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

[WallyB]

Just to be CLEAR ( NOT starting NOPOX ) READY to START NOPOX (Only if Need)

If anyone is thinking I AM CRAZY to change my system (when I've been Posting Super FRAG Progress).......I am NOT changing anything RIGHT NOW.

My short TERM Goal is to watch N&P and HOPE that my (Extra MATRIX) with (SCRUBBER kicking in) will be good enough. (Approx 4 Weeks).

HOWEVER if N or P rises beyond my COMFORT ZONE, I will consider TURNING the (ready to GO) NOPOX Setup.

I can always return an UNOPENED BOTTLE (if not needed).

 

[WallyB]

Like I said before -- Lots of crashes from NoPox.

NoPox is a mix of Vinegar and Vodka, with some RODI. that's all it is. So if you excluded vinegar (maybe cause it lowers pH temporarily) and Vodka (cyano), then you may as well exclude NoPox.

Nutrients are not the devil.

Richard Ross: Whats up with Phosphates?

Rakie. I hear you Loud and Clear. We've had this discussion offline.

I'm just getting nervous that things are going too well. (Still have LAST TANK Jitters that I'm trying to Shake off. It's Tough after 2.5 years of PAIN)

IN THE PAST the Only NICE FRAGS I had were the ones I brought home on Day 1. After that it was pure Downhill.

RIGHT NOW:
-> The Tank overall looks super Healthy (Water Crystal Clear) (Rocks Smeared with Coraline)
-> No Algae in Display Area
-> Frags are Encrusting, and Starting to Grow.
-> Frags are Coloring UP
-> No STN or RTN
-> MY FRAGS LOOK BETTER than when I got them, and (Better than what I see at STORES and other SUPPLIERS)

Should thePOSITIVE continue, then Fantastic. Will not change anything except 10-20% Water (periodically)

 

[Rakie]

I know, I'm annoying [emoji23]

The most important thing is it ain't broke, you may not have a positive impact by changing things. If I could convince you of one thing, it would be to slow down.

"If you think you're fishing slow enough, slow down"

All my favorite sayings are from fishing lol

 

[WallyB]

I know, I'm annoying [emoji23]

The most important thing is it ain't broke, you may not have a positive impact by changing things. If I could convince you of one thing, it would be to slow down.

"If you think you're fishing slow enough, slow down"

All my favorite sayings are from fishing lol

NO you are NOT ANNOYING AT ALL.
I appreciate you Keeping me in check.
All I keep thinking before I am about to do anything "it ain't broke...It's the BEST EVER"

So to Capture this Good Tank Moment

Double tested each test. Fresh: ALK, CALCUM and Nitrate KITs.

NITRATE is getting very close to 50.

Potassium is a Bit low. I do have a Sealed Bag of Food Grade PURE Potassium Cholride (so could top it up, but will see after next Water Change, since TMpro Salt has plenty)

 

[WallyB]

FORGOT THE MOST IMPORTANT TEST (which I haven't done recently)

MY SOURCE WATER Reservoir (RO/DI Water) purity.

It burned me with LAST TANK (Was ROCKET HIGH When the Dishwasher Drain was Dripping into it)

 

[Janci]

The coral still look great @WallyB
I believe many of the nopox disasters is due to bad use of the product.
I have used it for a long time in the previous tank, and always in half or less of the described quantities.

Testing TDS is best done in still water. Just collect some rodi in a cup and measure there.

Nice looking fish room you have there.

 

[WallyB]

The coral still look great @WallyB
I believe many of the nopox disasters is due to bad use of the product.
I have used it for a long time in the previous tank, and always in half or less of the described quantities.

Testing TDS is best done in still water. Just collect some rodi in a cup and measure there.

Nice looking fish room you have there.

