Scaramanga IM 15 Office Edition

[dontavo27]

I’m dosing heavy on AFR, I’ve also supplemented with AF Mud, and it’s made such a difference in my coral.
Magnesium can run different in each tank.
My main 3 test are Mag, Alk, and Ca, everything else
Falls in line with proper feeding, and the right amount of fish, given the size of your tank, a nice healthy clown fish would supplement that little tank just right.

 

[scaramanga]

*Update 11/18/25

@Jimbo327 Hooked me up with some Ammonium Bicarb and a few frags. Started adding 1ml per day.

*Update 11/23/25

Trying to up the flow and turnover through the chambers, as I was still using the stock pump. Replaced it with the Jebao DCW 1500 DC Sine Pump. Went from 127gph to just under 400gph. This also allowed me to add about a 1 1/2 gallons of more saltwater to the tank. Need to rearrange the 2nd and 3rd chamber because pump is not fitting in the 3rd chamber with the heater. Heater is in main display atm(so ugly), until I can redo the chambers.

Also, ordered the dual nozzle VCA Random Flow Generator(hopefully today). Once this arrives I will move some of the extra rock I have in Chamber 2 to 3. Don't know what I'm going to do with the Mangroves since I don't want roots going into the pump.

No luck on finding a Tailspot Blenny over the past couple weeks. My usual go to spots, Reef Lounge and Ocean's Tropical were out. Not in a rush.

Branching GSP coral was pissed and wouldn't stay in the spot I placed it. Looks Like it might not make it(no polyp extension, looked a bit brown). Glued it to a piece of rubble I had in Chamber 2 and put it in a low light medium flow spot of the tank and we see how it will do.

Leaving for Vegas tomorrow. Setup Auto fish feeder with small sinking pellets. Setup my webcam on the tank chambers so I could remote in and view the tank. Put AFR in a super slow dripper that measures out to about 4ML a day. Put in Just enough for the weekend.

*Update 12/1/25

Back from Vegas.
- Alk is still climbing slowly 7.5, Dripper worked perfectly.
- Nitrates back to 0, expected this since I couldn't really manually dose.
- Phos .03

Branching GSP is fully open lol. I'll take it still waiting for the RFG nozzles.

 

[scaramanga]

*Update 1/23/26

Few Changes

• Upped lighting intensity by 10 on all channels. Actually Purchased a Par Meter. 350 Top of rocks. 200 - 250 on sides and bottom.
• Moved things around and was able to fit the heater in the back 3rd Chamber. While not idea as this is the return area. It has been working.
• Bought a frag rack. Put it in tank and Cyano decided to cover it. Which is now blowing around the tank. It's minor and will go away, but annoying.
• Just realizing the growth on the Cooler Champagne. Glad I took pictures. Getting great growth on the Manila Spy(Easily doubled in size since previous update). Mushrooms are walking around the tank dropping babies everywhere.
• Jebao 3 Doser added because I'm not here everyday. Currently dosing 5ml of All for Reef Alk staying strong at 8.2dkh. Dosing 1ML of Phyto Daily from Reef Plantation. Manually Dosing Ammonium Carb as needed. NO3 2-4, PO4 .03-.05
• Yasha Goby Added. Yay 2 fish. Still looking to add Tailspot Blenny at some point
• Think I'm dialed in at this point for the upcoming Grow Out

 

[scaramanga]

Update 2/9/26

Looking like I have the Dino's and not cyano. Starting to get some bleaching on a couple corals. Ordered some Copepods that will hopefully be here this week. Been dosing 1/2 cap full of Microbactor7 for a week and a half. Dosing 1ML of Ammonium Bicarb 10g/450ml to try and raise nitrates for 2 weeks. Going to raise to 2 ML as I am still getting no detectable nitrates. Change Filter floss out every 3-4 days. Fed Reef Roids once last week also in an attempt to raise nitrate and phosphate.

Sal 1.025
Alk 8.6
Nitrate 0
Phos .01

 

[scaramanga]

*Update 3/30/2026

Finally got the Autotop off issue figure out. Had to add a ground cable to the tank due to EMF from the Green killing machine. Once added Autotop off has worked flawlessly.

