New 125 On The Block - Watch The Process! *Pictures Inside*
- Thread starter TJcop
- Start date
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
herbert4 said:
Herbert: The MR1 is kicking major A** :eek2: Once you get it tuned in, you don't have to mess with it. The GenX pump seems very quiet. I have my sump in the basement, so it really doesn't matter to me, but...
When I unplug the GenX to clean the MR1, I don't notice any change in sound in the sump, so I would have to say it's quiet. I would recommend the MR1 and GenX any day. HTH!
PS: I'm out of town for the week, so I don't have any updates on the tank. I spoke with the wife (who's attempting to tend to things while I'm gone
), and she said all is well. She even said the Lobophytum looks great and fuzzy! That is too cool!
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
One problem gone...another arises!
One problem gone...another arises!
Well, it always seems 1 for good and 1 for bad. On the good side, the green hair algae exists no more....on the bad: I have a new brown type of hair algae coming out. Argh...too frustrating. I haven't changed anything, and nothing new has gone into the tank. Partly due to the new brown algae, and also due to me taking handfuls of that tough leaved plant (I forgot the name). I've been told that there isn't anyway to control that plant, besides manual removal.
Parameters: all normal, no spikes, nothing! I wish I had some answers, is it possible that my tank temp (around 82) is causing some of the probs? I'm trying to buy a chiller to get the temp at around 79, think that will help?
Here's a pic of my recovered Lobophytum. Guess that's another good....for now.
One problem gone...another arises!
Well, it always seems 1 for good and 1 for bad. On the good side, the green hair algae exists no more....on the bad: I have a new brown type of hair algae coming out. Argh...too frustrating. I haven't changed anything, and nothing new has gone into the tank. Partly due to the new brown algae, and also due to me taking handfuls of that tough leaved plant (I forgot the name). I've been told that there isn't anyway to control that plant, besides manual removal.
Parameters: all normal, no spikes, nothing! I wish I had some answers, is it possible that my tank temp (around 82) is causing some of the probs? I'm trying to buy a chiller to get the temp at around 79, think that will help?
Here's a pic of my recovered Lobophytum. Guess that's another good....for now.
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
Update! Pics included!
Update! Pics included!
Haven't given an update in a bit, so here goes....
The Lobophytum in the above post...gone During some aquascaping, I noticed a white spot on it. Closer inspection found some type of small worms in it. Didn't want to risk infecting the tank....Now, on to the good stuff! 
Got my first set of SPS frags! Very excited. All of them are open, except one of the Acros, but it seems to be slowing extending. The frags I obtained are:
Acropora Millepora Scripps Red/Pink
Brids Nest Green
Pink Pocillopora
Montipora Digitata German Blue Polyp
Staghorn Acropora Indo Purple Tip
Montipora Digitata Orange
Now, I've included pics of them below, but I can't tell one from the other! They don't look anything like the pictures off the website (etropicals), and none of the colors seem to match up. Maybe from the shipping? I have no idea.
Update! Pics included!
Haven't given an update in a bit, so here goes....
The Lobophytum in the above post...gone
During some aquascaping, I noticed a white spot on it. Closer inspection found some type of small worms in it. Didn't want to risk infecting the tank....Now, on to the good stuff! Got my first set of SPS frags! Very excited. All of them are open, except one of the Acros, but it seems to be slowing extending. The frags I obtained are:
Acropora Millepora Scripps Red/Pink
Brids Nest Green
Pink Pocillopora
Montipora Digitata German Blue Polyp
Staghorn Acropora Indo Purple Tip
Montipora Digitata Orange
Now, I've included pics of them below, but I can't tell one from the other! They don't look anything like the pictures off the website (etropicals), and none of the colors seem to match up. Maybe from the shipping? I have no idea.
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
Continuing on the new frags...
They are temporarily on the SB during the light acclimation process. They all went in the tank yesterday (except the Scripps Acro which went in today), and I will be moving them up in the tank later this week.
Anyone have any suggestions or comments regarding these selections? Any help or comments would be appreciated!
They are temporarily on the SB during the light acclimation process. They all went in the tank yesterday (except the Scripps Acro which went in today), and I will be moving them up in the tank later this week.
Anyone have any suggestions or comments regarding these selections? Any help or comments would be appreciated!
