Hello there! My meet & greet

Jimbhoy13 · Dec 13, 2021

Welcome to R2R Alex. Nice tank. Lots of knowledgeable and helpful people here who will support and advise you when needed.

Jeffcb · Dec 13, 2021

Welcome to Reef2Reef!!!

atomos · Dec 13, 2021

Kiwi reefer · Dec 13, 2021

Welcome to R2R!

attiland · Dec 14, 2021

A;exr54 said:
Hello!
I have been posting but never properly introduced myself. I just joined the forum about a month or so ago.
My name is Alex, i live in Palm Coast, Florida. I am a computer engineer. I WFH full time (even since before the covid). I'm happily married for almost 2 decades. Have 2 kids which are growing up fast.
I have been in this hobby for about 30 years now, since I was a teenager living with my mom. And I am always still learning. Although I have been in this hobby for a long time I do not consider myself an expert, just an enthusiast.
My current tank is a 125G DT with a 50G refugium. My tank has been running for about 8 years. Its not as stocked as many tanks you see , I really don't add stuff to it often.
I have a mixed reef. Lots of ZOAs, LPS, Softies, just added a RBTA, a deresa clam.
I keep my salinity at 1.026, temps are 75-77f. Lately I've been trying to keep fluctuations less, so its been 76-77f for the last couple months.
Par at bottom is about 100-110 and at top is about 190-200.
I have had no real issues for a while so I haven't tested for nitrates, phosphates for some time. Last time I tested them all levels were good.
Not a huge fish population. Most my fish have been in the tank for 6-7 years. Some come from my old tank and are over 12-13 years old.
Powder brown Tang
Tomini Tang
Green Mandarin
Flame Hawk
Sixline Wrasse
Ocellaris clown
Diamond Watchman Goby
Blue Spotted jawfish (my newest fish)
Tail Spot Blenny
Bengai cardinal
Purple Dottyback
Lawnmower Blenny
Just added a RBTA 2 days ago. (its near the Orange Bam Bam Zoa's)

I have two Radion XR30 G4 Pro's running over the DT. Two MP40's in the DT.
My refugium has a grow light, a protein skimmer, a BIO-block, an air stone which pulls in air straight from outside, a DIY waterfall style ATS, COR20 for return pump. Some live rock with macroalgae growing.
For automation i use all Neptune Apex stuff now. ATK, LDK, PMK.
My RODI top-off is a automated source using a zone valve.
All waterchanges are done with NSW from a marine biolab nearby where I live. I try to do 15g waterchanges every 3 weeks or so. Sometimes I miss a week or 2 (or 4 ).

Well I think i covered a lot about myself
Nice to meet you all!
Here are some pics i just took of my tank while writing up this post. Lights are still ramping up so not everything is fully open. The powder brown tang just likes to get into every picture.
I need to prune the xenia. And get rid of some of the invasive green polys. Its out of control. Don't judge too harshly, I know how bad it can get.

Welcome to R2R

RiptideAquaculture · Dec 14, 2021

Hello and welcome to reef2reef

bnord · Mar 30, 2022

Welcome to the group Alex, and nice set up/display!!

Pammysue · Mar 30, 2022

Hi & I'm new! Need to learn alot about having corals.
I've had my salt tank for about 4 or 5 years & only have 2 clowns, a a diamond goby & 1 coral which I can't remember what it is.
I run 2 55 gal back filters a power head, a wave maker & a protein skimmer.
Can't get rid of the nitrates all the way. I'm using Distilled Water & doing water changes 1 to 2 times a month. All seems as though they are doing well but the nitrates bother me
Salinity- 1.25
Nitites- 0
Ph-8.0-8.2
Nitrates- between 10 & 5
Ammonia- 0
Calcium-490
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!

tharbin · Mar 30, 2022

Pammysue said:
Hi & I'm new! Need to learn alot about having corals.
I've had my salt tank for about 4 or 5 years & only have 2 clowns, a a diamond goby & 1 coral which I can't remember what it is.
I run 2 55 gal back filters a power head, a wave maker & a protein skimmer.
Can't get rid of the nitrates all the way. I'm using Distilled Water & doing water changes 1 to 2 times a month. All seems as though they are doing well but the nitrates bother me
Salinity- 1.25
Nitites- 0
Ph-8.0-8.2
Nitrates- between 10 & 5
Ammonia- 0
Calcium-490
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!

@Pammysue you should start your own thread in the Meet & Greet forum to get more exposure for your questions. As for your parameters they are just fine. You do not want zero nitrates just low. 5-10 is just fine.