Mark's 40 breeder spirulina battle

[Msteven1]

I am way overdue for an update. I did a complete rearrange of the scape, adding lots of caves and overhangs. Then put in the Tomini and Pygmy. It’s been 3 weeks and all are doing well.
recently bought a trident and now saving up for another DOS For auto dosing. I have BRS two part which I’m manually dosing. Not much take up from the tank yet.
Also added a CO2 scrubber to the skimmer. That and the Alk dosing has raised my Ph from 7.9 to 8.4.
I’m thinking about one more fish but I don’t want to create a war. Maybe a Mandarin from Biota?

 

[JohnAllen]

Tank in place. The original plan was to have it on the first floor. I had already ran plumbing to the basement. However after several conversations with the wife, "we" decided to put it in the basement. I had just finished a remodel and we will spend much more time down here.
So the DCS 12000 return pump was originally going to see 13 ft of total head. Calculations showed I could get 5 to 10 times tank turnover. Now I'm only going to see maybe 3'. Adding a shutoff valve on return side to throttle it down for now.
Thoughts/suggestions on adding a canopy? If I use AI Primes how high should I mount them? I'm concerned a spill out into the room.

My future view from recliner

That’s pretty slick! I’m jealous; I let my impatient’s get in the way when I setup my 40.

 

[Msteven1]

That’s pretty slick! I’m jealous; I let my impatient’s get in the way when I setup my 40.

It’s been a long road. I’m starting to add corals. I have a happy family of fish, and wife won’t let me add another! Lol

 

[fishface NJ]

How many? What do you have? ;Happy

 

[Msteven1]

How many? What do you have? ;Happy

I have 2 ocellaris clowns, stripped blenny, pygmy cherub angel and tomini tang

 

[Msteven1]

Update time. Cyano Spirulina has been kicking my butt for 2 months. (Microscope verified). Dark blue green mat
Corals and fish are doing well. Tired of the quick fix attempts:
Dose nitrates and phosphates to keep above 0
Dose phyto
Microbacter 7
Water changes
Marine Algae fix
Chemiclean at 2x dose. 5 attempts
Lighting adjustments
Pods
Here is tank today. I haven’t touched it for a week except to blow off corals.

 

[Msteven1]

As I continued to look for fixes I came across @brandon429 who I’ve followed before.
Time for a Rip Clean!!! I’ve done it on a biocube 29, and this is a 40 Breeder, so I can manage.
making a batch of saltwater now. Stay tuned.

 

[Msteven1]

Prep work started 10 am. Corals removed and stored. Rock removed to bin of tank water. Fish in container with heater and air. Ready to remove sand and rinse

 

[Msteven1]

Rinsed sand outside in 5 gallon buckets. First pic is how much sand I removed. I also had a 1/2 lb from previous siphons. Total of 1/2 bucket.

I divided into 1/4 and used garden hose to her wash. Kept turned bucket on side while spraying. Some sand escapes, but so did algae and detritus.

Dirty

youtube.com

Here is finished product. I’d say passes cloud test.

Clean

youtube.com

 

[Msteven1]

Here is what I took off top of sand before removing from tank.

I’ll post a microscope pic later

 

[Msteven1]

Shop vac makes short work of removing the last bit of sand and water

All wiped down with peroxide.

2pm…..time for an adult beverage.

 

[Msteven1]

Rock and sand back in. I couldn’t get even close to my previous scape, but I’ll give it time. Here comes fresh saltwater. 3:30 pm the old man is worn out!

 

[Msteven1]

Out of fresh salt water. But just look.

 

[Msteven1]

Here’s the best I can do with my phone. Spirulina?

 

[Msteven1]

Done for the day. 7pm.

 

[Msteven1]

24 hour update

all life forms alive and well. Probably some spirulina also, but now I can start fresh if/when it shows itself.