ojonas JBJ 28g build thread

[ojonas81]

Time for a small update again. Tank is running fine. Seems like I have been able to dial in the alkalinity dosing pretty well. Been stable at 9dkh for some time now. Of course, since I am still adding more corals it will need adjustments. SO far I have not had the need to do any calcium or magnesium dosing. My water changes seems to be enough for now keeping up with those.

Since the last update a few new items have been added to the tank.

Start off with an awesome anemone crab I found at my LFS.

He almost immediately found the RBTA after being put in the tank and has not left its host since. Very cool filter feeder crab that stays out in the open most all the time as in contrast to my porcelain crab who I only occasionally see.

Next up is a nice bright green hammer coral.

This one I think is a ORA Green Damicornis even though it was sold to me as an ORA Pink & Green Damicornis

Also got a Candy Cane. Did not have very good luck with these in version 1.0 of the tank so I am hoping this will be a better experience.

Finally a shot of a red coral I never documented at its final position. It is doing great and has already started to encrust the surrounding rocks some.

Just love my Dendros. They are looking really nice and seem to thrive in the tank. Hopefully it will grow a few more heads soon.

 

[tommer725]

that is so awesome! I wish my tank looked this good

 

[ojonas81]

Tank is humming along well however I need to get the bi-color blenny out. It is constantly nipping on my SPS and I want the SPS to grow more than I want to keep the fish. So tonight will be the first try to catch him. He sleeps in the same hole in the rock every night so I am planning to get up in the middle of the night with a net and try to catch him before he know what hit him. Hopefully he will be back at the LFS by tomorrow.

Wish me good luck!

 

[ojonas81]

Double post...

 

[ojonas81]

Success!! I went up at 2.45am last night and slowly lowered a net around the hole the blenny was sleeping in. I actually did it so good that he was still sleeping and I had to wake him up in order to swim out from the hole. But after 15 minutes he was caught and is now waiting to be taken back to my LFS. glad I finally got him before all my SPS was stripped naked.

Now the question is what fish to replace him with. I might go with a purple firefish. Any other suggestions?

 

[iced98lx]

I love my pair of purple firefish, and they don't get near my sps.

 

[ojonas81]

I like the purple (and regular) fire fish as well. Might be a strong contender.

 

[ojonas81]

Time for a small update again. Got a couple of new frags mounted. Have also started to see growth on my slimer and my Strawberry Shortcake.

First out though is my anemone crab hanging out under his host. Love this guy.

Next up is a new ORA SPS. I think my LFS said this one is ORA Stuber Staghorn but I am not sure. Does not look like the picture on ORAs site. You can see where the blenny decided to "eat". All the white parts are his work.

Got these new green zoas.

Next up is the ORA Orange Digitata. Unfortunately the coral got snapped off above its base when I tried to get it off its plug but hopefully both pieces will grow in nicely.

Finally I got a white/light blue millie frag from my LFS. Don't know the name of it. Got fraged directly from their main display tank.

 

[ojonas81]

This morning something really exciting had happened in the tank. One of my clowns decided to start sleeping in my RBTA. Finally!! This is really awesome and I hope the other one will join in during the day today. Will add pictures tonight.

 

[iced98lx]

This morning something really exciting had happened in the tank. One of my clowns decided to start sleeping in my RBTA. Finally!! This is really awesome and I hope the other one will join in during the day today. Will add pictures tonight.

wohoo! Congrats!!

 

[FTDelta]

Yesterday was an exciting day. Got my WXM module for my Apex controller delivered. Now I can precise control my MP10es throughout the day without having to manually change mode on it.

Unfortunately my home network stopped working last night so had to do most of the programming from the display unit which is not as easy as via the web interface.

Right now it is setup as follows:

8.00 am to 12.00 pm - Tidal Swell at 70%
12.00 pm to 8.00 pm - Reef Crest at 80%
8.00 pm to 10.00 pm Pulse mode at 75%
10.00 pm to 8.00 am Lagoon at 40% (my night mode)

When feed cycle is initiated the MP10 will first go into Constant mode at 30% for 5 minutes, then it will change to Nutrient Transport mode at 100% for 5 minutes before returning to normal schedule.

I still need to fine tune my schedule, probably add a couple of more mode changed throughout the day, but overall I am very happy with the new module. I can finally take full advantage of the MP10's features. Think my corals and fishes will love the new more random water movement throughout the day.

