ReefWreak's 29g SPS Biocube Adventure!
- Thread starter ReefWreak
- Start date
Doing pretty well, thanks for asking.
Few updates:
1. Clowns are laying eggs again! That's exciting, though I have no intention of raising the eggs.
2. pH has been on the low side - 7.7ish in the mornings recently. Not sure if it's low Alkalinity (I haven't tested in a few weeks, and only tested once in the two months prior to that) or if it's from the cold weather. The "cold weather low pH" theory in the hobby is that people open their windows in the spring/summer/fall much more often than winter, so there is more oxygen and less CO2. I don't open my windows much at all, so I can't imagine that's why my pH is lower. My CO2 absorption media may have run out as well. It's probably time to replace it (Thanks again LQT!).
3. I purchased/received a packet of fluke tabs. I really want to use the "nuclear option" which is fluke tabs to get rid of my GSP that grows everywhere and stings my acros. My wife said I'd be sleeping on the couch if I killed our cleaner shrimp. So I'm trying to think through the best way to gradually dose it, since soft corals should be more sensitive to it than the shrimp (I hope!). I'd also be sad to lose my nice piece of Pipe Organ coral, but we'll see. I think I'll make a solution with half of a tab at a time, dose a bit at a time to see how much I need to see the GSP start to die off, and then stop once that process has begun. If it works anything like the die-off I saw after introducing an acro that had been dipped in fluke tabs, then it should take very little fluke tab to make the tank uninhabitable for those sensitive corals (My xenia melted away, though my Kenya Tree coral was fine, so hopefully GSP is more sensitive than Pipe Organ).
Other than that, just buckling up for having a baby in (probably) January. Good thing I was really lazy with the tank before. Now I won't be lazy, just won't have the time or thoughts to take care of the tank. It's nice never having to mess with changing out bulbs, and I just replaced the 2 part a few weeks ago, so I'll have a good 6 months or so before I have to mess with that.
I'll be around, but in case I don't have the chance to say it, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year to all of my reefing friends and community!
Thank you thank you!
I'll let you know how the fluke tabs go. I bought them from another reefer who used them for blue clove polyps (there's a big thread on that), and had a few left over. I'll let you know how these go, if I have spare, I can always share. Otherwise I know API used to make them, and there were a few manufacturers. Why they're not around anymore, I have no idea.
I'll let you know how the fluke tabs go. I bought them from another reefer who used them for blue clove polyps (there's a big thread on that), and had a few left over. I'll let you know how these go, if I have spare, I can always share. Otherwise I know API used to make them, and there were a few manufacturers. Why they're not around anymore, I have no idea.
Hentz
New member
Man this has to be one of my favorite threads on this forum! I love the tank ReefWreak, always have lol. I've never been a fan of Biocubes, but yours makes me think other wise!
Bummed you'll "be around". But incredibly excited for you and you wife for the newest frag!
I'll be lurking and drooling along as usual when you have time to post updates!
I agree with Rakie, I'm sure the tank would be perfectly fine on auto-pilot. Its usually when tanks do best anyways!
Cheers and happy holidays to you and your family brotha!
Bummed you'll "be around". But incredibly excited for you and you wife for the newest frag!
I'll be lurking and drooling along as usual when you have time to post updates!
I agree with Rakie, I'm sure the tank would be perfectly fine on auto-pilot. Its usually when tanks do best anyways!
Cheers and happy holidays to you and your family brotha!
Kinda trippy how that happens right?! Seems like an oxymoron. But so often we are the one that cause the issues.
"New calcium reactor!" thread turn into "alk spike RTN" way too often.
Our constant meddling is the only sure fire way to snatch defeat from the jaws of success.
Hentz
New member
Completely agree. We all want to be so inclined with our tanks and try new things.
I recall at the beginning of my hobby, I was continuously spending $$$ on new tanks. Literally almost every 3-4 months. I was so bored with the setup(s) I had. I realized, I bought so much because I wanted to build the better setup. Gratefully I got out of that stage and realized, I like watching grass... I mean SPS grow. Found that challenge to keep me occupied lol.
