Living Room Nano Peninsula

[Jeremy]

Looking great! 

[YHSublime]

14 hours ago, Jeremy said:

Looking great! 

 

Thanks! Somewhere along the past 3 months, maybe more, my alkalinity wasn't keeping up. I've since doubled, but the math ain't mathing. I've started manually topping off every morning until I get back to target numbers (doing this slowly) I imagine it will take about 5 days at 45ml manually and another 180ml over 24 hours. 

 

In order to maintain I expect I'll be at 200ml daily of ESV Bionic. It feels like it might be a good time to finally hook up the neptune DOS and retire the bubble magus.  

[YHSublime]

Well, we're coming up on the 7th year of "this tank" being wet. I moved everything from the 22 nano into an 80 gallon deep blue, most of the coral and fish are the same, including the platinum clowns. I took most of September to get my alkalinity right, and for the past 4 days we've been hitting consistent numbers. I'll let this be a lesson in a) regular maintenance. I had to replace a few doser heads that I thought were OK b) at least keeping baseline numbers. 

 

I did lose a small maxima clam that I've had for almost half a decade, that was my first indication to double check alkalinity and calcium, would have been nicer if it never got to that point, but is what it is. 

 

Anyways, here's some photos for tax:

 

[YHSublime]

Every time I clean this tank up, I'm reminded of two things. 

1. Coral grows really fast. Especially when it's already large and has some stride. As soon as I scrape the glass and can see through it again, it feels like all the coral has just pressed up against the glass, or stung a new neighbor to death. 

 

2. That this tank is really pretty, and I should keep it "show worthy" consistently, not just when I feel like it. 

 

I found a bunch of algae growing in my overflow, and pulled it all out and cleaned everything up. My water level dropped about 1", and I was able to remove 4 gallons of water without adding anything back to level the ATO sensor and sump volume. What I found was that 3 of my acros were now out of the water. Tips died off overnight, but here's a quick youtube video I posted because I thought it was cool. 

 

 

[gastone]

Beautiful tank, Isaac.

[YHSublime]

10 minutes ago, gastone said:

Beautiful tank, Isaac.

thanks!

[YHSublime]

Well after a visit from @gastone, I decided I needed to get things cleaned up a bit. So I tried to give him as much coral as I could, and it still didn't look like I had done a single thing to the tank. 

 

I had a couple of folks grab some corals as well, and I moved a big rock out of the way that was covered in GSP. The fish are confused, but also seem pleased to have some more room to rip around. I'm still going, but I couldn't even dent without starting to take small bites. I've pulled the Haddoni back, and it doesn't seem to mind, so that's great. 

 

I also found a chalice that I have NO idea where it came from under the back rocks. It's like 5" and I don't know how it was getting any light. It looks like a green lantern chalice, but it might just be a light starved Hollywood chalice. Either way, it looks great! 

 

This is the only decent picture I have while I was trying to snap photos to clear some more corals out the door. 

 

[Jeremy]

Looking good. Def thinking about taking some of the corals off your hands lol 

[YHSublime]

23 minutes ago, Jeremy said:

Looking good. Def thinking about taking some of the corals off your hands lol 

thanks, Jeremy! already cleaned out from my first round, there will be more!

[gastone]

Looks awesome, Issac!

[YHSublime]

Well, when I'm hot, I'm hot. And when I'm cold, I'm cold. I've been putting a ton of energy the past few weeks into getting the tank cleared up now that I've got my numbers rock solid. The biggest feat was getting the larger frag rack out, along with selling a few colonies of things that I adored, but simply didn't have the space for. The few fishes I have are enjoying the extra space, and it looks like the glass bottom is seeing a diatom bloom with the shuffling/removing of many a long sitting rock. There are also parts of the glass bottom that are getting light for maybe the first time since this tank has been up and running. 

 

Something that I rarely talk about that I'm very proud of, is aquascaping for 4 views in a peninsula. The front, the back, the point, and the top. I normally post photos from the end (tip) because that's where my office chair is, but there is a couch along the "back" and the room is framed when you walk in by the "front." Every viewing angle is intentionally curated, and there is something different to see from every side. 

 

I took these photos when my lights had only been on for about an hour, and I had done quite a bit of rearranging, so everything isn't at it's peak splendor and open wide, but it still looks pretty darn good if you ask me. I also didn't want to swap lenses, so these sub par shots will have to do!

 

 

 

I'm least proud of this one (view from the couch) but it gives a rough idea of what's happening on the side I rarely show because of such a shallow depth of field. 

 

[YHSublime]

Here’s your annual reminder to clean your pumps and stuff.

 

i had snails in the impeller, and jelly growing thick in the body. Running like a champ and quiet again.

 

 

[YHSublime]

Well, I continued to chop up some colonies to open up the tank a bit more. With all of the corals leaving, my alk went from a rock steady 9dKH all the way up to 11dKH, but I believe I noticed it just in time. 

 

I also added a small purple tang from @monstamich I wanted something that was going to nibble on some recent algae packages I was putting into my DT from the frag tank, start cleaning up some rocks and what not. Turns out this thing is a real a-hole, but it's doing the job, and gets along great with my lemon and flame angels. I just don't think I'll be adding any fish to the tank after this. 

