drummereef's 180g in-wall build

[drummereef]

great pictures Brett, those corals are looking nice

I'm not positive on the coral discharge but it does look like a spawn event

Good to know, thanks Pete. Wonder if it wouldn't hurt to dip it in case it is a worm?

They say, that a spawning event would be triggered by the super moon thing.. with in a week ..

Wow, didn't know that! Crazy.

The color morph looks like a natural change due to the corals "growth front". A lot of times actively growing areas of a coral (like the tips) will be a different color then the rest of the colony so that probably just means those corals are really starting to encrust.

The discharge event looks to me like its getting rid of some of its zooxanthellae. This is not necessarily a bad thing as corals regulate this by expulsion to match their food and or light needs.

Interesting Alex. I'll keep an eye on it for sure. Later last night it looked a little more "web-like" but still had a translucent gel substance on it. I hope it's just that. Do worms ever burrow inside corals?

 

[psteeleb]

Do worms ever burrow inside corals?

yes - I may have some pictures of some that took to my stag - they never did any noticable damage.

it also seems on every encrusting montepora i've had I'll get those web casting worms and the monte will encrust on them giving them more structure and surface area - it's almost like a sybiotic relationship

 

[Taqpol]

As Pete said, there are many worms that burrow into corals. 99% of the time they do no harm, but if you don't like them then put a glob of super glue over their burrow opening.

 

[iwishtofish]

I'm wondering if it's not a combination of the coral sliming and extending a mesenterial filament, perhaps due to stress or aggression?

Have you taken a video of that?

 

[110galreef]

Do worms ever burrow inside corals?

There are some sorts of like tube woms I know as I had one in an acro i aquired. Not sure exactly what it was, but appeared to almost creat a small tube like a tube worm, but looked almost like a snail face, or when scared appeared to seal up his hole with a snail foot hard part too. The tube was about the diamete of a pencil. Didn't seem to affect the coral and as the coral grew over the hole, the worm or whatever, just made his hole longer. He did slime quite a bit & almost made like a web at times. I eventually, just pushed the work so he went back in the tube and the super glued it in.

Hopefully it wasn't a good worm, but was messy & drove me nuts.

 

[drummereef]

yes - I may have some pictures of some that took to my stag - they never did any noticable damage.

it also seems on every encrusting montepora i've had I'll get those web casting worms and the monte will encrust on them giving them more structure and surface area - it's almost like a sybiotic relationship

Very interesting, maybe i'll just monitor it then and if I see it causing too much trouble I can take action then.

As Pete said, there are many worms that burrow into corals. 99% of the time they do no harm, but if you don't like them then put a glob of super glue over their burrow opening.

Good tip!

I'm wondering if it's not a combination of the coral sliming and extending a mesenterial filament, perhaps due to stress or aggression?

Have you taken a video of that?

Good thoughts... I will try and get a video tonight if I see it doing it again. It's a fairly regular occurence (I think), especially after feedings. I'll work on it.

There are some sorts of like tube woms I know as I had one in an acro i aquired. Not sure exactly what it was, but appeared to almost creat a small tube like a tube worm, but looked almost like a snail face, or when scared appeared to seal up his hole with a snail foot hard part too. The tube was about the diamete of a pencil. Didn't seem to affect the coral and as the coral grew over the hole, the worm or whatever, just made his hole longer. He did slime quite a bit & almost made like a web at times. I eventually, just pushed the work so he went back in the tube and the super glued it in.

Hopefully it wasn't a good worm, but was messy & drove me nuts.

That sounds like a Vermetid snail you had. They have pencil-like tubular shells and expel their web to feed. I don't see any calcareous shell on my Stag, just the web streamer and mucous stuff. Strange!

 

[cromedogg33]

Brett,

Have you tested phosphates lately? I tested mine last night for the first real time with the new hanna checker I just got and was a bit taken back by my numbers. I potentially chose a bad time to test since I think there was a bit of cyclops still in the water column. I read at .9 which seems extremely high but I'm not sure I tested 100% correct. I think I'm still seeing some leaching from my rocks too so we'll see.

