Randy's 180G Reef-Photo Journal

[rdmpe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7241485#post7241485 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tgunn
I've always thought it would be awesome to grow a single mangrove as large as possible in some kind of floor level tank connected to my main system. Eventually end up with a little 4 foot mangrove tree.

Prob wouldn't work too well though.

Tyler

Well if I do a refugium next to the display, I'll have some mangroves that I'll let get somewhat large. They would be right next to a large window too, but would not get direct sunlight except very late in the evening.

 

[jeffreylam1132]

This is one heck of a setup. I really love your electrical panel. I'm gonna have to PM you one of these days and asked you all the details on how to setup this electrical panel, if you don't mind. I'm in the process of setting up a tank and would love this electrical panel in my stand.

 

[tgunn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7241776#post7241776 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rdmpe
I just made up another batch of DIY two part. This time I made two gallons. I have one more day of dosing from the previous batch which was made on the 9th. So that puts me at a gallon of Randy's recipe #1 in just 16 days :eek1:

Here are my last two tests, both done just before the nightly dose of two part:

4/11/06
Alk 9.0/3.2
Ca 415
Mg 1320

4/23/06
Alk 8.8/3.15
Ca 445
Mg 1400 (I added some Magnesium Chloride a few days ago)

So it's just keeping up with the usage pretty much. Ca may be climbing just slightly relative to Alk, but not much. I can't believe how much I'm dosing. And the only SPS I have is a small red lobo. It must be mostlly going into coraline???

I'd guess it's the coraline that's really eating through the calcium and alk..

Have you asked in the Chemistry forum about your usage rate given your tank? I'd be curious if it's being used at a somewhat expected rate or not.

Tyler

 

[rdmpe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7242787#post7242787 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeffreylam1132
This is one heck of a setup. I really love your electrical panel. I'm gonna have to PM you one of these days and asked you all the details on how to setup this electrical panel, if you don't mind. I'm in the process of setting up a tank and would love this electrical panel in my stand.

Feel free - I don't mind at all.

 

[conda]

Now I want to get a mangrove.

But my fuge is only 8 or 10 gallons--can't remember.

How many fish do you have in your tank now? I like that Kole Tang--would a 150 be big enough for one of those?

 

[rdmpe]

I think a 150 would be OK. They are very active swimmers though, Leroy is constantly swimming all around the tank. I don't think Kole tangs get as huge as some of the others.

Fish list...

Oscelaris Clown (hitched w/LR sort of)
Royal Gramma (hitched w/LR literally)
Elegant Coris Wrasse
Yellow Coris Wrasse
Female Mandarin
Male Mandarin
Snowflake Blenny
Scribbled Rabbitfish
Kole Tang
Blonde Naso Tang

I think that's it

 

[melev]

Randy, very nice explanation of your sump configuration.

How are those refugium lights secured? I can't tell, but it looks like there is a rigid something holding them in place. Or is that just the power cord?

 

[tgunn]

BTW Randy, I envy your fuge; for the life of me I can't get my chaeto to grow like that. It just sits there doing sweet nothing and covering with brown hair algae. :lol:

Tyler

 

[Me No Nemo]

You might also want to add a couple of drops of Selcon once or twice a week to feed the pods. Very nice sump. I'm getting a 180 after seeing your setup. I'll be in touch for sure. Marcye

 

[rdmpe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7255390#post7255390 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Randy, very nice explanation of your sump configuration.

How are those refugium lights secured? I can't tell, but it looks like there is a rigid something holding them in place. Or is that just the power cord?

Thanks! The lights are just hanging by the cord. The cord is looped and scured with a little velcro strap. It is very secure, but also the height can be adjusted pretty easily if I want to.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7256683#post7256683 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tgunn
BTW Randy, I envy your fuge; for the life of me I can't get my chaeto to grow like that. It just sits there doing sweet nothing and covering with brown hair algae. :lol:

Tyler

I had that problem with some HA when I had caulerpa in my fuge. It seemed that whenever I trimmed the caulerpa I would get some additional die back that caused some mess in the fuge and some HA. Since I got rid of the caulerpa, I haven't had any problems like that.

Do you have any period when the fuge is not lit? I have heard that cheato needs a period of darkness to grow properly. I have a 6 hour dark period during the afternoon when the MH lights are on.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7256796#post7256796 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Me No Nemo
You might also want to add a couple of drops of Selcon once or twice a week to feed the pods. Very nice sump. I'm getting a 180 after seeing your setup. I'll be in touch for sure. Marcye

I want to get by the shop some time to get some selcon and some garlic xtreme, and also the cucumbers we were talking about a few days ago.

