My 90 Gallon Pile of Rocks

J

jones02

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Re: Tank Update- My 90G Pile of Rocks

is that canopy you have the matching one from your stand? i have the same stand and size tank as yours lol and was looking at getting the canopy if my light fixture would fit or ima have to build one! and for your next fish i think the banner! i want to get one if i can find one, i was just saying that last night to the gf
 
teebone110

teebone110

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Re: Tank Update- My 90G Pile of Rocks

Darryl_V link said:
I think the sargasm or any trigger for that matter is not a good idea in a 90g...at least long term.

You may not have algae yet but at some point your gonna want algae eaters......my vote is definitely the purple tang from that bunch.  Tangs are a reef staple....you cant just have one little one.
Click to expand...

Just kidding about the algae, I wanted to help the more docile fish get settled before introducing a "territorial" tang. I agree the purple tang would be a nice addition. Would also consider adding a blue tang too, definetly before the purple.
 
teebone110

teebone110

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Re: Tank Update- My 90G Pile of Rocks

spyd link said:
[quote author=Darryl_V link=topic=628.msg18424#msg18424 date=1331612398]
I think the sargasm or any trigger for that matter is not a good idea in a 90g...at least long term.

You may not have algae yet but at some point your gonna want algae eaters......my vote is definitely the purple tang from that bunch.  Tangs are a reef staple....you cant just have one little one.
Click to expand...

I agree. A Purple Tang would be a nice addition. The Harlequin, though beautiful, is actually a very shy fish. They tend to hide a lot, where as a Tang, is enjoyable to see out in the open all the time.
[/quote]

Maybe when I get my 180G I can add all of these ;)
 
teebone110

teebone110

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Re: Tank Update- My 90G Pile of Rocks

jones02 link said:
is that canopy you have the matching one from your stand? i have the same stand and size tank as yours lol and was looking at getting the canopy if my light fixture would fit or ima have to build one! and for your next fish i think the banner! i want to get one if i can find one, i was just saying that last night to the gf
Click to expand...

I ended up making my own canopy and painting it to match my stand.
London-20120313-00099.jpg


I really like the reef-safe banner too. I haven't seen it available locally, but know this one would probably go fast!
 
davesolo29

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Kitchener, Ontario
Re: Tank Update- My 90G Pile of Rocks

looks great tyler.  mine was just as crowded before all my frags started dieing off.  its pretty bare now.  think i will be doing a fowlr tank for awhile then mostly lps and softies for awhile.  hard to maintain a nice reef with a skimmer that doesnt function properly.
 
Darryl_V

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Woodstock, Ontario
Re: Tank Update- My 90G Pile of Rocks

Cant seem to locate that setosa.  They are super bright and a beautiful coral though...you will love it.  Athough definitely not a fast grower for a montipora.

The tank is looking healthier and healthier.....the LPS look way better too.  Good job!

Oh and I notice you have 2 pictures of tusk fish...indo and aussie.  I have an indo and I have seen a few aussie and there is no difference that I can tell.  They are in the same ocean.....not everything is nicer in australia.  IMO they just tell us this so that we are more likely to buy a $200 tusk over a $60 one.  Aussie Tusks might be more hardier...not sure about that though.
 
teebone110

teebone110

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Re: Tank Update- My 90G Pile of Rocks

Time for an update...

Rather than going with biopellets, I decided to try vinegar dosing through a dosing pump and my apex controller. My goal is to add more nutrients to improve colouration in my sps.

I started very low 2mls a day and baseline levels of phosphate and nitrate were undetectable.
I also left my GFO and GAC online. My plan was to slowly increase the dose by 2mls every week until I observed cyano growth, then I would reduce the dose.

I slowly made attempts to increase the feedings in my tank.
Doubled daily feedings and increased coral feedings to three times a week.
Things were noticeable almost immediately with a clearer water column and skimmate was darker and smelled like  :poop:

Slowly ramped things up to about 20mls a day over 2 months. Observations of a green type of algae with very small bubbles had begun to cover my live rock and sand bed in various places. It is easy to blow off with a turkey baster, so I assume that it is a type of bacterial algae like cyano. Also noticed bacterial film in my sump and filter socks. Tests have indicated undetectable levels of both phosphate and nitrate.

