Pastey's 200DD

[downset21]

sonic, i'm looking to go with one or two vertex 1.5l reactors. The inlet/outlet are both 1/2" so i would probably do a a 45 down to clear that rear upright, a 90 to the right then when it comes time for the individual reactor outlets, i don't really know if i'll have enough room to do (2)45 elbows to get the piping up the reactor inlet or if i'll have to use (2)90s. That's difficult to determine for me without the reactor here to work with. I plan on using gate valves for 2 reasons...one, because they're shorter and take up less lateral pipe space and because they're good for fine tuning flow. I guess i'll just have to bite the bullet and get one and then just pipe it to make it work. I'm terrible with theoretical stuff...i work much better hands on.

I used a 90 with a 1/2" threaded connector attached to add on my manifold.. Bought the 90 at home depot... I dont know if this helps or not

View attachment 318073

 

[Pastey]

That actually does help quite a bit. I've put a a reactor setup a little further down the to-do list. With summer coming on strong and the cost of cooling the entire house going up to keep the tank cool, I've needed to prioritize getting an EB8 and programming some fans to kick on. During peak heat hours, the tank can get up into the mid-83's and it's not going to get any cooler in the coming months. Right now, I've got a small box fan set on a simple mechanical timer to keep it under control. With an EB8, I'll also finally be able to get my top off programmed with leak detector and pH (I dose kalk via ATO) safety nets. Also can get my fuge lighting and BOTH heaters (instead of just one) under "control".

 

[Pastey]

Sailfin looking for a snack:

Mama clown:

Achilles is just starting to develop it's white stripe along it's back:

 

[Pastey]

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[Pastey]

Return pump was long overdue for service (and completely freaking seized!) so I bought a spare/backup last week, installed it last night and will be sending my original Dart back to Reeflo for a rebuild. Had 2 Maxijets running as impromptu returns while I waited. It started making a pretty nasty noise and I knew it was coming to the point where I needed to replace/rebuild but it finally crapped out on me.

 

[Pastey]

In the afternoon, the tank catches some sun light from the windows facing the pond and it creates a sort of shadow show on the wall. Always thought it was kinda cool....

http://youtu.be/y1cEEZ8kiNA

 

[smtank]

Very cool.

 

[Pastey]

Added a small 3 polyp frag of red people eaters to my zoa Rock:

Clowns have taken to the large toadstool for host duties:

Also added a cheap orange chalice frag. Wanted to see how it did in the tank before potentially buying a pricier type.

 

[Pastey]

I like having the look of a gigantea without the fish losses....
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[Pastey]

 

[Pastey]

No additions or changes to speak of. My wrasse went missing and my goby slowly died. I fear it was not getting enough food. I think my more active fish were eating food as son as it hit the water. By the time I pulled him out for spot feeding, it was simply too late. Clowns have begun laying eggs again under their new host leather.

My fat Achilles:

 

[Pastey]

 

[Pastey]

Had to take a drive down to New Orleans on Saturday and we used some spare time to check out a LFS that I hadn't been to in a while. I've been wanting a couple more fish since the tank was looking a little sparse. Picked up a pair of Bartlett's anthias, a male melanarus wrasse and a flame hawkfish (wife picked that one out...love when she gets involved).

Bartlett's

Melanarus

Hawkfish was a little shy so I don't have a picture yet.

 

[Pastey]

Did some sump maintenance last week to clean up detritus, clean up salt spray, residual kalk build up, trim my chaeto, etc.

Harvested more than a basketball sized chunk of chaeto and that was only half of what was in the refugium:

Next "project" is to clean up detritus from the bottom of my overflows.

 

[Pastey]

Hawkfish coming out of its "shell"

 

[Pastey]

 

[Pastey]

Local reefer was SUPER generous and gave me a monti cap colony. Currently on the sand bed acclimating to the lighting. Going to mount it when I can decide where after a few days.

 

[Pastey]

It came from LED. We will see how it goes.

Here it is mounted. It was a pain to get secured and I'm still not 100% sure it will stay put if something (or someone) bumps it.

Of course, when adding something, it makes me move a whole bunch of other stuff around. Made an accidental frag of sinularia because it grew off the original rock it was attached to. Moved some other things around and this is the result:

Also ordered 2 MP40QD wet sides today. I've got 2 wet sides making noise. I wanted to upgrade the drivers first to get rid of the classic MP40 buzz but wet sides were needed. I'll have to order drivers later.

 

[Pastey]

Brought out the macro lens since I didn't have much to do today.

Green/purple rim monti cap from KenM:

Potbellied Melanarus wrasse:

Bargain Fish:

 

[Pastey]