skylsdale
Reefer
Did you get bit by the Dendrobates bug? Here's some inspiration:
http://www.frognet.org/gallery/
http://www.wildsky.net/vivarium/evivariu.htm
A pair of EcoWheel tanks in the making
- Thread starter Putawaywet
- Start date
Did you get bit by the Dendrobates bug? Here's some inspiration:
http://www.frognet.org/gallery/
http://www.wildsky.net/vivarium/evivariu.htm
Yes and no. They have that whole lillipution cute factor going for them, and I do have a little experice with them, but I'm thinking of more of a Madagascar rainforest setup. I'm looking at some Ornate Hoppers and maybe a gecko or two right now. But you know how often I change my mind so it very well could wind up with dart frogs. Those cobalts and azures sure are sweet.
I sure wish public aquariums paid better so I could quit my real job and go play with exhibits and animals full time
Brett
I sure wish public aquariums paid better so I could quit my real job and go play with exhibits and animals full time
Brett
psycho_clown
In Memoriam
that is one great looking tank i'm green with envy right know
Greetings everyone.
First off, Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ve been hearing about people having difficulties reaching A.E. with EcoWheel questions. Apparently, not only are emails not being returned, but now Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m hearing that the phone might have been disconnected as well???
The last contact I had with Chris was early December and that was via email. I did speak to my cabinet guy last week and he said the last he spoke to Chris was about a month ago via phone but hasnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t heard from him since.
Basically, from what limited info I have, since Chris picked up the rights to market and sell the EcoWheel he has been handling all office related apsects of the operation himself. If there are any other people dealing with sales and distribution, I certainly havenââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t had contact with them.
I just emailed him yesterday and am waiting for a reply. In the event I donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t get a response Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll try calling him this week and see how that goes. I get back to everyone with what I find out.
Brett
First off, Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ve been hearing about people having difficulties reaching A.E. with EcoWheel questions. Apparently, not only are emails not being returned, but now Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m hearing that the phone might have been disconnected as well???
The last contact I had with Chris was early December and that was via email. I did speak to my cabinet guy last week and he said the last he spoke to Chris was about a month ago via phone but hasnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t heard from him since.
Basically, from what limited info I have, since Chris picked up the rights to market and sell the EcoWheel he has been handling all office related apsects of the operation himself. If there are any other people dealing with sales and distribution, I certainly havenââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t had contact with them.
I just emailed him yesterday and am waiting for a reply. In the event I donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t get a response Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll try calling him this week and see how that goes. I get back to everyone with what I find out.
Brett
Ok, for those that still have an interest here is the latest as of 2/12/04
Reef tank:
Overall the tank is looking good. I have seen no traces of nuissance algae - hair, slime or otherwise. Corraline has taken over about 75% of the original dry rock that forms the base of the two reef structures. The nooks and crannies of the rock are also being colonized by a myriad of life forms. Mostly itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s been limited to the common stuff that you see day-to day, but Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ve got a couple calcareous tube worms that have turned up and are approx. .25ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ in diameter. Shining a light in some of the cracks at night I see huge amount of mysis scurrying around with their little silver eyes reflecting off the beam of light.
One thing that I have noted is a decrease in the abundance of visible copepods since the addition of my madarin. I know these guys can pack them away, but itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s prety impressive what efficient eating machines they are in relation to their body size. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m still seeing copepods within the rocks, just in more decreased numbers.
But most interesting, the mysis population is not a bit worse for wear. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m wondering if being more highly mobile they manage to elude the mandarin. Actually, I can easily see mysis just about everywhere. They are all over the inside of the effluent boxes. I took an inventory one night and counted well over 70 in one box alone.
Those infamous Gorgonians:
The gold/bronze gorgonians are finally looking better, with 3 out of 5 of the smaller frags pretty much fully recovered. The remaining 2 are still really slow in bouncing back, but then again, they were the ones that had nearly 75% of their tissue destroyed. The 2 larger ones are looking pretty good also. All the bare branches have fallen off and nearly all of the remaining stubs have been covered over. Something worth mentioning is that I have noticed these 2 no longer have that nice bushy appearance during the day that comes from fully extended polyps. They still extend at night, but remain mostly closed during the period when the halides are on.
Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m now beginning to wonder if all of this was part of some kind of prolonged acclimation process that they might have been going through. In spite of being photosynthetic, I think they might still sustain a fair amount of nutrients from the water column. The start of their demise was right around the one month mark after introduction, which was about 6-8 weeks after the initial cycle had ended. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m certainly no Gorgonia expert by any stretch of the imagination, but Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m starting to think they tanked about the time their carbon reserves had been exhausted and the amount of available plankton was not adequate to meet their needs. For those that might enjoy some interesting reading, there is a really nice thread in Ericââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s coral forum about new tank syndrome and how it relates to coral health. No doubt, some of that info is probably applicable in this particular case.
But regardless, they are recovering so I guess Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll have to wait and see how they look in another couple months. If they continue to rebound, the final cost will only be a year or so of missed growth.
On a related note, anyone have any guesses as to whatââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s up with that knobby sea rod that wonââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t extend polyps? After 2 years in the old tank, and nearly 5 months in this one, it looks pretty much the same as the day I brought it home. As strange as it sounds, it has neither grown, nor decreased in size. It has merely ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œexistedââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ for the last 2 1/2 years.
Fish:
All fish are doing great with the exception of my school of cardinals. In spite of my attempts to increase thier numbers, they remain a group of 6. So, a group of 6 they will be. However, they are nice and plump - a far cry from the emaciated specimens that they were when I first acquired them. Unfortunately, this just leaves me even more irritated with the questionable handling practices of all the inbetweens they passed by.
Corals:
The remaining corals are all doing great. Especially that Monti Cap frag that I epoxied to my rock. The original size was about equal to a thumbnail, but it has now grown to approx 2ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ in dia. with the original epoxy hold being completely overgown. Also, 3 very distinct lobes are forming, so now I canââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t wait to see what kind of shape it will take on.
I also acquired several extremely nice frags when I found myself in the right place at the right time. The first were several clippings of a beautiful purple tipped acro that needed some trimming. I mounted them together to somewhat resemble a single colony. In just a few short weeks the tissue has grown down to cover the epoxy and is now merging together. Additionally, there doesnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t appear to be a single spot of recession or bleaching to be seen. That is certainly a welcomed change.
The second is a really vibrant green branching hammer frag that has 2 small sized heads. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ve seen a lot of brown colored hammerââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s over the years, but when this really nice green one passed my way I jumped on it.
The last frag measures about an inch in length and came from a near all blue parent colony. This one was just mounted a few days ago so Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll have to hold off on an opinion until next time.
The unfortunate part is, Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m quickly running out of room. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m just about at the point where the only space I have left is for the really small stuff that doesnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t branch out very far. Should I stumble upon one of those "once in a lifetime" show pieces Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m going to be hard pressed to find a spot for it.
Misc:
That Egyptian winged turkey oyster attached to one of the larger gorgonians finally called it quits. I found the empty and detached shell sitting down on the sandbed last Wednesday.
That tree anemone (Actinodendron plumosum) has grown considerably and although it is looking really full, it has taken to lifting itself off the substrate and is making like a colt coral. It still looks nice, but I think it looks just a bit nicer laying flat so you can see the radiating arms branching off from itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s centralized mouth. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ve not actively fed it since that errant cardinal spiraled into it some months back, so besides a few mysis now and then, itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s thriving on just light alone.
Low-light tank:
I know a few of you are hoping for some real progress here but unfortunately, itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s looking pretty much the same as it did last time. I just canââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t seem to find any creative motivation to start on it. But past experience has tought me to be patient. One of these days Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll stumble across something I think is ultra cool and then go home and tear into it.
Regardless, there is still a bit of info worth mentioning. The blue sponges have slowed in growth, but are still looking healthy. The two non-photosynthetic blueberry gorgonians are looking so-so. The better looking of the two came to me in much better shape and looks about the same as it did when first acquired. The latter of the two is not opening much but still putting up a good fight. My three Pajama cardinals are still doing well, but the odd man out is still not being accepted by the other two. My Royal Gramma rules the tank and is out nearly all of the time swimming well into the upper two-thirds to retrieve food. This is something I noticed it did not do in the old tank. Apparently, it must have been just a little too bright and busy for it to feel comfortable venturing so far from itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s hideout. It makes sense, especially since they are commonly found along vertical or sloping reef walls at the more subdued light levels of the mid-depth regions. Interestingly, the Dragon goby is also making like a mid-water feeder and eats right alongside the gramma in the upper parts of the water column.