Here is a pic of some of the nasty unwanted algae...
IMG-20120507-00024.jpg


My conclusion is that I had dosed too much vinegar, as a result of the cyano. My softies were not looking very good either. Colour in my sps had initially improved, then started to decline and lose their vibrancy.

My solution has been to lower my dosing to 7mls a day and reduce feedings slightly for the next few weeks.
 
Darryl_V

Darryl_V

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Woodstock, Ontario
Re: Tank Update- My 90G Pile of Rocks

Dont reduce feedings.....just continue with the same feeding regime and cut back on the vinegar.  You have been ODing on vinegar by the looks of it.  I see the same look on tanks that have over done the zeo basic 4.

Your tank needs the food as you are in Utra ultra low nutrient state by the vinegar.  The algae is a mix of algae and bacteria....but its there not because of nutrients (NO3 and PO4) but is being fueled by the vinegar.

Start blowing it off the rock....thats how I see it anyway.
 
teebone110

teebone110

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Re: Tank Update- My 90G Pile of Rocks

Good call, I was on the fence about maintaining my increased feeding routine.

Gives me a good excuse to put my new auto-feeder online.

Thanks for the recommendation.

Cheers!
 
AdInfinitum

AdInfinitum

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Jan 12, 2012
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Thorndale, Ontario
Re: Tank Update- My 90G Pile of Rocks

Interesting, when I hit 20ml/day (in twice as much water and not as clean initially) I was afraid to go higher but still was not seeing the results I was looking for.  Good to know I can keep increasing.

When you hit "that point" was there a sudden bloom or did the algae appear/increase gradually? 
 
teebone110

teebone110

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Re: Tank Update- My 90G Pile of Rocks

AdInfinitum link said:
Interesting, when I hit 20ml/day (in twice as much water and not as clean initially) I was afraid to go higher but still was not seeing the results I was looking for.  Good to know I can keep increasing.

When you hit \"that point\" was there a sudden bloom or did the algae appear/increase gradually?
Click to expand...

It was very gradual, but initial signs that I noticed were small bubbles on the upper parts of my rock. The green algae started a few weeks after about the same time my softies were impacted. I  initially thought the green algea was the first signs of hair algae because I was feeding so much. If my tests are accurate, it all must be related to the vinegar and an ultra low nutrient system. I have also read that a vinegar overdose will cause the water to take on a hazy appearance. This was something that I did not observe.

I am going to let it roll at about 7mls a day with continued feeding levels.
 
teebone110

teebone110

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Re: Tank Update- My 90G Pile of Rocks

Tank update:
Well I have significantly cut back on the vinegar dosing from 7mls a day to 3-4mls a day for the last few weeks. Not sure if I have found a the sweet-spot of balance yet. To be effective, I think my target dose has to be closer to about 20mls a day.

I have been feeding a mix of rinsed PE Mysis, New Life Spectrum pellets, and Oyster Feast.

Have been blasting my live rock with a turkey baster a few times a week, and have done a decent job of siphoning my substrate.

Still battling cyano. I know patience is key...

What we go through for a nice tank :?
 
Poseidon

Poseidon

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SW Ontario
Re: June 2012-New Pics- My 90G Pile of Rocks

looks really awesome man... i need a better camera lol....
 
G

Gietz

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Re: June 2012-New Pics- My 90G Pile of Rocks

Absolutely amazing!!!!
 
unibob

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St Thomas
June 2012-New Pics- My 90G Pile of Rocks

Some amazing shots.

Any idea what the green part is in picture 10? As I have exact same thing on side of a coral
 
R

reeffreak

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Re: June 2012-New Pics- My 90G Pile of Rocks

amazing tank , looks great , now get one of these FTS over to the POTM thread lmao ..... for real tho amazing looking  ;D
 
R

reeffreak

Guest
Re: June 2012-New Pics- My 90G Pile of Rocks

jerry_doucette link said:
Some amazing shots.

Any idea what the green part is in picture 10? As I have exact same thing on side of a coral
Click to expand...

some sort of macro algea  im guessing , I may be wrong tho
 
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