Doug's 250, now 300, in wall build

[mr_X]

Snails don't live in my tank unfortunately. I'm thinking my nitrates are high, but then, how would my sps be doing so well? I might have to break down and buy a test kit one of these days! LOL.

 

[Sniperhank]

That is a very interesting question there Doug. My original tank is housing a snowflake eel currently, but it hasn't had a water change since summer. The interesting part about it, is that there are still snails living in it despite the nitrates from feeding a sloppy eater like my eel.
That being said, no matter what I still produce water that is off and produces mad hair algae. Snails still survive and SPS still grow. Only difference between when I started my reef tank and now is that I have a better RO/DI, that still gives me .04 tds through a freshly changed 5 stage, and I force it to grow in the refugium and scrape it out.

 

[Sqasnatch]

That's funny because for the life of me, emerald crabs always always die in my aquarium, after the fourth try I never tried again

 

[mr_X]

So, I did multiple thorough cleanings, and purchased 2 more power heads, thinking that behind the rock could be places of low flow. I now have 6 Aqueon 2400 gph power heads aiming all over the place, plus two 1600 gph power heads behind the rocks, attached to the sides of the tank. Not to mention a pair or mag 9.5's for return.
Is this not enough flow?
That's almost 20,000 gph. 63 times turnover? Did I calculate that right?
It doesn't seem like everything is getting ripped off the rocks in there.......

 

[Sqasnatch]

Any more flow then that is gonna bust your seals. Lol. Isn't that overkill ? I guess your not a fan of ferrix oxide for phosphate control?

 

[mr_X]

I would like to find the source and correct it. Meanwhile, like I said, it doesn't seem to be too much flow. I think these Aqueon power heads have exaggerated flow claims.

 

[Sqasnatch]

I agree with that. I stick with koralias. Would love to try an ecotech, but I don't see any lottery winnings in the near future

 

[Sqasnatch]

I hope u find the source

 

[mr_X]

I agree with that. I stick with koralias. Would love to try an ecotech, but I don't see any lottery winnings in the near future

The Koralias are so much larger though. Once you jump up to the magnums, they are like the size of a softball.

 

[Sniperhank]

That's the issue I encountered. That's why for the next build ill be throwing a ton of cash towards ecotech again.

 

[Cichlid-dude]

Koralia's are my favorite, but i do agree they are rather large.

 

[Sqasnatch]

Can't have the best of both worlds I suppose.

 

[mr_X]

Just some updated pictures of coral growth and coloration. I don't think I'm capturing the color 100%, but it will at least give you an idea of growth. My corals are limited right now, because I want to wait until my tank is completely bullet proof before adding anything else.
As for the algae, it's slowly subsiding.

Pokerstar monti-

Some Mystery acropora -

Odds and ends-

Cats Paw, some monti and some Seriatopora

Pocillopora, and a common candycane-

Green and orange caps-

Unknown stag-

And lastly a Red planet colony.

The more I vacuum the sand bed and tend to the tank, the more colorful these corals are getting. I'm pretty happy with all but the Red Planet. That one is still needing a lot of color.
I do have a second frag of that that's down on the sand bed, and it's got some green and red in it. An interesting difference only another foot away from the fixture.

 

[bioteacher]

Vacuuming the sand is an interesting topic. Some say don't do it. Others say you should. Where does everyone stand on this? I never have in the year I've had my tank but I definitely think it is harboring some nutrients.

Is it ok to start vacuuming if I never have and how would I go about it? Do you really dig the vacuum in deep or just the surface? I don't have a dsb or anything. Probably about 2-3 inches of sand.

 

[bioteacher]

Don't mean to hijack or anything...just your post got me thinking.

Btw, mrX, your pix look real good!

 

[Ibrahim]

Vacuuming the sand is an interesting topic. Some say don't do it. Others say you should. Where does everyone stand on this? I never have in the year I've had my tank but I definitely think it is harboring some nutrients.

Is it ok to start vacuuming if I never have and how would I go about it? Do you really dig the vacuum in deep or just the surface? I don't have a dsb or anything. Probably about 2-3 inches of sand.

Depends on the sand. When I had fine sand in my stingray tank 2 yrs ago, I vacuumed 4" from my sand bed and got what ever was on the top. When I had pool filter sand I stuck the vacuum in the sand for about 2 seconds then brought it up and kept repeating for the rest of the tank. I vacuumed up some sand but just rinsed it and put it back in the tank.

 

[mr_X]

I'm not vacuuming my sand bed and wouldn't recommend it on any other tank, but before I added extra flow, I got a lot of detritus settling in some spots. the algae I have been fighting has covered the sand bed. I am in the process of vacuuming the sand bed OUT. I will add a new sand bed in the future. Right now I'm doing everything there is to defeat the high nutrient system I have created. It's a strange new world for me, as every tank I have kept up until this one, which happens to be the biggest yet, has been bullet proof.

 

[Crystal A]

I do vacuum not all the time but the same thing as Mr X stated it I notice a lot of ditrius build up I will hit up the problem areas.

 

[mr_X]

I tried to get a fts, but my tank is so long I have to get pretty far away. Here is the best I could do so far-

Here's a shot through the side pane-

And the sumps-

And some randoms....I have 2 arrow crabs that I introduced on different sides of the tank. They seem to like hanging out together though....

Some of the fishies...

 

[Convict2161]

No offense Mr. X but I can't look at your pictures anymore

I want!