neoGeorge's Build: One Reef & One Planted Freshwater

[Murica]

@Murica - thanks! For the planted freshwater I do weekly 30-50% water changes and dose macro and micro ferts daily with a Jebao doser

Gotcha. I've seen some amazing fresh water setups but never took the plunge to get into them myself. Maybe one day.. The main thing I think holding me back is that I'd need to start an entirely new sump system and the constant water changes. I always loved the discus'. Gets me thinking [emoji848]

 

[mch1984]

Hey nice to see you back, coral looks happy, sorry you're not feeling good.

 

[neoGeorge]

Gotcha. I've seen some amazing fresh water setups but never took the plunge to get into them myself. Maybe one day.. The main thing I think holding me back is that I'd need to start an entirely new sump system and the constant water changes. I always loved the discus'. Gets me thinking [emoji848]

Agreed on discus - I've raised them before and they're glorious fish (although they do like warmer water temps and that limits plant selection, and this time around I wanted a Dutch style planted as a challenge).

 

[neoGeorge]

Hey nice to see you back, coral looks happy, sorry you're not feeling good.

Thanks @mch1984 !

 

[neoGeorge]

Gave the planted tank a major hair cut

 

[neoGeorge]

Working through a cyano/diatom (?) issue in the tank for the past few weeks - this comes on the tail end of treating the tank with Vibrant and Fluconazole to remove hair algae (which has been pretty successful so far). Nitrates have been ranging from 0.75-10.0 during the past few weeks, but phosphates have been zero based on the Red Sea Pro test results. Since I haven't had the skimmer installed since the move and I'm not using any phosphate removal media, the phosphate number has been a surprise, and probably corresponds to the issue at hand.

Fleshy corals seem to be very happy, but the GSP and mushrooms are struggling. Also, lost my beloved cleaner shrimp after 1.5 years for no apparent reason, so it may be related. Fish are also very happy.

Sooo, the skimmer is back in place and I've upped the feeding quantity, which has made the fish very happy. Will have to let this play out a bit more to see if the system will stabilize in more positive territory...

 

[NY_Caveman]

Also, lost my beloved cleaner shrimp after 1.5 years for no apparent reason, so it may be related.

Cleaner Shrimp are not long lived. If you got him around 2” it may just have been his time.

 

[neoGeorge]

Cleaner Shrimp are not long lived. If you got him around 2” it may just have been his time.

Thanks @NY_Caveman - my last cleaner shrimp only lived for a couple of years, so perhaps water parameters were not the issue either time; this would make sense given the apparent good health of all the fish and snails...

 

[neoGeorge]

Critters are happy, but, then again, so is the cyano

 

[crusso1993]

Critters are happy, but, then again, so is the cyano

You're right! Everyone looks very happy and, to your surprise, I did not see any cyano!

 

[neoGeorge]

You're right! Everyone looks very happy and, to your surprise, I did not see any cyano!

Guilty - the cyano is all on the sand, and I kept the video at a higher level

 

[neoGeorge]

So now both nitrate and phosphate are zero per the Red Sea Pro tests, and the cyano is very happy. Never thought this tank would go to zeros, and that was never my goal; so another 10% water change and a bit more patience to see where things go. The fish are quite happy with the extra food

 

[neoGeorge]

Very happy to report that the cyano and diatoms are clearing up, so I've actually included the sand in this video footage

 

[crusso1993]

Very happy to report that the cyano and diatoms are clearing up, so I've actually included the sand in this video footage

Looling good!

 

[neoGeorge]

I gave the pink plant an aggressive trim back, but the planted tank still deserves some video attention...

 

[KC V.]

Very happy to report that the cyano and diatoms are clearing up, so I've actually included the sand in this video footage

Glad to hear that the cyano is clearing up, hope it stays away!!

Thanks for the updates!

 

[neoGeorge]

Fish with "eye lashes"...

 

[crusso1993]

Fish with "eye lashes"...

View attachment 1140636

View attachment 1140637

Great shots!

 

[neoGeorge]

Great shots!

Thanks!

 

[neoGeorge]

The housing market is hot in Phoenix, so our landlord has decided to sell the house we're renting 6 months before our lease is up. With no option to renew the lease, and the home now on the market, we're looking for new digs - so, another move. I think we'll be buying this time