Two tanks, One room

[sachabballi reef]

How's the mantis?..

 

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[trockafella]

He cant type bc it smashed his hand...

[trockafella]

Btw Mantis are awesome. Everytime I go to Robs he is messing with the Mantis. Very cool creature, lots of fun to watch it. However, I don't stick my hand, although Rob tries his best to convince me it doesn't hurt that much..

[YHSublime]

How's the mantis?..

 

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Well! The area in my sump for it is actually bigger than the nano, so I've kept it there for now, until I can figure out my solution. I've been feeding a snail a day, and they are disappearing. I might try a muscle this weekend an see if I can get it to smash.

 

He cant type bc it smashed his hand...

 

Not a chance!

 

Btw Mantis are awesome. Everytime I go to Robs he is messing with the Mantis. Very cool creature, lots of fun to watch it. However, I don't stick my hand, although Rob tries his best to convince me it doesn't hurt that much..

 

I agree. I'm really looking forward to getting this guy into a fuge like tank above my sump. Rob tried to convince me to not only pet it, but to also put it in my display. Maybe when I glue everything down, but I still think a dedicated tank is my best option. Like you, I am fond of my fingers. The first couple of days, it struck the acrylic every time I tried to coax it with my fingers, but now it curiously rolls it's eyes about and sweeps it's legs back and forth, in some way implying that I'm an idiot. I am going to get some marbles tonight and see if I can get it playing, as it has responded well to different colors that I put in front of it, so far green seems to be a winner.

[YHSublime]

My Hoevens Wrasse this morning. This is a new sleeping spot. This guy's such a weirdo, I love it. He's also voted "most likely to convince me he's dead,"

 which has happened more frequently then I'd like to admit, I should know by now.

[trockafella]

Josh (Yauger) had a mantis in a refugium/sump that was very viewable. Not sure if he has pics of when it was set up, but it was cool.. I agree, I wouldn't put it in my display, but a dedicated tank for it would be nice. That tank could also serve as coral observation tank, or whatever makes you feel better about having another tank. Its very strange how they show no interest in fish. My cardinal was staying at robs for a while and would sit right out in front and nothing would ever happen. I watch Robs group of files swim right in front and again nothing.. Very smart little creatures to. I would definitely own one some day,.

[YHSublime]

I agree, I wouldn't put it in my display, but a dedicated tank for it would be nice. That tank could also serve as coral observation tank, or whatever makes you feel better about having another tank.

 

I plan to incorporate the  tank above my sump, and using a separate pump, just use the same water, heater, and skimmer from my DT. No need to worry about a whole new system, and it can be taken offline if needed

 

Speaking of the DT:

Some updates. My tank was found shockingly low in alkalinity and calcium levels, so I'm trying to get those sorted out. I didn't want to hook a doser up to my apex, have it fail or program wrong, and end up dosing my alkalinity up to obscene levels. I've been plugging in my doser and adding baking powder dissolved in a gallon of RO water slowly over the past 2 days. I have been adding calcium carbonate through my ato over the past 3 days. Last night, I noticed great polyp extension, and brighter colors, maybe this is the placebo effect, or wishful thinking. Once I get my levels to 8 dkH and 450 for calcium, I plan on doing a water change, and testing every day for a week to figure out the levels of which I should be dosing at.

 

Nothing exciting, just learning over here.

[YHSublime]

What did you have to give up in return or do you not even know yet...women are sneaky...sometimes we cash the chip in long after you even remember we agreed to something like this

 

well, it wasn't long after that the chips were cashed. First it was the carpets getting steamcleaned on Friday, then it was waking up Saturday to a suprise of "I think we're going to paint today." Of course it wasn't enough that I was willing to help paint because she wanted it, there had to be some buy in. I had to be happy about painting. I had to want to paint, for our home, don't I want to make our space look nice? We all know I do my part by having a nice gigantic reef aquarium in our place, in order to keep things looking nice around here. Next came the selling and buying of mostly new furniture. It was a quickly passed weekend to say the least, but I'm happy with how our place turned out. To be honest, I'm happy we keep my reef here, with minimum complaints.