I think I need a good size peppermint shrimp too. One big enough that the Elegant Wrasse will not eat it (he's a hunter...) I think i found my first aptasia the other day. I gave it a special boiling water bath with my turkey baster. Not sure if I killed it or not. If there are others that I can't see, hopefully the peppermint shrimp will find them...

Also - you owe me a t-shirt! :lol: :thumbsup:

 

[Stile2]

I light my cheato 24/7 and it grows like a madman. I have to trim it back once a week.

Keith

 

[rdmpe]

I'm going to trim my cheato soon. It is really getting packed in there...

It looks like my Blond Naso (Kate) has a viral infection/desease called Lymphocystis. Other than that she seems to be doing well, so hopefully she'll be fine. I got some info on it from Marcye at Sea In The City - info follows the pictures...

Lymphocystis
Often called Cauliflower Disease

What are the symptoms?
Symptoms include small clumps on the fins that resemble cauliflowers.

What causes Lymph?
Caused by a virus, this disease often looks worse than it really is and it rarely causes death. The symptoms will usually clear up on their own if optimum water quality is maintained.

What is the Cure?
There really is no known treatment for this disease that has been effective. Sometimes a short freshwater dip may help. By maintaining good water quality the symptoms should improve with time. If a secondary bacterial infection should occur, move the animal to a hospital tank and treat with antibiotics.

Can it be prevented?
Insure good water quality and temperature parameters to prevent animals from getting stressed. Stress breaks down the protective mucous coating on a fish and allows the virus to gain a foothold. Additionally, any new fishes should be given a short freshwater bath and kept in a quarantine tank for two to three weeks before being introduced into the main aquarium.

 

[tgunn]

Hey Randy,

Good to know you figured out what's up with Kate; at least you know she's not binge-purging!

Any signs of the disease on the other fish? Or all clear so far?

BTW, I do light my chaeto 24/7; I recently switched it to have a dark period during the morning.. I'm also trying my chaeto loose in the sump kinda "tumbling around". We'll see if that gives it the push it needs..

Tyler

 

[Airman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7241485#post7241485 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tgunn
I've always thought it would be awesome to grow a single mangrove as large as possible in some kind of floor level tank connected to my main system. Eventually end up with a little 4 foot mangrove tree.

Prob wouldn't work too well though.

Tyler

Tgunn I was thinking the same thing.

 

[melev]

My copperband butterfly had the same disease earlier this year. It took about two weeks for them to drop off its fins. The fish is doing great now. It never did seem bothered, but I didn't like it one bit.

 

[rdmpe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7288552#post7288552 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tgunn
Hey Randy,

Good to know you figured out what's up with Kate; at least you know she's not binge-purging!

Any signs of the disease on the other fish? Or all clear so far?

BTW, I do light my chaeto 24/7; I recently switched it to have a dark period during the morning.. I'm also trying my chaeto loose in the sump kinda "tumbling around". We'll see if that gives it the push it needs..

Tyler

With all of the fish I've added recently, I'm seeing a very strong growth spurt on the cheato and also getting some green algae in the display tank here and there. I think I need to beef up my cleanup crew a little bit.

No sign of disease on the other fish. I recently added a 25W uv to the system, that should help keep the fish healthy as well.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7290438#post7290438 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
My copperband butterfly had the same disease earlier this year. It took about two weeks for them to drop off its fins. The fish is doing great now. It never did seem bothered, but I didn't like it one bit.

I'm definitely glad to hear that! Hopefully I'll have the same results.





As for having a large mangrove, if I had an open top fuge outside of my stand, I would go for it. I love the integration of plants and aquariums. When I kept FW tanks, I had a great planted tank with DIY bottled CO2 system, over 4 watts / gallon of light, it was very cool. I used to sell the plants on ebay that I would otherwise have to toss in the garbage every week or so! :lol:

If I ever go back I'll do that with my 180 - a giant planted fw tank, maybe with descus or something... Let's hope I don't get to do that though!

 

[Motarded]

That is awesome

 

[rdmpe]

OMG

You guys have to check out this fish. Needless to say....

I WANT ONE! :lol:

http://seainthecity.com/smf/index.php?board=2;topic=95.1

 

[GoldStripe]

very pretty fish Randy. I think that wrasse maybe mis labelled because I couldn't find any Maori Wrasse that looked like that, either adult or full grown. I'm no expert that's for sure, but the pics I found weren't even close. Wonder what that guys' scientific name is? Here's the two Maori Wrasse that I found:

Cheilinus undulatus (one of the largest reef fish in the world)
pic here OR here

Ophthalmolepis lineolatus
pic here http://amonline.net.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/olineolat.htm

 

[gkarshens]

The problem with Wrasses is there are so many varieties and each one has at least 2 names. There is a book I have seen of nothing but Wrasses. There are some incredible fish out there! Check out some Leopard Wrasses. Mostly reef safe but expensive and hard to keep alive.