A Golden Reef Tank (v2)
- Thread starter halmus
- Start date
I’ll see how the flow is once the grass is in. The flat nozzle would help. The way the system is set up, I can change flow rates through the tank easily. So, we’ll see what it takes to make the grass sway an look natural.
I actually restored the fuge to the rest of the system yesterday. About 14hrs after we finished adding the new sand. That cleared things up quickly.
I actually restored the fuge to the rest of the system yesterday. About 14hrs after we finished adding the new sand. That cleared things up quickly.
Thanks Chris. The fuge was definitely an eye-sore before. I had given up on trying to make it pretty. It was just existing, growing crud, and producing pods. That’s not a bad thing other than being ugly.
With a little more work, I hope to have it looking even better. Clean up the hack job I did a while back to lower the level. Now, probably raising it back up partway. I won’t be raising the water level all the way to the top again. Maybe 3/4 of the height of the tank.
Can’t wait to get some pipe fish or similar critters in there. I should probably stop calling it a refugium at that point. It will just be a second display representing a different part of the ecosystem.
With a little more work, I hope to have it looking even better. Clean up the hack job I did a while back to lower the level. Now, probably raising it back up partway. I won’t be raising the water level all the way to the top again. Maybe 3/4 of the height of the tank.
Can’t wait to get some pipe fish or similar critters in there. I should probably stop calling it a refugium at that point. It will just be a second display representing a different part of the ecosystem.
Before
Ca: 430
Alk: 9
Mg: 1400
NO3: 0
PO4: 0
After?
I haven’t tested since the change. It’s possible nutrients spiked a little since then. But we pulled out water before stirring up too much junk. Then drained the nasty water and all the old substrate is sitting in buckets until I can clean it this summer for storage and future projects. So I doubt it introduced much. But, maybe all that mud and bagged sand had some nutrients bound up they’re releasing.
I didn’t do all of this because of any great need. I just wanted the fuge to be both functional and attractive if possible. My nutrients were already low.
I have more appropriate particle size in there now for a deeper sandbed. Less for the nuisance algae to grab onto. Hopefully I’ll be able to outcompete it with some attractive algae now. Hopefully.
Ca: 430
Alk: 9
Mg: 1400
NO3: 0
PO4: 0
After?
I haven’t tested since the change. It’s possible nutrients spiked a little since then. But we pulled out water before stirring up too much junk. Then drained the nasty water and all the old substrate is sitting in buckets until I can clean it this summer for storage and future projects. So I doubt it introduced much. But, maybe all that mud and bagged sand had some nutrients bound up they’re releasing.
I didn’t do all of this because of any great need. I just wanted the fuge to be both functional and attractive if possible. My nutrients were already low.
I have more appropriate particle size in there now for a deeper sandbed. Less for the nuisance algae to grab onto. Hopefully I’ll be able to outcompete it with some attractive algae now. Hopefully.
I know he is a modest man, so I'm just going to leave this right here.....because I think it's awesome and deserves to be showcased!
Thanks Chris!
I need to post some updates. Finishing a job tomorrow that has been on hold for a month due to the Covids. Should be able to post up later this week.
Trying to keep the refugium cleanish so that sea grass can take hold.
Working on a side project magnetic stirrer which was always in the back of my mind.
I need to post some updates. Finishing a job tomorrow that has been on hold for a month due to the Covids. Should be able to post up later this week.
Trying to keep the refugium cleanish so that sea grass can take hold.
Working on a side project magnetic stirrer which was always in the back of my mind.
No. Not Kalk.
NDaquarist gave me some pods and I’ve been growing them and splitting them. I got some phyto from a local supplier to feed the pods. Won’t mention their name but I’m not impressed with their phyto.
I grew my own phytoplankton with my last system. Nano, Tetra, and Iso. It was always a long term goal to get that going with my new system. A stirrer is ideal for keeping the non-motile species in suspension so that that the culture doesn’t suffocate.
I’m working on a four-station stir plate. I’ll also add some adjustable air for bubbling each if I want to do that instead to in addition to stirring.
NDaquarist gave me some pods and I’ve been growing them and splitting them. I got some phyto from a local supplier to feed the pods. Won’t mention their name but I’m not impressed with their phyto.
I grew my own phytoplankton with my last system. Nano, Tetra, and Iso. It was always a long term goal to get that going with my new system. A stirrer is ideal for keeping the non-motile species in suspension so that that the culture doesn’t suffocate.
I’m working on a four-station stir plate. I’ll also add some adjustable air for bubbling each if I want to do that instead to in addition to stirring.
Thanks Chris and B. It’s nice to see some quality footage of the system vs the phone pics I’ve posted. The camera guy lives up in Fort Collins. He does really good work.
I’m curious what part 2 will look like. We shot a lot of footage and I’m not great on camera. We’ll see what Mark can put together.
I’m curious what part 2 will look like. We shot a lot of footage and I’m not great on camera. We’ll see what Mark can put together.
