72 hours total blackout

Reef Hero

Super Active Member
Joined
May 27, 2012
Location
Lucan
Although I did pretty much just come straight out and say this won't work.... I must say very good choice on this option first first rather than algae x or any other similar additive with claims to do the same.... I have used this method atleast a couple times in the past..... Interested to see your results Boga!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

KBennett

Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2012
Location
Brantford
If you aren't already doing it, I'd wet skim to make sure you get out as much crap as you can.  I think getting rid of what is released in the tank is key to this method.
 

Boga

Active Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2012
Location
Dorchester, Ontario
I will post results. Good or bad. Either way there will be learning for me.

Wet skimming is my default, my preference. The carbon was changed one week ago. Probably I will change it again shortly after this cycle.

Hmm ...... it feels strange. I don't see my tank ... it is like I am in the blackout.
 

Pistol

Super Active Member
Donor
Joined
Aug 16, 2012
Location
Corunna
I did 4 days when I did it, worked for me and never returned, I did a major rock blowing and sand bed vacuuming after and ran filter socks.
 

Boga

Active Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2012
Location
Dorchester, Ontario
Pistol link said:
I did 4 days when I did it, worked for me and never returned, I did a major rock blowing and sand bed vacuuming after and ran filter socks.
Did you have cyano or dinoflagellate? Or both? I plan to do 20% water change, rock blowing, vaccuming both DT and refugium. Unfortunatelly I am not ready for filter socks, unless I improvize something.
 

Boga

Active Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2012
Location
Dorchester, Ontario
January 30, 2014, @ 7:00 pm
Dinoflagellates: no change
Cyano: I think it reduced little bit.
pH dropped at 7.8, I will start dosing pH buffer

I used the moon lights for feeding: 5-10 minutes. The blue hippo did not come out for feeding.
Corals were in decent state: zoas and paly's opened, candy canes extended for food, both torches fully extended (did not expect that). The rest of them were semi-retracted in their skeletons.

I have done two more phosphate tests. Last time when I reported very low values, I collected the water sample from sump, in a zone with apparently low phosphate levels (near GFO reactor). Sample from DT came at 8 ppb (0.025 ppt PO4). Still good.
 

Boga

Active Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2012
Location
Dorchester, Ontario
January 31, 2014, @9:00 pm, 50 hrs from start
Dinoflagellates: no change or not significant
Cyanobacteria: reduced
pH=7.8, dosed little bit of pH buffer

I fed frozen Mysis. All fish ate except Hippo, which did not come out.
Chaeto changed little bit in colour. It is pale green. Still firm.
Corals "OK", less extended compared to after 24 hrs. RBTA did not move.

February 1, 2014, @7:00 am, 60 hrs from start
Flood in the basement :mad:. I left the skimmer drain valve open. It drained in a pail and overflowed. Night before I adjusted the skimmer to skim even more wetter. I had to collect about one gallon of water from the floor. It is unfinished basement, so not a big problem. The ATO did not keep up, because is designed to deliver a maximum amount of water, so in situations like this prevents dilution. I had to add ~5 gallons of new saltwater. Let's consider it a partial water change :). The return pump was almost to run dry.

February 1, 2014, @10:00 pm, 75 hrs from start
Dinoflagellates: 90% gone. I am surprised because after 50hrs they were still in place. There are some spots that did not cleaned, but I am not able to say if they are dead or alive. Probably true results will be in few weeks from now.
Cyanobacteria: 90% gone. Whatever remained is darker and shriveled. Again, I can't tell if it is alive or dead.
pH=7.9-8.0 still dosing pH buffer.

I turned the blue lights ON for about 30 minutes, until all fish came out. I fed Mysis and all of them ate.
Corals were OK and they started to extend during this 30-40 minutes of blue light. Too bad, because I ...

...... turned the lights OFF. I will extend the blackout until tomorrow morning, approximately 85 hours of total darkness, except the few feeding periods as stated.
 

Pistol

Super Active Member
Donor
Joined
Aug 16, 2012
Location
Corunna
Good call on the additional time, don't want it to be for not, I went 96 hrs., no problem.
 

Boga

Active Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2012
Location
Dorchester, Ontario
February 2, 2014, @8:00 amm, 85 hrs from start
Dinoflagellates: I do not see any. I will know for sure in few days or weeks. I don't want to proclame "problem solved", yet.
Cyanobacteria: 90% gone.
pH=did not check.

I started with moon lights and ambient for about 4 hours, then I switched to my blue lights only. I will keep it on blues for a day or two.

DT: Blew the rocks with turkey baster, brushed few areas.
Refugium: Removed all liverock, I syphoned a lot of detritus, cleaned some cyanobacteria (dead or alive?) from eggcrates,
Total water change 15 gallons, plus the 5 gallons from day before, a total of 20 gallons.

February 2, 2014, @5:00 pm
All fish are OK, eating.
All corals appear OK, but Elegance and Kenya. They are not extended.

Now is just wait for few weeks to see the impact.
 
Top