Tenecor 100 Gallon Lagoon-style acrylic AIO

[tharbin]

I was up in the valley today and went to one of my LFSs to get some snails and see if they had a Pitho or two. Zip Pithos and zip snails (well ones I would buy anyway). I needed some more frozen Mysis so I picked up a box/carton/package/whatever-you-call-the-little-trays-of-little-cubes-of-frozen-fish-food. I noticed that they had some Tropic Marin products right next to the freezer so I checked it out. They had two of the products I was thinking of trying, NP-Bacto-Balance and Reef Actif.

I want to try some carbon dosing in the main tank. Here is my thought pattern, such as it is: I figure that my zero Nitrates is because all of the excess Ammonia/Nitrate is being bound up by algae and there is really an excess of both Nitrate and Phosphate in the tank. I figure that the best solution, although very slow--if it even works, is to have bacteria compete for the nutrients. That and lots of algae plucking should start to tilt the balance and I should start to see small quantities of free Nitrate along with less algal growth, or at least so goes my theory.

I decided to pick up some Reef Actif and will start a low dose, probably today.

 

[tbrown]

I did vinegar for a while. It brought the nitrates down to detectable levels but I wasn't sure if it was upsetting the Acros or if it was something else.

 

[tharbin]

I did vinegar for a while. It brought the nitrates down to detectable levels but I wasn't sure if it was upsetting the Acros or if it was something else.

I thought about vinegar or Vodka since they are quick and inexpensive solutions but I wanted more complex carbon chains to, possibly, reduce the amount of it the algae can suck up.

I don't know if my idea is any good or not since I read 0.0 on the Hanna Nitrate tester and I don't think I've ever read of using carbon dosing to raise Nitrate but I figure the only way, short of my rip clean, is to outcompete the algae and the only thing I can think of that stands a chance in that fight is bacteria or maybe fungi.

I don't have any acros and in fact the only corals in the tank that I would hate to lose are the hammers and pinhead.

 

[tbrown]

I've seen other people mention that Nitrate and Phosphate readings are false if there's enough algae in the tank.

 

[TheWB]

I was up in the valley today and went to one of my LFSs to get some snails and see if they had a Pitho or two. Zip Pithos and zip snails (well ones I would buy anyway). I needed some more frozen Mysis so I picked up a box/carton/package/whatever-you-call-the-little-trays-little-cubes-of-frozen-fish-food. I noticed that they had some Tropic Marin products right next to the freezer so I checked it out. They had two of the products I was thinking of trying, NP-Bacto-Balance and Reef Actif.

I want to try some carbon dosing in the main tank. Here is my thought pattern, such as it is: I figure that my zero Nitrates is because all of the excess Ammonia/Nitrate is being bound up by algae and there is really an excess of both Nitrate and Phosphate in the tank. I figure that the best solution, although very slow--if it even works, is to have bacteria compete for the nutrients. That and lots of algae plucking should start to tilt the balance and I should start to see small quantities of free Nitrate along with less algal growth, or at least so goes my theory.

I decided to pick up some Reef Actif and will start a low dose, probably today.

I regularly used Nopox in the Lagoon 50 and even with heavy handed feeding I did not have algae issues for a long time. Probably the last 3 years of that tank algae was a non issue. There’s some in there now since I haven’t changed a filter pad or any water in like two months. I quit dosing Nopox after the skimmer broke. Can’t do that without a skimmer. I think your idea is worth a try for what that’s worth. I’m not really known as a chemistry guru and don’t often supply advice in that area, lol.

 

[tharbin]

I've seen other people mention that Nitrate and Phosphate readings are false if there's enough algae in the tank.

Thanks, you said very succinctly what I was trying to convey.

 

[tharbin]

I regularly used Nopox for a long time in the Lagoon 50 and even with heavy handed feeding I did not have algae issues for a long time. Probably the last 3 years of that tank algae was a non issue. There’s some in there now since I haven’t changed a filter pad or any water in like two months. I quit dosing Nopox after the skimmer broke. Can’t do that without a skimmer. I think your idea is worth a try for what that’s worth. I’m not really known as a chemistry guru and don’t often supply advice in that area., lol.

I gave the tank its first dose of Reef Actif yesterday evening. It looked kind of like reef snow when I added it although not as cloudy as what I see in other tanks. It cleared in about 15 minutes. I think it is way to soon to see any results. I plan to dose once per week. I may try twice per week as the directions say that three times per week is maximum.

I have started to see some results in the fuge from the last batch of copepods. Most of the nuisance algae in there was floating free and there was much less on the sides and rocks. The Gracilaria looks fine and is still growing although very slowly.

 

[tbrown]

Hey @tharbin you gonna want some Berghia? I caught a dozen or so today. Some are HUGE! I can put them in the Pico with some Aips for a bit of you want some otherwise I might go drop them off at a store next week if you don't.

