Well today marks one week since the implementation of the Aquaforest reef products.
When it comes to the dosing of Pro Bio S and Np on a daily bases I have not as of yet noticed a decline in phosphates and nitrates. But to be far there has not been an increase either. As a reminder I am not dosing full strength yet.
Each week I will increase each dosing element by one drop till I get to the recommended dosage for my size tank. I'm at 4 drops per 27 gallons the products recommend 9 drops per 27 gallons.
The regime of dosing these during the week keeps me engaged and allows me to see what if any changes occur:
Af energy - Mon-Wed-Fri - 4 drops
Af build - Mon-Wed-Fri - 4 drops
Af vitality - Tue-Thurs-Sat - 4 drops
Af aminomix - Tue-Thurs-Sat - 4 drops
What Neg/point of sale observations with corals has been?
No negatives so far. On the positive side I have noticed mostly a more robust look to all the zoanthids.
All sps's have nice polyp expansion but no signs of growing. Too soon as they have all been introduced into the tank within the last week to two weeks.
As for the:
Af power food - 1 scoop - Sat-Sun week 1
I increased to 2 scoops week 2.
This is way below the recommended dosage but again taking things on the precautionary side so that I can attribute any negative impacts on the tank.
On Components 1+2+3:
These are being dosed at 20ml a day for components 1+ and 3+ This maintains my Ca at 450 and my Mg at 1350
I had a little problem with a high alk that over several days has finally come down to 8 dkh. I have learned thru the forum that if you want to maintain a ULNS that you need to keep alk lower.
It will take me a few more days to dial in the component 2+ so that I can maintain a steady 8 dkh.
Now on to the so called "bad news"
Prequel:
3 weeks ago noticed that the right side over flow water was a bit higher than it should. I did not give it more attention. When changing filter socks I would close the ball values so again nothing struck out at me.
2 weeks ago I noticed that there was something plugging the intake in the over flow box on right because water was now really high. I took the pipe out and saw that the water did not drain. At this point you would think that this should have been the piano that would hit me on the head right? Wrong I ignored it!!
Forward to present day:
On Wednesday of this week I had a bit of a disaster but it was a disaster that I learned from. A costly mistake in the long run.
I woke up to find the actinic lights on at 7am. Not good! Come to find out the return on the left got clogged!!! Water return to the tank overflowed and fried the brand new cable modem and............ The Digital Aquatics Reefkeeper Elite controller, SL1!!! Ouch!!!
I took the pipe that drains into the sump on the left side of tank and found the culprit! A snail was stuck inside. I was able to get it out and place the pipe back in. Snail still alive so it went back into tank.
What would be the chances of both pipes being clogged at the same time? The pipe on the right side was clean as a whistle. This meant the the clog is elsewhere in the line. My lfs suggested that it is most likely another snail and it is stuck right in the bulk head. I shined my cell light but could not see anything. So that may mean the clog is elsewhere in the line that leads to sump.
That will be a project for next week.
Other than that everything else shut off automatically except the LED actinic lights, because these were not on the power trips on the DA.
I got the main pump, the skimmer back on. Now plugged MH lights to old school timers and the search was on for the DA SL1.
I could not find one for sale anywhere,
Amazon, Ebay not even DA had it. This lead to the cost in my lazy butt mistake!
Went and picked up a new Neptune APEX! Yep $800 later I could have totally avoided spending but have to eat and swallow that caster oil!!
So far the modem was replaced by cable company and now trying to figure out the setup of this puppy!
More on the setup later............
