Launching a marine aquarium.

John3187

I am launching a marine aquarium and would like to invite all experts in this field to participate in the discussion of issues that will help many save time, nerves, and finances. The aquarium is 1000 liters, 240*60*80 cm. The sump is 200 liters, 100*35*60 cm, and the auto-top-up container is 70*35*60 cm (for distilled water). The equipment includes a190 L/day reverse osmosis unit, an Aqua Medic Turboflotor 5000 protein skimmer (for up to 1500 L), an Aqua Medic 6500 return pump, an Aqua Medic 3500 pump for the skimmer, and two Resun Wawer 15000 circulation pumps, as well as three Aquael 1100 L/h heads. The aquarium is equipped with a 15*15*50 cm drain shaft with a comb and drip plate, filled with 8 L of JBL plastic balls, and a 40 mm drain hole in the bottom. The water was filled on 15.03.2008, using Instant Ocean salt with a specific gravity of 1.025.70 L of old water from another marine aquarium was added, and 8 capsules of Bacterizym were gradually placed in the shaft. On 23.03.08,35 kg of cured live rock was added, distributed on the bottom and illuminated with 6 Hagen Aqua and Power Glo T5 24W lamps. On the third day, brown algae began to appear, covering the entire surface of the stones, walls, and bottom by30.03. Dirty foam appeared in the skimmer only on the 8th day. I want to charge the sump with aragonite sand. Can anyone suggest

Caroline1599

Pavlik, could you tell me where to buy aragonite sand?

Craig7302

Everything is good... the maturation process is going according to plan... Although when I started my 900 liters, there were no algae. However, there were about 130 kg of live rock (aged). A month later, I added an anemone - it is still alive... The substrate is quartz sand 12 cm (similar to aragonite)...

Robert

there is aragonite, there is quartz flour...

Deborah2682

Hello! Pavlik, could you please tell me if the chemical formula for aragonite sand and quartz flour is the same? Were there any side effects observed when using quartz flour? Best regards, Vasily.

Thomas

Quartz and aragonite are different things, but the fraction is the same. There were no problems with quartz.

Sarah7284

2.04 - the ninth day after the setup of the aquarium, it has completely cleared of brown algae. Everything came out through the foam filter. The only thing I don't understand is why the redox potential is low? It fluctuates between 120 and 130 mV (without an ozonator). Is it too little stone? An immature system?

Rachel

Hello everyone! The delivery at SM and AT has arrived. Those who were quick got to enjoy it! My aquarium received a batch of aragonite - 40 kg and several wooden inhabitants: 1 dog, brittle stars, strombus snails, cleaners, camels. Surprisingly, but it's true! The resource potential changed from 130 to 230 in less than a day. (I didn't touch the electrode) A special thanks to Rey Tkach and Lesha! For the attention and warm welcome! Thank YOU! Guys!

Joyce

The aquarium has been running for a month and a half, and currently contains 122 kg of live rock and 40 kg of live sand. The ORP is 400-430 mV. With the rock came guests - green and brown anemones, zoanthids, and some other types of invertebrates. They are doing well. The water seems to be stabilizing... There was a spike in nitrite to 0.2, but after adding Bactozym, it has been holding around 0.025 - 0.05.

Kevin3579

It's time to take some photos.

Steven7574

Children's camera, I don't know how it turned out... No, it's better not to post such photos at all... I'll first learn to choose the format and shooting modes, then I'll share for review. Otherwise, it's just embarrassing...

Katie3017

It's a normal photo, just small. A larger size is needed. It looks nice from a distance.

Kendra2262

I'll try again...

Caroline1599

Hello, Ray! Everything is going well for this stage of creating the aquarium...

Stephen5841

Already better. The pebbles are happily standing. We are waiting for the macro shot.

Eric

This is the first version... For now, they have to be rotated (they are not fixed) and, having found life, move them under the light or away from the current... Added after 6 minutes Hello, Ray! I'm glad you stopped by! I want to ask... some creatures came with the stone and are feeling great... There is a temptation to buy some simple corals that are not afraid of the thread, or to wait and let the fish work with it for now—of which there is none, except for one "precious" dog? Added after 8 minutes Thank you for your attention! I will definitely try to do it, but that's all for today... there are no more batteries!

Mariah

Yes, thank you, I finished reading your post and upon returning home saw your message. All the stones are at the bottom. The sand is only in the foreground. While the system is maturing, I sent my skimmer for reconstruction to A. Tkach (for the time being for replacement, Rey offered his new skimmer! - a kind person, he can talk about the sea for hours!!!!!!!!!!) Therefore, the processes are moving a bit slowly, but in the future, it will allow us not to fear the load. Aqua-Medic was too optimistic about the skimmer handling a volume of 1500L! / 2=750? Maybe... (conditionally)

Kimberly2102

The shorty will handle a volume of 1500 liters Ha Ha! 300-350 is the limit for the Reef.

