hey is this better?

beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
You guys can kid me all you want about my tank looking like a lagoon just because I had macros in the tank. But my wife was a different matter :D . This is a pic the first morn after running the sump/refugium.
For anyine considering settung up a sump/refugium, Please test out the system. I turned the power off and the overflow worked as planned. I turned it back on and again as planned. I then turned the power off and waited a few minutes. Woopsies. Had an unplanned sihon which i corrected. Without that extra test, any power outage would have drained the entire display.
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member

Originally posted by popoty
i have macros in my display tank!
oh no oh no. don't let these guys know. :D
Care to share your experiences. Like is the tank clear with minimum nitrAtes and phosphates and little or no "ugly" algaes. Has the macros gotten out of control?
I like planted tanks. Unfortunately my wife did not like the brown tumble weed like plants. And my all my livestock really enjoyed having live food. Especially the tang and crabs.
 
popoty

popoty

Member
I added cauluerpera(sp?) to the corner of the tank, to keep it from growing on the LR along with a couple of shaving brushs. I like the way it looks, and what it does for the tank. Its cool when the inhabitants check them out. Also have a few pieces of pinkish red and green macro algae(dont know the name) growing on the LR. It is nice as some coral. My tang loves to pick at the macros, even if Nori is clipped in the tank.
I do have a slight slime algae problem, saving $$ for a R/O kit.
My nitrAtes havent went above 5, i dont have a test kit for Phosphates.
I didnt realize people where against macros in the display tank.
I am afraid to ask why?:(
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member

Originally posted by popoty
I do have a slight slime algae problem, saving $$ for a R/O kit.
My nitrAtes havent went above 5, i dont have a test kit for Phosphates.
I didnt realize people where against macros in the display tank.
I am afraid to ask why?:(
I am recovering from an algae boom after i added lighting. I thinkyou will find out that ro/di water will not make any difference and that the slime will subside as you tank matures. The macros, controlling lighting and controlling feeding will control the slime with or without ro/di.
also you running a skimmer? (I don't)
 
popoty

popoty

Member
yes i do use a skimmer. I find that it helps greatly, all the junk it removes,brown and froathy, also to oxygenate the water beyond that of the macros. Also feel that the skimmer is aiding in keeping my trates under 5. I thought about unplugging it to see if there would be a rise in trates. But i'm not that experimental and can see visually (and sometimes smell) what the skimmer is removing.
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
thanks. have heard the skimmer has to work less as the macros take hold.
Sounds to me like you have very good experiences. Again thanks
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator

Originally posted by popoty
I am afraid to ask why?:(
No need to be afraid.
Caulerpa grows fast (very very fast) and will kill coral it comes in contact with. If you're diligent about trimming it and keep it out of the corals there's no reason not to keep in in the display.
 
popoty

popoty

Member

Originally posted by Bang Guy
No need to be afraid.
Caulerpa grows fast (very very fast) and will kill coral it comes in contact with. If you're diligent about trimming it and keep it out of the corals there's no reason not to keep in in the display.

Curious
How does it kill the coral? i am guessing stranglehold?
a little tip i learned:
Caulerpa I have purchased have came in a few pieces, i tied the bases of them altogether with fishing line to keep them from floating away from the corner of the tank
 
shanev

shanev

Member
I am recovering from an algae boom after i added lighting. I thinkyou will find out that ro/di water will not make any difference and that the slime will subside as you tank matures. The macros, controlling lighting and controlling feeding will control the slime with or without ro/di.
IMOI have to disagree here, now for some people with a relativly clean water source RO/DI water may not make much difference, but a blanket statement that it wont make a difference is false. If I can taste a difference in the water, Im sure it will make a difference.
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member

Originally posted by ShaneV
IMOI have to disagree here, now for some people with a relativly clean water source RO/DI water may not make much difference, but a blanket statement that it wont make a difference is false. If I can taste a difference in the water, Im sure it will make a difference.
I didn't say ro/di would not make a difference. Just that macros, controlling lighting and feeding will control slime with or without ro/di. for instance, the difference very could be that the macros grow faster or that you need less lighting. And also the even with ro/di you still will get slime unless some of those methods are used. After all phosphates do come from food as well as the input water.
 
nm reef

nm reef

Active Member
OMG Beth...that reef is clear and thriving....you must stop using ro/di and encourage the massive bloom of macro algaes to turn that absolutely stunning reef into a cess pool of slimes and algaes. Cut back your lighting use sewer water and toss in tons of algaes right away. God forbid you should have a clean/stable/balanced reef!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek:
YES!!! I am being an arse about this. Bob...the advice you spout is not to the best of my knowledge sound advice to offer folks attemtping to establish/maintain a reef system. If you are pleased with your results fine!!! But to attemt to convince folks that the results you pictured above are a goal to strive for is totally out of line. Folks please....look at the pics and decide for yourself what you want to keep. Myself I'll continue trying to maintain a reef along the lines of established/sane guidelines. Compare and you'll see for yourself there are numerous methods/systems available that will provide much better results than what bob has pictured above. Personally if my reef looked anywhere near like the pic above then I'd be devestated!!!! Hell...my refugium looks better!!!!!
Now...I'm sorry but I've held that back long enough. Please before you attempt to follow the advice of our good friend bob research all other available sources of information on reefkeeping. Then decide for yourself what works and has produced positive results.
I'm gone and down off the soap box. This is drivin me insane!!!!!

nmreef@cox.net
 
nacl-man

nacl-man

Member
Beth that is awesome, it looks like something out of a magazine! If that is your tank then I am quiting right now.
Not really. I'm not gonna quit... but seriously that was beautiful.
Cheers!
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
Thanks, guys. :) Appreciate the very kind words. For whatever reason [well, I have a pretty good feeling why, but] my tank never had ammonia, nitrite, nitrates, phosphates! [That I could detect using hobby tests, anyway.] I set up using a lot of LR and about 80% LS with the rest dry. Macros came on the rock and all but this one species you see here died off [or got plucked to death by me]. I have a viable DSB which I cultivated for about 3 mos before I even added 1 single coral or fish. Its a natural filtration, except for a hangon skimmer. Set up with 100% bottled DI water. Resently I bought a DI/RO and I am now making my own H2O with a 6 stage unit. And finally got good drinking water too! ;)
Not trying to brag or anything, but, rather I want to say that reefs don't have to be complicated or overwhelming--if you take the time to look before you leap and be patient. This tank is the easiest tank I have ever taken care of. I researched for yr however before getting stared with it. I took a lot of time in establishing my DSB [a core component of my natural filtration system] and I try very hard to avoid stress with the animals I choose to collect. When I "add", there is usually a few mos between "additions".
Again, thanks for compliments. Its not a "Bang Guy" tank, but it does bring me a lot of joy.
 
wrassecal

wrassecal

Active Member
Beth I sure am glad you finally got a camera, your tank pics are awesome. Is that halimeda in the picture? That's the only macro I'd like to have in my display.
 
javatech

javatech

Member

I thinkyou will find out that ro/di water will not make any difference

Originally posted by beaslbob
I didn't say ro/di would not make a difference. Just that macros, controlling lighting and feeding will control slime with or without ro/di.
you should look before you deny;) :p
 
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