BrianB421
New member
Hello all!
I'm new to the RC community so I thought I'd introduce myself. First let me say in the most non-creepy stalker-like way that I've been watching you. I've been surfing RC for the past few years to look for wisdom to solve the common and not so common problems that comes with this hobby. I figured it was time to join this group so other people can learn from my mistakes and victories.
Enough about you, lets talk about me...
I've had aquariums my entire life but jumped from freshwater to saltwater about 9 years ago with a 46 Bow front Predator tank (Not the best idea). I made all the rookie mistakes but thanks to responsible aquarists and forums like this I learned from my mistakes. I converted the 46gal into a small FOWLR and experienced some decent successes working on a college student budget.
I sold that tank after graduating and taking a job that required extensive travel and was forced to live vicariously through friends with tanks and public aquariums. After many years of travel, I've become more settled and jumped back in with a bigger budget and bigger dreams. I purchased my current tank from a person in Nashville who was moving and couldn't take the tank with them. The tank was in disrepair due to poor filtration and worse husbandry. I moved it to my new home (1 hour away) and started the adventure of bringing this tank to it's potential glory (still a work in progress). I removed the neglected undersized canister filter and built my own sump. Drilling a tank with fish in it sucks. Especially when you're only mostly sure it's not tempered. I did all the tricks with laptops/cell phone/sacrifices to the reef gods. Still, that was a stressful moment. Needless to say, it didn't explode and after plumbing the sump and throwing the skimmer in and several water changes later it started to turn over a new leaf. It's been up and running in it's current home for 6 months and more than 6 years in it's last home. Since this is my first attempt at keeping a reef, I want a softie/polyp dominated tank. My wife and I have definitely caught the zoanthid bug.
Current Tank Info: 140gal glass bull nose peninsula aquarium, 180lbs+ Live rock, crushed coral sand bed, 2x Tao Tronics LEDs, Hydor wave maker with 3 pumps, glass-holes overflow, 18 gal sump, Reef Octopus Diablo 160 XS Protein Skimmer, Reef Octopus MF2000 Advance Media Reactor, RO/DI, Supportive Wife
Live stock: Purple Tang, Emperor Angel (Juvi), Koran Angel (Juvi), Mated pair of Gold Band Maroon Clownfish, Midas Blenny, Firefish, 3 Azure Damsels, Royal Gramma, CuC
Coral: Several types of mushrooms (emerald green, blood red), 3 colonies of green button polyps, a growing list of Zoas (Radio Active Dragoneyes, Orange Spot, Red Eyes, X-Men, Blue Kisses, Sweet Dreams, Sour Apples, Lunar Eclipse, Bloody Marys, and some Fire and Ice that are melting for reasons unknown.), and several green and orange ricordias
Other info: I've been carbon dosing (vodka) for the past 5 months with great success. Coupled with good husbandry and a kick butt skimmer it's an awesome tool. Plus who doesn't like their martinis briney?
Current problems/challenges: I have what I think is a Calcium Carbonate Precipitation issue. I think it's due to low levels of Magnesium. I'm waiting for my Mg test kit to come in and the 2 Part DIY Mg supplement and will raise it slowly and see what happens.
Problem #2 is a emerald crab that I think is snacking on my zoas. I'll be sneaking in after lights out with my red lens flash light and see what I can find...
Well this has been fun. Glad I made the jump from creeper to poster. I see this as the beginning of a wonderful relationship RC... :smokin:
Brian
I'm new to the RC community so I thought I'd introduce myself. First let me say in the most non-creepy stalker-like way that I've been watching you. I've been surfing RC for the past few years to look for wisdom to solve the common and not so common problems that comes with this hobby. I figured it was time to join this group so other people can learn from my mistakes and victories.
Enough about you, lets talk about me...
I've had aquariums my entire life but jumped from freshwater to saltwater about 9 years ago with a 46 Bow front Predator tank (Not the best idea). I made all the rookie mistakes but thanks to responsible aquarists and forums like this I learned from my mistakes. I converted the 46gal into a small FOWLR and experienced some decent successes working on a college student budget.
I sold that tank after graduating and taking a job that required extensive travel and was forced to live vicariously through friends with tanks and public aquariums. After many years of travel, I've become more settled and jumped back in with a bigger budget and bigger dreams. I purchased my current tank from a person in Nashville who was moving and couldn't take the tank with them. The tank was in disrepair due to poor filtration and worse husbandry. I moved it to my new home (1 hour away) and started the adventure of bringing this tank to it's potential glory (still a work in progress). I removed the neglected undersized canister filter and built my own sump. Drilling a tank with fish in it sucks. Especially when you're only mostly sure it's not tempered. I did all the tricks with laptops/cell phone/sacrifices to the reef gods. Still, that was a stressful moment. Needless to say, it didn't explode and after plumbing the sump and throwing the skimmer in and several water changes later it started to turn over a new leaf. It's been up and running in it's current home for 6 months and more than 6 years in it's last home. Since this is my first attempt at keeping a reef, I want a softie/polyp dominated tank. My wife and I have definitely caught the zoanthid bug.
Current Tank Info: 140gal glass bull nose peninsula aquarium, 180lbs+ Live rock, crushed coral sand bed, 2x Tao Tronics LEDs, Hydor wave maker with 3 pumps, glass-holes overflow, 18 gal sump, Reef Octopus Diablo 160 XS Protein Skimmer, Reef Octopus MF2000 Advance Media Reactor, RO/DI, Supportive Wife
Live stock: Purple Tang, Emperor Angel (Juvi), Koran Angel (Juvi), Mated pair of Gold Band Maroon Clownfish, Midas Blenny, Firefish, 3 Azure Damsels, Royal Gramma, CuC
Coral: Several types of mushrooms (emerald green, blood red), 3 colonies of green button polyps, a growing list of Zoas (Radio Active Dragoneyes, Orange Spot, Red Eyes, X-Men, Blue Kisses, Sweet Dreams, Sour Apples, Lunar Eclipse, Bloody Marys, and some Fire and Ice that are melting for reasons unknown.), and several green and orange ricordias
Other info: I've been carbon dosing (vodka) for the past 5 months with great success. Coupled with good husbandry and a kick butt skimmer it's an awesome tool. Plus who doesn't like their martinis briney?
Current problems/challenges: I have what I think is a Calcium Carbonate Precipitation issue. I think it's due to low levels of Magnesium. I'm waiting for my Mg test kit to come in and the 2 Part DIY Mg supplement and will raise it slowly and see what happens.
Problem #2 is a emerald crab that I think is snacking on my zoas. I'll be sneaking in after lights out with my red lens flash light and see what I can find...
Well this has been fun. Glad I made the jump from creeper to poster. I see this as the beginning of a wonderful relationship RC... :smokin:
Brian
