Bryman's 90G Reef

Noticed my older gyre xf130 was only putting out about 75% power and covered with bubble algae so took it apart and cleaned it tonight. Took me two tries to get it back together correctly so pay attention when you take these things apart. Runs like new now, but these need to be maintained more often than vortechs.

Also ordered the Icecap Gyre interface modules for Apex so looking forward to custom programming them to work together and slow down at night.

It kind of sucks that the Mindstream Monitor Kickstarter failed, but I've gotten pretty quick with my Salifert Alk tests and have had 3 days constant at 8.0 dkh. Now have to keep it stable and wait for stuff to grow.

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Looked good yesterday once it fills in gonna be cool. Btw i didnt lose that frag but i did lose my house keys lol hopefully i can get in my house after work doh
 
My blue squamosa was turned to the front today so got a good pic of it and the Ultimate Warrior photobombed me lol. Highly recommend this clam if you can get your hands on one - way more hardy than any crocea or maxima I've tried:
uc
 
Ah heck while I'm at it here's a FTS. Only difference is that I added a few pieces of branch rock from Aqua Pros to balance things out, and set my Galaxy S6 to -1 on White Balance as I saw my previous pics are a bit washed out.
uc
 
Lil BamBam said:
Looking good bud!!! Tank sure does look different from my last visit.. What happen to the frag tank idea?
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Thanks Dre! I hope to have another monster colony of Pink Lemonade again in another year or so. I did have a frag tank running until a seam split. I have a replacement sitting in my shed for when I have the need.

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Dual Maxspect Gyre xf130 w/Icecap Apex Modules Installed and Configured - Video!

I have the specific xf130 Icecap modules for my Gyres connected together with the included Y-cable, plugged into variable speed port V1/V2 on my Apex. This is a modified version of what Coralvue's Carlos has in his video and shows it in action. You can see how there are eddies and chaotic flow going from one side of the tank to the other as the pumps ramp up and down. Sorry for the purple light, tank was already in dusk mode. I am pretty happy with the flow now, but most of my corals are still frags so time will tell. It's gentle flow compared to a Vortech, but I think a more natural and broad current action across the surface like in nature.

This program does the following:
- Daytime: Ramps up one side from 0-90% while the other ramps down 90-0% over a period of 1 minute. From 5-6 PM, there is a synchronized pulse by both sides.
- Nighttime: Ramps in the same way but only ends at 40% intensity for a gentler environment. Here is the Apex code:

[OUTLETS]
Name: Gyre-R - (base_Var1)
Control: Advanced
Advanced Setup:
If Outlet VirtDayTm = ON Then DayUp
If Time 17:00 to 18:00 Then DayPls
If Outlet VirtNightTm = ON Then NightUp
If Outlet VirtDay = ON Then DayDwn
If Outlet VirtNight = ON Then NightDwn
If FeedA 000 Then OFF
If FeedC 000 Then OFF
---------------------------------------------
Name: Gyre-L - (base_Var2)
Control: Advanced
Advanced Setup:
If Outlet VirtDayTm = ON Then DayDwn
If Time 17:00 to 18:00 Then DayPls
If Outlet VirtNightTm = ON Then NightDwn
If Outlet VirtDay = ON Then DayUp
If Outlet VirtNight = ON Then NightUp
If FeedA 000 Then OFF
If FeedC 000 Then OFF
----------------------------------------------

[VIRTUAL OUTLETS]
Name: VirtDay - (Cntl_A1)
Control: Advanced
Advanced Setup:
OSC 000:00/001:00/001:00 Then ON
If Time 17:00 to 18:00 Then OFF
If Time 22:30 to 11:30 Then OFF
----------------------------------------------
Name: VirtNight - (Cntl_A2)
Control: Advanced
Advanced Setup:
OSC 000:00/003:00/003:00 Then ON
If Time 11:30 to 22:30 Then OFF
-----------------------------------------------
Name: VirtDayTm - (Cntl_A3)
Control: Advanced
Advanced Setup:
Set ON
If Time 17:00 to 18:00 Then OFF
If Time 22:30 to 11:30 Then OFF
-----------------------------------------------
Name: VirtNightTm - (Cntl_A4)
Control: Advanced
Advanced Setup:
Set ON
If Time 11:30 to 22:30 Then OFF
-----------------------------------------------

[PROFILES]
Name: DayUp(PF1)
Control: Ramp
Ramp Time: 1
Start Intens: 25
End Intens: 90
-----------------------------------------------
Name: DayDwn(PF2)
Control: Ramp
Ramp Time: 1
Start Intens: 90
End Intens: 25
-----------------------------------------------
Name: DayPls(PF3)
Control: Pump
Initial Off: 0
On time: 15
Off time: 5
Min Intens: 25
Max Intens: 80
-----------------------------------------------
Name: NightUp(PF4)
Control: Ramp
Ramp Time: 3
Start Intens: 25
End Intens: 40
-----------------------------------------------
Name: NightDwn(PF5)
Control: Ramp
Ramp Time: 3
Start Intens: 40
End Intens: 25
-----------------------------------------------

