I just completed my 3-week hands-off experiment

tzylak · 04/10/2015, 08:18 AM

This summer I'll be away for 3 weeks and to test my setup I did a supervised 3-week hands-off experiment. All I did was feed the fish once every day and test the water each week.

At the end, the tank looked a bit dirty. As expected, there was plenty of coralline growth on the face of the DT. -Nothing that a bit of scrubbing would not get off.

Amazingly, the water parameters were rock solid: pH 8.1, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 0-5, PO4 0, Ca 360-400, Alk 6-7, 77-79F, sg 1.021-22, Mg 1200-1300

On the third week the fish seemed not hungry. One day after the cleanup and water change they perked up and gobbled up twice the amount food. On second and third day they were eating normal again. I wonder, was it my TLC that woke them up or the water change that revived them?? Or????

I made a list of tiny adjustments to make and am thinking of repeating the experiment soon. One item I am considering is putting some Mg and calcium supplement into my ATO container. My concern is the supplement's effectiveness and potential calcium precipitation. I am thinking of doing that yet "why fix it if it ain't broken?". What do you think?

Any other advise that you might have to ensure a stable system during my absence?

Thanks!

CStrickland · 04/10/2015, 09:51 AM

Very smart!
I notice my fish seem more vigorous after a wc too. I suspect it's either an oxygen boost from mixing the fresh water, or just the excitement gets their blood pumping. No idea, but I've also wondered about it.

Depending on the condition of your rocks and sand (if you have it) I think they can buffer the extra nutrients for a while, but I wouldn't push it since they might leach phos back out later and cause an algae problem. Have you considered something like gfo while you're away to mitigate that? Might be worth testing...

joshky · 04/10/2015, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CStrickland

Very smart!
I notice my fish seem more vigorous after a wc too. I suspect it's either an oxygen boost from mixing the fresh water, or just the excitement gets their blood pumping. No idea, but I've also wondered about it.

Depending on the condition of your rocks and sand (if you have it) I think they can buffer the extra nutrients for a while, but I wouldn't push it since they might leach phos back out later and cause an algae problem. Have you considered something like gfo while you're away to mitigate that? Might be worth testing...

Unless you're regularly using gfo, I don't think it would be smart to start right before you leave for an extended period of time.

toothybugs · 04/10/2015, 10:27 AM

If your Mg supplement has mag sulfate in it, you will precip calcium sulfate in to your ATO reservoir. Chlorides will be fine, however. Just FYI if you weren't aware.

tzylak · 04/10/2015, 02:37 PM

I got another 3 months to experiment and dial in my methods.
Yeah, I got 70 lb of rock and 150 lb of sand for stability.
Hmm, mag sulfate. I did not know that. I better investigate.
Thank you all for the suggestions.

04/10/2015, 08:18 AM	#1
tzylak Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Oceanside, CA Posts: 457	I just completed my 3-week hands-off experiment This summer I'll be away for 3 weeks and to test my setup I did a supervised 3-week hands-off experiment. All I did was feed the fish once every day and test the water each week. At the end, the tank looked a bit dirty. As expected, there was plenty of coralline growth on the face of the DT. -Nothing that a bit of scrubbing would not get off. Amazingly, the water parameters were rock solid: pH 8.1, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 0-5, PO4 0, Ca 360-400, Alk 6-7, 77-79F, sg 1.021-22, Mg 1200-1300 On the third week the fish seemed not hungry. One day after the cleanup and water change they perked up and gobbled up twice the amount food. On second and third day they were eating normal again. I wonder, was it my TLC that woke them up or the water change that revived them?? Or???? I made a list of tiny adjustments to make and am thinking of repeating the experiment soon. One item I am considering is putting some Mg and calcium supplement into my ATO container. My concern is the supplement's effectiveness and potential calcium precipitation. I am thinking of doing that yet "why fix it if it ain't broken?". What do you think? Any other advise that you might have to ensure a stable system during my absence? Thanks!

04/10/2015, 09:51 AM	#2
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	Very smart! I notice my fish seem more vigorous after a wc too. I suspect it's either an oxygen boost from mixing the fresh water, or just the excitement gets their blood pumping. No idea, but I've also wondered about it. Depending on the condition of your rocks and sand (if you have it) I think they can buffer the extra nutrients for a while, but I wouldn't push it since they might leach phos back out later and cause an algae problem. Have you considered something like gfo while you're away to mitigate that? Might be worth testing...

04/10/2015, 10:27 AM	#4
toothybugs In Memoriam Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: The smallest county in Illinois Posts: 1,986	If your Mg supplement has mag sulfate in it, you will precip calcium sulfate in to your ATO reservoir. Chlorides will be fine, however. Just FYI if you weren't aware.

04/10/2015, 02:37 PM	#5
tzylak Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Oceanside, CA Posts: 457	I got another 3 months to experiment and dial in my methods. Yeah, I got 70 lb of rock and 150 lb of sand for stability. Hmm, mag sulfate. I did not know that. I better investigate. Thank you all for the suggestions.