 

[tbrown]

I'm not in a huge rush if you want some but can't make it up here till next weekend or whatever. We might actually be over in Tempe next weekend too...

 

[tbrown]

Looks like at least 9.

 

[tharbin]

Hey @tharbin you gonna want some Berghia? I caught a dozen or so today. Some are HUGE! I can put them in the Pico with some Aips for a bit of you want some otherwise I might go drop them off at a store next week if you don't.

@tbrown, I really don't know how to respond. I really want a few. I mail-ordered two before and it didn't work out well at all. One was dead and the other was tiny and didn't do squat. That said, I had a bit of a medical issue last weekend. I've been offline most of the week so luckily I saw the notification for your post. I'm avoiding driving much while things get back on track which will be several more weeks.

 

[tbrown]

@tbrown, I really don't know how to respond. I really want a few. I mail-ordered two before and it didn't work out well at all. One was dead and the other was tiny and didn't do squat. That said, I had a bit of a medical issue last weekend. I've been offline most of the week so luckily I saw the notification for your post. I'm avoiding driving much while things get back on track which will be several more weeks.

Well they're in the Pico with some Aiptasia. Not sure how long I can keep them fed but I'll save you some for as long as I can if you're interested. I counted 11 plus at least 3 what look like larvae? They basically look like the little cerata (or whatever the hairs on their backs are) but they move around like little worms. I'm thinking babies but I honestly have no clue.

I tossed the two rocks with the most Aiptasia and about 100 individual Aips in there so hopefully they can survive for a bit. I'll keep an eye out and throw some more in as needed.

Just let me know if you want them all or 5 or 6 or whatever. They were free to me so they're free to you!

 

[TheWB]

@tbrown, I really don't know how to respond. I really want a few. I mail-ordered two before and it didn't work out well at all. One was dead and the other was tiny and didn't do squat. That said, I had a bit of a medical issue last weekend. I've been offline most of the week so luckily I saw the notification for your post. I'm avoiding driving much while things get back on track which will be several more weeks.

Sorry to hear about the med issues. I hope everything is going to be ok.

 

[tharbin]

Well they're in the Pico with some Aiptasia. Not sure how long I can keep them fed but I'll save you some for as long as I can if you're interested. I counted 11 plus at least 3 what look like larvae? They basically look like the little cerata (or whatever the hairs on their backs are) but they move around like little worms. I'm thinking babies but I honestly have no clue.

I tossed the two rocks with the most Aiptasia and about 100 individual Aips in there so hopefully they can survive for a bit. I'll keep an eye out and throw some more in as needed.

Just let me know if you want them all or 5 or 6 or whatever. They were free to me so they're free to you!

I would think four or five would be plenty. They look great and I think you're right about the larvae.

I'm sure I can work out a way to pick them up soon. If you do go to Tempe in the near future, if you DM me I could maybe meet you up there which is more doable for me at the moment.

Thanks for all of your consideration.

 

[tbrown]

Absolutely!

 

[tharbin]

Sorry to hear about the med issues. I hope everything is going to be ok.

I'm doing well now and I'll know more soon.

In the meantime my wife has taken up algae plucking and emptying skimmer cups as a new hobby

 

[TheWB]

I'm doing well now and I'll know more soon.

In the meantime my wife has taken up algae plucking and emptying skimmer cups as a new hobby

Oh, well since we’re joking about things now, try and hold it together long enough to figure out the right radius for the corners on my feeder cup, wouldja? Just because I haven’t sent you the dims is no reason for why that project isn’t done

Seriously though, take care of yourself man.

 

[tbrown]

Oh, well since we’re joking about things now, try and hold it together long enough to figure out the right radius for the corners on my feeder cup, wouldja? Just because I haven’t sent you the dims is no reason for why that project isn’t done

Seriously though, take care of yourself man.

What kinda feeder cup?

I printed this for the 125

 

[tharbin]

Oh, well since we’re joking about things now, try and hold it together long enough to figure out the right radius for the corners on my feeder cup, wouldja? Just because I haven’t sent you the dims is no reason for why that project isn’t done

Seriously though, take care of yourself man.

So who's joking? She gets the cup way cleaner than I do as well. Just before dinner she told me she checked the cup and it was just below half full.

Take a set of drill bits and try them in the corner radius then tell me the one that is the closet fit. I can take it from there. Do you want one just like the old one or would you prefer the newer design? My new printers make the cups a little cleaner than my old printer did. Also measure the distance from the top of the cover to the waterline so I can set the slot height correct for your tank.

 

[tbrown]

Oh yeah, I also found two egg spirals. 1 got transferred to the Pico, one got left in the old tank.