obrien.david.j

@Lexinverts - Check out the 600 gallon system video posted at this link.    Talk about a fun video.   I've watched a few times, trying to see what I can identify, and to think about the size of the colonies visible, verses the size in my own system.  Even my Big Ones, don't feel as big as some in this video.

Do you recognize this colony, center of the screen, 12seconds in?

And this monster/chunky growth pattern, about 18 seconds in.

And do they keep a Goni UNDER their frag rack, at the very end of the video?

Link to post & video

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-ammonia-dosing-for-low-nitrate-systems.987087/post-11852039

14 hours ago, markv said:

Dosing Ammonium Chloride in water produces ammonia plus hydrochloric acid. Dosing Ammonium Bicarbonate produces ammonia plus CO2, which means dosing ammonia and carbonic acid. This is how calcium reactors work, the CO2 pumped into the water produces carbonic acid which dissolves the dead coral media. Both of these methods of dosing ammonia will lower the pH in the aquarium. I don't know how much, but I don't like anything that lowers the pH in a coral growing aquarium. Neither method will raise phosphate, which also needs to be dosed if your nutrients go too low in an aquarium. Maybe just feed the fish and corals more and/or remove less of them via filtration/skimming/etc.

Completely fair observations, and method of increasing nutrients.   Right now, I feel like I'm a heavy feeder...  but I'm starting to wonder.

1 hour ago, LavenderTi said:

I was dosing ammonia in my nano, and I've been dosing ammonia in my larger tank (110 gal). The nano I was having to dose nitrates and I switched to ammonia since my reading concluded that corals can utilize the ammonia directly. My larger tank has been fallow since end of august so I wanted to keep up with a bioload. I started using Ammonia chloride and have switched to ammonium bicarbonate. The main reason is so that my alkalinity isn't impacted like it is with ammonia chloride (small impact). I have a ton of ammonia chloride left if you want it. So far it's kept my nitrates up and the corals seem to love it. I have it on a dosing pump to make dosing easy and consistent.

I've been doing 5 mL/day in my 22gal and 13 mL/day on my 110.

5ml/day & 13ml/day - of what solution concentrate?  (did you follow the stock solution ratio from the R2R article?)   And, 5ml and 13ml - is this Ammonia chloride or Ammonium bicarb?

What Nitrate level are you at in your tank?

I spent half of 2022 and first half of 2023 getting my Phosphate and Nitrate levels down.   And what did I find, Success.  Almost too successful for a while.   And I had to dose to get levels back above zero.  (Zero is bad for me, I believe it was the reason I crashed so bad in 2021.)

Bumped into this Ammonia dosing thread.   I can vouch, when you get Nitrates to Zero - things change.  And put a little back in, and I like the results better.   So that would be the purpose of dosing.  More easily assimilated.

Anyone tried this?   Got a before and after picture?  How much did you dose, for how long, with what results.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-ammonia-dosing-for-low-nitrate-systems.987087/

Love your posts.  We're pretty lucky to have someone with your wealth of knowledge locally!   Keep sharing.

So you don't tumble.  But the picture looks like a 2 liter soda bottle.  How's this work?

treatment didn't bother my small aptasia population at all.  

@Lexinverts - any idea on anemones?

52 minutes ago, SuncrestReef said:

Just curious, who were some of the big raffle winners?

Mark VanO won the full Apex setup.

Kim won a tank and an awesome rock.

On 10/3/2023 at 3:40 PM, Emerald525 said:

And I finally found my yellow ticket for the LRS raffle ? @obrien.david.j Did I win ?

No such luck.  Must be present ticket, at the event, to be in consideration of winning.

BTW, My ticket number was 035533... I think we got side by side tickets.

Warning... Phones cameras have gotten bigger.    I bought gen1 of these lenses, gen2 of these lenses. ... then got latest phone (a few years ago) - and I need to use the Bigger version of these camera clip ons.       Which means 52mm for my phone.  (iphone13 pro max)

I use this regularly.  Dramatically improves tank pictures

https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/2021-extra-wide-52mm-smartphone-coral-lens-kit-4-lens-w-storage-box-orphek/

8 hours ago, Emerald525 said:

I also have to say you really rocked that Fanny pack !! In the who wore it better contest you win !! I dare say you will be the reason they make a comeback like Crocs did !😃. 

