ZM's 200g build

[zoomonster]

Close call last night... I forgot how much of a PIA anemones can be. The rose had been moving around and just happened to walk in the room to find it stuck to one of the power heads. Grills are pretty small so he did not get sucked in much but it was definitely unhappy. Did not appear to be damaged and I tucked him in a rock nook where he's stayed and he looks ok today but still hiding.

That Potter's Angel is a terror and never seen one so aggressive. Its hell bent on getting the Flame Angel. I keep using a stick to chase him when he goes after the flame and its helping some. No real damage to either but both have slightly frayed tails. I'm feeding pretty frequently and that's helping calm things also. All the other occupants are very peaceful even the purple pseudo and the royal gramma. It helps that the gramma is much larger than the pseudo or it might be otherwise.

 

[zoomonster]

Still working on my much out of practice photography skills but managed to get a few I'll post starting with the red planet and orange montiipora digitata frags from Salty Underground. Trying to really balance the tank colors and not end up with all green and blue/purple. So far red, orange, yellow-green, and blue for Acro's. Long way to go to get this tank populated the way I want it.

 

[zoomonster]

The red/green and orange greens Rhodactis. Not fully open yet but you get the idea. Some nice coralline colors also that will help with seeding.

 

[zoomonster]

This one was tough capturing what it actually looks like. The blue is really a rich cobalt. This is the so called superman or ironman Rhodactis. This one cost me more than usual but its about 6-7" open. That green Yuma was a hitchhiker and was hidden under the shroom when fully opened. That frag is the tricolor Valida. I've since moved it higher in the tank and its coloring up a little better.

 

[zoomonster]

reef cleaners

reef cleaners

Well I came to the realization today I underestimated my initial need for cleaners. I had a rather sudden proliferation of green film algae over all the dead rock. Pretty normal for dead rock in a new tank but unsightly none the less. I have not tested in a while but I went ahead and changed out my carbon and GFO since it was there since startup.

I decided to give reef cleaners a shot this time and got more cleaners, some pods and some plants. I was happy to find the limpets which are the same reef safe variety I kept for years (they breed like rabbits) and being like a tank nothing will eat them (well any fish or crab I'll have anyway). They are true mowing machines.

The algae is going in the fuge for fish food and export. I already have Chaeto and will let these grow on rock. I had the feather for years and I know a lot of people have problems with invasiveness but my yellow tang would devour a large rock full in a day. One of my favorites but it has to be kept under control.

40 Dwarf Cerith
10 Dwarf Planaxis
40 Florida Cerith
10 Limpets
20 Nassarius Vibex
30 Nerite Snails
1 Pods+
30 Zig Zag Periwinkles
1 1 Penny Macro Algae
1 Red Gracilaria
1 Fern Caulerpa

There's always been the less than competent and thieves but it really amazes me how bad the vendors in this hobby have become. This order was a disaster. The main reason I ordered was the Limpets(and because of them forced to pay for USPS express) and they are missing from the order along with the Planaxis. In addition the fern caulerpa was a bag of green soup and most of the dwarf and regular cerith appear to be dead or empty shells. The only thing good was the red gracilaria, most of the nerites and some of the periwinkles and Nassarious. I have listed the full story in the forum for reef cleaners but in a nutshell they pretty much dry-damp shipped everything with no ice pack and stuff is toast. I live maybe 150 miles away and they couldn't get it here alive. If there was anything alive in the bag of pods I could not find it with a magnifying glass. Been going back and forth but not yet resolved.

 

[Volcom698]

Sweet frags, that Monti diga looks like it has a blue body, or maybe that's just the picture.

 

[zoomonster]

Sweet frags, that Monti diga looks like it has a blue body, or maybe that's just the picture.

Thanks... its going to be a mixed tank so I'm trying my best to be really selective about colors and forms of SPS as I probably won't have a lot. I really want mostly bushy or branching forms. I don't really plan on any caps or encrusting and the red planet will likely be one of the only tabling. Well I say all that now and we'll see how that goes.

That's the lighting which is very blue and my difficulties getting good pics. The body is pretty much white and of course orange polyps.

 

[Volcom698]

Just wondering the apex conductivity probe is doing now? Is it worth it, is it reading pretty close to what you want

 

[zoomonster]

Just wondering the apex conductivity probe is doing now? Is it worth it, is it reading pretty close to what you want

If you read my previous response to your question I said it was good after "proper" calibration, matched my refractometer and I recommended it. Not so sure now... it seems to be way off again and not sure why. I really have not had time but I need to recalibrate my refractometer and compare them again. Then maybe I need to file a ticket with Neptune. Maybe a bad probe or module I don't know. I just did a quick check and refract is 33, hydro is 32 and Neptune is 26.8.

 

[Volcom698]

That seems to be off pretty good, I wonder why. You would think once you calibrated it, it should last for sometime.

 

[zoomonster]

I was out earlier running some errands and made the obligatory stop at the LFS and a snagged a couple things. I'll have to hit them next Sunday for the one year anniversary sale. Seems like they are putting the place back together pretty good.

Medium cleaner wrasse
3 x Tiger Nassarious, aside from beautiful these guys are bulldozers. I may have to get a few more.
Ora purple and green Yuma

and some frozen food
Argent dual pack Mysis and Cyclopeeze. Seems to be about only way to get cylopeeze right now.
Rod's original

 

[zoomonster]

I also took some time last night to take a second shot a rearranging the rock. It needed it and a little cleaning but the main reason was to help calm things between the flame and potters. I'll put up some pics later but that really seems to have helped. I basically split the rock right and left and left the center section open. That and maybe time contributed but they are playing ok now. It also helped the flame finally had enough and stood up to the bully lol. Plus the Potters finally decided he was more interested in eating which he really was not doing other than just grazing. Speaking of grazing all three angels are leaving stuff alone as hoped. It was kind of funny but most of the fish all got in line for a once over when the cleaner wrasse arrived. It was more than happy to accommodate them.

