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Post by reefkprz on Oct 1, 2015 20:11:31 GMT -5
I never shut the light off on my scubbers. never have. and I had bad cyano about 2 months ago( new tank swap over etc) this is the solution for any algae in the display (I run a skimmer as well) now its faded out to almost gone, I would rather have it here (as well as a breeding ground for pods etc) than on my rock in my DT. just dont under estimate the scrubber (or over estimate it like that tool that claims it eliminates waterchanges *cough* santamonica *cough*from other boards) this piece of equipment has a place for people that want to save $ and get the same results.  |
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Post by Pokahpolice on Oct 1, 2015 20:15:24 GMT -5
Also you need about double the rock in your tank While not bad advice it's not exactly true, there isn't a road map that needs to be followed when setting up a reef tank. When folks are new to the hobby we tend to point toward more traditional and standard methods i.e. 1-1.5lbs of rock per gallon. Minimalist tanks are kind of the new trend and there are lots of successful tanks with very little rock. Take a look at ryansweatt2004 's tank as an example. I think its safe to say that he is having success and he has less live rock than I do. maineaquaria.com/thread/3346/downgrade-upgrade-againBut, with that said, I tend to agree with you and I've be thinking about adding more bio filtration. I have my frag tank plumbed into the display so my total water volume is about 150 gallons. I hold about 40lbs of live rock in my sump and a few pieces in the frag tank but I think I'll add live sand and more rock to the frag tank |
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Post by reefkprz on Oct 1, 2015 20:20:52 GMT -5
rock per gallon is a good place for beginners to start, and its a rule of thumb, not a law etched in the reefs of time. its the same as dietary nutrition, calories in calories out or nutrients in = nutrients out. you can balance that however you want if your short on one end your tank will tell the tale. have about 20 lbs of rock in my 75 g while not balanced yet its pretty damned close and I could run full reef off it if I wanted I just preferr more rock
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Post by jasonandsarah on Oct 2, 2015 7:37:01 GMT -5
I wish I hadn't added so much liverock to my tank! I'm not huge on the minimalist look for my personal tank. Mostly because I like to pack it with as much coral as possible without having a huge coral war! Lol plus I don't have a shallow tank and I need to get my corals closer to the light.
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Post by reefkprz on Oct 2, 2015 8:08:32 GMT -5
i'm the same way i like ram packed reefs, I like the look of the minimalist ones but not for me.
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Post by Vijay Glenburn on Oct 2, 2015 13:51:39 GMT -5
What herbivores do you have in your tank? The reason why I ask is a sail fin tang literally decimated the hair algae in my tank. Wish I had a before/ after pic to show the dramatic effect. I heard this doesn't work for some folks. But if it does, it's a great natural solution. Good luck.
Vijay
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Post by Pokahpolice on Oct 2, 2015 16:55:01 GMT -5
I really try not to be the guy that bust other reefer's chops over their stocking choices but you have a Sailfin in a 55 gallon tank? I could get away with a juvenile Kole Tang but the last one I had didn't touch the stuff. I may throw a Lawnmower Blenny in the mix but I probably won't. My father was talked into adding 2 enormous Mexican Turbo snails by the LFS and they don't touch it either. Now I have 2 HUGE ugly snails that are like bulls in a china shop knocking over everything.
