Duckhams' 75G Reef Build - Eurobraced/BeanAnimal

[Duckhams]

I agree with you on the above, lots of variables involved to achieve success. Im currently ramping my intensity up 5% per week and seeing how it goes colour/growth wise. You just have to be willing to put the time in to test things out on your system to see what works best.

My tank parameter stay pretty consistent week in week out:
Alkalinity - 9.9-10.8 dKH
Calcium - 400-440
Magnesium - 1400+
Phosphate - 0.04 (Hanna ULR Phos Checker)
Nitrate - 0

I've also started dosing AcroPower this week, so we'l see how that affects things. Reef Roids and Oyester Feast have been added twice a week for night time feedings for the last couple months with good results. Im really working on getting my Microclados and Granulosa to colour up. Everything else looks awesome already.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Duckhams

Everything else looks awesome already.

That's the important part!

There's more than one way to skin a cat. Have you ever tried running NSW values for Cal/Alk/Mg? That's what I've been doing for the first 8 months my tank was up and running, and recently I've been experimenting with slightly higher values. I've started NO3 dosing again too.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Duckhams

No, never tried that. I am trying to lower my ALK to around 9, but I keep fairly high nutrients so lower alk (NSW levels) can cause issues with STN/RTN.

You listed low nutrients above. You figure the tank will wander high once established?

[Duckhams]

I did? I think my tank runs fairly high nutrient levels. I feed well, don't over skim and perform modest 10-15% water changes each week to export.

[Bugger]

What does your ph sit at with the two part

[Duckhams]

Originally Posted by Bugger

What does your ph sit at with the two part

7.9-8.07 daily, monitored with APEX PH probe.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Duckhams

I did? I think my tank runs fairly high nutrient levels. I feed well, don't over skim and perform modest 10-15% water changes each week to export.

You listed NO3 0 ppm, and PO4 0.04 ppm. You don't think that's low? Of course there is a different between a low nutrient system and a low nutrient water column imo. Maybe your tank is more in the latter than the former. Imo, that's the best way to do it.

[Duckhams]

Originally Posted by Myka

You listed NO3 0 ppm, and PO4 0.04 ppm. You don't think that's low? Of course there is a different between a low nutrient system and a low nutrient water column imo. Maybe your tank is more in the latter than the former. Imo, that's the best way to do it.

Ahh I see what you're saying. I don't think N03 and P04 are always good metrics for determining nutrient levels. While my N03 and P04 are low, im feeding my fish and corals quite heavily with a variety of foods/amino's etc (adding nutrients) but also exporting heavily with filter carbon, aggressive skimming, carbon dosing, water changes etc, to keep N03/P04 low. There's also probably a wide range of interpretations on what 'nutrients' consist of. But either way, things seem to be running ok. (other than a bit of green slime).

[Bugger]

What did you do with the canopy?
Are there any plans to get a nicer sump.
The tank is just begging for you to do up the sump area.
How did you add the bottom links to your post. Does it do it for you automatically or did you add it yourself

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Duckhams

Ahh I see what you're saying. I don't think N03 and P04 are always good metrics for determining nutrient levels. While my N03 and P04 are low, im feeding my fish and corals quite heavily with a variety of foods/amino's etc (adding nutrients) but also exporting heavily with filter carbon, aggressive skimming, carbon dosing, water changes etc, to keep N03/P04 low. There's also probably a wide range of interpretations on what 'nutrients' consist of. But either way, things seem to be running ok. (other than a bit of green slime).

Ah, you're carbon dosing too. Yeah, not really a low nutrient system then. That's like mine - water column is super low nutrients, but the tank itself has lots of nutrients. You might be able to get rid of the slime if you back off the pellet flow a sniff. Which aminos are you using? I've been experimenting with Acro Power since it seems to have such rave reviews, but I haven't been able to use it without getting red slime. Maybe I should just weather it.