EliMelly’s Bacteria Driven Mixed Reef

[EliMelly]

Nice big tank
Your better been under stocked than over stocked
Wish you luck going forward

Sorry would you mind clarifying? Thanks!

 

[Nano_Man]

Sorry would you mind clarifying? Thanks!

Just my preference not having everything to the max
Having fish that all get along with each other a reef should be a nice carm place with fish having plenty of space
You have a large tank and it looks great
Some people buy large tanks and cram them with fish but remember your fish will grow and need more swimming space
And as I said I wish you all the luck going forward

 

[EliMelly]

Just my preference not having everything to the max
Having fish that all get along with each other a reef should be a nice carm place with fish having plenty of space
You have a large tank and it looks great
Some people buy large tanks and cram them with fish but remember your fish will grow and need more swimming space
And as I said I wish you all the luck going forward

I understand thanks so much. I haven’t had fish in so long since velvet it’s super tempting but you’re right!

 

[Roughneck]

That's heart breaking to hear about your fish and journey with that new tank. It's funny how I'm following your foot steps, I almost bought the same 750G2 but decided to start with a 200G2 to learn the hobby before eventually going for a 750. I've been in the freshwater African Cichlids world for years but finally pulled the plug on the saltwater end of the hobby. It's super exiting but also terrifying (specially after reading your thread hahah).

Regarding your question on the fish stocking, how did you kept your nitrifying bacteria alive all this time during the fallow period? Do you feed the corals and it would feed the bacteria? I would personally add fish very slowly since it's hard to calculate your nitrifying potential without adding pure ammonia and testing.

 

[EliMelly]

That's heart breaking to hear about your fish and journey with that new tank. It's funny how I'm following your foot steps, I almost bought the same 750G2 but decided to start with a 200G2 to learn the hobby before eventually going for a 750. I've been in the freshwater African Cichlids world for years but finally pulled the plug on the saltwater end of the hobby. It's super exiting but also terrifying (specially after reading your thread hahah).

Regarding your question on the fish stocking, how did you kept your nitrifying bacteria alive all this time during the fallow period? Do you feed the corals and it would feed the bacteria? I would personally add fish very slowly since it's hard to calculate your nitrifying potential without adding pure ammonia and testing.

I actually started with a 350. Cichlids are awesome. I took all corals out for the first 6 months of this tank to leave the lights off. I added food to the tank when the fish weren’t in. I currently am at about 49 nitrates. So I am in fact too high. My tank is incredibly established as it is all the rock and live rock from my old tank plus tons of additional bacterial that I started dosing with MB7 and now ZEO Bak. I will add groups of fish at a time

 

[Roughneck]

Awesome can't wait to see the progress. Best of luck

 

[EliMelly]

Awesome can't wait to see the progress. Best of luck

Thanks so much let’s see how it goes

 

[EliMelly]

Plan for the day!

Set up bacteria reactor, attach dosing heads in the sump, make some coral snow, make some all for reef, and start dosing!

Parameters:

DKH 7.8
Phosphates .7
Nitrates 49
PH 8.1
MG 1369
Calcium 403

Will need to boost Mag a bit before adding all for reef. Will start carbon dosing and adjusting skimmer as well to decrease nitrates and phosphates.

 

[EliMelly]

Doser and bacteria reactor are in. Plan for the day add back all my old corals and some new ones.

 

[EliMelly]

So of course a hiccup. Shortly after I added in all corals I began to dose Bacto balance. I used chat gpt for calculations and ended up dosing over 6 times the recommended dose. Water was super murky and had sn algae bloom. Turned on the UV, did a water change, removed all corals. Thankfully things are back to normal.

Tank nitrates dropped from 30 to 25, while phosphates dropped from .3 to .03.

 

[EliMelly]

 

[EliMelly]

Updates.

Tank has been pretty stable, haven’t lost any corals and have some growth tips on my acros. Haven’t felt the need to start dosing yet as water changes have been sufficient. That will be changing this week.

Currently have 11 Anthias, 2 clowns, and a Diamond goby which has recently disappeared… hopefully it’s not dead my sand looks amazing.

Just got a pack from my friend. Walt Disney, PC Rainbow, Green Slimer, Oregon Tort, Pink Cadillac, Asd Rainbow Mille (both variations), TSA Fruity Pebbles, and Tanzanite Terror.

Will post pics soon!

 

[EliMelly]

Wondering how many fish I can add with my next delivery.

 

[EliMelly]

So the fish list for next delivery is confirmed!

Special thank you to the best fish shop in the world @Dr. Reef

Black Gladiator
Skeletor Eel
Banded Snake Eel
Midas Blenny
Earmuff Wrasse
Leopard Wrasse
Cleaner Wrasse Captive Bred
Copperband
Mandarin Captive Bred Male
Royal Gramma
Moorish Idol

 

[EliMelly]

Some pictures! Yay the Walt Disney is nice and happy.

 

[EliMelly]

Some new coral additions today from golden state corals. Went with the family and had the wife pick out what she liked

Merlin’s Staff Acro
Ora Pearlberry Acro
TNT Anacropora
Pink branching Cyphadtrea
Orange Ricardia Mushroom
Plating Monti

 

[EliMelly]

Working on dialing dosing currently. Alk dropped to 6.5 so slowly adding more and more to my all for reef dose. Thank god the Hannah checked for Alk only takes 30 seconds.

 

[bakbay]

Working on dialing dosing currently. Alk dropped to 6.5 so slowly adding more and more to my all for reef dose. Thank god the Hannah checked for Alk only takes 30 seconds.

Get a CaRx going — going to save you time and money in the long run.

I’ve actually just activated mine since corals and coralline algae are depleting alk.

 

[EliMelly]

Get a CaRx going — going to save you time and money in the long run.

I’ve actually just activated mine since corals and coralline algae is depleting alk.

I’m relatively new to SPS, I appreciate the feedback. I will definitely look into it once the consumption of all for reef becomes too much. I am mimicking the Sunnyx method so was contemplating kalkwasser as well.

 

[bakbay]

I’m relatively new to SPS, I appreciate the feedback. I will definitely look into it once the consumption of all for reef becomes too much. I am mimicking the Sunnyx method so was contemplating kalkwasser as well.

At 200g, All4Reef might cost a fortune later once colonies grow out later. It should definitely work for now. I’ve done Kalk before, great source of pH but you’re limited by evaporation rate. With that combo, I think that your SPS will love you! Ha