 

[drummereef]

Brett,

Have you tested phosphates lately? I tested mine last night for the first real time with the new hanna checker I just got and was a bit taken back by my numbers. I potentially chose a bad time to test since I think there was a bit of cyclops still in the water column. I read at .9 which seems extremely high but I'm not sure I tested 100% correct. I think I'm still seeing some leaching from my rocks too so we'll see.

Hey Josh, I will test tonight and report back. I do know from other previous tests of mine, the Checker is quite sensitive to particles in the water column especially after feeding. Maybe test again but wait until just before your next feeding. But I'll report back tonight...

 

[cromedogg33]

It must have been cuz I was feeding just 5 minutes prior, didn't really think about it till after the test. I tested again today prior to feeding and it came back at .05 which I was feeling a little better about as I still have some work today but it's a bit better than the 1.1 and .9 I was getting yesterday.

 

[drummereef]

It must have been cuz I was feeding just 5 minutes prior, didn't really think about it till after the test. I tested again today prior to feeding and it came back at .05 which I was feeling a little better about as I still have some work today but it's a bit better than the 1.1 and .9 I was getting yesterday.

Yes, much better! I would bet it's even lower, just wait a little longer or if you can just test right before the next feed. I just tested PO4 which is roughly 10hrs after feeding this morning and got 0.00 on my Checker. So, I'm going to feed again. :lol:

 

[gary faulkner]

So, I'm going to feed again. :lol:

Brett, you're gonna spoil those little :fish1:

 

[110galreef]

That sounds like a Vermetid snail you had. They have pencil-like tubular shells and expel their web to feed. I don't see any calcareous shell on my Stag, just the web streamer and mucous stuff. Strange!

That is exactly what I had. That sucker & mucous web drove me nuts! Unfortunatly i had to super glue him in! :blown:

 

[110galreef]

Chromedogg...I too defintily would test just prior to next feedings opposed to after! That food in the colum definitly gonna skew those readings!

BTW are you using the HI 713 or HI 736.

I had the 713 but sold it and will get the 736 as it measures phosporus in ppb an can easily covert to PO4 and will read more accurate & smaller increments as its ppb! I can't wait to see how my PO4 is now.

DANG Brett.....still PO4 of 0.00 is very impressive! How wet are you skimming. You really probably have very little coming out with your light load still.

 

[drummereef]

Brett, you're gonna spoil those little :fish1:

I hope so!

That is exactly what I had. That sucker & mucous web drove me nuts! Unfortunatly i had to super glue him in! :blown:

Yeah, those things are prolific breeders especially in moderate to heavily feed tanks. They can become a real pest.

DANG Brett.....still PO4 of 0.00 is very impressive! How wet are you skimming. You really probably have very little coming out with your light load still.

Honestly I was a little surprised by that test last night myself, since I've been feeding 1tsp Oyster-Feast every day since last Friday. I've noticed a shift in the way my pellets are tumbling so I think they are picking up the pace with my feedings. I'll keep monitoring it but will cut back when I start to see the balance point tipping. Skimming isn't too wet, it's active but definitely not overly wet.

 

[cromedogg33]

Yes, much better! I would bet it's even lower, just wait a little longer or if you can just test right before the next feed. I just tested PO4 which is roughly 10hrs after feeding this morning and got 0.00 on my Checker. So, I'm going to feed again. :lol:

Maybe.....just MAYBE cuz I have 4 pigs for tangs and bartletts crapping all over the place

Enjoy your 0.00 while it lasts :beer:

Time to get my deltec 2560 I guess, I don't think the PCI 3000 is quite doing it's job personally, although I can't believe how much gunk I get out on a daily basis with the pellets running.

BTW, can you send Nanook my way with ~50 frags?

I'm still working on getting you pics of the LED's. Had a little setback with my dog being sick over the weekend and didn't have time.

 

[jjwill_sdsu]

Hey Josh, I will test tonight and report back. I do know from other previous tests of mine, the Checker is quite sensitive to particles in the water column especially after feeding. Maybe test again but wait until just before your next feeding. But I'll report back tonight...