Breanna9982

If you have the desire, come to the Aquarium Center and take a look at the 400-liter reef. We can chat; there aren't many marine aquarium enthusiasts in Luhansk.

Heather6148

Of course, you can. For example, Sarcophytons are not afraid of thread at all, and most large, fleshy soft corals aren't either. Just don't buy a lot at once; take a couple to try and see how they do. If everything is fine, you can add more in about a month.

Tami

"Writing samples" in macro photography. - Dancing shrimp really love "tasi" in the area of Pazantus... - Clavularia, if I'm not mistaken, and a more successful photo...

Emily3506

This is how, out of ignorance and by the teachings of careless advisors, we collectively assist the Chinese manufacturer with a German translation! If I had seen the homemade rigs earlier, which can truly be called professional, the skimmer would have been cheaper and several times more powerful...

Alexander

Polyps are trying to grow on the body of a hard coral, which is presumably fossilized!!!!!!!!! In other words, the hard coral seems to have come back to life... unless, of course, the thread doesn't get blocked!

Jeremy3637

Well! Finally found the right resolution and mode! The photos are starting to turn out more or less well! But the storage capacity for photos on this portal is very limited! Now most of the photos will be posted on the forum "Kyiv Marine Aquaristics Portal," where I was kindly invited by the moderator, and where there is no limit on the number of photos uploaded!

Adam

Photos can be posted on any platform, and a link can be inserted here.

Christopher1252

Well, are we getting the money ready for the delivery!!!!???????? I ordered 18 kg of sand from A. Tkach to start the DSB, and a dozen strombus snails. And some other live creatures. Those who do nothing make no mistakes. Added after 45 seconds And how do you assign a LINK?

Stephanie3084

You can use a website that allows you to upload photos (for example, imageshack.us). Upload a photo from your computer there, and you will get a link to it. Insert the link into your message, and that's it.

Leonard

Added after 55 seconds

Curtis9143

You can also get creative and do it like this:

Michael5242

Apparently, I'm not a pervert! I can't do that yet...

John3432

If you're interested, you can read here and here.

Joseph9057

And here comes such a little star...

Stephanie4990

I launched the second aquarium with DSB (70*60*45) using 18 kg of aragonite sand, caulerpa, and 24-hour lighting with 2*24W T5, resulting in a total system volume of 1350 liters.

Erica

Get well soon! I thought iodine was a universal remedy only in the army.

Craig7302

Actually, I didn't treat her, but helped her recover a bit by theoretically boosting her immune system.

Robert

The main thing is that there is a result.

Beth3383

Just in time, a friend gave me a hint! (Platax! - Thanks to him!)

John3432

The fish are in perfect order! No relapses! The only thing I want to mention regarding this case is that Aotero warns that iodine should be used very carefully in aquariums with corals!

Carrie1606

Today is the sixteenth day since the fish arrived. It's still early to draw a positive conclusion, but the fish is feeding well, no longer hiding in the rocks when approaching the glass, and Hepatus has started to improve; his back is filling out with muscle mass, and he has developed a small belly, not beer-sized yet, but noticeable.

Ricardo7341

A new concept in the cleaning system has appeared on the horizon! Where DSB is also not a PANACEA! It is already widely used by Americans! But another person will talk about this after testing and approval! So, for now, no changes. We are waiting for maturation. (smiling and waving!)

Andrew7823

Wow - wrote, teased...

Jeffery

Well, I insist on more details. Please tell us about the "eternal American needle for the primus." Maybe it will turn the entire reef aquaristics upside down. (Or maybe we will cut you off early.)

Tammy

Perhaps reef aquaristics is so small that it can all be turned over with an American needle for a primus stove.

Rachel

If there are Acropolises living on this system that need almost sterile water, it's unlikely you'll break them, and it's not us, but them! But comrades! Subordination! It's a matter like that... This is not my topic!... There are just advanced people who do not want to and will not go with the flow, but will only throw things into discussion after checking them through personal experience! So let's be patient together! "Let's smile and wave!" Added after 1 hour 56 minutes Let's just look at the map! On which side of the ocean the Americans live, and on which side we, the Ukrainians, live, and everything will become clear... who is closer to what!

Christopher3770

Arrived after the modification of the foam cannon (shorty). New dimensions! Height 1200mm (was 600). A fluffy wheel was installed on the original pump. A second pump with an injector was delivered. There were some mishaps; during delivery, a pipe was broken in the body of the foam cannon, and I spent two days gluing it. Now everything is fine! We installed drain regulators at the outlet. It's still being broken in.

Charles

I made a frame for a 1100 aquarium, thought it was too high, but now I think the opposite - the modified stand won't fit.

