Bumblebee Reef - 75G/30G (36Lx20Wx24H)

[mylertitchell]

23 Months

Phosphates finally down and nitrates up. Manually dosed to get cal/alk around 450 11. Some big changes this cycle.
Full View

New Fuge
Removed all frags, started process - frags out light changed to 100% and on 8-8. Dream was frags but gotta do what gotta do, tanks and life’s not there so wana get it silky. Will get there. But need it stable and just the right amount of maintenance.

New Baby
Wee rock flower just appeared.

Removal of Pandoras
Got fed up of those guys destroyed so many good things. Premiums Zoas and wrecked my papayas. I say 99% gone. Very happy with this decision

Video of Bumblebee Reef

Tyler Mitchell on Instagram: "22 Months in Bumblebee Reef. #reeftank #reefer #reef #mixedreef #reefporn #corals #aquarium #reefaquarium #saltwater #saltwatertank #saltwateraquarium #bumblebeereef"

14 likes, 1 comments - bumblebeereef on February 10, 2023: "22 Months in Bumblebee Reef. #reeftank #reefer #reef #mixedreef #reefporn #corals #aquarium #reefaquarium #saltwater #saltwatertank #salt..."

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Video of Feeding Time

Tyler Mitchell on Instagram: "Feeding Time. #reeftank #reefer #reef #mixedreef #reefporn #corals #aquarium #reefaquarium #saltwater #saltwatertank #saltwateraquarium #bumblebeereef"

4 likes, 0 comments - bumblebeereef on February 10, 2023: "Feeding Time. #reeftank #reefer #reef #mixedreef #reefporn #corals #aquarium #reefaquarium #saltwater #saltwatertank #saltwateraquarium #..."

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Goals
Get rid of hang on fuge, move skimmer to chamber one, fuge take over chamber two. Chamber 3 pumps. Biomedia is crammed in with pumps. So really just wana clean neat sump that is accessible.
So minimise sump, add cuc, more corals maybe sand goby. Stabilise and maintain consistency in routine.

 

[mylertitchell]

24 Months

Nutrients
I would like nitrates to be halved and phosphates just to register.
New Fish

Got the sand goby, buzzing to have him. Great character. Prob gonna damage some mushrooms, but all be good. Great addition.
New Coral


Green torch and a gonipora was part of additions, frag rack just arrived today. Still awaiting cuc

Light Phases

Tyler Mitchell on Instagram: "1/3 Light Phases - Day. #reeftank #reefer #reef #mixedreef #reefporn #corals #aquarium #reefaquarium #saltwater #saltwatertank #saltwateraquarium #bumblebeereef"

6 likes, 0 comments - bumblebeereef on March 20, 2023: "1/3 Light Phases - Day. #reeftank #reefer #reef #mixedreef #reefporn #corals #aquarium #reefaquarium #saltwater #saltwatertank #saltwater..."

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Tyler Mitchell on Instagram: "2/3 Light Phases - Transition. #reeftank #reefer #reef #mixedreef #reefporn #corals #aquarium #reefaquarium #saltwater #saltwatertank #saltwateraquarium #bumblebeereef"

4 likes, 0 comments - bumblebeereef on March 20, 2023: "2/3 Light Phases - Transition. #reeftank #reefer #reef #mixedreef #reefporn #corals #aquarium #reefaquarium #saltwater #saltwatertank #sa..."

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Tyler Mitchell on Instagram: "3/3 Light Phases - Night. #reeftank #reefer #reef #mixedreef #reefporn #corals #aquarium #reefaquarium #saltwater #saltwatertank #saltwateraquarium #bumblebeereef"

6 likes, 0 comments - bumblebeereef on March 20, 2023: "3/3 Light Phases - Night. #reeftank #reefer #reef #mixedreef #reefporn #corals #aquarium #reefaquarium #saltwater #saltwatertank #saltwat..."

