Bigfish's swim into the sea - a tank journal

[PjFish]

I don’t use an auto feeder thinking about them but wondering how much food comes out the plank per minute? Like pellets
Teaspoon / Tablespoon?

 

[Arvin R]

I would definitely agree that over feeding seems to be the main issue here. Take the auto feeder offline (or tune it to drop the right amount of food but make sure to monitor it closely ans observe a few feedings after making the change).

That along with staying on top of water changes and you should be golden. Tank looks great! That patch of cyano can be siphoned out when doing the water changes and should eventually work itself out. It could just be low flow in that area allowing it to settle and spread there.

 

[PjFish]

Why I was asking how much food per minute was dispensed. When you check the plank food calculator 6 minutes is only equivalent to two frozen cubes which is nothing at all with his live stock? Which I know its based off jerky unless using pellets quadruples the amount dispensed ?

 

[derek_SR]

Why I was asking how much food per minute was dispensed. When you check the plank food calculator 6 minutes is only equivalent to two frozen cubes which is nothing at all with his live stock? Which I know its based off jerky unless using pellets quadruples the amount dispensed ?

Pellets come out significantly faster than freeze dried, yes. It’s why many of us (myself included) have two planks - one with each type of food. I run the mysis plank for many minutes at a time, and the pellet plank only for seconds.

 

[Darkxerox]

Pellets come out significantly faster than freeze dried, yes. It’s why many of us (myself included) have two planks - one with each type of food. I run the mysis plank for many minutes at a time, and the pellet plank only for seconds.

Same, pellets are crazy dense compared to fluffy dried mysis. I did switch to more frequent, sub two minute feedings for the plank and dried mysis though since I noticed it takes a bit to rehydrate and less was sticking to the sides this way.

Every food seems to behave differently in the plank (freeze dried whole vs powder vs flake vs pellet).

 

[Bigfish]

You guys all are right I went back and checked how much food was being dispersed even at my 3 minute interval and it was way too much. I scaled back to 1 min and well see how it goes. I did the trick of testing my phosphates with half fresh saltwater and half tank water and I still got a .9 reading smh which is not good. It's obvious this has been the biggest issue in my tank. I used to use Dried mysis but they didn't sink as well as some members I talked to at the frag swap know, it built up and was disgusting to clean.

Thats why I exclusively switched to sinking dense pellets which has been working much nicer. I have a power head right underneath the Plank which pushes the food and allows all the fish to have a chance to eat and not let it settle in one spot.

I am waiting to do a massive water change due to my RODI set up needing new resin, ordered it waiting to be delivered sometime this week. My current readings are 1ppm and hope to get that down to 0 when the new resin comes in. In the meantime I have added some new filter floss and have Polly fill on the way thanks to @Cilyjr tank journal suggestion. In addition I have been carbon dosing with Elimi-NP in the mean time to help bring down some of the nitrates and phosphates. I'm considering using GFO as a short term solution but decided against it for now I don't want too rapid of a change that may bring other problems with it.

I also got the Chaetogrow @Darkxerox mentioned hoping to get my refugium going that would be my first choice if possible, if I still can't get it to grow I might start considering going the cryptic sump mount mentioned by @Slingfox, thank you everyone for your helpful suggestions! I'm surprised my tank is doing so well considering the crazy conditions it's been in and thankful I haven't lost so much more than I could have. I'm really excited to try and it get back on track. I feel like I been a bit neglectful due to seeing my tank do seemingly well, but unfortunately that has caught up to me and won't be something I will allow to happen again.

 

[Bigfish]

Why I was asking how much food per minute was dispensed. When you check the plank food calculator 6 minutes is only equivalent to two frozen cubes which is nothing at all with his live stock? Which I know its based off jerky unless using pellets quadruples the amount dispensed ?

I have a mix of medium and small pellets (due to the big and small fish I have) even when the machine is turned off a lot of residual pellets fall out that haven't sinked yet even at 3 minutes a lot would go past and uneaten by the fish. I recently switched to one minute and will continue to monitor the health of the fish and my P/N levels adjusting according. I still occasionally feed Nori on a clip which can help supplement some of my bigger fish if needed.

 

[derek_SR]

Honestly if any of your pellets are even reaching the sandbed, you're probably feeding too much (and/or don't have enough flow). Feed smaller amounts more frequently. This is the beauty of the plank.

 

[Bigfish]

Honestly if any of your pellets are even reaching the sandbed, you're probably feeding too much (and/or don't have enough flow). Feed smaller amounts more frequently. This is the beauty of the plank.

What's your typical feeding schedule as far as how many throughout the day? I see you mentioned you had two one for mysis and another for pellets? I the wifi controller I have only lets me do minute intervals when turning on the plank how do you only do it for seconds?

 

[derek_SR]

What's your typical feeding schedule as far as how many throughout the day? I see you mentioned you had two one for mysis and another for pellets? I the wifi controller I have only lets me do minute intervals when turning on the plank how do you only do it for seconds?

