MasiniReef SPS In Wall Peninsula

[watdachuck]

Taking a look at the ugly side that I never highlight, and why would I!!!

I just recieved two 16oz bottles of Vibrant and am anxious to see if the hype is true. Despite these rough spots in my tank I do consider it to be quite clean and am starting with the minimal dose of 1 ml per 10 gallons every two weeks. More to come...

 

[watdachuck]

I need to take some updated photos since I started using Vibrant. After 6 weeks, and 6 treatments all of the hair algae is gone! The only down side I have seen is the addition of cyanobacteria but that seems to be subsiding as well.

Just before Thanksgiving I decided to install the BRS Duo Jumbo CO2 scrubber as well, and below are my initial results. PH is definitely rising but I have not seen anything in the higher ranges (8.30-8.50). I am not necessarily seeking anything that higher but curious of the potential. It has only been a little over a week so time will tell. The interesting note is the quick change with more adults staying in the house breathing out CO2 during Thanksgiving.

BRS CO2 Scrubber Part 2 - Data

November 21: 7.80 Low - 8.00 High, Alk 9.3 (Baseline)
November 22: 8.03 Low - 8.17 High, Alk 9.1
-(Bottom 1 inch of first cylinder pink)
November 23: 8.05 Low - 8.22 High
November 24: 8.03 Low - 8.21 High, Alk 9.4
-(Bottom 4 inches of first cylinder pink)
November 25: 8.06 Low - 8.20 High, Alk 9.2
November 26: 8.05 Low - 8.20 High, Alk 9.4
-(Bottom half of first cylinder pink)
November 27: 8.01 Low - 8.16 High, Alk 9.1
-(Changed out media in cylinder one and swapped 1 with 2)
November 28: 8.08 Low - 8.14 High, Alk 9.1
-(Guessing due to Thanksgiving guests)
November 29: 8.00 Low - 8.14 High, Alk 9.0
November 30: 8.03 Low - 8.14 High, Alk 9.0
December 1: 7.96 Low - TBD High, Alk 9.0
-(Cylinder 1 nearly all pink, house guests leave this morning)
December 2: 8.08 Low - 8.19 High

 

[watdachuck]

Grow baby grow!!

 

[watdachuck]

Vibrant Follow Up: I am a believer, wow!!! @UWC

It has been 8 weeks and 8 doses into my 160G reef, and there is zero algae nor the cyanobacteria that appeared between weeks 3 and 6. I am a believer in this product and will continue to dose it on the bi-weekly scheduled. The cyano period was my skeptical point, but I imagine much of the ding algae was releasing nutrients into the tank and temporarily promoting the bacteria.

Before and after below.

 

[nickkohrn]

That looks like a different tank! The results are evident!

 

[watdachuck]

Some recent photos.

 

[watdachuck]

BoTom color change updates #emperorangelfish

 

[nickkohrn]

BoTom is looking good!

 

[watdachuck]

State if the tank address ending 2019:

Overview:
As of August 2019 my reef reached its 2 year milestone and was met with several challenges. A sudden spike in Phosphate caused a large seemingly uncontrollable algae outbreak that I never thought would end. This encouraged me to restart the use of biopellets and ultimately discontinued using chaeto in the refugium. Although chaeto is great for the reproduction of pods it was too inconsistent with nutrient export in my set up. It would thrive for a period and then be unhappy all of a sudden. My choice to attack the algae outbreak with UWC vibrant also made this necessary since it would be detrimental for the plant anyway.

Coinciding with the algae outbreak I also noticed severe burnt tips on many of my SPS corals. I had been testing my alkalinity in the 9-9.5 range for some period of time which I determined to be too high for my ULNS tank. Reducing this down to ~7.5 along with the addition of the CO2 scrubber has shown very promising results in both appearance and growth rate of almost every coral.

With the tank chemistry under control, and a healthier overall appearance in the tank I decided to also remove the only remaining true mechanical filtration (pre-filter sponge) from the sump. My intent here is too allow the smaller particulates to either recirculate back to the tank to feed the corals, or be completely removed via the protein skimmer.