Automation is the best thing for your tank. I've noticed my corals explode in growth when I leave it alone.
Thank you, always much appreciated :bounce1: That's a good motivation to take some top-down and FTS with the DSLR to keep everyone updated and maybe show an end of 2016 progression.
So true. The third paragraph of this thread explains that whole philosophy. My 120g tank was so successful because I was effectively forced to set it and forget it. You have to get it to a point where you can set it, and you have to get through the basic first 6 month to year stability before it is "set", but once it's there, you can forget it.
I do need to keep better track of alkalinity though. This "my pH is low, maybe I'll pour the rest of my bottle of alkalinity into the tank" procedure this morning probably wasn't the right way to handle things.... (it wasn't much). I just haven't done the thorough testing and re-testing after replacing the almost spent 2 part containers. There were probably bubbles in the lines and some other things that may have messed up levels, so I just need to play catch up.
I have been keeping the glass (mostly) clean, so hopefully that'll keep Soulpatch happy while he's looking at pics!
While bouncing the baby around and trying to sooth her to sleep, I'll have my tank, and all of your tanks/threads (of which I subscribe to) to look through and keep myself entertained.
jmcdaniel0
New member
You think you will have time to reed RC and watch your tank with a new baby....
You must be a new parent!
Congrats on the addition. It will be the most expensive *frag* you will ever own and raise. I have two of these special Frags and let me tell you .......
You must be a new parent!
Congrats on the addition. It will be the most expensive *frag* you will ever own and raise. I have two of these special Frags and let me tell you .......
soulpatch
New member
Bah I still was racing motorcycles when my lil one came along and while still managing my planted tank built the biocube up to a reef tank when she was only a couple months old.
The only real difference I noticed is I had someone either strapped to my chest or in a swing next to me as I worked on the tanks and I had a lot less money to do what I wanted. If anything the lil one made me be home more which actually got me working on my tanks more as well.
Put a rocking chair by the tank and you have a built in excuse...
The only real difference I noticed is I had someone either strapped to my chest or in a swing next to me as I worked on the tanks and I had a lot less money to do what I wanted. If anything the lil one made me be home more which actually got me working on my tanks more as well.
Put a rocking chair by the tank and you have a built in excuse...
lol thanks. I'm hoping my frag plays along with the hobby as well as the mother colony does.
I look forward to having a child strapped on while I'm running around doing my normal things. I'm totally on board!
A blessing and a curse, living in a one bedroom apartment in Queens is that rocking relaxer, dining room table, play area, toy area, all of it, is in front of the tank, despite the tank still being a tiny nano. So there will be plenty going on in front of the tank. Hopefully the colorful fishes and glittery light will keep her engaged.
jmcdaniel0
New member
Honestly, My kids love the tanks. When my other one died, my three yr old Cried. He was very un happy about it for quite awhile.
So, just an update on the fluke tab dosing to kill Green Star Polyps:
On Saturday, I had some time, and ended up dosing the fluke tabs. They were big round pieces with a chalky texture. I don't know where to get them anymore, as I hadn't been able to find them online or locally.
So I dosed very precisely (sarcastic) by first shaking out the powder in the bottom of the the flimsy plastic bag they were in, adding it to a small tub of tank water, swirling to dissolve, and then directly spraying it on the GSP. I did not notice any changes.
Then I took the two chalky tabs, ground them together a bit, so it wore off maybe 1/4" of each tab's cylinder shape, mostly dissolved it in the water again, tried directly spraying it on the GSP, and didn't see a difference. So I just took the tub and dumped it into the tank. Very scientifically.
Nothing happened for at least 6 hours. My shrimp was alive, but sluggish, some of my snails looked like they were squished up recoil, but not dead. The GSP finally started closing up, but so did my pipe organ coral.
The next day, the GSP were barely open. Same with Sunday. Then finally Monday, 3 days later, it looks like they're not opening at all. The good thing is that the shrimp is still alive and looks more active, though I haven't seen it eat, the snails seem back to normal and are eating off the glass as normal, and the pipe organ is mostly open still, so I'm feeling okay about that.
