Dendronephthya & Scleronephthya aquaculture

Dr. Dendrostein · Dec 11, 2019

Replay

Dr. Dendrostein · Dec 12, 2019

Small video

Slingshot357 · Dec 14, 2019

New additions to the tank from WWC.

Also did weekly water tests and everything is looking real good. Salinity 1.025, PH 8.22, Phosphate 0.11, Alkalinity 8.2, Calcium 452 and Magnesium 1320.

Rasta Zoanthid

Mystic Sunset Montipora

Kenya Tree Leather

Seasons Greetings Montipora

Green Slimer Acropora

Dr. Dendrostein · Dec 14, 2019

Slingshot357 said:
New additions to the tank from WWC.

Also did weekly water tests and everything is looking real good. Salinity 1.025, PH 8.22, Phosphate 0.11, Alkalinity 8.2, Calcium 452 and Magnesium 1320.

Rasta Zoanthid

Mystic Sunset Montipora

Kenya Tree Leather

Seasons Greetings Montipora

Green Slimer Acropora

water parameters on the money

Dr. Dendrostein · Dec 14, 2019

Just bought this from Aqua SD

S.Pepper · Dec 14, 2019

Dr. Dendrostein said:
Just got this from Aqua SD

Looking beautiful, Dr. Have a great evening!

Dr. Dendrostein · Dec 14, 2019

S.Pepper said:
Looking beautiful, Dr. Have a great evening!

Thanks

Slingshot357 · Dec 14, 2019

Dr. Dendrostein said:
Just bought this from Aqua SD

Looks great! What coral is it?

Dr. Dendrostein · Dec 14, 2019

Slingshot357 said:
Looks great! What coral is it?

It's a Dendronephthya, lighting make look different. From Tonga

Slingshot357 · Dec 14, 2019

Dr. Dendrostein said:
It's a Dendronephthya, lighting make look different. From Tonga

I thought so but I wasn't sure. I haven't seen one shaped like that before. The ones I've seen so far are tree shaped. Very cool!

Slingshot357 · Dec 15, 2019

Finally got the phytoplankton started. I only set up the one jar for now. Still waiting on the LED strip lights to come in so I'm just using an old grow light I had. I think it's the Tetra strain.

samnaz · Dec 15, 2019

following
;-)

Slingshot357 · Dec 15, 2019

I was thinking, I could probably get a small clam now. From the limited amount of knowledge I have about taking care of Dendra it's very similar to taking care of a juvenile clam. Maybe even a fire scallop? I've always wanted a clam or scallop.

Speaking of that, why do I see some people taking care of Dendronephthya have a mesh bag of clams or I think I even seen one guy had a bag of oysters in their sumps? What is the purpose of that? Is it to just remove excess nutrients?

Dr. Dendrostein · Dec 15, 2019

Slingshot357 said:
I was thinking, I could probably get a small clam now. From the limited amount of knowledge I have about taking care of Dendra it's very similar to taking care of a juvenile clam. Maybe even a fire scallop? I've always wanted a clam or scallop.

Speaking of that, why do I see some people taking care of Dendronephthya have a mesh bag of clams or I think I even seen one guy had a bag of oysters in their sumps? What is the purpose of that? Is it to just remove excess nutrients?

Like these oysters, I tried oysters, hoping to reduce food in water column

Slingshot357 · Dec 15, 2019

Dr. Dendrostein said:
Like these oysters, I tried oysters, hoping to reduce food in water column

Yea. I've seen one person that had around 10 bags of regular, fish market clams in a huge refugium. He must have a lot of excess nutrients to get rid of.

Does it help? Or not enough to bother doing it?

Dr. Dendrostein · Dec 15, 2019

Slingshot357 said:
Yea. I've seen one person that had around 10 bags of regular, fish market clams in a huge refugium. He must have a lot of excess nutrients to get rid of.

Does it help? Or not enough to bother doing it?

I've had as many as 80 oysters in past. Kept nutrients in check. But I think I was over feeding too.

Slingshot357 · Dec 15, 2019

Dr. Dendrostein said:
I've had as many as 80 oysters in past. Kept nutrients in check. But I think I was over feeding too.

I intentionally avoid looking at my Nitrates. I know it's probably high and it will send my OCD into overload. Also it seems the opinions on the importance of nitrates is wildly varied. Everything from "no more than 5ppm" to "just ignore it and worry about phosphates". I guess I'm not looking to dive head first into anymore rabbit holes. I'm just going with "if the tank looks fine don't fix it".

So far, except for the green color of my rock in the place of purple coraline algae, I don't have any other problems with algae. Nothing that a quick dose of vibrant can't easily fix.

Dr. Dendrostein · Dec 15, 2019

Slingshot357 said:
I intentionally avoid looking at my Nitrates. I know it's probably high and it will send my OCD into overload. Also it seems the opinions on the importance of nitrates is wildly varied. Everything from "no more than 5ppm" to "just ignore it and worry about phosphates". I guess I'm not looking to dive head first into anymore rabbit holes. I'm just going with "if the tank looks fine don't fix it".

So far, except for the green color of my rock in the place of purple coraline algae, I don't have any other problems with algae. Nothing that a quick dose of vibrant can't easily fix.

I've had NO3 up to 40ppm, no issues to corals, baby sun cup corals everywhere. As to PO4, haven't checked on any of my tanks since 1 year ago. Gorgonians are sensitive to PO4.
Just look at corals as reference to healthy, happy corals.