Nutrient Management by “Old School” Reefer

Subsea · Dec 17, 2023

“Nowadays, with the addition of so many products to 'fix anything' (and so little known about possible long term consequences to the microbial communities)...let's just say that things are 'different' and leave it at that.”

Above quote is from someone else on this thread. For certain, I agree 100%, yet I want to quote Mother Nature when she was fooled in a fake butter commercial and in an instant, a beautiful Spring day turned into lightening & hail, then Mother Nature said; “It’s not Nice to Fool [Mother Nature]”!!!

Subsea · Dec 17, 2023

Subsea said:
It’s 24 hours since I moved dual 55G stand. Not sure how many pods survived the RIP clean. As I transferred some live rock back into the tank, I saw a few pods scurry off.

48 hours after RIP

I continue to add back . Also manicured some sponges moved from different tanks.

SPONGEBOB needed a toothbrush.

vlangel · Dec 17, 2023

Subsea said:
“Nowadays, with the addition of so many products to 'fix anything' (and so little known about possible long term consequences to the microbial communities)...let's just say that things are 'different' and leave it at that.”

Above quote is from someone else on this thread. For certain, I agree 100%, yet I want to quote Mother Nature when she was fooled in a fake butter commercial and in an instant, a beautiful Spring day turned into lightening & hail, then Mother Nature said; “It’s not Nice to Fool [Mother Nature]”!!!

LOL, you are dating yourself Patrick. It's only us older folks who remember that margarine commercial.

Subsea · Dec 17, 2023

vlangel said:
LOL, you are dating yourself Patrick. It's only us older folks who remember that margarine commercial.

Dawn,
While “the older folks” saw it first and we laughed then; when the “young ones” see it now, they laugh a lot.

Subsea · Dec 17, 2023

72 hours after RIP and tank relocation:

Subsea · Dec 17, 2023

<head> <title>Macroalgae For Marine Reef Aquariums: Coralline Algae Cluster

Coralline algae can be placed in the aquarium to help seed the marine planted aquarium or reef tank with beautiful coralline algae.

www.live-plants.com

I really like how this red macro displays and I especially like how it stands up to Hippo & Sailfin Tang’s.

Subsea · Dec 17, 2023

vlangel said:
LOL, you are dating yourself Patrick. It's only us older folks who remember that margarine commercial.

Dawn
This is post 5000. I wanted that milestone before retiring for the night.
Shalom,
Patrick

besskurz · Dec 17, 2023

Subsea said:
Musings from the Couch

Nutrient management comes in many flavors; I prefer Recycle.

As an avid Gardner, I am all about growing the soil. To grow the soil means organic biodiversity. Prior to man’s arrival on planet Earth, soil biodiversity provided diverse nutrient pathways to process inorganic nutrients in the soil using biochemistry. Because of destructive agriculture processes over the centuries, the organic carbon that was sequestered in Mother Terra migrated into the atmosphere as inorganic carbon dioxide.

Because I believe in the principal of sustainability, I choose to embrace nutrient recycling instead of nutrient export. To that end, I research the holistic nature of ecosystems to understand how they work And I am like a kid in the candy store with consuming knowledge.

As I learn more, I realize how little I know.

To maintain a sustainable system requires recycling and for that, I emulate Nature. Current research looks at the coral reef as an interconnected & dependant ecosystem called the Coral Holibiont, where bacteria crosstalk to enhance their enviromental conditions, which is gene expression.

While I don’t know the language of bacteria crosstalk, instead I observe bioindicators of the crosstalk. With that said, I enjoy the finesse of interpreting bioindicators and finding appropriate actions, such as enjoying the beauty of display tank.

@brandon429
I did a RIP clean on three year mature 55G tank. The process was done to enable moving dual 55G aquarium stand to kitchen alcove.. During the process, all sand was removed to allow installation of reverse flow undergravel filter.

All desirables that would suffer were put into healthy operating systems.

These pictures are 24 hours after starting the process.

This phrase makes more sense than ever to me now:
"I choose to embrace nutrient recycling instead of nutrient export."

Subsea · Dec 17, 2023

besskurz said:
This phrase makes more sense than ever to me now:
"I choose to embrace nutrient recycling instead of nutrient export."

After looking at your Jaubert Plenum in a bowl, I say awesome on your achievement.