If you don't mind me asking a stupid question but when do you initiate the feed cycle at Constant mode at 30%, then to Nutrient Transport at 100% before returning to normal schedule. Also, what is the benefit of these 2 modes? I'm a newbie trying to learn everything I need to know about saltwater aquaria keeping.

I've just stared to read your thread and I am impressed with your tank. It was a bummer what happened to your first set-up and am happy to see you restart it up again.

Your tank is an inspiration for me to start my first SW tank someday. you're lucky you have LFS that sells quality corals and SW fish and have a great relationship with the owner. Sadly, there are none in my area.

 

[ojonas81]

Thank you for the kind words. It has been a long struggle (with the crash etc.)but it has been fun and rewarding and hopefully this time it will last longer. I am already looking into a bigger tank in the future.

The feed mode is started by me pressing a button on the APEX controller. That will then override any current programming until the feed cycle is done. When done the controller sets the MP10 back to its normal programming based on the time of the day.

The benefit of the constant mode in low speed while feeding is to not have all the food blow around like crazy in the tank so the fish can actually get to it without too much effort. The Nutrient Transport mode is to suspend all uneaten food back into the water column so it can be removed by the overflow and get stuck in the filter floss or skimmed away by the skimmer.

 

[FTDelta]

Now I understand. Let me get this straight, the APEX controller is programmed/wired to your MP10s controller to disable (temporaily?) so you can run the constant & nutrient modes?

Or is the controller a separate console unit? I'm trying to figure out how it's hooked up to your MP10s and it returns to normal schedule.

 

[ojonas81]

A short update. Visited my LSF today after work and found a mated pair of Orchid Dottybacks. Bought them and went home. I acclimated them for about an hour and then they went into the main tank. Left for Best Buy and was gone for maybe 45 minutes. When I came back home I found one of the fish halfway in my Dendro and the other one swimming slowly along the bottom. Quickly pulled out the one in the Dendro but it was too late. Decided to take the other one out as well and he is now in a separate container. Will return him to the LFS tomorrow if he will make it.

Sad story.

Will upload some new pictures soon as well.

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2

 

[ojonas81]

Here is a picture of the Dendro getting its most expensive meal ever.

The other Dottyback was dead this morning as well. Sad because they were a mated pair and I always liked the Orchid Dottybacks.

I have contacted the LFS but I suspect that they were not in the best of shapes before even entering the tank.

 

[venom550pm]

Lots of ups and downs, but it looks great!

Are you dipping any of your corals or quarantining any of your fish? I'd hate to see another tragic event in your tank. If not, it's something you might want to consider.

Glad you stuck with it after version 1.0.

 

[ojonas81]

I am dipping all my corals in Coral RX but I have not been able to setup a QT system yet. I know I should but have no space for such tank yet. I usually do a slow drip acclimation and thorough "inspection" of the fish. I am on a good friends term with my LFSs and trust them and up until now it has been working out well. Will however look into a QT system and will definitely get one when I upgrade my tank to a bigger one (hopefully sometime next year).

 

[ojonas81]

Time for a bigger update again. I have bounced back from the mishap with the dottyback pair. They were in a bad shape when I got them and my LFS replaced one of them for free and gave me a discount on a ORA coral.

So the new Orchid Dottyback came home and went into the acclimation.

I love this fish. So much fun to watch and very colorful. After getting into the tank he swims around all over the place and darts in and out through the rock work.

That is it for new fish additions. I don't think I will add anymore fish for now. I will however add a bunch of new corals since I still have a lot of empty rock space. This I think is a ORA Green Birdsnest

Next up is a Ponape Birdsnest.

This is the coral I got a discount on. I think it is a ORA MIMF Micronesian Mauve Acro but waiting to get it classified over at the SPS section.

Here are November's FTS.

 

[ojonas81]

Here are just some random shots of the tank.

First out is one of my two Yasha Haze Gobies. This is an awesome fish. They have started to come out more often now.

Green Zoanthids that seem to start to take off after being glued down a little too much.

My Strawberry Shortcake and an unidentified ORA SPS. The SPS got hit hard by the wrath of the blenny and you can still see "bite marks" along the structure. The Strawberry Shortcake however is doing great and have encrusted really well onto the rocks next to the plug.

The Green Bali Slimer is also doing well. Think this is my fastest growing coral at the moment. All the white parts are new growth after being placed in the tank. It has also started to encrust the rock it is glued to.

The tiny Blue Millepora frag I got have started to encrust as well. Not much growth yet though but seems to be doing well.

Finally two LSP that are doing well and growing new heads.

 

[venom550pm]

Looking good!