My voice is a bit horse and froggy today.  I'll leave the Bum Bag jokes for another day.

https://whatsdifferentinaustralia.tumblr.com/post/98208963804/bum-bag

And a big thank you to @Emerald525(aka Kim!)   You did a fantastic job on this event.  And even managed to take photos.   I didn't get even a single one.

And to everyone who really wants to hear it... "It's a RED ticket, number xxx..."  

Yes, Thank you to the PNWMAS board members for their time and energy.  But the biggest thank you goes to our day's host.  Thank you @CuttleFishandCoral!

I'll be there.  Leaving soon to help setup!

Those look FANTASTIC!   This is going to be an amazing Sunday.   

This is an amazing list of raffle prizes!   Epic Event Coming!

It's always exciting when a coral spawns.  And more exciting when they grow out.   Congratulations and good job!

In December of 2018, Holly was nice enough to invite us, as complete strangers, into her fish room to see her setup.   Thanks Holly!

This is going to be great meeting.  Blow out big and fun!   I'll be there.

• To anyone out of town, consider this motivation to drive
• To anyone who's not a member, now's the time to join (Group Buys, Extra Raffle Ticket, ...)

On 9/9/2023 at 10:20 AM, reefrun said:

Then to help with water changes I decided to use 2 more 20 gallon brute cans with the wheel base accessory, a Sicce Ultra Zero Utility Pump, a Python hose, Python No Spill hook, and a remote control outlet plug I hit from Anazon… this was the magic part for me.

I can just plop the pump into the tank and push the button on the remote to run the pump and to turn it off, I then plop the pump into the brute with dirty water and push the button to pump it down the drain. I open the valve in the saltwater Brute and just let it drain into the empty one, wheel it over to the tank, plop in the sicce and push the button to pump the fresh saltwater to the tank, and another push if the button to turn the pump off. Done

Congratulations!   I agree, If you can make water changes SIMPLE and EASY, they get delayed and skipped.  Even in my remodeled fishroom, it's not as easy - because I don't have a drain close.    I'm thinking your Brute on Wheels, and Sicce utility pump could fix that for me too.   THANKS!

You found the magic of Gravity, which I've put in my own mixing station too.   Put the water reservoirs up high enough that a ball value at the bottom is higher than your container to fill.  Gravity is FAST if you open a 1" ball valve.   I fill up a 5 gallon bucket in like 10seconds.  Fresh or Salt water.   You put yours high enough to fill your Brute-on-wheels.   Fantastic!

11 hours ago, Saltfishlover said:

Is that the only Jake Adam's coral you are looking for?  I have a piece of his red branching montipora that I'm growing out.  

Originally, yes.  I was just thinking of this tort.  But I may be interested.  Can you post a decent picture?   I've got a form of red branching monti now, but thought it had more of a tyree history.

54 minutes ago, steveweast said:

Mine is really too small to frag. It does have several new branches but still needs time to grow out. To tell you the truth, I find it a little ho hum. I think that the Oregon tort is more blue. That could change as it grows out though. For me….Jake’s full grown colony was more interesting in shape rather than color. 

Thanks for the feedback.  Glad to hear you have it, and can check how it's growing out.

Anyone else?

Anyone have Immortal Tort?  (See Jake Adams link below)

Steve Weast referenced it late in his Reefbum interview, and I looked it up.   Looks interesting.

(unless @steveweast still has any, and willing to share)

https://reefbuilders.com/2021/01/15/are-reefers-ready-for-the-immortal-tort/

looks nice - and I think some stores have these locally (in Portland area)

Harvest #39 complete! (Sept 1st - late post)

- Easy Summary, no change to procedures, same good results, including 100% Poseidon Reef Fertilizer.   

Welcome back.