Patrick's 81G - the last dance
- Thread starter finalphaze987
- Start date
finalphaze987
Supporting Member
Yea, I'm thinking it may have started as purple...time will tell..I feel you on the Tonga branch resemblance..I thought the same exact thing when I opened it. It was a pleasant surprise. The pics they have of it on AS were just alright to me.
finalphaze987
Supporting Member
If there was ever such a smell as crawling into the butthole of an LFS on a hot summer day, this would be it. Something about that marine nastiness evokes years of nostalgia
finalphaze987
Supporting Member
2/16 added 4 maxspect and polyplab Genesis blocks soaked in PNS Deepcycle.
2/17/25 added IPSF live sand activator and wonder mud
2/18/25 added Aquabiomics gulf sand
**test results** 2/20/25
NO3 5ppm
PO4 0.02
Alk 8 dkh
2/2/25 added Indo rock from SWA
**test results** 2/25/25
NO3 7ppm
PO4 0.04
Alk 8 dkh
3/4/25 added 7lbs live sand and 3 lbs rock from TBS
3/7/25 added 9lbs Aussie rock from Aquarium specialty
**test results**
NO3 10ppm
PO4 0.10
Alk 6.3 dkh
All this manual testing with checkers kinda sucks so I think I'm going to bring the NP and trident online to trend.
With some die off expected from the aussie rock, I'm leaning towards just doing a large WC this weekend to bring the nutrients down. Alk doesn't concern me as much, but since there's coraline on the rock I'd like to keep around I may dose over a couple days after the WC till I get to 8 dkh
2/17/25 added IPSF live sand activator and wonder mud
2/18/25 added Aquabiomics gulf sand
**test results** 2/20/25
NO3 5ppm
PO4 0.02
Alk 8 dkh
2/2/25 added Indo rock from SWA
**test results** 2/25/25
NO3 7ppm
PO4 0.04
Alk 8 dkh
3/4/25 added 7lbs live sand and 3 lbs rock from TBS
3/7/25 added 9lbs Aussie rock from Aquarium specialty
**test results**
NO3 10ppm
PO4 0.10
Alk 6.3 dkh
All this manual testing with checkers kinda sucks so I think I'm going to bring the NP and trident online to trend.
With some die off expected from the aussie rock, I'm leaning towards just doing a large WC this weekend to bring the nutrients down. Alk doesn't concern me as much, but since there's coraline on the rock I'd like to keep around I may dose over a couple days after the WC till I get to 8 dkh
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Ayman
Supporting Member
@finalphaze987 what an amazing build! curious when you start your NP if you can give us your thoughts on it. I have been dealing with (0) phosphate test results despite calibration my hanna reads 0.09-0.08 and multiple trouble shooting efforts no luck.
finalphaze987
Supporting Member
Forsure..ill let you know how the NP goes for me.
It only gets ambient light during the day for now. I plan on turning them on after the water change and brace myself for the ugly stage.
All the rocks on the scape are temporarily lol. Once seeded in a few weeks I plan on replacing them with coral.
I had a few people hit me up on the rocks, but will put you in line. The sand, no problem, i got u..im keeping some bioblocks in there as well to trade biomes with people with pest free tanks
finalphaze987
Supporting Member
I'd be lying if I didn't say I haven't thought of running down to AC, hightide, and neptune to get this thing stocked up...trying to practice restraint has been the hardest part of this build, but I know will eventually work out for the best long term.
Right now, the tank is known as dad's rock collection...lol..hopefully that changes soon and I can get some fish and sticks in here
finalphaze987
Supporting Member
Starting to move up in the food chain...and who better to turn to other than @Coral Hub (Nathan) to get this kick started.
Everything I've been doing has been largely bacteria based and now starting to show signs of algae forming off sunlight entering from the skylight.
After consulting with Nathan, I went with the 64oz mixed pods to get the population kickstarted and some phyto to keep them fed. Everything came in quick and was packaged very well. Phyto was still slightly chilled upon receiving despite not getting to it till after work.