My coral banded has dropped his left front claw once again. Strangely, heââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s been doing this for years.... first in the old tank, and now in the new. About once every 4-5 molts. He dropped them both at once about a year or so ago, but for the most part, itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s always the left one.
On the plus side, the rocks are just teaming with microfauna. There are tiny sponges, calcareous tube worms, and other interesting critters nearly everywhere. The rock boring clams are growing, although a bit slow - the largest one is now a little bit more than 1ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ in length. Really interesting little buggers as they just keep getting bigger and so do their holes. I think I read somewhere that they secrete an enzyme that slowly dissolves the surrounding rock.
That little colony of green sea squirts is still holding on.... but barely. They seem to be extremely touchy about water quality. They puff up real nice for a few days after a water change, but close down again after that. They are neither multiplying nor decreasing, so I guess Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll count them as a break even. Getting pics of them has proven to be pretty tough though, so Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll just have to move on.
Most interesting though is the corraline. I had some initial die off on the pink stuff in the early months, but for the most part, the thicker deeper purple stuff is still going strong. I know the it doesnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t require a great amount of light, but I still expected a faint 26w above a 30ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ deep tank to be just a bit beyond the minimum requirements. But Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m certainly not complaining as I only have to wipe down the glass about once a month as compared to every other day in the reef tank. You folks that are running banks of 400 Radiums.... who are you payiing to wipe down your glass for you (LOL)
One thing I have been especially wanting to do as of late is get some overall pics of the entire system since itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s been up and running. Unfortunately, thatââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s also proving tough to do given the lighting differential between the two tanks. If I try and adjust for the low-light tank, the reef comes out totally over exposed. If I dial in the exposure for the reef tank, the low-light side comes out looking completely dark. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m not exactly the worldââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s greatest photographer, but thereââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s got to be a way to make this happen. I guess Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll have to keep practicing.
Filter:
The EcoWheel is beginning to look like a real biohazard with algae growing on just about any surface that is exposed to light. Corraline is becomming a real pain and about 50% of the wheel is encrusted. The predominant algae species seems to be changing a bit with the long, bright green filiment type stuff starting to fade a little in favor of the red ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œvelvet likeââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ variety that has started to pick up the pace. I think itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s Asparagopsis Taxiformis, but I havenââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t put it under the microscope to positively I.D. it. Personally, I prefer the green stuff as itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s a lot easier to harvest. But themââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s the breaks.
I did have a problem with one of the CSL PC quads breaking - seems one of those little glass connectors between the main light tubes decided to fracture and kill the light. So the filter was illuminated by only a single bulb for somewhere between a few days and a week and a half. Itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s for this very reason that I have a dislike for PCââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s. I temporarily installed one of the original 10,000k bulbs until a 5,000k replacement can be had - which may prove to be a bit difficult now that CSL has decided to close their doors.
The lower portion of the filter is really starting to look alive. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m seeing some pretty good sized bristle worms taking up residence in the detritus, with a huge abundance of copepods and mysis crawling around there as well. Sponge growth is still limited to about 3 or 4 varities, but they are pretty much all over the eggcrate and plastic Matala. I also have a huge abundance of those little tube type snails... the ones that make those little spiral tubes and trap detritius via the little cobweb/fishing line thingies (hows that for exercising my technical writing skills?)
Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m still not seeing much in the way of mini feather dusters, but a few are starting to pop up so maybe Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll see more in a few months. But I do have a pretty good colony of aiptasias growing down there. No doubt they are enjoying the abundance of Cyclopeeze that is being added to the tank. But so far, no signs of them in either display tank..... not a real surprise as my old setup was pretty much the same way - tons of them in the algae filter, and not a one could be seen in the main display.
I do have about a 1/4ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ layer of detritus covering the bottom of the filter tank, but itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s been there for approx. 4 months and doesnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t seem to really be increasing. There may come a time to when I might need to pull the wheel and give that area a good cleaning, but hopefully, I can put that off for a while. My intent is to try and leave that semi-cryptic area alone and observe itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s natural developement as the months progress.
