DansReef New 180 Reef

[DanSreef]

So...a bit more of an update. I lost the two coral frags (bird nest and slimmer) I placed two weeks ago. Not sure why. Alk, Ca, PH, temp and other water parameters are fine. They were throw always....but still bummed they did not make it. The fish are all seemingly doing fine. I did start seeing a red haze on the sand become a bit more pronounced. I did a microscopic survey of samples I collected. No DINOs were found. Instead, I am guessing this is some cyno that has bloomed or a red algae of some sort. No independent movement that is indicative of DINOs. Certainly no sign of the variety I have been fighting.

Along with this red algae or cyno...I am seeing growth of green algae and have been seeing an increase of algae on the front glass. I am still a bit shy of declaring victory.....but each week seems to bring more relief.

So...I decided to skim off the first layer of the sand and ended up taking 10 gals out of the tank along with a cup or two of sand. That is when I found my horse shoe crab. I am sitting here watching the tangs pick the rock .....grazing on both the green and red on them....as well as on the back and side glass. Things seem fine.... I will be happy when I can introduce some coral and they begin the thrive....and of course.... No recurrence of the DINOs....

More later.

 

[DanSreef]

Quick update.... Still so no signs of DINOs. So...perhaps victory can be declared. Now to get the nutrient down. Nitrates are > 8, phosphates are .11. Alk slipped to 6.5...Calcium was 490-500. PH 8.2 and salinity is 1.025. I am starting to see a lot more green algae growing on the rocks with a red algae. The red is a fibrous mat. I added a dozen or so snail and they are munching on it. Might time to order a bigger cuc from reefcleaners.

Today I added a carpenter flasher wrasse from Sho Tank! Thanks Matt it is a beauty. So far, no issues with the Pintail Flasher. I also added a nice maricultured elegance coral. All the fish seem fine...now if I can start putting in more coral...I will be thrilled.

Now for a couple pictures.

Sorry, not the best pictures. Someday I will learn how to do better ones. The last is of the elegance coral and the new wrasse. Hopefully all goes well with both. The elegance was a beaut I got fro Brian at Reefwise. Nice purple tips and the coral was mounted almost on a pedestal. I may add in some frags from the other tanks again. I think my problem with the last ones was my elevated nutrients and a slip of the alkalinity.

 

[DanSreef]

A couple of updates... First one is still no DINOs. Nitrates are >8 and phosphates at .11 still. Alk is around 7.2 and calcium 480. All seems fine. New wrasse is settling in nice. Elegance looks ok...still getting settled I think.

I also added a portal to the tank that I got at the aquarium experience this fall. The magnification is real nice to look at things in the tank. The interesting thing is that the pintail flasher wrasse loves to hang out there and look back into the room. Every time I turn around he is hanging there checking things out. I have tried to get a picture of it...but as soon as I get close he takes off. This is the best one I can get.

I swear I think he is a spy... If I didn't know better I would say he is snooping on us.....

 

[DanSreef]

One more update... Can't give you too much info yet... But a couple of teaser photos. I won't be able to install until I get a replacement part and I can get my pal to help plumb it off the hammer head.... This thing is huge and will be able to manage nutrients from my tank...probably all three of my tanks ..... and ETR's two tanks next door. Four 50watt LED lights.... My basement will glow like a pot farm.....

 

[Jackie BLue]

Heeeey that looks pretty freaking slick.

 

[Sawdonkey]

One more update... Can't give you too much info yet... But a couple of teaser photos. I won't be able to install until I get a replacement part and I can get my pal to help plumb it off the hammer head.... This thing is huge and will be able to manage nutrients from my tank...probably all three of my tanks ..... and ETR's two tanks next door. Four 50watt LED lights.... My basement will glow like a pot farm.....

Wow! Is that DIY or store bought? Looks awesome.

 

[nailbender]

Glad to see you've turned the corner. Many people would of just given up.
I hope I never have to go through what you went through.
I applaud you Sir.

Rick

 

[wrasse]

One more update... Can't give you too much info yet... But a couple of teaser photos. I won't be able to install until I get a replacement part and I can get my pal to help plumb it off the hammer head.... This thing is huge and will be able to manage nutrients from my tank...probably all three of my tanks ..... and ETR's two tanks next door. Four 50watt LED lights.... My basement will glow like a pot farm.....

did you buy the ats or did you make the ats?