And of course, the video:

[video=youtube;EBZOTSR7VYQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBZOTSR7VYQ[/video]
 
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So I've relearned a valuable lesson once again. Be careful with nutrient reducers, whether biopellets, vinegar, vodka, etc. I recently started dosing vodka again as I was having some bubble algae issues. I kept ramping up to about 3.5 ml per day, and all of a sudden some of my indicator corals started showing signs of stress. Tested nitrates and had absolutely 0. Had I been testing all along, I would have known when to back off. I've been testing Alk, Ca, and Mg religiously but not Nitrate/PO4. So far the only casualty is a red dragon, but my undata will hopefully bounce back. I've cut the vodka to almost 0 and feeding the tank more to counteract. I need to stop being lazy, dumb, and impatient!
 
Bryan i had great suscess with just doseing alk and calcium and every so often just dumping some mag in and i dont measure or test mag i just pour bunch in . Ive found alk and cal is only thing i ever have to worry about my tank looks great im way over stocked and im running what reefers call the crappiest skimmer out there the super skimmer . I get the best result not chasing crap and just let tank do its thing with a nice fuge some culerpa and of course the ati t5 fixture that makes the corals happy
 
madjoe said:
Bryan i had great suscess with just doseing alk and calcium and every so often just dumping some mag in and i dont measure or test mag i just pour bunch in . Ive found alk and cal is only thing i ever have to worry about my tank looks great im way over stocked and im running what reefers call the crappiest skimmer out there the super skimmer . I get the best result not chasing crap and just let tank do its thing with a nice fuge some culerpa and of course the ati t5 fixture that makes the corals happy
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You're right, I am over complicating things. When my reef was "dirty" it also looked the best.
 
bryman said:
You're right, I am over complicating things. When my reef was "dirty" it also looked the best.
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Its k we all do it i did it i followed all the hype dumped crap in my tank that people say oh u need this or do this or buy this salt . Like u said i keep it as simple as me lol if u go through my equipment list people be like dam he a cheap bastard :p
 
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So I've been feeding a lot, throwing in Reef Chili and some other Oyster jizz every night for over a week now and shutting off the skimmer overnight, and still I have 0 detectable Nitrates. After the vodka/MB7, my system just eats it all up and some of my SPS are still hurting. So, thanks to my GF's suggestion (she's a closet reefer), I've decided to shut off the skimmer 24/7 and rely on my refugium for filtration until I can get some nutrients back. We'll see if this works.
 
bryman said:
So I've been feeding a lot, throwing in Reef Chili and some other Oyster jizz every night for over a week now and shutting off the skimmer overnight, and still I have 0 detectable Nitrates. After the vodka/MB7, my system just eats it all up and some of my SPS are still hurting. So, thanks to my GF's suggestion (she's a closet reefer), I've decided to shut off the skimmer 24/7 and rely on my refugium for filtration until I can get some nutrients back. We'll see if this works.
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What test kit? Did you shut down the vodka/vinegar doser? You may need to try Amino Acid...
 
Mai, I am using the Salifert Nitrate test kit, and it is brand new. Even at highest resolution possible I have absolutely 0 Nitrate. I have not dosed Vodka or MB7 for about 2 weeks now, after I tested and found 0 Nitrate.

Most of my acros are doing OK, but some of my encrusting Montis (Jedi, Undata, Setosa) are suffering.

I do have Acropower and may throw some in there as well.
 
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bryman said:
So I've been feeding a lot, throwing in Reef Chili and some other Oyster jizz every night for over a week now and shutting off the skimmer overnight, and still I have 0 detectable Nitrates. After the vodka/MB7, my system just eats it all up and some of my SPS are still hurting. So, thanks to my GF's suggestion (she's a closet reefer), I've decided to shut off the skimmer 24/7 and rely on my refugium for filtration until I can get some nutrients back. We'll see if this works.
Click to expand...

Smart woman lol hope everything bounces back buddy
 
Well I tested nitrates again tonight and still nothing. I pulled about 2/3rds of my refugium algae and my bag of carbon to see if that helps. Things are starting to look a little better though.
 
bryman said:
Well I tested nitrates again tonight and still nothing. I pulled about 2/3rds of my refugium algae and my bag of carbon to see if that helps. Things are starting to look a little better though.
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Have u tryed stir some of the sand i do my whole sand bed once a week with a turkey baster keeps it nice and clean and all that poop gets in water column . Now if u dont i wouldnt do all at once start with small section tehn another section next week . Since ive always done it im able to do whole tank in one sitting 12yr old sand looks better then day i bought it and i believe its feeding my corals during the poop sand storm
 
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