60 cube

[pgravis]

I have been dealing with an algae issue for a few months now. Totally my fault (I guess it always is!) but I didn't change my ro filters and my tds crept up. Changed everything in the unit out, including the membrane probably 2 months ago. The hair algae was pretty established and despite numerous scrubbings with a toothbrush, I couldn't get it off. Well, today I decided to pull out the big guns and pull out all my rock and hit it with peroxide. I had hesitated to do this, as I really liked my rockscape, but finally was sick of the algae. Took about 2.5 hours, for 4 rocks and 2 branches to be pulled and cleaned and put back together. Also broke a few colonies and pulled my tricolor out all together. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I don't have any casualties, but my female flame wrasse was in my holding bucket after hitching a ride in the rock, and when I got her back in the tank, she looked pretty shaken up. I have also been dealing with low mag numbers, and bringing it back up has taken a lot of product! But, it's trending in the right direction finally. Here are the nasty before pics, my hands were too gross to get any real during shots, but the algae foams up nicely and creates a nice green foam!

 

[pgravis]

Well, 24 hours later, most of the algae is gone. A few spots here and there with minimal amounts that I either missed or is still withering away. added a fresh cuc (snails and crabs), hopefully they knock the rest out. Unfortunately, I lost most of the color I had in my sps. Thought it just bleached out, but it's starting to look like maybe it was rtn. My only guess is it was already stressed from low mag and dealing with the algae invasion that pulling the hardscape out pushed it over the top. Hopefully tomorrow shows better promise.

 

[pgravis]

Been a long time since an update! Algae is gone! Battled briopsis for awhile-but a couple lettuce Nudibranchs took care of the problem. Things are growing...mostly spreading base-still not a ton of vertical growth. But I'm ok with it. Newest addition is a bright orange scoly! Daughter helped pick it out and she loves seeing it (she's a little over 2).

This picks about a month old. iPhone shot-not great quality

 

[pgravis]

A few iPhone pics from this morning under some blues

 

[pgravis]

Well, it’s been about 4 and a half years since the tank has been setup, and 2 years since an update was posted and I Feel like it’s really been rocking lately-so I downloaded a new photo app (aquarium cam) and shot some photos. A lot has come and gone, but there are remnants of most of what I’ve added. Most recently added a kessil h380 to the fuge. Haven’t been growing a ton of macro, but things are looking pretty good-so no complaints. Next up is adding a couple RFG’s for more random flow. Anyway, on to the photos. Still working out how to use the app. Current inhabitants are 2 clowns, 2 Bangai cardinals, 3 royal grammas, and a mandarin. Coral wise the tank is mostly a euphylia dominated mixed reef.

 

[pgravis]

A few top downs under blues.

 

[pgravis]

This time of year the tank gets about 20 minutes of evening sun on it. I like the blend of bright daylight and the strong led blue.

 

[shaggydoo]

Tank looks great! Good to see the progress over the years, keep us updated

 

[pgravis]

Tank seems to have had more downs that ups lately. Lost my old apex, which affected my dos and dosing schedule, and add in some grad school, full time work in an ICU and two little kids and you end up with a tank in rapid decline! Lost a few sps frags and colonies, and a decent amount of Euphylia (still hoping some bounce back). Also had some continuing issues with bryopsis and a bit of hair algae. Finally got a new apex running and things are starting to turn around, but there are still a couple pieces that may not make it.
that all being said, I had a moment when I noticed how good one of my older clowns looked. I’ve had it about 5 years and it is really coming into its own. Nice dark lines around the striping. It is being hosted by a nice gold-ish indo Hammer, that luckily has been doing great despite the tank issues. Anyway, was able to snap some decent pics that I would share as a reminder to myself of the good that is still there!

 

[pgravis]

Well, the decline never ended. Got what I assume is dinos and it wiped out a lot of what was left. Pulled everything coral-wise left and started a frag tank. Tank is still running with the fish in it, but I just put money down on a new custom tank, so the end of this one is upon me. I’ll tear it all down and re-design and plumb my basement sump room adding some frag tanks to the mix. New tank isn’t much different. This tank was an off the shelf 60 cube, new one will be 29”x24x24 with an external overflow. Don’t think the builder has a brand-but my lfs orders a fair amount from him and his work looks great. Luckily the tank will take some time and allow me to finish grad school Without too much distraction and have a fun project to greet me as a non-student!