ggNoRe's Prostar 200 Peninsula Build Thread

[flyfisher2]

Sorry to hear. Guess when we get closer to spring availability will be better. I have 4 in quarantine since Black Friday along with a Royal Gramma

Glad your present stock is all well.

 

[ggNoRe]

Went to a couple LFS today and couldn't resist. Got 3 banggai's, 1 blood shrimp, a yellow watchman goby, and a hammer coral. Was a little too rough with hammer when doing coral dip and got some white stringy stuff coming out. Hope he's ok!

 

[flyfisher2]

I'd put it in a lower light and low water movement area for a couple days and see how it reacts. Thats why I stay away from the LFS as much as I can. Temptation is high and I'm weak
LOL

 

[flyfisher2]

Are you running a quarantine tank?

 

[ggNoRe]

No quarantine.

I did exactly what you recommended cut flow and kept the LEDs off for the day. Was looking much better just 30mins later.

 

[flyfisher2]

No quarantine.

I did exactly what you recommended cut flow and kept the LEDs off for the day. Was looking much better just 30mins later.

mine are sensitive to movement and intense direct water flow. I try to divert the circulation pumps so as to 'bounce' off the glass and create a wider indirect wave. Something to play with.

 

[ggNoRe]

Came home from work today to see Yellow Watchman Goby dying. Best guess is the MP60 sucked him in and beat him up with it's propellers. Even at 1% that thing is too dang strong. I saw him before I went to work swimming for his life trying to escape it. And my wife said she saw the same thing when I was gone. Saw shrimps and snails literally eating him alive. Even though I'm sure he's a goner he was breathing so have him in ICU in my brine shrimp hatchery.

 

[ggNoRe]

Not sure what happened but 2 of 3 cardinals died. All 3 fish that just died came from the same store so my best guess is they had very different water parameters and I didn't acclimate. From now on I will. My shipment of zoas came in from Tidalgardens. I'm really impressed with thus far. Everything came well shipped and with more polyps then disclosed. Trying something I have never seen before by putting of ceramic plates across the sand in hopes that they fill up looking like a zoa garden across the sand. I got bowsers, fruit loops, rastas, and purple hornets.

 

[flyfisher2]

Oh man, you need to sit back and let it all come together. Slow down on the shopping and deal with the task at hand. You have the foam covers for the MP60? Think of a quarantine tank...

 

[flyfisher2]

you have some really nice corals. Check your parameters:
ALK
Calcium
Magnesium
Phosphates
Nitrates
I'm assuming your ammonia and nitrites are at zero?
Stability is key to success in this hobby.
NOTHING good happens fast in reefing.
I've been where you are more times than I care to remember. Be patient and keep track of everything, especially mistakes and then try to not repeat them.

 

[ggNoRe]

I put the foam guard on MP60 after the goby situation. I test all parameters very frequently and log them in the Aquarium Note app to look for any trends.

Everything looks good except slightly high nitrates at -/+20 but that shouldn't be enough to be very harmful for fish from what I understand. But I definitely agree with everything you're saying. Zoas were ordered before fish died. Going to track things closely next few days before buying more fish. Super bummed about the deaths. It's more than just the money I really care for these guys. Spent a few hours with the goby trying to revive. He was so cool.

 

[flyfisher2]

I put the foam guard on MP60 after the goby situation. I test all parameters very frequently and log them in the Aquarium Note app to look for any trends.

Everything looks good except slightly high nitrates at -/+20 but that shouldn't be enough to be very harmful for fish from what I understand. But I definitely agree with everything you're saying. Zoas were ordered before fish died. Going to track things closely next few days before buying more fish. Super bummed about the deaths. It's more than just the money I really care for these guys. Spent a few hours with the goby trying to revive. He was so cool.

it's a process. Take your time. You'll look back on all this as a learning process which will make you a better reefer.

 

[ggNoRe]

Thought this was worth a post. Want to give shout outs to companies that I have had an exceptional experience with thus far. Algae Barn, Tidal Gardens, and Reefbreeders. All three companies have under promised and overdelivered. I won't hesitate to order from them again. Especially Reefbreeders amazing quick response and really make sure customer is taken care of. Going to buy one of their Coralbox WF-04 dosers now just for that reason.

All zoas opened up already and looking AMAZING. Those things are straight radioactive.

 

[ggNoRe]

Water parameters were absolutely perfect today! Finally got my nitrates down to a comfortable place at 5, phosphates .03, Salinity 1.025, PH 8.18. Really happy with these numbers. After long consideration and speaking with Mike of ADG I really think it's the MP60 giving me grief. The already stressed fish that are acclimating are trying to fight a really strong current at the same time just stressing them out more. This time I turned all my pumps off except for the return which provides plenty of water agitation on its own. We shall see how it goes..

Zoas all fully opened up and looking great. Pretty stoked about that as well as they have only been in the tank one day. Need to order a orange filter so I can get some decent pics.

 

[ggNoRe]

Got orange filter for phone. Thanks Amazon next day shipping!

Still not too happy with outcome but at least the hammer shot came out well.

Updated with better pictures. Filter + increased brightness.

 

[flyfisher2]

Set your color temp at the highest setting 5K?
Download the Lightroom app

 

[ggNoRe]

Set your color temp at the highest setting 5K?
Download the Lightroom app

Thanks!!

 

[ggNoRe]

Took my son to his dr appointment which happened to be on the same side of town as a LFS I always wanted to visit. Couldn't help myself...

Aussie Gold Hammer and some duncans.

Also found out that when taking pictures with only the T5s on and LEDs off they look good without filter or any other adjustments.

 

[ggNoRe]

My blood shrimp are starting to get a little more aggressive than I would like and pester the corals when I feed but other than that livestock seem to be doing very well.

Got everything I need to start dosing now. Going to be a busy weekend.

Also sent my MP60 to service as it was starting to hum really loudly. After I get it back plan to sell it and buy a MP40 instead. It's just too strong for my tank.

 

[ggNoRe]

Picked up a goniopora today.