I had a very interesting conversation with Morgan Lidster of Inland Aquatics back in December, and as a result, I am starting to give some thought to the possibly of pulling the bioballs out of the filter. Morgan has 2 of the earlier EcoWheels and passed on a problem he was having with nagging Nitrates that just wouldnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t go away. He shared with me that when he pulled the bioballs he saw a reduction, but it came at the expense of microbubbles being returned to one of the two tanks. And since Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m still seeing Nitrate readings consistantly in the 10 ppm area, that was obviously an important tid bit he passed along. Yanking the wheel wonââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t be an easy job given my celing height, so I think Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m going to mull it over a bit more before making a final decision.
Misc:
Nightly feedings are probably going to be the big one in this area, as adding a concentrated milkshake each and every night has proven to be just too taxing on the filtration. And since Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m not in the mood to perform water changes several times a week, Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m now scaling back to a schedule of a couple days on and a couple days off. Perhaps a lesser concentration still added on a nightly basis would be more prudent. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll have to see how it goes. Time will tell.
I had to switch out some of the GFIââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s for normal outlets as I discovered they continually tripped in response to the light timers kicking off. After resetting them a couple dozen times I just gave up and swapped them out. I will leave the air pump and heater connected to a few existing GFIââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s, but all lights are being swapped over to normal outlets.
Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m really happy with the cold cathode tubes I got from PCmods.com that are pulling duty as my nighttime lighting They are really working out nicely. So well in fact, I installed one in my vivarium. It casts this very subtle, shadowy blue light over all the rocks and plants.... and given the cabinet sits right next to my bed, itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s a very relaxing sight to fall asleep to. The newer light kits are just a tad nicer than the ones I picked up last summer, but still close to the same resonable price. For like 20 bucks you get the deluxe kit containing 2 -12ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ tubes, the microprocessor, a switch and a DC transformer. Everything is plug and play. However, they are made for computers so they come with a few extra wires and plugs, but those are easily cut off. The only drag is mounting of the tubes themselves. The light tube ends are enclosed in little acrylic blocks measuring approx 1/2ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ square. The easiest way I have found to securely mount them is with a little 2 minute epoxy. I have also glued some scraps of acrylic to the ends with Weldon and then drilled those to accept small screws. Double sided foam tape might work, but I wouldnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t trust it to hold over any period of time. Either way, it works out to be about 30 minutes worth of work for a nice nighttime lighting effect.
I managed to get the RO system installed in the laundry room last week. Unfortunately, I promptly managed to flood said laundry room a mere 3 days later. Guess you kinda have to remember to shut off the flow when you go to bed. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m using a real simple setup..... set jug on floor, place output hose in jug, turn on water, come back and check in a few hours. Repaeat as need for jugs #2 and #3. But apparently, simple doesnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t necessarily mean idiot proof. If it was logistically feasible, Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢d set up a holding tank with a float shutoff out in the garage - but it really isnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t, so I canââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t. Guess Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll be looking into some kind of a digital alarm to keep me paying attention and keep the floor dry
Other than that, I think Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ve mentioned about all that seems worth mentioning. My vivarium is really distracting me from stuff I know needs to be done and Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m hoping I can get back to wrapping up my ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œto doââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ list in a month or so. But FWIW, everything is still chugging along nicely without a whole lot of intervention on my part. Other than a bit of H20 topoff, the addition of some supplements, a weekly water change and algae harvest, I just pretty much just toss some food in once or twice a day as I pass by.
So, until next time.
Brett
Reef tank:
Overall the tank is looking good. I have seen no traces of nuissance algae - hair, slime or otherwise. Corraline has taken over about 75% of the original dry rock that forms the base of the two reef structures. The nooks and crannies of the rock are also being colonized by a myriad of life forms. Mostly itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s been limited to the common stuff that you see day-to day, but Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ve got a couple calcareous tube worms that have turned up and are approx. .25ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ in diameter. Shining a light in some of the cracks at night I see huge amount of mysis scurrying around with their little silver eyes reflecting off the beam of light.
One thing that I have noted is a decrease in the abundance of visible copepods since the addition of my madarin. I know these guys can pack them away, but itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s prety impressive what efficient eating machines they are in relation to their body size. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m still seeing copepods within the rocks, just in more decreased numbers.
But most interesting, the mysis population is not a bit worse for wear. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m wondering if being more highly mobile they manage to elude the mandarin. Actually, I can easily see mysis just about everywhere. They are all over the inside of the effluent boxes. I took an inventory one night and counted well over 70 in one box alone.