 

[mypepper]

zoomonster,

Now that you own a Deep Sea Aquatics tank, what do you think of there build quality on there stand. I know there tanks are top quality, but I was just wondering if the stands are super solid. I live in the heart of earthquake country, so I need a stand that is solid, but a little flexible.

I'm at the point where I want to upgrade to a larger glass tank and be done with my acrylic tank, since it scratches to way to easy.

Bye the way, your tank looks amazing,
Randy

 

[zoomonster]

zoomonster,

Now that you own a Deep Sea Aquatics tank, what do you think of there build quality on there stand. I know there tanks are top quality, but I was just wondering if the stands are super solid. I live in the heart of earthquake country, so I need a stand that is solid, but a little flexible.

I'm at the point where I want to upgrade to a larger glass tank and be done with my acrylic tank, since it scratches to way to easy.

Bye the way, your tank looks amazing,
Randy

Well the stand is probably one of the better builds I have ever seen/had (excluding those made of fine wood). Materials seem very good right down to premium hinges on the door. Definitely no particle board and I believe they use birch plywood. The top has two heavy cross supports and at it looks like everything built for support is at least two layers of 3/4 plywood. I got mine with a PVC stand liner and not sure what the floor looks like w/o one. It sits in the stand on floor providing a few extra inches of inside height. I also like that the tanks lower trim is hidden because the top of the stand frame is raised. My only real nit pick would be the finish. If I was doing it again I probably would not do black again. It just damages too easy especially around the door edges. As far as the tank the only thing I would say is the top trim is kind of cheap and looks to be hand cut and assembled rather than a one piece molded assembly for structural support. Even the two tank cross bars just appear to be glued in place. I guess the glass is thick enough by itself because that frame does not do much other than allow for glass tops or laying lights across the top. The overflow is good but it was a bit of a pain to plumb because the 3 drains and 2 returns are so close together.

 

[zoomonster]

Actually the second reason I rearranged rock the other night was to find the RBTA. It had been hiding since its powerhead run in. It was on the back of this rock where it found a hole to get in. I flipped the rock over, it got some light and I juiced it up with some chunks of shrimp. Happy anemone again and yesterday I noticed the clowns eyeballing it. Today its home for the clowns which really helps making the anemone open up. I tend to believe people, especially pet stores, don't feed them enough or at all. Feeding is not only the sure way to make them grow but also to reproduce by splitting. Far healthier offspring vs. attempting to frag. The sixline is lurking below.

Here's another pic with the Potter's who now that he has calmed down has been a little more elusive.

 

[zoomonster]

Parameters

Parameters

Well I've been testing as I go but here's the rundown of tests/readings from tonight.

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 8
Calcium 420
KH 12.6
Magnesium 880
Phosphate ~.06
PH 8.28
Temp 81.8
*Orp 436 Probe no longer reading correct and issue unresolved w/ Neptune and ozone off.
Salinity 32
PH Ca Reactor 6.44

PH swing is a little higher now at ~8.15-8.3. May stop running the refugium light 24/7 and only run at night.
KH: is high and not quite sure the cause
Temp: putting tops back on tank was a mistake. They are off now and it should run down a daily high of about 1f. Also adjusting the light schedule.
Mg: is too low. Have some and need to start dosing. Already previously added a small amount.
Salinity: Just got probe issue resolved today and its matching refractometer. I'm going to slowly raise it up a bit now.
Ca: could be a little higher and its only there because of the turbo calcium that was added a few weeks back.

Phosphate: I had a little spike last week that came with a film algae bloom. Readjusted the GFO reactor and looking pretty good now. That was also about the time I changed GFO last week. The reactor does clog pretty fast.

The biggest thing in a nutshell (as I mentioned a while back) is no longer using instant ocean. Unbalanced/low levels to start and Ca reactor won't ever fix that just maintain levels. I'll probably start using reef crystals for first major water change.

I had an issue with salinity that came back after seeming to be a good last calibration. It seems micro bubbles were getting to it and causing the bad readings. I moved the probe and reading matching refractometer again.

I finally replaced the defective T5 ballast, the other night and the lights all good finally. Now that's done I will hopefully get all the ballasts back on Apex and stop running manually. Lets just say there have been some light issues I won't get into at this time and Hamilton is going to take back the M58's they sent to replace my defective electronics and send me three Lumatek select-a-watts. Hamilton's customer service is definitely one of the best. I can't imagine trying to deal with some other companies for the problems.

 

[E.Rude]

ZM: your tank looks great! I'm lovin that ricordia order you got.

 

[THEREALTROUT]

keep the good work

 

[zoomonster]

ZM: your tank looks great! I'm lovin that ricordia order you got.

Thanks... I sat down and glued up 14 over three rocks last night and ran out of glue. I'll have to get some more glue and finish up the rest which should come to 3-4 rocks. They all must have been recently harvested because all were still attached to rock fragments making them easier to glue. I'll post some pics when they open up.

 

[zoomonster]

Well ozone is finally back online. The orp probe has only been in use maybe a month and already fouled. I had brushed it off and it looked clean but something fouled it and it took a vinegar/rodi soak and brush to clear it. It had been reading 450+ when in fact orp was just 281 after cleaning. Not sure what to think about that "lab grade probe" that fouls so fast and easily in tank.

More light issues today (arrrgghh)... the other T5 bank went out. Hamilton is replacing the whole fixture this time.