Bored? How about Mentoring a Newbie?

[Scott Christenson]

We usually run 10+ in our reef for years and still currently in the small newer reef. But since we experimented and added some SPS to our LPS tank and it’s covered in coraline the alk has been dropping and we have had to add.honestly though I’m just keeping some corals alive but kill more than I like. we don’t have good coral growth except leathers and star polyps! Thanks for hoping not minding me tagging along. I’m tired of reading about all the fish dying and sick so this thread is enlightening and truly helpful. Great idea you had!!

Thank you, I hope that I have better success, sorry to hear about your trials.

 

[road_runner]

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[road_runner]

Current overview of a happy tank:
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AoWoUIU9pTyNheo4fV0vg770iXLvvw

How did it go on the skimmer?
Anything new since we chatted?

 

[RtomKinMad]

Thank you, I hope that I have better success, sorry to hear about your trials.

Five years in and we can’t ever get things to really grow. Fish are growing! Lol we just can’t find a water chemistry balance and I don’t like our lights. We have AI on large reef and kessels on the small reef. Do have a bubble tip anemone that has split three times now and appears really happy! So that’s a success! I wish you the best with your reef. It’s alot of fun and we enjoy it.

 

[Scott Christenson]

How did it go on the skimmer?
Anything new since we chatted?

I now have 20gal of rodi saltwater from the lfs and 10gal of fresh rodi water. My plan is to empty the sump, clean it out, and at the same time swap out 10gal of water.
Also, add carbon to the reactor and a bag of of rowaphos to the sump. Sound ok?

 

[Rakie]

@Scott Christenson -- Here's my unsolicited advice.

If you want someone to mentor you, you better actually listen LOL. You know how many people ask for help then fight you every step of the way? Helping new people is like bashing your head against the wall -- the last thing they want is advice, what they crave is assurance they are doing everything right. They'll buy any magic potion you suggest regardless of price, but have no faith in quality equipment having an impact. Etc, etc.

So if you find someone to help you out, make it worth their time by actually listening haha

 

[RtomKinMad]

This alk range should not kill coral if the right ca balance is accompanied it.
At high alk levels actually coral grow faster. I ran elevated elements for a year and coral growth was explosive. I ran 12ppm alk...
But the problem with fast growth it means more zooxanthellae which means viral have more brown color. Now I run UNLS with natural sea water parameters to pop the coral color...typical zeovit coral colors.
Moral of the story, I think something else is might be killing the life stock you have. Either chemistry or nutrients...

I think your right but we don’t know what it is... I had a small drag of SPS growing and spreading was my favorite even though it was small and out of the blue just turned white and died, water chemistry was normal limits at the time. Other SPS was fine. All my zoas die and hammers . But anemones and leather are good. So I do t know what I can have. Thanks for listening.

 

[road_runner]

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[Scott Christenson]

@Scott Christenson -- Here's my unsolicited advice.

If you want someone to mentor you, you better actually listen LOL. You know how many people ask for help then fight you every step of the way? Helping new people is like bashing your head against the wall -- the last thing they want is advice, what they crave is assurance they are doing everything right.

So if you find someone to help you out, make it worth their time by actually listening haha

Wow, don't know what I did to deserve that comment!!

 

[road_runner]

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[Scott Christenson]

Perfect. Just calculate how much water you gonna drain, do not run out of salt water. When you remove the rocks in the sump you will need more water than what you pumped out to refil..
So make sure you know how much you will change so you have enough.

I'm going to test the alk of the new water first so we know what's going in.

 

[Rakie]

Wow, don't know what I did to deserve that comment!!

Oh I didn't mean you did anything wrong at all, that's just literally my advice -- Take the advice you're given, most don't, and then all they continue to do is fail.

 

[road_runner]

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[Scott Christenson]

Ha ha you doing great. I think op was giving a very true and valuable advice I'm general. It's frustrating trying to help someone who do not accept help ha ha.
Not caveat to that as always, make sure you deal with someone who know what they doing so you do not end up chasing your tail.
So you better hope I know what am doing ha ha ha.

Honestly there are many many ways to reef. No way is the right way only.
I know couple of things. Other kmpe different methods.
As long ad the person have had sustainable success he/she worth listening to.
Another caveat do not mix methods.. one at a time

Amen

 

[Rakie]

Ha ha you doing great. I think op was giving a very true and valuable advice I'm general. It's frustrating trying to help someone who do not accept help ha ha.

Yep, that's what I was trying to say. Maybe I should have phrased it differently!

 

[road_runner]

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[Scott Christenson]

Should we wait on cal and mag for now?

 

[road_runner]

Should we wait on cal and mag for now?

Yeh do not worry sbou these. Alk and salinity will tell you the story. That's our focuse now.
Good luck.

 

[Scott Christenson]

Thanks, I'll keep you posted. On a positive note, this is the first time that I've seen my mushroom stay wide open when the blue lights turn on. We are on the right track!!

 

[sstanley223]

8,n