-System update-
Tank is about 3 months tonight. All is going well and I feel like we’re on track and ahead of schedule. I’ve had a few issues, but nothing unexpected and nothing that couldn’t be handled. Don’t let the picture fool you though. I’m very proactive when it comes to tank husbandry. As always I like to clean all glass panels and I like bright white sand-beds. Wink Wink. The rock in the tank is quite aged. It’s about 10 years old and came from the Gulf of Mexico. I cured it for weeks before it went into the tank. Boy was it funky too. Did several water changes before it went in and had Siporax (about 4 months old) in the holding tank with it. I fed the tank to keep Bacteria populations up. So there’s some biodiversity in the system, but I’m adding more critters shortly- that will help even more. Need to pick up some pods, worms, snails, mini stars, crabs, etc. It’s far from sterile I promise. I just got the PO4 down from 0.4 to 0.05 ppm. You probably would never think that by looking at the picture unless I told you. Nitrates are still 12+ ppm. I believe I have control of them now. One thing I can say is that LR handles a new tank setup so much better than dry rock. The biggest difference I’ve observed is that you do not get all the brown crud in the overflow box, on the powerheads, etc. The LR just absorbs all the “new tank syndrome” issues that you would normally have. I did think I could grow harder Acro’s from about the 2nd week, but they still STN’nd. The tank was just too young. Acro’s never do well for me until the 6 month plus mark. Of course... all the easier Birdsnest, Stylopora, Chalice, do ok though. They’re not basing out much yet, but they will soon. I expect the tank to start doing better in the next few months and I’ll slowly add more coral.
Here’s a few test logs so you guys can see how the NO3 & PO4 numbers were in the last 3 months.
Current parameters are:
ALK: 9.9 (will be targeting 8.5 as I switch salts)
CAL: 450
MAG: 1440
NO3 12+ (Not sure exactly how high. The corals got very dark. I’m guessing 20-50 ppm. I accidentally turned the NO3 dosing head on for 9 days before I caught it) Eeeeeekkkk...
PO4: 0.05
pH: 8.2-8.3 (lights on) 8.1 (lights off)
SG: 1.026
Fuge: Reverse light cycle (opposite from display light)
Skimmer: None
GFO: None
Carbon: 1/2 cup per 50/G (in filter sock)
LaCI: Dosed as needed. I don’t like PO4 over 0.3 ppm. Target: 0.05-0.09 ppm