I'm using a Hydros controller. If you're forced into 1 minute increments you're kind of missing one of the primary advantages of the plank. I can practically guarantee that 1 full minute worth of pellets is too much unless you've got a shitload of fish and a big tank.

I happen to have a shitload of fish and a big tank and i only run my pellet plank for 10 SECONDS at a time (several times per day).

I run the mysis plank for 3 MINUTES at a time (several times per day).

 

[Coral reefer]

I’d look into dosing lanthanum chloride into the skimmer to reduce phosphate. Nitrate isnt too terrible to me and should come down enough with water changes

 

[Bigfish]

I'm using a Hydros controller. If you're forced into 1 minute increments you're kind of missing one of the primary advantages of the plank. I can practically guarantee that 1 full minute worth of pellets is too much unless you've got a shitload of fish and a big tank.

I happen to have a shitload of fish and a big tank and i only run my pellet plank for 10 SECONDS at a time (several times per day).

I run the mysis plank for 3 MINUTES at a time (several times per day).

Shoot I guess I have to look into that! How many times do you feed a day, I can't believe I've been feeding so much (feel sick even thinking about the 5-6 min I used to feed) I never thought about it thanks for the advice.

 

[spuri87]

I’d look into dosing lanthanum chloride into the skimmer to reduce phosphate. Nitrate isnt too terrible to me and should come down enough with water changes

just be extra careful with the dosing, overdosing can cause severe issues specially if you have tangs! I am also facing the same issue as you.. Unfortunately for me, Lanthanum Chloride didnt work either.. I had a bad case of cyano as well just like you.. I added UV, changed the flow direction and added Rowaphos and my Cyano disappeared.. Though I did turn off the lights for 3-4 days since I didnt have corals, so that might have played a factor too..

I did the trick of testing my phosphates with half fresh saltwater and half tank water and I still got a .9 reading smh which is not good.

Did you test your fresh saltwater for phosphates? If phosphates are high even in your fresh saltwater, then you can rule out Over-feeding as a potential cause and can then look at your RODI or salt to be the potential culprit

 

[Bigfish]

I’d look into dosing lanthanum chloride into the skimmer to reduce phosphate. Nitrate isnt too terrible to me and should come down enough with water changes

I heard and seen other people have them in their tank in like chambers, you could just dose it as a liquid?

 

[Bigfish]

just be extra careful with the dosing, overdosing can cause severe issues specially if you have tangs! I am also facing the same issue as you.. Unfortunately for me, Lanthanum Chloride didnt work either.. I had a bad case of cyano as well just like you.. I added UV, changed the flow direction and added Rowaphos and my Cyano disappeared.. Though I did turn off the lights for 3-4 days since I didnt have corals, so that might have played a factor too..


Did you test with your fresh saltwater for phosphates? If phosphates are high even in your fresh saltwater, then you can rule out Over-feeding as a potential cause and can then look at your RODI or salt to be the potential culprit

thats a good point I'll have to see when I go home tonight!

 

[Darkxerox]

Are you leaving your plank pump on 24/7? I found that this is pretty critical to keep everything from getting gunked up in the cylinder. The mysis should fully rehydrate if you adjust things well. But having mixed foods like Derek said can prove problematic.

 

[Coral reefer]

just be extra careful with the dosing, overdosing can cause severe issues specially if you have tangs! I am also facing the same issue as you.. Unfortunately for me, Lanthanum Chloride didnt work either.. I had a bad case of cyano as well just like you.. I added UV, changed the flow direction and added Rowaphos and my Cyano disappeared.. Though I did turn off the lights for 3-4 days since I didnt have corals, so that might have played a factor too..


Did you test your fresh saltwater for phosphates? If phosphates are high even in your fresh saltwater, then you can rule out Over-feeding as a potential cause and can then look at your RODI or salt to be the potential culprit

How did it “not work” for you. How did you use it?

 

[Coral reefer]

I heard and seen other people have them in their tank in like chambers, you could just dose it as a liquid?

I don’t think you understand. Look into it and then ask if you have questions.
I’m not smart enough to do the fancy links where you just click on it, but @derek_SR has a very detailed thread about it I bet you can find on here.

 

[Darkxerox]

I don’t think you understand. Look into it and then ask if you have questions.
I’m not smart enough to do the fancy links where you just click on it, but @derek_SR has a very detailed thread about it I bet you can find on here.

Guide: Lanthanum Chloride dosing for Phosphate control

DISCLAIMER: I am not a chemist, just a well-read hobbyist at best. Your experience and/or results may not be the same as what I describe here. Go slowly, pay attention to your tank, and know that there are always risks. This topic seems to come up often enough, so rather than reference people...

www.bareefers.org

 

[BAYMAC]

Guide: Lanthanum Chloride dosing for Phosphate control

DISCLAIMER: I am not a chemist, just a well-read hobbyist at best. Your experience and/or results may not be the same as what I describe here. Go slowly, pay attention to your tank, and know that there are always risks. This topic seems to come up often enough, so rather than reference people...

www.bareefers.org

LOL I was just on my way back to post this