Rita

No, it's fine! The height of the internal compartment of the cabinet is 600! Now I'm struggling! And the skimmer doesn't have to reach the ceiling! I was just being greedy! Although you can never have too much skimming! And this is my friend Azal, who has a 600-liter aquarium with a skimmer designed for a volume of 2000 liters. As a result, it's a beautifully balanced system. So if you're going to redo it, do it according to your measurements! I can't say anything about its performance yet because I've been rinsing it in water for two days; it's just starting to pick up speed!

Tracy4603

Well, I will have a smaller aquarium, about 400 liters.

James4342

Then just put on the fuzzy wheel, and you and the "Shortik" aquarium will have enough without any modifications!

Kevin262

Before ordering the frame, I was considering what height to make it. If it's high, it's not very convenient to dive in; if it's low, there might not be enough space for the equipment. My situation is such that I can't place anything next to it; everything needs to fit under the aquarium. I don't have any foam yet; I just read that the height is 1200, and I started thinking again. Although I wasn't planning to get a short one, it just came up as an example.

Randall7906

Here are some new residents, in place of those who left too soon - the lucosternon and heptatus died on the 25th and 26th day, respectively. Added after 1 hour 29 minutes Finally, the mangroves have arrived! I bought them as seeds, but since they are live-bearing, the seed germinates in the fruit, and they arrived as seedlings with roots and buds.

Meghan

The photo of the mangroves turned out the best. But I didn't understand what was in the first photo at all. Hey, where did you order the mangroves? This new trend is starting to get to me too.

Rodney

this is Physogyra lichtensteini Added after 4 minutes My aquarium depth is 800mm and the photos turn out like underwater shots because I'm using a compact camera. Our experts have professional equipment!

Andrea6761

Mangroves are much better! I thought they would come in seeds and then you would sprout them. When your long roots are released, it will be quite unusual in the aquarium. P.S. Take photos parallel to the glass, then it won't be skewed.

Stephen5841

Yes, these are 10 red mangrove seedlings. I also took 30 white mangrove seeds, and now I'm germinating them. If they don't conflict with each other, it will be a nice grove of 20-30 meter trees! I'm cutting the roof, let them branch out! Added after 2 minutes Thank you for the advice! I'll give it a try! And I will soon have a gift for the mangroves! A separate 400-liter container, which I will connect to the system as advised!

Tracy4603

Isn't that a bit too many mangroves, or is it for seedlings?

William

Out of boredom, I did some water tests: Ammonium-0, Nitrite-0, Nitrate-0, Mg-1140, Ca-460, pH-8.3, KH-9.

John3335

In reality, there is no such thing as zero nitrate. The test is incorrect. Well, that's fine.

Danielle9144

I was always right, and now I'm not? For 120 kg of live rock (1300 liters of water) 3 small fish! Where are the nitrates coming from!? Besides, I have 2 tests, JBL and Tropic Marin!

Kimberly4253

WELL, if it's a tropic-marin, then yes.

Julia

DSB 500*700 is packed with caulking! Plus clever sorbents!

Danielle9144

You can also introduce another hedgehog; it will eat the overgrowth. Be more careful with the caulerpa; it's better not to turn off the light in the tank at all, so it doesn't reproduce sexually.

James4342

Yes, I know, thank you! The light in the samp is on 24/7! After adding calcium hydroxide, the filament is suppressed by calcium! It just falls off like a bald spot!

Katherine

I wouldn't get too into hydroxide - you could mess things up. The aquarium is young, there are practically no consumers - why add anything? Although, pH 8.3, KH 9, that's fine.

Katie5500

I control the process! (for now) I'm testing! (I mean, magnesium imbalance? The magnesium supplement will arrive in 2 days)

Richard2180

Before the arrival of calcium hydroxide, the level was 380! And the filamentous algae were tormenting me! Now the protozoa are being displaced! Added after 5 hours and 17 minutes The Tunze 6101 arrived, two pumps with the multi-controller 7095. What can I say! A miracle of hostile technology! The Risan is noticeable against their background and can only be compared when working across the tank! Simple math! 2400 (length) / 800 (width) = 3. The Risan waver is three times weaker than the Tunze!

Susan9583

Well, a few more colonists have arrived, I hope they will conquer my aquarium! Added after 2 hours 7 minutes Two hours after planting... Added after 9 hours 10 minutes Final touches on the equipment... the light has arrived! - 4 MH*250, 4*39 tubes. I ordered from A. It was done very neatly! Only the tubes are from China (glo). I will have to change them to JBL over time - I have already gotten used to the purple spectrum!

Emily

And how much did the lamp cost you, if it's not a secret?

Timothy

1150

Earl

Added after 1 minute Of course

Hunter1471

Hey, what are the flow controllers of Resun doing on your wall? The flow seems to have become Tunze. Or is it both now? Please provide a general photo of the aquarium (so that both the light and the aquarium and what's inside it can be seen).

