My JBJ 28gal Nano Build Thread

[ange062]

Thanks adolfo!

[nolanrob123]

What is the LFS if you don't mind me asking? I have been looking for a new one for a while that I can trust, thanks.

[ange062]

Originally Posted by nolanrob123

What is the LFS if you don't mind me asking? I have been looking for a new one for a while that I can trust, thanks.

Talk to Tran at FishRanch at Bellaire and 59. Tell him Angelo sent you.

[ange062]

I am having some wicked growth in the tank. The SPS selection is showing noticeable growth literally daily, and even the LPS is growing quickly. The clam, as I mentioned previously, is showing shell growth under the mantle. Not sure why the growth has suddenly exploded, but I am not going to complain!! I can't wait to see things fully grown out to the point where I have to start fragging.

I have been rethinking a lot of the coral placement in the tank since I had a couple of instances of coral attacks and consequent burn marks. I'm planning out a rescape to allow for growth without further problems.

Only bad part to the growth is that the Alk/Ca are literally being sucked out of the tank. I have been doing a 2-day dosing schedule with Kent 2-part, but may need to move to a daily schedule. I see a controller / dosing pump in my very near future.

[SlvrSurfRidr]

congrats on the growth! I'm on a similar schedule, so I know the CA/Alk/MG are being sucked up, but the growth hasn't been nearly as rapid. It comes in bursts I've noticed

[OCREEFLOVER]

Awesome setup. I have the PC lights also. Just got done doing a par reading with 500 at the surface, and 350 mid tank and 100 at the sand bed. Not bad for PC. So far all my SPS is doing great

[ange062]

Originally Posted by OCREEFLOVER

Awesome setup. I have the PC lights also. Just got done doing a par reading with 500 at the surface, and 350 mid tank and 100 at the sand bed. Not bad for PC. So far all my SPS is doing great

Thanks OC! Pretty impressive par for PC lighting IMO. I've been surprised how well this tank will grow SPS/clams and other lower-light corals if you just take extra care in placement and aquascape to allow a lot of depth flexibility.

[ange062]

Let's see, what can I update on. I have a Swales Swissguard Basslet in QT, will probably throw it into the main tank in another 1-2wks (it's been in QT for 3-wks now). I also have an ORA Borealis Acro frag on order to replace my ugly brown acro.

I also showed the owner of the LFS that I get my ORA stuff from a picture of my tank, he couldn't believe the growth and color I was getting on my SPS under PC!! Then I told him my maintenance and dosing schedule and he said "Ahhhh, that's why!!".

Anyway, FTS:

[ange062]

Well my ORA frag came in, amazing as always! Tomorrow I'll be trading in my green shimmer brown acro for a Borealis and Red Planet. Such amazing pieces, can't wait!

[OCREEFLOVER]

Originally Posted by ange062

Well my ORA frag came in, amazing as always! Tomorrow I'll be trading in my green shimmer brown acro for a Borealis and Red Planet. Such amazing pieces, can't wait!

Great choice in coral. Cant wait to see them.

[Dazed1]

How is the flow with the mp10? What setting, and is it blowing any sand around? Are you using the stock pumps?

Would it be possible to get a side shot to show placement? I have a MP10 on 80% reef crest mode, but feel there isnt the right flow that I want. trying to get the placement right.

[nolanrob123]

I can't believe how great they are doing with pc! What are your latest dosing techniques?

[ange062]

Originally Posted by Dazed1

How is the flow with the mp10? What setting, and is it blowing any sand around? Are you using the stock pumps?

Would it be possible to get a side shot to show placement? I have a MP10 on 80% reef crest mode, but feel there isnt the right flow that I want. trying to get the placement right.

The MP10 is great. I have it about 50% on reefcrest, if my tank was more SPS centric I would probably bump it up a little (maybe 65%) but I have to balance out keeping the SPS, clam, and softies all happy. It doesn't blow sand around at all in my tank. And yes, both stock pumps run continuously, though one is pumping through a chiller so flow is significantly reduced. There is a pic of placement below.

Originally Posted by nolanrob123

I can't believe how great they are doing with pc! What are your latest dosing techniques?

My dosing schedule is still at every other day for now. 2 capfuls of Kent 2-part Ca/Alk each. 1 capful of Kent Tech-M. Halfway between weekly water changes I add a capful of Seachem Iodide.

Originally Posted by OCREEFLOVER

Great choice in coral. Cant wait to see them.

Thanks OC! I am actually super-impressed with the Red Planet, more so than the Borealis even. My LFS gave me $30 trade-in for my acro, so I ended up spending $110 out the door for both ORA frags. Not a bad deal! Here is about 20-mins after acclimation finished, already showing great PE and color. Gotta love ORA.

