29 gallon Reef tank build

[McCarrick]

Added some coral yesterday.
Added a Duncan, yuma mushrooms, hammer, and some zoanthids that I dont know the name of that also have some waving hand coral? Not sure what it is exactly.
The fish are all doing well.
Also measured tank parameters
Ammonia-0 ppm
Calcium-480 ppm
Nitrate-0 ppm (looking into a better kit)
Nitrite-0 ppm
Phosphate (working on getting a better test kit than api)- measuring 0, though I hope its higher
I need a new magnesium kit
Kh - 161.1 (9 dKH)
PH - 7.4 which is super low, but am also using an api test kit... but considering that my calcium and KH are both in range, I think I don't need to worry?
Salinity is at 1.023
Everything is still opening up since I turned on the lights late today

 

[McCarrick]

Everything is opened up and happy!

 

[McCarrick]

I FINALLY got an RODI system! I had an RO but it got left in California. So far I am much happier with this one. At some point I will hook up a TDS meter to it.
I also finally purchased a refractometer to replace the hydrometer I have been using for the last 5 years.

 

[McCarrick]

Added some snails yesterday finally. I Added 3 nasssarius snails, 2 nerites and 1 turbo.
I should probably add more at some point but I would rather have less that can always eat than more that will starve and dump nutrients into the tank.
My royal gramma got Ick and so I caught all my fish and put them into QT. I'm doing a 72 day fallow. So they'll go back in april 5th. In the meantime I am doing the tank transfer method.

 

[LittleFidel]

Right! I find I have to rinse it every time because the salt will make it stick! I dont have a lfs, the closest is petco in Cheyenne or the petco in ft. Collins, they're both equidistant from where I'm at. I've started looking into finding one online that doesnt break the bank. I saw one on Amazon for I believe just under $20. I didn't really realize exactly HOW inaccurate they can be until I had two to test. Reading more I've realized why people always say refractometer are better. Of course it's certainly better than nothing!
I've always kept my salinity right at about .022 but lately have been reading about other reefers keeping it upwards at around .026. The only reason I kept it at .022 is because that's right in the middle of the "good" section on the hydrometer. And if you do a quick google search it seems to be what it comes up with, but it also doesnt seem to be what people prefer across the board. Thank you for participating in my thread!

There are plenty of small local fish stores in Fort Collins. Check out Alpine Koi and Reef.

 

[McCarrick]

There are plenty of small local fish stores in Fort Collins. Check out Alpine Koi and Reef.

I just found that one last time I was there! Got a hammer, duncan and some zoanthids. Thanks for stopping by on my build thread!

 

[McCarrick]

Not much has changed, lost 2 fish during my 3 month quarantine but everyone else is back in now. Tank is looking especially clean today. I had a mini cycle before I moved the tank to a different room and was seeing red cyano, the mini cycle caused my urchin to not look so good. Hes still hanging on though and I've done a 25% water change. Corals are starting to perk back up after everything. Also rearranged my rocks a little and finally tried to adhere them together with some epoxy and superglue. Other than that, my tank is looking really clean right now. My corals are starting to split and grow, with my hammer almost done with a new head and my duncan with the starts of a second head as well as my candy cane. I can see the start of a second mouth on one of my mushrooms which is also exciting.

 

[McCarrick]

Water parameters today
Ammonia- 0
Nitrate-0
Nitrate-0
Calcium- 480 ppm
KH- 179 ppm
pH- 7.8
Phosphate- undetectable (using nyos test kit)
Salinity-1.027
With my large water changes I did, I believe I wiped out what little phosphate I had (I read .025 yesterday). I suppose I could go for a low nutrient system but I was seeing good growth with most of my corals starting to split when i had some phosphates.

 

[code4]

Your clown is nice! I saw you had a stomatella with some really nice markings hitch a ride to you. Hope it is doing good. Lots of things eat them. I had to buy some to get them. But never saw one with those markings. If you get more I would happily buy it from you. Or I would trade you a bright orange mushroom for it.

Shelley

 

[McCarrick]

Your clown is nice! I saw you had a stomatella with some really nice markings hitch a ride to you. Hope it is doing good. Lots of things eat them. I had to buy some to get them. But never saw one with those markings. If you get more I would happily buy it from you. Or I would trade you a bright orange mushroom for it.

Shelley

I'll have to look for him again. I havent seen him for awhile. Every once in awhile I dont have the urge to add a ton more stuff but I recently moved the tank and really cleaned it and now I want to spend all my money on fish and corals again!!

 

[code4]

They are out mostly at night. And they move fast. I found one hiding by my glass cleaner once! I love them. But so many things eat them. Wrasse and shrimp to name A couple. If you find him I am sure he would be up to a trip to Casper. I have a tank where nothing would eat him. ;Shamefullyembarrased I also have a nice zoa I would throw in also. Night now