d2mini's "Essential Focus" Mixed Reef Build

[VJV]

Have you had any insight to what's new and why it makes sense to wait for it? I am on the fence right now between this and Apex. Never had a controller before. Being in Europe I guess the Profilux will be better value (no import taxes) but the Apex seems to be more up to date and above all easier to program and generally fiddle with. What are your thoughts?




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[d2mini]

Have you had any insight to what's new and why it makes sense to wait for it? I am on the fence right now between this and Apex. Never had a controller before. Being in Europe I guess the Profilux will be better value (no import taxes) but the Apex seems to be more up to date and above all easier to program and generally fiddle with. What are your thoughts?




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Just what I've seen on reeeef builders so far.
And...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNGoly8WKMk&feature=youtu.be

 

[drummerboyevil]

My god that thing looks so much better (aesthetically) than the new apex.

 

[d2mini]

My god that thing looks so much better (aesthetically) than the new apex.

Pretty much anything looks better than the new Apex. :facepalm:

 

[drummerboyevil]

Also, they should sell their lights and controller with the transparent housings. Looks awesome haha.

 

[VJV]

Pretty much anything looks better than the new Apex. :facepalm:

[emoji23] definitely!


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[biecacka]

True to that!!:lol:
GHL makes some good looking products for sure!

Corey

 

[Grayhead]

8 days and no updates? You must have something up your sleeves.

 

[d2mini]

8 days and no updates? You must have something up your sleeves.

LOL, i know, right?

Been busy with other stuff. Everyday i think i'm going to take a few new pics and then before I know it the tank is dark. haha

 

[Grayhead]

I understand all about life getting in the way of our hobby. I was expecting a big change with all the silence.

 

[d2mini]

ok, here's a small project I've been working on.
Found a spot for a "somewhat temporary" quarantine tank.
So I decided to give the whole QT thing a go again.
Haven't had good luck in the past but that's kinda why I want to try it again.
Will only be for fish, so not full proof by any means, but it's something.

Here's the equipment rundown...

20g Long from Petco
HOB filter with sponge and biomedia.
Biofilter Sponge for more bio filtering and more aeration.
Silent-Air backup airstone for potential power outages.
50w heater
Stick-on temp strip
Seachem Ammonia Monitor
Extra sponges for the HOB
PVC for hiding places
Extra sponges for the HOB
Net and bucket just for this setup

Meds currently on hand...
Cupramine (and Seachem copper test kit)
Prazipro
KanaPlex
MetroPlex
MelaFix
PimaFix

It's been running and is cycled.
The wrasse and tang just went in today.
Observation for a couple days and then need to decide what to do about meds.
Advice/tips appreciated!

 

[mpderksen]

d2mini's "Essential Focus" Mixed Reef Build

How do I have the EXACT same QT setup, yet yours looks better. I even had the same fish. #giftedreefer

 

[reefwars]

Builds looking great Dennis I check in every few days always a good read

 

[dtum]

How do I have the EXACT same QT setup, yet yours looks better. I even had the same fish. #giftedreefer

The trick is in leveling the tank properly.

 

[Johnseye]

ok, here's a small project I've been working on.
Found a spot for a "somewhat temporary" quarantine tank.
So I decided to give the whole QT thing a go again.
Haven't had good luck in the past but that's kinda why I want to try it again.
Will only be for fish, so not full proof by any means, but it's something.

Here's the equipment rundown...

20g Long from Petco
HOB filter with sponge and biomedia.
Biofilter Sponge for more bio filtering and more aeration.
Silent-Air backup airstone for potential power outages.
50w heater
Stick-on temp strip
Seachem Ammonia Monitor
Extra sponges for the HOB
PVC for hiding places
Extra sponges for the HOB
Net and bucket just for this setup

Meds currently on hand...
Cupramine (and Seachem copper test kit)
Prazipro
KanaPlex
MetroPlex
MelaFix
PimaFix

It's been running and is cycled.
The wrasse and tang just went in today.
Observation for a couple days and then need to decide what to do about meds.
Advice/tips appreciated!

