Jar of Rocks

[Tokash23]

Newest addition is the torch(atleast i think its a torch) on the right. Wish the zoas would open more they still seem to open just halfway. Not sure the deal there. Have some algae blooms going ill do a rip clean this weekend clean that mess up. I am debating on looking for q jar with a wider base. The rock i have in there takes up every bit of floor space and i wouldnt mind being able to place some more corals on the sand.

 

[Tokash23]

New torch looks good still opened up and flowin in the breeze. Zoas look a little pittiful still i think the algae growing there has something to do with it. I need to add some snails to help manage that stuff.

 

[Tokash23]

Well i had to relocate the tank turns out it fits nicely on my desk. Also re did the rock i like this alot better. Just cant seem to get these zoas to open for some reason. I was dosing fuel for a but im going to stop and work on feeding the tank a little more to get nitrates up a bit. I would like to add some more frags soon but i hate to do it if the zoas arent happy something is off so i will wait a bit before adding anything else.

 

[Tokash23]

Kind if tough to see but is this aptaisha? This frag had some on it when i got it a few months ago i thought i got it all. Wonder if thats why it wont open up.

 

[Tokash23]

Struggeling a little bit with the tank not sure what to make of it but nothing seems happy. The torch will open a little more than this when the lights come on but after about an hour it shrinks to this and stays that way all day. Green mushroom is looking really deflated and my zoas have never been happy since i got them like 2 months ago. I did a peroxide dip on them tuesday and this is how they look. I have a nitrate test kit coming i kind of think that might be the issue but idk. I have been feeding the tank a little more with frozen baby brine or mysis to try and up nitrates but dont want to go to fast. Im all ears for pointers if anyone's got em.

I should note i do weekly 100% water changes and the only current livestock is 3 hermit crabs. Id love to get a shrimp or maybe a cliwn goby to put in but i dont want to put anything in until i figure out this issue.

 

[Tokash23]

Nirtrate tests comes in at a 0 (API) as accurate as that test is i have to believe this is my issue. Also looks like i might have dinos, not sure if they affect nitrates but im certain thats what i am seeing. I am planning a full rip clean for my next water change. Then i need to figure a way to get my nitrates up a bit. I have been feeding the tank every day with a bit of either frozen brine or mysis but i guess thats not enough (been cutting up the cubes into small chunks). Guess i could just try to drop some extra in see what happens.

 

[Tokash23]

Well did a full rip clean with new completely rinsed sand and scrubbed everything down. Now that the tank is clean im on the search for better coral feed to help things along. Lights have been on for about an hour now and torch extension is already better than it was at this time yesterday, hopefully it stays that way.

 

[brandon429]

Glad to see updates, we want to link this to our sand rinse thread


removing acid - generating organic sludge and detritus, and manually cleaning off rocks this way directly opens up pores which increases surface area and filtration.


zoos, every zoo in the world with big aquariums does filter backflushing routinely or their filters will fill up with whole waste detritus, plug up the flow, cause channeling, reduce surface area, and pump raw trace ammonia back in the system vs remove it


any reef is a filter itself. The actually display. Not just what may be connected elsewhere


you backflushed your whole reef just now, therefore it will perk up. Linked for others to see in our huge rinse thread.

 

[Tokash23]

Things looked pretty good yesterday and even this morning now my torch has seemed to regress, its pulled in tight. Zoas look the same barely open but i think with a little time they will come around. I am going to get some better coral feed tomorrow and try that along with another water change over the weekend. Hope the torch rebounds id hate to loose it.

 

[brandon429]

Lighting, too bright, page one of the sand rinse thread. Must re ramp after every rip clean. It w be ok either cut the lights rest of day or shade it with paper or something.


waiting a long time to do a rip clean has a price too, takes a while to heal up from prior condition. See how the shroom is normal


those are tough in accumulated conditions, lps not as much.


we have fed frozen reef food by now in each rip clean, that part has also been varied here but easy to fix.

zos being closed indicates nothing, in the zo forum they routinely try and fix that it’s a known issue tank to tank. As long as lps polyps don’t detach they can make it back

 

[Tokash23]

I hadnt thought of that as an issue. Its just a par 38 bulb from amazon on n off lol. Maybe cut the timing way down its on 9 hours right now?

 

[brandon429]

need to put some tape across the top to make a shield for a couple days or just turn off the light rest of today.

since we hit em hard Id really just leave lights off rest of today start tomorrow with a paper hat or something over the tank for an improvised shield.

after they come back better then next day try 4 hours full light

then 8 after that, maybe something like a 4 day ramp up doesnt have to be too extended.

shorter photoperiod agreed, when we remove a lot of waste at once that lighting needs to come down. I do not think they will be harmed mine get mad if I forget to ramp too.

 

[Tokash23]

Ok cool i have a paper hat as you call it lol setup for tomorrow and the light to run 4 hours. Ill remove the paper and allow for another 4 hour run time the following day and up it 2 hours the following day back to 8 by Monday. Ill report back with how things go. No polyp bailout yet so hoping for the best.

 

[brandon429]

Can’t wait to see today

 

[SMSREEF]

Can’t wait to see today

Me too.
In holding off on any suggestions because they are only applicable if Dino’s come back.
Hopefully the Dino’s are gone @Tokash23

 

[brandon429]

We don’t get very many dinos tests for rip cleans, usually its cyano. Can’t wait to see how it handles nice mini model here

 

[Tokash23]

Ill post pics shortly i am out of the office for a bit this morning. Im excited to see what we have going on as well. The lights came on at 8 with a peices of paper filtering it out.

 

[Tokash23]

So lights have been on for little better than 2 hours with a paper filter to dampen the load and this is what we are working with. Would have posted earlier but i was out of the office this morning.

 

[SMSREEF]

Hard to tell exactly, but looks like the Dino’s are coming back. Is this correct?

 

[Tokash23]

No hard evidence of this just yet. I am fairly certain it was dinos i had before i didnt put it under a scope or anything but just going off pictures around the forum here.