Thank Jan,

I agree with your Nopox Comment. Inproper use is the greatest Flaw.
I AM WATCHING THIS NEW NOPOX Thread to see what people are saying.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/nopox-use-it-religiously.464531/#post-5173256

But I won't rush, even though N is around 50. Water Changes are safer for now. Maybe Matrix will also kick in.
I'm thinking of Raising Potassium (carefully, slowly) which will help with Algae Scrubber growth and N/P reduction.

That's just a pocket TDS Meter for quick tests. My RO is actually 0
It hard to get 0 TDS readings in a cup unless it's perfectly clean. Tough to do with contaminants.

I have INLINE TDS meters that Tell me Various TDS at various stages of RO (IN/OUT). It helps to know when to change Cartridges, and DI Resin.

And I got the Flow Meter so I don't change filters by Date, I change by usage.

After my Water Disaster last time, I'm pretty serious about my RO water quality.

This RO System supplier near my Place Ships world wide and they have great prices. (Some Water Specialty Retailers Really Rip People off)
https://www.maxwaterflow.com/

Hoping to have some time this weekend to read thru your Thread.

 

[WallyB]

De-RISK IDEA (START UP FRAG TANK) [ USING DT Water] (Experiment: NOPOX, TraceElements, Mini-Scrubber, [Increase K], etc )

Here is what I'm thinking.

-> I don't want to touch DT (Too much at stake).

-> I start up the FRAG TANK (old QT - ISOLATED)....It is still running and biologically Active from being QT.
-> Throw in some CHEAP Frags
-> Use Water From DT Water Changes
-> Maybe a cheap Medium Fish

-> Experiment on FRAG TANK

-> Throw on a Light for a Mini Algae Scrubber (some Cheato)
-> Play with LOW Water Parameters (Major & Micro Elements)
-------> Increase Pottassium (and see what happens....At Higher Levels)
-------> Increase Iron, Maganeese, etc
-> See if Scrubber brings down (N&P)

-> Try NOPOX (for N & P Reduction)
------> Only thing I need is a Simple skimmer (not willing to take 2nd Skimmer off DT)

THIS WILL KEEP ME BUSY and TINKERING HANDS Away from DT

Might Learn some lessons without Risking DT in any way.

 

[WallyB]

DT (N&P) PLAN

• Rakie, I took you suggestion, and got some Aquaforest BioS, to help seed the MATRIX with some Denitrifcation Bacteria. (No AquaForest NPpro)
• While a LFS I got some Clean CHEATO to change MACRO Type in Algae Scrubber
• Will be slowly raising K(Potassium) from 360 to 400 (slowly) using KCL
• Leaving Phosguard (in baggies) in System but moved to Slow Flow Area.

Nice and slow.

Yup. Stepped into a LFS. Came home with another small Frag. One I've been hunting for a while (Stay tuned)

 

[WallyB]

CLOWN's MOUTH WORSE

I posted on Fish Heath Forum.

but might as well post here.

Percula Clown's Mouth is Getting Worse.

Looked a bit better yesterday.

TODAY it's appears worse.

Doesn't look good at all. (Or is this SCABBING for the Heal)?

I can't treat in the Coral Loaded Tank.

I have a QT/Hospital Tank, and every medication possible.

Or can do dip.

Need advice.

 

[Fudsey]

That doesn't look good at all. I'd get her into a QT ASAP

 

[Rakie]

I would remove that fish to QT asap! It looks like the beginnings of a major bacterial infection.

 

[WallyB]

That doesn't look good at all. I'd get her into a QT ASAP

I would remove that fish to QT asap! It looks like the beginnings of a major bacterial infection.

CLOWN HOSPITAL for TREATMENT:

Been working on it.

Got 10 Gallon Hospital ready. Don't want to use the 30 Gallon Frag Tank to contaminate it.

Have Meds: (Metroplex/Kanaplex) from previous QT efforts. Plus I have API Melaxfix.

Tried to catch him. Almost had his with Net Against the Glass, but he snuck out.

