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11/18/2020, 11:27 AM | #201 | |
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I went down to check on Plank and Molly McGwire, the converted to saltwater molly and I saw a wonderful thing happening in the fuge. Watch this 30 second video: https://youtu.be/Aop59miOCOk
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Genesis 1:20 - Current Tank Info: A 56 gallon naural nutrient macro reef that flows into a 30 gallon fuge with macros/seagrass that flows into a 20 gallon sump. |
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11/18/2020, 11:40 AM | #202 |
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Tiny helpers! Very cool.
Ulva seems to be a high nutrient kinda plant. When it has enough light and nutrients, it grows faster than anything I've seen.
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As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018 |
11/18/2020, 11:55 AM | #203 | |
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Genesis 1:20 - Current Tank Info: A 56 gallon naural nutrient macro reef that flows into a 30 gallon fuge with macros/seagrass that flows into a 20 gallon sump. |
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11/29/2020, 01:59 PM | #204 |
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I was just looking at my thread and reread one of your posts, containing this little nugget:
"Ha ha, 'entropy' came to my mind when I was sprucing my tank up for my son's visit. He also has a marine tank and we both work feverishly on our aquariums to whip them into shape for a good showing when we visit each other. It's kind of cute actually." I think this is priceless! I am sooooo jealous. I'm sure you know how lucky you are to have an aquarium buddy/competitor. I do the occasional showing to my friends, and it's pretty awesome, but they don't quite have the same understanding of what I'm doing. Having someone who understands all the intricacies of aquarium keeping makes the experience so much richer. Lucky you!
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As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018 |
11/29/2020, 03:27 PM | #205 |
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Hey, ever think about adding a few SPS? I can see something like a Monti cap looking nice in your tank!
Last edited by ThePurple12; 11/29/2020 at 03:32 PM. |
11/30/2020, 09:07 AM | #206 | |
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Genesis 1:20 - Current Tank Info: A 56 gallon naural nutrient macro reef that flows into a 30 gallon fuge with macros/seagrass that flows into a 20 gallon sump. |
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11/30/2020, 09:21 AM | #207 |
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I used the upcoming birth of my daughter as an excuse to try my first marine tank! I think she enjoyed it as a baby, but 26 years later, she thinks I'm the king of geeks.
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As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018 |
11/30/2020, 02:04 PM | #208 | |
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Genesis 1:20 - Current Tank Info: A 56 gallon naural nutrient macro reef that flows into a 30 gallon fuge with macros/seagrass that flows into a 20 gallon sump. |
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12/01/2020, 08:53 AM | #209 |
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My 9 year old Coralife quad hot5 fixture has gone on the blink this past week. Bummer! 3 of the 4 bulbs are not coming on without constant tinkering and that is not acceptable.
I really considered switching to LEDs or a hybrid fixture but both of those options require more financial commitment than I am willing to do. Also my tank is a 30" which is an odd length and so when I located HOT5 bulbs, I bought ahead. I could not even find a hybrid fixture that could use 30" bulbs. All I saw were 24" or 36". So I am staying with what I have had good luck with and is within my budget.
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Genesis 1:20 - Current Tank Info: A 56 gallon naural nutrient macro reef that flows into a 30 gallon fuge with macros/seagrass that flows into a 20 gallon sump. |
12/01/2020, 09:37 AM | #210 |
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I agree, LEDs are impressive, but not THAT impressive. It seems the only ones worth having are insanely expensive. They also seem to encourage folks to become blue-obsessed, to get that fluorescence in their corals. I'm sorry but the black light look bears no resemblance to anything I've seen in Nature.
Please forgive my rant. I guess I've been needing to say that for awhile now… By the way, I think a 24 inch fixture, centered over a 30 inch tank would be more than fine.
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As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018 |
12/01/2020, 04:11 PM | #211 | |
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Yes, I really considered going down to a 24" hybrid fixture. Then I realized that the one I was looking to buy for a bit more than the Coralife quad t5 did not come with the LEDs or t5 bulbs. That along with the fact that I have brand new 30" t5 bulbs already made it a no brainer for this thrifty reefer.
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Genesis 1:20 - Current Tank Info: A 56 gallon naural nutrient macro reef that flows into a 30 gallon fuge with macros/seagrass that flows into a 20 gallon sump. |
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12/01/2020, 05:05 PM | #212 |
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I was confused. So you were able to find a new 30 inch fixture to use with your bulbs you pre-bought? That's the ticket!
Thanks for the rant forgiveness. I try to confine them to my own thread. Sometimes I can't stop myself!
