It has run for about 4 weeks now since setting up, but reckon it will have to be cleaned about once a month or so.
Hotdog's Maxed Out Reef 650
- Thread starter hotdog83
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It has run for about 4 weeks now since setting up, but reckon it will have to be cleaned about once a month or so.
Figured out what was causing stress and white spot, a faulty stc1000 temp controller probe. It reads tank is 25C, but when I put thermometer in, it says 23C. So I learn, need to think of way to build in redundancy so a faulty probe doesn’t cause stress, maybe 2 temp controllers with different heaters. Changed to another temp controller, hopefully white spot becomes less now. Still have a lot of microbubbles, the bubble trap did not work, need to figure out what the issue is and fix it, it is driving me crazy.
Just a thought. I saw the bit about your 3 UV units being offline.
If you have some white spot brewing I would try get those UV units back on line double quick time.
The fish immunity will not have had time to fully develop with all that UV – now that it’s off line it could explode with all those fish in there.
I also run 3 x 55 watts on a similar size tank and mine were out of action without me realizing it and I had a horrible white spot outbreak. I found my problem 2 weeks into the white spot which was a week later than I should have and I ended up losing 3 fish. Pretty sure I would have had no such issue had I realized my UV were only running at about 30% of their capacity.
You got some mighty fine fish in there – it’s not worth taking a chance.
If you have some white spot brewing I would try get those UV units back on line double quick time.
The fish immunity will not have had time to fully develop with all that UV – now that it’s off line it could explode with all those fish in there.
I also run 3 x 55 watts on a similar size tank and mine were out of action without me realizing it and I had a horrible white spot outbreak. I found my problem 2 weeks into the white spot which was a week later than I should have and I ended up losing 3 fish. Pretty sure I would have had no such issue had I realized my UV were only running at about 30% of their capacity.
You got some mighty fine fish in there – it’s not worth taking a chance.
I agree on the UV’s, but I haven’t changed the bulbs in about 18 months, so not sure it did anything for white spot control. Need to install new ones as soon as possible.
When you change them, strip them and clean the quarts sleeves, mine were so encrusted with calcification that not much UV was hitting the water.
Had to put 10 litres of vinegar in my bath and soak them for an hour to get it off
I was changing the bulbs every 6 months but didn’t realize how much stuff collected on the sleeves.
Had to put 10 litres of vinegar in my bath and soak them for an hour to get it off
I was changing the bulbs every 6 months but didn’t realize how much stuff collected on the sleeves.
Cool, thank you, will do. Strangely enough the sleeves look almost completely clean on these, not sure why, or if they are even proper quartz sleeves. Will put the white casing ones in next time. If anyone is looking for green UV sterilizers x2 that needs new bulbs, I’ll swap for a frag or 2 of lps, else I’m going to chuck them out.
Looks like all the fish are still eating today, except multibar and smaller yellow longnose, hope they recover. Temp on 25C now, should be less stressful. Also getting new 10 micron filter socks, not sure if mine are worn out perhaps.
If anyone has any suggestions on how to get rid of microbubbles, please let me know, they are driving me crazy in the tank.
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I'm usually not happy with return pump performance when it has some gunk on the guard etc I think it makes the water it pulls in a bit choppy which usually leads to some bubbles not super micro ones but it's worth a shot if if you would say it could do with a clean.
Otherwise with the uvs out you could try divert return pump and throttle.
Whatever the case I'm sure you'll get it figured out.
Otherwise with the uvs out you could try divert return pump and throttle.
Whatever the case I'm sure you'll get it figured out.
Cool, thank you, I cleaned it, so suspect it increased performance even more sucking in more air bubbles from sump. The pump is a Water Blaster 12500, so super powerful, have another outlet that is not in use, good idea to use that for UV once I get the new ones.
Added a whole folded up sheet of Odyssea Ammonia Remover and Carbon poly sheets into final chamber, looks like that stopped bubbles, but will only be able to see tomorrow once lights are on.
4 weeks of growth, cleaned the one sheet yesterday, need to clean the other one this weekend:
jungle aquatics sell new improved probes thats covered in a sleeve or something. ....apparantly much better than the probes that comes with the stc controller.Figured out what was causing stress and white spot, a faulty stc1000 temp controller probe. It reads tank is 25C, but when I put thermometer in, it says 23C. So I learn, need to think of way to build in redundancy so a faulty probe doesn’t cause stress, maybe 2 temp controllers with different heaters. Changed to another temp controller, hopefully white spot becomes less now. Still have a lot of microbubbles, the bubble trap did not work, need to figure out what the issue is and fix it, it is driving me crazy.
Cool, need to go and have a look. Mine was metal probe I covered in epoxy and extended with ripcord.
I dipped mine in silicone and it has been coping well so far
Those yellow Long noses very susceptible to white spot, was the 1st fish I lost when I had my wobble.
Multibar and smaller longnose didn't make the night. Rest of the fish look ok, maybe big longnose and perhaps mitratus are still touch and go, but rest look fine. Corals and magnifica nenny seem unaffected by the lower temperatures. One week of 2C lower temperature than normal and I start losing fish, the margin of error in this hobby is so small. Probably a small cycle due to return pump being off for 2 days also contributed to the eventual loss of fish. Must say the last 2 weeks have been really a low point for me with regards to the tank, from the 3h00 in the morning flood, to the temperature issues, microbubbles driving my OCD insane, and now fish deaths. Really a depressing time in terms of the tank, suppose it can only get better from here.
This little cold snap we are having is really affecting the tank temperature quite a bit. I have been hitting the mid 22 mark in the mornings up until yesterday. Fortunately none of the livestock seems to be impacted. Added another 300W heater yesterday afternoon to stabalise the temp.
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Am sure it will go better Bud, Goodluck
Sorry to hear bud. Nothing worse than watching your fish suffering a slow lingering death to white spot.
Problems in reef tanks never seem to come in singles as well. When it rains it pours.
Don't mean to be doom and gloom but it could be another 2 weeks before that white spot runs its course. Best bet is to fire that UV up as soon as possible. Just a slight reduction in the bugs numbers can be enough to get the fish to beat it.
My Idol was under my Monti snout in the sand, hardly moved for days. l had already declared him dead. In fact I even told some people he died. Just couldn't bring myself to grab him with the tongs and remove him. He pulled through as did my other 10 fish. I was sorry I didn't get my UV going 2 days earlier than I did.
Problems in reef tanks never seem to come in singles as well. When it rains it pours.
Don't mean to be doom and gloom but it could be another 2 weeks before that white spot runs its course. Best bet is to fire that UV up as soon as possible. Just a slight reduction in the bugs numbers can be enough to get the fish to beat it.
My Idol was under my Monti snout in the sand, hardly moved for days. l had already declared him dead. In fact I even told some people he died. Just couldn't bring myself to grab him with the tongs and remove him. He pulled through as did my other 10 fish. I was sorry I didn't get my UV going 2 days earlier than I did.
Cool, yeah, ozone running at full blast at 200mg/h (was also off for 2 days during plumbing) and have 10 micron filter socks that will filter out the parasites that make it to sump, so hoping it will reduce numbers enough for them to beat it. At least all remaining fish ate today.