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07/01/2018, 07:09 PM | #151 |
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Dawn Gilson
2018-07-01_08-44-26 Add description Screen name or email Include a message Share 2018-07-01_08-44-26 by Dawn Gilson, on Flickr Here is my new tree sponge. It looks to me that it is still healthy and appears to be feeding. I am optimistic about its future in my tank. |
07/01/2018, 07:28 PM | #152 | |
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Laissez les bons temps rouler, Patrick Castille Current Tank Info: 10,000G. Greenhouse Macro Growout |
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07/01/2018, 07:33 PM | #153 | |
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Laissez les bons temps rouler, Patrick Castille Current Tank Info: 10,000G. Greenhouse Macro Growout |
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07/02/2018, 08:43 AM | #154 |
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For H erectus seahorses the target temperature is 70°-74°. For every degree over that ideal range the pathogenic bacteria that negatively affect seahorses reproduce exponentially. Typically I keep my system running more like 70°-72° just to be safe. If I suspect a seahorse is fighting infection then I target 68°. That is another limiting factor for coral as most do not grow at their optimum rate in those temperatures. My coral are mature enough that it does not matter to me. The macro algae don't seem to mind the cooler temps at all.
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07/02/2018, 10:02 AM | #155 | |
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I think that macro grown at lower temperature would grow much cleaner. Yours looks magnificent.
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Laissez les bons temps rouler, Patrick Castille Current Tank Info: 10,000G. Greenhouse Macro Growout |
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07/03/2018, 11:14 AM | #156 | |
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07/03/2018, 01:41 PM | #157 |
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The tank looks fantastic, as does the sponge!
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Blennies Rock! --Kevin Wilson Current Tank Info: 101g 3'X3'X18" Cubish Oyster Reef Blenny tank, 36"X17"X18" sump |
07/05/2018, 08:55 AM | #158 |
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I am really excited about how well this tree sponge is doing. Even a small tree sponge I got 5-6 months ago has perked up and looks better now that I am dosing Nualgi. If in a few months they continue to look so healthy I am going to order ball and frilly sponges too.
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07/28/2018, 12:35 PM | #159 |
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That's awesome you're having success with sponges! Combining that with macros, corals, AND seahorses successfully is unheard of! Congrats.
I've not heard of Nualgi. What's in it?
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As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018 |
07/28/2018, 07:17 PM | #160 | |
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Nualgi was a new product about 4 years ago for helping with nuisance algae, especially on the sandbed. No one knows what is in it exactly but it was theorized that silica was a main ingredient. Last edited by vlangel; 07/28/2018 at 07:27 PM. |
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07/28/2018, 09:58 PM | #161 |
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Ok, maybe it's still unheard of. But you're close!
Your Nualgi explanation made me curious! I checked their web site. Here's a quote from it: "HOW DOES IT WORK? Within 3 – 5 hours of applying Nualgi Ponds, a bloom of Diatom algae (the good kind!) will develop. The diatom algae bloom out-competes nuisance algae for CO2, N, P and other nutrients, causing the bad algae to die off. It then locks away some of the harmful nutrients in the new bio mass that is consumed as live food for your fish and zooplankton." That supports your silica theory. So you're using it as an algicide/sponge food? What affect does it have on your tank? It's an interesting idea, using diatoms to outcompete algae, and critters and fish to eat the diatoms. It sounds like an elegant, natural solution. But does it work? In my experience it seems like diatoms always come first, then the greens come in and take over. It's hard to imagine diatoms overtaking greens because I've never seen it. It is a cool idea though. Maybe I'll try dosing silica when I get my algae phase. My mini strombus snails have been multiplying like rabbits in my holding tank, so they can help.
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As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018 |
07/29/2018, 07:22 PM | #162 | |
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07/30/2018, 04:20 PM | #163 |
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Really? Wow! I've never NOT had a serious algae problem in all of my tanks. That's impressive, Dawn! Keep us informed on your experience with Nualgi. I'd like to hear more!
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As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018 |
07/30/2018, 10:30 PM | #164 |
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Dawn's seahorse garden!
It sounds like it's silica plus trace, grows diatoms, and depletes N or P to outcompete algae.
Very cool. I'm messing around with dosing Si, and depleting trace. Edit: has anyone seen mini strombus scavenge? I am 90% sure I watched one eat mysis scraps today. |
07/31/2018, 05:55 AM | #165 | |
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I will let you know if the Nualgi has any effect on the tank after I have used longer. |
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07/31/2018, 05:59 AM | #166 | |
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07/31/2018, 10:28 PM | #167 |
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taricha, I have not seen my mini strombus snails eat flesh. But I haven't looked for it either. They climb and clean macros and seagrass like no other snails.
Good idea to compare notes, Dawn. taricha, let us know what you find. I'd been dosing sodium silicate for a while, for the sponges. I had some mild diatom blooms but I never noticed it outcompeting algae. I'll pay more attention next time.
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As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018 |
08/01/2018, 10:24 AM | #168 |
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Totally. I'll be happy to post more details later.
On sponges, my orange ball sponge has actually been more consistently open and feeding than my orange tree sponge. The ball sponge never went through a tissue receding period like my tree sponge has either. 20180711_164940.jpg And on silica and nutrient competition, I was looking at specifically targeting dinos. To overgeneralize, N and P limitations are a better choke point for halting green algae, and trace elements make a better target to limit when trying to control dinos. Some encouraging results, no silver bullet. However, what I found that was dramatic was that silica dosing completely put a halt to cyano patches, made them disappear and never return. |
08/01/2018, 11:02 AM | #169 |
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Good stuff, taricha! I'm particularly excited to read that last statement, regarding cyano. I had a doozy of a cyano phase in my last tank. It would be wonderful to skip that, this time around!
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As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018 |
08/03/2018, 10:25 PM | #170 | |
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When I got my SiO2 up over 0.5ppm cyano stayed gone. Apparently it's somewhat known to use Si to suppress cyano in freshwater systems. |
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08/03/2018, 10:40 PM | #171 |
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Good to know! Thanks! The future looks less blue-greener…
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As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018 |
08/27/2018, 02:47 PM | #172 |
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The seahorses continue to do well in their tank with sand. I still have some rust color on the sandbed but the rest of the tank stays fairly clean and algae free.
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08/27/2018, 09:58 PM | #173 |
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Congrats on your success with sea horses. Not to mention, the rest of your tank!
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As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018 |
08/28/2018, 10:24 PM | #174 | |
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FTS Aug 2018 by Dawn Gilson, on Flickr Last edited by vlangel; 08/28/2018 at 10:30 PM. |
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08/29/2018, 06:05 AM | #175 |
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Your tank looks fantastic Dawn. A little life on the sand bed makes it look more realistic anyway. Glad the ponies are doing well!
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Blennies Rock! --Kevin Wilson Current Tank Info: 101g 3'X3'X18" Cubish Oyster Reef Blenny tank, 36"X17"X18" sump |
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