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Next
Cuc still expecting, still add more corals. Really happy with it, hope goes well so can push on the encrusting corals. Mandarin only fish and if wana catch bristletooth and bangaiis I’ll replace with fairy wrasses, but long way away. equipment I feel like I wana bring simple. Feel like I can get rid of 8-12 plugs clean sump right up and end with good mechanical filtration and beast upgrade skimmer. Will like ozone, but no rush. I can do all this slow and steady. Whatever time it takes.

 

[mylertitchell]

Month 25

still one of my fav photos

Cuc arrived, Copperband is ruthless tbh. Noticed it a lot more. Turbos got hit hard. Astreas and turbans doing better. Funny looking back these do better for me and turban is my fav. Starfish is beautiful, not sure how it’s gonna go.

This was holiday month in work including myself being off for week. So it was very busy time. Ended missing 2 fish nights.
Issues
My kalk dose was disconnected, every time connected it would run then explode. Finally clicked it was pressure and in sump the tips where clogged. Must of been submerged at some point. So cleaned and hopefully resolved the issue from not happening again.
Summary
All in all happy with everything, gonna let everything settle as next move is the big rewrite equipment tidy up. Cheeky coral orders I’m sure. But nothing planned for the redo as yet. Hopefully can get by now for while and just add some corals until I man up and take a day off to tackle all this.

 

[mylertitchell]

Month 26

My favourite photo to do lol. Happily get calcium, ph, even mag if they made them as simple as these ones.

All healthy and good in tank, nothing dead all looks same.
Only issue in tank is the bubble algae, rest seems good. But I was on the eBay hunt as my sump sickening me I want to sort it and I wanted a roller like I had but the bubble magus barely lasted. I mean couple weeks and Aliexpress is not good for recurring buys. So I went for a 2nd hand Clarisea sk5000. Which is £20 for a 6inch 40m roll. Expectation is will last 2months based on their charts so we will see. Took a punt it was bit dodgey. But hopefully works out. Motor was beat but it had sheared bolt so I replaced it and all was good. So stressful purchase but worked out after few days of poking.

Changed my biomedia from 1kg bags to these 3 bags which have 3kg a in each. Tidied sump up lovely as they were rotten and shud make easier and now roller is 100% should stay mint. I’m hopeful. If my sump stays mint, my equipment lasts longer as won’t need cleaned as often and my carbon/lacl3 dosing reduces then I am well happy at £10 per month.

Time to dial everything in now, ensure all balanced and do this wiring tidy up. Gain some plugs and room. Ozone, brineshrimp hatchery can come into play maybe then. I removed my hang on fuge if that was this cycle or last lol. Would like to get more sps if all stays good. Get some colours going.

 

[mylertitchell]

Video of Wiggle

Video of Current State of Play
https://youtube.com/shorts/IcMGbvwUDjI?feature=share

 

[melbournedan]

hey, nice set up, found your build on youtube, looks to be running pretty smoothly.

Do you have any videos or photos of your cleartides refugium running ?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Any updates on your tank?

 

[mylertitchell]

hey, nice set up, found your build on youtube, looks to be running pretty smoothly.

Do you have any videos or photos of your cleartides refugium running ?

I ran it for 2 years. It made no difference to my tank after removal. Could never get it harvesting. I still like the idea of fuge, if had room I’d do a big classic fuge or algae scrubber if didn’t. It probably wouldn’t have far off footprint of that hangon and assume would be far superior

 

[mylertitchell]

Month 28

So skimmer still wasn’t performing, I feel like I’ve messed up. Changed to roller and did full skimmer scrub and just stopped skimming after few days. This has been out of order for weeks if not months.

Bought a deltec skimmer sc1455, it’s quite compact for what it’s rated for, have it skimming quite wet at mo but will adjust to get it just right. I want it as wet as skim cup can hold for 1-2weeks hold.