Julie4738

I thought, is it really hell! I was already about to run and buy. Where can I find such reflectors cheaply? If I have good reflectors, I can try to mold them myself, because the price is unaffordable for me.

Nicholas2252

Ask the Master! Added in 3 minutes Both Tyunz and Risan... I have a little wagon... but I won't post the photo yet, the camera just doesn't capture it!

Marie5735

The Master's temperament is too heavy; I'm afraid he will hit me.

James5103

Well!?! I don't know. Added after 1 hour 10 minutes It's expensive for me because there are a lot of lamps! The calculation is approximately 1 liter = 1 watt. Yours will surely be 2 to 2.5 times cheaper. Added after 1 hour 19 minutes Night shooting... predators don't sleep!

Andrew9246

Unfortunately, this Tubastrea is dying, and it seems that it will not be possible to save it.

Teresa

Do you keep non-photosynthetic organisms?????????

Craig7302

Unfortunately, this Tubastrea is dying, and it seems that it will not be possible to save it. Why do you think it is dying? This Tubastrea was alive in my aquarium just yesterday and feels great. You can see it in the photo of my aquarium. It just arrived at Rea this morning and hasn't had time to adapt.

Richard

In my opinion, until the stones are cleared of filamentous algae and bryopsis, it is NOT possible to introduce new livestock! And the imbalance can be caused not only by magnesium but also by KH, pH, and alkalinity. Why add all sorts of junk if it is NOT NECESSARY??? In a young aquarium???? There are no calcium consumers.

Lindsey3362

Are you adding Calcium Hydroxide? This will be more than enough for a young aquarium, and it's better to add it at night since the pH drops at night. You don't need anything else.

Catherine

I do just that, I set up an IV with calcium hydroxide twice at night (two teaspoons per 10 liters of water) with a three-day interval... So I didn't understand what you call GARBAGE...

Richard

Unfortunately, this Tubastrea is dying, and it seems that it will not be possible to save it. Why do you think it is dying? This Tubastrea was alive in my aquarium just yesterday and is feeling great. You can see it in the photo of my aquarium. It just arrived at Rea in the morning and hasn't had time to adapt. Just two days ago, its quality and the length of the polyps were excellent. Please justify your message if possible.

Shane

Well, as you understood, this is the "dying" Tubastrea during the morning feeding! And another young resident...

Jennifer7578

Everything is going well! As they say, the "dying" Tubastrea offspring are increasingly extending their polyps. Many have been closed for weeks after arrival. In a couple of days, they will fully open, and we can feed and grow them.

Christopher4125

Today, the most advanced polyps have already captured the moth that Scopas (the brazen face) didn't manage to take.

Mark9853

moth is their most effective and real feeding! Unlike dry crushed feed, which 80% goes to waste, they catch all the moth. Of course, when there are many fish, it will be more difficult. In the evening, I give them moth.

Emily3144

Yes, comrades, I want to say that today marks exactly three months since the laying of the first stone (20 kg).

Scott9892

The first sign of an unfavorable condition in Tubastraea is the destruction of the inter-polyp tissue, which is usually irreversible. At this point, the polyps appear externally healthy and continue to feed for some time.

Robert

If fed, it will live long and even new polyps will appear. The connective tissue recovers quite quickly with good water quality and feeding. I had several tubastreas that came completely dead, but now both the tissue has recovered and there are more polyps. Moreover, in the photo of the ray, the image is unclear, and the tissue there is undamaged; it’s either detritus piled on the coral or substrate, which is why it looks that way. P.S. By the way, you showed a photo of your tubastrea from last year. Can you show the same coral and how it looks now?

Holly

Dear ()! Thank you for your attention and concern, I didn't know what the subtleties of the appearance of this coral should be - it is a gift from Sergey (Aotero) for three months of life. Upon closer inspection, I can say that all the polyps are connected by "paths," but due to the poor quality of the photo, they are not visible.

Jason9385

Here are today's photos.

Melanie

Respectable! But! You probably know the issues of communication psychology and understand that statements like: - "it's dying and it seems it can't be saved" - are too categorical and can leave newcomers in shock! Especially since this can be said about any coral! Much more valuable would be advice on care conditions to save and nurture the pet, rather than throwing it into the trash bin of history right after such statements! Sincerely! .............rey!

John828

For God's sake, I'm sorry if I offended you in any way. As a hobbyist, I thought it was better to know that the coral is initially dying rather than looking for mistakes, say, in the water quality, thus making erroneous moves. I would be glad if I was wrong. Once again, I'm sorry, I'm still "young" and I will improve.

David2398

I sincerely wish you success.

Raven7170

No, it's not that easy to get rid of!... How would you describe the presence of a large number of newborn polyps? Added after 2 minutes: Which seem to be creating the interpolyploid tissue?!?!

