Smite's Stout CDA - 205G

Smite · Sep 30, 2023

I'm seeing some new growth in the system. Not 100% sure if it's a result of the treatment or just the elevated nutrients, 50g water change or the good bacteria I've been adding. Probably a bit of all 3, not sure?

I'll say once nitrates got above 10 it seems like they kept rising. po4 has risen more too. I don't want them to go any higher so I'll be slowly cutting back feeding some and seeing if it stays put. I've noticed some things are looking good color wise but others (if green is involved) seem to be more green than I'd like.

nitrates 25ppm
po4 1.7ppm

Here are a few macro shots of some of the pieces that are happy.

Smite · Sep 30, 2023

drexel · Sep 30, 2023

Dude, looking good. Have you thought about carbon dosing with Tropic Marin? I've been dosing Elimi-NP, but they make different ones based on your nutrient levels. It might be a good way to feed your corals, while maintaining a nutrient balance?

Jimbo327 · Sep 30, 2023

Yes, UV are huge, but it’s like an insurance against unknown stuff floating around. I couldn’t fit mine in the stand either, so I actually put it behind the stand and on the floor. It’s not ideal but it fits.

Smite · Sep 30, 2023

@drexel that did come to mind but only after watching a timely CoralEuphoria YouTube video yesterday. Not tropic Marin specific, but was a good watch for me. I’m considering it but worry that if I didn’t have some type pathogen I might fuel it.

I’ll look into the TM product. I like the idea of using it to maintain but not pull down nutrients. I also like how Abe has apparently found his carbon/po4/no3 demand and is able to use x amount vinegar in his calcium chloride solution. That’s super appealing to me. Take me out of the equation and my reef usually thrives 😆

@Jimbo327 I hear ya man. It did wonders for my Dino issue early on. It’s a valuable tool and would probably take care of my cyano nuisance at the least.

drexel · Oct 1, 2023

Smite said:

Yeah, I watched the video and thought it was pretty good. I started carbon dosing to lower my PO4 a little and saw much better growth overall. I ran out of reagents for my Hanna checker, so I'll have to wait until my latest ATI test comes back to see where I am now. The shortcake that I removed that had the weird funky bacterial thing going on is now coming back and looking like normal shortcake colors. There was a little bit encrusted on the rock when I removed it, so it managed to survive.

Smite · Oct 1, 2023

I was reading the guidelines for Elmi-NP and the instructions do seem to line up with standard carbon dosing. I'm going to watch things for a bit before I do anything, but I do like that idea.

I did another water change to remove some detritus and also that large monti I had encrusting the back left corner of my tank. That sucker was huge. Glad to finally have it removed, next I need to kalk paste the portion that made contact with the rock.

Dorado · Oct 1, 2023

The tank is looking good, I like the view from the left side. What is that granulosa, third from the top?

Smite · Oct 1, 2023

Thanks man.
I bought that as RR Robin-hood from a local reefer. He bought it from FHC. While it doesn’t look like the RR pictures it does have a nice golden hue under blue bars. I prefer it’s look under full spectrum, a cool granulosa for sure.

Smite · Oct 5, 2023

Gonna be a cool view in a couple months.

I’m seeing more polyp extension on some troubled pieces. Hints of color coming back on some as well.

A few randoms that look good under blues

Jimbo327 · Oct 5, 2023

If you have some pathogen and the tank looks like that, give me some of that pathogens. LOL.

Smite · Oct 5, 2023

Ha! Thanks Jimbo.

I'm not sure if I had/have a pathogen or not or if something in my husbandry was just way off but the tank is looking good post witch hazel treatment. After watching Abe's video I do wonder if part of the positive reaction was just witch hazel acting like a carbon source for the tank and no so much killing off a pathogen? Not sure.

I've done a small .1ml/25g dose of vodka over the last few days in the AM. I feel like I've seen a turn around in PE but what surprised me is after 3 days my nutrients seemed to have gone up, specifically po4. I'm not sure if I reached a saturation point with po4 in my rockscape from heavy feedings or if it was as switch in food, but it's really spiked on me when I expected it to drop.
Nitrates are around 25ppm+
po4 went from .13 to .27 over the work week. I did start working in LRS and I'm assuming that is just jam packed with nutrients compared to Rods Reef.
Alk has stayed the same.

Dipan00 · Oct 5, 2023

Your tanks looking awesome!

Smite · Oct 5, 2023

Dipan00 said:

Thanks brotha! It's nice to see some colors again.

Have you been getting in the water at all?

drexel · Oct 6, 2023

Dude, that hyperberry has to be one of the best shortcake variants out there, it looks awesome (as well as the rest of the tank)! I've found that keeping PO4 around 0.1 to 0.2 has been good for me and if it creeps up higher, no major issues, but some pieces don't like it as much. I just need to find someone who keeps their smoothies in that range and only buy/trade with them.

Let me know if you want the RP ultra violet?

Dipan00 · Oct 6, 2023

Smite said:

Did you ever figure out what was going on in your system?

Not much its been pretty bad in the South Bay plus after those huge swells in Jan of this year our sand has been non existent. I think a lot of the sand fell of the canyon. Everywhere looks like its 6ft high tide even when its low tide with swell.

I did get a trip in to Mainland Mex, Salina Cruz at the beginning of Sept. Got some great waves out there but not much since then. What about you? Any waves in HB?

Smite · Oct 6, 2023

Nothing concrete really. I did that witch hazel treatment followed by 2x50g water changes. That was about 2 weeks ago and the tank is starting to look pretty good now. I've also upped my feeding and my nutrients are much higher which could also be part of it. I'm seeing some improvements so I'll take it.

I hear you on that, pretty similar conditions in HB. A giant hole from that swell, all the bars are messed up. The Cliffs in HB have been working better than most other spots in the area, crazy crowded due to that though. There's a youtube channel, Everyday Surfer, who takes drone surf footage there, raw. Last week was pretty fun but only waist/chest high.
I added a couple eggs, fishes and a log to my lineup so I can get out no matter what. I've got my kids in a supplemental homeschool program through our church, so I'm getting out just about everyday while they are there.

Dipan00 · Oct 8, 2023

Thats a cool channel some good stuff of Simpo ripping. We should link up for a surf when it gets good again.

Smite · Oct 9, 2023

Sounds like a plan Dipan. Hopefully we'll get some decent waves here soon.

bozoreefer · Oct 10, 2023

How long have you been going barebottom for?

I'm considering yanking out all my sand and filling the sump to the brim with old live rock

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