Awesome!
If you don't have one already, it is time to grab a microscope. Here is mine. Dinos are no joke. If that was a 0.0 on Hanna ULR, keep dumping in PO4. The rock and sand will bind all of it for a while. Avoid aminos like the plague; dinos love them.Time for an update:
2+ weeks later, and so far quite impressed. I am getting some noise in the biome, I suspect it will calm down in time. A clear bacteria sludge formed in the sump, likely due to new piping, glass, plastics, glues, silicone, etc. Yesterday I vacuumed the sump with my bucket top wet dry vac, replaced with 10 fresh gallons of salwater. Also, I am seeing, dare I say, a possible form of dinos in the display, mainly in sandbed. Despite all of this, I will continue Aquaforest Probiotic Method, but, a slight tweak for now.
So nutrients are good, but.... 0.00 P04 has raised my eyebrows. I am very happy with N03 at 2.5-5ppm. That said, bacteria, possible dinos, I decided, for now to raise P04 by a start dose of 5ml, a Jumpstart dose yesterday, and a continued dose of 2.5ml daily, at least until I reach maturity. The 60 gallon also was naturally P04 limited, so I sort of expect same here, but that system was quite mature, and ill effected.
Finally, I am chasing PH, using a scrubber, I am convinced this is crucial to the health of the system. Only 1 problem, humidity. I have to add water like every other day, as it dries up quickly in the reactor, not running recirculating, nor do I plan. I ordered a Milwaukee PH monitor, it arrives today, and I will be documenting my findings. I will likely fabricate a humidity canister where the scrubber can draw humid air. If not, I will drill for fresh air, lol
Gotcha!
After dumping 17.5 ml of seachem phosphorus into the tank yesterday, 7.5ml in am, and 10ml pm, I registered 0.02 for P04. So, I will split dose again today, and bump to 20ml, and repeat test tomorrow. I have a brand new bottle of BW Nitro on hand just in case my N03 plummets. That said, 2 more bottle of seachem phosphorus on order.Good that you caught the PO4 depletion early. Back before I had a ton of fish in my frag system, I went through two liters of DIY phosphate before I could keep any residual. But once the aragonite (sump rock) became saturated the need to dose went away. And yeah, I had to go through dinos a couple times too. I got so sick of testing PO4 and nitrate every. single. day.P04 saga continues, man am I glad I caught this before trouble ensues
Side note, I will get some pics tomorrow, but I am experiencing a color and growth boom. Even dormant ones coming alive. Fox Flame is putting out new tips and showing pe, plus almost colored back up. I have a couple rescues as well, and the Pink Caddi was stn'ng, and now healing and coloring. Thanks for following along, something special brewing, I hope to not disappoint
I also picked up a baby ORA file fish. My hawkfish fish was eying it upon release, but so far so good. Also added kalkwasser to top off, hoping to see a rise in ph. Pretty much going back in time in reefing, lol.
APEX Fusion measurement charts and logs are crucial to me for piecing some of these interactions together.
Very cool fish I had a biota one for a few years that I gave away before I moved. Keep an eye on him though mine had an expensive taste for Euphyllia and any exposed polyps.So, if you see in some pics, I have some healthy aptasia in the tank. Yesterday I picked up the ORA Aptasia Eating File Fish. The little guy is about an inch. Today I am seeing him picking around the rocks, also noticing shriveled aptasia, maybe I get lucky! Cool little fish nonetheless
I will Tim, It's an interesting fish indeed, I hope it likes aptasia instead of polyps, lol