Those infamous Gorgonians:
The gold/bronze gorgonians are finally looking better, with 3 out of 5 of the smaller frags pretty much fully recovered. The remaining 2 are still really slow in bouncing back, but then again, they were the ones that had nearly 75% of their tissue destroyed. The 2 larger ones are looking pretty good also. All the bare branches have fallen off and nearly all of the remaining stubs have been covered over. Something worth mentioning is that I have noticed these 2 no longer have that nice bushy appearance during the day that comes from fully extended polyps. They still extend at night, but remain mostly closed during the period when the halides are on.
Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m now beginning to wonder if all of this was part of some kind of prolonged acclimation process that they might have been going through. In spite of being photosynthetic, I think they might still sustain a fair amount of nutrients from the water column. The start of their demise was right around the one month mark after introduction, which was about 6-8 weeks after the initial cycle had ended. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m certainly no Gorgonia expert by any stretch of the imagination, but Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m starting to think they tanked about the time their carbon reserves had been exhausted and the amount of available plankton was not adequate to meet their needs. For those that might enjoy some interesting reading, there is a really nice thread in Ericââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s coral forum about new tank syndrome and how it relates to coral health. No doubt, some of that info is probably applicable in this particular case.
But regardless, they are recovering so I guess Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll have to wait and see how they look in another couple months. If they continue to rebound, the final cost will only be a year or so of missed growth.
On a related note, anyone have any guesses as to whatââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s up with that knobby sea rod that wonââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t extend polyps? After 2 years in the old tank, and nearly 5 months in this one, it looks pretty much the same as the day I brought it home. As strange as it sounds, it has neither grown, nor decreased in size. It has merely ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œexistedââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ for the last 2 1/2 years.
Fish:
All fish are doing great with the exception of my school of cardinals. In spite of my attempts to increase thier numbers, they remain a group of 6. So, a group of 6 they will be. However, they are nice and plump - a far cry from the emaciated specimens that they were when I first acquired them. Unfortunately, this just leaves me even more irritated with the questionable handling practices of all the inbetweens they passed by.
Corals:
The remaining corals are all doing great. Especially that Monti Cap frag that I epoxied to my rock. The original size was about equal to a thumbnail, but it has now grown to approx 2ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ in dia. with the original epoxy hold being completely overgown. Also, 3 very distinct lobes are forming, so now I canââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t wait to see what kind of shape it will take on.
I also acquired several extremely nice frags when I found myself in the right place at the right time. The first were several clippings of a beautiful purple tipped acro that needed some trimming. I mounted them together to somewhat resemble a single colony. In just a few short weeks the tissue has grown down to cover the epoxy and is now merging together. Additionally, there doesnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t appear to be a single spot of recession or bleaching to be seen. That is certainly a welcomed change.
The second is a really vibrant green branching hammer frag that has 2 small sized heads. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ve seen a lot of brown colored hammerââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s over the years, but when this really nice green one passed my way I jumped on it.
The last frag measures about an inch in length and came from a near all blue parent colony. This one was just mounted a few days ago so Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll have to hold off on an opinion until next time.
The unfortunate part is, Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m quickly running out of room. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m just about at the point where the only space I have left is for the really small stuff that doesnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t branch out very far. Should I stumble upon one of those "once in a lifetime" show pieces Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m going to be hard pressed to find a spot for it.
Misc:
That Egyptian winged turkey oyster attached to one of the larger gorgonians finally called it quits. I found the empty and detached shell sitting down on the sandbed last Wednesday.
That tree anemone (Actinodendron plumosum) has grown considerably and although it is looking really full, it has taken to lifting itself off the substrate and is making like a colt coral. It still looks nice, but I think it looks just a bit nicer laying flat so you can see the radiating arms branching off from itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s centralized mouth. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ve not actively fed it since that errant cardinal spiraled into it some months back, so besides a few mysis now and then, itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s thriving on just light alone.
Low-light tank:
I know a few of you are hoping for some real progress here but unfortunately, itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s looking pretty much the same as it did last time. I just canââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t seem to find any creative motivation to start on it. But past experience has tought me to be patient. One of these days Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll stumble across something I think is ultra cool and then go home and tear into it.
