Jackie and Glenns 180g Reef Build

[prsnlty]

Hey Jackie, it's good to hear from. Sorry about the tank issues but we all go through it some time or another. Actually breaking down a tank and resetting it can be a good choice.

My tank is humming along. I am down to just 1 seahorse now and he was suppose to be rehomed after my matriarch Eve passed at over 6 years old. Unfortunately the person who was going to take Samson backed out after I had already broke down the seahorse tank. So now Samson resides in the fuge of the reef tank. Its not ideal but he is doing better than I expected.

I am guessing that you do not have seahorses anymore? They are such a big commitment. I have enjoyed having them but for me that season will pass when Samson does.

Thank you I'm now working on the tank. Going to try to save it 1st.

I am so sorry about your seahorses No I no longer have them or the tank. 4 tanks was too much with everything going on in my life nearly all at once. I sold all but the 180 (it's built into my house and the tangs are family) and my 20L frag tank (just incase) but it isn't running. I'll be around more often soon with more updates.

Again, I'm sorry about your babies

 

[prsnlty]

First up ugly pics! Then after glass cleaning. And growth I was NOT expecting to see lol

 

[Mike&Terry]

First up ugly pics! Then after glass cleaning. And growth I was NOT expecting to see lol

So glad to see this...

 

[prsnlty]

Everyone is here but the yellow eye cole... he's hiding lol

 

[prsnlty]

So glad to see this...

Thank you! I sure miss how it used to be but I will just have to get it back better

 

[prsnlty]

So much to do today. I was so tired last night....

Apex needs updating (ugh I really hate doing that) before I can see everything and control through the web. Gotta pull the skimmer and soak and might even pull the sump... still debating. It depends on how clean I can get it. Some things that need to be done I have to wait for Glenn to come home (2 weekends from now). We need to remove the canopy to get to the overflow pipes. I have Maggie mufflers on them that need to be cleaned and they are stuck. I also need to work on the 2 AI sol blues that I have in the middle. They are acting up and one might even be shot. I know they're old but I love them. I also need to clean and repaint the interior of the canopy with special waterproof paint. The marine brand that I originally painted it with did not hold up to the salt water and humidity like it should have. Anyway, pulling the canopy is definitely a 2 person job. Not only is it quite large/awkward but it's also VERY heavy. Also, it looks like I may need a new ph probe. We will see after a good cleaning and the apex update. I also have a bit of wire management to do as well. Fun day ahead! Lol

 

[prsnlty]

Not so fun.... i was pulling the skimmer (awkward tight quarters) and my hand slipped. The pump hit my first baffle and broke the glass. Ugh!!!! I guess it could've been worse and broke the sump wall. The water is flowing fine but this makes it extra hard to clean until I can replace it. It isn't going to be today. Wish I had somewhere larger than the 20L to put the fish. I would just shut it down to do all this work.

 

[prsnlty]

Apex is FINALLY updated. Yes it was a royal pain as expected. Not due to the Apex but due to my laptop and windows 10. Kept telling me when restarting in safe mode with networking my password was incorrect and it wasn't. Eventually I had to go to live and change it. At least now I can turn everything on and off without going into my daughter & granddaughters room (access is in their wall).

Lots of silt in the bottom 1st chamber of the sump. I need to find a way to vacuum it up then I will do the 75g wc. It isn't going to be perfect but it will be a good start.
I wonder if flex tape will hold that baffle together?

 

[prsnlty]

Took out most of the silt from the sump, drained 75g and am now adding fresh sw to the tank. 50g to go. Just letting it run tomorrow and will adjust any parameters if needed tomorrow night. After that I'll be adding the 1st dose of vibrant for the bubble aglae.

 

[prsnlty]

Ugh thank goodness I'm done! Internet went down and Apex is offline. Our internet is terrible.

Alk is now 7.0 yay!

