BowieReefer84 December 19, 2013 Author December 19, 2013 Mike goes on about how consistency helps. I had been dubious for a while, but after three weeks of running the alk doser each hour to eliminate the drops and increases of 1dkh each way I am now a believer. I feel like my frags only really started growing after adding the doser and maintaining consistent levels. I will have to talk to you about nutrient removal, Mike. I am getting algae again, and if you ar running your lights that much without blooms you must be doing something right. I only have two small fish and a skimmer rated for 65gal on a 17gal tank. Also, bare bottom helps with nutrient removal. I am actually dosing nitrates right now on a daily basis and they are still less than 1ppm. I believe most tanks with excess nutrients are usually overstocked or not yet mature. Let me know when I can come over and I am down.
AlanM December 19, 2013 December 19, 2013 Maybe i need a much bigger skimmer if i intend to have this many fish (10 of them) and feed as much as i do. Or a better ATS arrangement that makes it easier to get out detritus. After the holidays I will hit you up to come over for suggestions.
BowieReefer84 December 21, 2013 Author December 21, 2013 My favorite two monti I have. A superman monti from WWC and a reverse superman (mystic sunset) from the LFS. The contrasting base/polyps on the two pieces should look awesome as they grow out and into each other. One of my secrets for good monti growth is to blast them with the turkey baster on a regular basis. Forces the polyps to recede back into the coral. I have no evidence this speeds growth, but I think it helps from personal experience. Could be completely anecdotal as well... actinic monti by mteske1, on Flickr blasted polyps: 20131220_170633 by mteske1, on Flickr
Cliff Puckstable December 21, 2013 December 21, 2013 I really like the reverse under a lot of light. The base really brightens up. How's your Jedi doing? Mine goes super fast. It too looks good under higher lighting.
BowieReefer84 December 21, 2013 Author December 21, 2013 I really like the reverse under a lot of light. The base really brightens up. How's your Jedi doing? Mine goes super fast. It too looks good under higher lighting. Coloring on the jedi is good, but growth is not super fast. It's got the purple growth ring, but just starting to get going. I have ramped my maxspect up since I got it, and I'm at about 72% now for 6 hours a day. Might get up to 80% over the next couple months, but don't think I will go past that for a while.
YHSublime December 21, 2013 December 21, 2013 I often over look my Jedi, as it grows painfully slow for me. No color issues though . Will have to try your trick , looks good.
Cliff Puckstable December 21, 2013 December 21, 2013 That's interesting. Mine is one of the fastest growing things in my tank. Than I have some zoos and mushrooms that haven't grown at all.
BowieReefer84 December 24, 2013 Author December 24, 2013 Well, I am back down to just the cardinal. I took the screen top off about a week ago b/c the reflection off the mesh netting was annoying me, and I see the clown jumped today. Sigh. Time to start fish shopping (and put the top back on)...
AlanM December 29, 2013 December 29, 2013 Any update on stump remover dosing? I checked my chem yesterday and discovered my phos was pretty high with no nitrate, so i am considering dosing some nitrate for my carbon source to use to export phosphate too.
BowieReefer84 December 29, 2013 Author December 29, 2013 Any update on stump remover dosing? I checked my chem yesterday and discovered my phos was pretty high with no nitrate, so i am considering dosing some nitrate for my carbon source to use to export phosphate too. Seems to be working out well to help drop phosphates. Not sure how long I will continue dosing it though. I am trying to just get on a regular maint plan and let things grow, but it proves hard for me.
BowieReefer84 January 2, 2014 Author January 2, 2014 (edited) Couple updates. (the red bugs on the first red dragon shot have been treated with mult interceptor doses, as noted earlier in this thread) SETOSA 10.25.13 setosa 10.25.13 by mteske1, on Flickr SETOSA 1.1.14 setosa 1.1.14 by mteske1, on Flickr RED DRAGON 10.27.13 red dragon 10.27.13 by mteske1, on Flickr RED DRAGON 1.1.14 red dragon 1.1.14 by mteske1, on Flickr Edited January 2, 2014 by BowieReefer84
YHSublime January 2, 2014 January 2, 2014 +1, not only nice growth, but the coloration is way nicer as well. Good job, that setosa is night and day.
BowieReefer84 January 2, 2014 Author January 2, 2014 nice growth mike! Thanks. I heard red dragon is fast, and I am definitely seeing it. Not sure why the price hasn't dropped over the past couple years.
BowieReefer84 January 8, 2014 Author January 8, 2014 Tired of having 1 fish I bit the bullet and placed an order on Divers Den tonight. Went with a purple dottyback and golden sailfin blenny. I know the dottybacks can be semi-aggressive, but everything I read is related to fish with similar body shapes. I only have a cardinal in the tank, and the blenny is very different than the dottyback. If something doesn't work out I will throw a blue damsel in there and let them duke it out. I just want some cool fish without dropping a fortune. Here they are: http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/itemdisplay.cfm?c=2733+3&ddid=213247&ref=4282&subref=AI&cmpid=E-_-TR-_-DDN-_-PRDCT http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/itemdisplay.cfm?c=2733+3&ddid=213269&ref=4282&subref=AI&cmpid=E-_-TR-_-DDN-_-PRDCT
AlanM January 8, 2014 January 8, 2014 Cool. I had been eyeing the tailspot blenny they have in there now.
BowieReefer84 January 10, 2014 Author January 10, 2014 Took some cell phone shots recently. Flipped the lights on during night cycle to see what kind of polyp extension I was getting. I have been heavily dosing amino acids, and I must say I am impressed. I photoshopped them slightly, but the polyp extension is insane: 20140110_092416 by mteske1, on Flickr 20140110_092424 by mteske1, on Flickr 20140110_092442 by mteske1, on Flickr 20140109_220127-1 by mteske1, on Flickr
Orion January 10, 2014 January 10, 2014 The corals look really good Mike. Do you still like the B-ionic 2-part you are dosing as well?
BowieReefer84 January 10, 2014 Author January 10, 2014 The corals look really good Mike. Do you still like the B-ionic 2-part you are dosing as well? Yes, I was dosing the b-ionic in my old biocube with good results as well. I like it b/c it's simple.
monkiboy January 10, 2014 January 10, 2014 those are nice pictures to see the PE for sure. thanks for sharing.
BowieReefer84 January 13, 2014 Author January 13, 2014 Two new additions (already eating pellets the 1st day). Sailfin blenny 20140112_211209-1 by mteske1, on Flickr Blackcap Basslet 20140112_214008-1 by mteske1, on Flickr
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