 

 

I started dosing some calk and alk, and picked up some 2 part from Quantum. I've not dosed yet, but I'm using baking soda in a gallon of RO and some Calcium Carbonate. I checked my alk tonight, and I'm at 120, which is 6.72 dkH. It's come up from the 5.5 it was at, I've not checked calcium. I saw some polyps that I've not noticed before. Fish are back in the DT, so with the feeding and the lights, I've noticed a slight algae bloom on my back glass, the pictures make it look worse than it really is.

 

This is a mr. miyagi that I picked up from Tony (Ridetheducati) that needs to color up a bit better. It's getting there, but it was the only coral out of 3 I got from him that had trouble with the transition

 

 

 

 

 

Once I figure out my consumption, I imagine I'll be on easy street, but It's just a matter of taking a slow time (at my own pace) of working it up to the levels it should be at, and then testing to keep it there.

 

I will be building a cover box for my sump, but worry about the space for Rupert, I'm not sure if I can handle an additional tank, or take the time to do the work on it that I would really like. I am contemplating finding him a home better than my sump space. Stay tuned, other than that, just letting things grow!

[Jason Rhoads]

Question: how did you paint behind your 150? It looks like you got pretty far behind it.

 

Also, your space looks good. I think the two of you made the right call on color. 

Edited December 18, 2013 by Jason Rhoads

[sachabballi reef]

THAT ROOM LOOKS FANTASTIC!!!!  Great job my friend...

the myiagi is a difficult coral and is really sensitive...so I am not surprised, but it will take a while and settle in once you dial in your params and get completely stable..its a slower grower...but I have complete faith that you of all people can bring it back and succeed with it...

[YHSublime]

Question: how did you paint behind your 150? It looks like you got pretty far behind it.

 

 

Answer: Very carefully. I told Andrea she wasn't allowed to touch that wall, or the section by the window and the sump. I have a roller that attaches to an extension pole, and we only did about halfway down the back of the tank. I prepped the paint and rollers in advance, removed the lights, hood, and wires, and covered the sump and tank with trash bags and painters tape. It was covered for about 45 minutes with all the pumps running.

 

 

Also, your space looks good. I think the two of you made the right call on color. 

 

Thanks man. I actually had a few opinions about the color, and we both helped reign in some wild choices on either end. I've figured at this stage we've lost our deposit, so she agreed we would not paint when we moved out.

 

 

THAT ROOM LOOKS FANTASTIC!!!!  Great job my friend...

the myiagi is a difficult coral and is really sensitive...so I am not surprised, but it will take a while and settle in once you dial in your params and get completely stable..its a slower grower...but I have complete faith that you of all people can bring it back and succeed with it...

 

Thanks, Jenn! It was a combined effort, that wouldn't have happened without the Mrs. pushing for a change, although I'm really excited with how it turned out.

 

As for the Myiagi, it's colored up considerably over the past week (those pics are from Sunday I think,) no doubt in my mind it will start to do better. I've got my skimmer dialed in right where I want it, and will soon have a dosing regime that will hopefully keep me on par. I glanced this evening, and a lot of my SPS have almost 3/4" growth over the past month and a half, some more, so I am eager to see what happens when things get on track.

 

If anybody is looking for a good read and some inspiration, this guy on R2R is living the dream for all of us.

[Sharkey18]

Wow. That doesn't even look like the same place! 

[YHSublime]

Wow. That doesn't even look like the same place! 

 

Home sweet home. When are you coming by!? I wont stop bothering you until you do!

[smallreef]

Looks very good...nice color choices....did you see my kitchen/dining room? Lol very similar so I love it!

and as far as losing your deposit...I'd atleast kilz it when you move out or they will charge you to prime and paint the walls, plus $14 an hour to do it...probably a bit more than you expect....we used to charge people up to $1000 to paint a 1 br.......