Diana7891

I thought we had the worst water in Kharkiv - it’s 350 at the inlet. But in any case, I currently have 16 at the outlet of the osmosis, and strictly 0 after the resin.

James

Post No. 76 is our Chernihiv water and the work of my osmosis.

Robert1845

Unfortunately, these are not newborns, but underdeveloped polyps.

Bethany

We have water - this is just the beginning, wow.....

Alan273

Good evening! Friends! I have slightly improved the water situation by connecting ion exchange resins after the osmosis, achieving TDS meter readings around 1. I have added sorbents to the aquarium that remove metal ions, which the water is surely saturated with! I already feel better!

Veronica

And the tubastrea is getting better and better. I read posts about tubastrea, and someone wrote that they have had their tubastrea for 2 years, and they have seen it open 30 times. I understand that the reef will develop towards non-photosynthetic organisms, or will it be a bit of everything (or, considering the volume - a lot of everything)?

Amber9312

Well, in any case, a mixed aquarium is more beautiful. 90 percent of corals can live in a mixed one. The recovery power of Tubastrea is enormous. I think you will have the same.

Laurie3842

C L A S S ! ! ! Well, ideals exist for a reason, to have something to strive for! Added after 23 hours 57 minutes Added after 23 hours 58 minutes

Joseph6461

Good afternoon, everyone! It's summer, and the forum is quiet; everyone is once again waiting for shipments! Nothing new is happening, except that the corals have adapted and started to grow... The interpolyps tissue of the Tubastrea has begun to grow... Catalaphyllia has simply turned into a monster in size... The polyps of Xenia have started to grow in several places in the aquarium, right on the sand! Added after 3 hours and 36 minutes A few tests... nitrate - from 1...5; pH - 8.4; CA - 400; Mg - 1200; KH - 8; Water salinity - 1.025

Nicole

What are you taking pictures with?

Dana6523

Soap dish Olympus Sp 310, 7 MP. I know it needs to be replaced... a little later!

Patricia

Something needs to be done with the photos. You can also get decent pictures with a compact camera, but my phone takes similar quality photos. I don't know what to choose; a DSLR is expensive, and a compact camera is a gamble. I'm still looking for one for myself, I have nothing to show off yet, but it's already time for you.

David4089

It seems that the first signs of good adaptation in the coral... with daily single feeding, Tubastrea started to open up like clockwork, half an hour before feeding... and stayed open all night until morning!

Timothy

What specific sorbents?

Martha

Hello! I was just thinking about the Shark with AL! Sorbents-Chemi-pur-Elite! But opinions about them are mixed! Some praise them, while others blame them for ruining the aquarium! However, I tend to think that people just shift their failures onto anything but themselves!

Melinda

I apologize for posting in someone else's thread, but I have something to contribute. I created a water supply scheme: 1. One reverse osmosis system for both drinking water and the aquarium. A tube (and a two-wire cable) runs from the kitchen to the aquarium under the floor. 2. The TDS meter, as you correctly pointed out, should be placed AFTER the reverse osmosis and ion exchange resins to monitor their quality. This connection scheme was developed based on consultations with the reefer Tkachev, and I consider it ideal.

Joshua8425

I don't have the patience to feed her. Especially since she is at a meter depth... There are a lot of problems. When I feed her, she opens up well. When I stop feeding, she doesn't open up and just keeps herself closed. A strange creature. If she's hungry, she should try to catch food instead of sitting curled up and waiting for a hungry death. After all, there is plankton in the water anyway. For example, my shrimp often release larvae.

William

If you raise it higher, it will be under very bright MH lights (400W). And this creature prefers dim light.

Emily3506

This beast really doesn't care much, the main thing is the feeling of Food! Check out the topic "my new Nps system 500 liters +2 samps." Although, of course, 400 watts is not 150! But still! We shouldn't turn a hobby into a torment, and starving the creature isn't good either! After all, there are hollows in the rocks! Besides, Tubastrea still leads a gloomy lifestyle when the MH lights are off...

Danielle9144

Andrew, I will listen and place the tubastria at the very top. So it will be convenient to feed. I will report the results to you. But I feel that everything will be fine. I am gradually bringing the tubastria out of the shadows (it was initially in the grotto) and so far I don't see any negative effects from the bright light. Now let's try the extreme - below the surface.

Troy8808

I also initially placed it in the corner where the current was weak, but it was convenient to feed it, resulting in a long adaptation... the coral just didn't want to eat, opened poorly and only for a short time. Now it's a completely different story!

Jeremy8404

I report as promised. So far, the tubastreya is feeling significantly better at the top! I think it's due to the better flow.

Yolanda

Oh, if only such a grand resettlement of residents came with a new camera!!! The photo shows that the tubastrea are open! DETAILS! I want information!! (And closer and larger photos!)