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Post by Rakahrd Eastbrook, Me. on Oct 2, 2015 17:00:52 GMT -5
I have a Large clean up crew 50 crabs and 30 snails although most snails went to crab shells. plus a yellow tang and a Lawnmower Blemmy in a 55 Gal tank with Refugium. they cleaned my Algae up to the point I have to substitute Nori for them
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Post by Pokahpolice on Oct 2, 2015 17:30:07 GMT -5
I have a Large clean up crew 50 crabs and 30 snails although most snails went to crab shells. plus a yellow tang and a Lawnmower Blemmy in a 55 Gal tank with Refugium. they cleaned my Algae up to the point I have to substitute Nori for them The first tank I ever set up I ordered the "recommended" amount of snails and crabs from an online supplier. It was cool at first because it was life in my tank but I had so many snails in the tank that I literally would find them on the floor, and walls (yes climbing the wall). It was ridiculous. I also had issues with hermits down the road and slowly rid the tank of most of them. Never felt they would 'eat' my corals but they made feeding them challenging and would bother some to the point of damage. I do keep a few hermits now but in very small quantities, like 5-6 in my 60 gallon display. I've actually kicked a few that liked to bother my corals to the sump. I have a healthy mix of snails. Often, if the food source is to large the inhabitants won't eat it. I've found this to be true with Aiptasia as well as GHA. Peppermint shrimp will keep Aiptasia in check but they won't touch large established ones. |
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Post by jmerr86 on Oct 2, 2015 17:52:42 GMT -5
I stopped touching mine and now almost no pest alge any were then again other then a cpl crabs and things I only have 1 fish In a 75 with 40 sump. I two like a full tank and deep bed but up to now have lost the algie battle useing everything listed above. I would have to agree. find the source... Fix the problem but at what cost yes I have almost 0 NO3 and no algie to speak of but like I had discussed with Jason my softies are taking a toll with the lack of them so what road will you take? Manage it or murder everything trying to remove it all
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Post by jasonandsarah on Oct 2, 2015 18:46:14 GMT -5
I stopped touching mine and now almost no pest alge any were then again other then a cpl crabs and things I only have 1 fish In a 75 with 40 sump. I two like a full tank and deep bed but up to now have lost the algie battle useing everything listed above. I would have to agree. find the source... Fix the problem but at what cost yes I have almost 0 NO3 and no algie to speak of but like I had discussed with Jason my softies are taking a toll with the lack of them so what road will you take? Manage it or murder everything trying to remove it all Well if your system is up taking nitrates that well I'd dose nitrates in small amounts to maintain a 3-5 nitrate. That's enough to keep everything happy imo |
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Post by Vijay Glenburn on Oct 3, 2015 13:01:53 GMT -5
I really try not to be the guy that bust other reefer's chops over their stocking choices but you have a Sailfin in a 55 gallon tank? I could get away with a juvenile Kole Tang but the last one I had didn't touch the stuff. I may throw a Lawnmower Blenny in the mix but I probably won't. My father was talked into adding 2 enormous Mexican Turbo snails by the LFS and they don't touch it either. Now I have 2 HUGE ugly snails that are like bulls in a china shop knocking over everything. Agreed. 4 feet tanks are too small for most tangs in the long term. I'm looking to upgrade to 6 or 8 feet in a couple of months. Hopefully the tang Gods will forgive my sin.  My point is if you can get away with biological control, great. If you have to resort to chemical PO4 removal, do it slow as they usually alter other parameters too. |
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Post by moulton712 on Oct 8, 2015 7:07:36 GMT -5
I use an algae scrubber too! It's awesome!! Only on my dt so far.
In my frag tank I was battling hair algae. I beat it by tossing frags into my dt and they would eat it off the plugs. For the rest of the tank I did a few massive water changes every other day. I'd say I did 30 gallon changes to a 50 gallon system. (40b with 29 sump minus rock etc..) mine was caused by feeding corals. Today tank is clean, I don't feed that tank anymore.
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Post by Rakahrd Eastbrook, Me. on Oct 13, 2015 23:23:10 GMT -5
well they gotta eat something?
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Post by jstearn on Oct 14, 2015 8:30:27 GMT -5
I've always bought baby tangs and put them in my 58 gallon. You have atleast 2 years with them before they get too big for the tank. I don't see any issue is you insure they go to a good home after having them.
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My point is if you can get away with biological control, great. If you have to resort to chemical PO4 removal, do it slow as they usually alter other parameters too. 