Journey Into Reefing - Waterbox Infinia Reef 150.4

[rc8t6353]

I would advise looking into nitrate and phosphate supplements. It's a lot cleaner and more manageable than just dumping food. I've never had nitrate issues, but when phosphates get too low I use this stuff. As with everything, I just started slowly.

 

[rc8t6353]

Good point. In a twist of fate, when experimenting with the auto feeder; it inadvertently dropped about 5x as much pellets into the system as I would normally feed. In addition I still fed Mysis as normal.

I've also read that the roller filters sometimes do too good of a job with cleaning the water, especially on new tanks.

 

[rzimm33]

I've also read that the roller filters sometimes do too good of a job with cleaning the water, especially on new tanks.

I’ll increase feeding a bit and see how that goes for a week and check my levels. If they’re still showing zero, I’ll pickup some chemicals to add. I think the auto feeder will def help. I’m typically not home to feed the tank as often as I should.

 

[rzimm33]

I ordered some dehydrated mysis for the auto feeder. I’ll be mixing it with Reef Jerky from Avast. The pellets seem to sink to the bottom too fast and not give fish a good opportunity to eat while in the water column. I might add some algae flakes as well.

Currently also supplying the tank with a piece of nori each day and about a half cube of frozen mysis

 

[rc8t6353]

I ordered some dehydrated mysis for the auto feeder. I’ll be mixing it with Reef Jerky from Avast. The pellets seem to sink to the bottom too fast and not give fish a good opportunity to eat while in the water column. I might add some algae flakes as well.

Currently also supplying the tank with a piece of nori each day and about a half cube of frozen mysis

Let me know how you like the Avast Plank. That's one of the things on my list after a controller.

 

[rzimm33]

Let me know how you like the Avast Plank. That's one of the things on my list after a controller.

Sure, I’ll let you know how it goes. I decided to get a separate timer for the plank so I can have the lots open on my Apex energy bar. I really need a second energy bar, but don’t wanna dish out the money for it right now.

My next large investment will be a battery backup incase of an extended power outage

 

[rzimm33]

Well I put the Reef Jerky in the tank yesterday for the first time. It made my reef mat go crazy. From the time I added it, to the end of the day. The reef mat used nearly 100” of roll… I typically turn my power heads to feed mode for 20 min when I feed. Should I also turn off my return pump for the same amount of time?

 

[rzimm33]

I think the reefmat is being overwhelmed cleaning the water from free floating algae

My dad which has owned a reef for a long time suggested decreasing my lights on period from 12 hours a day to 8. Potentially the algae is absorbing and using phosphate and nitrate so fast that it shows 0 on my test.

I think I’ll adjust my light period to 1.5 hour sunrise 6 hour full intentensity and a 1.5 hour sunset. Other than the time, I did not increase or decrease the intensity of the lighting. didn’t think it would affect the coral since the PAR shouldn’t be changing.

Do you all think I should add more CUC to handle the diotoms/GHA? I’ve considered feed a bit less Nori and forcing my tangs to pick at the algae more.

 

[skey44]

Yeah lights down a bit, more blue spectrum less white. Add red banded trochus and tiger conch. Cut back on nutrient input, but keep fish fed. Make sure there’s no excess food hanging around in tank after feedings. Look like your roller mat has been busy!
Also it looks like mostly film type algae and free floating algae from your pics. This should subside naturally as part of the new tank process, but yeah I get it doesn’t look great understood. Keep with the process this will pass… until the next little issue

 

[rzimm33]

Yeah lights down a bit, more blue spectrum less white. Add red banded trochus and tiger conch. Cut back on nutrient input, but keep fish fed. Make sure there’s no excess food hanging around in tank after feedings. Look like your roller mat has been busy!
Also it looks like mostly film type algae and free floating algae from your pics. This should subside naturally as part of the new tank process, but yeah I get it doesn’t look great understood. Keep with the process this will pass… until the next little issue

I’ll throw in a conch if my LFS has one today.

Ima spend a fortune on roller fleece until this passes lol

 

[josh57]

Following this thread because I’m in the process of doing the same thing. Building and Eshopps Mariner 100. All the gear is here except the tank!
I love your fish you’ve picked out so far.

 

[rzimm33]

Following this thread because I’m in the process of doing the same thing. Building and Eshopps Mariner 100. All the gear is here except the tank!
I love your fish you’ve picked out so far.

Awesome, looking forward to seeing it!

 

[rzimm33]

Got new lens films for photos. Also rare occurrence where you can see all my fish. The Whitetail Bristletooth typically hides from me. I can usually only see it if I hide around the corner lol

 

[rzimm33]

More test with new lens film

 

[rzimm33]

Discovered my first aiptasia in my system a few days ago. Sitting right next to a Zoa I picked up a few weeks back on the frag plug. I tapped the Zoa to get it to close and then applied a hefty amount of superglue over the Aiptasia.

 

[skey44]

More test with new lens film

Looks great! Hard to tell you have any kind of algae issue here at all.

 

[rzimm33]

Looks great! Hard to tell you have any kind of algae issue here at all.

Thank you.

Just a few days with the conch and my sand bed is nearly algae free -

 

[rc8t6353]

Since you have the Apex already, is there a way to

Well I put the Reef Jerky in the tank yesterday for the first time. It made my reef mat go crazy. From the time I added it, to the end of the day. The reef mat used nearly 100” of roll… I typically turn my power heads to feed mode for 20 min when I feed. Should I also turn off my return pump for the same amount of time

program the return to turn off a few minutes before the auto feeder runs? That way the fish have more time to eat what's in the tank before the overflow and reefmat get the food. Maybe that would save some of the roll.

 

[rzimm33]

Since you have the Apex already, is there a way to

program the return to turn off a few minutes before the auto feeder runs? That way the fish have more time to eat what's in the tank before the overflow and reefmat get the food. Maybe that would save some of the roll.

That’s a good idea, but today was actually the first day I’ve had the auto feeder run. Didn’t seem to cause any change in reefmat use.

I’m weary about having the apex shut off my return pump while I’m not home.

When inspecting the reefmat roll, it appears to be clogging up with excess algae -

I guess if the reefmat was t being used, I’d have a much worse algae issue than I do.

 

[rzimm33]

White tail bristle tooth finally getting brave