Ok, I'm back. No pictures STILL, my sister wasted all the batteries at prom last night.
Anyways, I need to vent. This is very frustrating.
I got chaeto at the meeting, and it's doing OK, but I haven't really noticed a reduction in algae growth. I didn't get the ceriths, as I was the bottom of the order, and Rob didn't get that many...so he is doing another in July. However, I need them now, as my sandbed is getting dirty, with cyano in isolated little patches, and this weird stringy stuff. I'm getting tired of siphoning cyano...I guess my tank is still young, and it's breaking in, but it's still very frustrating. The weird stringy stuff looks like strands of dark hair. I'll have to get a picture for everyone.
Back to the ceriths...I want to order from Reeftopia, but the shipping would double my order price, and I don't know of any places locally with ceriths. On eBay there's one deal, 100 for $25, but I don't trust that. I could get them from ReeferMadness...anyways, I need them now.
Microbubbles are still coming out of the returns...I've tried everything except baffles, which I was going to do as a last resort. I'm going to expand my return plumbing on Wednesday (it's 3/4" inside the overflow, 1.5" everywhere else).
I have to buy carbon, as my water is a little yellowish.
The valonia is persisting, and my Foxface doesn't eat it unfortunately, and theres one or two HUGE ones on my biggest rock, and I'm afraid to remove them intank, risking spores releasing. I can't take the big rock out, so thats not good. Two rocks in the front were covered in valonia, so I took them out, and they are sitting in a bucket of RO/DI right now, for a few days. The valonia isn't a big problem, just unsightly. Hopefully when my tank gets older, they will go away on their own.
I'm also tired of how messy my basement has become. I know it's my fault...I really need to get more organized. I can't stand carrying buckets of RO/DI for topoff, and SW for water changes. That will all change when CTARS does this group buy on 55g drums; I'm getting two and putting a bulkhead on the bottom/side, followed by a ball valve, followed by plumbing into the sump. When I need topoff or WC, just open a valve. They will always stay full, as I am going to split my RO/DI output, and get two float switches; one for each drum.
Another thing...our family carpenter friend, who was supposed to build our canopy, has been very very busy. I'm still using Giovanni's canopy. My Dad and I are going to have to build our own canopy, since I cannot deal with a canopy that doesn't fit and looks ridiculous anymore.
Good news is that coralline is starting to grow. On the bottom of the front glass, on the overflow, on my magnet, on the snails, on the valonia (?!), everywhere. So I take that's a good sign.
All the corals are doing ok, the monti is really taking off. The Foxface is midly retarded. Before I put paper on the sides, he'd swim against it, looking at his reflection. I read that this might be because of not enough flow. Something like pelagic fish like Tangs and Foxface's, fish that swim long distances will pace nervously if the flow isn't high enough. When I put the paper up, and he couldn't see his reflection, he stopped...any thoughts?
I'm saving for a Tunze 6100 and multicontroller...$362. That would put me at about 38x turnover :eek2: The problem there is that I don't have a work permit yet, meaning I don't have a job yet, meaning I don't have income right now, meaning I have $2 in my wallet! I'm receiving $100 this weekend from a loan, so that will hold me over for a while. I'm going to try to get a work permit this week, so I can get a job over the summer, and be able to finance el tanko.
One last thing...I hate my tank..the glass box part. I wish I went wider and shallower. The 25" depth is killer...I get soaked everytime I have to reach in. GlassCages has a 125 that is 72"L x 24"W x 17"H, and I am regretting not buying that. Oh well, I guess I have to deal.
That's my life story basically. I think I just need more patience, and allow things to mature. I mean, that is partially what is causing the algae growth correct? I'm 2 months in, as of 3 days ago. So some kind, compelling words would be nice
