Leonardo's BB ShallowCube

[gwaco]

stop it your killin me ! is there no end to your madness !

[Viv]

Wow, those Convict Tangs look like they are flouresiing in that pic! They look great in that tank, nice selection!

[REEF-DADDY]

Looking good, now get a school of Anthias in there and you'll have a decent bio load!

[Leonardo's Reef]

I'm working on it... School of apogons, maybe anthias...

[Leonardo's Reef]

The acanthurus fought the whole week for who is in charge in the tank, but finally the fighting is starting to decrease, so I think they have an agreement

The problems I had with SPS-starvation has stopped finally:

First, I feed the fishes I have 3 times a day:

-Spectrum Thera A+
-OSI Spirulina Flakes
-Mysis or Artemia

I started to dose Amino Acids and CoralFood, both from Salifert. The Amino Acids are 4x overdose, and CoralFood 1,5x overdose.

The increased feeding and adding AA an CF made my corals deeper in colour, increased the PE and increased growth.

I don't notice any change in algae, nitrates of Phosphates.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

After reading a lot about an "Italian Method" I think I will start to try this, my way of course. I will explain what I will do:

I want to control the C:N:P ratio in the tank. This is the ratio between Carbon:Nitrogen:Phosphate.
In almost every tank the P is much to high, comparing to the other two.

What will I do and why?

Corals absorb chemicals and feed on small particles to forefill their need for Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphates.
In aquariums there is way too much Phosphate, compared to Nitrogen and Carbon.
If you add blender mush etc. you provide Nitrogen, some Carbon and Phosphates. So it is hard to change that C:N:P ratio that way.

I want to add Nitrogen in the form of Amino Acids.
I want to add Carbon in the form of Fructose.
I DON'T want to add any Phosphates. (exept for the fish-food)

Result:

When Carbon isn't limited anymore, bacteria will feed on Carbon and also use Phosphates. Phosphate-levels will drop that way. The increased bacteria in the water will feed the SPS. The rest is skimmed off fast.
Amino Acids will also support bacteria, and also feed the SPS directly.

This way, I want to create a nutrient low environment, with plenty of food available for the corals.

The Bare-Bottom method will help me to remove the bacteria (phosphates) and the (unused) Amino Acids fast, and I will still be in control that way.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

This method promise incredible SPS growth (>1 inch a month for staghorns)
To provide the SPS with enough "building material", besides the food (C:N), the mineral-levels are high:

Magnesium: 1500
Calcium: 500
KH: 10-12

This will automaticly be maintained by 2-part and MagnesiumChloride+MagnesiumSulphate (epsom-salt)

It will be dosed by a GROTECH TEC III.

Fructose and Amino Acids will be dosed by me.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I will start to use another salt soon. After using Tropic Marin I am tired of ajusting the Ca and Mg levels all the time before a Waterchange.

The salt I will use is "Reefers Best" from Korallenzucht (zeovit) This salt have better Mg and Ca levels, and also has a better Potassium level.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Will pick up some new staghorns tomorrow, another green Formosa, and a blue one!

Please post all your comments, criticism etc. on my new plans!

Leonardo

[Wiskey]

I am very interested to see how all this works for sure! I maintin my levels by use of DIY 2 part and an autodoser as well, so far it works well, but I keep plugging my check valve, do something to prevent that and you will be happier

I am going the same way, with a higher CA level and ALK level (not on purpose but you know) I'm just letting it do it's thing to see what happens.

Do keep us updated:
Whiskey

[gwaco]

Originally Posted by Leonardo's Reef

The acanthurus fought the whole week for who is in charge in the tank, but finally the fighting is starting to decrease, so I think they have an agreement

The problems I had with SPS-starvation has stopped finally:

First, I feed the fishes I have 3 times a day:

-Spectrum Thera A+
-OSI Spirulina Flakes
-Mysis or Artemia

I started to dose Amino Acids and CoralFood, both from Salifert. The Amino Acids are 4x overdose, and CoralFood 1,5x overdose.

The increased feeding and adding AA an CF made my corals deeper in colour, increased the PE and increased growth.

I don't notice any change in algae, nitrates of Phosphates.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

After reading a lot about an "Italian Method" I think I will start to try this, my way of course. I will explain what I will do:

I want to control the C:N:P ratio in the tank. This is the ratio between Carbon:Nitrogen:Phosphate.
In almost every tank the P is much to high, comparing to the other two.

What will I do and why?

Corals absorb chemicals and feed on small particles to forefill their need for Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphates.
In aquariums there is way too much Phosphate, compared to Nitrogen and Carbon.
If you add blender mush etc. you provide Nitrogen, some Carbon and Phosphates. So it is hard to change that C:N:P ratio that way.

I want to add Nitrogen in the form of Amino Acids.
I want to add Carbon in the form of Fructose.
I DON'T want to add any Phosphates. (exept for the fish-food)

Result:

When Carbon isn't limited anymore, bacteria will feed on Carbon and also use Phosphates. Phosphate-levels will drop that way. The increased bacteria in the water will feed the SPS. The rest is skimmed off fast.
Amino Acids will also support bacteria, and also feed the SPS directly.

This way, I want to create a nutrient low environment, with plenty of food available for the corals.

