Maroun 150g Build Thread
- Thread starter maroun.c
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melev
Well-known member
On the corals that were in trouble, I'd lean toward checking and rechecking alkalinity. However, nitrate of 30ppm can be part of the problem, that's for sure. Some corals can't tolerate more than 1ppm (I've read), but many seem to adapt to 20ppm or less. In my own tank, some corals went up in smoke very quickly while others have been with me for years and years, through the giant spikes of phosphate and the ongoing higher nitrate. Both are much lower now, and I still have those same corals.
Sometimes you just have to accept that certain corals will never do well in your tank while others will thrive no matter what. It never hurts to try a coral again, if you feel so inclined. I've tried several blue torts over the years, and somehow I was able to keep two small pieces alive for all of 2008. They aren't much to look at, but they are alive.
That new coral is an A. millepora - and a very pretty one. The tips as they grow will be lighter, but not bone white. I think you are seeing new growth.
Sometimes you just have to accept that certain corals will never do well in your tank while others will thrive no matter what. It never hurts to try a coral again, if you feel so inclined. I've tried several blue torts over the years, and somehow I was able to keep two small pieces alive for all of 2008. They aren't much to look at, but they are alive.
That new coral is an A. millepora - and a very pretty one. The tips as they grow will be lighter, but not bone white. I think you are seeing new growth.
maroun.c
New member
Will check the alk again. as I'm still trying to find out the real daily dosing regimen of two parts. only problem is that my new water has an alk of 14. Weird value true but I've checked it so far with 3 kits. Should be getting a new bucket of Reef crystal soon and if it's the same alk then I might start using instant ocean with it to try to decrease the alk. so In my water changes I'm afraid to go with bigger volumes than 20 % to avoid bumping the alk too much up. alk has been tested with Salifert test kit.
I know that some of the corals will not make it but for me its a bigger problem because each of these corals I have bought while on travel and cost really a lot not to mention the price of licenses to ship them out and the trouble and the usual clothes soaked with water from a punctured bagon some occasions.... I really wish SPS would be available in LFS in this region...
My phosphates seem to be fine with the DSB and Refugium and phosphate remover. Nitrates however I guess I'll just have to resort to dosing vodka? any ideas on this? would you recommend it? any info on Vodka dosing regimen?
I know that some of the corals will not make it but for me its a bigger problem because each of these corals I have bought while on travel and cost really a lot not to mention the price of licenses to ship them out and the trouble and the usual clothes soaked with water from a punctured bagon some occasions.... I really wish SPS would be available in LFS in this region...
My phosphates seem to be fine with the DSB and Refugium and phosphate remover. Nitrates however I guess I'll just have to resort to dosing vodka? any ideas on this? would you recommend it? any info on Vodka dosing regimen?
InsaneClownFish
New member
maroun.c, wow I'm glad I stumbled across this. I've just started having the same high alk with my reef and had attributed it to my dosing routine, so I didn't give too much thought to the salt I've been using. I had recently switched from IO to Reef Crystals. I just did two water changes with a mixture of IO and RC at probably a 60/40 ratio. I'll let you know what my alk reads today.
melev
Well-known member
Yes, here's a very good article about Vodka dosing:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-08/nftt/index.php
maroun.c
New member
Thanks for the link.
Should be back from Saudi on Wed midnight and will check alk and nitrates again and then give the instructions to my dad who should be tanksitting after I travel Thursday early morning with the wife to Dubai. I'm just hoping that one of their LFS has some decent corals to bring back with me. I can't imaging the look in my dads face when I tell him to share a drink with the tank for a week.
Should be back from Saudi on Wed midnight and will check alk and nitrates again and then give the instructions to my dad who should be tanksitting after I travel Thursday early morning with the wife to Dubai. I'm just hoping that one of their LFS has some decent corals to bring back with me. I can't imaging the look in my dads face when I tell him to share a drink with the tank for a week.
maroun.c
New member
tcmfish
He's been doing fine since some time now. very active fish spends the day searching in the rocks and sand, seems to be less destructive than the other two twin spot wrasses have as those dig the sand all day long picking up critters and eating them. Lately they have grown a bit and are starting to turn some rocks over don't know if I'll endup removing those. The yellow one will stay for sure and when I'll find a few more guess I'll add 2-3 ones or maybe a sixline if I ever see one around here.
