Back at it, Bigger and Better

[VisionsOfSalt]

I decided to take a jump on acclimating the QT'd wrasse to the MD. I understand I may be shunned for only a week of QT of the fish but in my experience wrasse are pretty hardy and the biggest problem I've personally had with them is getting them to eat. Not saying this is always the case but I know I only have myself to blame if there's a loss.

At any rate, I did make the decision. Unfortunately the orange back fairy didn't make it through qt (found a body) and the yellow coris completely disappeared, couldn't be found as a jumper or in the qt sump, day of pick up). I have another orange back in qt as of now as well as another random flasher (not a carpenters).

I acclimated the Indian Ocean exquisite and male carpenters last night with lights out and a sheet over the tank. As of today all 3, 2 newcomers with the radiant, are getting along well and eating just fine.

I know not to complain here if there's an issue
https://vimeo.com/127000393

 

[VisionsOfSalt]

Tore up my back lifting 30 gallons of replacement saltwater from the garage to the house last weekend (I have a bad back predisposed to nonsense). Took a break on the man room couch today to reflect on my tank and purchase a ramp online.

 

[alexuribe]

Ouch, sorry to hear that! But at least you have a great spot to recover from

 

[VisionsOfSalt]

Lol thanks Alex! Back is much better and the ramp has arrived so I'll be able to do a 40 gal water change tomorrow with minimal risk. My wrasse are doing well, have 5 now (orangeback, yellow fin flasher, lubbock's, exquisite and radiant). The carpenters is MIA after what looked to be some type of trauma to its head but it was eating fine and no visual harassment by tank mates. I think he was just a quitter.
Fish to get: yellow coris, replacement carpenters, line spot flasher, and two more fairies but not sure which yet.

Here's a quick video from before the carpenters assumingly died.

https://vimeo.com/128750380

 

[ShaunMonahan]

Amazing job on the redo of this stand! Looks amazing:inlove:

 

[VisionsOfSalt]

Thank you Shaun!

Since I'm here I might as well do a mini update - tank is doing well. Was fighting with diatoms for a long time, even with minimal lighting schedule and regular water changes. Looked at my source water and it had crazy high TDS, in the thousands. I realized I was dirtying up my RODI by using the same pump for water changes, putting it in the 100 gal reservoir and using it to make new salt water and top off my ATO drum. Got a separate pump after cleaning out the whole system and everything is back to 0 TDS. The impact was evident after only a few days so still some slight traces of diatoms but should burn out soon.

Unfortunately now I have a bit of an aiptasia problem from the two small pieces of LR I used to seed the tank. Going to throw some pepps in there, hope my radiant doesn't have a feast.