Hi Brett, when you test phosphate do you mix the test reagent in the same vial of water that you do the first reading? I've been filling two vials and mixing the test powder in one of them ahead of time because I originally found that I was running out of time before the screen clears while trying to get all of the powder to dissolve. But now I'm wondering if it might be necessary to do both readings in the same sample because you're calibrating on any particles in the original sample. Any thoughts or suggestions on whether this is kosher or not?

Thanks,
Jordan

 

[drummereef]

Maybe.....just MAYBE cuz I have 4 pigs for tangs and bartletts crapping all over the place

Enjoy your 0.00 while it lasts :beer:

Time to get my deltec 2560 I guess, I don't think the PCI 3000 is quite doing it's job personally, although I can't believe how much gunk I get out on a daily basis with the pellets running.

BTW, can you send Nanook my way with ~50 frags?

I'm still working on getting you pics of the LED's. Had a little setback with my dog being sick over the weekend and didn't have time.

There's no better time to upgrade skimmers than now! No worries, I'd love to see the LED setup in full when you get time. You should see Nooks system, absolutely phenomenal. He's a true master of everything reef keeping.

Hi Brett, when you test phosphate do you mix the test reagent in the same vial of water that you do the first reading? I've been filling two vials and mixing the test powder in one of them ahead of time because I originally found that I was running out of time before the screen clears while trying to get all of the powder to dissolve. But now I'm wondering if it might be necessary to do both readings in the same sample because you're calibrating on any particles in the original sample. Any thoughts or suggestions on whether this is kosher or not?

Thanks,
Jordan

Hey Jordan, yes I mix the reagent in the same cuvette as the sample water. This is apparently a heavily debated topic but I haven't had any issues running out of time before adding the "C2" sample. I watch the clock on my Apex controller as I'm swirling the cuvette to make sure I leave about 30 seconds to rid the cuvette of micro bubbles and place it into the Checker. I always prepare the reagent by cutting open the packet and bending it into a "funnel" as other have found time saving. It usually only takes about 1.5 minutes for most of the particles to dissolve then you have 30 seconds or so to rid the cuvette of micro bubbles, wipe it down then place into the Checker. I agree, I think you might be introducing error into the tests in the off chance there is some foreign matter in one of the cuvettes. Or if the Checker picks up a scratch the other cuvette doesn't have. To me there are some variables that can be avoided by using the same cuvette.

 

[DoctaReef]

Brett-
First of all, great tank, I have been admiring your build for a while!
To digress from the discussion of your fish/corals and dosing etc, I have a question about the state of your fish room now that the tank has been in there for a while, because I am eventually refinishing my basement, and an in-wall tank is my dream!
1) Have you had any water damage to the drywall or any moisture/mold problems from evaporation in there?
2) Did you insulate the room and does it abut any foundation walls?
3) Do you know what the relative humidity is in the fish room and/or in the rest of the basement?
Thanks in advance!

 

[SethTheWineGuy]

\
1) Have you had any water damage to the drywall or any moisture/mold problems from evaporation in there?
2) Did you insulate the room and does it abut any foundation walls?
3) Do you know what the relative humidity is in the fish room and/or in the rest of the basement?
Thanks in advance!

I'll chime in my two cents. I did something very similar to Bretts build.
1) I used an two part epoxy paint on all drywall in the sump room. Not cheap but creates a very strong shell that's even quite impact resistant. Very easy to wipe down too.
2)My sump room was build onto the rear of my house so it has 3 exposed walls. I built it with 2x6's to allow enough space to insulate with R-19
3) In the ceiling of the sump room I installed a bathroom ventilation fan that exhausts to the outside. I have the APEX turn it on for a period throughout the day to expel excessive humidity.

 

[DoctaReef]

I'll chime in my two cents. I did something very similar to Bretts build.
1) I used an two part epoxy paint on all drywall in the sump room. Not cheap but creates a very strong shell that's even quite impact resistant. Very easy to wipe down too.
2)My sump room was build onto the rear of my house so it has 3 exposed walls. I built it with 2x6's to allow enough space to insulate with R-19
3) In the ceiling of the sump room I installed a bathroom ventilation fan that exhausts to the outside. I have the APEX turn it on for a period throughout the day to expel excessive humidity.

Seth-
Thanks for the reply...Did you use a vapor barrier with the R-19?