Any specifice thing you need to know about the yellow cories?here's the last shots I have of it and of the twin spot wrasses.
He's been doing fine since some time now. very active fish spends the day searching in the rocks and sand, seems to be less destructive than the other two twin spot wrasses have as those dig the sand all day long picking up critters and eating them. Lately they have grown a bit and are starting to turn some rocks over don't know if I'll endup removing those. The yellow one will stay for sure and when I'll find a few more guess I'll add 2-3 ones or maybe a sixline if I ever see one around here.
Any specifice thing you need to know about the yellow cories?here's the last shots I have of it and of the twin spot wrasses.
maroun.c
New member
As we're discussing wrasses. I find that they are not the least interseted in those flat worms that were on my mushrooms few months before. After removing them the first time they just showed up with a revenge 2-3 weeks before. This tie instead of sucking them out with a syringe I just started a syphon using airline and vacumed them out in a matter of minutes. I took out 3 batches of worms as in this. By the time I traveled there was only 3-4 that I could see on one mushroom. Guess I'll deal with them when back for 1 week end of this month.
maroun.c
New member
Time to share a little DIY project I did few weeks months ago (OK struggled for a couple of months to get it to work I suck at DIY)
Last time I got some SPS it was very hard to keep them in place and lost a few to falling on each other o r in the sand.... I had initially epoxied them to some rocks I had that I broke in pieces however bronken rocks have this sharp edge appearance that is very visible in the tank and sometimes it is not very stable...
so here goes my DIY Frag plugs.
The Idea is not mine and has been described on many threads here on RC.
After several trials I believe the best way to mix the cement and sand (1 volume of cement to 2 of sand) is to put them in a plastic bottle and shake them really good
Add water till the mix is a watery so that it will fill the molds.
had a friend who has a wood rotary machine make these for me to create the mold in a sand bucket.
the sand inthe bucket has to be just a little wet to hold the shape you give it.
filling it up:
Let it harden for 4-5 days before taking the plugs out. i sprays some water over the cement on starting day 2 as the cement can crack without it. Also keep it in the shade not under the sun...
Experimented with different shapes and sizes
Last time I got some SPS it was very hard to keep them in place and lost a few to falling on each other o r in the sand.... I had initially epoxied them to some rocks I had that I broke in pieces however bronken rocks have this sharp edge appearance that is very visible in the tank and sometimes it is not very stable...
so here goes my DIY Frag plugs.
The Idea is not mine and has been described on many threads here on RC.
After several trials I believe the best way to mix the cement and sand (1 volume of cement to 2 of sand) is to put them in a plastic bottle and shake them really good
Add water till the mix is a watery so that it will fill the molds.
had a friend who has a wood rotary machine make these for me to create the mold in a sand bucket.
the sand inthe bucket has to be just a little wet to hold the shape you give it.
filling it up:
Let it harden for 4-5 days before taking the plugs out. i sprays some water over the cement on starting day 2 as the cement can crack without it. Also keep it in the shade not under the sun...
Experimented with different shapes and sizes
Last edited:
maroun.c
New member
Also filled few bottle necks and also kept the lid from below, will try to see if that can be screwed then to bottle necks thread that I would epoxy to rocks or maybe just in my frag tank for very secure frags positioning.
The hole in the midle of the base wether I keep the lid on or take it off makes it also easier to position the frag in case I'm not epoxying it to the rocks...
It's very important to let those cure in freshwater for few weeks changing their water very frequently as Sand and cement will initially release lots of alk in the water which although fine can affect the coral attache to it. Also after curing in fresh water cement might release things again when in saltwater so befor putting it in your tank or Frag tank add some saltwater to the container for 1-2 weeks then start taking plugs to your tank. Only add a few to the tank each time.I ended up making around 50-60 plugs that are curing since 2-3 months now. Also it's better to give a bit of srface shapes (holes and bumps) for the epoxy to attach better....
