Flippers reef 125 gallon

[Victoria M]

Update: the tank has been on autopilot for a little while. I have to admit that I haven't tested DKH in sometime. Why? My salifert kit ran out before my surgery. I had to order another one and it showed up Monday.

As of today:

PH 8.0
DKH 10.9
Ca 500
Mag 1450
NO3 30 (I know, it's very high)
P04 .02
TEMP 78.3
SG 35


With NO3 climbing, adding the chaetomorpha on a reverse light schedule should help. But I'm continuing to carbon dose as well with vodka. Hopefully this in time will take down the high N03.

Everything in the tank looks good. Even my multi colored acans are splitting. My Euphyilla are splitting heads left and right! Acro's are growing....... Oh well, everything is doing good, no worries! Lol

What would you like to see your nitrate at Don?

 

[Flippers4pups]

What would you like to see your nitrate at Don?

5 to 10ppm.

 

[Dsnakes]

Your sump is looking good, Don gotta keep that Mandy fat!

 

[Flippers4pups]

Your sump is looking good, Don gotta keep that Mandy fat!

Nolan, there's already a ton of copepods, isopods, snails and worms crawling all over the sump. Plenty of life down there.

"Mooshu" (granddaughter's named him!) Has plenty to eat! Lol

 

[Victoria M]

We love Mushu!!!!

 

[Flippers4pups]

It's a honor to get "reef tank 365"!

 

[Retro Reefer]

It's a honor to get "reef tank 365"!

Much deserved Don, your tank is beautiful!

 

[GoVols]

It's a honor to get "reef tank 365"!

.... ;Woot ;Woot

 

[Victoria M]

It's a honor to get "reef tank 365"!

what did I miss?

 

[Flippers4pups]

what did I miss?

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reef-tank-365-featured-tank-by-flippers4pups.451294/

 

[Flippers4pups]

Dosing P04 helped bring my N03 down from 40 to 20. Would like it a little lower around 10. I'll test everything again today and dose accordingly.

The paling that I was experiencing has improved a little. Either, it's because of the high N03 in conjunction with little to no P04 or something else. Once I dosed P04, N03 came down and color improved.

Birds nest needs some serious trimming!

 

[Dsnakes]

That birds nest is huge! Looking good

 

[Flippers4pups]

Chaetomorpha is growing nicely since changing over from a 6500k cfl to a led grow bulb, 440-660nm.

On thing I've noticed lately as well is the number of "pods" living and multiplying in the refugium/sump Copepods, isopods.....

One thing I noticed this evening that I've never seen before, isopods running on the waters surface. On the water tension. I wish I could have caught them on my camera or on video. They are "jerking" all over in different directions. Craziest thing I've ever seen!

 

[Dsnakes]

View attachment 837669
One thing I noticed this evening that I've never seen before, isopods running on the waters surface. On the water tension. I wish I could have caught them on my camera or on video. They are "jerking" all over in different directions. Craziest thing I've ever seen!

That’s wild! So they are actually out of the water and running on top of it??

 

[Flippers4pups]

That’s wild! So they are actually out of the water and running on top of it??

There's a film on the water surface, as we have all seen before with our tanks. It's either they are on top of it (doubt it) or likely under the film, running on it in the water, upside down. (Highly probable)

 

[Flippers4pups]

As I continue to combat high nitrates, I'm looking for solutions. This could be one that I could use:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/poor-man-nutrients-control-donovans-nitrate-destroyer.302685/

Doing research on this approach and very well may go this route!

Don't think my chaetomorpha will keep up.

What's your take?

 

[Fudsey]

When I was running my FOWLR I had extremely high NO3 (because I never tested). The tank ran very well but I did nothing to it. I maxed out 2 different test kits and water changes did nothing. I never seen the test so dark red. I bought a Aquamaxx Denitrator and that worked. It got the NO3 down to 20.

 

[Flippers4pups]

When I was running my FOWLR I had extremely high NO3 (because I never tested). The tank ran very well but I did nothing to it. I maxed out 2 different test kits and water changes did nothing. I never seen the test so dark red. I bought a Aquamaxx Denitrator and that worked. It got the NO3 down to 20.

I've never had one. Seriously thinking this way now.

 

[Fudsey]

I was using it until I started the Waterbox. There is no need for it yet. I will probably start it back up once the tank is established and creating more NO3. Don't know yet if I will even need it

 

[Flippers4pups]

I was using it until I started the Waterbox. There is no need for it yet. I will probably start it back up once the tank is established and creating more NO3. Don't know yet if I will even need it

What media were you using?