Greg's 75g

[gregzz4]

I started using some carbon today, so here's both reactors running



I'm going through a LOT of filter socks right now
I currently use 4" x 14" nylon mesh ( not the felt ones ), and the tank is burning through anywhere from 3 to 6 per day, and the skimmer is making lots of brownish-greenish muck that I clean out every few days or so
I hope this daily swap-out routine changes once the algae calms down
I'll do some research on socks - nylon vs felt

Double-checked all params today and, as far as I can tell, there's no reason why anyone should be unhappy
With that said, the GSP hasn't fully opened for 2 days, but I've read that's not uncommon, so I won't worry about it for now
Hammer, Frogspawn, Zoas, Rics, 'Shrooms and SPS are all opening / having PE during the day, and some have major PE after lights out, so I'd say all is good so far ....

Seeing some SPS growth too

Speaking of params;

DT

Free and total NH3 0
NO2 and NO3 0
PH4 such a small trace, may as well be 0
pH 8.2
Sg 1.025
Temp 79 - 79.3F
KH 7.5
Ca 410
Mg 1300

QT

NH3 0
NO2 0
NO3 1.5
PO4 0.03
pH 8.1
Temp 79 - 79.4F
KH, Ca and Mg TBA

With a 10% WC on the DT, I get enough of a bump that it's lasting all week
So, looks like I won't need to drip Kalk yet ... until the SPS start to take off

Next couple of weeks will let me know if I'll need to add Mg, but for now I think the salt mix will be enough

Having to rescue Margarita snails daily. Seems they maybe find themselves in front of the MP10s when the flow patterns change, or something, so they need to be righted here and there
I'll probably replace them with some others soon

Happy tank so far, just waiting out the fuzzy/stringy hair algae phase

[fishytime]

very impressive looking sump....almost looks mechanical, like the engine room on a sub or something.....now, the challenge will be keeping it looking like it does today

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by fishytime

now, the challenge will be keeping it looking like it does today

I want to see this in a year, will the salt win or the OCD?

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by fishytime

very impressive looking sump....almost looks mechanical, like the engine room on a sub or something.....now, the challenge will be keeping it looking like it does today

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I want to see this in a year, will the salt win or the OCD?

I've already had Brett and others question me on sump cleanliness

I'll post some more pics tonight for future reference ...

[gregzz4]

Sump pics for future reference
2 Months after Salty, and 1 Month after latest LR added to Dt and Sump
Some sand got past the socks that I will eventually remove ...

[gregzz4]

If you've been following along, you'll know I have been haphazardly battling hair algae
I've been told it will eventually go away, but I don't see how, when it feeds on PO4 and releases it back to the water colum whenever I mess with it

I did a couple stupid things ...
1 - I let it grow
2 - I tried to scrub it off the rocks, which probably only spread it throughout the whole tank
I stupidly thought I could filter it with socks and keep it under control

Well, that didn't work
I should have just started trimming it, and siphoning it, once it became an issue
Now I'm using it to set the flow for my powerheads
I'll say it has been useful to the point where I am happy with the overall flow in my tank ....

I've tried picking it off the rocks and siphoning to a point, but I can't keep up

So, to my chagrin, I bought some critters today
6 Mexi Turbos, 2 Long Spine Urchins and a Sea Hare

Don't fret the poor dudes I just added ...
Once their jobs are done, I will pass them on to other reefers

We'll see how the LFS staff recommendations work out
If it doesn't, I won't mention them
If it does work out, I'll praise them

Pics later once they are zoomin' 'round