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Unread 10/25/2017, 11:52 AM   #826
Wally.B
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sensei View Post
Wally,

have you ever dosed iron?
I was reading the same thing.
I have never dosed iron, but I read an article from Randy Holmes and he recommended to dose iron for algae filters. The thing is that he also mentioned that it can also encourage other kinds of algae and I do not want algae in dt to be encouraged.
HAHA.

You must had read the same Randy Article I did.
No I never dosed Iron, and as I said, not point risking anything at this point.
My ATS is starting to speed up. My water changes bring in fresh Iron balanced with all other Trace Elements.
But as Randy say, if you do dose Iron (sparingly) you must use a Cheated Iron.


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Unread 10/25/2017, 12:01 PM   #827
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sensei View Post
Wally,
do you still have the pod farm connected to any of your tanks?
I am thinking of doing one, but not sure how to do it?
Yes, I have my Copepod farm. Been running very well for over a year (from one starter batch. 10th generation pods)

No it not connected to any of my Tank for a Good Reason.
---> Copepod farm is Filthy. My N=200+, Never tested P

And filthy works best!!!

I just harvest Pods and put into tank every once in a while when I see large population. I do my farm mostly for my Mandarin.

All you need is a 1-2 Gallon Jar, or to make easier to clean 5 Gallon Tank (like I have).
Add pods (I use Reef Nutrition Tiger Pods) and Airline for bubbled oxygen (no airstone, just bubbles_.
NO heater.
Room light is good enough.

Water changes once every 3-6 months (not joking)

To harvest pods you should get a Sieve. I have two (100 micro for Pods, 75 Micron for Napeui (baby pods)
You can use Sieves to scoop out pods from Copepod Farm. Light rinse with clean water, and straight into you tank or sump.

And when I do water changes, I run airline and drain Farm through both sieves, (fill back with new water) and put back pods.

When pods grow there will be a sediment at bottom of farm. I never remove it, since it's where the baby pods are.
WHen too much acculimated, you put thru sieve rinsing with TAP water. They are hardy so tap water is fine.

For food you need Phytoplankton/Rotifers. I just use Reef Nutrition Phytopheast.

I documented some of my Farm details here.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2463026


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Unread 10/25/2017, 02:27 PM   #828
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Side Show ( IceFire and Pacman) 1 Week Sneak Peek

Most of the Frags are covered and out of sight. (For the Nov 10th Strip Show). Might be a Live Stream Event.

But as I pass by back of tank, it's hard not to notice the WHITE Bleaching on one of the Original $7 Frag (once that wasn't doing well)

I did leave two frags visible (not Covered), so it's all I have to go on.




No worries at this point.

The good news is I had these two Frag in not so long ago past, and I pooched them both pretty quickly.


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Unread 10/25/2017, 04:46 PM   #829
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wally.B View Post
Yes, I have my Copepod farm. Been running very well for over a year (from one starter batch. 10th generation pods)

No it not connected to any of my Tank for a Good Reason.
---> Copepod farm is Filthy. My N=200+, Never tested P

And filthy works best!!!

I just harvest Pods and put into tank every once in a while when I see large population. I do my farm mostly for my Mandarin.

All you need is a 1-2 Gallon Jar, or to make easier to clean 5 Gallon Tank (like I have).
Add pods (I use Reef Nutrition Tiger Pods) and Airline for bubbled oxygen (no airstone, just bubbles_.
NO heater.
Room light is good enough.

Water changes once every 3-6 months (not joking)

To harvest pods you should get a Sieve. I have two (100 micro for Pods, 75 Micron for Napeui (baby pods)
You can use Sieves to scoop out pods from Copepod Farm. Light rinse with clean water, and straight into you tank or sump.

And when I do water changes, I run airline and drain Farm through both sieves, (fill back with new water) and put back pods.

When pods grow there will be a sediment at bottom of farm. I never remove it, since it's where the baby pods are.
WHen too much acculimated, you put thru sieve rinsing with TAP water. They are hardy so tap water is fine.

For food you need Phytoplankton/Rotifers. I just use Reef Nutrition Phytopheast.