 

[DanSreef]

Ok... Been a while since my last post. Good news.... DINOs are no where to be found. Bad news....the tank still looks like shit. I came across a few things that may explain why....

First, I was doing some maintenance and noticed the water seemed a bit cool. Well...I pulled out the iPad and pulled up the Apex app... All good...or so it seemed. I got out a couple of themometers and spot tested. Well... The sump in the basement was a nice toasty and super stable 77.5 degrees. The display however was a cool 72 degrees on a digital thermometer...on a floating glass one... 70-71.... Arrrggghhhh... I could not believe that there was such a difference in temps. I checked my app....and it was super stable...+\- .5 degrees... Moral... Winter time causes the temp to drop too much on the display... Easy to fix and now I have a nice stable 77.8 in the display....but have a new module for the apex and will run a temp probe in the display and not just the sump....

Second....I have a fiber out red algae...that has really grown heavily. It is not DINOs or cyno...so you don't need to tell me to check that. I have looked at it under a microscope....and this stuff is definitely a fiberous red algae. As it turns out...this stuff loves more blue lighting....which is what I am running. I like the look. Well....this shot grows like crazy with it. So I have updated my lights to look much like my 135 that is growing corals like crazy... So basically I mimicked the programming. Hopefully that will help reduce this red algae.

Third...well. Got pretty sick. So the algae scrubber I teased everyone with a few weeks back is still not installed. I am hoping my buddy Jeff will assist in getting it up and running next week. This scrubber is from 302 Aquatics and is huge. I will be able to mana age my nitrates and phosphates no issue with this thing. If has four 50watt LEDs that will make the basement glow like I am growing pot or something.... ? Hopefully I will be able to share some pictures of it soon.

Fourth....well the fish are all doing well. Fat and happy. I just added a cleaner wrasse from my friend Matt at ShoTank! With luck...things will continue to improve and I can start buying some corals to add. Matt had some great stuff and some really nice triggers... A blue jaw pair that should have come home with me.....

 

[DanSreef]

Here is a quick updated picture.....

 

[carpetreef75]

Quick update.... Still so no signs of DINOs. So...perhaps victory can be declared. Now to get the nutrient down. Nitrates are > 8, phosphates are .11. Alk slipped to 6.5...Calcium was 490-500. PH 8.2 and salinity is 1.025. I am starting to see a lot more green algae growing on the rocks with a red algae. The red is a fibrous mat. I added a dozen or so snail and they are munching on it. Might time to order a bigger cuc from reefcleaners.

Today I added a carpenter flasher wrasse from Sho Tank! Thanks Matt it is a beauty. So far, no issues with the Pintail Flasher. I also added a nice maricultured elegance coral. All the fish seem fine...now if I can start putting in more coral...I will be thrilled.

Now for a couple pictures.

Sorry, not the best pictures. Someday I will learn how to do better ones. The last is of the elegance coral and the new wrasse. Hopefully all goes well with both. The elegance was a beaut I got fro Brian at Reefwise. Nice purple tips and the coral was mounted almost on a pedestal. I may add in some frags from the other tanks again. I think my problem with the last ones was my elevated nutrients and a slip of the alkalinity.

Very nice, she's looking good
Bryan

 

[DanSreef]

Hey guys... So I noticed that some of my updates on my tread here have disappeared... Not sure why. Anyway.... I thought I would add a few updates. First.... An abbreviated update for what was lost.

 

[DanSreef]

So here are a few pictures of the AS-7 Algae Scrubber fro Joey at 302 Aquatics. I got it finally plumbed by my friend Jeff.

This thing is a beast and lights up the basement like a champ. 4 50watt LEDs together with great flow..... Really should be ideal for lowering my nitrates which are >30 and phosphates >.8. Time will tell!

 

[DanSreef]

Here is then the update I meant to make today. After one weeks of operation.... Here is the algae growth:

Growth is starting in the lower flow areas on the mesh. After a few messages with Joey...he says I should try to increase flow and more consistent coverage. I have been tweaking things and basically getting the max amount I can run for the bulkhead without excessive noise and pulsating...

After two weeks of operation, here are a couple of pictures.