Build Thread - Jaubert bowl / plenum 8.8g

Hello! I started reefing 2 years ago. When I was still living in Brazil. At that time, I was learning a lot with youtube videos. Berlin method is widely promoted, so for a new guy, I thought this was the only way to reef. My first AIO lasted a bit more than a year until I had to move to the US...

www.reef2reef.com

besskurz · Dec 17, 2023

Subsea said:
After looking at your Jaubert Plenum in a bowl, I say awesome on your achievement.

Build Thread - Jaubert bowl / plenum 8.8g

Hello! I started reefing 2 years ago. When I was still living in Brazil. At that time, I was learning a lot with youtube videos. Berlin method is widely promoted, so for a new guy, I thought this was the only way to reef. My first AIO lasted a bit more than a year until I had to move to the US...

www.reef2reef.com

You helped me a lot in the journey! You have a share of this achievement!

Im trying to introduce macros again as my crabs did eat them all. Do you keep emeralds too, right?

I found this particular way to hold algaes wrap in a sponge in the instagram of a japanese guy.

Subsea · Dec 17, 2023

Yes, I have numerous emerald crabs. Understand this, in a 75G display, the herbivores get plenty to eat.

Is that Gracilaria Hayi in the blue sponge?

Subsea · Dec 18, 2023

I find it amusing that on this thread we are talking about adding algae in our display tanks and I left a thread where the fight was what ATS did for algae elimination in display.

Considering that I am skimmerless & sumpless, I let others (bacteria, algae & sponges) manage the system.

Subsea · Dec 20, 2023

In viewing a thread on RC about using phytoplankton dosing to reduce nutrients, this video was shared. It’s very informative,

Subsea · Dec 27, 2023

Reefkeeping Fundamentals is a book that raises the standard of what a hobbyist can achieve. The author, Angel Ceggara, deep dives into the science and technology behind the creation of a complete ecosystem within our home. Fundamental issues are reviewed, dispelling myths and providing a rigorous, useful and innovative view.

The guide explores aspects such as coral classification, aquarium type, water circulation, lighting, aquascaping, feeding, fish and coral quarantine, seawater composition and algae pests. The reader will find the information needed to achieve a mature and stable system, correctly establish the food web and consolidate an optimal nutrient flow. An excellent guide with best practices recommendations to get to the next level.

The volume includes numerous underwater photographs of fish, corals and invertebrates in their natural habitat, as well as technical descriptions of some reference set ups, as inspiration for each personal project. A YouTube channel, accessed via QR codes within the book, shows microscopic organisms that inhabit reef aquariums, explanations of specific equipment, and personal interviews with leading hobbyists. A high value proposition, never before included in a single book.

@Beuchat introduced below thread on Christmas.
I got involved in it as I had just been introduced to Angel on an article he posted on r2r.

THE CHEMICAL INTERACTION BETWEEN SPECIES AS A HYPOTHESIS FOR A MATURE TANK

IME there is not a direct relation cause-efect between nitrate and phosphate concentration and algae quantity, as there are many other factors involved, mainly allelopathy between bacteria, phytoplankton, zooplankton, corals and other invertebrates. A mature tank implies a previous bentic...

www.reef2reef.com

Angel,
Your book, reef fundamentals arrives tomorrow. I have been privileged to certain areas of the book and after 53 years of Reefing addiction, I found a kindred spirit.

If convienient, bring wisdom to this thread.
Patrick

PS: This is a focus that I seek in my marine ecosystems and was highlighted on Amazon review

“The reader will find the information needed to achieve a mature and stable system, correctly establish the food web and consolidate an optimal nutrient flow. An excellent guide with best practices recommendations to get to the next level”

Subsea · Jan 6, 2024

Bristle worms are beneficial detrivores.

The white scale on your heater is calcium carbonate. Due to elevated temperature on surface of heater, the water has exceeded its concentration of carbonate/bicarbonate alkalinity.

Because you are in a marine environment with your reef tank, you should seek to understand the laws of Nature. Carbon dioxide as a gas in the atmosphere will seek equilibrium with total carbonate alkalinity. On the opposite side of this dynamic equilibrium is limestone sediments (calcium carbonate) which buffers the alkalinity on the opposite side of pH.

I don’t need better photos to know your tank needs a robust crew of janitors, which includes you as the environmental steward.

From a classical thermodynamics point of view, your ecosystem is degrading into Chaos: ENTROPY

Today at 3:18 AM

PS: In a conversation with @Oiseau a native of French speaking Montreal, I realized the relevance of September 1972 class at Texas Maritime Academy in Oceaneering 101 which illustrated classic Thermodynamics of Dynamic Equilibrium the First & Second LAWS OF THERMODYNAMICS.

Eisenstein was more succulent with: E = MC2