OK! Enough chat...Starting a 1000g+ Reef - Page 31

jnarowe · #**751** 12/27/2007, 07:41 PM

Wow, man that is rough. Well you know I did dose sugar but to point to that as being effective would be very unscientific. I did notice a change in the dinos while dosing sugar, but then I felt that I really didn't know enough about it to be screwing around too much. Sherman made me nervous about my dosing method too. The dinos did seem to die off during the sugar dosing, but then they would come back. And I wasn't really sure that the sugar wouldn't be feeding them as well.

I stopped dosing sugar before the dinos disappeared. But let me summarize what I did do so you can at least have that knowledge to work with:

1. I did a bunch of water changes
2. I lowered the light period
3. I dosed sugar
4. I did a 3 day blackout
5. I stopped dosing sugar.
6. I stopped doing water changes

I feel that stopping water changes may have been the pivotal element, but since I was trying multiple things sort of over-lapping, I cannot tell you what really caused them to die off.

Man I wish you good luck as I lost some corals during that upheaval. If you decide to dose sugar, go easy.

sherm71tank · #**752** 12/27/2007, 07:44 PM

You should also have a very good skimmer. The bacteria that will grow in your system if you dose sugar will consume oxygen. If your skimmer isn't up to par it could be very bad.

20 20 · #**753** 12/27/2007, 07:46 PM

Thanks for the info, jnarowe. I've stopped water changes, last one was 2 weeks ago. I've been on a shortened light period for 2 months now. Ugh. I'm about to go into another 3 (or more) day blackout. Think I'll skip the sugar for now. I almost turned the tank (125 gallon nano) into a fresh water tank a month ago, but I'm still fighting the good fight!

20 20 · #**754** 12/27/2007, 07:48 PM

I've got an ASM G3. I've just ordered some Enkamat to start using a mesh wheel on it, other than that it's a stock skimmer, except with the gate valve mod. I feed so little that I only get a weak 'green tea' type skimmate.

jnarowe · #**755** 12/27/2007, 07:58 PM

yeah I forgot about the skimming. What you can do is ramp up flow, make sure your skimmer is running well, and then blow it into the water column. The best way to do this is with a powerhead and below is a Dahn Nguyen modded MJ-1200 we call the "Reef Blower".

This thing is unbelievable. If you get the dinos into the water column, then your skimmer can pull them out.

My situation turned around probably about 3 weeks after I stopped the water changes.

jnarowe · #**756** 12/27/2007, 08:03 PM

Hey Sherman...Guess who's in town? Rick! He's coming by the store to pick up some Jolly...you up for getting together?

chris wright · #**757** 12/27/2007, 08:32 PM

I wish I had a decent skimmer, I have to rely on water changes for nutrient export

jnarowe · #**758** 12/27/2007, 11:21 PM

still works Chris...doesn't matter how you achieve it, just that you do.

chris wright · #**759** 12/27/2007, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jnarowe
still works Chris...doesn't matter how you achieve it, just that you do.

Thats it. My system is pretty basic, but it works. I just need my new lights to turn up. Have to be imported, but 2 months is getting beyond the joke.

Speaking of which, get Barry to email you Aussies version of windows. It's exactly how I imagined it should be, maybe I got it wrong?

Naaah, it's a better system

jnarowe · #**760** 12/28/2007, 12:04 AM

What...you have your own version? My phone is Windows and the damn thing crashes when there is an incoming call. Especially when it's my sister...

tbone28 · #**761** 12/28/2007, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jnarowe
yeah I forgot about the skimming. What you can do is ramp up flow, make sure your skimmer is running well, and then blow it into the water column. The best way to do this is with a powerhead and below is a Dahn Nguyen modded MJ-1200 we call the "Reef Blower".

This thing is unbelievable. If you get the dinos into the water column, then your skimmer can pull them out.

My situation turned around probably about 3 weeks after I stopped the water changes.

How do you put that reef blower together?

chris wright · #**762** 12/28/2007, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jnarowe
What...you have your own version? My phone is Windows and the damn thing crashes when there is an incoming call. Especially when it's my sister...

I can't put in words the chuckle that comes to mind

, when it's your sister, that's mmmmmm, different

jnarowe · #**763** 12/28/2007, 12:22 PM

tbone28: That's just the MJ-1200 mod with a pipe shoved in the end. I just notched the pipe to fit over the prop bar. Those mods are all over RC and elsewhere. It is extremely powerful though, so I do not recommend its use on small tanks.

You can actually buy mods retail now and then just fit a pipe on it.

tbone28 · #**764** 12/28/2007, 01:55 PM

Thanks for your reply! I better stay away then. I sure don't have a 1000g tank!

jnarowe · #**765** 12/28/2007, 02:17 PM

you could do exactly th esame thing with any Maxi-Jet pump though. The great thing about it is that it will completely clean your rocks and tank walls. Mine will literally strip algae right off the glass.

mrcrab · #**766** 12/28/2007, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jnarowe
Mine will literally strip algae right off the glass.

Then why the heck don't you use it!

tbone28 · #**767** 12/28/2007, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jnarowe
you could do exactly th esame thing with any Maxi-Jet pump though. The great thing about it is that it will completely clean your rocks and tank walls. Mine will literally strip algae right off the glass.

I'm gonna give it a try. I have an extra MJ 1200. Will use it to blow off the rocks before water changes. That will sure beat fanning the rocks with my scraper! LOL

jnarowe · #**768** 12/28/2007, 02:40 PM

not THAT kind of algae. Although that is falling off the tank walls revealing fresh growth. So strange. But good news for all concerned, I will have to clean the glass in the next couple of weeks as I prepare for the PSAS meeting.

My only trepidation is putting any weight on the damaged pane.

jnarowe · #**769** 12/28/2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tbone28
I'm gonna give it a try. I have an extra MJ 1200. Will use it to blow off the rocks before water changes. That will sure beat fanning the rocks with my scraper! LOL

Check this out:

Algae Free Mod