Pete's 280 log

[psteeleb]

An interesting note on my new maracultured acro I got at Next Wave.

An interesting note on my new maracultured acro I got at Next Wave.

I noticed some STN at the base, it seemed to stop on most branches but one branch it went all the way up. I decided to remove it to nip off the dead part and noticed there was a dead clam at the base of the dead coral branch. I suspect the clam was killed by the ReVive dip and as it rotted away it caused the STN event. The rest of the coral looks fine so I hoe that little event is over and done with. Sorry, if I knew I was going to be trimming a dead clam out of the coral base I would have taken some pictures.

 

[psteeleb]

I cleaned up my Kalc reactor today, giving is a mild acid wash and good rinsing. After filling it back up with Kalc and RO/DI I put it back in service, thinking everything good to go. Shortly after, Tony (bigjay) dropped by and we headed to Marcs house around 3:00 to give him some help on his manifold project. I got home around 2:00 am, I did a quick walk around the tank and as I was checking the ORP I noticed the top off line from the Kalc reactor was not in the sump. :eek1:

The ATO was pumping kalc water into my stand for the last 12 hours or so. Fortunately, the way I have the kalc set up, it can only pump 1 gallon every 6 hours, so, at max it dumped 3 gallons of limewater into my stand.

Marc's up, I'm sure taking pictures of his new manifold, Tony bought a new TV today and will be installing it until late and I'm sponging up lime water. Late night for all of us.

Marc's manifold project came out nicer then I thought it would and better yet, it started up without a hitch (no leaks and everything flows nicely). Now he can really kick up the flow in his sump and refuge to give them a good flushing out, but his main concern was getting rid potential sources of stray voltage in the tank. We also ended up ripping out half his electrical to make room for the manifold. He will need to reinstall some of the electrical, but he wont need half of the outlets, as I think he got rid of about 5-6 powerheads.

 

[melev]

Aw Pete, I can't believe it. Yet another reason I hate kalkwasser. :lol: I mean, that's just not right after all your time over here helping me out tonight.

Although I'm glad it didn't do something horrible to your beautiful reef. I guess that's looking at it optimistically.

 

[psteeleb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14291491#post14291491 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Aw Pete, I can't believe it. Yet another reason I hate kalkwasser. :lol: I mean, that's just not right after all your time over here helping me out tonight.

Although I'm glad it didn't do something horrible to your beautiful reef. I guess that's looking at it optimistically.

no biggie, it took all of about 10 minutes to clean up. I'm just glad I built in the gallon every 6 hours limitation, or else who know how much of a mess it could have been.

I'm sure my Alk dropped to below 7 today (I try to keep it around 8). Another reason I'll be glad when I get a Ca reactor.

 

[Hop]

I agree that kalk reactors can be fiddly! So far *crossing fingers* the only issue I have is after about 3 months my ATO starts to clog and gets stuck in the closed position. So I know it is time to rip it apart and clean it. It's on my to do list to replace the ATO and go with a dosing pump for the kalk. Someday I'll get another Ca reactor, but just don't need it right now. I keep looking at the front range want-ads for a complete set up that is being parted out with another controller, Ca reactor and some extra parts. I found a 120 Friday complete with some softies, but the lousy skimmer and lack of a controller turned me away...

 

[psteeleb]

my eventual plans are to go back to running the Kalc reactor just at night. The sps love the stuff and respond extremely well to it with lights out. Plus I like the thought of increasing Ph at night to mitigate the down swings. I am past the point where Kalc can fully replenish the Ca and Alk and want Ca reactor to take the over the burden of dosing 2 part.

 

[psteeleb]

I took a few pictures as the MH's were kicking on at 12:00

Marc's hammer just waking up

I found this little ric 2 days ago. My wife helped me catch it on Friday. After I tried to place it in what I thought was a low flow are on some rubble in the back of the tank, the flow just swept it away into a no mans land inside the live rock. Then this morning it shows up inside the clam cage about 2" from where we first grabbed it. Go figure.

here are some pictures of the rics parent colonies (Ricordia Floridian) These are not the Rics I thin out (kill)

Here is Jaba looking for his cup of java (sorry had to work that in -it was me wanting some java after the long night last night) Jaba is hiding in some of the Rics I do thin out (Ricordia Yuma)

I had to grab a picture of Marcs Unk acro. Maybe he'll show the parent colony as they are growing quite different. I have this up high in the tank, Marc's is literally on the bottom. This picture is a little washed out, the coral has gorgeous blue coralites with florescent lime green rims that glow under the actinics at night.

The happy clams (I need to rig up some weights for the cage to keep it from getting blown away in the flow. Right now I just have a small piece of live rock on top of it to hold it in place.)

 

[melev]

Does the cage float? You could make one that you press down into the sand to keep it in place perhaps.

 

[psteeleb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14294849#post14294849 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Does the cage float? You could make one that you press down into the sand to keep it in place perhaps.

it seems buoyant neutral, doesn't sink or float, just goes with the flow.

I tried to push it into the sand but not much luck with the way it is now. But you just gave me an idea, maybe I can put some pegs on it.

 

[melev]

Pegs would be great.

 

[BigJay]

Love the rics Pete, especially the florida variety.

If you manage to rescue that green monti frag from the 'no mans land' let me know. I'll find a good home for it.

 

[psteeleb]

that green monte frag that was in the front of the tank yesterday is a "leng sy" purple rim. For me it's a fund raiser coral

 

[Hop]

Probably a little late now since I already hit the order button, but what lights and ballasts are you running Pete? I could search back through your thread, but that could take a while to find it

 

[psteeleb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14298019#post14298019 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hop
Probably a little late now since I already hit the order button, but what lights and ballasts are you running Pete? I could search back through your thread, but that could take a while to find it

no problem Hop

3 X 250w, Lumatek e-ballasts, with 12k reflux bulbs, lumabright mini reflectors

2 X 400w, off brand ballast, with 10k reflux bulbs, lumabright mini's

2 X 165w atinics on a Icecap 430

 

[Hop]

Interesting... Thanks!

 

[psteeleb]

no problem Hop

--------------------

here are a few sps updates

Marc's Mille from the front

top down - normal PE

top down with polyps retracted

Marc's unknown acro from the top (I posted a front shot earlier today)

the new addition from Next Wave - unknown acropora -

purple tip prostrata - normal PE

polyps retracted

 

[psteeleb]

a few more


A. Microphthalma

A. Microcladus

Pink Jade (acropora sp?)

A. Austera

Pete's "The Blob" (acropora sp)

SERVOs blue green table (acropora sp)

Montepora Digitata (German Blue Polyp)

Seriatapora (green / orange birdsnest)

Ice Blue Stag (from Upscales - maybe acropora formosa, not sure)

 

[Hop]

Everything looks so healthy pete! I really like the purple tip prostrata and the digi!

 

[crvz]

I also like the blue polyp digi. I've never seen one quite so nice before.

 

[ReefEnabler]

awesome pics as always....

do you know what the difference is between the SLS lumatek and SLS galaxy?? I've always wondered. was there something special about the way the lumatek runs the 12k bulbs???