Bought this very long time ago, glad it’s finally installed. So removed my skimate, as this skimmer has tap so easy full jug and it’s big so skim cup jazzy.

Soon as read the instruction manual and it stated ozone well. Finally my love. I been wanting this long time. I have this on timer currently at 3am start for just one hour. Running at 12mg per hour. I will adjust and find sweet spot. Will stay between 1-6hours per night and 2-25mg per hour. Awaiting meter to help, I’m expecting absolute clarity and improvement in smell.

Finally cleared out a lot of excess wiring and plugs. Sump is now simple:
Chamber 1 - Filter Roller
Chamber 2 - Skimmer (inc ozone)
Chamber 3 - Pumps (inc uv)
Biomedia bag in each chamber also.

I stopped doing the micro bubble scrub also, but kept the mini air pump in and attached it to my hatchery I used to do in QT. As I missed and enjoyed the brine shrimp. It’s great use, takes no space in sump. Just fill with tank water , turn on pump and add scoop of eggs. 24hrs later add to display. It’s class, real simple and eggs in freezer keep great and with the water temp. Yield just excellent. Love watching the more nano type fish go nuts, also pretty sure the clowns are breeding maybe so great to have brine in play.

Goal for next month, dialing complete and tank stable. Have the routine locked in, everything clean and just solid. No purchases until then.

 

[mylertitchell]

Month 30

Even struggling with the simple routine, very thankful tank is well established, and big enough to be forgiving. Love it and can’t imagine my home without it. Update was to be stable and that seems to be case especially with minimal to no input over last few months. New equipment seems to be holding and working out well as prior I wind of had pumps up full or wave makers etc. but we’re still on original settings +-5.

Plan just to keep trucking along with everything as is, ideally get the routine closer to what seems to be my new reality instead of trying to keep up.

Be nice to buy some corals as need some filling. Lps or softies big pieces, but I’ll make that doable before years out for sure.

 

[mylertitchell]

31 Months

Bumblebee Reef is ticking on, keeping clean, stability seems to be there for very little effort now. Just needs filled out. Would like to get some cuc for tank, a nice yellow type torch, move hammer over to back tree and change hammer tree to a big anemone so euphylia left side nems right. Some more nems, fill out the hammers, cheeky softie or two and montis on island.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

31 Months

Bumblebee Reef is ticking on, keeping clean, stability seems to be there for very little effort now. Just needs filled out. Would like to get some cuc for tank, a nice yellow type torch, move hammer over to back tree and change hammer tree to a big anemone so euphylia left side nems right. Some more nems, fill out the hammers, cheeky softie or two and montis on island.

Glad to see the tank is still going strong!

 

[mylertitchell]

32 Months

Well what a fecking month! So my birthday came and I thought I’d treat myself as got some vouchers. Bought some montis, cuc and ritteri anemone.
So anemone came we bit hard traveled as mouth out but wasn’t sure was massive. Added to tank, clown was in love and all over it.
Anemone was looking worse but wasn’t sure but went to lift it and it was soup fully melted.
Shambles (still dealing with seller) so out £80 on nem currently.

Next thing I notice hogfish spasming and boom dead. If nem didn’t happen would said must broke back. But did it choke or whatever on a piece of nem. Too coincidental. There’s a £100 and a glorious fish.

Snails all gone. My tank is not cuc safe. Urchin is only thing that seems to not be a dinner. £30 gone.
Snapped some sps on frag rack during the chaos and didn’t no I did it so not sure where they are.
Clownfish that was all over nem 1 week later seen calved on sandbed. Lifted almost looked like brook. But no fish in year. So assume bacterial infection (as seen red blood patch and white fungus film) from nem and I didn’t catch. Tried QT but didn’t survive. I was too late in noticing. £70 and another glorious fish.

This order was suppose to be cherry on top and flesh out the tank well, but it’s really set me back. Moneys one thing, but hogfish was my active delight. He was glory. My clowns just can’t get over it. This really can be the worst hobby sometimes. Really thought I was on the home stretch.

