My own Vibrant thread

[Js.Aqua.Project]

So here is my current update.

Wednesday morning was my 4th Vibrant dose, I have not dosed NO3PO-X since Saturday as my PO4 levels returned to .02 and my NO3 still tests at 0.

I notice that I clean the glass less but still get algae growth on my glass. My cyano seems to have stopped spreading but is still in the tank and still at its worst in the refugium.

Photos from before yesterday's dose:

Note: I only turn my lights to this ugly shade for these photos to help see the algae growth.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

We recommend that people use vibrant along with whatever else they are already using. If you were using nopox to keep your nutrients low, I would continue to use it. There is really no need to discontinue use of any filtration or product but use Vibrant along with them them to rid your problem algaes.

I dose based on my weekly testing my goal is to try to keep my NO3 <5 and my PO4 around .02 so that I can try to keep the algae at bay. I use the Red Sea test kits to monitor my tank alongside my Apex (2016) for controlling light schedule (currently trying out the sunrise/sunset based schedule).

 

[UWC]

I dose based on my weekly testing my goal is to try to keep my NO3 <5 and my PO4 around .02 so that I can try to keep the algae at bay. I use the Red Sea test kits to monitor my tank alongside my Apex (2016) for controlling light schedule (currently trying out the sunrise/sunset based schedule).

Those are good numbers. For our tanks we generally shoot for 1-2ppm No3 and .02-.05 Po4 for sps dominant tanks and 2-5ppm No3 and .02-.05 Po4 for lps dominant tanks.

For lighting we usually use pretty short lighting periods unless they are in public spaces. Non public tanks 1 hour ramp, 4 hours intensity ( percentage based on what corals are in the tank and what lights it has ), 1 hour ramp back down.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

Still noticing a decrease in hair algae, and a slow down on the cyano growth, but the algae next my acans is showing no sign of stopping yet.

So here at the photos from this morning:

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

So I forgot to update on Wednesday but I did dose...it was just a really late night.

Here are my photos following yesterday's dose. Similar to @cromag08 I noticed very little change for the first few weeks of dosing. Then this week it has been a huge step forward. I have very little algae left compared to earlier photos. I did have a big jump in PO4 levels this week, which my theory states that since the abundant amount of algae is no longer present to consume the PO4 released in that process caused my spike to .16 from my normal .02-.04. I exchanged my GFO out today (trying the BRS High Capacity as I can't seem to find the AquaFX PhosBlaster I had been using previously), and that should return me to close to normal.

So here are the photos:

Still have a way to go but this week has shown the most notable amount of improvement in the tank.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Nice!

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

Anyone know whether or not Vibrant is seahorse safe? I would think so but would like to know as my wife wants to try it in her 60gal seahorse tank.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

Anyone know whether or not Vibrant is seahorse safe? I would think so but would like to know as my wife wants to try it in her 60gal seahorse tank.

@UWC what are your thoughts?

 

[UWC]

@UWC what are your thoughts?

Totally fine with seahorses. Maybe do a half dose the first time just to make sure yours aren't super sensitive to changes.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

OK, so like I said Sunday (referencing Saturday's dosing), now that I am in this what I believe is my fourth (4th) week of dosing I am noticing enormous strides in the amount of algae reduction in my 125.

I still have a slight cyano problem but I am keeping Chemi-Clean in reserves waiting on orders to see if the cyano is reduced as I continue the Vibrant treatment.

While I do not have a lot of coral in the tank at the moment, what I do have has not shown any signs of stress. Though some might in these photos as I turned my lights on about an hour after the Apex shuts them off to take these pictures.

So here is today's photo update:

In a side note, thanks @UWC for the info on Vibrant being safe with seahorses. We will probably start dosing her tank alongside my Saturday doses.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Wow, looking real good now!

 

[prsnlty]

Looks great! I started today. My reef is 2.5 years old and a well established mixed reef with tons of acro's. RS no3po4x bothers my acans and plate. My tank is stripped of no3 and has been this past 3 months so some of my acros have lost some color. Wish I could reach the ha at the bottom to help things along.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

So my weekend was nuts, so crazy that my Saturday dose was pushed back all the way to today and I missed this weekend's water change, but I will do my WC before Wednesday's dose to make up for it.

Tested my water this evening, NO3 currently still sitting at 1, and my PO4 have come back down to .04 - but whether that is due to my changed my GFO last weekend or the cyano bloom you will see below is anyone's guess.

So here are this evening's photos, I must say I have never seen a cyano bloom lack this before dosing Vibrant. Love what it is doing to all my algae, not so much the cyano blitzkrieg (seriously 75% of this growth was from last night to this afternoon)...So I called in reinforcements aka Chemi-Clean to knock the cyano out which has been running about an hour. Unfortunately I forgot to take photos before the Chemi-Clean sent my skimmer into a frenzy so there are quite a few microbubbles at the moment.

 

[prsnlty]

Wow, hope that doesn't happen to my tank, I'd lose a lot of acro's

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

Wow, hope that doesn't happen to my tank, I'd lose a lot of acro's

I have read of a few people having this issue, so far it seems the common belief is that the Vibrant is killing the algae and freeing up the PO4 the algae has been consuming that causes the cyano outbreak. I have not seen anyone having it as bad as me but they were probably more on top of making sure their GFO was kept fresh as mine was way overdue for a change.

 

[prsnlty]

I wonder if a waterchange the night before each dose would help as well

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

That has been my goal, I do a WC about an hour before I have been dosing. This weekend was the first time that didn't happen.

 

[prsnlty]

And yes I think you're correct about the gfo needing to be fresh. And I'll bet with as much po4 that's going into the water you'll need to change it more frequently

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

So I'm not sure if there has been progress or regression this week. The cyano looks better thanks to a combo of Vibrant supplemented with Chemi-Clean. I did my water change this evening just prior to dosing. There are a few spots where a little hair algae has returned but overall the tank is still about 90% better than where it was before I started.

So here are today's photos:

 

[prsnlty]

I've had chemiclean kill pods and bacteria. Maybe that's the reason for regression? Are you still dosing the Vibrant?