The Bare-Bottom method will help me to remove the bacteria (phosphates) and the (unused) Amino Acids fast, and I will still be in control that way.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

This method promise incredible SPS growth (>1 inch a month for staghorns)
To provide the SPS with enough "building material", besides the food (C:N), the mineral-levels are high:

Magnesium: 1500
Calcium: 500
KH: 10-12

This will automaticly be maintained by 2-part and MagnesiumChloride+MagnesiumSulphate (epsom-salt)

It will be dosed by a GROTECH TEC III.

Fructose and Amino Acids will be dosed by me.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I will start to use another salt soon. After using Tropic Marin I am tired of ajusting the Ca and Mg levels all the time before a Waterchange.

The salt I will use is "Reefers Best" from Korallenzucht (zeovit) This salt have better Mg and Ca levels, and also has a better Potassium level.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Will pick up some new staghorns tomorrow, another green Formosa, and a blue one!

Please post all your comments, criticism etc. on my new plans!

Leonardo

spanky with hammer - . i wish you luck on this leonardo ! but kind of feel your gonna end up making this too complicated . i guess i don't understand the big fuss over colors ? if everyone wants these outrages colors why not just buy fake corals that already have outrages colors . as much as i like looking at these tanks with crazy colors , at some point i start looking at them and start thinking how unatural they are starting to look . jmho .

[rutz81]

Originally Posted by Leonardo's Reef

The acanthurus fought the whole week for who is in charge in the tank, but finally the fighting is starting to decrease, so I think they have an agreement

The problems I had with SPS-starvation has stopped finally:

First, I feed the fishes I have 3 times a day:

-Spectrum Thera A+
-OSI Spirulina Flakes
-Mysis or Artemia

I started to dose Amino Acids and CoralFood, both from Salifert. The Amino Acids are 4x overdose, and CoralFood 1,5x overdose.

I recently started(about 3 weeks ago) dosing Amino Acids(Zeovit's), I am dosing 1 drop/25G. What do mean by 4 x overdose?? Also, how are you dosing the sugar?? Regular kitchen sugar? How much?

Thanks for any info.

[Weatherman]

I agree with gwaco on this one.

Doing things, with a goal of making animals healthy, grow and, if possible, reproduce, has always been my objective. If the coral develop pretty colors, that's just a side benefit.

Tweaking calcium, alk and magnesium up real high and adding wierd stuff to the water doesn't seem like a "healthy" or sustainable way to go, IMHO. A lot like running SE metal-halide bulbs on an HQI balast, everything may look stunning for a while then quickly burn out.

[rutz81]

As far as the corals being healthy, I really think that was a poor choice of words because the corals seem to have great polyp extension and grow very well using these sort of methods. I think having a "crayola box" looking tank is how a tank looks it's best, but that is my opinion. As far as looking natural, maybe it doesn't but, we are talking about looking at a glass box filled with water in your living/bed room and wouldn't you want it to look great? Great is a subjective word, obviously. Great to me, might look, "unnatural" to you...

[Leonardo's Reef]

Originally Posted by rutz81

I recently started(about 3 weeks ago) dosing Amino Acids(Zeovit's), I am dosing 1 drop/25G. What do mean by 4 x overdose?? Also, how are you dosing the sugar?? Regular kitchen sugar? How much?

Thanks for any info.

4 times overdose means that I use 4 times more then is on the package.

weatherman, gwaco: My only care is healthy corals. I dont care for extreme colours, I don't write anything about that in my post.

Fructose is a Carbon source, just like Vodka. Only, it is safer to use. It's nothing more then that. I use it because then I can trow even more food (amino's) in the tank to get healthy, growing corals.

I'm not a Zeo type that only want the pastel colours, I just want to feed my tank en get that corals happy and growing!

Leonardo

[Leonardo's Reef]

Originally Posted by rutz81

As far as the corals being healthy, I really think that was a poor choice of words because the corals seem to have great polyp extension and grow very well using these sort of methods. I think having a "crayola box" looking tank is how a tank looks it's best, but that is my opinion. As far as looking natural, maybe it doesn't but, we are talking about looking at a glass box filled with water in your living/bed room and wouldn't you want it to look great? Great is a subjective word, obviously. Great to me, might look, "unnatural" to you...

It is a matter of taste. I personally like deeper colours then Zeovit-tanks. Maybe because Staghorns do look better with deepers colours. (I think )

What I do want is feeding a lot, and have maximum growth.

Leonardo

[gwaco]

well its my bad to assume you were looking for those crazy colors . its just that when you start to post about the italian thread on r.c. i guess i made a quick judgement , sorry bout that ! BUT ! your tank is looking outstanding the way it is , so why throw some uncertainty into the mix ?
by the way isn't it almost Weds there ? maybe you could jumpstart with the pics a little early !

[Leonardo's Reef]

It IS Wednesday now, it is 00:39. I'm going to bed NOW Tomorrow (actually, today...) , I will pick them up...

You're right, I'm happy with my tank. But you know, you're always looking for things to improve. After seeing the succes with that method, I thought it could be an improvement.
But like I said in Wiskeys thread; I will do some more research, and see what the experiences are. I'm not throwing anything in my tank yet (besides frags )

Leonardo

[Jimbo]

Fructose is a Carbon source, just like Vodka. Only, it is safer to use. It's nothing more then that. I use it because then I can trow even more food (amino's) in the tank to get healthy, growing corals.

How much fructose do you add a day per gallon.

Thanks