DanW's 187 SPS Dominated Reef Journal
- Thread starter DanW
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saltyg135er
New member
Upgrade I hope 
DanW
Certified Stick Killer
Hey guys...yup it's my old rock cycling. When I took down my tank and move it into the tub I didn't have room for about half of the rock so I soaked it in bleach and dried it out. We've found a new home and hope to close it in July so I'm starting to take the first steps on getting the tank back up.
The tub has somewhat stabilized but there have been many coral casualties. I'd say 40-50 percent or so but luckily I only lost one fish from my son's nano. It killed me to see so many of the pieces die, most replaceable but some that will be hard if not impossible to find. It was hard to look into the tub and even to log onto RC. But I gotta admit it was kind of a nice psudo break from the hobby. I'm looking forward to getting her back up and running though.
The tub has somewhat stabilized but there have been many coral casualties. I'd say 40-50 percent or so but luckily I only lost one fish from my son's nano. It killed me to see so many of the pieces die, most replaceable but some that will be hard if not impossible to find. It was hard to look into the tub and even to log onto RC. But I gotta admit it was kind of a nice psudo break from the hobby. I'm looking forward to getting her back up and running though.
pookstreet
Registered Stick Killer
Happy, happy...........Joy, joy...........Congrats on the new pad :celeb3:
DanW
Certified Stick Killer
Thanks guys. We were starting to get a little nervous about finding a house. We even started considering "alternatives" in order to get the kids enrolled in a school but that would have committed us to purchasing in a specific area. Man kids make things difficult...but I wouldn't have it any other way.
ryshark
Active member
Congrats on finding the new place in the area you wanted Dan. What area is this you found with the good schools? I'm going to have to make the same decision in a few years myself for my kid(s) my wife is being persistent on a second child..... :love1::headwally::spin2::celeb3:
DanW
Certified Stick Killer
How old is your oldest? I would really suggest that you move while they are young as I believe that it's best for the kids to settle in and make friends before they have to change schools (middle/high). For us we focused in on three areas (Irvine, Fountain Valley and North Tustin) based on being relatively central to OC (freeway access) and most importantly the schools. These areas have strong schools (elementary/middle/high) based on the API results here. Of course you need to find the area within the area (if you know what I mean) but they all had plusses and minuses so it came down to finding a house we liked. While I understand that API scores are not the end all, be all I believe it's a strong indicator of the schools quality and gives the kids a higher percentage of succeeding. If you can get the inside scoop on how involved the parents are in the school that is also a huge factor. We happened to find a place in North Tustin but would have been happy to be in any of the other areas. (BTW if our first gave us as much trouble as our second I might have only had one...just sayin' :fun5
DanW
Certified Stick Killer
Thanks Brett...seems like I've been away for a long time. It will still be a while till I get the display back up and running but at least there is light at the end of the tunnel. After I get back up and running I'll try to catalogue the pieces I lost :sad2:
ryshark
Active member
How old is your oldest? I would really suggest that you move while they are young as I believe that it's best for the kids to settle in and make friends before they have to change schools (middle/high). For us we focused in on three areas (Irvine, Fountain Valley and North Tustin) based on being relatively central to OC (freeway access) and most importantly the schools. These areas have strong schools (elementary/middle/high) based on the API results here. Of course you need to find the area within the area (if you know what I mean) but they all had plusses and minuses so it came down to finding a house we liked. While I understand that API scores are not the end all, be all I believe it’s a strong indicator of the schools quality and gives the kids a higher percentage of succeeding. If you can get the inside scoop on how involved the parents are in the school that is also a huge factor. We happened to find a place in North Tustin but would have been happy to be in any of the other areas. (BTW if our first gave us as much trouble as our second I might have only had one...just sayin' :fun5
Congrats again on landing the house you wanted in the area you desired. I think Irvine and North Tustin are very nice areas.
