YHSublime January 6, 2020 Share January 6, 2020 Scape looks good. Nice slow and steady progress! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VA Reefdog January 6, 2020 Author Share January 6, 2020 So I have 2 small perc clowns, a yellow watchman goby and orange spot goby in QT for 30 days. They just finished copper tx and 2 doses of prazipro. I plan on adding them later this week. The water in both display tank and QT tank are matched for parameters. The display tank has cycled rock (about 100 pound total) and box of MarinePur Ceramic Biomedia spheres in the sump-- all of which cycled in rubbermaid tubs with heaters/pump and added Dr. Tims about 2 months ago. I originally used pure ammonia for the cycling and testing (made sure the tubs could process 2-4 ppm in 24 hour) and then have been ghost feeding the tubs while I got the main tank ready. I am trying to do this tank right. My last tank had ich introduced and the fish that I had lived with rare outbreaks but I occasionally lost new additions. This time-- I am QT'ing everything and my plan is to medicate with copper/prazipro for all new fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VA Reefdog January 27, 2020 Author Share January 27, 2020 Fish Tank Updates— IMG_8117 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr More organization including the 5 gallon topoff. IMG_8148 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Have pair of clowns and a yellow watchman goby and orange spot goby in display. IMG_8133 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Had to move the pair of purple firefish out of QT early because the midas blenny was not behaving well in QT. I know the last post was about proper QT. But midas was terrorizing the firefish to the point I couldn’t get them to eat. So after 2 weeks of QT (instead of 4) and copper treatment- they happily joined the display tank. They are doing well so far. IMG_8136 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr The midas blenny and McCoskers will stay in another 2 weeks of QT. IMG_8158 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr IMG_8169 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Added a clean up crew including a 2 small conches and a skunk cleaner. IMG_8118 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr And added a few corals. IMG_8141 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr I forgot that I added the T5s to my LED’s and I burnt the margin of my monti cap even though they started on sandbed. I had my LED’s set at 50% intensity for both blues and white channel – which is what I had them set up on my old tank. But I forgot that I had slowly brought them up to 50% and no T5s. Luckily I caught it early enough and cut T5 to 4 hours and intensity to 20%. Got the skimmer dialed in and refugium is growing chaeto/ulva and red gracilia well with that crazy fuge light. IMG_8149 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr IMG_8151 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr IMG_8155 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr That’s all I have time for updates for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianisoutside January 28, 2020 Share January 28, 2020 What light are you using on the refugium?Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rioreef January 28, 2020 Share January 28, 2020 I have my sump (29g tall) set up very similar except I have no chamber 1 as you call it. Fuge is last section sourced by a T off the return with the black acrylic too. Been running that way since 2005. Until last year I always battled a slime type algae growing on top of chaeto. I attributed it to not enough flow through the fuge. If I increase flow, the overflow of that chamber into the return pump area caused too many bubbles. I tried putting in a powerhead, but the chaeto always clogged it within a day or so. Then I came across plastic mesh screen #7 size. I made a cylinder of it securing it using zip ties, then cut a disk of this material for the bottom and secured with the ties also. Now I had a cylinder just short of 17 in tall x 3 in dia and slid it down into the corner of the fuge, which is about 17 in deep. Put my powerhead (185gph) in the bottom of it and have it pushing the water straight up. The mesh is tight enough to keep the chaeto out, but the water is drawn from the bottom and inward up along the side of the cylinder. I now have great circulation (bottom to top) with gentle up-welling at the surface. Since installing, the slime is gone and chaeto is super clean now and growing fantastic. Fuge has a Kessil H80 over it with the spectrum set to the 51% at 100% intensity set by my Apex. Just something to consider if you have issues with undesirable algae in your fuge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VA Reefdog January 28, 2020 Author Share January 28, 2020 Not having a problem with nuisance algae-- I am happy to be growing chaeto and other macros like weeds in my fuge. I added red gracilia and ulva as a food source for when I get a tang. I also read somewhere- and this may be complete nonsense- that different macroalgae utilize nutrients differently. Chaeto is used most because it is the most consistent