No Presh Reef

[TokenReefer]

Finally moved two of the 3 banggai cardinalfish that were growing out in the refugium up to the DT. These two paired off right away and have sort of picked on the third from what I've been able to observe. I think I'll leave the third in the refugium for a while longer (it's a big space for one fish). At least until it's a bit bigger. Slowed my powerheads by 5% on all schedules as they seemed to be working a little hard to stay put. I'll ramp back up when as they grow...

 

[TokenReefer]

Came home to the 'Continuous heating alarm' going off on the inkbirk and the heaters off! Tank down to 75.4. I must have missed the notification on my phone today; I could have cycled the heater on the apex to reset. I upped the CHA to 12 hours. I didn't think it would be an issue today; it's in the 40's but was cold overnight; maybe I missed how cold it got last night. Uggh. Tank's lookin fine though, heaters on full blast now!

Gha getting in check (I'm knocking on wood) and next focus is the algae in the refugium. I'll transfer some snails and a urchin down there soon..

 

[TokenReefer]

I've been dosing arc reef purple helix coralline + nitrifying bacteria along with the coral snow. I ordered MB7 but it got lost in transit somehow so instead of re-ordering that I got the purple helix for almost the same price. Wondering if this will help with seeding, maybe, maybe not, don't think it'll hurt as I'm dosing bacteria along with the snow anyway. Time will tell I suppose

 

[LegalReefer]

Looking good!

 

[TokenReefer]

Looking good!

Thank you!

 

[TokenReefer]

The kindness of members in the reefing community continues to astonish me and warm my heart! I’ve been given several frags by a local reefer who I’ve gotten to know. My birdsnest and purple stylophora (mistakenly said pocillopora in early posts) have been growing nicely, and he thought it would be alright for me to try my hand at some more complex SPS, and was kind enough to give me an RBTA too!


From left to right: Orange Montipora, Green Montipora digitata, Green Slimer Acropora, Space Invader Pectinia



Rose Bubble-tip anemone in the cup bottom-left. Red plating monti on the back glass.


I’ve also attached pictures of his reef tank. It’s an absolute work of art, I could spend hours just sitting and looking at everything! He has a beautiful euphyllia garden and really good acros, shout-out to Jay! Thank you again, man!

Been a while since my last update. I had to move my aquarium for the summer, so I took it home where my parents were kind enough to watch over it for the past few months. Big shoutout to my father in particular, the man kept the tank alive and thriving in spite of a four day long power outage. Still don’t know quite how he managed that one.

Here are pictures from today, everything is alive and well, and I’d even go so far as to say much of it is thriving!

The corals I had received from an awesome member of the 3 Rivers Marine Society are largely thriving! I sadly lost the Green Slimer shortly after receiving it, but the red plating monti, the orange setosa, green monti cap, and Pectinia have all been growing quite nicely!

The RBTA has also been living life well, taking on a gorgeous orange and lime hue.

My birdsnest has kept on growing out, and overall I’ve been impressed with how much life the tank has in it right now.

My brittlestar population seems to have quadrupled, along with feather duster, spionid, and spirorbid worms. However, there also seems to be a growing population of vermetid snails, so I may need to pick up one or two bumblebee snails. Overall, I’m so thankful that the tank has managed to not only survive, but seems to have thrived in the time I’ve been away. Goes to show what following a care schedule can actually do.

You too my friend!

 

[TokenReefer]

This nem likes to pop out of this rock in a different spot every day it seems. The foot never moves. I wonder what makes it decide which direction to face Nothing ever changes as far as it is concerned that I know of...

 

[TokenReefer]

There's only a few patches of algae left. The urchins are truly amazing eating machines and to a lesser degree the big turbos. I'm going to move one or two to the sump soon. I still haven't gotten around to that wc . Just testing what I can and observing. Still dosing snow and the arc reef plus two part when needed. Now I have to start filling these areas with coral!

 

[TokenReefer]

Just cleaned the MAR and then the refugium which was jungle thick with GHA. Took only a few minutes of twirling with a straw cleaner brush to pull out 90% of it; very loosely attached stuff. Transferred my heartiest eater Urchin down there to do some work. The MAR was neglected for a few weeks and was full of slimes at the bottom but nice healthy chaeto up top. All cleaned up and spinning nicely. Pretty easy unit to service I gotta say. Gets back to near new using my little tunze care scraper a brush and hot water in just a few minutes.

Finally soaked one of my heaters that had xenia growing on it and cleaned it up. Tucked it under the baffle before the return for now. I think I'm going to do the same with the other. I really hate the fact that my finnexes put the controller so close. The controller could be more near the plug and give so much more room....

Took my DOS offline for alk and ca and set it up as an AWC. What a game changer. I can keep up with dosing by hand for now and can get another if needed. Really liking the idea of water exchange without me doing a heck of a lot and just monitoring bucket levels.

In the process of rewiring the sump again so there's some wires hangin all over...

The new looking rocks have been in another sump chamber for a while now. I tossed the bio brick things that were full of gha and built a little cave for my watchman that's living down there.

 

[TokenReefer]

Oh and my landlord had some rolls of tubing kicking around. Got a closer look and one was exactly the diameter sold for the dos. Scored a huge roll! I've been using RODI tubing but it's way too stiff imo. Maybe better for wall runs, etc but I was looking for something more supple/bendable and was really happy when one of the rolls was the right size...and the color couldn't be more appropriate lol.

 

[TokenReefer]

Anyone else's starry blenny do weird stuff like this?

 

[TokenReefer]

Cleaned the glass quick last night and dosed more snow before lights out. Lookin good when I got home
I need more corals now that the algae is under control. Had to move the monti digitata near the anenome to the other side as the nem stung it all up and killed one branch. I'm hoping it bounces back. I should have acted sooner but my style is observe observe observe.....act... maybe too many observes on that one

On the docket are new lights - ordered 2 noopsyche k7 III's to replace my two AI primes
Add more sand: had half a bag left over from the move, rinsed it and am drying it now so that I can add ladle fulls at my leisure
Automated testing: really considering a Trident to compliment the style my reefing has taken on these days.... started simple but auto testing what I've been testing for years now sounds fantastic if I'm being honest...

 

[TokenReefer]

Also want to replace the 5 gal bucket I've been using as an ATO res on the side of the tank with a much cleaner looking 10 gal aqueon with a glass lid. Not sure yet though if I need to block light to avoid algae I evap ~8 gals a week. It'd be nice not to have to bust out the RODI halfway through the week lol

 

[TokenReefer]

what the heck! Just watched this snail doing work on the sump baffle, then suddenly looked like it was coming out of it's shell and did a back flip off the wall! It looked halfway out of the shell but I flipped him over. It's moving a little now. It's almost as if it ate itself drunk or something was attacking it (nothing down there that would). Anyone ever see that?!