Pete's 280 log

[psteeleb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14105620#post14105620 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefEnabler
those frags have really taken off!!

I really love the orange and green birdnest for some reason


You mentioned that the corals seem to prefer kalk to 2-part. I wonder if this has to do with the fact that the kalk is always added drip-wise, while most people dose 2-part additives in small quantities that are much more significant than drops added slowly.


even adding 50ml of each 2part at once would be a quicker change in chemistry than dosing the same amount of ca/alk in kalk over the day.

I agree with your logic on the dosing but I don't dose my kalc as part of my top off. Right now I dose in one gallon increments and get more PH spike then I ever got with 2 part

I am considering an alternate method where I would drip with top off but somehow limit it by high Ph and at night only. I'm considering putting the topoff on a timer for night only and just let it drop during the day or I may go with a second top off switch for fresh RO/DI if it drops too much during the day. Or I may use a couple solinoids on timer/high PH to switch the feed from direct to Kalc reactor. I'm still hashing it out in my head. Bottom line is I don't want my ATO 100% kalc

 

[psteeleb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14107158#post14107158 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crvz
great growth over time, thanks for sharing the updates.

tanks

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14115443#post14115443 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigJay
The kole tang is apparently still okay Pete, I saw her swimming around last night and hiding behind the reef.

I figure it will be at least 2-3 more days before she loses a little more shyness, comes out to eat, figures out that she's the biggest fish in the tank, and takes up her responsibility of bullying other fish.

good to hear Jay :thumbsup: Mine is still very bashfull and for the most part is hanging out in the rocks on the left side of the tank. He is coming out more and more and looks like he want to hang out with the 3 yellows.

 

[psteeleb]

the new kid on the block, Mr Kole, is starting to come out more and hanging out with the rest of the gang. Everyone seems to be getting along just fine. And the seven new chromis are hanging out with the other chromis in the large staghorn

here's a flash picture of Mr Kole (colors a bit washed)

here he is hanging with some of his new buds

he was a llittle bashful of the camera but the other tangs were out saying "hey - how about me!"

 

[chrismunn]

i didnt even realize that you had any tangs pete. pretty fish.

 

[psteeleb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14124948#post14124948 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrismunn
i didnt even realize that you had any tangs pete. pretty fish.

haha - They would have everyone believing I neglect them, like I consider them coral feeders :lol: :lol: only wanted for their fish poo.
Joking of course, I've always loved tangs; I have always had some in my tanks. I always wanted a powder blue but never wanted to deal with the ich (or price). So that's 1 of 3 of my wish list for fish. I would also love to get a blue face angel and one (or a pair) of the orange blue spot file fish, but I'm a bit leery of them picking on the sps. Maybe was things grow out more I'll try them.

 

[psteeleb]

this darn stylophora won't quit

I moved the chips further away and it just makes longer sweepers

 

[psteeleb]

New Addition to the Kalc Reactor

New Addition to the Kalc Reactor

I added a Aqualifter to my Kalc reactor feed. The pump is controlled by my ATO, so it will feed throughout the day.

The pump gets the supply from the one gallon reservoir that I will have fill 3 or 4 times daily. This will limit the maximum amount of saturated lime water to one gallon at time and 4 gallons maximum per day.

The suction still has a solenoid valve that will shut off if PH is over the set point (8.35)

this set up should eliminate the clogging issue and feed the lime water a little slower then it was previously.

I just could not seem to get a drip rate slow enough not to spike the PH without the system clogging when it was 100% gravity fed.

So the feed process is:

RO/DI form my 10g reservoir --->
timed pump 4 times daily (so max one gallon every 8 hours)--->
one gallon container (overflows back to reservoir) --->
solenoid valve (open if PH < 8.35) --->
ATO controlled aqualifter (pumps 3.5 g per hour) --->
to sump / tank

 

[psteeleb]

Next Project

Next Project

replacing the cheap eBay $15 ozonizer with a top end unit that I bought used (hope it works up to spec)

 

[psteeleb]

Guess I'll be keeping an eye out on this guy

Guess I'll be keeping an eye out on this guy

The largest emerald I got in the last CuC update is around 1 1/2" wide (maybe an inch and a quarter). He's been all over the tank and seems to be picking on alga's, but tonight I noticed him parked in the green birds nest

 

[psteeleb]

I noticed a couple emerald crabs hanging in and around the sps, especially at night. I guess they sleep in it, but they don't seem to be bothering the corals.

 

[psteeleb]

ATO cleaning

ATO cleaning

It's time to clean up the ATO, last thing you want it for it to get stuck on or off. Even though I have the secondary upper off switch, a good cleaning is definitely in order.

before pictures

after a soak in bleach water, a second soak in acid water, a little toothbrush work and some rinsing it looks clean as new. After checking to make sure the floats all move freely and the splash guard is free of debris blocking the vent holes it's ready to go back in service.

 

[psteeleb]

This morning I caught this trumpet coral trying to reach out and touch someone (a plate coral over it to be specific)

couple pictures from last night

Pink Jade

Purple tip prostrata

Mako Mille

 

[psteeleb]

dp

 

[melev]

You did a great job cleaning that up. Good as new.

Great pictures, as always.

 

[psteeleb]

thanks Marc

here's the latest advanced weaponry in the fight against majano's

now I can reach and feed those nice little anemones at the bottom of the tank

 

[Hop]

Now you just need a laser guidance system and you'll be set

 

[psteeleb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14173966#post14173966 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hop
Now you just need a laser guidance system and you'll be set

That would be a nice thing to have.

The ones in the upper 1/2 of the tank are pretty easy to get to but when they get in the rocks in the front lower part of the tank they can be a real PITA. Killing them was a hit or miss operation and most time they just pulled in and I missed.
working from a mirror or through the top of the tank looking into the front glass reflection is slow work for me and usually gives them a chance to sense danger and retract. I was using a piece of hard plastic tubing to reach them but it was attached to the syringe with a short piece of soft tubing. This made the working end of the thing too wobbly.

I was reading up on people having luck frying them with a home made 12 volt DC cattle prod type device. I may have to give it a try :smokin:

 

[psteeleb]

here's a first

I have thousands of these brittle stars, they are usually hiding in the rocks and you will see there arms out at feeding time trying to get a scrap of food. This was the first time I've seen one out and about, and thought it odd that it was almost to the top of the tank climbing up the glass. (he's about 1 1/2 - 2"" across, body about 1/8" to 3/16")

anyone know what these are - looks like the feeding end of a cucumber. I have a few in the tank, some sort of harmless filter feeder I'm sure, but not sure if it's a type of rock dwelling cucumber, a sponge, maybe a gorg, any ideas?

 

[chrismunn]

is that thing hard or soft? and does it ever retract or is it always in the same position? do they ever move?

 

[psteeleb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14177598#post14177598 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrismunn
is that thing hard or soft? and does it ever retract or is it always in the same position? do they ever move?

I blew it with the turkey baister and it did not retract, it did move some. Seemed kind of fibrous, not as soft as a leather, it had more structure, but definitely not as hard as a stonie