BEAT THE DINOS! Coolers Champagne color starting to color where it looks completely bleached and dead(Been slow process). Forest Fire Digi's are making a Giant comeback.

Branching GSP is growing very well now. Zoas are out of control. Mushrooms have been walking around the tank and dropping new ones every where.

Bryopsis seems to be the new nuisance. I've reflux this tank on 2 separate occasions and it only goes away temporary. Going to try doing a back to back treatment. First dose start just over a week ago. I'll do the water change on Friday and dose it again.

Salinity 1.025
Alk 7.4 ( Slow rising to to 8)
Nitrate 5
Phosphate .01

Started Dosing 4ml of ammonium a day for the past month. This has been able to keep the nitrates at 2.
Phosphates have been rough to try and keep up. Going to broadcast feed Reef Roids 2 times a week to see if It will help increase that number.
Been doing Brightwell Amino Acids 1 time a week for 10 -12 Drops.

Future Plan
- Another Fish or 2. I want to add at least a tailspot blenny. No idea what else I want to add besides that atm.
- Moar corals?
- Small island rock at front bottom of tank. No idea was coral I'd add there yet. Or move the branching GSP down so it doesn't cover the other rock work.
- Possible Shift in Light. Would like to do more Whites for a part of the day.

 

[drexel]

Yeah, you need some mouths to feed in order bring up the PO4 and/or feed more phosphate rich foods. If you can get it up above 0.05, then that should be good with your current NO3 levels. Keep alk in the 7's for now until you get PO4 up, but 7-8dkh is a good range.

 

[scaramanga]

Yeah, you need some mouths to feed in order bring up the PO4 and/or feed more phosphate rich foods. If you can get it up above 0.05, then that should be good with your current NO3 levels. Keep alk in the 7's for now until you get PO4 up, but 7-8dkh is a good range.

I switched over to Larry's reef Frenzy, however I might dabble in making my own food going forward. Hoping that adding one more day of Reef Roids will help raise it also.

 

[scaramanga]

*Update 6/5/2026

- Bulb died over a month ago in the Green Killing Machine UV. Almost caused a flood with the ato.... No idea why. Unplugged it and no more ATO issues. Weird because I had to add the grounding cable, to the tank, when the bulb worked to stop the ATO from going crazy before. In any case I have no need to run it so its off and removed.
- Stopped dosing Ammonium Bicarb as My nitrates are maintaining a steady 15-18ppm.
- Kept my autofeeder on for twice a day super small feeding of small TDO pellets
- Drop in a small bit of larry's m-f two times a day
- Broadcast feed Reef roids every other day about 1Tsp
- Added a bunch of SPS over the past 2 months. Everything is encrusting on rockwork/frag rack. Acros are nice and fuzzy and waving.
-Shrooms are getting HUGE. So vibrant in color!
-No bryopsis grow back at all after the back to back treatments.
-AFR Daily dose bumped to 7ml daily


Salinity 1.025
Alk 6.7
Nitrate 18
Phosphate .02

AFR ran out last week and I didn't see it until this weeks tests. Took one full week of no dosing to go from 8.6 to 6.5. Made new batch. Bought a see through dosing container and now slowly bring it back up.

Considering dosing Phosphates and dialing back the Reef Roids Broadcast feeding. It seems to be driving my nitrates as well as the phosphates. Log is showing a significant uptick from 5ppm to now stable 18 for the past month. Phosphates staying at a solid .02ppm

Dialed back Brightwell Amino Acids 1 time a week for 10 -12 Drops to 6.

Future Plan
- Another Fish or 2. I want to add at least a tailspot blenny. No idea what else I want to add besides that atm.

 

[drexel]

Nice! Let the NO3 fall back down a little and that will help raise the PO4. At your current level, 1-3ppm of NO3 is plenty enough. Usually when NO3 gets above 10ppm, it’s no longer necessary to dose ammonium bicarb. What you’re doing is working, keep up the good work!