Chapter 3: 150g SCA Tank

[Rainblood]

This GD tank…currently still FOWLR with gsp.

We were at a restaurant yesterday which had a Mickey Mouse reef tank with Kenya trees, gsp, a ton of mushrooms…just a basic softy tank…and my wife comments “oh what a beautiful tank”

That’s some cold shit coming from her

Anyhow I need to get my tank in gear. I tested the po4 and it was 1.12. I’m going to make a concentrated effort to get it down and get some corals in there.

 

[civics14]

1.12??!! holy heck, of course you can't grow anything. What are nitrates at with that kind of phosphates?

At least the wife is motivating you! LOL.

 

[Rainblood]

nitrates are about 5 based on the api test

does that mean anything @civics14

 

[chemaholic]

My understanding is phosphates are used by corals to some degree but they need nitrates to do it. I have been dosing nitrates for some time now because for whatever reason my nitrates will go to zero if I do not.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php

I am looking to see if I can find more articles on this.

Understanding Nitrate (No3) Supplementation For Corals

BY Mark Esquenazi of MECORAL Aug 2017 MECORAL Nitrate Supplement Listening to many reefers discuss their systems and what they are experiencing, we are hearing more frequently that some aquariums are ULNS (Ultra Low Nutrient Systems). Also phrased as, “Too Clean” a system. An ULNS refers to a...

www.saltwateraquarium.com

 

[1mbrews8]

My understanding is phosphates are used by corals to some degree but they need nitrates to do it. I have been dosing nitrates for some time now because for whatever reason my nitrates will go to zero if I do not.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php

I am looking to see if I can find more articles on this.

Understanding Nitrate (No3) Supplementation For Corals

BY Mark Esquenazi of MECORAL Aug 2017 MECORAL Nitrate Supplement Listening to many reefers discuss their systems and what they are experiencing, we are hearing more frequently that some aquariums are ULNS (Ultra Low Nutrient Systems). Also phrased as, “Too Clean” a system. An ULNS refers to a...

www.saltwateraquarium.com

I have plenty of nitrates in my tank if ya'll wanna take some!

 

[civics14]

nitrates are about 5 based on the api test

does that mean anything @civics14

I thought it was going to be much higher with that much phosphates. If there is no coral, you can strip the phosphates fast without any issue.

 

[Rainblood]

Yep good old SeaKlear…

I plan to drop the po4. Stuff a bunch of macro algae in the Fuge and start putting in zoas to see if the can last more than a week

 

[york1]

Do you have any cuc in there that eats hair algae ?

 

[Rainblood]

All my cuc are dead. Probably murdered by the triggers or hawkfish

 

[Trizzino]

Could it be the 25 fish in there?

 

[Rainblood]

Could it be the 25 fish in there?

I think theres 15.
But I plan to have a lot of coral. Someday

 

[Rainblood]

Ok positive Polly @Trizzino may be right.
The tank went from .2 to .5 in two days.

I’ll have to start dosing SeaKlear to keep the po4 down

 

[civics14]

Ok positive Polly @Trizzino may be right.
The tank went from .2 to .5 in two days.

I’ll have to start dosing SeaKlear to keep the po4 down

Are you dosing it into a sock or skimmer?

 

[Rainblood]

Diluted into a sock. I’ve tried the skimmer before and found that it wasn’t as effective.

 

[civics14]

Diluted into a sock. I’ve tried the skimmer before and found that it wasn’t as effective.

I read you have to use a long dripped and drip it down into the skimmer body

 

[Rainblood]

I read you have to use a long dripped and drip it down into the skimmer body

I tried into the skimmer body and also into the intake but noticed that it was not as effective but also it built up flocculent on the surface of the skimmer chamber in my sump.
I don't see any when I drip into the sock. None of the tangs appeared affected but you never know...

 

[Rainblood]

Corals finally staying alive in the tank. Added some more rock. PO4 stays between .1-.15 by dosing lanthanum and I’ve reduced feeding a bit.

 

[civics14]

Corals finally staying alive in the tank. Added some more rock. PO4 stays between .1-.15 by dosing lanthanum and I’ve reduced feeding a bit.

View attachment 71035View attachment 71036

What and how many times are you feeding?

 

[Rainblood]

Twice a day alternating between pellets and frozen plus nori 3x/week.

Glass is staying cleaner longer…I just have to watch to make sure the tangs aren’t getting too skinny

 

[civics14]

Twice a day alternating between pellets and frozen plus nori 3x/week.

Glass is staying cleaner longer…I just have to watch to make sure the tangs aren’t getting too skinny

How about nitrates?