Norwegian Fjord

[dimidragos]

How are the corals doing? I know you had concerns with adding so many at once.

Thanks for the question Brew. Right now I don't know because I was not home from Friday. I did not notice notice something wrong until now with my corals. They are open up an show nice color. I didn't notice a significant growth except my Xenia. I'm happy to see some growth in two of my Sps corals, one montipora confusa I think (green with pink polips) and other I don't know the name.
This is montipora


A close up with my pavona who show also some growth

I'm more concerned now what will be when my nutrients are 0 No3 and Po4

 

[dimidragos]

The one in the left grow good and I don't know the name

 

[Brew12]

The one in the left grow good and I don't know the name

Looks healthy to me!

 

[dimidragos]

This sea star show up after two weeks ... I was surprised

 

[Brew12]

This sea star show up after two weeks ... I was surprised

Wonderful photo! How large is it?

 

[dimidragos]

Wonderful photo! How large is it?

Thanks, it's small around 4cm

 

[NY_Caveman]

Great images! That Pavona close up is beautiful!

 

[Brew12]

Wonderful photo! How large is it?

Hopefully it isn't a pest variety. Most of these astarina stars are harmless but some can eat corals. Keep an eye on them!

 

[dimidragos]

No, i don't think it's a pest variety. I didn't see it close to any coral. Now hide again somewhere under the rocks. I really hope to be more visible because i like it but hide alot.

 

[Gareth elliott]

What ever species it is, its a pretty one [emoji23]

 

[Brew12]

What ever species it is, its a pretty one [emoji23]

That is what has me worried! It's too pretty to be safe!

 

[Saltygirl]

Maybe it’s this kind?

 

[Gareth elliott]

I occasionally feed my bali starfish angel diet. When i see it on the sand bed place a cube under its mouth in the sand bed. Mind you sponges only make up some of its diet not all of it so this might not work with something that only eats sponges.
Also my bali doesnt eat all sponges, my red tree sponge is never touched, assuming its the toxicity.
Bonus to the san Francisco angel diet is when placed in my IM defroster is slowly dissolves over several hours. When i know i am not going to be home for a second meal i throw one in.

 

[dimidragos]

Maybe it’s this kind?

Hello, and sorry for my late answer. It's exactly that one just mine is a red color and this looks more orange. I'm agree with this comment,
my sea star stay away from corals but loves the live rocks, and i have planty. I did not see her on the sand bed also. I don't feed her because i don't know how and also i didn't see her often, i have a lot of caves and hiding places in my tank. I really hope that she will live but i'm not proud to admit that i didn't do so much to help her...Other observation is that is moving fast, many times disappear in few minutes...

 

[dimidragos]

Hello. Few days before i become a happy owner of an Apex Neptune 2016. I like the device, i like to se how ph and temperature fluctuate over 24 hours. ORP probe it's pretty usefull also because that help me to use a Sander Certizon 25mg ozonizator. After i live the ORP in water for 24 hours i reed 165 value. I start to add slowly ozone into the skimmer using a 6 mm T connection on the air inlet hose and in another 24 hours the ORP value was 200. The water was already more clear and i continue to add Ozone at 25mg per hour until i reach 260 Orp value. I set up to stop the ozone generator at 260 and start again at 250. If before i was happy with my water clearness now after i add ozone looks amazing. I think the skimmer works better also. I notice also that the ORP drop from 260 to 250 in less that 30 minutes and i also think that i'm almost on max ORP level with this small ozone generator but honestly i don't want to rise more to be in safe area.



After 3 days and many try i succed to calibrate the salinity probe but after few minute on 34.9 start to rise up to 55 and over. That's the only stuff i don't like with this controller.

Other improvement and i'm sure one of my best upgrades it's an Co2 scrubber same to the skimmer air inlet. I chose ATI Co2 scruber media in a old small reactor with only 750 ml volume i see after two days an increase of 0.2 in Ph level. Before was close to 7.8 in night time and i didn't like that so much.



Now i will start to speak about problems, and the biggest one its alkalinity. I can't have the alk in control. i try to use he kalkmixer but i can't match the Ro water dosage because i have a bad dosing pump. More, i understand that the two test i have from Aquaforest and Salifert show different levels. I try them with the standard check s solution from the kit and i discover that both tests show wrong values. Big disappointment for salifert (over 1 dKh over range) after ammonia test disappoint me totally some wile before. I really don't know what to do, i dont know the real Kh level and now with higher Ph i will have high alk usage.
I still have No3 and Po4 levels 0 but my corals looks ok. I have two weeks since last WC. I have small algae, the sand is not perfect clean but it's ok i think. I don't know if i take the right decision about WC...

 

[mta_morrow]

Awesome work and effort!

I don't believe I have ever seen anything like this accomplished in this time frame!

Well done!

 

[Big G]

Last week, just before i live in holiday i receive the algae reactor. The brand its Pacific Sun made in Poland. The build quality it's very good in high quality cast acrylic and nice design also. I like the original ball valve witch comes together with reactor. The light included it's pretty powerful, i was afraid that will be to powerful. The size i order was size M rated for tanks up to 1000 liter - 260g size. A nice feature it's the special inlet for the calcium reactor with 5 mm pipe and a small ball valve included. it will help remove the rest of c02 from effluent and incise Ph level in final effluentI think it's a smart idea to connect the calcium reactor in the algae reactor for more stabile PH levels . The real volume of cylinder its around 9.2 liter. Now the only regret is that i didn't order the large one because in this i need to collect the chaeto often...



I was lucky to find some time and i install the reactor last thusday before i live in holiday. I fill with all chaeto i have and when i see the amount i was really skeptic....I set the reactor to work in only 8 hour running, reverse daylight cycle, from 11pm to 7am.
the recommanded flow it's 1000-1500l/h, pipe in /out 20mm, bottom up flow patern, green plant grow led light with 23W power, size 190x190x550mm



I come back yesterday and i was happy to see some chato growth inside but only today i open the reaktor and i really didn't believe my eyes...you can see the result!



Almost full with nice, green and compact chaeto, i really think that was 10 times more that i add!!

Wow! That algae reactor is awesome! It's been awhile since this part of your post, how's the reactor doing now?

 

[Big G]

How is the water quality in Norway? Noticed you were using a silica remover.

 

[dimidragos]

Awesome work and effort!

I don't believe I have ever seen anything like this accomplished in this time frame!

Well done!

Thank's so much for your words !! Was some work in begin, now it's more relaxing . Soon the tank will be 3 months old and after i do everything in so much rush i'm still happy to see all my fish and corals happy.

 

[dimidragos]

Wow! That algae reactor is awesome! It's been awhile since this part of your post, how's the reactor doing now?

Hello Big G, that's true this algae reactor it's awesome! Nothing wrong with it, algae grow really good even with undetectable No3 and Po4 levels (anyway now i don't thrust any tests !!). It run now only 8 hours in day with a flow around 7-800 liter per hour and i must empty it after maximum two weeks. Not any problem since start.
We have good water quality in Norway, everybody drink tap water here, no trace of No3, TDS 37-40, the water come from lakes or springs. Before this tank i run for short time other small one and i experience a real algae problem. I order that silica remover for that tank but before i get i decide to upgrade and i didn't use it. I use it in this tank since i start even if i didn't see any trace of silicate with my Salifert, just precaution and prevention.I don't know if this was the reason or no but i didn't deal with much algae problem . Now i will remove the second 500g bag and i don't add new, i will see what happen...
Thanks for your intress!!
P.S. some algae issue i will speak soon