DanW's 187 SPS Dominated Reef Journal

[Lightsluvr]

Dan -

Went back several pages to try to learn what caused your problems...between your thread and pooky's, I am really getting bummed about SPS!

It sounds like your issues have stabilized...can you summarize what problems you analyzed as the cause of your problems? I read about the refractometer, and that has caused me to order some calibration fluid. Like EdReef, I have always used RO/DI to "check" the device, not realizing that's not the best way!

Good luck and hope your tank continues to bounce back!

LL

 

[DanW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15671399#post15671399 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mylittlejade
I wanted to make the trip but I was with the family. I will be going to the RAP for sure I need to go dig for some new frags.

See you at RAP if not sooner! Saw your post good luck with the frag search.

 

[DanW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15677512#post15677512 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saltyg135er
Hey Dan,
What kind of fish is that? My friend just got something similar today Bodianus Masudia. Is that the same fish, he want's to know does it jump? Thanks

Michael

That's the fish and it is my understanding that they jump, I'd definitely cover the top.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15677710#post15677710 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dave's Reef
Nice... a Peppermint Hogfish, SHWEET!!!

I had one of those but he didn't live for long unfortunately. I'm looking to get another if one happens along my way.

Thanks Dave. I did see the pic that you posted of yours and it was the first time I'd seen one. Sucks that you lost yours and hope you find another soon.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15677966#post15677966 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dejavu
Love the Peppermint Hogfish Dan!

Thanks Brian, when I saw him, I had to have him. Great colors.

 

[DanW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15677772#post15677772 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pookstreet
Cool fish, Dan. But it's that watermelon chalice that caught my attention

Thanks Kenny...oh and you mean this little guy?

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15678999#post15678999 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DanW
Thanks Kenny...oh and you mean this little guy?

Showoff :lol:

Nice hog Dan, I have tried 3 myself :sad1: but thats a whole different story.

 

[DanW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15678165#post15678165 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lightsluvr
Dan -

Went back several pages to try to learn what caused your problems...between your thread and pooky's, I am really getting bummed about SPS!

It sounds like your issues have stabilized...can you summarize what problems you analyzed as the cause of your problems? I read about the refractometer, and that has caused me to order some calibration fluid. Like EdReef, I have always used RO/DI to "check" the device, not realizing that's not the best way!

Good luck and hope your tank continues to bounce back!

LL

Hey George, thanks for stopping by again.

Well it was a bunch of bad circumstances caused by poor husbandry practices that I think caused my issues. Here's a summary:

1) I changed out my metal halides and possibly acclimated my corals too quickly. I acclimated over a course of a week but from feedback I've received I should have done so over at least a two week period.
2) Allowed my PH probes to get out of calibration. This caused the effluent in the CA reactor to be much lower than normal and spiked my Alk (twice in 3 weeks).
3) Allowed my refractometer to get out of calibration. So although I was doing regular water changes with what I thought was 35 ppt the real salinity was 30 ppt. So over the course of several water changes the tank's salinity dropped to 30 ppt.

My best guess is that all of these issues converging severely stressed the SPS to the point where several colonies and frags started dieing off. This experience was a valuable albeit costly (monetary and emotionally) lesson. It has given me a renewed appreciation of the efforts of those reefers with fantastic tanks. Just when you think you have it down, this hobby has a way of throwing another curve ball at you. Thanks for asking and for the well wishes.

 

[DanW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15679016#post15679016 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mpoletti
Showoff :lol:

Nice hog Dan, I have tried 3 myself :sad1: but thats a whole different story.

Fake background, stolen picture and Photo Shopped on top of that.

Did you find the hog a tough fish to keep? Do you know why yours died?

 

[aquariumclown]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15679201#post15679201 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DanW
Hey George, thanks for stopping by again.

Well it was a bunch of bad circumstances caused by poor husbandry practices that I think caused my issues. Here's a summary:

1) I changed out my metal halides and possibly acclimated my corals too quickly. I acclimated over a course of a week but from feedback I've received I should have done so over at least a two week period.
2) Allowed my PH probes to get out of calibration. This caused the effluent in the CA reactor to be much lower than normal and spiked my Alk (twice in 3 weeks).
3) Allowed my refractometer to get out of calibration. So although I was doing regular water changes with what I thought was 35 ppt the real salinity was 30 ppt. So over the course of several water changes the tank's salinity dropped to 30 ppt.

My best guess is that all of these issues converging severely stressed the SPS to the point where several colonies and frags started dieing off. This experience was a valuable albeit costly (monetary and emotionally) lesson. It has given me a renewed appreciation of the efforts of those reefers with fantastic tanks. Just when you think you have it down, this hobby has a way of throwing another curve ball at you. Thanks for asking and for the well wishes.

Yea this hobby does that to you sometimes. Makes me think that we all need to keep 2 sets of everything. 2 return pumps, 2 ph monitors, 2 fractos, 2 girlfriends.....

:lol:

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15679227#post15679227 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DanW


Did you find the hog a tough fish to keep? Do you know why yours died?

One jumped through nettting, One found the vortech one evening and the other one was punked by my old rosy scales wrasse.

 

[pookstreet]

Nice watermelon, Dan!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15679332#post15679332 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aquariumclown
Yea this hobby does that to you sometimes. Makes me think that we all need to keep 2 sets of everything. 2 return pumps, 2 ph monitors, 2 fractos, 2 girlfriends.....

:lol:

Leo, you mean you don't do that already??? It's always been like that for me. Just don't tell my wife :rollface:

 

[aquariumclown]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15679563#post15679563 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pookstreet
Nice watermelon, Dan!





Leo, you mean you don't do that already??? It's always been like that for me. Just don't tell my wife :rollface:

I did, but one jumped out so now I need a replacement, I didn't use proper netting...ahem cuffs..:rollface:

 

[pookstreet]

:lol: Sorry Dan, for hijacking your thread. It's all Leo's fault.

 

[aquariumclown]

Yea sorry Dan, Kenny made me do it.

I'm serious about the equipment though, should double up on everything, like they do the space shuttle.

 

[DanW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15679516#post15679516 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mpoletti
One jumped through nettting, One found the vortech one evening and the other one was punked by my old rosy scales wrasse.

Didn't the Rosy Scales also kill one of your other fish? That is one bad arse fish!

 

[DanW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15679332#post15679332 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aquariumclown
Yea this hobby does that to you sometimes. Makes me think that we all need to keep 2 sets of everything. 2 return pumps, 2 ph monitors, 2 fractos, 2 girlfriends.....

:lol:

Great idea Leo! I'm going to bring that up with my wife as she approves (at least the one's that I can't hide from her) all of my purchases. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to slip the "one" item by her. She might want to go to RAP to discuss it with you before I make all the purposes though.:lol:

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15679883#post15679883 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DanW
Didn't the Rosy Scales also kill one of your other fish? That is one bad arse fish!

That was the most dominant fish I've ever owned.

 

[DanW]

Leo, Kenny:lmao:

No hijacking here, there is no rudder (nor captain for that matter) on this ship.

 

[DanW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15679912#post15679912 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mpoletti
That was the most dominant fish I've ever owned.

"Was" Did you get it out or did it take over your house?:rollface:

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15679925#post15679925 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DanW
"Was" Did you get it out or did it take over your house?:rollface:

I took him out so I would be able to start adding the Jocs

 

[DanW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15679954#post15679954 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mpoletti
I took him out so I would be able to start adding the Jocs

Good (but expensive) trade out.