I documented some of my Farm details here.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2463026
Thanks,

I will read that thread and get back to you.
do you keep track of that thread?
should I ask about that in there or here?


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470g DT SPS dominated (600g system) - five 400W MH, BK 250 & BK300 SM Skimmer
150g mixed reef - XR15w Pro, 90 g Coral quarantine - XR15w Pro, 150g FOWLR tank, 20g TTM Fish Qt
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Unread 10/25/2017, 04:55 PM   #830
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wally.B View Post
HAHA.

You must had read the same Randy Article I did.
No I never dosed Iron, and as I said, not point risking anything at this point.
My ATS is starting to speed up. My water changes bring in fresh Iron balanced with all other Trace Elements.
But as Randy say, if you do dose Iron (sparingly) you must use a Cheated Iron.
yes, should be that one.
I have chelated iron in my work, so it would be easy to get it pure, but I am afraid to test.


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470g DT SPS dominated (600g system) - five 400W MH, BK 250 & BK300 SM Skimmer
150g mixed reef - XR15w Pro, 90 g Coral quarantine - XR15w Pro, 150g FOWLR tank, 20g TTM Fish Qt
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Unread 10/25/2017, 05:39 PM   #831
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sensei View Post
Thanks,

I will read that thread and get back to you.
do you keep track of that thread?
should I ask about that in there or here?
Post there. This thread is cluttered enough.


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Unread 10/25/2017, 05:44 PM   #832
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KILLER Cowrie (Caught Red Snouted Again) Killer or Cleaner???

So one of my Torches from other Tank was on last breath (after that PH spike).

Since it looked like it wouldn't recover, I thought no big risk to try saving in FRAG Tank.

I decided to put on Right side where LED lighting is (MH might be too strong)

Thought Cowrie doesn't eat LPS Polyp, only SPS. WRONG!!!

Earlier today, I saw him hanging around Torch Trunk thinking just cleaning specs of Algae.



Then I was passing Frag Tank an noticed he was digging into the Torches Head, ripping out the Guts (you see floating on left of Torch).

I doubt he was cleaning. HE WAS RIPPING TORCH APART.

Torch is half dead anyway, but I movef it to other side of Frag Tank.

Bad COWRIE. Dangerious Cowrie.


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Unread 10/25/2017, 06:02 PM   #833
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The TIGER Cowrie wasn't cleaning the Torch!!!

When I first saw the Attack, it's snout was digging into the Healthy side of the Torch.

I tapped it with a stick, and ran to grab my camera and took that photo with it Cowrie retracted (Red Snout out).

I had little hope for the Golden Aussie Torch. Most torches once they start dying never make it. So I'm not upset.

Good lesson learned to keep this Cowrie away from all living corals.

Eventually he'll go back into the DT Refuge or the Frag Tank Baffle box since I want this Frag Tank full operational.


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Unread 10/26/2017, 10:19 PM   #834
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ok. I peeked a bit a the frags from the back side.

Glad I was a Peeping Tom

Some creature lifted and knocked off one of the frags. It was hanging on the rack leaning against the Nicely Recovering Monti (Frag-Tip down).

Monti sustained a very TINY scar, but the Frag Bleached tip down half way.
Glad it was one of the $7 Frags that wasn't doing that well.

I still like the blindfold (for stress relief), but I will glance squinting so I don't see details to check on the Frags every once in a while.

Full Strip Peeling show is still next Friday, but may this weekend we'll have the beauties strip half way, and do a Topless show only.

The bottom show with hoping some encrustmenting will be as planned.


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Unread 10/27/2017, 06:38 PM   #835
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[[ Friday Night ]] STRIP SHOW - PART 1 ( TIPS )

Here we go......



Let's see those TIPS !!!



11 of 14 survivors (FOR MY TANK) isn't too bad.

The 3 bad ones had initial health problems.

GOOD NEWS all decliners are the $7 Frags.

No worries about the Prized Pieces (So Far)


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Unread 10/27/2017, 10:48 PM   #836
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Time for Inspection (Why the 3 Bad Frags went Bad?)