Just sayin......and if its primed they usually won't charge you to paint....

[howaboutme]

Looks good! Man, that room looks huge! hehe. Wide angle lens?

 

I read through that R2R's thread a while back, ridiculously awesome.

[monkiboy]

awesome update, isaac. room and photos of tank look great, sir!

[YHSublime]

Looks very good...nice color choices....did you see my kitchen/dining room? Lol very similar so I love it!

and as far as losing your deposit...I'd atleast kilz it when you move out or they will charge you to prime and paint the walls, plus $14 an hour to do it...probably a bit more than you expect....we used to charge people up to $1000 to paint a 1 br.......

Just sayin......and if its primed they usually won't charge you to paint....

 

I did not see your kitchen/dining room, but I'm glad we get your vote of confidence! As for charging for the painting when we move out, I guess we will cross that bridge when we come to it. Part of my compromise was not having to paint back, as the time we were planning on being here doesn't make sense. Maybe now we will just stay here forever and I can really start focusing on growing the tank out the way I would in a permanant home

 

Looks good! Man, that room looks huge! hehe. Wide angle lens?

 

I read through that R2R's thread a while back, ridiculously awesome.

 

No wide angle lense or tricks here! It is a lot bigger with the changes. If I had my way, we'd get rid of the coffee table, but then what would I frag on?!

 

awesome update, isaac. room and photos of tank look great, sir!

 

Thanks! I'll update with some tank photos soon, nothing really to add. I should just do an update in 3 months when everything has grown some and I really have something to write home about!

[sachabballi reef]

As a landlord if the color is neutral Or modern enough i don't ding them at all....that color doesn't look outrageous so I'm betting you don't lose a thing

 

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[YHSublime]

As of tonight, here are my params:

 

Ph: 8.2

Ammonia: 0

Nitrite: 0

Nitrate: 5.0 (but really closer to undetectable, this suprised me big time, I'm feeding heavy, guess that skimmer is working...)

Calcium: 400

Alk: 130 (7.28 dkH)

Phosphates: 0-.25

 

Nearly there, I imagine tomorrow I'll have my alkalinity at 8, and then just testing daily to see my consumption. Also added 2 more capfulls of the calcium carbonate, which is hard to figure out insturctions, as it doesn't say how much = ppm, just to add a cap per 50 gallons.

[YHSublime]

Also, I'm not sure if my mantis has been eating. It's been concerning, but upon reading a bit more, I've discovered that the PM will conserve energy effectivly, and sometimes wait for an easy meal. This mantis has been living off snails and hermits, which I keep throwing into the sump, right in front of it, but I've not heard smashing, or seen any shell remains. As a matter of fact, I'm convinced I have a lazy one. Or a smart one. I threw a muscle in the other day, and it seems to be living in my sump. No smashing attempt has been made, and since his arrival, I'm not sure if Rupert has eaten.

 

I picked up some wild caught shrimp. Rinsed in RO, and placed it in the tank. It took about 2 min. until it was acknowledged. However, it was the muscle that got first glance. Two strikes and the shell wasn't cracked, Rupert picked up a whole shrimp and began to devour. Easy meal wins I guess. I'm just glad to know it's had a meal.

 

I also picked up a wild caught live muscle and clam. Has anybody else fed their fish live muscles or clams? Is it bad practice, or just expensive which is why it's not done?

[YHSublime]

Got some algae building up on the back wall. Nothing out of control, just what would be on my front glass if i didn't clean it. Hoping my turbos will take care of it slowly but surely. Wondering if I didn't offer nori for the tang if that would do the trick?

 

Few snaps from tonight.

 

 

 

 

[sachabballi reef]

man you have a lot of corals

[Tracy G]

Looking good!

 

 

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[Sharkey18]

Still jealous…. 

[YHSublime]

man you have a lot of corals

 

Yep. All the better to fill out the tank! Come visit some time!

 

Looking good!

 

Thanks man, getting there!