It is incredible how much better the skimmer is performing with the Mazzei Venturi. There is way for airflow and bubble creation producing a much thicker and more disgusting skimmate!! The increase in the body height of the skimmer was likely an accidental success attributing to this benefit. I believe there was too much flow prior to this change creating an excessively turbulent environment at the peak of the skimmer reaction area. A thank you to the Bulk Reef Supply video reviewing skimmer air flow along side water flow to allow the most productive skimming possible.

Equipment Changes/Modifications:
- 4.5" Extension to Protein Skimmer body and Mazzei Venturi addition (May)
- 12.5" Extension to Calcium Reactor body (December)
- Added Duo Jumbo BRS CO2 Scrubber recirculating via skimmer venturi (November)
- Removed Second Vortech MP60 due to excessive flow, running single unit at 50% on Nutrient Export mode (November)

Water Treatment:
- Weekly 10% water change via Instant Ocean Reef Crystals
- LifeReef Bio Pellet Reactor
- LifeReef Calcium Reactor
- LifeReef Protein Skimmer w/CO2 scrubber
- Daily addition TLF AcroPower
- Bi-weekly addition of UWC vibrant
- Bag of BRS Carbon in sump

Water Flow:
- Ecotech Marine Vortech MP60 (50% Nutrient Export)
- Ecotech Marine L2 Return pump (40% constant - also feeds refugium which is empty)

Lighting:
- 3 X Ecotech Marine Radion Gen 4 Pro's
- 10:30 AM to 9:30 PM at 57% max intensity on Radiant Color Pre-Program

Water Quality (Last tested daily)
- Alkalinity: 7.6 DKH
- PH: 7.99 to 8.12

Others (Last tested 8/27/19)
- NH3: .02
- NO2: .007
- NO3: 1.5
- PO4: 0
-SiO2: .02
- K: 390
- Sr : 8.75
- Mg: 1260
- I: .06
- Cu: .02
- Ca: 432

 

[watdachuck]

Yesterday morning I noticed my Alkalinity had dropped to 7.4 down from 7.8 last week. I had noticed this drop over the past several days but was waiting to see if it would maintain at a slightly lower level. Since it is continuing to drop I increased the effluent drip rate out of my reactor while maintaining a PH of 6.4-6.6 inside the reactor. This is maintained with my American Marine PH controller. Growth rates and color are looking better by the day at these lower values, and I am contiouslybfeeding more to keep the Corals from starving.

 

[watdachuck]

Anyone else have limpets? This might be my favorite hitchhiker due to their natural behavior of cleaning those tough to reach places. Most notably the inside of my plumbing, and the neck of my skimmer. From the neck down to the body I could count about 200 but then stop.

 

[nickkohrn]

Anyone else have limpets? This might be my favorite hitchhiker due to their natural behavior of cleaning those tough to reach places. Most notably the inside of my plumbing, and the neck of my skimmer. From the neck down to the body I could count about 200 but then stop.

You should share a photo of your Limpet-filled sump, too. They are everywhere!

 

[watdachuck]

Ever since using vibrant I dropped the refugium to just 2 hours of light. The limpets population has taken a major hit. I wonder if it would be worth keeping the light on to support larger numbers. The Wrasses would probably appreciate it since they gobble them up whenever they enter the display.

 

[watdachuck]

FTS update

 

[watdachuck]

Had an "expert" tell me I should replace my Hanna Checker every year since it would lose accuracy. Left "old", Right "new".

I am going to test them together a few more times to see how consistent it is but they are definitely different beyond margin of error.

 

[watdachuck]

Strawberry Shortcake....Almost exactly 2 years ago.

 

[kiet_kat]

Love the tank. Hows it doing?

 

[watdachuck]

From two weeks ago

Things are coming along nicely.

 

[watdachuck]

Here are some close ups of side 1.

 

[nickkohrn]

Holy moly, that bonsai is encrusting a lot!