and fastest grower/exporter of nitrogen/nitrate and phosphates. But having some that grow slower along with the chaeto allows for more consistent nutrient export. It is probably academic and not really significant in a reef tank. I do like the idea of having balanced approach if possible and I like having fresh algae to feed fish. I used to feed my tomini tang the ulva that I grew in my fuge in my 75 gallon tank so I thought I would do the same here (down the road when I get a tang). For the fuge light-- it is a beast-in a small package-- 300 watt of red/blue light LED. I got from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Rolledro-Lights-Indoor-Spectrum-Hydroponics/dp/B00RWYCRB2/ref=sr_1_14?keywords=roleadro+led+grow+light&qid=1580243789&sr=8-14 Roledro LED Grow Lights, 300W UFO LED Grow Light for Indoor Plants, Red Blue Spectrum Grow Lamp for Hydroponics, Veg and Flower by Roleadro- for $46. Again-- going with something I had read a while back-- if you want your fuge to outcompete your display tank and grow algae better than your display-- you should have a light that competes with the display lights so I figured bigger/stronger is better and so far, my chaeto is growing like a weed. Of course-- it has only been a month so can't say anything for sure. Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VA Reefdog March 16, 2020 Author Share March 16, 2020 Some updates on the tank. Coming together well. FTS IMG_8282 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Have 2 clowns, 2 purple firefish, a midas blenny, a yellow-watchman goby and orange spot goby. I did add a candy cane pistol shrimp to pair with one of the gobies but I haven’t seen him since I added him. I hope he is still alive but it has been 3 weeks and no sign. I did get 4 small rock flower anemones. I have never had anemones before—so I am super excited! They are tiny now- I hope down the road to have them spawn. IMG_8272 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr And many frags to grow out- lots of different brains and acans, a few hammers and some sticks. IMG_8269 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr IMG_8257 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr IMG_8260 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr I had no idea how much I would have to top-off each week so I just switched from the 5 gallon to a 14 gallon trash can which should last about 8-10 days. IMG_8277 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Thanks for looking. Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max! March 16, 2020 Share March 16, 2020 Looks awesome dude. I admire your patience Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VA Reefdog March 17, 2020 Author Share March 17, 2020 Thanks-- I am trying to be good and patient. It does not come easy to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue80 April 11, 2020 Share April 11, 2020 Excellent job! Will definitely be borrowing some of your methods once I get mine up and running again.Did you have issues using the grinder on the dry rock? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VA Reefdog June 16, 2020 Author Share June 16, 2020 Blue80- just saw your question-- sorry this is horribly out-of-date to respond but the grinder worked great on the dry rock. Update on my 120 gallon I had a hair algae problem in March into April that adjusting my feedings/skimmer and cleaning the filter cups more frequently has taken care of. I didn't take many pics during that time. First some progress pics—May 3rd Starting with left side of tank and progressing across to right. IMG_8348 May 3 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr IMG_8353 May 3 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr IMG_8356 May 3 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr IMG_8357 May 3 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr IMG_8363 May 3 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Thanks for looking- June update to follow. Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VA Reefdog June 16, 2020 Author Share June 16, 2020 And now updated to June 14 FTS IMG_8444 June 14 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Current fish includes: a pair of perc clowns, yellow watchman goby that is keeping the grey with blue-spot coloring rather than turning yellow, orange spot goby, purple firefish, midas blenny, blue-green chromis, royal gramma, yellow-eyed Kole Tang, red headed solon fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus solorensis), yellowfin flasher wrasse (Parachelinus flavaianalis) and a green mandarin dragonet. So far they are all co-existing very well. I plan to add 2 more fairy wrasses (lubbocks/tricolor and exquisite) and that will be it. IMG_8445 June 14 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr IMG_8446 June 14 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr IMG_8448 June 14 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr IMG_8455 June 14 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr IMG_8463 June 14 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr I have been adding coral every few weeks and now am watching the frags slowly grow. So far things are growing in nicely. My lighting may be a bit strong—I am finding the corals will originally loose some color before gradually coloring back up even when I start them on a frag rack near the sand and then bring it up slowly. Thanks to multiple people in this group and Richmond reef club I have been able to fill out the tank with most everything I have wanted to put in a mixed reef. I am finding I have to trim the pink gorgonian in the back because it seems to be bothering the acros it brushes against. Does any one else have that problem or is it likely something else that is causing the problem? The 2 acros up top that it brushes have poor polyp extension and look washed out/stressed. Thanks for looking. Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeDaddy July 24, 2020 Share July 24, 2020 Nice! I’m about to get my Red Sea Max 250 going after 10 years. This is good inspiration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VA Reefdog July 27, 2020 Author Share July 27, 2020 Thanks JoeDaddy. I will try to post some new pics with some coral growth and new frags. The SPS has finally fully encrusted the base in on most of the frags and looks ready to take off. I did have to evict several of my hermits and my cleaner shrimp. Since the hair algae outbreak is gone-- I had too much cleanup crew with not enough to eat- so they have picking at my acans. Hopefully pics will be within the next few days. Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DFR September 7, 2020 Share September 7, 2020 Looking nice, loving the scape! This might be obvious, but why did you that piece of PVC in your ATO container? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VA Reefdog September 7, 2020 Author Share September 7, 2020 (edited) Thanks-- The scape is working out great-- lots of holes for every one to swim through and room for coral to grow out. DFR- in answer to your question- The ATO uses a Toms Aqualifter pump that has soft silicone tubing -- so it likes to coil and roll towards the top of the ATO container. The PVC piece has the soft tubing zip-tied to it to keep it at the bottom of the container so it doesn't coil and the draw air. Rigid tubing would have been better but this was a quick fix with left-over materials. Edited September 7, 2020 by VA Reefdog refer to comment above Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VA Reefdog September 7, 2020 Author Share September 7, 2020 Finally an update with some progress pictures. Things are growing in well. Slow and steady. Algae is really under control at this point. Getting ready to try and add a long-nose hawk and a cardinal to the mix after they get done QT. Here is FTS from August 2020 IMG_8940 Aug 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Here is a close up of the left side island IMG_8942 Aug 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Here is the right side island IMG_8944 Aug 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr And here are a few close-up of some inhabitants. Long-tentacle toadstool close-up with the monti spongodes on the left and birdsnest in the back-ground. IMG_8922 Aug 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr This is the Yellow-eye Kole that did great work in the hair algae. But now that is gone—I think he may be nipping at stuff. Lots of nori in the meantime. IMG_8703 August2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Just some of the hammers on the bottom left of the tank. Love the colors on close-ups. IMG_8722 Aug 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr This is pink stylo with the jack-o-lantern lepto to the left and you can make out the green slimer and Oregon Tort behind growing out behind it. IMG_8781 Aug 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr And I finally have a mandarin—happy and healthy. Always wanted one but this is the first for me. IMG_8977 Aug 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr I will leave it at that for now. Still trying to get better at the close-up shots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VA Reefdog December 16, 2020 Author Share December 16, 2020 Update for tank December 2020 – Just shy of one year mark Here is a new FT shot: IMG_9027 Dec 11 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Livestock – fully stocked for fish now—probably overstocked. This is the most I have ever had. Just added the last fish from QT—a yellow tang. The long-nosed hawk and cardinal and tricolor wrasse from the last round of QT are all doing great. So far everyone is getting along well great. I have added a ton of corals over the last several months and everything is growing in nicely. Here is some general pictures to show growth. IMG_9028 Dec 11 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Left island of the tank IMG_9003 Dec 11 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Left side view of tank IMG_9032 Dec 11 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Right island of the tank IMG_9037 Dec 11 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Right side view of the tank IMG_8991 Dec 11 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr IMG_8999 Dec 11 2020 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr My little helper- 7 month old cat named Birch. That is it for now. Enjoy the snow and Happy Holidays! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YHSublime December 16, 2020 Share December 16, 2020 Looking great! The tank has really come into itself. I like the rockwork, and can already imagine what it'll look like once all that acro grows off it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubberFrog January 13, 2021 Share January 13, 2021 It has really grown in nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VA Reefdog January 20, 2021 Author Share January 20, 2021 Incredibly happy news!!!! Last February- I got a candy-cane pistol shrimp to bond with one of my gobies. After acclimating it and adding to the display-it disappeared into the rock-work and I never saw it since that day. I have heard what I assumed was the pop/snap from its claws a few times. My orange spot goby and spotted watchman goby both have their spots in the rockwork that hasn’t changed in months. THEN SUDDENLY last week, the orange spot goby moved to a new spot in the front of the tank and is now sharing a burrow with …. you guessed it….. the pistol shrimp. And the shrimp is comfortable enough to be out and about regularly now. IMG_9101 Jan 10 2021 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr IMG_9106 Jan 10 2021 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr I know they are not very good pics- but you get the idea. I love the way the goby alerts the shrimp if there is too much activity with a flick of its tail that sends the shrimp back into their hole. And for some reason—the spotted watchman is now hanging around the burrow and the 2 gobies seem to be co-existing very happily in the same area. Before the 2 were much more territorial and wouldn’t let the other near their spots. IMG_9108 Jan 10 2021 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr I have always thought the goby/pistol shrimp symbiosis is one of the coolest interactions in a reef tank. Just wanted to share. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VA Reefdog January 22, 2021 Author Share January 22, 2021 Other updates- Christmas gift from the family was 2 aquarock frag magnetic frag rocks. I like being able to use the back wall as an option for growing more corals and hate the frag rack I have in the tank. Here is a pic showing the 2 rocks with the space invader pectinia frag I got last month. IMG_9123 Jan 15 2021 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Also I got some new corals from the family for Christmas. I have wanted to try an elegance coral for a long time but was worried about EGS. Aqua SD had these aquacultured ones for sale and then had an even bigger sale and so here we are. So far it looks happy and healthy. IMG_9125 Jan 15 2021 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr I also wanted more movement in the tank and so added some tank raised alveopora (also from ASD). Nice mix- one has pink petals and blue center, the next is bluish/green and the last is green with white center. Here are some pics- IMG_9115 Jan 15 2021 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr IMG_9119 Jan 15 2021 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Thanks for looking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VA Reefdog August 30, 2021 Author Share August 30, 2021 Just a long overdue update. The tank is coasting in a grow out phase. I had a problem with bubble algae last winter. I made the mistake of using Vibrant- which did work against the bubble algae. But it also wiped out my nutrient levels. I had a lot of faded/bleached corals with some recession at the base of my acros and montis. I did lose an elegance coral but most all the rest pulled through and is now colored back up and growing. I read the forums and thought I could make it work. Nope. So a couple of full tank shots. IMG_9680 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr IMG_9679 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Right side 65180110194__E4D3EC68-CA33-4803-A7F5-2DA4753D7D05 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Left side 65180108577__134E98B9-26BF-451D-B58C-78D4D640766E by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Some new inverts Got a Fromia starfish, feather duster and clam that have been doing very well for about 6 months. IMG_9745 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr ORA Derasa clam—that has grown about ½ inch in last few months next to a featherduster. Always loved a diverse mixed reef tank and always wanted to try a clam. And conch I have had for about year photobombing/checking out clam. 65180111966__BC1625DC-7547-4E08-9337-F78BFEDAAEA1 by Greg Lorenz, on Flickr Thanks for looking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roni August 30, 2021 Share August 30, 2021 Tank is looking great! Very nicely grown in! Bummer about the vibrant and losing the elegance. I know some people have good success with it but I also had problems when I used it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YHSublime August 30, 2021 Share August 30, 2021 Tank is looking really nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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