 

[mylertitchell]

Month 33

Seller honoured sending out another nem, took along time but arrived. Crazily didnt arrive on day suppose to, but was sent so I thought lost. Shambles. But it showed up the next day and weirdly looked good. I of course was very skeptical. But had a good red foot and colour, and was stuck to bag so took as good sign and did the best acclimation process i haver done to be sure.
Drip Acclimation

Morning After

Settled

Clowns going nowhere near him, hes got his own rock flower nem i suppose and doesnt go near that side. Hopefully when do pair, things will change.
Coral Growth
That 1cm stub is new, so good to see montiporas all doing good and actually growing. Hopefully I can get some more monti variations and fill it out and Ill be well pleased if have monti garden growing out (whether that changes in future with sps growth who knows, but all about now getting the 'beginner sps' smashed

 

[mylertitchell]

Month 34
I can't believe im doing this post. This is the post we never want to believe. Lets get the admin out of way...

So tank has been great in one sense, but things from the concept are going aray and need to resolve. Filter Roller broke (they say unbreakable, but in fairness was able to resolve), Roller slipped and twisted self and therefore bad connection, so had to resolder and pvc weld, Seems to be good job now so hopefully pvc weld holds and thats resolved. Skimmer messes up every now and then, not sure what story is, if height or nutrients but something afoot. Doser got blocked, back pressure blew back and now i have rusty dosing heads so its day is numbered, water pump failed or power issue so wc not as easy, sump a mess due to filter roller issues. But if i get a 3d printer on go, i do think i can get alot of this in order and a real clean sump. All of these has been ongoing for long time, its just numbers and tank not moving and all good so not critical and have alot on.

Now to it...
Envenomation
So unfortunately my son came out and said 'daddy your fish tank beeping', I said no bother, knowing skimmer is just full and needs emptied. So i walk into house already on phone to turn off power and empty jug, then on corner eye i see mustard tang laying on sandbed. All my fish are laying on the bed dead apart from a few heavy butt breathing calving on bed except clownfish (happy as pig in muck)
I open cabinet, skimmer is nuts foam everywhere, i thought skimmer emptied self and wiped tank but i couldnt comprehend that, i turned off grounding probe stuck hand in tank thinking i was gonna get a merciful slap. No. Full state of panic and emotion.
Im gonna TLDR, i started to lift some of fish out and seen this huge shrimp like thing, then i noticed nem shrivled up and walking up the back. There it is, back half of him a good 8+ inches smashed.
I had been in tank at 2.45pm everyone was good and happy, wife was in room and noticed nothing, mother in law was in at some point watching them, 4.45pm all dead.
So anemone has started walking and wavemaker has riped him a new one, skimmer has went nuts with water chemistry change. The nem ends and part has been floating around, strong stingers have been in water column. All the hungry guys that wud try anything in water col are dead, the ones a bit more shy bashful (goby, hawkfish) dying. Look up information and then look up this exact nem, strong stingers. So every fish has been hit with venom and died instantly. Only 2 survivers, clown whos still swimming and showing zero signs (now makes me think of course anti venom, used to it, built intolerance wudnt try to eat it) and betta whos basically nocternal only comes out at night, didnt even know what was going on.
Cant believe it, 3 year set back prob grand in the hole. Care more about time, and know that most those fish ill never have again. Like if i walked in earlier maybe cud of done something or pushed him back no idea or maybe would of been less chaos.
But yeah tank has nothing in it, maybe cud been worse and could os killed nem completely and crashed corals. I would of waled away from hobby for sure. So now here i am back to square one and yes this 100% is to do with the ritteria anemone, i also saw the goby do what hogfish did so yes 100 venom in system. No new fish no new corals, no nothing else. this is nem + wavemaker all fish dead.
Gonna have to look into this 3d printer to deal with wavemakers and decide what the future holds, as im in a different place now. My stock was heavy and push tank hard. Now starting again it cant be that, cant have risky fish that mean no to certain corals or all cuc for example, weirdly i saw a nass for first time after the disaster.