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
I recently installed a Pacific Coast 650 chiller on the system, and it's working great. Got rid of all the fans in my sump, and I am keeping a steady 79 degrees!
I also installed a pH probe, so I can constantly monitor pH Right now it's holding at around an 8.0, up from a 7.8-7.9. I'm slowly raising my Ph and Calc with Kalkwasser. I'm hoping for about an 8.2 pH and around 400 for calc.
I also installed a pH probe, so I can constantly monitor pH Right now it's holding at around an 8.0, up from a 7.8-7.9. I'm slowly raising my Ph and Calc with Kalkwasser. I'm hoping for about an 8.2 pH and around 400 for calc.
ReefWraith
New member
Hello TJ!
It's been a while since I've checked in with you... the frags look good. Looks like the color is starting to come out nicely. Nice to see your algae has come under control... such fun! Just wondering how you like your Maristar system? Does your have the T5's for actinics... and if so how do you like them? Good to see your still posting... though I'm not sure where everyone went! :^)
Reef On TJ!
It's been a while since I've checked in with you... the frags look good. Looks like the color is starting to come out nicely. Nice to see your algae has come under control... such fun! Just wondering how you like your Maristar system? Does your have the T5's for actinics... and if so how do you like them? Good to see your still posting... though I'm not sure where everyone went! :^)
Reef On TJ!
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
Thanks ReefWraith for stopping by again! It does seem that nobody is interested in this thread, but I'm still holding out hope! Maybe when I get some more interesting stuff in as the tank matures.
I love my Maristar system. It's quiet and offers a ton of lighting for my tank. It does have the T5's for actinics, and they are controlled independant of the MH's.
As far as the frags, one of them didn't make it. The others are looking great! In fact, two of them are already growing and/or budding new branches! Now that is exciting!
Just working on a small diatom hair algae prob. The Dr. said it's still cycling. I read that Asteria snails will help, so I plan to get about a dozen of them.
I love my Maristar system. It's quiet and offers a ton of lighting for my tank. It does have the T5's for actinics, and they are controlled independant of the MH's.
As far as the frags, one of them didn't make it. The others are looking great! In fact, two of them are already growing and/or budding new branches! Now that is exciting!
Just working on a small diatom hair algae prob. The Dr. said it's still cycling. I read that Asteria snails will help, so I plan to get about a dozen of them.
ReefWraith
New member
Don't give up just yet TJ! Keep posting.... as many will learn from your tenacity. 
Sorry to hear about the frag loss... which one was it... and did these come from Reefer Madness or BlowfishAquatics? I remember your LR came from the folks at Reefer Madness. Are you pleased with it? Glad to hear you are happy with the Maristar. I'm on the fence between the Maristar and CoralVue's new system... but have been waiting for 3 months for them to fix a few problems and start shipping it! I'm not sure I can wait any longer but the idea of electronic ballasts and moonlights built in is certainly enticing. 
Keep up the good work... and the posts!
Reef On!
Sorry to hear about the frag loss... which one was it... and did these come from Reefer Madness or BlowfishAquatics? I remember your LR came from the folks at Reefer Madness. Are you pleased with it? Glad to hear you are happy with the Maristar. I'm on the fence between the Maristar and CoralVue's new system... but have been waiting for 3 months for them to fix a few problems and start shipping it! I'm not sure I can wait any longer but the idea of electronic ballasts and moonlights built in is certainly enticing. Keep up the good work... and the posts!
Reef On!
ReeferMonkey
Premium Member
People are still watching
Maybe you could post a new full tank pic, we haven't seen anything besides the frags for a month or so. Did you move the frags from the sand yet?
Astreas are pretty hard working. If you can find some, get some Stomatella snails. They propagate readily in captivity, so you might look to your local club, if you have one. A few of the LFS in my area carry them from time to time. They're super hard workers, better than the Nerites and Astrea. I also have had good luck with my Cerith snails.
Are you pretty happy with the system thus far?
Maybe you could post a new full tank pic, we haven't seen anything besides the frags for a month or so. Did you move the frags from the sand yet?
Astreas are pretty hard working. If you can find some, get some Stomatella snails. They propagate readily in captivity, so you might look to your local club, if you have one. A few of the LFS in my area carry them from time to time. They're super hard workers, better than the Nerites and Astrea. I also have had good luck with my Cerith snails.
