A Water Change A Day...

[Sugo]

Any updates?

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[mcarroll]

Water change #14!



Can't believe I drained the 44 gallon Brute again! Gonna have to get a new box of salt soon!

I could be imagining things, but I do think I'm noticing a branch or two developing on a frag from a M. digitata I have that only grows plates..or maybe it's more of a table. (Yes, very weird...it's a branching coral in every other tank. Mother extends out about 12" from her rock x 7" across.)

I also think a "potato chip" Pavona sp. I have that has never grown is showing a much brighter green than any time in recent memory.

I will be watching for any other differences!

And I'm pretty sure of the demolition that's about to happen in the tank now too...gotta get this tank back to how it used to look (bright and coral-filled vs looking mostly grey like live rock) and there's still no space to do anything. All the corals that are left are perky and growing, so I'll frag up (hopefully sell some....anyone interested in that mother colony? Easy shape to cut and glue!) evrything that's left and "re-plant". It'll be MUCH MUCH easier to flow, and I'll have space to finally get some new corals. (Latest addition was years ago at this point.) Easy to say....

Still busy, so can't say when it will happen....but most likley it'll be within the next several days. SOON!

-Matt

 

[bknapp]

I've done water changes for 13 straight days (a total of 15 water changes) and it's quite possible that I'm losing my mind but i've noticed more than normal growth from a few of my acros. PE has always been good for me but it had increased on some acros as well.

So far I'm pleased with this revamping in my reefing technique. Now I just need to buy more salt....

 

[larangcon]

Hey Matt been doing 5 gals every other day and I have a browned out stick that I gave up on and lately I have been seeing the green color coming back. I think you got something here, will continue and will give you an update.

 

[Sugo]

Since my water change increase to 5 gal a day I've noticed my sps. have better color and growth yet my lobos and acans seem to be having negative affects to the change.

Could be unrelated to the water changes as it could be something else like a pest or a fish/crab nipping.

Anyone else having similar reactions?



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[Eienna]

Since my water change increase to 5 gal a day I've noticed my sps. have better color and growth yet my lobos and acans seem to be having negative affects to the change.

Could be unrelated to the water changes as it could be something else like a pest or a fish/crab nipping.

Anyone else having similar reactions?



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LPS tend to like a bit more nutrients in their water, from what I hear. Do you feed them?

 

[Sugo]

LPS tend to like a bit more nutrients in their water, from what I hear. Do you feed them?

I tried to feed them but the fish, crabs, shrimp, and snails never give the poor guys a chance to eat!

I have an odd rock scape that makes it difficult to isolate the corals I'm trying to feed.



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[Eienna]

I tried to feed them but the fish, crabs, shrimp, and snails never give the poor guys a chance to eat!

I have an odd rock scape that makes it difficult to isolate the corals I'm trying to feed.



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Then I'm about 90% sure your LPS are beginning to starve. Either make a stronger effort to target feed (it helps to satiate the other inhabitants first, and there are tricks to it) or take the GFO offline, or both. That, or consider going all-SPS. The last option comes with a caveat, however; SPS can starve as well from too-low nutrients, though they fare better than LPS because they are adapted to taking more of their food from light; LPS generally come from shady and/or deeper areas on a reef and thus are adapted to depend more on captured food and dissolved nutrients than on sunlight.

 

[Sugo]

Then I'm about 90% sure your LPS are beginning to starve. Either make a stronger effort to target feed (it helps to satiate the other inhabitants first, and there are tricks to it) or take the GFO offline, or both. That, or consider going all-SPS. The last option comes with a caveat, however; SPS can starve as well from too-low nutrients, though they fare better than LPS because they are adapted to taking more of their food from light; LPS generally come from shady and/or deeper areas on a reef and thus are adapted to depend more on captured food and dissolved nutrients than on sunlight.

So what I'm hearing is that I need to start a second tank for my LPS

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[Eienna]

So what I'm hearing is that I need to start a second tank for my LPS

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If that's the solution that would make you happy, then yes.

 

[larangcon]

From what I gathered the idea of doing water changes is to have a good params and at the same time to be able to feed the live stock well to control nitrate and phosphates. The corals in my tank are doing well now because I was starving them before and still be able to control the params

 

[mcarroll]

Hey Matt been doing 5 gals every other day and I have a browned out stick that I gave up on and lately I have been seeing the green color coming back. I think you got something here, will continue and will give you an update.

That's great to hear of a stick turning around! Any chance of before and after photos?

Awesome!

-Matt

 

[mcarroll]

There's no food in light. SPS are simply adapted to different methods of feeding (e.g. mesenterial) or simply to different (much much smaller) food.

And as for LPS, there's nothing particularly low-light about a lagoon, which is one environment that may favor LPS. High particulate levels (maybe even "chunk levels") in the water and somewhat less water flow (funny those go hand-in-hand, right?) are defining characteristics of that environment.

-Matt

 

[mcarroll]

I dunno what crevice he literally crawled out of, but I was so hopeful they had been a casualty of the last year. Was just looking for signs of them the other day, so I know this is new. And he's in the epicenter of their old colony.

Further proof that every sword has a double edge... Welcome back "beginner coral".

Thanks a lot, stupid "Water Change A Day" strategy. LOL!

I suppose someone could use this to save a colony they actually want!

-Matt

 

[mcarroll]

Water change #15!

 

[mcarroll]

Water change #16!

A recent top-down shot of my Hydnophora...my 2nd rescue coral:

 

[mcarroll]

Water change #17!

A 1/2" hose is perfect for cleaning - sucking out detritus, minor scraping, etc - but it's too slow for these daily water changes! When all I'm doing is draining water, it feels like it takes f-o-r-e-v-e-r to fill the 5 gallon bucket.

I'm gonna chop off an equal-length section of 3/4" hose from my reel and see how much time I save vs 1/2"!

-Matt

 

[Reef Fever]

havent posted that ive been doing it but i have been doing one a day for the last week or so, havent kept track of the days like i should, did 2-3 gallons for the first two days and now im doing 5 gallons a day. no noticeable improvements/changes just yet

 

[Rookie J]

How are your levels ?
Calcium, alk, mag ?

When I was doing 2 gallons a day on a 55g I noticed my cal jumped up pretty high. Around 600 or so.

 

[lighting]

good idea , fllowing