BtmDweller

Great post!! No black sand it is.

You probably ruled it out, but was there a sharp temp drop or increase?

Agreed the netted material works best and common to find.

Looks like the square box wouldn’t be much of a detritus collector. However, if you have space for a refug chaeto would likely host more pods. It looks like it comes with shelves. I’d be curious to see how many come out in each one. I’d be nice to take one out every so often and shake them out in the display.

Ok, I’d likely be interested. I was an active NAUI instructor for about eight years.

That’s really low in a short period and without a heavy coral load. Something seems wrong on the tests. Many of the LFS will test water for you, see what result they have to compare. Also, I would increase testing frequency. I test on a daily basis starting until my paras are stable. After one to two times a week. Too many variables when following the suggested dosing amount. It should be a start point and continually adjusted.

To help growing over the algae I’ll scrub with a brush, a cheap toothbrush works well.

Where are you trying to go to?

Just wanted to relay and mention the positive buying experience I had with Cornbread Corals. Shipment delayed and DOA due to inclement weather. They responded quickly to each email and resent quickly. Purchased a golden jawbreaker acro for $100 and they resent a large frag a second of the same for free. Customer service excellent. Prices on site a bit high, but sometimes WYSIWYG can have a good deal. Also bought through eBay auctions.

Running MH/T5.

Not sure of the funny name but looks like a blue and green laptastrea.

Appreciate you supporting us!

I’ve found leptastrea to be a difficult coral as well. Parameters have to be very stable, any swing, usually alk too high or ca too low and you’ll see it have problems. I have that same honeycomb and a spitfire. I get lazy with my water testing and use them as indicators when my paras start to shift, time to test the water, and adjust. They’re the first corals of all my sps/lps that recede. Tighten and keep parameters steady and they become happy.

you’re dosing alk? That’s really high. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’d rinse anything off it and throw it in a large tote or rubber maid container with a power head. Use dirty tank water or add some cured rock or sand. Or pay for bacteria, plenty of us have it free in our tanks though. For your case no need for bleach, vinegar bath, or boiling them. My preference is dry rock, less pests. My current system was cycled by just using the water from water changes of another tank.

If you need more, I have plenty for free. Never noticed a difference with salinity swings in my tank. I have big salinity shifts, but gradual, so a quick shift could be more of an issue, like within a day or so. Likely it got disturbed or some para swing such as alk. I can give you a larger chunk more likely to take off. My tank is sps dominate the rock of sps I have I’m holding onto for a friend and trim down. I’ve been keeping it in a shaded part of my frag system with no direct light, but also had kept gsp under halides. If it came from a tank of a real steady para over a long time it could be more sensitive. The problem you’re seeing is likely a shift of one or more of the factors.

Alk is pretty low, bring up to 8+. Keep it stable. Likely you’ve had parameter shifts? I think the too clean tank concept is thrown around too much, just my opinion. Or maybe I never had a tank too clean. I’ve always kept a small bio load though and never feed corals (sps, lps, softies). If concerned maybe dose trace. I’m assuming you’re using quality RODI water. I also prefer 50% water changes by the end of the month. Usually 25% every two weeks. Other thought, how much rock or bricks are you using for natural filtration? Maybe bumping the lights up at the higher percentage. It seems they are one for 10 hrs, but only at the highest fit an hour.

Just an opinion you wouldn’t do over a 50% water change? Unless absolutely necessary. Personally I’d transfer water to keep the stability. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Make sure you have enough used water. Just as in water changes shouldn’t put in more than half newly made water. If you have the ability shift the rocks and used water first. Give it a few days or longer then the fish, if you’re able. Most people switch in a single day though. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’ve been using Neptune DOS for automatic water changes. Had my third head break in a year at $30 for new ones. Looks like the plastic clips on the side of the heads is too thin and snaps during normal use. Also the calibration doesn’t seem to be exact. Anyone else have these issues or used a better piece of equipment for auto water changing? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That looks like the same one I have. The spread is good, built in fan not much heat and the light spreads out. Mines about 22 inches from the water. Macros are found in shallows exposed to high intense light in the wild. The more light the more algae. I’d say you’re good. Cheap and macros love the red light. If anything you could always cut back amount of hours of exposure. I think I’m running mine 8 hrs alternate cycle as the display. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Works great and cheap! https://www.ebay.com/p/200w-UFO-LED-Grow-Light-Full-Spectrum-for-Medical-Plants-Veg-Bloom-Indoor-Plant/9020962509?iid=352274008368 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Razor or lay the rubble/plugs on them. I also found a tiny pair of scissors about two inches long from the makeup aisle. The blades are super thin. Recommend caution fragging in the tank if they small pieces get loose and start growing from a crevice somewhere. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In my opinion for a vendor would go Battle Corals battlebox. Adam personalizes every shipment and has a fantastic collection. If you ever find yourself in FL the WWC shop has a $60 frag selection of nice corals and you can purchase frags from their display $$$, but get to see the mother colonies. With that said can’t beat vendors selling at WAMAS events or others. You’ll have a mix from low to high end and save a bunch of cash. The other route I’ve gone was bidding on EBay. Picked up high end Cornbread frags for a relatively decent price. Frags are tiny though.

If it doesn’t work out could always do invasive algae! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk