120 Reef Office Build (75 upgrade)

[Bax]

So, I have red bugs, had em for a while now and I've been keeping them in check with Interceptor dips of the infected individuals. But, good news/bad news, most of my corals are attached now. Without the dips tier population has recently swelled. So I have been preparing to treat the whole tank, making SW, removing hermits, but there is one fire shrimp in there I just can't catch. So, I set my ever trusty crab trap. I caught Boris, the meanest gorilla crab to ever step claw in the four walls of any of my tanks with this trap! All I caught so far was my Vor Tech pump, that was ugly!.

Anyway, shrimp is still in there, still need to treat the tank with Interceptor, and In unwinding the fishing line from my Vor Tech, I notices this pitting in my magnet .... that can't be good!

That's got to cause an imbalance in the set up, I'll have to touch bases with Ecotech and see what they say.

 

[PaPa_Johnny]

Doesn't look good, at least the wet end is not that expensive. Maybe you can send that in for repair. Have you tried a bated 2 liter bottle? Might get him in at night, make an inverted V to keep it in.

 

[Bax]

PapaJ

My crab trap is "fool proof" ... NOT!

The fire shrimp perches on it and plays with the fishing line! I am concerned that the shrimp's cautious nature will not let it enter the trap during the hours I am available to catch it. Remember, this is an office tank, so I set the trap in the evening when leave and attempt capture first thing in the morning, it's not like at home where I might check it often after lights out.

 

[Bax]

The little orchid dottyback is doing well. Every one is so curious about the "boy in the bubble"

I do mean little too, I was a bit surprised as to how small the guy is. He may spend a while in his container so I can fatten him up real good. This visual acclimation period is critical to a successful effort at cohabitation of two dottybacks in the same display so I take my time.

The established female has really blossomed recently and is becoming a physically mature adult herself. The presence of the little OD has brought her out of her shyness quite a bit. This female is much calmer than my first. She spends a lot of time checking out the little OD. That's a good thing, she needs to get used to seeing him so she doesn't drive him off her reef once he's released.

 

[Bax]

Just a few pics

My pokerstar starting to grow like crazy!

A cap under actinic

and an a. Valida

 

[Dudester]

Beautiful pics Bax, the corals look great and your photography skills are really improving. It's nice to see some pics without coralline on the glass .

 

[Reeftanks6]

Very nice looking pictuers.

 

[Bax]

Dude

It's pretty hard to get a good pic without coraline


Reeftanks6

Thanks, I have to admit, it takes a lot of shots to get some that I like, percentage-wise, I am not that good at it really!

 

[Reeftanks6]

LOL yea it takes me awhile as well. What kind of camera are you using? I forget the one i am using but i will post it later.

 

[Bax]

It's a Kodak DX6490 ... I think, nothing new or high tech

 

[Reeftanks6]

I use a Konica Minolta DiAMGE Z3. Not totally sure how to get the full use out of this camera yet.

 

[Bax]

Well the game is afoot! ... or afin?

I've released the little male and I am very pleased at the large female's immediate willingness to accept the new addition.

She is forceful in her efforts, but not overly belligerent

She repeatedly draws him to her burrow but he won't enter

I am concerned the male is too immature to accept her offers. If he is, she may eventually see the male as an interloper on her territory.

Only time will tell :rolleye1:

 

[The Reefer91]

sweet corals and cool fish. weird about the male not wanting to enter

 

[Bax]

He's really small, I think he just needs some time to figure out he's got a good thing

 

[Doc_B]

Bax,

Have you had any trouble with red slime or any thing like that? I see you are running a UV unit on your tank. does it help?

 

[Bax]

Doc B

I get small patches on the sand at times, especially when I am behind on maintenance.

I personally like using UV I think it helps keep the water clear. I use ozone, GFO, and carbon too.

 

[Bax]

I posted this in the Reef Fish forum already, but wanted to record it here as well.

Here is a video I took moments after releasing the little male OD



He is a bit too young to accept her advances but it won't be long before he gets the hint

 

[Bax]

I re-meshed my Sicci pump on my ASM G4x. The mesh was in fair shape. The venturi on the other hand, was very clogged and was likely the reason my skimming has dropped off recently.

It's running well now!

 

[Bax]

I checked back through the thread and the original mesh was fitted back in August, so I got over six months before remeshing. And, the mesh was still working, it was the venturi that was clogged that was reducing my skimming.

The original Sedra that came with the G4x is still using the original mesh mod as well. I use it in my SW mix for mixing, aeration, and heating SW during make up.

 

[Bax]

So, I am hosting our local club meeting of NJRC this weekend. And now, of all times, and on the heels of my skimming issue, my pH is dropping. Lately I've seen a little STN and I am just so freak'n busy at work! Grrrr!

So, jumped into it all on Saturday...

Issue 1) My CO2 bottle had run out so I put my spare on, but I can't get the regulator to flow right...still!

Issue 2) So I check my Kalk mixer, mix pump is dead, pulled it apart and the impeller blades are gone...yup gone.

New side issue, pulled a MJ out of my QT to replace the Kalk mix pump. It was my last MJ. So I moved the Tunze 6025 from the fuge to the QT and dug a 6060 out of storage for the fuge. Well that puppy blew all my frags right off the frag rack .. Grrrrr! It is always something!

Anyway, in just over two days of running Kalk, even with my Ca regulator still giving me fits, my corals all look better.

Whew!