DanW's 187 SPS Dominated Reef Journal

[Reefer08]

I usually soak in RODI for 3-4 weeks, stir it when I remember and change the water every week. This is my first time using the Korallin media and the pieces are a little smaller and appear more dense. I also noticed more pieces of shells versus the ARM media. (Don't know if that matters or not.)

I soak my calcium reactor media also, it really helps remove all the po4 from the media. Not sure if the shells contain phosphates, but I know ARM claims their product contains very little shells.

Hope your tank is doing better!

 

[DanW]

Are you QTing coral too?

Ryan unfortunately, no. Risking everything because I "don't have space" sounds lame but that's my excuse. What I do is dip in Revive and TMP (using a pipette to blast the coral) and examine under a magnifying glass. If anything looks "iffy", I'll toss it (yes, I've thought twice about this on several expensive frags that I picked up but did it.) I also cut off the base, remount and place on a frag rack for several weeks then move it on to the rock structure. I've never had red bugs or flatworms (knock on wood) but I'm sure I'm playing with fire.

 

[DanW]

I soak my calcium reactor media also, it really helps remove all the po4 from the media. Not sure if the shells contain phosphates, but I know ARM claims their product contains very little shells.

Hope your tank is doing better!

Thanks Ramzy, I'm also hoping that my tank has turned the corner. I started soaking my media because I was told that it would help remove PO4 but after reading this article I began to wonder if it was required. I still believe there are benefits and I soak in the hope that it would remove/dilute any contaminants on/in the media before it goes into the reactor as well as washing off the dust. I have no idea what those contaminants would be (or if there are any at all) but I usually find plastic strips and wood chips in ARM. Plus it makes me feel better and that's all that counts anyway.

 

[DanW]

 

[ryshark]

Ryan unfortunately, no. Risking everything because I "don't have space" sounds lame but that's my excuse. What I do is dip in Revive and TMP (using a pipette to blast the coral) and examine under a magnifying glass. If anything looks "iffy", I'll toss it (yes, I've thought twice about this on several expensive frags that I picked up but did it.) I also cut off the base, remount and place on a frag rack for several weeks then move it on to the rock structure. I've never had red bugs or flatworms (knock on wood) but I'm sure I'm playing with fire.

It sounds like you are very diligent about making sure your coral is pest free. I need to step up my game a little bit. I just dip in Revive inspect with naked eye and put it in. I am going to step up my game now. That must have been very hard to throw a new expensive frag away....but sure beats infesting your entire tank.
Nice pic of the 3-colonies, which seriatopora is the one in the back?

 

[saltyg135er]

Thanks Michael, I've still got my fingers crossed. How's your tank doing?

My tank is still getting used to the calcium reactor. The alk jump in the start has caused much stress to some of my SPS, lost a couple of nice ones. The Pink Lemonade I got from you browned out too but it's coming back slowly. I'm keeping my fingers crossed too for me and you.

Michael

 

[Reefer08]

Ryan unfortunately, no. Risking everything because I "don't have space" sounds lame but that's my excuse. What I do is dip in Revive and TMP (using a pipette to blast the coral) and examine under a magnifying glass. If anything looks "iffy", I'll toss it (yes, I've thought twice about this on several expensive frags that I picked up but did it.) I also cut off the base, remount and place on a frag rack for several weeks then move it on to the rock structure. I've never had red bugs or flatworms (knock on wood) but I'm sure I'm playing with fire.

Good idea on the magnifying glass, I need to pick up one of those now to inspect new arrivals. I always dip everything yet I still got red bugs somehow (probably some eggs hiding somewhere on acro), but after 4 treatments of interceptor on my tank they all died. No stress to any of the corals during the treatments which was great.

 

[Reefer08]

Awesome Ponape. Is it a fast grower similar to other birdsnests?

 

[DanW]

It sounds like you are very diligent about making sure your coral is pest free. I need to step up my game a little bit. I just dip in Revive inspect with naked eye and put it in. I am going to step up my game now. That must have been very hard to throw a new expensive frag away....but sure beats infesting your entire tank.
Nice pic of the 3-colonies, which seriatopora is the one in the back?

Yup, it isn't easy to toss a frag but the consequences of gambling is not worth it. The seriatopora was sold to me as the Tyree Ponape but I don't think it is. The branches are short, kinda stubby where from what I've seen the Tyree piece has longer branches...nice none the less though.

 

[DanW]

My tank is still getting used to the calcium reactor. The alk jump in the start has caused much stress to some of my SPS, lost a couple of nice ones. The Pink Lemonade I got from you browned out too but it's coming back slowly. I'm keeping my fingers crossed too for me and you.

Michael

Sorry to hear about your troubles Michael...I hope that it clears up soon. Take it slowly with the Ca Rx, you'll be rewarded in the end.

 

[mpoletti]

Yup, it isn't easy to toss a frag but the consequences of gambling is not worth it. The seriatopora was sold to me as the Tyree Ponape but I don't think it is. The branches are short, kinda stubby where from what I've seen the Tyree piece has longer branches...nice none the less though.

Dan, I had mine look very similar to yours a few years ago. Mine was getting to much flow so it stayed really dense.

 

[mpoletti]

Here is an old shot

 

[DanW]

Good idea on the magnifying glass, I need to pick up one of those now to inspect new arrivals. I always dip everything yet I still got red bugs somehow (probably some eggs hiding somewhere on acro), but after 4 treatments of interceptor on my tank they all died. No stress to any of the corals during the treatments which was great.

Awesome Ponape. Is it a fast grower similar to other birdsnests?

Thanks Ramzy, the magnifying glass was just another idea I picked up here on RC. (Imagine the mistakes we'd make without all this info.) The Ponape was a pretty fast grower for me before the recent issues and it appears to be picking up speed again.

 

[DanW]

Dan, I had mine look very similar to yours a few years ago. Mine was getting to much flow so it stayed really dense.

Thanks Mark, that makes me feel better as it came from a reputable source so I wanted to believe but it looked so different from all the other pictures I've seen. My looks more like yours. I like the longer branches so maybe I'll move it as it is pretty close to one of the tunzes. Is your piece still dense like that or did you move it?

 

[mpoletti]

After time, the branches grew out. I had mine in lower flow and moderate light. It doesn't require much of eitehr so I wanted to save those spaces for other corals. Currently,I have a 8" colony in my shallow tank.

 

[DanW]

After time, the branches grew out. I had mine in lower flow and moderate light. It doesn't require much of eitehr so I wanted to save those spaces for other corals. Currently,I have a 8" colony in my shallow tank.

Thanks Mark, mine is in lower light but near the tunze. I think I'll move it away from the powerhead and see if the branches will grow out.

 

[aquariumclown]

Looks awesome Dan, I like it!

 

[pookstreet]

Nice shot, Dan. I like the purple one.

 

[pterfloth]

Beautiful Ponepe. What kind of lighting do you have it under? How high from the surface. I have a colony that I have under 400w MH and I have been keeping it on the bottom.

 

[DanW]

Looks awesome Dan, I like it!

Nice shot, Dan. I like the purple one.

Thanks Leo and Kenny. Yeah, the Garf is one of my favorites.