wangspeed May 31, 2014 Author May 31, 2014 F. So I'm looking at the tank this afternoon, and noticing I have a little more brownish cyano than normal. I stared closer at it, and I see that it's stringier than I remember. Too stringy. Like dinoflagellate stringy I'm guessing this is the real root cause of my acros having problems lately, and not water chemistry. It's just that they're now getting to the point where they are more noticeable. I'm going to have to take some serious action here before it goes crazy and wipes the tank, though trying to eradicate them may take out all my SPS I'm going to start cutting some cardboard up to block out all light, and hook my CO2 scrubber back up to drive the PH way up. Maybe dose peroxide too. Can't take any chances with dinos.
wangspeed June 1, 2014 Author June 1, 2014 I'm pretty sure. You can swing by and take a look if you want. Gonna cover it up with cardboard starting tonight. Total blackout for 3 days and wet skim. -- Warren
wangspeed June 3, 2014 Author June 3, 2014 (edited) I'm on the third day. Took a good look while feeding the fish today. The sand is clean like it used to be, and the dinos that were on some of my corals is gone. The biggest give away is the stuff that was on the montis, which typically grow like weeds for me. It was causing the polyps to stay retracted. Also, no more stringy crap hanging off the tips of corals and rock points. One more day. Hope this knocks them back enough. I'll introduce the light back slowly so I don't fry everything. Edited June 3, 2014 by wangspeed
ridetheducati June 3, 2014 June 3, 2014 The next 14 days are critical to whether "Black Out" works. Also, do not perform a water change for 30 days. Are you dosing Peroxide?
wangspeed June 3, 2014 Author June 3, 2014 I did dose 10ml peroxide each day. Took no chances. Also when I did the blackout, I blacked out everything. The sump, no fuge light, display is pitch black, the fish are all freaked out and hiding. I'm guessing it came to a head as a result of my aggressive water changing the past few weeks. Better that than continuing to drag out.
wangspeed June 4, 2014 Author June 4, 2014 Well, I don't see any evidence of it left, but that remains to be seen over the next few weeks. Polyp extension on the survivors is WAY better, and the stuff is gone from my montis, which were taking a huge beating in the last week. As far as my acros go, what a heart breaker. I've lost most of them, not really due to the black out period, but I'm guessing the dinos themselves. There are a few survivors that are just monsterously tough though, like my Leishman's tabling acro. My pink lemonade has made it without too much sacrifice too. Colors are awful though. I'm going to keep dosing peroxide for now.
wangspeed July 8, 2014 Author July 8, 2014 Well, I think the rest of the tank survived, but at this point, almost all my SPS have died. Devastating :( Just a few montis left really. The remaining acros will probably not make it in their current condition. On the bright side, I think the tank is back on track. I have a few guinea pig frags in there now, and I may stock up a few at the meeting this weekend, even though I was originally trying to hold out til the fall one. I'll take the gamble. I've made some pretty drastic changes to my sump. It never really was setup quite how I wanted. I swapped my skimmer for the one that I originally wanted, which was the RLSS R6. I know it's about the same on paper, but it fits better in my sump, and allows me to aim the intake closer to the drain from the tank. Also, I think the neck of the DCS170 was too wide for my bioload. I also noticed that the fuge section was getting very little water from my return pump. Something clogged the ball valve, and as a result, the zeo reactor was almost cut off from the tank. A huge issue. I went overkill and have a Jebao 12000 in there now for return, with it powering the fuge/zeo section and the return. I only have to run it at 2-3 bars, which is great. I know I'm not supposed to really have a fuge with a Zeo tank, but I wanted to keep it around to attempt to keep up the pods and see if I could grow some macro. When things were going well, I couldn't. Latest AWT results look pretty darn good. LPS and zoas going strong. If the new acros don't make it, I'm going to throw in the towel, and just go with a nice RBTA infested top half, and turn down the flow.
wangspeed July 16, 2014 Author July 16, 2014 Cutover from kalk to 2 part dosing. I had 2 pumps rigged already, I just used kalk for convenience, but I'm starting to see an imbalance and faster alk consumption. I see new growth from my surviving SPS. The R6i is working out great too. At this point, I'm pretty confident that I'm back on track. I've stepped up my own testing too, by going with Hanna alk and ca testers. I'm tired of guessing at the right color for typical titration testing. The alk tester is awesome. Fast and simple. The Ca tester is a total PITA, and requires the utmost care to get consistent and accurate results. I sent an email to Hanna about my dislikes, and they sent me a smaller more accurate syringe for the sample water, which you only need .1ml of. Yes, that's right, .1ml. Impossible to get an accurate amount in a 1ml syringe. They also gave me a bottle of lab grade RODI. With these 2, I'm getting consistent and accurate results.
