Barely made the club but time for my 180 upgrade (Warning: Progress may be slow)

[SPotter]

Henry your build was what inspired me to go with a bigger tank 2 yrs ago. I would be up for making the drive up from SC to help out as well.

 

[nightOwl]

If you need any help I'm not that far away

Yes Ashburn is not that far away from me either.

Maybe we could all just get together on a Sat am for breakfast and some saltwater therapy.

I found it best sometimes to go look at some of the other builds, not always the big and flashy ones, but those that are having my same problems and see how they worked around them.

As most know, life comes first. This hobby is not for the high speed/paced type person. It is a slow down and watch, one. Frankly I like to go outside and watch the sunrise over a beach. I can sit for an hour, daily, every morning, on vacation. While most get bored or want to find something else to do. I enjoy watching the little details.

I am headed on vacation starting this weekend other wise I would say "I'll bring Krispy Kreme's for Saturday...." hahaha


Any updated pictures?

<edit>
I just looked at your pictures...

Do you need some help next time? I can carry your bag and swap out lenses. I know how to carry memory cards and have no problem being a step stool.

That's sounds like a plan. Henry let us know when you want us over. Ill bring beverages.

Henry your build was what inspired me to go with a bigger tank 2 yrs ago. I would be up for making the drive up from SC to help out as well.

Guys thanks so much for the support. We might actually need to arrange this one Saturday. Meet for breakfast then come look at the tank.
I am on day two in a row of getting back to the swing of things. Krispy Kreme would definitely be welcomed! I had some last week and I must say the new Caramel Chocolate Chip Cake doughnut is so good. Good as in I ate 3 in one sitting. Maple Iced glazed are also on my favorite list!

Tonight I cleaned the skimmer, tested my magnesium levels, and did a water change today. Not something I normally would be excited about but I think I can bring the tank back. I have found that most of my montis did not like what ever it was that was/is going wrong and have since died off. I will take some more pictures this week to show the full extent but I had to bring out the camera to snap a few. I will also get the trimmers out and get rid of the dead parts of the coral. Part of me wants to just let things go and and see what happens. Some of the older corals are more resilient to changes in water chemistry.

I currently have a few issues going on so I need to come up with a strategy for the best plan of attack over the next few weeks.

• Algae Issues!!!!!!
• A Mean Killer Fish (Blue Spotted Tang)
• Low Magnesium
• Multiple Dieing corals

I will try to get better pictures but these are the things I am facing now when I look at the tank.

Since the last update I have also lost three more fish. My Red Velvet Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis) got spooked and somehow ended upside down stuck for two days. By the time I found him he could not swim anymore and the hermits consumed him. The other two fish were two new Blue Eyed Cardinal (Zoramia leptacantha). The Blue Spotted Tang is the one who killed them. I am going to remove him as soon as I get a few hours to catch him. He killed both of them within 24 hours of being put in the tank.

IMG_7177 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr

I also added a very small McCosker's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus mccoskeri) wrasse. He is still alive and doing well and growing so I am happy. When I got him he was tiny!


IMG_7165 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


Algae issue

IMG_8140 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr

STN

IMG_8141 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr

Was Sunset Monti

IMG_8142 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr

Was a Tri-color Acro

IMG_8144 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr

Was a Blue Tipped Acro

IMG_8146 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr

Also since the last update I went on vacation to the Dominican Republic
the link below is some of the pictures I took.

Vacation Pictures

Excursion Pictures

worm5406 - I only carried one lense this time man. Next year I think we are hitting the rain forest so I might need to carry a few : ). Enjoy your vacation if I do not update before the weekend.
​

 

[RJT]

Glad you're back in the game.

Sorry about your losses in fish and corals. Have you checked ph, phosphate and nitrate levels? Since you have some cyano, when is the last time you changed your bulbs? May just be a little extra nutrients in the water.

I noticed in every picture of dead coral there is another coral(s) next to it that looks good.

Definitely a go with meeting up and getting donuts. Its never a bad time for one or six.

 

[roni]

Henry,

Sorry to hear about the losses. I can definitely commiserate as life has negatively affected my tank as well. However, given how nice your tank has looked in the past, I'm sure it will be up there quickly.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Sorry for your lost but glad you didn't quit. I was going to bug you like those individuals that post only once on many forums so they can meet the minimum requirement..

 

[SPotter]

Maybe Wayne can post the picture of him riding the pink bike to cheer you up a little....:rollface:

All kidding aside.....glad you're hanging in there Henry. Is the STN starting from the tips or the base?

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Maybe Wayne can post the picture of him riding the pink bike to cheer you up a little....:rollface:

All kidding aside.....glad you're hanging in there Henry. Is the STN starting from the tips or the base?

:furious::furious::furious: You will pay for that sir. Don't make me ride my bike up there.
:lmao::lmao::lmao:

 

[SPotter]

:furious::furious::furious: You will pay for that sir. Don't make me ride my bike up there.
:lmao::lmao::lmao:

Sorry Wayne....I just couldn't resist!!!! If it makes you feel better, I have to say that picture is one of my all time favorite pictures ever posted on RC! :beer:

 

[RJT]

Maybe Wayne can post the picture of him riding the pink bike to cheer you up a little....:rollface:

We all need to see this pic as well.

Come on Wayne, do the right thing

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Sorry Wayne....I just couldn't resist!!!! If it makes you feel better, I have to say that picture is one of my all time favorite pictures ever posted on RC! :beer:

I am honored and want to say that was smooth how you got your self out of that.

Maybe Wayne can post the picture of him riding the pink bike to cheer you up a little....:rollface:

We all need to see this pic as well.

Come on Wayne, do the right thing

Sure Spike.

Is this better?