 

I also added 3 SPS chunks from @wildcrazyjoker81

Bubble Bath Unicorn (I've only known this piece from Battle Corals, so I'm presuming as much)

Pink Stardust (Tidal Gardens)

Orange Creamsicle (TGC)

 

While cleaning up my tank I found a Cherry Bomb frag, and accidently pulled out my Oregon Tort colony which is back on the frag rack. I've got a few green pieces I need to move or sell, and then I'll plant everything down for some colors that aren't just blue and green. 

 

Lights are off, I'll get some photos up before the end of the year, if this isn't the echo chamber it seems to be...

[Pedro]

Looking forward to seeing the pictures. I too picked up an aggressive purple tang, thankfully he went in with the other inhabitants and they are getting along. Was disappointed that all the fish I had ordered did not come in at the same time from ny aquatics, they mostly came in healthy... Two fish misting from the order altogether though. 

 

Glad to hear that you are tinkering with the tank again and posting!

[YHSublime]

On 12/28/2024 at 8:16 AM, Pedro said:

Looking forward to seeing the pictures. I too picked up an aggressive purple tang, thankfully he went in with the other inhabitants and they are getting along. Was disappointed that all the fish I had ordered did not come in at the same time from ny aquatics, they mostly came in healthy... Two fish misting from the order altogether though. 

 

Glad to hear that you are tinkering with the tank again and posting!

 

Yeah, seems like the purple tangs have something to prove! I also wish everything came in at once for you, that can be a real bummer, but I've heard about it happening more frequently than not. 

 

Tinkering with the tank became a necessity, I was already losing a ton of coral to warfare, and it made sense to start getting after it during the slow times of the holidays. I'm not done yet, but really happy with how it's shaping up again. It's crazy how slowly, but so fast, everything happens! 

 

No FTS, but couple of shots to close out the year:

 

 

 

 

 

[Pedro]

That looks awesome!

[gastone]

Stunning, Isaac!

[monstamich]

Sorry it turned it to be such a jerk.  Couldn’t tell in my tank because my gold lined rabbit and yellow tang kept both of the small purples in check.  

[YHSublime]

On 12/31/2024 at 6:15 PM, Pedro said:

That looks awesome!

 

Thanks! Don't forget I've got a chunky Bill Murray for you!

 

On 12/31/2024 at 7:50 PM, gastone said:

Stunning, Isaac!

 

Thank you! Still working on it!

 

55 minutes ago, monstamich said:

Sorry it turned it to be such a jerk.  Couldn’t tell in my tank because my gold lined rabbit and yellow tang kept both of the small purples in check.  

 

How could you have known, IME, every purple tang has been a jerk, luckily the angels are also jerk'ish, so they all seem to get along. 

[YHSublime]

Not a huge update, but not a small one either. I've finally chopped back the dragon soul colony, just haven't found the time to hit the pink tip torches yet. I've taken the past 2 months to really clean things up, and trim back, and I'm almost there. 

 

We're toying around with the idea of converting my office into a guest room, or at the very least moving a bed into the room. It's doable, but the room configuration would mean that a peninsula tank wouldn't work.

 

I've gotten the green light to setup a tank in the living room, which is where the majority of our time as a unit is spent, and I do have a perfect space in my head for where a tank could/would go. 

 

If I did move in this direction, I'm looking at a few different tanks:

Waterbox AIO 50.3

Waterbox Marine X90.3

IM SR 60

Red Sea Reefer G2 250 (55 gallon)

 

I'm also a little torn, because most of these are AIO, or already plug and play if a sump is included, and I've spent most of my reefing tenure building out the aquarium the way I want it. I'm mostly interested in these brands or tanks because of their size, and the stand options. 

 

Ideally, I'd like to just keep the tank I have, because that's already free 99, and explore creative options to fit it in the office with a queen size bed. I just don't think there is a way without ruining the organic flow of the room, or having everything to clunky or cluttered. 

 

[Pedro]

The tank looks awesome. It's a shame to lose the office, but I guess you need a place for others to stay and visit. I'm sure what ever you go with it's going to look amazing.

[YHSublime]

4 hours ago, Pedro said:

The tank looks awesome. It's a shame to lose the office, but I guess you need a place for others to stay and visit. I'm sure what ever you go with it's going to look amazing.

it’s not a need, but it would make better sense.

[WheresTheReef]

Looking good!

[YHSublime]

4 minutes ago, WheresTheReef said:

Looking good!

 

Thanks! I grew that torch colony out from two heads I bought from you, IIRC. The tank really is a vibe atm, I've been trying to enjoy it while and when I can! 

[WheresTheReef]

Yea I remember. My wife nicknamed it Tina (Turner) when I had it. Looking at your tank it definitely still fits. I tried to quit the hobby. Lasted 10mo lol. I bought a used SCA 120 from another member. I am just waiting for good weather to build a stand. My “workshop” is my backyard. Collecting equipment atm. It will be a slow process.