YHSublime July 16, 2014 July 16, 2014 I found Hanna for alk to be awesome, salifert for Ca. Glad to hear things are bouncing back.
wangspeed July 16, 2014 Author July 16, 2014 Oh, forgot to mention I'm on my third potassium test kit. This time Red Sea pro. It seems to be very accurate, but it takes a gd long time. There is one part where the suspension must sit for 10 minutes, and another where that same suspension must pass at least 3ml through a paper filter to remove the solids. I feel like I'm back in chemistry class.
ridetheducati July 16, 2014 July 16, 2014 Oh, forgot to mention I'm on my third potassium test kit. This time Red Sea pro. It seems to be very accurate, but it takes a gd long time. There is one part where the suspension must sit for 10 minutes, and another where that same suspension must pass at least 3ml through a paper filter to remove the solids. I feel like I'm back in chemistry class. Use the Salifert Potassium test kit. The Red Sea version is a death by a thousand cuts.
wangspeed July 16, 2014 Author July 16, 2014 I have the KZ and Salifert Potassium testers, but I was thrown when AWT said my potassium levels were way down, despite Salifert tester showing ok. That's when I decided to try the Red Sea version. I do it maybe once ever 2-3 weeks, but yes, it's painfully slow.
DCReefer1964 July 17, 2014 July 17, 2014 Use the Salifert Potassium test kit. The Red Sea version is a death by a thousand cuts. +1 I totally agree with Tony. Has anyone tried ELOS ?
DCReefer1964 July 17, 2014 July 17, 2014 It would be nice if we could get a LFS to get a THRIVE Lab Machine!!!!
wangspeed July 17, 2014 Author July 17, 2014 The Thrive machine would be nice, but I think it's a huge investment for the LFS. Something odd this morning. I can't find Pinky, my red velvet fairy wrasse. He's huge, and very aggressive with food. Nothing this morning :( I've been looking around the stand, in case he found a way to escape, but I don't see anything.
wangspeed July 18, 2014 Author July 18, 2014 Sigh. He is officially MIA. I really wish I just knew what happened at this point. He and my blue spot jawfish are my favorite fish. In my misery, I may have done the following: http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/itemdisplay.cfm?c=2733+3&ddid=234395&ref=4282&subref=AI&cmpid=E-_-TR-_-DDN-_-PRDCT If any of you ever comes over, not a word on how much this darn fish costs.
BowieReefer84 July 18, 2014 July 18, 2014 Awesome fish! So, what are your favorite zeo products you have used? I have been using sponge power and coral vitalizer, while dosing vinegar. Just curious what your experience has been.
DCReefer1964 July 18, 2014 July 18, 2014 Awesome fish! So, what are your favorite zeo products you have used? I have been using sponge power and coral vitalizer, while dosing vinegar. Just curious what your experience has been. Use Zeo to take you colors to the next level. Careful with the carbon dosing. I accidentally Dosed Zeostart 3 fighting that battle now. Try Zeo Amino Acid or Acro Power / K Balance / B Balance . Start with 1/2 recommended dose. Just my .02
wangspeed July 18, 2014 Author July 18, 2014 Generally the experience is very good. I think all the issues I had were my fault. Looks like the most severe was the reactor getting cutoff from the rest of the sump, because with the last sump change I made, the corals are exploding with growth in the last 2 weeks. It's so fast that I can tell on a day by day basis with the montiporas. This is how I remembered the first 7 months of Zeo! I'm going to post some pretty miserable looking SPS pics. You should have seen these montis 2 weeks ago. IMG_4571 by wangspeed, on Flickr That lump of crap on the right side is what used to be nice Starburst monti. Gasping in horror? Wait til I tell you it's making a comeback. I think it'll survive. I thought the next one was dead as a doornail: IMG_4569 by wangspeed, on Flickr Nope, look at all those new itty bitty polyps. This is what used to be a forest fire digitata montipora. This one was down to maybe 10 polyps 2 weeks ago. If I remember, I'll take a pic next week. Sump version 1.5: IMG_4581 by wangspeed, on Flickr It's an addiction, really. Keep in mind that many of these are rarely used. Zeostart, Zeobak, Sponge Power, Coral Snow, LPS Amino, and the normal Aminos are my regulars. The rest are as needed: IMG_4580 by wangspeed, on Flickr Sump buddy, though usually it's the cat at night: IMG_4585 by wangspeed, on Flickr Thanks to Piper27 for this jewel. It is finally starting to encrust! This was the bottom side of his colony, and it had very little color. It's the darkest true red coral in the tank now. IMG_4587 by wangspeed, on Flickr Far cry from what it looked like before. Lost many sticks :( IMG_4577 by wangspeed, on Flickr Nice rainbow acan: IMG_4574 by wangspeed, on Flickr Friggin mini colony "frag" that I got from Dave Lin. Many thanks for this one, I love it. Red Planet is one of my favorites. IMG_4573 by wangspeed, on Flickr
wangspeed July 18, 2014 Author July 18, 2014 You know those days when you don't want to get out of bed? Don't really want anything to do with the world? Yeah, well, Pinky had one of those days yesterday. He came crawling out from a new hole in the sand he dug, kinda made a cave against a rock. Not in his usual spots. Well, he's out like nothing happened, and Mr gigantic nearly 5" lineatus arrives tomorrow, complements of Diver's Den, and my bank account. My usual strategy is to dose Coral Snow mid-day to let the newbie get settled in, but I may need to go actually get an acclimation box, or make one with eggcrate.
wangspeed July 18, 2014 Author July 18, 2014 I have acro power coming in mail today from BRS! haha There isn't anything magical about Zeovit, other than it's a system of carbon dosing, and quickly feeding the bacteria. I think the thing that really sets is apart from other carbon dosing methods is the zeovit reactor. The rest can be emulated through other methods. It's nice to have an ecosystem of this stuff though. My greatest dislike is the lack of documentation in both ingredients and potency of each solution.
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