MD’s 45 Gallon Frag Tank

[requiem]

Frag tank is FULL. Need to start moving things over to my display but I’m always scared transferring coral lol. Last time I just YOLOd it and moved everything over. I need to get some supplemental light bars to help light around the edges since I keep coral there. I’ve noticed the torches around the edges have colored down some. I can’t increase the PAR in the edges without the center being really high. Maybe if I raised my light fixtures more… Also I hate how the LEDs show up on the surface so I’m getting new lights for this tank anyways

wow! its like a forest of soft corals

 

[MarcosD]

Finally got the aluminum light mount setup with the 3D printed brackets from FishofHex. Travis the guy who runs it makes some good content on YouTube and has some pretty extensive reviews on the Nicrew lights and one of the reasons I went with them so felt good to support. I did mess up and get the 3D printed mounts for the Nicrew 200Ws made for 2020 aluminum extrusion so I’ll have to order those again Gotta get a small level. I feel like they’re slightly off. Hanging wires are adjustable so should be an easy fix

 

[MarcosD]

Haven’t posted an updated pic in a while. Picked up a few coral along the way lol. Torches a little crowded but hoping to move things to the display soon. I picked up a couple “NY Knicks” colonies yesterday that I think are Gold torches since I’m not seeing a green mouth. Dude gave me a steal though so I’m not upset at all. They’re nice torches I fragged them up and ended up with a dozen frags, most multiple heads, and had to make them fit. Gotta make room for 1 more torch im getting from @Invictus tomorrow lol

 

[MarcosD]

So I’ve been kind of hands off this frag tank for a few months now. Until today, haven’t done a water change in around a month since I’ve been busy and was also on vacation. Finally got a water change done today.

Took some water out to test Alk, Phosphate, and Nitrates today. Got some interesting numbers. Alk was 8.2 which is around what I aim for. Phosphate was 0.23, very high but basically only have torches, hammers, zoas and none seem to mind. Nitrate was weird, I got 0.

The only numbers I have to compare to was the last test I did which was 82 days ago… Alk 8.6, Phosphate 0.22, Nitrates 8.

Kind of confused why I’m bottoming out on Nitrates? All coral looks good, minus one torch that was getting shaded out and didn’t it hidden and it’s not happy

 

[RandyC]

Are you seeing good growth on your coral or have macro algae growing? If so, they could be taking in more nitrate than before due to new growth if your feeding habits haven't changed.

 

[MarcosD]

Are you seeing good growth on your coral or have macro algae growing? If so, they could be taking in more nitrate than before due to new growth if your feeding habits haven't changed.

I am seeing good growth on coral. No macro algae. Should I start using something like NeoNitro to dose Nitrates? If I start feeding more, that’d increase my phosphates, which are already high. I only have 3 Ocellaris clownfish currently so fairly low bioload

 

[RandyC]

I am seeing good growth on coral. No macro algae. Should I start using something like NeoNitro to dose Nitrates? If I start feeding more, that’d increase my phosphates, which are already high. I only have 3 Ocellaris clownfish currently so fairly low bioload

Depends on the route you want to go. Either feed more food that has a better nitrate to phosphate ratio, add more fish if there's space to eat the extra food or dose Sodium Nitrate (NaNO3) or potassium nitrate (KNO3).

Me personally, I'd dose a little Sodium Nitrate.

 

[MarcosD]

Depends on the route you want to go. Either feed more food that has a better nitrate to phosphate ratio, add more fish if there's space to eat the extra food or dose Sodium Nitrate (NaNO3) or potassium nitrate (KNO3).

Me personally, I'd dose a little Sodium Nitrate.

I’ll look into that, thanks!

 

[Darkxerox]

Ammonium bicarbonate is an option too

 

[ReyDeFarts]

Ammonium bicarbonate is an option too

I haven't done enough research on this but the couple reefers I have talked to, really seem to like the color and growth their coral put on with this dosing option.

 

[ReyDeFarts]

Phosphate was 0.23, very high

Rookie numbers! Bump that up a little more.

I bet you have Nitrate. Did you see any hint of color in the vial? Hanna tester?

I'm slowly getting away from the Hanna and just doing the basic Salifert test.

 

[MarcosD]

Rookie numbers! Bump that up a little more.

I bet you have Nitrate. Did you see any hint of color in the vial? Hanna tester?

I'm slowly getting away from the Hanna and just doing the basic Salifert test.

I don’t remember seeing color. I’m going to test again today. If I still get no reading, I’ll pickup another test kit and try that

 

[Darkxerox]

I haven't done enough research on this but the couple reefers I have talked to, really seem to like the color and growth their coral put on with this dosing option.

Yeah the idea is you bypass the nitrogen cycle and get the higher energy ammonia to the corals plus provide a little alkalinity. But definitely go slow to not stress or kill fish.

 

[Invictus]

I don’t remember seeing color. I’m going to test again today. If I still get no reading, I’ll pickup another test kit and try that

I am in the same boat with plenty of torches and a .1 phosphate reading but I have to dose nitrates.

 

[MarcosD]

I am in the same boat with plenty of torches and a .1 phosphate reading but I have to dose nitrates.

What method do you use to dose nitrates?

 

[Invictus]

What method do you use to dose nitrates?

NeoNitro, which has been working for me. But, after doing more research I don’t think it’s the best method. There seems to be questions around its concentration and consistency.

I might keep using it because it’s easy, but Sodium Nitrate is probably the best route.

 

[MarcosD]

NeoNitro, which has been working for me. But, after doing more research I don’t think it’s the best method. There seems to be questions around its concentration and consistency.

I might keep using it because it’s easy, but Sodium Nitrate is probably the best route.

Oh I actually put some of that in today since I have a bottle on hand from the Dino bottoming out days. Going to use that up while I figure out what to do next. I’m looking into a couple of the methods mentioned here