James3382

Yes, I can see it myself, I took a lot of interesting photos while I was offline, but when I looked at them on the computer, the quality is just infuriating...

Catherine

Yes! Stop buying new corals, Ray. Buy a new photo! The tubastrea are open but not fully; they may still be unaccustomed to your light.

Kristen2246

This photo is old, everything is better now, but I can't take a picture because the batteries let me down!

Kevin262

Try to do a little bit of photoshopping. Here is one way to reduce digital noise:

Ashley5975

I support.

Jennifer7578

I'll try a little more now...

Cassandra1840

Hey, why so many tubastrea?! In the aquarium, there is ALWAYS not enough space over time to accommodate a new, highly desired inhabitant. So why waste precious space on identical corals?!

Jonathan6173

Well, there are no problems with the location for the shoot. However, the landscape in the last photo will turn out great, but everything is ruined because of the phone he is using to take the pictures.

Brandy

Well, regarding the new mangryatnik, this is something to boast about! Considering that no one has created a mangryatnik of this level yet!! I'm not talking about the volume, but about the filling of the mangromegasamp.

Brandi

Yes, yes. Share the details. Everyone will be interested, as I think there aren't many mangrove enthusiasts. What, where, why, in what layer. I have mangroves in the tank waiting for me to allocate them a separate space.

Ricky9405

Thank you for the support! My hands are itching as always! Today I finally filled the new tank with 300 liters of water, salted it, and connected one of the foamers. (Of course, there is still no connection to the overall system). Tomorrow, if everything goes well, I will start adding the ingredients for the filtration system...

Stephanie3084

Nitrate 5? The load is affecting it. And the stones haven't had time to work yet. By the way, magnesium 1200 is a bit low. As far as I understand, 1350 is better.

Natasha7622

Magnesium 1200 is the golden mean! What tests do you use?

Susan1358

Nitrate 5 is still normal, especially since Rey has added a lot of stones and sand, and now the biomass of the mangrove will be pouring in, so the system will still be unstable and will settle down.

April3499

all JBL tests, some for control - Tropic Marin. In the morning, I added 30 kg of live sand to the new sump as a base for the main component... the system is currently very stable. I feed the tubastrea from 8 PM to midnight with intervals of 40-60 minutes, creating conditions for abundant feeding. One day a week is a rest day. On that day, the nitrate disappears to 0! Well, as promised, I will soon retrieve my "American needle for the primus" from the "storage".

Joseph1346

What will be the main component?

Kristin

The main component will be... And just a word about the load...

Janet5447

How is feeding done and with what? It can be exhausting to do it by hand.

Marie5735

I dream of such needles. I ordered them in the last shipment, but Sm told me they arrived, just not for me. They were probably sold to you. Well, that's okay. I'll wait for mine. Are they feeding well?

Thomas5021

Yes, that was my order. They are fed, I don't feed them specifically, the leftovers from Tubastre are enough.

Debra

Oh, I already love them! I wanted them anyway, and now even more so. As you remember, I'm making an Lps aquarium. So I have a small current. And a lot of hiding places. I think they will feel good.

Angela7060

They feel great even in very strong currents! And the feeding is as simple as it gets, just our usual frozen plankton in blocks or cyclops. Even the eels don't touch the needles.

Tanya

In what quantity should this wonderful mud be used?

Julie4738

Super!!!

Julia

Is a layer of live sand under the dirt recommended or is it self-initiative?

Matthew7977

Amateur activity. Three bags of mud instead of four, more substrate, so the bed is just right! I will go out to the calculated layer, with a reserve, and I will launch the substrate beneficially, and gradually I can add more, as recommended! And also... the substrate that would fit in size is under the aquarium, and it already has sand! It seems to be working... And the planned mangroves would be cramped there! In nature, mangroves grow specifically in mud. So there is a strong temptation to create an ecosystem that closely matches nature... how it will turn out is another question... to which time will answer.

Steven757

Oleg, you don't need to believe in miracles, because I am the one conducting the experiments. I am not calling for a nationwide dirtification either. I am creating a parallel filtration element to the existing ones for analysis and testing! It would be foolish to assert anything positive or negative in advance. I wouldn't dare to rely solely on dirt, as there are already significant investments at stake. For more detailed information, I suggest reaching out to those who are already widely using it—it's being discussed on forums in the States.

Randy

Hello! There is certainly no miracle, but this technology is quite worthy of attention; here is an example of a very successful use of such filtration: Here is the translation: I have been interested in the use of this technology for a long time, so I will be eagerly awaiting the results of using the "Miraculous Mud." Good luck to you, Ray...

