Getting back into hobby after around 8 years off. Hello again.

[mjstech]

Checked water parameters myself and at LFS yesterday. There was the slightest hint of nitrate but that could have been due to over feeding while I was gone for the 4th (5 days away). Five gallon water change done this morning (water was made/circulating since 6/28). Changed the filter pad on Whisper HOB filter and added the activated carbon pouch also. A little Reefstew was added later in the day. The live brine were all picked off quickly... like immediately. Still no issues, no loss. I hope to be at PROP 7/16 but may be at the lake diving. I will be looking for a small mounted Xenia (lol I know), small frog/hammer and any other cheap frags of corals/zoos.
Also what do you guys like to use to glue plugs/rubble to live rock already in tanks.

new addition (7/8) - a cleaner shrimp.

zoos and cleaner shrimp cleaning coral beauty angel. (7/8)

just zoos.

full tank shot under just actinics, night of 7/8.

 

[evo.howard2010]

Cool little tank!

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[mjstech]

So I haven't taken a picture/updated in a while. This was from August 8th. So thirty days. I have lost the royal gramma while I was out of town and my brother said he hadn't seen it in a few days. Never found the body. Before that I traded one of the banggai cardinal fish into a lfs. He was being chased by the other one, upon closer looking it seems they were both male.

I had the normal new tank stuff, minor diatom bloom, then a little green algae bloom (not hair) and am just about finished with a small cyano bloom that you can see on sand. I have adjusted my power heads to run a bit lower and after a water changed it is nearly 100% gone. I may switch one or both to the 425gph units from the 240s that I have now. All parameters have still been spot on since starting the tank. One time nitrates were at 20ppm but that was coming back from 4 day vacation and I think my brother over feeds. I add one or two 16.9oz ro/di waters bottles a day that are kept in the fridge and feed 1 or 2x a day.

I am looking for cheap/free/small frags and even a little xenia. I have not attached any of the plugs to rock yet so every now and again I have to pick them off the sand. I just got jb waterweld and have debating on using it and locations. I am excited to go to the frag meeting on Saturday.

 

[evo.howard2010]

Looks pretty good!

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[JMCAquarium]

Its coming along nicely

 

[mjstech]

more pics, no more cyano, some new corals

more pics, no more cyano, some new corals

Hey everyone,
Thanks for looking and comments. I figured I would keep this thread going with updates. Tank is done with the cyano outbreak. 5 gallon water change, cut lights on time a bit for 4 days, moved the power heads lower to sand and wet skim and it went away on its own after five days around the middle of the month. I also got some new corals since the last update. Some SPSs, more zoos, a little xenia (I know... they are kept off rock), kenya tree, toadstool leather that I think is splitting, frogspawn and hammer coral. I just did a 5 gal water change this afternoon, gave tank $2 worth of Reef Stew around 6 PM.
All fish and corals are doing great, there are pods at night which is fun to look at at night with flashlight.
I still haven't mounted anything 100%, so sometimes they fall. Also I think my rocks have settled and slipped down a bit from original locations, so maybe I will readjust next water change in 2 weeks or so. I will continue to look for cheap/free coral frags at meeting or auctions.
I still want to add a royal gramma, and maybe something else that will play nice with what else is in the tank. I plan on going to a 40, 55, or 75/90 eventually.

Rock, zoos, hammer - left, actinic.

Rock, zoos, corals, frogspawn - right, actinic.

Tank, right side panel, full light.

Tank, left side panel, full light. The clowns sleep in the top back corner of this side, the coral beauty sleeps in that cave, which has three openings, viewable, towards middle of tank against sand and top if he wants out.

Full tank shot. full light. All rock has coraline algea, the white on tops is my camera getting washed out. The two Fire fish are sleeping/hang out buddies and in their hole which is through rock to back and the opening below naturally.

 

[dream54ing]

looks like the corals are doing well! you need to come over for more
might want to add a little more flow for those sps.

 

[JMCAquarium]

Tank is looking really nice, what other critters are you entertaining on putting in there?

 

[mjstech]

As most would say, I am overloaded in the tank as it is, so maybe a few tangs...naso, powder blue, blue hippo, yellow tangs. Hahaha. Nah, this tank is at capacity. I do want to add a royal gramma but that is it for fish. I will add small hermits/snails if more are needed. I will just be looking for more small corals/zoos at auctions and meetings. I keep checking forum and craigslist for a good deal on a larger tank already.