Latest updates

Finally broke down and bought some test kits. I opted for the Imagitarium reef kit drop tests because I’m poor, and I really just want to make sure things don’t get badly out of control versus chasing numbers (my tank is only soft corals for the foreseeable).

It mostly confined what I’m seeing on my even lousier test strips: my nitrate is very low (5 ppm), my ammonia is 0, my alkalinity is low (7, but I’m slowly building up with Marine Buffer). My phosphate shows between .25 and 0 (I’m going to also test some RODI tank water from LFS for a control). I might also try doubling the water sample to 10 mL with same amount of reagent to see if I can get a reading, which could theoretically let me test lower limits (my eyes test as very sensitive to color variation).

What I find interesting is that I’m doing the things that aren’t generally recommended—I have yet to do a water change, the only filtration I’m using is filter floss and carbon (and chaeto), and I’m feeding my fish twice a day and I’m still at very low levels. The power of live rock? Either way, I’m adding a protein skimmer in today or tomorrow, so they will help keep things stable. I’ll plan to do my first water change soon—I’m willing to be lax, but this isn’t a science experiment and I’d rather not mess everything up.

Added a Green Coris Wrasse, and a Zebra Eel!

The tank is about to hit 2 months. Right now just keeping perimeters in check. Still have not hit a major algae issue … yet. Corals are looking to be in good shape. I’ll update more once I start adding more corals so it’s more exciting to look at. My goal right now is to really just keep things simple. Down the road I have the idea to put a doser and controller on board, mainly for when I am on vacation I have a sense of ease. Let me know if anyone has any suggestions.

I received two gifts from snails recently. The first is some eggs apparently laid by a cerith snail. I guess that’s a good sign things are OK. The second was some algae brought in on an Astrea snail shell. I saw it growing on it and didn’t think anything of it until I start to see some tiny little feathery things growing in my tank (too small to photograph). I believe they are shoots of Bryopsis algae. Aw hell nah. I immediately ordered some Reef Flux—I’ve seen enough “how to deal with pest” videos to know that Bryopsis can really only be treated with chemicals. Thankfully it sounds like Reef Flux is generally safe for everything else in the tank. A number of people said microdosing actually worked fine, so I’ll start with the lower dose and go up if necessary. These are so small that I don’t need to do anything drastic yet.

I also received an order of copepods from Reef by Steele, but UPS decided to leave them in a hot truck for a day and a half longer than necessary so I ended up with a bottle with no visible life. For me this wasn’t an inconsequential investment so it’s a bummer for sure, and certainly not Kent’s fault. Maybe he has recourse with UPS since they didn’t even attempt delivery. Maybe they’re just shell shocked, but considering I see a pile of dead pods in the bottom I’m not optimistic.

I first noticed diatoms in my tank about four days ago, and they’re already dramatically reducing in quantity and the CUC is doing a good job of turning the rocks back to white. No idea if this is typical or not.

I guess I’m supposed to be using this thread to add updates, not the other one, so I’ll try this.

My plan has been to try and respond to problems as they arise, but I realized that I was setting myself up for hassles with only relying on a tiny refugium and some filter floss to handle nutrient export. It might be OK now while there’s little in the tank, but since I want to do water changes less often I realized something more was probably needed. I purchased a used Bubble Magus MiniQ protein skimmer and will set it up once it arrives. I was originally planning to run it occasionally (and still may), but then I read an article which indicated that they only capture about 35% of wastes, so that still leaves plenty left over for healthy bacteria, corals, and other tank critters.

I just installed one of the new, to me at least, Nature Dimensions N-Clear Fleece Roller filters. I was happy to see that they have an option to make it fit on a UNS Dual AIO, which my Landed 35C fits. At least the filter socks fit, so I assumed that it would fit with the adapter. It fits great. No more worrying about filter socks when I have to travel for work!

Up next, getting the Hydros collective all installed as well as the Fish of Hex CO2 scrubber!

Few FTS and Top Down shots from the last couple of weeks.
New Zoa's in the frag tank growing out at the moment, all the SPS is going great.

Kenya tree dropped it first buds today while I was scraping the glass and dosing with coral snow.

Please see attached, more to follow soon!

added a nice new purple torch to the tank yesterday and it's settling in quite nicely. here's a semi-decent photo of it

Added more rose bubble tip anemones. I realized I didn’t have new pictures so here they are!

Basement sump

Clear sch.40 standpipes, return, and electrical conduit are in, and test fit! Loc-Line, valves, and RFGs are working fantastic!

The vision is coming together, and I’m quite pleased with everything, short of my rockwork…

flow-wise, I’m still looking at pulling this off without the need for any form of Wavemakers! — between RFGs and a few eductors I plan to print up, I expect to be able to hit 30-40x hourly DT mixing, with under 10x sump turnover, and a sump designed to optimize that turnover rate!

Here’s a more detailed photo of the fun visual effect I get from a clear center overflow/plumbing, and a three tier cascade!

Added a Kenya tree last month and it’s already getting ready to drop a baby!

Things are going smoothly!

I’ve got around 20lbs of rock in the DT now, another 20-30lbs in the sump! — The DT still needs a decoration revision before being picture-worthy…

I stuck an old Simplicity 120DC skimmer in the sump on a 3.5” temporary shelf while I decide on my static sump water height(s)… Also, a custom algae scrubber design is underway…

Still waiting on a 18” length of clear 1” sch40 pipe to serve as my secondary drain standpipe… (the original was both out of round, and physically undersized! — the seller send out a replacement!)

Big news of the day is the shipment from @Vivid Creative Aquatics ! Antonio was nice enough to take the time to walk through his available products with me! In addition to discussing my future flow goals for my system, he was prompt and thoughtful in every response! (Also, they had great prices on extremely difficult to source black colored 1/4” Loc-Line parts!)

Current layout is 3x 1/4” flex series RFGs, with the other three return outlets valved off… so far, so good! But, I want more flow!! I think I’ll be drilling and bulkheading my 20g long sump for an external pressure rated 600gph pump I have laying around!

Attached are photos of the improved return plumbing!

Rec’d today from Modular Marine ( great little company)
Goodbye home depot bucket