SaraB's 268 Gallon Build¦ Try #3!

[SaraB]

Here's an update on the 45G cubes lighting. I got a chance to open up the box and try them out this week, but unfortunately not yet on the tank they were purchased for

More on that topic later!

The light was packaged really well and the instructions included were easy to read and the light was super easy to program.

Here it is on with the T-5 Actinic's only on over my frag tank.

 

[SaraB]

Got in a couple boxes this week and I'm expecting a few more in a couple of weeks.

I was growing tired of my wrasses splashing around the tank chasing each other or freaking out when the MH's turned off. They were splashing saltwater all over my Lumenarc III reflectors and cracking a Radium here and there. I ordered up the low iron glass shields for all 3 reflectors and installed them today.

Also finally got in my Vortech I've been wanting for a while. I'm going to put this on the right side of my tank towards the back so that I can keep flow moving behind the rock and stop any detritus from collecting back there. My other boxes coming in a couple of weeks will help out my surges with some extra flow as well.

 

[mpoletti]

Nice toys Sara Does that lighting unit have individual reflectors?

 

[SaraB]

Nice toys Sara Does that lighting unit have individual reflectors?

Thanks Mark! The 2 T-5's share one reflector together on that light.

 

[Fishcrazy06]

What you doing to the surges to get more flow Sara?

 

[SaraB]

I've been having multitudes of issues with my tank in the last few months. I had an Alk swing that managed to kill off just over 50% of my SPS. Currently I'm dosing 2-part with a Reefdoser dual pump so I have some stability while I'm working on "getting others to install" my new CA reactor online along with a different controller ... going with an Aquatronica rather than my current Reefkeeper 2.

I've also been losing LPS piece by piece over the last 2 months. I figured it was fallout still from my Alk swing so didn't pay much attention to it.
Recently I started started doing some big and frequent water changes in case there were issues with my water. I ran the battery of tests and I was coming up with nothing wrong other than .07 phosphates which would only turn stuff brown and not kill it. I also run carbon and gfo and was changing those out frequently as well thinking something got into my water.

Last week I noticed my wilsoni was missing a polyp from the center of the piece ... which is not a normal place for recession to start. I decided to watch my tank at lights on and see if there was one of my fish picking at the corals. Low and behold I found a very guilty party ... she has killed off some beautiful pieces the last 2 months! This is not typical of the genicanthus species ... lucky me I get the naughty one! The really sad part is that I have a spawning pair in my tank I'm going to attempt to remove the female and replace her with a new one and hopefully that one is not a coral eater.

Here's the other box I got in today that I need to use quick!

This is the reason for using the 45G cubes lighting on my frag tank. I've had to pull all my LPS that is not encrusted on the rock out of the tank and put it somewhere ... the frag tank. Also just an FYI that she also has been caught eating one of my SPS frags so she's an equal opportunity eater for those of you that will say don't put LPS in the tank anymore!

 

[SaraB]

What you doing to the surges to get more flow Sara?

What any normal person would do, add some new Tunze's to supplement!

 

[SaraB]

Here's her mate ... he is a model genicanthus that does not eat coral!

 

[Dejavu]

Man sorry to here about the run of bad luck Sara.It looks like your getting thing back on track!

 

[Dave's Reef]

Bummer to hear about your nipper Sara.... I've got a new one coming soon and hope it will be a model citizen. The party I'm getting it from reports that it is a non sps or other coral eater so, I should be in good shape presumably!

Can't wait to get it, I've had my eye out for one but could never afford one. Finally got a SMOKIN price and snapped it up!~

If you're wondering what genus, you'll just have to wait and see my thread once I get her in, lol....

 

[mpoletti]

What any normal person would do, add some new Tunze's to supplement!

:lol:

 

[SaraB]

Man sorry to here about the run of bad luck Sara.It looks like your getting thing back on track!

Thanks Brian, I'm trying real hard to get her back on track!

Bummer to hear about your nipper Sara.... I've got a new one coming soon and hope it will be a model citizen. The party I'm getting it from reports that it is a non sps or other coral eater so, I should be in good shape presumably!

