System update and thoughts:
In the days of social media, reef blogging, videos, live streams, etc, I see exactly how easy it is to fall for trends. I usually prefer systems with NSW parameters, and bacteria driven systems. With that in mind, I pulled UV 2 weeks ago, with thoughts of why, really, why am I running UV, but dosing bacteria? I guess the idea of new strains entering and replacing the bad? So I pulled UV, set skimmer to dry, and thought to myself to continue dosing bacteria daily. While my corals looked great, color, growth, I just can't move past sporadic dinos, cyano patches, and hair, nothing major, but just unsightly.
So, last Saturday, I did a 10 gallon water change, well over due, and decided to NOT dose bacteria. Every day, I have observed some very positive changes. I am seeing more rock, it's looking cleaner by the day. Corraline algae seems to be in bloom, corals unchanged, still looking good, but something is shifting, and I like it. Sunday, a day after water change, I measured 25ppm N03 and 0.12 PO4. So, not my typical levels, but no harm, no foul
To date I run some passive carbon, still have 2 liters siporax passive in sump, mesh filter sock rinsed weekly, and a protein skimmer. I feed heavy once per day, and use LRS quarter size, 2 cubes of Hikari mysis, at same time, rarely does the routine fluctuate. I am only dosing KZ Flatworm Stop at this time, nothing else. My big 3 handled by ESV, and salt is RS Blue Bucket.
All of this said, my reef seems to be finding its own balance, something perhaps being missed the whole time...hmmm...
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