So back to drawing board, ive already been through my options, reef is still me, cant go fresh. All or nothing, but as said if walked in and corals had done similar. I wud of pulled plug, cant do the v2 of tank yet its not critical. Its get everything running like i want. Heres to 2024, i need to get my brief and POA lined up.

******* SHAMBLES.

 

[mylertitchell]

Month 35
Tanks doing good. Finally seeing good sps growth. Noticed colouring on sps starting to fade and tested and seen phosphate high and nitrate 0. Hoping to continue with Montipora digitata or any similar beginner sps.

Tank is just missing fish, missing good activity. So hopefully now that I’m content with everything and situation, I’ll get out this month.

Plan is ULM, fish that can be fed just with auto feeder (I will still feed frozen but more like a treat). I want v2 to be a tank that can allow me to go away for holidays without a sitter. One that suits my family lifestyle now as other was intense. Even know no regrets and I’d take them all back tomorrow.

Don’t want to get any fish already had, and not doing any caution again. I want to make this tank as active and as full as possible so not really nook fish and get some corals and inverts that I’ve had to avoid due to fish choices.

I have changed pumps to run at 1x each. Tested each with jug and both coming at around 300l per hour. Def been wasting filter paper when seen difference on the caking. Skimmer I’ll hope to get ideally 2 weeks out of before auto turns off.

So v2 is changing to a ULM, community fish with mixed reef tank full of inverts, with simple enough equipment not overloaded like last time. Think alpha will be a dwarf angel. Rusty be cool and then anthias. Keep adding every few months truly pushing tank and keeping stability naturally and then stopping and not overloading like last time.

This will enable v3 to be a lot about cabinet, sump appearance, get rid of canopy etc or upgrade to different tank who knows that’s a long way away. V2 fish coral inverts thriving, stable and feasible routine. That’s all that matters.

Interestingly my nice clownfish since adding the nem and him befriending it, has became aggressive. Doesn’t leave it at all and if I go near when cleaning etc. he bites me. Fascinating, you can see the nem well healed and growing back.

Added som temp mollys just to give tank a bit of bioload.

Onwards and upwards, this is it.

 

[mylertitchell]

New Additions
St Patrick’s Sale on, so took opportunity to get the school was torn between lyretail or bartletts.
1. School of Anthias (4)
2. Orange Fungi Plate
3. Candy Canes (around dozen heads)
4. Green Sinularia Leather
5. Live Copepods (6)

Looking forward to seeing the male transition. Have increased the autofeeder to feed twice and do frozen in evening.

There an interesting fish at mo, I’m loving the schooling, they do separate but if see eachother they regroup. Mainly 3 though so think is the fourth the male.

I thought would have been more active. I thought they would just swam but seem to be looking more, not always swimming, but going through all the nooks. So happy anyway, delighted to back in motion with tank.

 

[mylertitchell]

SPS Growth
It’s pictures like this, that make you realise things are going right. Had some high phos and some zero nitrates and have seen my Monti plates lose colouration, but hopefully fish back in and some dialing in after all the chaos they can come back. Tbh after the envenomation drama and resettling and loses, I’m happy there all alive and seeing polyps.



Can’t wait to do another SPS order, still sticking to more beginner friendly style sps, maybe something cheeky if there.

 

[mylertitchell]

Lyretail Anthias
Cannot wait to see the male transition. Delighted to be on a reef buzz again.

 

[mylertitchell]

Sumpy McSumpface

Buddy had an office nano tank that he broke down and had him in the sump and didn’t know what to do with him for a while. But when I lost mine we just had to meet up and give him a good home. Size was perfect a 1-2 for my 2-3 and was the best acclimation ever. He just bowed down immediately and snuggled straight into nem.