baddiesel's new L2 install

Turbo, I forgot to answer your question as to where I obtained my rock from. Some is ~17 years old, obtained from divers near Tonga, and some was (originally 2 years ago) just plain dry rock mined from Florida. I checked on the LR "re-cooking" in the garage, and it still has GHA on it. I didn't want to kill off all the micro-fauna that's on it, that's the only reason why I chose to NOT to nuke the rock with acid.

 

Yesterday, I relocated my ATS to the LR barrel. I'll update later as to progress. I will give the ATS some time to work it's magic, if no results, I'll drip LC and utilize my micron filter on the MAG 350. I'm still amazed this GHA does not require any light to live, let alone flourish.

 

Thanks Garf, lots of good info there. I'm going to continue to perform weekly salt water rinses, and change out the LR barrel water. Today, I'll do a "light" cleaning on the ATS, and I'll update y'all next week. Since there's no fish, no food, no source of light, and with regular water changes & rinses, something has to give. I would imagine I've blasted, and removed most of the organics and inorganics on the surface(s) of the LR by now. Since I live right on the coast, I've thought about placing the LR in large mesh bags, and drag them behind my boat in the ocean for awhile. That should clean them fairly well. lol

 

Finally "Houston", we have "lift-off". Here's what I discovered in the LR "cooking barrel". With the exception of one tiny-dark-green tuft, the GHA is gone. Now, for some bad news. I saw some small "bright-green" tufts, they were branching & scraggly. I would define that algae as 100% Byropsis. They kind of remind you of tiny pieces of green 3m scrubby pads for cleaning pots & pans. These little rascals are diminishing, but still living without any light whatsoever. The ATS screen was full of growth. This time, I had to scrape it. I was afraid it would clog the drain pipe before my return home from up north. At any rate, progress is being made. *On a side note: as I recalled when I very first purchased the new "dry" rock, I didn't cure it or "cook" it. So, maybe PO4 was in the rock before introduction. The old LR, came straight out of a 75g DT, into several coolers, then into a 125g that I've since sold. Originally, that rock was "lifted" ~16-17 years ago from Tonga. Transportation to the U.S. was via a large sailboat. Sorry to go off topic. I'm happy to say progress is being made, but this Byropsis is a very-very tough algae to kill.

 

Sorry, it's been quite awhile since posting. I can only say, "I've been very-very busy". Now for an update that's been a long time coming. Today (12-22-13), I reinstalled my original (post GHA laden) L.R. into my 93g Marineland cube display tank. The rock lost it's sex appeal, but it's still full of life, and most importantly GHA free. Now for an update on my ATS. "IT ROCKS"!!!!!, I think I might have to increase the frequency of cleaning, or scrape one side per week (turf grows very thick). I have installed an auxillary sump in addition to my regular 25g sump, that contains my skimmer, return pump & media reactor. This auxillary sump has a Jeaubert(sp) plenum, 4" crush coral, small chunk of chaetomorphia, and sitting on top is the L2 ATS. This location makes it easier for access & maintenance. The aux-sump is a live-well for a boat, and it works great. I want to remove the chaeto, and take the media reactor (contains seagel matrix) off-line, and just operate the ATS and skimmer. My parameters are great (zero nitrates, zero phosphates). What'cha all think?

P.S. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!!!

 

Okay.....I've taken a couple of pics with my android smart phone. I only know how to text and email photos. I use an ancient Mac computer, that's on it's last legs of legitimate use. It's Christmas Eve, and I've been busy cooking for 10 head. I don't know if there's an app that can assist with this or if some other means. I'll investigate further after the "dust settles a bit". Yep, got a smart phone, but the operator is not that smart in it's use. At any rate, I wish you'all a very Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years!!!

 

I got'cha!!!, thank you very much!!!.

 

What a pain in the posterior. I've got some photos in my photobucket account. Now, I'm going to attempt to post them here.

 

Sorry, I messed-up. I downloaded straight from my "gallery" in my phone. The image is probably too big, but this is what I can do with a New Year's and Tylonol PM hangover.

 

Well, let me try this:

 

Sorry guys, this is not my forte'. I cannot perform this from my phone, without the image being too large. When I copy/paste the URL link from photobucket, you get garbage. When I copy/paste the URL link thumbnail, again you get garbage. So, for right now, until I get past the "learning curve", this is the best I can do. Besides, trying to prepare for my wife's birthday. Yep, she's a New Year's baby.