Quick update - still algae-free. Phosphate tested much better yesterday, I think the previous one may have been a bad interpretation by me (the levels of color on that Salifert po4 test are pretty subtle).
And as far as aiptasia goes - much fewer of them now, and most of the remaining ones have that "ouch, I've been badly mauled by a peppermint shrimp" look to them.
So, if things continue this way for a few more weeks, so I'm convinced things are on a solid footing, I will be looking for new coral. And will post some pics soon. 8)
And as far as aiptasia goes - much fewer of them now, and most of the remaining ones have that "ouch, I've been badly mauled by a peppermint shrimp" look to them.
So, if things continue this way for a few more weeks, so I'm convinced things are on a solid footing, I will be looking for new coral. And will post some pics soon. 8)
Thanks for the offer, Waz. I'll have to make some decisions on what I want in there so I can decide what is compatible and so forth.
I already have a pink and green frogspawn, it has survived all the months of marginal water quality and reduced lighting, and looks great now that the halides are going again a few hours a day. (Some montipora has survived too, and is starting to grow again).
I already have a pink and green frogspawn, it has survived all the months of marginal water quality and reduced lighting, and looks great now that the halides are going again a few hours a day. (Some montipora has survived too, and is starting to grow again).
minime, are you using tapwater, or distilled?
Some people use tap with no problems, I used it for years. It really depends on what's IN it, as I found out. I just about died when I tested phosphates off the charts last March. Nitrites, too! 8O in tapwater!
I switched to DI water, and haven't looked back. Hell, I'm afraid to switch back now. I don't even drink store bought springwater, I drink tap. But I will die and rot in hell before I go back to using tap on my reef tanks.
The algae aggravations were just not worth it. I'd rather lug water thru snowdrifts barefoot, uphill both ways! 8)
Just a thought.
Some people use tap with no problems, I used it for years. It really depends on what's IN it, as I found out. I just about died when I tested phosphates off the charts last March. Nitrites, too! 8O in tapwater!
I switched to DI water, and haven't looked back. Hell, I'm afraid to switch back now. I don't even drink store bought springwater, I drink tap. But I will die and rot in hell before I go back to using tap on my reef tanks.
The algae aggravations were just not worth it. I'd rather lug water thru snowdrifts barefoot, uphill both ways! 8)
Just a thought.
Unleashed":th5tmv76 said:minime, are you using tapwater, or distilled?
Some people use tap with no problems, I used it for years. It really depends on what's IN it, as I found out. I just about died when I tested phosphates off the charts last March. Nitrites, too! 8O in tapwater!
I switched to DI water, and haven't looked back. Hell, I'm afraid to switch back now. I don't even drink store bought springwater, I drink tap. But I will die and rot in hell before I go back to using tap on my reef tanks.
The algae aggravations were just not worth it. I'd rather lug water thru snowdrifts barefoot, uphill both ways! 8)
Just a thought.
I have always used RO/DI water. When I began my recovery program, I replaced all the filters and the membrane itself, in case some of the garbage was sneaking through. The RO/DI output is clean for all of the things I can test for.
I won't even drink the tap water here unfiltered, sure wouldn't want my little buddies swimming in it.
Now that you mention it though, it is probably time to change the prefilters and the DI filter again...
ok, i feel dumb, just learning about cheato...went to a new LFS i found and he swears by it. What do you mean by "harvesting" it? I am going to be getting some this week when he gets a shipment of some new coral i will be buying. Since my trates and phosphgate are usually high, he suggested using it.
So, ok, I add it to the tank and what is harvesing it? DO i split it an throw some away or something? Ill be adding it to my main tank since i dont have a fuge or anything like that.
huh? huh? what?
Thanks!
So, ok, I add it to the tank and what is harvesing it? DO i split it an throw some away or something? Ill be adding it to my main tank since i dont have a fuge or anything like that.
huh? huh? what?
Thanks!
Don't know if I'd want chaeto floating around my display tank,,,, I would construct an in-tank fuge like that Bob character otherwise it'll be getting minced in powerheads or blocking light from your corals.
I have chaeto in my fuge under 110 w of PC's,,,, every couple of months I have to throw a bucketful in the trash,, it grows pretty quick.
I have chaeto in my fuge under 110 w of PC's,,,, every couple of months I have to throw a bucketful in the trash,, it grows pretty quick.
LFs has his in sumps etc, but does have some in display tanks...told me i can tuck it in between some rocks. Im thinking of getting a hang on back fuge...but i dont have much room for hang ons any more...getting a protein skimmer soon that needs to hang on too. uggggh lol
CT,
I tried the same thing as your gonna do. I thought it brought a nice green offset to some of the areas that were a little bland looking so I tried putting a chunk here an there. It looked just like I hoped for about 2 weeks. I grew decent and I was happy but then some snails started crawling through it and my madarin started eating out of it, and before you knew it I had little stringy pieces of chaeto every where. I think A real neat idea what to do it is to get some egg crate and make a cube. like 6X6X6 and put the chaeto inside and stack some rocks on it. If it gets any light at all it will grow. Just a thought though.
I tried the same thing as your gonna do. I thought it brought a nice green offset to some of the areas that were a little bland looking so I tried putting a chunk here an there. It looked just like I hoped for about 2 weeks. I grew decent and I was happy but then some snails started crawling through it and my madarin started eating out of it, and before you knew it I had little stringy pieces of chaeto every where. I think A real neat idea what to do it is to get some egg crate and make a cube. like 6X6X6 and put the chaeto inside and stack some rocks on it. If it gets any light at all it will grow. Just a thought though.
Hey gator...makes sense. Im thinking i might get a hang on fuge after all of this. Cant hurt. LFS sells one for $129 with maxijet and everything all ready to go. I may end up going this route, so i can just use the MH over the tank (its a pendant) and it will get plenty of light. If i do this, i will put the skimmer im getting on the floor.
Thanks for the input!
Thanks for the input!
ctgretzky99":3avdlgsx said:
Harvesting means manual removal. As in, yes, more work :lol: Just when you thought your tank was becoming self-sustaining, HA! Dare to dream!
When your greenery starts to get out of hand, remove some. Try not to eat it. I hear it causes hallucinations :wink:
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