful collection.

Thanks.
I am glad I took the overheads. The frags didn't look as good sideways (which is typical with sps till they grow up a bit), so it cheered me up a bit that things are doing better than I thought.