Excuse the lack of detailed pics, I was in a rush to get my son to basketball practice. I threw the phyto in the fridge and in the pods went. I put the tank in maintenance mode but left the MP40s on at 10%.
Upon returning home, I fired up the lights at 50% intensity on one of the preprogrammed schedules. I'm going to see how it goes for a few days to get an idea of how ugly things will get. I immediately noticed pods all over the glass and back wall where I didn't clean off. Felt good to actually see something, as I didn't get the same satisfaction from staring at live rock.
Readings today were as follows:
NO3 15 / PO4 0.05 / Alk 8.9 dkh
Still haven't gotten around to hooking up the tridents...but I anticipate it'll be soon...as convenient as the checkers are, I'd rather maintain units that givee daily automated readings to watch trends.
Everything I've been doing has been largely bacteria based and now starting to show signs of algae forming off sunlight entering from the skylight.
After consulting with Nathan, I went with the 64oz mixed pods to get the population kickstarted and some phyto to keep them fed. Everything came in quick and was packaged very well. Phyto was still slightly chilled upon receiving despite not getting to it till after work.
Excuse the lack of detailed pics, I was in a rush to get my son to basketball practice. I threw the phyto in the fridge and in the pods went. I put the tank in maintenance mode but left the MP40s on at 10%.
Upon returning home, I fired up the lights at 50% intensity on one of the preprogrammed schedules. I'm going to see how it goes for a few days to get an idea of how ugly things will get. I immediately noticed pods all over the glass and back wall where I didn't clean off. Felt good to actually see something, as I didn't get the same satisfaction from staring at live rock.
Readings today were as follows:
NO3 15 / PO4 0.05 / Alk 8.9 dkh
Still haven't gotten around to hooking up the tridents...but I anticipate it'll be soon...as convenient as the checkers are, I'd rather maintain units that givee daily automated readings to watch trends.
finalphaze987
Supporting Member
Graduation day for my CUC! I picked their guys up as a valentines present to myself and have had them sitting in 81 degrees since...I held them for a couple more days and gradually ramped down the temp to ~77-78F. Lost 2 snails and one cleaner shrimp during the process.
45 day QT can really test ones patience when your DT is overrun with algae..but they proved worth it. I didn't go crazy feeding in QT, mostly dropping in some rock or a few TDO pellets, so it's safe to say they were hungry going in. The TBS rock was placed around the scape to aid in building the biome for the dry scape..and it spread...everything..the good, bad, and the UGLY..
The TBS stuff was engulfed in GHA..all of the ammonia I dumped in for the past 3 months shot the nitrates so high the NP couldn't read it anymore..when doing multiple large waterchanges to get it down, I decided to be my own herbivore and get to scrubbing..big mistake, I just helped spread it..
Mexican turbos mow through GHA lik
e no tomorrow..they might be big and clumsy, but
Really damn good at what they do. Here's one of the TBS rocks already polished off in the first hour of being in the tank
Before
After
He missed a spot, but its he's first day on the job and I'll cut him some slack.
Other than the turbos, there's a few hermits, ceriths, nassarious, and an emerald crab. I'm starting to get concerned that I wouldn't have enough to feed them eventually.
45 day QT can really test ones patience when your DT is overrun with algae..but they proved worth it. I didn't go crazy feeding in QT, mostly dropping in some rock or a few TDO pellets, so it's safe to say they were hungry going in. The TBS rock was placed around the scape to aid in building the biome for the dry scape..and it spread...everything..the good, bad, and the UGLY..
The TBS stuff was engulfed in GHA..all of the ammonia I dumped in for the past 3 months shot the nitrates so high the NP couldn't read it anymore..when doing multiple large waterchanges to get it down, I decided to be my own herbivore and get to scrubbing..big mistake, I just helped spread it..
Mexican turbos mow through GHA lik
Really damn good at what they do. Here's one of the TBS rocks already polished off in the first hour of being in the tank
Before
After
He missed a spot, but its he's first day on the job and I'll cut him some slack.
Other than the turbos, there's a few hermits, ceriths, nassarious, and an emerald crab. I'm starting to get concerned that I wouldn't have enough to feed them eventually.