Anne

I agree that as an addition to the filtration system, it may bring some benefits. But it can also cause harm. 30% of the wonderful dirt is silicon. And supposedly 63% of the dirt is quartz. The question is how beneficial DSB is for the reef on quartz sand.

Monica

See the beginning of the post, the quartz question has already been discussed... But I am bookmarking not quartz, but a complex, balanced preparation.

Sharon

Let's see what practice shows. However, it will be difficult to separate the contribution of each component of the system. I hope the system will be good. The question is what the merit of the wonderful mud will be in this.

Karen1649

Thank you! Everyone hopes for this, but unfortunately not everyone succeeds. "Boka" lurk around us from everywhere... there are random ones, and there are systematic ones...

Karen

I took another camera for a try... Added after 24 minutes and here again with my own...

John3142

The quality of the photos is improving. What is that red thing in the last photo?

Gary6376

This is also caulerpa.

Christopher3770

Ray, you are mistaken, red Caulerpa does not exist in nature; it is most likely a somewhat faded bush of the red algae Botryocladia uvaria. It closely resembles the berry (grape) Caulerpa Caulerpa racemosa, but unlike Caulerpa, it is red in color and firmer... Although it is difficult to judge by this photo, it is possible that it is a rarer algae from the genus Gracilaria sp. found in aquariums.

Anthony4281

The seller called it a caulerpa... what you buy is what you sell. The website I used to rely on for classification is not working for some reason, so I gave an unverified answer. The plant is indeed tough; at first, I placed it in the aquarium, but after my gang of surgeons almost devoured it halfway, I transplanted it to the sump.

Kimberly3727

Then it's definitely Botryocladia uvaria, surgeons love it very much, which is why I can't grow it in the aquarium; the zebras eat it, but it grows in the sump...

Kristen2246

The ray that lies near the Scallop doesn't get buried in the sand. It seems like Lamnalia; it should be on the rocks, and even better, hanging upside down, as it will live worse on the sand. Take a photo of the aquarium when the tubastrea are fully open. And you caught a Zebra!

Patricia

Easy! Half an hour, and they are revealed!

Steven757

Dandelions have bloomed.

Caroline1599

Well, almost... just these dandelions are a bit toothier...

Judy

I have the same bush. In my opinion, it is not Botryocladia uvaria. There are no characteristic bubbles. It resembles more of a tube, spreading out like horns. It might indeed be some species of Gracilaria. Definitely not Gracilaria pacifica, as the latter has thinner and more flexible stems and branches differently. In general, I am also curious to find out the name. By the way, I really hoped that the surgeons wouldn't eat it... They chewed it all... Added after 1 minute I liked how Catalaphyllia is planted in the sand. It looks like it was born there! Excellent!

Gene1948

Ray, tell me about your Artemia reactor: who is the manufacturer? Do the brine shrimp get into the aquarium by themselves? Have you considered phytoplankton reactors? Added after 4 minutes And I started the procedures with vodka, following the method described on Reef Central... I also add vodka to the aquarium daily and constantly - 3 ml for my volume: I haven't seen nitrates yet. I want to try the products from Prodibio or Fauna Marin. I mean the bacteria and their food. I think it will be better than vodka.

Keith7534

There is also Tetra's nitrate-minus in the form of balls. I sprinkled it on the substrate and buried it a little. The nitrate level dropped, and there were fewer algae on the glass. It is designed to last for six months. Added after 1 minute So how does it work in practice?

James5103

I will use Sergei's photo, as mine is already standing, bubbling, and partially covered by the pump. The eggs are poured into the upper left compartment; as they get wet, they drop onto a movable platform located under the airlift. Air bubbles hit it, creating vibrations, and the counterflow sucks the eggs into the main compartment, where aeration occurs. The hatched fry exit with the wave-like oscillation of water in the lower transition of the airlift, and after rising through the pipe with a gentle countercurrent, they pass through the grid into the aquarium.

Alexandra

I have tried many reactors, and this one is the best! Plus, it is quite compact.

Melissa1838

All nitrate negatives are good, even excellent! I use this for control, and the second approach is the activation of bacteria, maintaining a large enough quantity to quickly eliminate the nitrate (alongside sorption).

Daniel132

As far as I understand, the Tetra balls are not a sorbent, but rather an activation of bacteria - they consist of fructose or sucrose (in any case, they are sweet) and gradually dissolve, providing food for the reproduction of bacteria with subsequent nitrate disposal.

Joseph2576

Yes, I assumed so, that's why I don't add sugar, only vodka. And I meant the sorbent, the one I also use is Purigen.

Christina9947

What is it called? Who is the manufacturer? Interesting thing.

Amanda5586

joined the question

Heather6148

At AL, it's not just about asking who the manufacturer is; they found it and have already made a bulk order for the crowd... that's how these guys work! quote...

