Kong's Restored BB (90g)

[old salty]

KK,

I wish I could offer some advice, but I had the same thing wipe out my SPS over the course of about 8 months. I was down to one single monti digi and it is now succumbing to whatever it was that killed everything else; it looks a lot like a poodle after returning from the groomer. I've changed lighting, salts, RO/DI filters, removed mud bed from fuge, removed rock, added flow, fed more, fed less, large water changes, small water changes, change GFO brands, no GFO, less GFO, more GFO, you name it. One at a time, my corals RTN'd even thought they still had excellent color and polyp extenstion.

Just to make sure I didn't miss anything, I removed my topoff storage container and rinsed it out. Didn't seem to be anything growing inside as there was no foul odor or slime buildup.

 

[King-Kong]

Old Salty;

So right now your last SPS is on it's way out? Any pics of what the recession look(ed) like? Does it look similiar to the recession in my photos (that is.. seems to showing where the flow is strongest, and not light-related).

 

[King-Kong]

Here is a pic of 5 of the 7 dispars that came in yesterday at noon:

 

[elzool]

5?
I see 7!




Very Nice

 

[King-Kong]

thanks

Tried to get them to a eat few times with live brine, but so far they arent swallowing.

Their bodies, however, are pretty meaty, so i think we've got plenty of time.

 

[King-Kong]

woohoo! got them eating!

Thanks to SDGuy and Carl's suggestions of smaller food, I fed them what I NORMALLY feed my tank; a minced up home made food containing PE Mysis, cyclopeeze, and a seafood medley of mussels, shrimp, clams, octopus/squid, and some other stuff I cant remember.

They took right to it!

I expected them to go after live brine shrimp waaaay before they went after ANYTHING frozen.. boy was I wrong!

 

[danskim]

Nice looking setup there, King-Kong.
Flow must be crazy in there.

 

[SDguy]

Hey kong,

How long do you process the medley for? My local club used that same medley, but boy did I still end up with some really big octo chunks...

 

[King-Kong]

SDGuy; I dont really time it.. I use a small black and decker food processor ;

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-HC306-Touch-Chopper/dp/B000Q9XCEQ

..and I just keep pulsing it and then feel it between my fingers until I have a good mix of sizes.

The first time I used a regular blender, and it was a disaster. It turned into pure liquid... sold the batch to the fish store for my costs..

the slower food processor is the way to go.

 

[King-Kong]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10725627#post10725627 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by danskim
Nice looking setup there, King-Kong.
Flow must be crazy in there.

Thanks Danskim... I have tuned the flow back more and more.. by getting a better aquascape, and cutting the starboard to have a bevel a long the edge, I can get away with less flow to still accomplish the same thing; keep poop suspended.

 

[old salty]

Before:

After:

Another:

One more:

You get the idea. One at a time, they all seemed to succumb to whatever. Parameters were quite ideal for growth as you can see in the before and after. I'll never add another coral before it goes through a strict QT procedure. I did this with all my fish, but never gave it much thought with corals. Never again!!

 

[King-Kong]

I remember some of these photos, actually; did you make a thread about this?

 

[SDguy]

That would make me cry

 

[rcypert]

Whats up Carlos. Are your corals doing better?

 

[King-Kong]

hey Ross! Out in Orlando now? How are you?

Nah, they havent improved... still the same deal..

all fish are fine, clams, softies, etc.... but the SPS are still exhibiting the odd recession.

Just got finished with another 25g W/C, too.

 

[old salty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10728028#post10728028 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by King-Kong
I remember some of these photos, actually; did you make a thread about this?

Yes I did a while back. The last survivor is now falling.


I have seen much nicer tanks than mine up and die for no apparent reason; this is the SPS keepers cross to bear.

 

[magrath]

Kong,
I have been following this thread with interest as I have just moved and am getting ready to resetup my 80g and going through the debate weather to go BB or DSB again. I am definitely leaning toward BB, as the look and maintenance of your tank has sold me on.

One question for you. I am only going to be here in Okinawa for three years so I am not sure if I will get the full benefit of having a DSB in that short of time. Any thoughts? I can put some pics of my setup but I don't want to take this thread off the topic of helping your tank.

Hopefully you can figure out your SPS dilemma. Sorry I don't have any suggestions for you as you have seemed to hit all the potential problem areas in your troubleshooting.

 

[King-Kong]

I think knowing that the tank will have to be torn down in under 3 years, you shouldnt dismiss a DSB. If you do go DSB, bring over some aspects of BB such as very strong skimming and good flow patterns. Use only enough rock to make an interesting aquascape and places for fish to hide, but still allow flow to get around/under/behind it.

I dont want to sell you on BB or DSB... but I still believe that BB will let you get away with less light, and without the need for a Calcium reactor. I just dont know what hardware you can find over in Okinawa for skimming and flow.

I spent a few days in Okinawa earlier this year during a trip to japan and really enjoyed it. I dove and snorkelled Zamami Jima several times and had a blast!

Thanks for the support.

 

[magrath]

Here is my equipment list:
400 Watt 20000K Metal Halide Bulb x 2 with IceCap Ballasts
65 Watt power compacts x 4 with custom sea life ballasts
Currant USA heater/chiller with 8 watt UV sterilizer
Aqua C EV120 skimmer with Mag 5 pump
Mag 9 pump x 2
Phosbane Reactor with pump
Seio 820
Hydor Koralia 4 circulation pump/powerhead
Sea Swirls x 2
Tunze 6000 W/7091 single controller
Silencer for overflow
Tunze Aquarium Dosing pump/system
Euro Fil sump 15 gallon

Thanks for the input Kong. I think I have a good setup to go either way but I am leaning toward BB.

The diving here is outstanding! I am actually going to collect everything myself for stocking my tank which I am looking forward to. My tank will be arriving next week, can't wait.

 

[plyle02]

Kong,
Just an update and a thanks for previous advice concerning a couple of corals. As it turns out, I think I did have AEFW, so I set up a frag/ rescue tank. I have dipped all suspected corals, and also all the 15+ frags I placed in this tank, and have seen new tissue growth on the suspect corals. The advice/ knowledge has propelled my 75 bb tank to look so beautiful. I did however add my dsb refugium back inline, I have low ph, and did not want to deal with the ph fall overnight. So far so good, I will keep you posted. BTW, how is the system runnig right now? I know you had a few issues with some stn'n. Hope all is well....