OK! Enough chat...Starting a 1000g+ Reef

[jnarowe]

The PLTA has moved again...I heard the rumors but never did I expect it to move this much. It appears to be hunting for a way out!

You know I am all 4 x 4's here so I can't really give you any advice on a stand. Getting a metal one welded up seems to be a long-shot, and would certainly be very expensive. Check out Sanjay's thread and the stand he built. If you buid a wood one yourself, you don't really need plans. You can come over and check out how I built my refugium tower and my catwalk. Heavy duty materials, heavy duty construction, & no nails!

 

[jnarowe]

Quick Update:

Al looks well on the reef which is a good thing because I have not been home much lately. I have had 3 or 4 over-skimming events but the air pump shut-off has worked flawlessly preventing any floods.

The PLTA has taken up residence in the exact same spot as the GBTA I sold to Vicki (on RF) used to live in. Very strange...and I found the female maroon hosting in it tonight. The male tried but is a bit hesitant.

Corals look good, water parameters are good...

 

[Bax]

That PLTA is sweet!

 

[jnarowe]

Thanks! I spent a little time in the tank room last night and saw the PLTA in a tuck-and-roll...this thing really moves around a lot.

I also demonstrated my new Therme Algae Terminator for Sherman and I think he was fairly impressed. I know this item seems to be a bit of a gimic but it really does work well. In fact it works exactly as it does in the videos on the Therme web site. It will knock down large patches of coraline algae very quickly.

 

[Reefski's]

beware the Therme. i used mine for 10 minutes. then the next day it would not work and they won't return my calls or email.

i wound up just doing it by hand it it probably took less time than waiting for it to cook the coralline and then scrape it off.

Carl

 

[jnarowe]

interesting. I haven't had any problems with it yet. I do find it strange that they specifically state in the instructions to not leave it in the tank after use or it will become damaged. I can't figure out why that would be. I would think that if it is submergable, it could be left for longer periods withot damage. Why would time be a factor?

The reason why I got it is because of the difficulty in cleaning the viewing pane of my tank. It is 8' x 35" and very difficult to get good leverage down low enouch to clean the coraline off near the bottom.

Anyway, I figured it was worth the try and if it craps out on me like yours did, I will return it and lambaste them in the forums.

 

[Reefski's]

mine was only in the water once for just 10 minutes. it was not left in the water.

i will give them a try again but not to hopeful at this point for help.

my new tank is going to be the same dimensions as yours, and viewable on three sides so it seemed like a great adjunct, however....

Carl

 

[jnarowe]

Are you going with glass or acrylic? Got a thread yet?

So the PLTA was off and runing again and this time has settled down directly on top of one of the GBTAs. I can't really figure this one out. I can still see a little bit of the GBTA and what I do see looks normal. Does anyone know if these anemones will fight or coexist?

Did a 75g water change today. All paramters look good. I added some kalk powder to the BAR stirrer. And I pulled out nearly 5g of cheato from the refugium. The snails continue to grow and multiply and today I decided to swish the macro in the QT. I have nothing else in there so I figure that is a good way to get some snails off but still keep control of the aiptasia.

 

[mrcrab]

carloskoi

They're actually a new sponsor here. You might try their forum, maybe you'll have better luck there.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=460

 

[BrianPlankis]

Hey Jonathan,

I was wondering if you use any heat packs when you ship stuff? Do you have any recommended brands?

Brian

 

[jnarowe]

Actually I don't use them. Anything I ship that needs to be kept warm goes over-night...I recently received some stuff that had heat packs in them, but there were no markings on them whatsoever.

Strange that I was just posting in your forum!

 

[melev]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8590490#post8590490 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BrianPlankis
Hey Jonathan,

I was wondering if you use any heat packs when you ship stuff? Do you have any recommended brands?

Brian

You can buy them at Walmart, sold to keep the hands of hunters warm. They sell a 4 or 6 pack for a couple of dollars.

 

[BrianPlankis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8590643#post8590643 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
You can buy them at Walmart, sold to keep the hands of hunters warm. They sell a 4 or 6 pack for a couple of dollars.

Marc,

Yeah, I tested some of the 10 hour ones from Wal-mart in a couple of shipments recently and they did a lousy job at keeping things warm. I need to find better ones.

Brian

 

[jnarowe]

Well I spent a few hours claning the viewing pane on my tank today. It looks great all cleaned up and the Therme cleaner really helped out. It is not a "magic bullet" of course, but boiling the coraline algae makes it much easier to scrape off. In fact, it was easier to scrape than another type of algae. Tough work laying on top of the tank braces and trying to keep from falling in and getting burned!

I hope to keep up with the coraline now with the aid of the Therme unit. Still have to do the back and sides, but those should be a bit easier. I do love looking down on the reef though as the corals and clams look sweet. Some of the fish hid like pansies but the longnose hawk stayed right with me, perched on a rock right below me and seemed keenly interested in what I was doing.

The jade torch, as Sherman pointed out a couple nights ago, is really spectacular. Its tentacles average about 7 - 8" long and it is brilliantly colored. No pics tonight though as I clouded up the water a bit. I also scratched the viewing pane out of impatience so now I will have to think about polishing it in a few spots...

 

[marcom1234]

ok i have spent 3 days reading your whole thread

awesome and very detailed... i have enjoyed it alot...
my wife is looking at me like im crazy and thinks i might need my but surgically removed from the computer chair..

keep it going im looking forward to seeing more of your tank.

 

[jnarowe]

Thanks for the very nice compliment and just for that, some pictures!!!

These were all taken today...

Down Low:

Jade Torch, Tear Drop Clam, Pumping Xenia:

Her Majesty:

Crocea:

 

[jnarowe]

And some more...

Blue Tort:

Digitata:

Encrusting Monti:

I can't remember the name... My favorite coral. It's growth has been spectacular and while it appears to be somewhat monochromatic, when it retracts its polyps, it is multi colored with bright green and blue tissue. This coral was one finger when I bought it some 2 - 3 months ago.

Yellow Scroll:

 

[jnarowe]

And some more...

Yellow Acro:

Green Slimer:

Orange Cap:

Oh, a threesome eh? Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk...

Of course many pics did not turn out including all of my FTS. I'll try again in a few days.

 

[818]

NICE!!! Can we please get a full tank shot!!! Geeeezzee!!!

 

[Enderrea]

some of those have gotten some good growth on them in the last few months.