Are you prophylacticly treating with any meds?

 

[d2mini]

The trick is in leveling the tank properly.

Dude, it's totally level.
The water is higher on the right only because that's where the bigger fish is.
It's called Water Displacement. Duh! :thumbsup:

Are you prophylacticly treating with any meds?

Just started some Prazipro last night.
Will run through that and then decide if I want to do copper.
Everything I read says wrasses are very sensitive to copper especially cupramine, so not sure.
Visually, everyone looks fine so far. All normal behavior. The wrasse eats no problem, anything I put in there. The tang seems to be picking on the nori. I put it in the tank in the evening, it looks barely touched the next morning, but when I get home after work it's completely gone.
So someone is eating it.

 

[drauka99]

try rubber banding it to a rock or piece of pvc, the one I had was never wild for nori off a clip.

Prazi is probably all I would do with just observation. I plan to use TTM and Prazi for all my future systems. Personally I view copper treatment as a last resort.

 

[Johnseye]

Just started some Prazipro last night.
Will run through that and then decide if I want to do copper.
Everything I read says wrasses are very sensitive to copper especially cupramine, so not sure.
Visually, everyone looks fine so far. All normal behavior. The wrasse eats no problem, anything I put in there. The tang seems to be picking on the nori. I put it in the tank in the evening, it looks barely touched the next morning, but when I get home after work it's completely gone.
So someone is eating it.

Just my experience for what it's worth...

I aerate as much as possible when any meds are in the tank. Prazi, copper, CP, antibiotics, whatever. I use 2 airstones, I use a screen top, no glass, and not open cause I don't want anyone jumping.

I use an MP10 in one tank where I can control the flow and 2 powerheads in another, one with very low current and one high. I'll alternate low and high currents night and day. My thought behind this is same as the DT. Give em some current to swim in during the day and allow them to rest at night.

I've used copper and CP both to treat after signs and prophylacticly. I've lost fish in all those situations. CP is much gentler compared to copper. Both are inferior to TTM for crypto. TTM puts very little stress on the fish, provided the salinity and temp is matched. You're going to pay more for salt and have more effort involved in the tank cleaning/setup but is less effort compared to buying and losing fish. This will take care of ich. I'll do this first, then prazi after the full 4 change cycle unless the fish isn't eating after a couple days and I suspect flukes are the cause. Also if I suspect flukes I'll give them a 5 min. freshwater dip to give immediate relief. Then wait a day before using praziquantel. I try to make it as stress free as possible.

I've had some success with CP, (don't mix CP with Prazipro. You can use General Cure instead which is has praziquantel in it but not an additive which causes bacterial blooms) but the issue I've had with CP is adding it back after water changes. Because you can't test to measure the level in the water it's a risk when adding it back.

I have formalin on hand but recently picked up acriflavine instead if I need to treat for velvet. I have Kanaplex, Metro and Furan on hand, but bacterial infections act super fast and ID'ing the type to match can be tricky. I just picked up Nitrofuracin Green which is a broad spectrum antibiotic. I'll be giving that a try next.

As far as feeding goes, I've got about 7 different types of foods and I'll try em all out until I note interest. It helps to hide off to the side and watch because new fish can be a bit shy about eating while being watched. I'll also use Selcon especially when the fish has a parasite or bacteria to help with its immune system.

Being prepared to immediately respond to anything you see is critical because when you see it, it's already late in the game. I've lost a lot of fish and at least for me it still hurts with each loss. I know I'm not alone because in my search for solace I've talked with people who have a lot more experience than me but still experience fish deaths. I've also talked with LFS owners who say they've never seen velvet or brook before, which I find hard to believe, but that's another topic. For now I've armed myself with some knowledge, medicines and technique to get fish disease free into the DT. Like everything else in this hobby it takes a long time and effort, but worth every bit of it.

 

[d2mini]

Thanks, John.


So just fed again and the tang is eating the frozen LRS so now I know they are both eating well. And again, the nori clip was picked clean when I got home.

 

[acer]

Ya, off to a good start.