Mark

I already ordered it!!! The most interesting thing is that I wrote a long time ago that I bought a cool brine shrimp reactor - and the reaction from people was zero. But you described how your shrimp swim out of there by themselves - and right into the mouths of the tubastrias!

Chad

Yes, style is a great thing... I wrote it as I could... Added after 13 minutes Yes, Seryozhka is indeed our idea generator!

Joshua448

Let's return to the mangrove. Ray, isn't it? As I understand, there should be a thin layer of super mud and that's it, well, in your case with the bedding - see 4-5. And in the photo, it's a full-fledged DSB.

Robert1845

not him! The mangrove tank 120*60*60 is standing on the floor to the right of the aquarium, maturing. I just put a small skimmer in there and planted two mangroves. In just over a week, they have outgrown their peers by half with their small leaves! But the water is still brownish and murky (I’m pouring water in there too!) The nitrate group tests are already close to zero, soon, soon... it’s just recommended to let the dirt circulate for about a month! without a system... Added after 43 minutes Stas, for you...

Brenda

After I bought them, I couldn't get anything out for a month. It turned out that the Artemia eggs from Akvamedik were spoiled (they smell like ammonia). However, the Tetra-dry ones, for example, have a huge output.

Brandon4517

I currently have JBL eggs. We'll all try them!

Wendy2244

Oh right! I just confused Tetra with DJBL. I haven't tried Tetra.

Steven7574

No, the Aquamedics ones don't smell like ammonia, but rather something indescribable. My yield from them was 0.1%. A month ago, I ordered a kilo of eggs from Kazakhstan, but I haven't heard anything since. I've also lost their contact information. I'll try JBL and something from a German store.

James4757

Stas, I even know who sold you the Aquamedica eggs. They have probably been expired for about six months, yet they are still being sold. DJB-L is the best; they have a yield of 90 and above.

Stephen5841

I got the eggs from Arovana. But the question is not who sold them, but under what conditions and how long they were stored. If they were stored for six months and without refrigeration, then regardless of the manufacturer, they are no good. Where I got the JBL eggs, should I try to get the same batch?

John5528

I took a couple of cans from Sergey, and I gave one to Rey to try, and he is satisfied. In general, dry JBL eggs are the best you can get, but the ones sold in liquid are all junk. There are a couple of companies in the States that make better ones, but it's not really significant.

Andrea9320

Well, I don't know, I took the eggs, the hatching rate was 99 percent, I activated them in a regular aquarium. The eggs were fertilized, of course. The smell from them (or from the water where they were) was TERRIBLE, and the dry JBL eggs are our eggs bought by the Germans and packed in a nice box – they don't have their own...

Susan

Yesterday I tried adding a spoonful of phytoplankton to the reactor along with the brine shrimp eggs... today it's teeming with life! I've never seen anything like it! In my opinion, there is also zooplankton present in the reactor besides the brine shrimp.

Adam4310

Ray, what kind of phytoplankton? I mean, who is the manufacturer?

Kristin

Ah, I see. This is a dry (non-living) phytoplankton. It would be great to get some live ones!! Like Nannochloropsis.

Jason9952

Yes, this is feed for the living... I wanted to film the reactor, but it's beyond the capabilities of my compact camera to capture microorganisms! Plus, the fish have already discovered the new feeder, and the tetras have moved closer to the reactor... it's getting in the way. In the photo below, in the left compartment, you can see the remaining shell.

Angela6489

I remember I poured in the phytoplankton from the right side of the photo, and the walls of the aquarium get covered with green algae in just a day. You scrape them off, and it's almost like natural phytoplankton.

Joseph9203

I currently like phyto - from . Corals respond positively to it, and the walls of the aquarium grow less algae, but I still want a natural culture... I read somewhere that you can obtain a culture if you put water from frozen artemia into an incubator (phyto). It seems that nanocloropsis develops. In general, I will try it after the holidays.

Jade

Urgently needed a spawning tank for needles.

Andrea6761

They will manage! My Murka (moray eel) also needs food!

Mitchell7972

It's a pity, I was already getting my hopes up.

William1830

Today, the needles put on a new show for me! One of the individuals, after the main lights were turned off, started behaving aggressively towards me when I approached the aquarium to feed the corals, trying to make sharp lunges in my direction!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have only seen such behavior in cichlids during spawning or when caring for fry. What audacity! Attacking the father...

Kathryn514

Maybe it's really reproduction?

Sheila

This would certainly be a precedent! Time will tell!

Leonard

Finally, I classified my algae! This is Rhodotis sp. 01 - Algae And here’s another variant that appeared...

Ryan

I have never come across anyone like her, I can't say anything about her except that she is beautiful...

Frank7213

And here, my Murka decided to pose!

Sarah5423

Here is a photo of the coral from which it all started... this is what it looked like... [url] Added after 22 hours 59 minutes

Rodney3101

Changes are evident))