Can't wait to get it, I've had my eye out for one but could never afford one. Finally got a SMOKIN price and snapped it up!~

If you're wondering what genus, you'll just have to wait and see my thread once I get her in, lol....

Can't wait to see which fishy you got ... my fav is a Gem Tang :fun4:

:lol:

Figured you'd like that comment Mark :thumbsup:

 

[nanonubey]

Wow! I just checked out your thread for the first time and had a few questions.
(1) Are you looking to adopt? ( Keep in mind I'm a plumber:fun4
(2) Are they hiring where you guys work?
(3) Can you teach a class to the girlfriends and wifes that don't share our sickness?

Haha! You guys have a sweet set up going!:wave:

 

[SaraB]

Wow! I just checked out your thread for the first time and had a few questions.
(1) Are you looking to adopt? ( Keep in mind I'm a plumber:fun4
(2) Are they hiring where you guys work?
(3) Can you teach a class to the girlfriends and wifes that don't share our sickness?

Haha! You guys have a sweet set up going!:wave:

Thanks nanonubey!

1). We don't have any kids and were not planning on any ... but having a plumber might be nice
2). Nope not at the moment as we just downsized 2 weeks ago
3). That I may be able to do!

 

[tryingsalt]

Sara, what do you use as far as a ROH filter system. What type of cartridges do u use. I live some what in the same area and my water is for crap. Do you go through DI filters quickly? Or do you buy your water?

 

[SaraB]

Cary - I have well water and my TDS ranges from 375 to 420 depending on the season.

I just have a Coralife RO system that I've modded to be a 4 stage with 2 prefilters, 2 carbon and a very large DI canister which I change out the resin in. I get a high quality Resin for my DI and don't change it out but 3 times a year. Yes, I go through a lot of the pre and carbon cartridges. We should get together and buy a case of each from Bulk Reef Supply as I need to get some on order next week.

 

[SaraB]

Here's the latest update:

On Sunday I had a couple hours to work on the tank.

I spent 15 minutes working the new fish trap that had been set in the tank since the end of January and I came up lucky!!! Within 15 minutes I had 1 female bellus out as well as the blue tang that is a little terror in the tank. I'll be swapping out my bellus for a new female next week and I'll wait to replace the tang until I decide what I want for a new tang. Can't afford a Gem, so I'll have to settle for something more in the budget

I also got the Vortech on the tank and I'm really impressed with how much detritus that got moving in the tank! It's at half power right now as I'm in Canada again this week and didn't want to come home to another problem is all. I should be getting the 2 Tunzes in hopefully next week as well.

 

[mpoletti]

Here's the latest update:

On Sunday I had a couple hours to work on the tank.

I spent 15 minutes working the new fish trap that had been set in the tank since the end of January and I came up lucky!!! Within 15 minutes I had 1 female bellus out as well as the blue tang that is a little terror in the tank. I'll be swapping out my bellus for a new female next week and I'll wait to replace the tang until I decide what I want for a new tang. Can't afford a Gem, so I'll have to settle for something more in the budget

I also got the Vortech on the tank and I'm really impressed with how much detritus that got moving in the tank! It's at half power right now as I'm in Canada again this week and didn't want to come home to another problem is all. I should be getting the 2 Tunzes in hopefully next week as well.

:thumbsup: Great work Sara

 

[slojmn]

Sara, Good Job on getting those fish out. Kind of sad about your spawnign pair. I hope your male takes to the new female. I am not a big fan of the "Tang" species at all, BUT, I agreed to buy a friend's juvenile black tang when he broke his tank down (bought the tank as well, lol). This little guy is quite nice to watch in the tank. Once in a while I seem him doing his dominator move here and there with my Resplendent angel hybrid pair, nothing at all significant, hardly worthwhile and they could care less. Other than that he is a model citizen and quite lovely when he is not lost in the black background of the tank. Just a thought for your when considering what tang you might like to get next .

 

[SaraB]

Thanks Alicia! One of my options I was thinking about was the black tang I like the look of a true powder blue or an achilles, but not sure if I want the attitude that goes along with them. My naso is a saint and I'd hate to torment him with a nasty tang!