Ayman
Supporting Member
@finalphaze987 Do you have any issues with the trident NP? I been dealing with no results for phosphate keeps reading (0).
finalphaze987
Supporting Member
I'm seeing the same thing. My PO4 readings have been 0 for every test, I just haven't had the time to really tinker with it.
NO3 was reading in line with Hannah in the beginning, then it skyrocketed after a minicycle from some live rock and adding ammonia to feed the bacteria. It hasn't been reading correctly since then.
Does your NO3 read close for you? Or you seeing the same?
Ayman
Supporting Member
finalphaze987
Supporting Member
I performed the calibration today with tank water. The lowest I was able to set the NO3 was 5, it doesn't go lower than that. PO4 was spot on, NO3 read high when compared to my checker.
finalphaze987
Supporting Member
CUC took care of almost all of the GHA and got me through the ugly stage. I'm going to have to throw in some nori to keep them fed until I can get fish in there to keep stuff growing.
I had to take the kalk rx offline to send the pump back to Geo for warranty. I had to drain it since the pump is plumbed into the side, so I decided to keep the PH probe in my sump until I fire it up again. I took this opportunity to calibrate both probes and noticed they differed in readings. The neptune probe read 7.92 after calibration and the pinpoint (kalk probe) read 8.29. Despite being submerged in kalk, the pinpoint read the calibration solution dead on. No matter how many times I calibrated the neptune, it reads low. I'm chalking it up as the end result of buying equipment and letting it sit around for a couple years. Given the route the probe take through the wire management, I can honestly say I'm not excited to replace it.
First two test corals went in today. I picked these up at AC a week ago and had it sit in an observation tank for a week. After a few dips in coral Rx and KCl, I ripped them off the plugs and glued them to plugs I had marinating in my DT. The observation tank didn't have a light over it, so the colors are a bit muted compared to when I purchased, but I'd rather color up sticks than d
eal with redbugs or flatworms.
Eventually will work them up to the rock work, but want to see how they acclimate to the lights.
Coraline has taken off on all of the rockwork. It started on the gyres and started to bug me. I scratched it off while everything was still running now it's all over the place. Although Its a pain scraping it off things, I'm taking it as a good sign that the system will be able to support calcification.
I had to take the kalk rx offline to send the pump back to Geo for warranty. I had to drain it since the pump is plumbed into the side, so I decided to keep the PH probe in my sump until I fire it up again. I took this opportunity to calibrate both probes and noticed they differed in readings. The neptune probe read 7.92 after calibration and the pinpoint (kalk probe) read 8.29. Despite being submerged in kalk, the pinpoint read the calibration solution dead on. No matter how many times I calibrated the neptune, it reads low. I'm chalking it up as the end result of buying equipment and letting it sit around for a couple years. Given the route the probe take through the wire management, I can honestly say I'm not excited to replace it.
First two test corals went in today. I picked these up at AC a week ago and had it sit in an observation tank for a week. After a few dips in coral Rx and KCl, I ripped them off the plugs and glued them to plugs I had marinating in my DT. The observation tank didn't have a light over it, so the colors are a bit muted compared to when I purchased, but I'd rather color up sticks than d
eal with redbugs or flatworms.
Eventually will work them up to the rock work, but want to see how they acclimate to the lights.
Coraline has taken off on all of the rockwork. It started on the gyres and started to bug me. I scratched it off while everything was still running now it's all over the place. Although Its a pain scraping it off things, I'm taking it as a good sign that the system will be able to support calcification.
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Ayman
Supporting Member
I will give this a shot sometimes this week and update you of what I get. This is better than before for sure.
finalphaze987
Supporting Member
I'm hoping it works for you. This was my reading today...not sure if I should feel better about it, but 0 is closer to 3.6 than 14.1
At least the PO4 stayed steady.
Ayman
Supporting Member
Thanks man. Nice. Give it some time and see if it stabilizes. I am hoping I can calibrate mine soon. Should be easy since calibration solution is just tank water.