Regardless, there is still a bit of info worth mentioning. The blue sponges have slowed in growth, but are still looking healthy. The two non-photosynthetic blueberry gorgonians are looking so-so. The better looking of the two came to me in much better shape and looks about the same as it did when first acquired. The latter of the two is not opening much but still putting up a good fight. My three Pajama cardinals are still doing well, but the odd man out is still not being accepted by the other two. My Royal Gramma rules the tank and is out nearly all of the time swimming well into the upper two-thirds to retrieve food. This is something I noticed it did not do in the old tank. Apparently, it must have been just a little too bright and busy for it to feel comfortable venturing so far from itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s hideout. It makes sense, especially since they are commonly found along vertical or sloping reef walls at the more subdued light levels of the mid-depth regions. Interestingly, the Dragon goby is also making like a mid-water feeder and eats right alongside the gramma in the upper parts of the water column.
My coral banded has dropped his left front claw once again. Strangely, heââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s been doing this for years.... first in the old tank, and now in the new. About once every 4-5 molts. He dropped them both at once about a year or so ago, but for the most part, itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s always the left one.
On the plus side, the rocks are just teaming with microfauna. There are tiny sponges, calcareous tube worms, and other interesting critters nearly everywhere. The rock boring clams are growing, although a bit slow - the largest one is now a little bit more than 1ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ in length. Really interesting little buggers as they just keep getting bigger and so do their holes. I think I read somewhere that they secrete an enzyme that slowly dissolves the surrounding rock.
That little colony of green sea squirts is still holding on.... but barely. They seem to be extremely touchy about water quality. They puff up real nice for a few days after a water change, but close down again after that. They are neither multiplying nor decreasing, so I guess Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll count them as a break even. Getting pics of them has proven to be pretty tough though, so Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll just have to move on.
Most interesting though is the corraline. I had some initial die off on the pink stuff in the early months, but for the most part, the thicker deeper purple stuff is still going strong. I know the it doesnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t require a great amount of light, but I still expected a faint 26w above a 30ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ deep tank to be just a bit beyond the minimum requirements. But Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m certainly not complaining as I only have to wipe down the glass about once a month as compared to every other day in the reef tank. You folks that are running banks of 400 Radiums.... who are you payiing to wipe down your glass for you (LOL)
One thing I have been especially wanting to do as of late is get some overall pics of the entire system since itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s been up and running. Unfortunately, thatââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s also proving tough to do given the lighting differential between the two tanks. If I try and adjust for the low-light tank, the reef comes out totally over exposed. If I dial in the exposure for the reef tank, the low-light side comes out looking completely dark. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m not exactly the worldââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s greatest photographer, but thereââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s got to be a way to make this happen. I guess Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll have to keep practicing.
Filter:
The EcoWheel is beginning to look like a real biohazard with algae growing on just about any surface that is exposed to light. Corraline is becomming a real pain and about 50% of the wheel is encrusted. The predominant algae species seems to be changing a bit with the long, bright green filiment type stuff starting to fade a little in favor of the red ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œvelvet likeââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ variety that has started to pick up the pace. I think itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s Asparagopsis Taxiformis, but I havenââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t put it under the microscope to positively I.D. it. Personally, I prefer the green stuff as itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s a lot easier to harvest. But themââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s the breaks.
I did have a problem with one of the CSL PC quads breaking - seems one of those little glass connectors between the main light tubes decided to fracture and kill the light. So the filter was illuminated by only a single bulb for somewhere between a few days and a week and a half. Itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s for this very reason that I have a dislike for PCââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s. I temporarily installed one of the original 10,000k bulbs until a 5,000k replacement can be had - which may prove to be a bit difficult now that CSL has decided to close their doors.
The lower portion of the filter is really starting to look alive. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m seeing some pretty good sized bristle worms taking up residence in the detritus, with a huge abundance of copepods and mysis crawling around there as well. Sponge growth is still limited to about 3 or 4 varities, but they are pretty much all over the eggcrate and plastic Matala. I also have a huge abundance of those little tube type snails... the ones that make those little spiral tubes and trap detritius via the little cobweb/fishing line thingies (hows that for exercising my technical writing skills?)
Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m still not seeing much in the way of mini feather dusters, but a few are starting to pop up so maybe Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll see more in a few months. But I do have a pretty good colony of aiptasias growing down there. No doubt they are enjoying the abundance of Cyclopeeze that is being added to the tank. But so far, no signs of them in either display tank..... not a real surprise as my old setup was pretty much the same way - tons of them in the algae filter, and not a one could be seen in the main display.