Are you pretty happy with the system thus far?
PUGroyale
New member
man... Just want to say excellent job on everything and tremendous thread. Can't believe I haven't seen it before! that's ok... it was like having an entire season TiVo'ed...lol. Curious why you went with such a nice [furniture quality] hanging hood system only to enclose it inside your canopy? Once again... GREAT WORK!
I'm still around as well, TJ. Those frags do look nice!
How large/long are they? I purchased a frag recently from Reefer Madness, but it was partially broken during shipment and it died within about two days
; so I am a little weary of ordering any more online. The frags I have purchased from my LFS have been extremely healthy so I know it wasn't my water quality or acclimation proceedures.
BTW, how did the SeaHares work out?
How large/long are they? I purchased a frag recently from Reefer Madness, but it was partially broken during shipment and it died within about two days
; so I am a little weary of ordering any more online. The frags I have purchased from my LFS have been extremely healthy so I know it wasn't my water quality or acclimation proceedures.BTW, how did the SeaHares work out?
moosejac
New member
Re: Tank On Board!
Re: Tank On Board!
I installed a 950 with one SCWD on about a 2 foot head and it killed the flow so much, I got rid of the SCWD all together. Friend of mine is using a Mag 18 on single SCWD, and he is only getting decent flow. I would use as big a pump as possible going ten feet!
Re: Tank On Board!
TJcop said:Also, do you think the Mag 9.5 can power two SCWD's with a 10ft head (400gph at 10ft)?
[/B]
I installed a 950 with one SCWD on about a 2 foot head and it killed the flow so much, I got rid of the SCWD all together. Friend of mine is using a Mag 18 on single SCWD, and he is only getting decent flow. I would use as big a pump as possible going ten feet!
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
Moose: Thanks for the response, but I got rid of my SCWD a long time ago. I had a very large Dolphin pump under the stand running the SCWD (about a 4 ft head) and I wasn't happy with the flow or the microbubbles. I replaced it with powerheads on a wavemaker and two Seio pumps. Much better!
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
First, I would like to pass along something that another member sent me. He said:
"The reason why your having algae problems is because they are leaking out of your LR and sand. This happens and is normal. Even if your test kits are reading 0 there is PO4 in there. Test kits only test for orthophosphates that are in the water column. The problem is that orthophosphates are picked up very quick by algae they love it."
I'm glad someone finally came up with an answer for me. So, knowing this, should I get some type of PO4 remover (Phosban?) for the tank?
Oh, yeah, pics are being cropped as I type!
"The reason why your having algae problems is because they are leaking out of your LR and sand. This happens and is normal. Even if your test kits are reading 0 there is PO4 in there. Test kits only test for orthophosphates that are in the water column. The problem is that orthophosphates are picked up very quick by algae they love it."
I'm glad someone finally came up with an answer for me. So, knowing this, should I get some type of PO4 remover (Phosban?) for the tank?
Oh, yeah, pics are being cropped as I type!
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
Big Picture Update!!!
Big Picture Update!!!
Here's a big picture update that will hopefully spark some interest and maybe inspire some of you to go spend lots of $$$$ on stuff! You can never have too much in this hobby, unless its Ammonia, Nitrates/trites, PO4, etc....
First are some tank shots, left, middle and right. You can see my new school of Blue/Green Chromis...absolutely stunning colors under the MH, how they change!
Big Picture Update!!!
Here's a big picture update that will hopefully spark some interest and maybe inspire some of you to go spend lots of $$$$ on stuff! You can never have too much in this hobby, unless its Ammonia, Nitrates/trites, PO4, etc....
First are some tank shots, left, middle and right. You can see my new school of Blue/Green Chromis...absolutely stunning colors under the MH, how they change!
TJcop
Throws Money Into Water
Picture Update, Continued
Picture Update, Continued
Here's pics of my frags. They went in the tank on July 12th and are already growing and budding!! Too cool!
The flash on my camera really washes out the colors. The corals are deep red, one is pink, one brown with a green tint to the polyps and one kinda yellowish.
Picture Update, Continued
Here's pics of my frags. They went in the tank on July 12th and are already growing and budding!! Too cool!
The flash on my camera really washes out the colors. The corals are deep red, one is pink, one brown with a green tint to the polyps and one kinda yellowish.