 

[RJT]

Now those pictures say more than a 1000 words

 

[roni]

There are times you're really glad you followed a reefcentral thread....

 

[SPotter]

Who needs FedEx Fridays when you this to look at!

 

[nightOwl]

Glad you're back in the game.

Sorry about your losses in fish and corals. Have you checked ph, phosphate and nitrate levels? Since you have some cyano, when is the last time you changed your bulbs? May just be a little extra nutrients in the water.

I noticed in every picture of dead coral there is another coral(s) next to it that looks good.

Definitely a go with meeting up and getting donuts. Its never a bad time for one or six.

Richard - The losses are painful when I know how nice my tank has looked in the past. I think some of the corals you see that are still making it are ones I have had for many years now. I am glad it was not a total loss for the corals I have in the tank and also that the little wrasse made it. I checked the phosphates and they measure at zero but something is there. I am thinking the algae is consuming it before the levels are detectable. I will go back and check the last time I changed bulbs that may also be an issue.

Henry,

Sorry to hear about the losses. I can definitely commiserate as life has negatively affected my tank as well. However, given how nice your tank has looked in the past, I'm sure it will be up there quickly.

roni - Thanks as well. I am still trying to find that balance but I am getting into a routine so things may turn around in a month or two or at least I hope so.

Sorry for your lost but glad you didn't quit. I was going to bug you like those individuals that post only once on many forums so they can meet the minimum requirement..

Wayne - I am still hanging in there man. I don't plan on quitting any time soon. I am back to being motivated now thanks to you guys. LOL about the posting.

Maybe Wayne can post the picture of him riding the pink bike to cheer you up a little....:rollface:

All kidding aside.....glad you're hanging in there Henry. Is the STN starting from the tips or the base?

Steve - Having seen the picture I have to give you a special thank you for coaxing Wayne to post...lol. I am having STNing form all parts of the corals. Some in the middle, some bottom, some on the tips. That is the frustrating part that is not from one place!!!!!

I am honored and want to say that was smooth how you got your self out of that.

Sure Spike.

Is this better?

Wayne - This is one of the funniest pictures I have seen in a while and thanks for posting it. Please tell me its one of your kids bikes...lol. Nice paint job...LOL.

 

[nightOwl]

General Updates - Back to Basics

Today I took some time to do some of the basic things I have not done in a while. I removed some sediment from the sump, blasted the skimmer pump, put three pumps in vinegar baths. I actually removed the two WP-40 and put my Tunze's (6105) back in the tank today. I noticed that the WP-40 require frequent cleaning to perform at peak power. Right now I do not have the time to clean them every 1-1/2 to two weeks. If they are not cleaned they seem to push less water. That also could have been a contributor to my algae issues. Today I also went back to Two Little Fishes again. I took the time to make sure the dosage was right for my tank volume and since the two part contains magnesium as well I hope that the water chemistry balances out once again. I will test in the next few days to see where things are and supplement with BRS to get to the correct levels.​

General Updates - Removing dead corals

I will have pictures tomorrow but today I started removing the dead corals from the tank. The tank is looking better already with the dead corals gone. The ones that are hanging on seem stressed but they are still growing. While I was in the tank I took the time to turkey blast the cyno away as well and also cleaned the glass on the tank. So far I have 1/2 gallon jug of dead corals. Actually its probably more because I have my giant Sunset Monti colony I lost. There is a 1" section that was still holding on so I trimmed it and kept it in the tank. My shamrock monti was another one that was almost completely wiped out. There is a 1/2 rim still holding on. I am hoping that with more stable water chemistry the corals will bounce back. Tomorrow I will start on the frag tank.​

 

[nightOwl]

General Updates - Dead Corals Removed

By Sunday I had finally removed all the dead corals from the display and the frag tank. The picture below shows how much I was able to get rid of. The second picture is all Sunset Monti it shows the mother colony and some of the frags that I had. You will notice the frags are mini colonies to some but they are just frags to me...lol. The largest one was my mother colony and I am hoping that the little piece I was able to save will come back.

Half a gallon of dead corals

Dead Corals by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr

Sunset Monti Corals

Sunset Monti Colony and frags by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr

​

General Updates - McCosker's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus mccoskeri)

The little guy is growing fast and starting to come out more. He still stays to one side of the tank but no one bothers him and he is not camera shy. Tonight I was able to snap a few pictures of him. I did not turn off the pumps so the picture has a lot of spots in it but it shows that he is coloring up nicely.

McCosker's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus mccoskeri) - 08/2013

McCosker's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus mccoskeri) by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr​

 

[RJT]

That's a great start to having the tank the way you want it.

Beautiful wrasse.

Thanks for the update on the powerheads and good luck with maintaining the proper levels for your tank. I really look forward to a fts one day when you get it squared away.

 

[SPotter]

amazing

someone is looking for access to the forsale threads!!!

 

[nightOwl]

That's a great start to having the tank the way you want it.

Beautiful wrasse.

Thanks for the update on the powerheads and good luck with maintaining the proper levels for your tank. I really look forward to a fts one day when you get it squared away.

Richard - Slowly but surely I plan on getting back to what it use to be. I might get around to taking a FTS this week. I am having some issues with the lights after a firmware upgrade. I am hoping there are not issues with the wrasse as he gets bigger. I am down to two now and itching for a new one already...lol.

someone is looking for access to the forsale threads!!!

Steve - I saw that earlier maybe the mods removed it. It sucks when people try to get their count up like that. I think this morning he had 50 posts.

 

[worm5406]

OK no problem on the Krispy Kremes... I will get them and even get the ones you like.

You set the date and we will be there.

Make it an all day affair and we can chip in for lunch.


Yeah he had 50 posts... I reported him and he was taken care of... LOL
If you see something like that click on the report button in the corner. It helps us get them removed.