I'll keep updating, but every time I look, they're still closed up, so hopefully this did the trick. I haven't run carbon or done a water change yet, but I should do one of those or both at some point, because it's probably an irritant until it finally is neutralized/dissolved/decayed. But so far so good, with the desired results.
Also, Chick Corea, Victor Wooten, John McLaughlin, and Lenny White, because that's what's up.
On Saturday, I had some time, and ended up dosing the fluke tabs. They were big round pieces with a chalky texture. I don't know where to get them anymore, as I hadn't been able to find them online or locally.
So I dosed very precisely (sarcastic) by first shaking out the powder in the bottom of the the flimsy plastic bag they were in, adding it to a small tub of tank water, swirling to dissolve, and then directly spraying it on the GSP. I did not notice any changes.
Then I took the two chalky tabs, ground them together a bit, so it wore off maybe 1/4" of each tab's cylinder shape, mostly dissolved it in the water again, tried directly spraying it on the GSP, and didn't see a difference. So I just took the tub and dumped it into the tank. Very scientifically.
Nothing happened for at least 6 hours. My shrimp was alive, but sluggish, some of my snails looked like they were squished up recoil, but not dead. The GSP finally started closing up, but so did my pipe organ coral.
The next day, the GSP were barely open. Same with Sunday. Then finally Monday, 3 days later, it looks like they're not opening at all. The good thing is that the shrimp is still alive and looks more active, though I haven't seen it eat, the snails seem back to normal and are eating off the glass as normal, and the pipe organ is mostly open still, so I'm feeling okay about that.
I'll keep updating, but every time I look, they're still closed up, so hopefully this did the trick. I haven't run carbon or done a water change yet, but I should do one of those or both at some point, because it's probably an irritant until it finally is neutralized/dissolved/decayed. But so far so good, with the desired results.
Also, Chick Corea, Victor Wooten, John McLaughlin, and Lenny White, because that's what's up.
jmcdaniel0
New member
Wow, I have never even heard of fluke tabs.... I dont know what I would dose anything that would intentionally kill coral, even if it is GSP lol.
Had the chance to see Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola, and Jon Luc-Ponty play as rite of strings, with Stanley closing the set playing 'School Days' on a double bass (Upright bass).
Pretty cool hearing this on Violin, Acoustic Guitar, and Double bass
Also had met wooten a bunch of times, he's really laid back.
Pretty cool hearing this on Violin, Acoustic Guitar, and Double bass
Also had met wooten a bunch of times, he's really laid back.
Vic is the man. I wish I were good enough at bass to consider going to his bass camp in TN (though he says no experience required, seems like a waste though if you have nothing to bring and are just beginning learning).
That was a really sweet track, thanks for sharing!
In return, an update!
GSP are gone, dieing off, and nothing else seems to be affected. Pipe organ is open up, shrimp has been up and around no problem, hermits are all skittering around as usual, so no other changes to note other than the GSP dieing off.
My nutrients have been creeping up by way of some algae patches, increased bubble algae, and the amount of algae growing on the glass. I've noticed this probably over the last month or two. So I've started a light vodka dosing regimen again, and am immediately seeing a difference. I need to continue to focus on starving out the algae.
My torch is going to die from GHA since whatever it is that eats the GHA elsewhere in the tank isn't allowed near the torch by the clowns, so it is being over run. I have the worst luck with euphillia in this tank.
Clowns laid their second clutch of eggs. Always fun seeing that. I guess PE mysis has the power to get them going again. Good healthy quality food!
Other than that, been in low maintenance mode. I really want to do a water change after adding the fluke tabs, but I'm so lazy. I'll try to get around to it today or tomorrow. Gotta get it in before the baby comes.
And since updates are useless without pics, here are some "finishing out 2016 strong" shots.
Current GSP:
FTS:
And I'm glad that the camera is picking up how stunning this coral's color is:
I think the trick to good tank pictures is to either lower the camera one to two stops, or feign that by having the camera focus on a bright area of the tank, so that it darkens the rest of the image. It allows it to pull the colors without washing them out too much like most of my pictures are. These are all HDRs from my Nexus 5x, focused on the top acropora so that it deepened the color of the rest of the tank.
Happy New Year!
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