I do have about a 1/4ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ layer of detritus covering the bottom of the filter tank, but itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s been there for approx. 4 months and doesnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t seem to really be increasing. There may come a time to when I might need to pull the wheel and give that area a good cleaning, but hopefully, I can put that off for a while. My intent is to try and leave that semi-cryptic area alone and observe itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s natural developement as the months progress.
I had a very interesting conversation with Morgan Lidster of Inland Aquatics back in December, and as a result, I am starting to give some thought to the possibly of pulling the bioballs out of the filter. Morgan has 2 of the earlier EcoWheels and passed on a problem he was having with nagging Nitrates that just wouldnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t go away. He shared with me that when he pulled the bioballs he saw a reduction, but it came at the expense of microbubbles being returned to one of the two tanks. And since Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m still seeing Nitrate readings consistantly in the 10 ppm area, that was obviously an important tid bit he passed along. Yanking the wheel wonââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t be an easy job given my celing height, so I think Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m going to mull it over a bit more before making a final decision.
Misc:
Nightly feedings are probably going to be the big one in this area, as adding a concentrated milkshake each and every night has proven to be just too taxing on the filtration. And since Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m not in the mood to perform water changes several times a week, Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m now scaling back to a schedule of a couple days on and a couple days off. Perhaps a lesser concentration still added on a nightly basis would be more prudent. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll have to see how it goes. Time will tell.
I had to switch out some of the GFIââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s for normal outlets as I discovered they continually tripped in response to the light timers kicking off. After resetting them a couple dozen times I just gave up and swapped them out. I will leave the air pump and heater connected to a few existing GFIââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s, but all lights are being swapped over to normal outlets.
Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m really happy with the cold cathode tubes I got from PCmods.com that are pulling duty as my nighttime lighting They are really working out nicely. So well in fact, I installed one in my vivarium. It casts this very subtle, shadowy blue light over all the rocks and plants.... and given the cabinet sits right next to my bed, itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s a very relaxing sight to fall asleep to. The newer light kits are just a tad nicer than the ones I picked up last summer, but still close to the same resonable price. For like 20 bucks you get the deluxe kit containing 2 -12ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ tubes, the microprocessor, a switch and a DC transformer. Everything is plug and play. However, they are made for computers so they come with a few extra wires and plugs, but those are easily cut off. The only drag is mounting of the tubes themselves. The light tube ends are enclosed in little acrylic blocks measuring approx 1/2ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ square. The easiest way I have found to securely mount them is with a little 2 minute epoxy. I have also glued some scraps of acrylic to the ends with Weldon and then drilled those to accept small screws. Double sided foam tape might work, but I wouldnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t trust it to hold over any period of time. Either way, it works out to be about 30 minutes worth of work for a nice nighttime lighting effect.
I managed to get the RO system installed in the laundry room last week. Unfortunately, I promptly managed to flood said laundry room a mere 3 days later. Guess you kinda have to remember to shut off the flow when you go to bed. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m using a real simple setup..... set jug on floor, place output hose in jug, turn on water, come back and check in a few hours. Repaeat as need for jugs #2 and #3. But apparently, simple doesnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t necessarily mean idiot proof. If it was logistically feasible, Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢d set up a holding tank with a float shutoff out in the garage - but it really isnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t, so I canââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t. Guess Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll be looking into some kind of a digital alarm to keep me paying attention and keep the floor dry
Other than that, I think Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ve mentioned about all that seems worth mentioning. My vivarium is really distracting me from stuff I know needs to be done and Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m hoping I can get back to wrapping up my ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œto doââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ list in a month or so. But FWIW, everything is still chugging along nicely without a whole lot of intervention on my part. Other than a bit of H20 topoff, the addition of some supplements, a weekly water change and algae harvest, I just pretty much just toss some food in once or twice a day as I pass by.
So, until next time.
Brett
Here's a few shots for the road........
A shot thru the end
A somewhat blurry pic of the purple tipped acro and my monti cap frag just to it's left.....
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is it wrong that I'm inthralled with this thread hahaha
Brett, thank you for the update, I have been waiting for it for a whlie hahaha and you certanly come through on depth and interest holding!!
With your nitrates, you might want to try removing the bioballs, just to see what happens, I think the alges and live rock will work good enough!
