ritter6788's 75 gallon sps

[Flameback Pair]

Thanks Andy! I used to run the ROX but I switched to the lignite just because it's less messy for me. I've run GFO off and on over the years. When something goes wrong though it's "one of those things we blame" for the issues. Whenever my corals don't seem right GFO is the first thing I unplug.

I've been thinking of switching to ROX. You say it's messy, how so?

 

[ritter6788]

I've been thinking of switching to ROX. You say it's messy, how so?

It's very small like thin grains of rice. It gets in the sponges and is hard to get out. The lignite is larger and easier to clean out when changing. I know many use the ROX and have great results with it. It's just personal preference for me.

 

[ritter6788]

LOokin good bro. keep up the good hard work!

Thanks Rob!

Very NICE Gabriel, finally found and read through your entire build thread. I now kind of miss my old 75g, it was so stable and an easy to take care of. Great photog skills as well, for me still in the early stages of working with a DSLR but did receive my new Tamron 90mm Macro today so who knows.... wish me luck.

Cheers, Todd

Thanks TJ. I've learned a ton about photos by reading here and learning from some of the great photographers here.

Don't know how I missed it, but your tank is looking great!!

Thanks Krista!

 

[ritter6788]

Well I ditched the GFO already. I think it's ok to use in small amounts occasionally but I can't see any reason to run it all the time on my tank. I noticed increased growth the first few days I used it but for the last week growth slowed. I unplugged the GFO reactor and growth picked up again. I think there's a fine line there between low phosphates and zero phosphates and it's too tough for me to walk that line.

 

[ritter6788]

I'm not really Chalice guy but this BGM is becoming one of my favorite pieces.

 

[skinz78]

Nice shots Gabe!

 

[ritter6788]

ritter6788's 75 gallon

Time for my semi-annual hurricane.

I started doing this after moving the tank one time. When I moved it I siphoned out all the old detritus and sand. Once I did the sps growth improved. Now instead of breaking down the whole tank again I use extra powerheads and place them in random places. After everything cleans up again I siphon the sump and do a big water change in the process.

 

[chefb_5]

Does the semi- annual hurricane help in any way or is it just for fun?

 

[Connie]

Love your tank.....even during a hurricane! lol

 

[ritter6788]

Does the semi- annual hurricane help in any way or is it just for fun?

I submitted my post on accident before I finished typing. I edited it to show the reason why I do this.

 

[ritter6788]

Love your tank.....even during a hurricane! lol

Thanks Connie.

 

[Reloadeddevil]

Wowwww!!!!!!!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

You're tank is just beautiful bro!

 

[trido]

Awesome tank. I like you're idea for the semi annual hurricane. I didn't look through all 17 pages to find out.....Do you have a sand bed?

 

[ritter6788]

Wowwww!!!!!!!

Thanks I think.

You're tank is just beautiful bro!

Thanks Rev!

Awesome tank. I like you're idea for the semi annual hurricane. I didn't look through all 17 pages to find out.....Do you have a sand bed?

Thank you. I removed my sandbed a year or 2 ago and never looked back. I won't do another tank with a sandbed ever again. Never say never but my tank is so much better without the sand. I was always having algae problems until I removed the sand. Plus, I can keep corals down there and not worry about cleaning the sand off all the time.

 

[Meers]

A stunner. Amazing corals and overall look. Congratulations!

 

[ritter6788]

I'm trying an experiment with my chaeto, as in, removing it all. Stuff barely grows and every water change I do it's messsy, full of detritus and I have to siphon all the old scraps out of the sump. I'm going to attempt a cleaner approach sump and see if it helps or hurts or makes no difference. If I can keep phosphates down without chaeto it will be one less thing to maintain. Being able to remove all detritus may be a better benefit than having chaeto to remove phosphates. I'll find out soon.

A stunner. Amazing corals and overall look. Congratulations!

Thank you!

 

[cmaxwell39]

Good luck with the cheato experiment. Do you carbon dose at all, or what is your method of dealing with phosphates? I have not run cheato or any sort of macro on my current tank since startup and never had any problems with nutrients, but I also dose vinegar and run a large skimmer.

Every tank is different, the trick is finding the balance for your particular setup.

 

[Antnee]

Beautiful pics!

 

[ritter6788]

Good luck with the cheato experiment. Do you carbon dose at all, or what is your method of dealing with phosphates? I have not run cheato or any sort of macro on my current tank since startup and never had any problems with nutrients, but I also dose vinegar and run a large skimmer.
Every tank is different, the trick is finding the balance for your particular setup.

I don't do anything for phosphates. I used to run GFO when I had a sandbed and I could see my sps growth increase when I used it. After removing the sand I've run GFO and I think it's overdoing it and stripping the water, even in very small amounts. I actually get stunted growth when I use GFO now. I never get anything other than a 0.00 phosphate reading on my Hanna checker. I do have a mega skimmer for my tank. It's rated for 250 gallons and was the biggest I could fit in my sump. I don't dose vodka or use biopellets or anything like that. I saw improvements after removing the sand I'm rethinking the whole refugium thing altogether. Is it helping or just a place detritus collects? If water quality improves without all the mess of a fuge it's a +1 IMO.

Beautiful pics!

Thank you!