310g Peninsula Build

[ScottB]

Did you get an ID on your dinos? Glad you beat them back, but just curious which species succumbed to your method.

Beautiful build. Very excited for you.

 

[StevePhx]

Did you get an ID on your dinos? Glad you beat them back, but just curious which species succumbed to your method.

Beautiful build. Very excited for you.

I didn’t try and ID them. I was looking for a microscope but as I kept researching, all the advice was do the same things to beat them back.

I really believe the ocean magic from algae barn was big factor after the black out and UV.

 

[StevePhx]

Been week since I last updated this. As typical with a new tank I went from dinos to cyano to gha.

It’s slowly dying back and nutrients starting to fall as I bring down my nitrates after dinos.

Corals are all doing really well and I keep having to turn up my calcium reactor so a good sign they are happy and growing.

Only negative is the Majestic Angels decided they hated each other so had to give one away quickly. The other one is doing well.

 

[ScottB]

dinos => cyano => GHA

Yep, that is how we roll. Good sign that consumption is climbing. Sometimes in the dino fights we forget about collapsing consumption while the doser/CaRx keeps dripping. Not a mistake I will repeat.

 

[StevePhx]

Tank starting to settle out. New corals have started to base out quickly. Little bit of gha from the areas that get direct sun light but it is slowly dying back

 

[StevePhx]

So biggest change to tank is I removed my calcium reactor.

I switched over to Triton 4 part.

so why?

I have struggled to keep my pH over 7.8 even after adding a kalk dosser and opening the windows with some nicer weather in Phoenix.

I known that when summer hits again I’ll have the house sealed up tight for 8 months of 100+ days.

since removing the CaRx my pH is 8.4 to 8.6 and the tank has never looked better.

 

[guntercb]

Steve, great work. I hope your aquarium is doing well. I would still love to see it in person. I should only be a few minutes away. Let me know if there is ever a time that works for you. I would love to meet some local reefers.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[StevePhx]

Wow no updates since December

Tank is really settling in now. Had a pretty ugly dino outbreak that H2O2 or UV would knock back.

Finally dosed silicates and got a diatom outbreak that outcompeted the dinos and within a week they were gone.

Reefing is so much easier today because of the access to information

Haven’t added anything to the tank in months as I waited out the dinos and let the tank settle.

April will be when I start adding. I’ll do a few large orders from BC, TSA, Epic Aquaculture and Vivid. Going to try and find a Bandit Angel bit afraid availability may be limited. Need to finally catch my clown tang and rehome. He is about 10” and tries to bite me and slashes at me with his tail. It’s just a matter of time until he connects.

My Apex head unit burned up from a bad aquabus cable. Also took out both of my Dos. Was able to get it running with a back EL I keep laying around.

Brought the CaRx back out since both Dos were down and couldn’t keep up with daily hand dosing. Dos are still at Neptune being repaired.

All in very happy with how tank is progressing. I finally feel like I’ve turned the corner on being a new tank.

 

[guntercb]

I agree that with the internet and all the sites to exchange information that getting reef information is a lot easier these days.

Your tank is looking amazing and I bet the order of livestock you have planned will continue to improve it. I hope your equipment failures and issues are behind you now.

Keep up the great work!

 

[StevePhx]

Tank continues to settle in and get more consistent. Added lots of new frags and fish.

Two best changes I added to the tank are an ozone generator and removing the calcium reactor.

Ozone leaves the tank crystal clear 24/7 and with a 60x40 peninsula that’s is critical.

Using Triton versus a calcium reactor resulted in a higher and more stable pH in the tank. I’m at a constant 8.2, which I would still like to get higher.

As far as livestock I love all the new additions. My two best items being Rainbow Splice from Epic Aquaculture and a C. Interuptus from Marine Collectors both are just stunning.

 

[ScottB]

Reef is looking super nice. I remember in your earliest posts you said something like "as long as the tank looks good in 12-18 months it will all be worth it".

Well, I think you can now agree with yourself.

 

[ReefLaw]

Where did you get the flame wrasse from??

 

[StevePhx]

Where did you get the flame wrasse from??

Divers den before the shut down.

 

[StevePhx]

Reef is looking super nice. I remember in your earliest posts you said something like "as long as the tank looks good in 12-18 months it will all be worth it".

Well, I think you can now agree with yourself.

Thanks for reminding me I said that.

Your right, looking back to the dinos and daily battles it feels really good.

Now I get to sit back and enjoy and maintain, and possibly add a few frags along the way.

 

[guntercb]

Looking great! Why did you decide to remove your Ca reactor?

 

[Paul.martin]

Was the overflow kit purchased at glass cages with the tank?

 

[StevePhx]

Tank has gone through some ups and downs in the last few years. Ended up having major surgery and being unable to do what I needed on the tank.

Finally health again and the tank is coming back right along with my health.

 

[squidarcher]

Looks great!

 

[Troylee]

Can’t see the video but awesome tank! I almost have the same set up myself.. glass cages 72x34x24 and the same sump! I love it!

 

[Typhon]

Great looking tank!! Glad to hear your health is getting better. Reefing is hard for fellow older reefers too