Couple new 170 shots

[Flatlander]

Full tank. Light is 400 watt 55K Venture.

[Flatlander]

Nice leather.

[Ocean Images]

Nice tank! That leather sure would be nice tucked away in my tank :D
:cheers:

[Andy]

Beautiful Doug. I love the nice coralline on your rock. What are your calcium and alkalinity levels at. I'd love to see more close-ups.

Andy

[Flatlander]

Hi Andy. I have some good rock I can shoot a close- up on. Will take some this weekend. Well, as good as my old Kodak can.:(

My calcium always runs between 420 - 460ppm,{Salifert}. With my other reactor , the alk was always at 13DKH. I have not measured it for a long time, but sure its not that high now. I never ran the new reactor,{except as a test}, after moving and of course, I have now traded it with Mitch for the kalk reactor.

This one is maintained currently with a nightly kalk drip & a morning dose of 30ml each, of ESV B-Ionic. As I have mentioned in many threads over the years, on growing nice coralline, I think one of the 2-parts is the secret. I have had success with both B-Ionic & C-Balance.

Now for a very debatable point, I always have & still do, use Combi-san. Despite what some tests show, I can grow green alage with it at will, if overdosed. So I still suspect it plays some part in coraline growth. I would assume its the iron. Of course I am only speculating here.:idea: Perhaps its also partly attributed to the fact I over feed my tanks, as much as anything else.:confused:

[Andy]

Hi Doug

From my past experiences, I found the best coralline was achieved when dosing kalkwasser. I have dosed B-Ionic, Seachem Reef Complete, Tropic Marin Bio-Calcium, and Reef Evolution by Aquarium Systems, all with less than desirable results. Currently, calcium and alkalinity is maintained with a Precision Marine calcium reactor. Calcium and alkalinity levels are at 400-450 ppm and 11 dKH, respectively. I haven't been adding any other supplements seeing that the tank is so young and I'm afraid of any kind of algae outbreak. I am by the diatom and cyano stage. There is a little hair algae in the overflows.

I find that when I'm out of town, I usually come home to a tank with more coralline and more fully expanded corals. I've always thought that it might have someting to do with me not putting my hands into the tank while I'm gone. Soap residue will always remain on your arms to some extent. Could this have something to do with it?

My LFS owner is a firm believer in using Reef Plus as a supplement to food. He believes that it feeds the corals, provides important vitamins to the fish and possibly enhances coralline growth. Anyone out there using Seachem Reef Plus.

Thanks,

Andy

[Flatlander]

Andy, I agree on the kalk also. I have always used it in one way or another, no matter what other ca/alk method I was using.

I still think the contents of a 2-part help. Perhaps its the amount of trace elements in it and others like strontium & magnesium. Forgot to mention, when not using my co2 reactor, I also add ESV magnesium. My levels are around 1300ppm. I found the reactor, using CaribSea reactor media, kept it there also.

I once had a 20 gal tank. It had tons of hair algae. I started using C-Balance. The coralline grew so fast, it got rid of the hair algae.

I have never used many of Seachem produts. I did use Reef Evolution for awile. It seemed good also. I know this is not the normal practice anymore, and even though I feed lots, I have always used a supplemental additive of some type of trace elements. Perhaps its part of the reason my soft coral growth is so good. When I take them in, they are grabbed up quick as compared with ordered corals. Again I am only speculating here.

Also for any newer aquarists reading threads like this, beware. I have fought red slime or turf algae at times from over feeding and/or supplements. I also keep my tanks well skimmed of turf scrubbed.

The funniest thing is how all the research & tests show nothing in the supplements but 99% water or whatever they say. I can overdose & grow algae, :eek2: :eek1: Totally amazing for water. I argued this point until I was blue in the face during the CombiSan & Sprung slamming going on a ways back, but what do I know.:laugh: Several of us have noted the direct results of using or not using a trace element & our corals growth.

I would imagine though that frequent water changes will do the same, if one prefers that route. I dont. Most of the above was without a co2 reactor in use. Many have said, and I think I would agree, that with the use of a proper reactor media, it will take care of most additions.

[Flatlander]

Coralline pic

[Flatlander]

Coralline 2

[Flatlander]

Had to show ya this one also. Bob just had to come see what I was doing & be in the pic as always.

[djbh]

Doug do you supplement with actinics? or is this MH only.

[Flatlander]

Those pics are under a 400 watt 55K Venture & 3 normal output Philip actinics.

A lot of the older growth, originates from higher temp bulbs, such as my 400 watt 12K Sunburst.