Steve Wright's SPS takeover

been a couple of weeks since last update

I have continued to run Vodka at a maintenance dose of 2 mils daily in my reef
and also ran 9 doses of algaefix marine at the 3 day interval rate, followed by 2 x one per week doses ( I have not dosed this product for 2 weeks now, I have decided to see what the algae does before deciding to continue dosing or not)

to some, these images will seem boring
to me, they are great, because the aesthetics I was striving for has been achieved within reason






the coralline now has territory to work with

here are some images of how it looked previously

 

Hmmm interesting.

Huge difference, I am not sure about the algae type.

Sounds like your on the fence regarding whether it was the Algaefix?

Do you think the algae was associated with the vodka dosing and did you try any other product like MB7 prior to the algae fix.

 

I believe the algae fix certainly helped
it got rid of what little GHA I had,
I was carbon dosing since Nov 2010, started Vodka, Dec or January
I would have to check the other thread to give accurate time lines
the Algaefix did not come into the equation until late April IIRC
up to that point the algae was still firmly entrenched although the carbon did seem to generate adequate bacteria to at least compete with it and stop it reaching plague proportions

have used MB7 at the low nutrient dosage for a few weeks at the start of the dosing - I dont think I mentioned it on this thread, did so on my Vodka dosing thread.

I used the MB7 to try and ensure that beneficial bacteria benefited from the carbon source, rather than undesirable bacterias

Now I cannot say with 100% certainty it helped
but I can say, I carbon dosed without a problem such as cyno, or peach fuzz or bacterial strings, and as such I am of the opinion the MB7 did help me to ensure carbon source was focused on what I wanted it to fuel

although I am also of the opinion that Carbon source +MB7 alone would not have got rid of as much algae, in the same time scale as algae fix did for me

overall I believe it was a combination of the above choices that helped me achieve my aim

Im currently conducting tests as you know, to find out if any individual method or product can achieve similar results

Steve

 

Thanks Steve,

The difference is very notable so the Algaefix surely played a huge part. Will be interesting to see if you have a recurrence, and how intense it is.

Any chance of getting any new shots of my favorite corals.

Guess I will take a look at the Algaefix thread to catch up. It seems like there are two schools of thought on it's use. Having no personal experience with it's use I have always been reluctant to give it a try or recommend it. I think other products used to treat cyano have lead to some reluctance to using Algaefix.

Cheryl

 

I will get some new coral images for you Cheryl

yes reading Jerry's, "barbianj" recent experience with the product certainly put an element of doubt in my mind in regards potential negatives
my experience was positive ,but I only have a few LPS so possibly got lucky with the ones I do have
I had already basically not bothered for a couple of weeks or so, simply as there seemed little point as the aesthetics of the tank pleased me

 

maybe should have cleaned the glass, but some updated images of my mainly SPS corals

 

They have gotten much bigger, you are getting some great growth.
The tabling look that you are obviously achieving from the side view has always been my goal.

Thanks for the images.

 

Drool!

Very nice growth and cleaner rocks.
I never have algae problems with phosphate reactor btw.

 

welcome and thank you

Thanks Nor_Cal_Guy
I ran GFO for at least 18 months and Phosguard before that
I did routine water changes
the most Nitrate I ever recorded was 5ppm and my salifert kit was a waste of effort as it always came up clear

not sure exactly what the trigger was for its arrival
may have come on any one of the purchases after re set up in September last year
may have always resided in the rock, and conditions changed that favoured it

 

Beautiful colonies you have there Steve, rocks look great