140 Gallon DSA Build

[T Diddy]

Water Parameters

Water Parameters

...tested the water today for the first time in a while. salt~1.026, NH3,NO2,NO3,PO4~undetectable, KH~7.5, Ca~440. My Mg test kit however, has never given me an accurate test (I don't think). I'm using the RedSea MG test kit. According to the titration chart, the reagent C should show Mg at 1260 when using 0.64mL. I have never reached the final end color (blue) when testing my Mg using this kit. The entire 1mL of reagent C still is not enough to change the solution to the final blue end color. Is it possible that my Mg is really as high as 2000+ppm as the kit suggests? I've never dosed Mg, and have rarely tested for it because of the squirrely results I get from the kit.

 

[T Diddy]

...added this Derasa clam today. It is not a good shot. The clam is much prettier in person

 

[T Diddy]

...a hermit checking out the new clam:

...the frogspawn branch that fell is back in place:

I can never get a good pic of this cup coral:

I'm thinking of picking up a really nice heliofungia tomorrow...It is HUGE

 

[T Diddy]

New addition

New addition

After looking at this heliofungia again, it had to go in the tank. My aquarium has a showpiece now!

FTS:

 

[T Diddy]

man this thing is just ridiculous...it deserves another pic

:beer:

 

[T Diddy]

When I bought the fungia, I also got this neat blue acro. It had been in the LFS for a month.

I was also given this war coral. It had been knocked over and fell into another coral. Almost burned up. If it recovers, it'll be a nice addition.

 

[T Diddy]

Aiptasia are giving me fits. Early on I blow torched a few with success, but those were on the live rock added to the tank. I cannot torch the ones on the rock wall. Aiptasia-X didn't do anything but force a greater Aiptasia problem. Peppermint shrimp aren't an option because of my Acans, and the fact the the wrasse will eat em up. I don't want to get a file fish for fear of what else he'll eat when he runs out of Aiptasia. I suppose I can try Kalk paste or NaOH. I'm kind of leaning towards the NaOH, but the proximity to other inhabitants worries me.

Anyone have any other ideas?

 

[CarlitosReef]

Beautiful I was looking for your build thread since I notice you have a wall in build. I am planning in doing the same but still brainstorming ideas. I want to do kind of like a 3D wall in set up. I also just notice you live in GA as well. I was hoping to see a picture from far to see the whole tank inside and the back wall where you sump is at. Good job keep it up!

 

[T Diddy]

Carlitosreef,

I haven't updated the thread in a while. I'll try to get some pics up again soon.

 

[T Diddy]

Here are a few pics from today, some with flash, some without...


The clam seems to be doing well. There are obvious signs of growth.

 

[saw wave analog]

<-- jealous

 

[T Diddy]

<-- jealous

Hah! Thanks saw wave,

This isn't the prettiest set up I've ever had, but I am happy with it. I'll get pics of the back soon. Here are some shots of my cyphastrea growing onto the rocks beneath;;;

Here is a pair of shots from the back side...disregard the big dead helio fungia is the background

 

[redreef85]

I have had good luck with kalk paste in the past. There are DIY aiptasia zappers that look promising although I have never tried one.

 

[T Diddy]

Thanks redreef85. I have tried a few methods for the aiptasia, but I am still wanting to go natural. The berghia nudibranches are going to be my next attempt.

 

[T Diddy]

...lost one of my clowns yesterday. Everything else is fine, water parameters are ok, too. I'm not sure what caused it, but he looked pretty beat up. Perhaps the new red serpent star?? :worried:

 

[T Diddy]

OK...my berghias showed up today. They are acclimating, and I'm trying to catch my christmas wrasse with a trap. Hopefully she isn't as smart as I think she is. :fish2:

 

[T Diddy]

still no luck with the fish trap. The Christmas Wrasse has been checking it out, but not brave enough to go in. I've caught several nassarius snails...almost immediately. She needs to hurry up and take the bait so I can add my berghia!!

 

[T Diddy]

...two full days into it and still no luck. She probably has too much food available in the tank. Maybe she'll be hungry enough today. Anyway, I went ahead and added the berghia to the tank last night. They disappeared almost immediately into the rocks. I put two of them, as well as two eggstrands I found in the bag, into my 100 gallon rubbermaid. Between the two locations, there should be plenty of aiptasia and shelter to produce a larger population of the berghias. I may just try to breed some to have around at all times. Wish me luck! :thumbsup:

 

[T Diddy]

I changed some bulbs today. A fiji purple and a aquablue special were removed. The T5 now consists of (2) UV454, and (2) blue +. Perhaps the change in spectrum will bring on more color in the corals.

I've given up on catching the wrasse. Hopefully berghias don't taste good...the aiptasia problem is much worse than I realized. They are popping up everywhere now.

 

[T Diddy]

well the berghia seem to have survived the exaggerated acclimation process. I've now seen a couple in the display, one in the overflow, and at least two in the rubbermaid tub. I've been watching the progress on those two...they have been working on a particular rock together and have cleaned off a portion of the rock already. Hunting for these berghias has really opened my eyes to the huge aiptasia problem. They've got their work cut out for them.