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[ca1ore]

Something Very Cool

Something Very Cool

When I set up my current tank, I included a RDSB in the design - a 20L with essentially nothing but about 6" of the really fine sand and a bit of rubble out of the live rock bin at my LFS. Not really sure whether its doing anything or not. Violated the first principle of experimentation by adding multiple variables in at the same time. Anyhow, been seeing lots of worm tracks against the glass inside the sand, but yesterday, at night, I shone a flashlight into the tank and saw clouds of tiny copepods dancing just above the sand. Very cool, and no, I cannot take a picture :lol:. Really small, smaller than the tiger pods, but goes along way to explaining how my Mandarin looks so healthy even though I never see it eat any of the prepared foods I offer.

 

[worm5406]

That is pretty cool. I had a SB in my sump when I put it on my 180. I have since had to replace it do to a crack, and never added it back. I would see all sorts of things swimming and playing down there.

 

[ca1ore]

Still having some GHA issues in my frag tank. It's connected into the main display system though no GHA anywhere else. Bit of a mystery actually. Herbivores eat just about any algae in the main tank, but I have no herbivores in my refugiums and no GHA there. So why just in the frag tank. Put a scopas tang in there a month or so back; completely useless as an algae eater (despite being touted as an excellent one ) Got a small powder blue in QT that I plan to put in the frag tank as well (should be OK for a while until bigger digs required), so hopefully it will be a bit better. May also have to revisit the lights; perhaps just too much or too long.

My continuing inability to resist buying fish, when I was at my LFS getting the PB, I also came home with a quintet of Evansi Anthias. Anthias are my favorite fish (at the moment, at least ) so I just could not resist. More so than most anthias, these little buggers require frequent feedings of smaller foods.

 

[ca1ore]

Triton Results

Triton Results

Had my water tested via the new (to me, at least) Triton testing service. Results were:





Pretty good I guess. Apparently the Br/Li deviations are a result of the alt mix. Cu seems curious, and I can supplement with Mb if necessary. Not sure how to paste in a clearer version (but I will do it in English next time )

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Tank looks beautiful with the Kessil Additions.

 

[worm5406]

Hummm... Copper... Interesting.. I can not see the ppm.

 

[ca1ore]

Hummm... Copper... Interesting.. I can not see the ppm.

Yeah, sorry, couldn't figure out how to paste in a clearer image. Cu at 2.5 ug/l; which is 0.0025 ppm if I calculate properly. So pretty low, but interesting nonetheless. I know a few folks who have had similar reading come back suggesting that it may be residual in our salt mixes.

 

[ca1ore]

No Maintenance Calcium Reactor

No Maintenance Calcium Reactor

Have had this MTC Calcium Reactor for over a decade. It's well built but like most units, has been a pain to keep dialed in. No longer! Thanks to a few smart folks, I have now added a Masterflex continuous duty peristaltic pump (it's old and bought used, but these things appear to be borderline bullet proof), adjusted the effluent output from cylinder one to be from the top, and presto, no adjusting. Also added a pH probe and removed the venting float so I can add in more media.



Anyone with a similar wish, check out this:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2368618&highlight=masterflex

Another example of why RC is such an awesome resource. Some knuckleheads, sure, but also some awfully ingenious folks.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Another example of why RC is such an awesome resource. Some knuckleheads, sure, but also some awfully ingenious folks.

I totally agree with you. I joined up in 2009 and didn't do my first build until late 2011. I have learned lots from reading other threads and builds.

 

[ca1ore]

Dither (Smaller) Fish

Dither (Smaller) Fish

I now have a number of smaller anthias in QT that are planned additons to this tank (or possibly my 90 gallon FOWLRwGSP) .....




First picture is of a group of five Evansi Antuias. Generally quite difficult to get feeding, though in QT I have been able to get them to eat quite. I may put these into my FOWLR, where they can grow a bit first. Second picture is of a group of seven Resplendent Anthias, much easier to get eating, so they will go into the main display since the QT period is up.

Sorry for the dodgy picture quality.

 

[ca1ore]

Had been having some STN issues on a few of my SPS colonies back in December and January - not really sure why. Water quality was fine, maybe alk a bit low, but otherwise something of a mystery. Lost a couple of smaller colonies, and had to frag one of the big ones, but at this point appears to be behind me.

Calcium reactor with the masterflex pump has proven to be a big jump forward - not sure why I didn't do it years ago. I'm actually to the point now where I may be able to stop dosing 2-part, and just retain it for emergencies. We shall see!

I really like the Kessil lights and have stopped running my halides completely. All my corals seem to really like the new lights, though they are very bright and it is all too easy to run them too high, too soon.

Not so new magnifica anemone is doing well, note growth in the two pictures (I estimate foot is 50% bigger than it was when I first got it); though it has lost a bit of its intense coloring due to, I believe, a much higher light level in my tank.




Local reefer was rehoming his Desjardin sailfin, so I now have a replacement for the one that died mysteriously late last year. One of my absolute favorite Tangs.




I also picked up a really cute juvenile Regal Angel that is currently in my FOWLR/Grow Out tank. Never had one this young before, with spot intact. Eating better than any other regal I ever had. A while before its display-ready though.



My large Squamosa clam looks like its going to be a permanent resident of my frag tank. Something in the display keeps nipping at it (probably one of the dwarf angels). Resplendent anthias are doing great; eating everything, so just a matter of time before it's into the main display.

Been having a debate elsewhere here on RC about the relative merits of removing detritus and vacuuming the sand bed. I do neither, haven't in the almost 18 months this tank has been setup, and have no plans to start. Will be interesting to see, as time goes on, whether the dire predictions for such shoddy husbandry will prove prescient or not.

 

[dave.m]

If you have a a clean-up crew there won't be a need for you to manually maintain your substrate. If you don't have a CUC it might not be a problem until the substrate is disturbed.

Dave.M

 

[ca1ore]

Oh, I agree. Lots of CUC members and a pair of sand-sleeping wrasses.

 

[ca1ore]

Firmware upgrades scare me; bricked a video processor a few years ago and didn't want to do that with my Apex so I've been procrastinating. Figured I'd need it for the new Vortech QD that I have on order. So, took a deep breath, and did the upgrade. It took three minutes, and it was done. OK, had to clear the cache on my computer in order to display the dashboard, but that was it. Easy peasy! How many months have I been missing using Fusion

 

[worm5406]

Quite a few... I love it. I was leery at first too. I backed it all up and click, upgrade successful.

 

[ca1ore]

Feb 2015

Feb 2015

 

[dave.m]

Really nice! Pyramid butterflies are a personal favourite.

Dave.M

 

[Wazzel]

Very nice tank Simon.

 

[ca1ore]

Heaters Died ....

Heaters Died ....

Better than corals or fish, but had two heaters stop working ..... on successive days. Most curious. I use reliable ones, or so I thought; and of course I only have one spare on hand. One that died was almost 8 years old but the other less than one.

 

[worm5406]

Strange on the timing of the heaters. Were they on the same elec circuit or phase? Wonder if something happened and they got shorted out.