I'm exhausted... until tomorrow. Goodnight

 

[prsnlty]

I think I'm going to work Vibrant similar as if vodka dosing. 3ml x2 x3 days then the 18ml weekly split to daily doses x 2 = 1.25ml twice a day for 2 weeks then if it doesn't show signs of working I'll up each dose to 1.5ml. It's only .5 ml per day but = 24ml per week. Then I'll keep it there and see what happens... if too much I'll dial it back.

 

[prsnlty]

I wonder if Vibrant will kill these as well. Does anyone know?

 

[prsnlty]

I wonder if Vibrant will kill these as well. Does anyone know?

Ignore the aiptasia lol

 

[KJ]

I wonder if Vibrant will kill these as well. Does anyone know?

Vermetid snail.

 

[prsnlty]

When I introduced the berghia to the tank I deliberately left the 4 cup measuring cup in the tank with them in it. I had scooped a little aiptasia into it in the process. So far I haven't see any of the berghia but did notice that one of the 3 aiptasia are missing. I am taking this as a good sign that they are alive and well (as well as breeding- I hope).

 

[prsnlty]

Here is a pic of the cup with 2 of the 3 aiptasia that are in it. The 3rd was in the same cluster and was the largest. These other 2 pics are nearby. Maybe it's me but it looks like there is also less on the top of that column and frag rack.

 

[prsnlty]

Woo-hoo!!! The nudis are ALIVE!!! i counted 7 out of the eleven and they have grown. Didn't see any babies yet but it's probably too early to expect to see them. The other 4 are probably still alive as well, I just didn't see them. These guys better get busy having babies cuz it's going to take an army in this tank ;Playful

Oh yea, think thar be diatoms happening too... ugh

 

[prsnlty]

Update:
I purchased all new Salifert test kits, new Hannah ulr ph checker, new dbl ph probe and temp probe, added 2 bags of Purigen to the sump, brs high capacity gfo. Still dosing Vibrant. Skimming 24/7... Berghia are still alive but rarely seen 1 month in. I see some aiptasia vanishing on their home rock but that's all I can tell in this forest.

Just ran all tests twice so here they are...
SG 1.025
Temp 78
PO4 0.20! (but came down from 3.1)
PH 7.86 (yes, quite low, gotta raise the alk)
Alk 6.4
NO3 0 ulr (may be why I have dinos)
CA 680!!! (I think it was due to the old salt in the 75g wc)
Mg 1410

So definitely need to keep doing wc but have to bring up that NO3 at least to get .5 ppm. Also need to bring up the alk which will also help the ph. Doing wc Wednesday.

Interestingly even with dosing Vibrant HA is not only unaffected by it but is growing. I have fluconazole on standby but intend to wait.

I was able to order a small handful of Trochus snails, Florida cerith snails, 2 emerald crabs and 2 Scarlett legs. Better than none I guess. They'll be here this week.

I hope all of your tanks are doing well
Jackie

 

[vlangel]

It sounds like you are keep on fighting the good fight. Hopefully as you do HA and aiptasia will continue to diminish.

 

[prsnlty]

I know that it's been a while since my last post so here is an update:

Things have been moving very slowly but at least it's in the right direction. The berghia nudibranches have multiplied by leaps and bounds! I was very worried about them because I barely saw them. One night last week we lost power for about 15 minutes around 2 am due to high winds from Eta. I was resetting the apex (an issue I have with my unit) and out of my peripheral view I saw a bunch of berghia right next to where I was standing. So now I begin to look for more. There were no less that 1,000 adults, they were EVERYWHERE! Fast forward to today 60-70% of the aiptasia are gone.

Bubble algae: It seems to be reducing a little. I have stopped dosing vibrant as it caused dino's. I assume the emerald crabs are eating the BA but I still have a large amount around the inside tops of the overflows. As soon as the aiptasia appears to be gone I will hook up the uv over top of the tank to get rid of the dinos.

This tank is still a long way from acceptable for me to restart it. But it is coming along.