With the different alges maybe try removing the red slowly, starting with one section per week or something like that..
Might want to look at getting more cardinials online and having them delivered
hehe well, thank you HEAPS for the update!!
Brett, thank you for the update, I have been waiting for it for a whlie hahaha and you certanly come through on depth and interest holding!!
With your nitrates, you might want to try removing the bioballs, just to see what happens, I think the alges and live rock will work good enough!
With the different alges maybe try removing the red slowly, starting with one section per week or something like that..
Might want to look at getting more cardinials online and having them delivered
hehe well, thank you HEAPS for the update!!
picture the reef
New member
Brett, Thanks for the update. My tiny 90 gallon is still progessing also.
I have been adding sps and a few lps. Morgan at IA is an extreemly knowledgable person. I too am considered removing the bioballs but so far have not. One of the more interesting fish I have found are the fang blennies. Out all the time, very colorfull, and appear to be hardy. I did a trio of the canaries. Wish now I had done a trio of one of the other varieties also. Talk to Morgan. He has them in stock.
I'm not surprised you can't reach Chris at AE. Ever since he took over the marketing rights he is very difficult to reach. Good luck! If you are unable to reach him PM me and I will offer a suggestion.
I have been adding sps and a few lps. Morgan at IA is an extreemly knowledgable person. I too am considered removing the bioballs but so far have not. One of the more interesting fish I have found are the fang blennies. Out all the time, very colorfull, and appear to be hardy. I did a trio of the canaries. Wish now I had done a trio of one of the other varieties also. Talk to Morgan. He has them in stock. I'm not surprised you can't reach Chris at AE. Ever since he took over the marketing rights he is very difficult to reach. Good luck! If you are unable to reach him PM me and I will offer a suggestion.
Many thanks for all the suggestions and words of encouragement.
Zacrifice: It will probably come down to pulling the bioballs, which I'm really not anxious to do because of the labor that will be involved. My ceiling height will not allow me to pull the wheel assembly directly up and out. So, I will either have to try and pull it part way out and then dissemble, or disconnect the plumbing and slide the EcoWheel cabinet completely out. Either way, it's probably going to be an all day job that I'm not particularly looking forward to.
Picture the reef: I know Chris is a tough person to get ahold of, but from the sound of things it's worse than I thought. But I do have an alternate number or two that I'll try. I don't so much need to talk to him mysef but I thought I would give it a shot to at least see if he's alive and kicking. Besides, there does seem to be an interest from a couple people who are considering an EcoWheel but are starting to get discouraged from the lack of a response.
Brett
Zacrifice: It will probably come down to pulling the bioballs, which I'm really not anxious to do because of the labor that will be involved. My ceiling height will not allow me to pull the wheel assembly directly up and out. So, I will either have to try and pull it part way out and then dissemble, or disconnect the plumbing and slide the EcoWheel cabinet completely out. Either way, it's probably going to be an all day job that I'm not particularly looking forward to.
Picture the reef: I know Chris is a tough person to get ahold of, but from the sound of things it's worse than I thought. But I do have an alternate number or two that I'll try. I don't so much need to talk to him mysef but I thought I would give it a shot to at least see if he's alive and kicking. Besides, there does seem to be an interest from a couple people who are considering an EcoWheel but are starting to get discouraged from the lack of a response.
Brett
I just received an email form Chris informing me all is well and A.E. is definitely still open for business. He did mention there were some big changes that have occured this last month and that they have caused some unexpected issues.
He will be getting back to me on Monday and I will try and confirm what email and or phone number is appropiate for people to use.
Brett
He will be getting back to me on Monday and I will try and confirm what email and or phone number is appropiate for people to use.
Brett
matt & pam
Member
Received an email also from Chris. Thanks for getting him in touch Brett. He suggested that he is not recommending the bioballs.
firemouth4416
In Memoriam
This seems like a great type of system.
Has anyone converted their trickle filter/sump into a system with a lighted eco-wheel type system? You could have some of your return water go over a wheel that has a light over it. I dont have room for a refuge so using the space in the old trickle filter/sump would allow me to have some algea scrubing.
Has anyone converted their trickle filter/sump into a system with a lighted eco-wheel type system? You could have some of your return water go over a wheel that has a light over it. I dont have room for a refuge so using the space in the old trickle filter/sump would allow me to have some algea scrubing.
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