Now he is SMART and hanging low.

Will be waiting till lights go out, and try again. NET IS LEFT in Tank, so he get's used to it.

 

[WallyB]

GOOD NEWS on Pottassium (OLD KIT Expired and BAD 100%)

I knew kit was bad when I made up a small Batch of Red Sea Salt. It also red way to low (350)...... (should have been close to 400).

NEW Salifert Pottassium Kit reads Tank at 380 on DT, so not that far off.
Red Sea Salt measured at 390 with new kit.

Will add a tiny bit of KCL to bring up DT to 400 slowly.

 

[WallyB]

FANCY (ROCK WORK) for New Frag ( Little Higher for Better Bottom PARS)

Darn CLOWN is tough to CATCH. I can nudge him with a STICK but No way, can I get him into A NET.

Waiting for CLOWN to FALL ALSEEP and Try again.

So I mounted the new FRAG (Redish Needle Stack with Green Polyps: Red Ferrari ). Nice Location on a LOOSE ROCK, but Last Frag I put there didn't like the LOW BOTTOM PARS.

Came out nice, and already Fish are hanging around UNDER THE ROCK. (HERE IS WHY)

Used some BLUE PLUGS and Purple Putty to make some FEET. (BETTER Circulation / NO DEAD FLOW SPOT)

Ideal for a Future Goby, or other Small Fish hangout ( Visible from my Office Seat) .

 

[WallyB]

DID IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Caught Both. Can't believe it.

Wish me luck.

WISH THEM LUCK, and Good HEALTH

 

[WallyB]

As per recommendation from @Humblefish (in the Fish Disease Forum).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I did One Proper 10Gal Dose of Each.

- Metroplex
- Kanaplex
- Furan-2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
** After doing those PAST QT's I had all 3 MED, but afterward I thought a waste of money buying if not used **
** Was worth buying....Since when I went to LFS they were SOLD OUT OF ALL MEDICATIONS (Backordered)

HOSPITAL IS 10 GALLON (Filled with 9 Gallons of DT water TANK Where the Clowns came from, and 1 GALLON or Fresh Salt Water Mix)

NO CARBON in the Hospital. Running on a BioFilter/Pump.

I DID ADD a small Baggie of MATURE MATRIX media from my OTHER HEALTHY TANK. (Can be removed)

Heater Set to same Temp as DT which was 77-78 Degrees.

 

[WallyB]

All cleaned up after Catch and Transfer to Hospital.

Rinsed and Sterilized all things used for Transfer, Catch, Water Change, etc...... IN VINEGAR for now. SOAKING in Vinegar overnight.

Let see how the MEDs do over the next while.

THIS WAS THE CLOWN Just before He Went into Tank (before he got the Infection)

This is PHOTO IN (Hospital : DAY 0 ; HR 0 ) Just AFTER I added the MEDS

Strangely he does look better than he was in DT earlier today (Mouth not so white, Looks like a bit of Dark Flesh Scabbing on Lips)

Not saying great in any way......
With Triple DOSE of MEDS he might make it. WHO knows

Really Glad I got both. Really had no plans to catch the 2nd Clown. Just I had net in hand and tried just once. Bingo!

Better for Morale, and Partner Clown will get treated just in case he has something.

I've REALLY GAINED RESPECT for Clowns Now after this close contact.
THEY Are Gentle and Sociable Fish. (while young I guess)
Don't really fear humans, and barely fear sticks and Nets.

I actually haven't name any of my Fish recently.

CAME UP with a NAME for The CLOWNS

"LIP" and "SINK"

 

[WallyB]

I don't think INFECTED CLOWN will make it.

This morning he was swimming at the top of QT.

Now he is lying on the bottom, breathing and stirring every so often.

The other Clown is fine. Doesn't hurt to treat him.

At least THE SICK ONE isn't dying inside DT. I hate that.

 

[Fudsey]

Sorry to hear