FTS:

Right FTS:


MP10 Placement:

[ange062]

So this tank is becoming a conundrum to me. Despite all the success, I am running into a few battles.

1) I have been having a slight outbreak of cyano in my sand bed, which I have been vacuuming up to no avail. All of my parms are testing exactly where they should be, my logbook is below. I replaced my purigen, chemipure elite, and dropped my skimmer cup down to be more aggressive. I also cut back on my feeding to once daily in the interim. Not sure what else I can do besides ride it out and hope for the best. One thought after research is that I may start getting water somewhere else, I have read that an old RO/DI filter may be a culprit so may try a different LFS. Still doesn't make sense to me since NH3, NO2, NO3, and PO4 are all at zero. My maintenance schedule hasn't changed at all, still keeping up with weekly 5-gal WC's.
2) My Ca/Alk is being depleted insanely fast! I dosed on Monday morning, 2-caps (~14ml) of Kent 2-part ea plus a cap of Tech-M. Tuesday morning I dosed 1-cap of Kent 2-part. Measured tonight and you can see how low it is before. Going to have to look into a controller and dosing pump really soon to keep this in check. Also need to get an Mg test kit.

[ange062]

Well I'm winning the battle on cyano. Not 100% gone but definitely getting better. Apparently the borealis is more agressive then the hyacinth, I've got a couple dead tips after a knock over. It inspired me to try getting the new acro frags off their plugs for glueing, which worked well until I broke a branch off my red planet. It's glued back with hopefully no detrimental impact, but only time will tell.

I also upped the MP10 to about 85%, will have to see how it works out.

Updated FTS:

[SlvrSurfRidr]

Originally Posted by ange062

One thought after research is that I may start getting water somewhere else,

I kept having similar problems, finally just spent the $200 and got the RODI + drinking kit setup from BulkReef supply. My water has never been better and what's better ... I don't pay for it any more

[ange062]

Originally Posted by SlvrSurfRidr

I kept having similar problems, finally just spent the $200 and got the RODI + drinking kit setup from BulkReef supply. My water has never been better and what's better ... I don't pay for it any more

Every time you comment on my thread I end up spending money, stay away from here!!!

JK man. I have been putting some serious thought into an RO/DI and doing my own mixing. My LFS doesn't stay consistent with the type of salt used or the salinity level and it adds an additional challenge to keeping my Ca/Alk/Mg in spec, especially since I do weekly water changes.

Using one type of salt will really help me to maintain consistency in the tank.

[SlvrSurfRidr]

haha, it's such a hobby of the blind leading the blind! I've got a wish list a mile long that I still want to get, but seriously .... making your own water has to be one of the #1 recommendations I would have for anyone. You control exactly what goes in your tank and it pays for itself within a year for sure

[OCREEFLOVER]

I'm in the same boat regarding the CA, MAG and ALK. I would love to run a Dosing pump but they scare me Do you have any future upgrades in the works?

[ange062]

Originally Posted by OCREEFLOVER

I'm in the same boat regarding the CA, MAG and ALK. I would love to run a Dosing pump but they scare me Do you have any future upgrades in the works?

I've got an upgrade list but no real intentions to buy anything at this point in time so it's more of a wish-list.

* Controller
* Dosing pumps
* HQI /T5HO/LED light upgrade

[john miller]

Lots of sales going on right now. I just picked up a RKL and ATO.

[ange062]

My dosing schedule still increases, a dosing pump is in need. I've been on twice daily schedule and still having trouble keeping my Ca above 400. A BubbleMagnus is going to have to be in place soon.

I started dosing more potassium iodide and potassium to get my colors right, but I think the key is mixing my own water soon.

FTS:

[Hextall]

Originally Posted by john miller

Lots of sales going on right now. I just picked up a RKL and ATO.

Care to share where? I'm in the market for the latter, and if the deal is right, would love to get the former.

[ange062]

My ORA Green Birdsnest RTN'd on me, growing big and beautiful one day, and completely dead the next.

No clue what happened, all my other SPS looks fine.

Oh well, my "SPS Shelf" is getting pretty full, and the ORA acros are starting to show some growth. I may look into getting another green birdsnest frag sometime later, they are fairly cheap at my LFS (~$30).

[ange062]

So someone nominated my tank for NTOTM, but I am not sure if it's ready. I'd honestly prefer to see more SPS growth. Not that it's been bad, but the acro's still have a long way to go in particular.

Any thoughts? Entries this month are pretty slim so I guess it's an option.