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As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018 |
12/01/2020, 05:50 PM | #213 |
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December 1st FTS?
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12/02/2020, 07:40 AM | #214 | |
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Genesis 1:20 - Current Tank Info: A 56 gallon naural nutrient macro reef that flows into a 30 gallon fuge with macros/seagrass that flows into a 20 gallon sump. |
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12/02/2020, 07:41 AM | #215 |
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I do not have the new fixture yet. It won't come until next week.
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Genesis 1:20 - Current Tank Info: A 56 gallon naural nutrient macro reef that flows into a 30 gallon fuge with macros/seagrass that flows into a 20 gallon sump. |
12/02/2020, 11:36 AM | #216 |
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Oh duh
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12/06/2020, 07:45 AM | #217 |
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I bought some Seachem Flourish iron and Excell to dose both iron and carbon to my tank. I am going to dose conservatively and see if my seagrass/macro algae improve over the next weeks and months. Prior to this I was only dosing strontium and Coral-vite after water changes and I am guessing now that I do not do as many water changes that that is not sufficient to make up for the consumption of depleted elements.
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Genesis 1:20 - Current Tank Info: A 56 gallon naural nutrient macro reef that flows into a 30 gallon fuge with macros/seagrass that flows into a 20 gallon sump. |
12/06/2020, 08:08 AM | #218 |
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Sounds like a good idea. Without the need for as many water changes, dosing is an easy way to give your plants what they want.
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As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018 |
12/06/2020, 12:50 PM | #219 | |
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Genesis 1:20 - Current Tank Info: A 56 gallon naural nutrient macro reef that flows into a 30 gallon fuge with macros/seagrass that flows into a 20 gallon sump. |
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12/06/2020, 01:13 PM | #220 |
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Iron does cloud the water for a while. It'll clear up in a few hours.
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As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018 |
12/06/2020, 04:23 PM | #221 |
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[I bought some Seachem Flourish iron and Excell to dose both iron and carbon to my tank]
[Flourish Excel is a source of bioavailable organic carbon. All plants require a source of carbon. This is typically obtained from CO2, but, may also be derived from simple organic compounds (such as photosynthetic intermediates)] Product description above. Dawn, In nature, carbon dioxide in air is converted to glucose through photosynthesis. Glucose as carbon is moved up the food chain. In addition to carbon entering reef tank through carbon dioxide coupled with photosynthesis, carbon enters reef tank with food. Use fish to convert dry food into marine snow for your system.
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Laissez les bons temps rouler, Patrick Castille Current Tank Info: 10,000G. Greenhouse Macro Growout |
12/06/2020, 05:38 PM | #222 | |
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I have heard of the red redfield ratio and Michael has explained some of it to me but I still struggle to grasp it all. Plants/microalgae need nitrates, phosphates and carbon to build their structures but I am not sure how that happens. All I understood was nutrients fed plants but I did not understand how.
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Genesis 1:20 - Current Tank Info: A 56 gallon naural nutrient macro reef that flows into a 30 gallon fuge with macros/seagrass that flows into a 20 gallon sump. |
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12/06/2020, 06:48 PM | #223 |
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Thanks Patrick, but I am not quite getting all this. Are you saying that if I feed my fish heavy enough they will provide the necessary carbon through their fish wastes?
Dawn, Yes. Fish detritus is food for the reef as it feeds a diverse crew of micro fauna & fana that generate the microbial highway and move carbon up the food chain. Consider carbon as the building block for all life in your tank. Major (nitrogen potassium & phosphate) and minor/trace minerals are required to grow. Pure carbon enters the reef as carbon dioxide coupled with photosynthesis. Carbon is not the only thing in fish food It contains major & minor minerals/nutrients. In my opinion, carbon dosing coupled with protein skimming in not only unnecessary but can be detrimental in contributing to skewed bacteria populations in the sediments: Cynobacteria comes to mind.
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Laissez les bons temps rouler, Patrick Castille Current Tank Info: 10,000G. Greenhouse Macro Growout |
12/06/2020, 10:36 PM | #224 | |
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Genesis 1:20 - Current Tank Info: A 56 gallon naural nutrient macro reef that flows into a 30 gallon fuge with macros/seagrass that flows into a 20 gallon sump. |
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12/06/2020, 10:43 PM | #225 | |
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Genesis 1:20 - Current Tank Info: A 56 gallon naural nutrient macro reef that flows into a 30 gallon fuge with macros/seagrass that flows into a 20 gallon sump. |
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