Here they are anyway (NO Encrustment Closeups, that will be Next Friday's Strip Show)

I need to understand if 3 Frags are just weak ones, or something else.
If something dangerous, I need to identify before others get affected.




-> One Frag I understand why it bleached. (Knocked over onto Monti, and direct contact).

-> However the 2nd wasn't doing that bad.

-> One is half bleached and probably won't survive.

INTERESTING PART is both the Bleached Frags have one of the Serpent Bristle Stars on them.

And this (2nd One) also has a bristle worm.



Should be an issue, but I always wondered why the Plating Monti went bad so quickly, after years of nothing.



Last edited by Wally.B; 10/27/2017 at 11:01 PM.
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Unread 10/28/2017, 09:57 AM   #837
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Close Investigation (COMPARISION) BLUE ACRO [ SPS TANK vs FRAG TANK ]

So I took at rough look at Frag Plugs, and it's clear there isn't much encrusting going on.

Best thing I have is those two Deep Blu Acros that I threw one into each tank.

-> The SPS tank has been somewhat Stable (water parameter), lighting is being ramped up (photoperiod, and PARS)
----------> FRAG doesn't look great at bottom
----------> Coloration look pretty good



-> The FRAG tank has been very Unstable (HIGH P, P drops, etc)
----------> FRAG isn't receding at Bottom like SPS Tank Frag
----------> Frag is a browner than SPS tank Frag
----------> PE is about the same



I would say the FRAG tank FRAG look Healthier in general (and that is what concerns me).

I wish to use this double frag opportunity to address anything (if possible) before the other FRAGs are negatively affected.

Any thoughts?
------> Keep Watching closely (change nothing)
------> Continue to increase PhotoPeriod in SPS tank (Currently at 5:45 Hours, Target is 6:30-8 HRS)


I am doing DAILY (3% water changes) in SPS tank as a SLOW way of bringing down P and in general keeping water quality high.


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Unread 10/28/2017, 02:54 PM   #838
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Mexican Turbo Snail ( Frag Flipper/Knocker ) Will be Janked!!

Put a web Timelapse CAM on Frag and caught the Turbo Snail almost flipping another Frag (same spot).



He's already knocked off two other Frags on Rocks (Forest Fire, Monti), on top of the Frag he dropped onto Plating Monti.

I think Sump Duty is best place till all Frags are mounted.
ACTUALLY, Why not Frag Tank. He won't eat Corals (Like the Cowrie) !!


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Unread 10/28/2017, 11:30 PM   #839
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Unread 10/29/2017, 10:25 PM   #840
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FRAGS Update (Not as Bad as I thought) Trying to save a couple of STN's

So I removed the Cover-Up Strip and did some base inspections.

No Entrustment, but that's OK.

Actually I don't have any noticable growth across the new Frags.

Other than the IceFire which doesn't look that great, SSC weakly showing PE, many the Frags are doing ok.

What I noticed while Inspecting CloseUp Photos of all my Corals is they are improving in Color.
They are also getting kind of Beefier thicker skin, and PE.

So I can live with that.
I'm still slowly increasing PhotoPeriod, and that should help.

Two $7 Frags are doing STN from bottom up, like a Themometer.
I can't watch them fade away, (ESPECIALLY since TOP look really good)
PLUGS are not that great looking (Green Cyano/Alage build up)

Just $7 Frag, so I dipped them in ATI MELAFIX, cut just at Healthy part, and put on New Clean Plugs into some Putty and glue.

(FRAG #05)


(FRAG #10)


Will they survive (the cutting), we'll see. But they were going to die doing nothing.

Everything now looks better without the Bleaching Frags.
Back to 100% all good Frags!! [2 Fixed, 2 Thrown out]


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Unread 10/30/2017, 09:05 PM   #841
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P04 Dropping (with no GFO) 2.0% water Change (ATS Growth accelerated)

The Algae Scrubber continues to speed up.

Not sure if it's the FIRST Replacement Screen that has matured?