Again, algae is growing mainly in areas of lower flow...on the sides... but I am seeing more all over. I am also seeing a lot of algae growth in the bottom of the box. More slimy green and yes even some red algae. I haven't yet done a microscopic survey. Maybe sometime this week.

 

[DanSreef]

Hi everyone! It has been quite a while since I last updated my thread here. That said, I think some of my posts have been lost...not sure why.

Over the last couple of years I have been battling all sort of issues. Then...finally in November the tank turned the corner and has been progressing very nicely. It looks like I have gotten ahead of the Dino outbreak that almost had me quitting the hobby. I have added some new fish and some new corals and all things seem happy, healthy and on track.

I am in search for some nice SPS and LPS to add to the tank. If you are in the NW Burbs and looking to trim some growth out of your tank, drop me a PM. I am looking ideally for fresh cut SPS that are large frag or small colony size. Drop me a PM with what you have and how much.

Now for some pictures...


Sunrise for the tank. About 20 mins of sunlight which the coral and fish love..

FTS....different day but same sunrise effect.

Some corals that came from one of my other tanks and some that were purchased recently.

A picture of some of the fish.

 

[DanSreef]

Here is a pick as I am feeding some nori and some pellets.

For those who asked, I am running 3 Gen 3 radions using their coral labs SPS AB+ settings...at 60%.... at present. My plan is to up intensity to about 70-75% over the next month or so. I had been running the LPS template at 70% but I was feeling the color was not quite right. Also...since my last posts a few months ago... I added a two bulb t-5 for supplemental and fill in for the tank.

I am also really good with hammers....unless they are golden or you have a wall hammer you are looking to get rid of. I would be interested in some of the more exotic color torches and frog spawn.....like gold. My main ask is some recent cut SPS. Thanks for the response this far.

 

[DanSreef]

Did some work on the tank this afternoon. I placed the frags that I got last weekend...and removed the frag rack. Here are a couple of pictures.

Corals shortly after dipping last weekend and on a frag rack.

Picture of the SPS side of the tank. Corals are looking decent and are growing. The new frags are settling in nice.

Crappy picture of my sunburst new. It is looking a lot better over the last week. The colors are really starting to pop.

 

[DanSreef]

Some updated pictures from my 180....


I bought a few frags from the CMAS frag swap. They are on a temporary frag rack on the front glass. This way I can move them up and down to acclimate them. I will move them off this week. All have great PE and color...

View of the left side of the tank. Frags are doing well...and growing...

View of the right side of the tank. The nems are coloring up nice and doing well as are misc frags.

Full tank shot.....

 

[DanSreef]

Just moved a pair of clowns I got as tiny babies....and grew out in my 72 bow front that I am breaking down soon. They went from hosting in a hammer colony.... to the sunburst nem. They immediately settled in nice... and are eating and exploring. At first the nem was a bit pissed. But now it seems really happy as I just fed the tank and watched the clowns bring mysis back to the nem. It should be interesting to see how they grow together in the tank.

 

[DanSreef]

A little concerning... this morning my Naso Tang was looking and acting sick. Real lethargic and just kind of drifting in the back corner of the tank. He didnt take to the morning offering of nori....he usually tears into it as I am putting the clip in the tank. This morning he just was not interested. When the lights came on I checked him out in every way I could without removing it from the tank. He seemed to be breathing heavy and just kind of out of it... almost in a stupor....

The phone rang and the afternoon progressed. About an hour ago...while on a call...I was walking around on the head set and a cloud of crap exploded into the tank. I kind of caught it out of the corner of my eye... As I investigated... I noticed a significant amount of relief emminating from my Naso... I know... I know... sounds like a tall tail... but not. He honestly was like a different fish... I just now fed the tank with some mysis and the pig chowed down as if he was starving.

So other than the humor in the story... has anyone else seen anything like this? I was seriously worried about losing the fish this morning... that is how bad he looked... Now he looks great and rip roaring to go. If I didn't know better....I do... it is as if he ate something he should and tied one on this weekend....and then needed to clear the system and detox after a long weekend partying. I have had him for several months.... and the only big change the last several days has been relocating the clowns to this tank yesterday afternoon from my other tank. No disease or parasites that I am aware of..... in either tank...

Very strange....and yes... kind of funny....