In the end I learn that the ready made and cured ones in the states cost only 5-10 USD and that I have 2 trips to cleveland in the coming 2 months so I could have just brought some with me
The hole in the midle of the base wether I keep the lid on or take it off makes it also easier to position the frag in case I'm not epoxying it to the rocks...
It's very important to let those cure in freshwater for few weeks changing their water very frequently as Sand and cement will initially release lots of alk in the water which although fine can affect the coral attache to it. Also after curing in fresh water cement might release things again when in saltwater so befor putting it in your tank or Frag tank add some saltwater to the container for 1-2 weeks then start taking plugs to your tank. Only add a few to the tank each time.I ended up making around 50-60 plugs that are curing since 2-3 months now. Also it's better to give a bit of srface shapes (holes and bumps) for the epoxy to attach better....
In the end I learn that the ready made and cured ones in the states cost only 5-10 USD and that I have 2 trips to cleveland in the coming 2 months so I could have just brought some with me
itZme
New member
Maroun, it was GREAT to meet you and really neat that you got to be at one of our monthly meetings. It wasn't a very exciting meeting to attend and was very laid back. We have hosted Marc (melev) twice now and his speeches are always great.
I am glad that I didn't drive away when you were trying to find your car in the cold
I wish you the best of luck on your travels and hope you can make it back to Ohio someday.
Don't see myself ending up in Lebanon anytime soon but if I make it I would love to see your place. I started reading your very well thought out and documented build thread and just had to skip ahead to at least see the wood skin installed. I love that woodgrain and I will continue to go through it and follow your progress.
I wish I had more time to just sit and talk reefs with you. It would have been fun to try to get a Thermos full of SPS back home with you on the plane. I have several species I could frag and send with you if you are willing to try it. I could meet up with you if you are still in town and would like some free corals.
I hope you my advice to take the time and look up other clubs along the way as you are traveling. You could leave a trail of reef keeping friends across the world!
Your friend in Cleveland, Ohio, USA
-- Kevin
I am glad that I didn't drive away when you were trying to find your car in the cold
I wish you the best of luck on your travels and hope you can make it back to Ohio someday.
Don't see myself ending up in Lebanon anytime soon but if I make it I would love to see your place. I started reading your very well thought out and documented build thread and just had to skip ahead to at least see the wood skin installed. I love that woodgrain and I will continue to go through it and follow your progress.
I wish I had more time to just sit and talk reefs with you. It would have been fun to try to get a Thermos full of SPS back home with you on the plane. I have several species I could frag and send with you if you are willing to try it. I could meet up with you if you are still in town and would like some free corals.
I hope you my advice to take the time and look up other clubs along the way as you are traveling. You could leave a trail of reef keeping friends across the world!
Your friend in Cleveland, Ohio, USA
-- Kevin
plecosword
New member
Nice tank, sorry about the flatworms.
itZme
New member
Do you have access to Salifert products over there? If not you may want to grab some FlatWormExit before leaving the states.
If you are going to be around for a while I could probably find you some Levamisole which is great to kill those nasty red flatworms.
Here is a good thread on getting them out.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1379099
-- Kevin
If you are going to be around for a while I could probably find you some Levamisole which is great to kill those nasty red flatworms.
Here is a good thread on getting them out.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1379099
-- Kevin
maroun.c
New member
Thanks for your kind words Kevin. was a pleasure meeting you and the other RC members I met there who I never thought I would ever meet.
as for the meeting I already new it was more "oranization stuff " for this meeting but still it was fun enough.
No I am the one whose really really happy you didn't.
25 degrees F for me was like being in a freezer (It rarely goes down below 45-50 in winter days where I live and I also lived in Dubai for 3 years which was even warmer...)
Thanks for your Kind words. And please know that you're most welcome if you are ever around. I should be bak to Ohio on 9-14 March but i don't usually fly tot he states more than 2-3 times a year
Thanks. I'm already back to Lebanon though. I wanted so much to buy a few frags I saw at salty critter however was advised not to fly with corals out of the states by many. still the check in at airpirt was quite easy and all TSA personel I asked didn't know anything about a rule against flying with corals as long as you check them in and don't take any fluids with you on the plane. So guess next time I will get some.
Will do it for sure whenver in places where there are reefclubs...
Looking forward to meet with you again when back there.
