DKoKoMan's 150g Reef Tank

[DKoKoMan]

Originally Posted by DKoKoMan

I used the scoop provided but was unable to figure out how much salt to mix salinity at 1.026. I kept adding to the bucket and tested with my refractometer until the number was reached.

Anyone have an answer to this? I always test my buckets with a refractometer however it is annoying to have to add water or more salt in each bucket.


Couple new photos.

[DKoKoMan]

Just a quick update:
Clowns have another round of eggs as of yesterday. Still battling high nitrates (20ppm) and high phosphates (0.17ppm). I have been running a reactor of biopellets and recently bought another to run GFO again. I also took another pick at the cat with a ball of chaeto.

I have noticed some more coralline algae forming (not nearly as purple as some people's tanks) and my frags are starting to grow out a bit. I'm hoping with the lower nutrients along with my consistent ALK/CAL/MAG that I will see some more growth. The fish all seem happy and fat so that's a plus. Here are a couple photos under the moonlights

[DKoKoMan]

So today I noticed an aggressive brown algae on my live rock and on some of my corals. Some of my Zoas are struggling to open and it's best described as stringy brown algae with bubbles that appear and disappear. I checked PO4 which is 0.15 ppm (high I know) and NO3 approximately 20-40ppm (API test kit). I am ordering a new nitrate kit as it's very tough to distinguish the difference in colour shades.

The only thing that has changed in the tank is the intensity of my led lights which I ramped up 20% and carbon dosing via reactor with biopellets. I took a quick photo to show one of the areas that has this brown algae present. My white gonipora is starting to get covered in this brown algae preventing it from having plump extension.

Please Help!!' No idea where to start with this and don't want to start chanting a bunch of things. Haven't had this issue before as this algae seems to want to cover my sps, LPS and Zoas.

[DKoKoMan]

Might be too late for my red star fish as one of his legs has disintegrated and the other one is also showing signs. My purple star fish is loving but is also showing signs of deterioration. My guess is the nitrates being higher then usual are causing this.

Did a 40g WC tonight and will most likely do one in 3 days or at least weekly for the next bit until I can sort this out.

[AquaAddict]

I have been using Vibrant in my tank for a month or so to keep the algae down and it seem to be working. It even got rid of a small of bryopsis.

As for your comment that your fish are fat, it may be possible you are feeding your fish a little too much.

AquaAddict

[AquaAddict]

I ran out of time on my last post so I just wanted add my two cents worth on problem heaters. I had changed to a titanium heater years ago for my marine tank because the glass ones could not maintain a steady temperature.

I now have had a Chinese thermostat (EBay -$30) attached my Finnex heater for my marine tank and one attached to a glass heater for my freshwater tank for approx 4 years with perfect results. These thermostats are designed for use beer and wine making but my handy husband attached my heaters to them and now temperatures in both tanks are very steady and the digital displays are so easy to read.

AquaAddict

[tang daddy]

Originally Posted by AquaAddict

I ran out of time on my last post so I just wanted add my two cents worth on problem heaters. I had changed to a titanium heater years ago for my marine tank because the glass ones could not maintain a steady temperature.

I now have had a Chinese thermostat (EBay -$30) attached my Finnex heater for my marine tank and one attached to a glass heater for my freshwater tank for approx 4 years with perfect results. These thermostats are designed for use beer and wine making but my handy husband attached my heaters to them and now temperatures in both tanks are very steady and the digital displays are so easy to read.

AquaAddict

AA is there YouTube videos on how to add Tstat to heater?

I wouldn't mind doing the same for mine, I currently run 2 titanium heaters, 300&500 because in the winters they run full time, my garage floor is very cool in the summer and even colder winter months.