Your last sentence scares me, I'm ok with only one kid as it is now, however, my wife wants a second. I will give in because I think it is good for kids to have at least one sibling. I have a feeling when the second one comes someday that he<-- (wishful thinking on my part) will be trouble because my first and only kid has been great; all things considered.
My son is only 2-years old, so we still have some time to find the right schools. I completely agree it is ideal to make the move even before he starts school if possible. Since friends do seem to carry over from elementary to jr high to high school. My wife is also big on the API scores within the schools. That is a good link above, thanks, it is better than the one my wife showed me a few months ago. Although it is a little close to the sun, our goal is to eventually move to Yorba Linda, most their schools also have great API scores and that area works well for me because I work in the IE, so it is fairly close.
I'm looking forward to seeing your tank up and running again soon.
SoCal LowBaller
New member
wow dan if you need help moving the tank you know we can help. my brother finially getting his tank together. happy you guys found a place
saltyg135er
New member
Congrats on your new place. Cant wait too see everything back in the tank.
DanW
Certified Stick Killer
Thanks man, you SGV guys are clutch and I really appreciate your help. But JT is having a frag...the reefing is gonna get cut back :eek2:
Thanks Michael, trying to get the inital prep work done...just ordered the plumbing supplies.
he told me there is no such thing as downgrade or quitting. there is only upgrades hahahaha good to hear dan. again like my brother said just let us know we can help. good luck you guys do home inspection and stuff yet?
DanW
Certified Stick Killer
Hey Sanh, glad to hear that your tank is coming together. Do you have a thread somewhere? Yeah, that's what everyone says then the little frag comes along then whoa, man am I tired now I gotta go do a water change :fun5: But I do think it's in his blood so maybe you're right...I think he should go against the grain and do an upgrade after the baby comes :lol: Home inspection and all the other stuff has cleared just waiting for the close on 7/1!
Reef_Noob
New member
I browsed through your entire thread. I am really glad I came across it. You have so well documented everything. It's a real inspiration.
Sad that you had to take down your amazing tank. But its really exciting that ur gonna start again and I am so sure it's gonna be excellent.
How do you like your bubble king skimmer? How's it been for ya?
I'm in process of a sump upgrade and I just got a bubble king skimmer.
At what water level (in sump) do ya run the skimmer?
Your close up coral shots are beautiful. What camera are ya using?
Sorry for asking too many questions.
Please do visit my thread and I'm welcoming ur suggestions. I hope I can document my build like you.
Your wrasse selection is just cool. I'm planning to stock some flasher filament wrasses, their interaction with each other is like watching a firework display. Just cool.
Please do keep updating on your process
Good luck to ya bro
Sad that you had to take down your amazing tank. But its really exciting that ur gonna start again and I am so sure it's gonna be excellent.
How do you like your bubble king skimmer? How's it been for ya?
I'm in process of a sump upgrade and I just got a bubble king skimmer.
At what water level (in sump) do ya run the skimmer?
Your close up coral shots are beautiful. What camera are ya using?
Sorry for asking too many questions.
Please do visit my thread and I'm welcoming ur suggestions. I hope I can document my build like you.
Your wrasse selection is just cool. I'm planning to stock some flasher filament wrasses, their interaction with each other is like watching a firework display. Just cool.
Please do keep updating on your process
Good luck to ya bro
DanW
Certified Stick Killer
Thanks for the kind words and for stopping by...great place to learn what not to do :lmao:.
I love BK skimmers, this is my second one. There are many other excellent skimmers out there and maybe ones that are better for the buck but I've found them to be reliable and dead silent. My skimmer sits in around 9" of water.
As far as the camera I'm using a Canon XTI and the macros are shot with a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 macro lens. I always shoot the macros with a tripod. I need to learn how to shoot the fish and get a better (faster) lens.
Belial
New member
How goes it Dan? How's everyone else doing? Been awhile since I have been on here. Checking to see how progress goes. Been busy with my lil frag. I haven't been able to get my 90gal up yet. Work schedule has me bouncing around all hours of the night.
Best Wishes
Happy New Year!
Best Wishes
Happy New Year!
