Journal Waterbox Cube 10 complete beginner

[seedoubleyou]

BRS investigated using hydrogen peroxide on zoas

Yes and I have done so myself to clean plugs of nuisance algae. This could actually be worth a go @Deano3
I can’t remember what percentage i used. I think 3% was recommended and all I could get was 12% so I just went with that if memory serves.

I’ve even ran zoas under a cold tap before just to clean them and they still didn’t seem bothered.

I think this is owing to them coming from coastal areas where they can often be in tide pools for several hours.

 

[Deano3]

Thanks guys hopefully the vibrant clears up any left over bubble algae but only says to add 1ml or so every week for my size so will stick to that for now then maybe half the dosage.

Also ordered some syringes with needle tips as my local store said don't waste money on anti aptasi that he had on shelf and use lemon juice to kill them so will try that.

Dean

 

[Deano3]

Hi everyone, added 3 new corals yesterday, a hammer coral and 2 more types of zoanthid (sonic flare and lazer lemon ) I have added the hammer under the rock but after 24 hours it still isn't out at all really not sire if will require more light so unsure whether to move?

Also injected some lemon juice into the aptasia so see how that goes.

Loving the new snails and hermits still and tank ticking along nicely. Also moved the nero 3 to same side as outlet.

Adding some pictures of a few of the corals so far, I need a lens for my phone to help take pictures if anyone has any recomendations.

Also i want the colours to pop more under my lights if anyone is good with that 😅

Thanks dean

 

[seedoubleyou]

Hammers don’t mind a bit of shade, give it a few days and see how it responds.
Colours pop under strong blue lighting, corals also need to be really happy to show the best colouration, they’re like fish and plants in that sense.
DD do a lense kit for phones that’s pretty good. I used to have one but think I threw it out. I’ll have to get one again.

 

[Deano3]

Hammers don’t mind a bit of shade, give it a few days and see how it responds.
Colours pop under strong blue lighting, corals also need to be really happy to show the best colouration, they’re like fish and plants in that sense.
DD do a lense kit for phones that’s pretty good. I used to have one but think I threw it out. I’ll have to get one again.

Yeah I was looking at that one. I will get one ordered up soon. Think I will have a look at some lighting schedules online,

Yeah I will leave the hammer and see how it goes mate.

On a side note I am off on holiday soon what is best way to go about it ? Obviously waterchange day before I leave and leave instructions to top up my RO water for the Ato what about food I know fresh water fish are usually OK for a while with none but marine I am not sure about should I prepare up some food for my family to drop into the tank and hope fish get it before the pumps do 😅.

Thanks dean

 

[seedoubleyou]

Most set up auto feeders with pellet food whilst away, with the best intentions family who don’t keep fish can quite easily overfeed which will cause no end of trouble after several days.

 

[Deano3]

Most set up auto feeders with pellet food whilst away, with the best intentions family who don’t keep fish can quite easily overfeed which will cause no end of trouble after several days.

I don't think will have time to sort a auto feeder put so think today I will porting up some food for her to drop in, and going to tell her not to touch any plugs and keep eye on ato water.

With my fresh water I had lights off and co2 off , obviously was much larger volum of water, don't even think I fed for a week.

So would you advise to still feed daily in marine ? And leave lights etc on as normal. I will obviously just still to dry food I have.

Thanks mate think I will get a auto feeder for next time, they all seem quite pricey when I looked.

 

[seedoubleyou]

Yes I’d still feed if you can. Even if someone just fed the fish one or twice in the week.

 

[Deano3]

Yes I’d still feed if you can. Even if someone just fed the fish one or twice in the week.

Thanks @seedoubleyou i will portion up a 2-3 feeds and leave everything else as it is. Touch wood everything OK.

 

[Deano3]

Well everything survived, I left 3 feeds portioned up and my sister added to tank, seems to get algae bloom but may be because pumps weren't off when feed so most of it probably went straight into filter floss.

My new corals isn't open much at all I think may be worth moving it's location ?

Also noticed my nero 3 stopped earlier so turned off and on a few times and eventually started. Also treated some more aptasia only a few in there and everything had a good clean so looks great. Still doing no testing and everything looks great. The zoas I added a week or 2 ago have moved onto rocks what really surprises me as others been in months and not moved off plugs.

Thanks dean

 

[seedoubleyou]

Some corals grow like weeds others take time.
You may also find that, no matter what you do, certain corals just don’t grow in your tank. It can and does happen.

Try moving the torch / hammer (can’t tell from the pic) into an are with a little more light and flow.
Torch corals don’t mind a bit of flow and will extend right out.

Equally it might be a good time to test you water and see if that’s causing corals to sulk.

 

[Deano3]

Quick update , sorry @seedoubleyou still havnt tested the water 😬 but will do it and post results here.

Had a few losses a hermit and a snail not sure why maybe lack of food ? The corals them selves doing great, i have moved the torch to the lower left to hopefully open up more but not done much yet, adjusted the nero 3 to beetween 15-45 percent and hight frequency. Also upped the lights slightly and made a bit bluer so corals pop, set this to change over next 30 days.

Top torch doing great and hammer and zoas all look good, a few bits of a white sort algae that looks like fuzzy glue but not spreading been a few bits for a while will try scrub on next maintenance session. Adjusting white ballance to try get pictures but I am going to order a filter for phone for better ones. Still after some new hermits wanting some blue leg ones and maybe some more snails. Wish there was something like algae wafers I used to drop into my tropical tank for them.

 

[seedoubleyou]

Snail death could potentially be a result of a hermit trying to take it’s shell.
The hermit death could be a result of outgrowing it’s shell.
The blue legs IME are less likely to take snail shells.
If you do keep hermits, it’s important to supply a variety of shells for them to take as they grow.

 

[seedoubleyou]

Also get that water tested as it could be the reason inverts are dying.

 

[Deano3]

Testing time.

Water 35 option- 1.026
Ammonia NH3-0
Nitrate N03-2-10 struggle to read
Nitrite N02-0
Phosphate 0
Anything else you would advise testing for. Dean

 

[seedoubleyou]

Dkh aka alkalinity

I only ever test Alk, Po4 and No3

I definitely recommend getting Hanna checkers as they take all the guess work out it and give you a number rather 100 different shades of blue or pink

 

[Deano3]

Kh/alkalinity-9.9
P04-0

Thanks dean

 

[seedoubleyou]

Kh/alkalinity-9.9
P04-0

Thanks dean

What did you test with Dean? Alk is a little high. It’s not cause for alarm if it’s stable at this level as stability is typically more important than reaching for a certain number.
But your general reed would around 8-9

PO4 at 0 is also slightly concerning as you do want some level of PO4 around 0.04-0.05 is a nice range.

You could take a water sample to your LFS and ask them to test to confirm your results.

 

[Deano3]

Salifert tests what don't seem best for these tests to be honest 😬, thanks mate maybe take for test when I am off work. Thanks again

 

[TropicalSteve1]

I always found Salifert tests good for Alk but terrible for PO4. What’s your calcium and magnesium levels like?

Best home test for PO4 is Hanna ULR