PO4 is dropping which I assume happens at this low range, even though I have no Carbon or GFO. (Feeding Fish more, but Rinsing Frozen)

Or is if the 2.0% water changes are fueling Scrubber (so double impact on PO4)

I know fast PO4 Drops are NOT a good thing, so watching closely.


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Unread 10/30/2017, 10:24 PM   #842
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[FOR RECORDS] All Frags Photo (White LED)

After Cutting Down FOUR STN Frags (two tossed), plus Frag Rack Moved UP and ACROSS Towards Center of Tank.



I moved the rack more towards center of tank (Away from Front Glass) since I could tell MH lights are hitting back sides of FRAGS, and backside is showing slightly better coloration/glow.



Last edited by Wally.B; 10/30/2017 at 10:29 PM.
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Unread 10/31/2017, 08:01 PM   #843
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Happy Halloween 2017 from our Place




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Unread 10/31/2017, 08:03 PM   #844
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Future Frags (Dipping Time) Bayer Ready.

This arrived in the mail today.



Got to learn how to use this stuff.
Stored away safely for now.

But you are Either Weird, Have Lawn and Garden Bug Problems, or a Reefer, when you get Excited about Pesticide arriving in the mailbox.

2 out of 3 ain't bad [ You pick ]



Last edited by Wally.B; 10/31/2017 at 08:18 PM.
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Unread 11/01/2017, 10:37 AM   #845
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Green Horrida (1 Month) Review

I guess I just need to let things be since in general all is good.

TANK water is ULTRA SUPER STABLE. (Parameter all in check)

LIGHTING still needs a tiny bit more PhotoPeriod and Intensity (SLOWLY)

But I wonder why I don't really see any encrusting/growth. (ALK/CAL dosing is 21 ml daily)
I guess more time after things have RECENTLY stabilized, and P below 0.1, and lighting getting close to optimal.

Maybe this is normal, since 1 Month is nothing. 3 months will show something?




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Unread 11/01/2017, 03:10 PM   #846
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Accelerated (Coralline Growth) is Positive Sign

Usually my black frag racks would accumulate brown or green nuisance algae.



Funny part is Coralline is growing also on Frag Plugs more than SPS Encrustment.

Frag tank isn't showing such Coralline growth. Same WC water, less lighting.


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Unread 11/01/2017, 03:28 PM   #847
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Decision to (Dip & Cut Down) STN Frags appears to be Positive

Not perfect, but the Cut-Down Frags look like STN has been halted for now.
New Clean-Plugs and MARINE Melafix Dip probably helped.



All may make it. We'll see.


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Unread 11/01/2017, 10:50 PM   #848
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Hmm. PH is looking really nice after all that PH instability, and Low Level.




Last Low PH was Oct 10th, so Stability hasn't been around that long.

I get a feeling it's the more frequent Water Changes.

May be possible with this stability, and other Water Parameters as well, that good things may be on the horizon. (Must be patient, and change nothing).

BTW. (TYPO on the Green Horridia Progress POST ABOVE. THat is a 2 month Span, not 1 Month)


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Unread 11/02/2017, 07:38 PM   #849
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NEW (Infestation / PEST) Shows up

I've seen this before in my other Tank.

As soon as water quality starts getting really good, it also wakes up all dormant Pests, like Aptasia, Bubble Algae, etc.

Never see this before.
I noticed these polyp because they were poking out of a small Cyano patch.



They are covering a good portion of a loose rock.

Doesn't look like feather dusters. Not typical Colonial Hydriods that I have in my Kitchen tank (since the RED CENTER is different).

No Zoa's, so what the heck are these.



Rock is loose and I could Yank it and Treat, but I'm pretty sure this stuff has already spread elsewhere.


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Unread 11/02/2017, 09:47 PM   #850
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Looking everywhere to ID this infestation. (If bad). They do look nice (but I only want SPS in this tank).

This ID website is great.
http://chucksaddiction.thefishestate...tchhikers.html

NOthing Close.

Was thinking Strawberry Anenome, Christmas Tree Worm, various Hydroids (NOTHING matches)

I need to pull the ROCK and put in bucket.
(Possible but tricky since two other rocks leaning on it)


I never would have noticed these polyp if not the Cyano Patch.


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