Leah's 120g LPS/mixed reef

Fudsey · Apr 15, 2018

What are you testing ammonia with? It could be a false positive. You should never see ammonia in an established tank. The bacteria should convert it faster than you can detect it. I just use a ammonia badge in my tank

leahfiish · Apr 26, 2018

Been a few weeks since I updated it but nothing is new, really. I just did a water change and took some pictures today.

SallyWho · Apr 27, 2018

Hey, I just found your thread, and your tank looks great! Some really good looking acans you've got there, and I love the shelf rock. And I'm really sorry about Sherbert. :(

I wanted to ask about your Modular Marine overflow. I'm going to get a 120g in the same dimensions as yours, and was looking at MM for a bean animal overflow. How do you like it? Is it as quiet and easy to maintain as it appears? Do you feel you picked the right size for your flow needs? Thanks!

leahfiish · Apr 27, 2018

SallyWho said:
Hey, I just found your thread, and your tank looks great! Some really good looking acans you've got there, and I love the shelf rock. And I'm really sorry about Sherbert. :(

I wanted to ask about your Modular Marine overflow. I'm going to get a 120g in the same dimensions as yours, and was looking at MM for a bean animal overflow. How do you like it? Is it as quiet and easy to maintain as it appears? Do you feel you picked the right size for your flow needs? Thanks!

HI, thanks for the post.

I like it overall but if I were to do it again I'd get a bigger one to have more room for the bean animal plumbing. I couldn't get it to work out with the plumbing I had on hand so I am just doing a herbie style with an extra emergency drain.
I also have a very small leak from one of the holes (between the tank and exterior box) but that could probably be fixed if I tightened the bulkhead more. I'm just worried and it's such a small leak (seriously like 1 drop a week) thay I'm not gonna risk cracking my tank to fix it. The bulkhead is as tight as I can get it by hand. I don't think it's necessarily a problem with the box it's probably more a result of my drilling measurements or lack of arm strength.
Finally, the lid on the interior box won't sit correctly. It was fine before I installed it, and after it was on the tabk the lid just won't sit properly. I just put it on at a slight angle. I'm not sure what caused this, I can't figure it out.

SallyWho · Apr 27, 2018

leahfiish said:
HI, thanks for the post.

I like it overall but if I were to do it again I'd get a bigger one to have more room for the bean animal plumbing. I couldn't get it to work out with the plumbing I had on hand so I am just doing a herbie style with an extra emergency drain.
I also have a very small leak from one of the holes (between the tank and exterior box) but that could probably be fixed if I tightened the bulkhead more. I'm just worried and it's such a small leak (seriously like 1 drop a week) thay I'm not gonna risk cracking my tank to fix it. The bulkhead is as tight as I can get it by hand. I don't think it's necessarily a problem with the box it's probably more a result of my drilling measurements or lack of arm strength.
Finally, the lid on the interior box won't sit correctly. It was fine before I installed it, and after it was on the tabk the lid just won't sit properly. I just put it on at a slight angle. I'm not sure what caused this, I can't figure it out.

I appreciate your input! I'll consider sizing up so I have more room in the exterior box, then. My return pump is adjustable, so I don't think having an overflow rated over-high will be too much of a problem. And I'll bet that uber slow leak will eventually plug itself with salt creep.

leahfiish · May 4, 2018

I'm not having the best week with the tank...
Earlier in the week one of my jawfish died (the male). Not super surpising since I hadn't seen him in a few days. He would go though phases where he was great and active and showing off, and then not see him for a few days. With the reclusive time increasing lately.
Today I was planning on doing a water change but I accidentally left my RO on while I was at work and flooded my apt. On top of that, my crescent tail fairy wrasse jumped out through the egg crate. I didn't think he would fit. :/ RIP.

So, I'm down to 4 fish - 2 clownfish, 1 earmuff wrasse (who has started to go to sleep much earlier so I only see him in the evenings, not sure why), and 1 jawfish.

I'm pretty bummed. :(

Fudsey · May 4, 2018

Sorry to hear that :(:(

Eggcrate holes are too large from everything I have read. If their head can fit they will get out. Chin up :)

And I have flooded my basement doing the same thing ;);)

Dsnakes · May 4, 2018

Sorry to hear about your fish :( and flooding is never fun.

You do take some amazing photos though. Keep at it, it will bounce back.

leahfiish · May 4, 2018

Thanks guys.
I still did a water change tonight. Hopefully tomorrow is better. :(

Dodgersfan · May 7, 2018

I used to have my RO hooked up in the kitchen. I accidentally put a few gallons on the floor a couple of times forgetting the RO was on for a couple of hours, never overnight or while at work fortunately, but still a mess to clean up. Since then i moved the RO to the bathroom, and i put my buckets/containers that I'm filling in the bathtub. since i started doing that i think I've accidentally left the RO on overnight or while at work 3 or 4 times. but no cleanup when i found it, just wasted water and wasting filter media, but the peace of mind knowing I'm not gonna flood anything if i forget the RO is on is worth it.

leahfiish · May 17, 2018

Took some phone pics lately, my toadstool is still fragging itself which is pretty interesting.

leahfiish · May 17, 2018

Fudsey · May 18, 2018

Love that toadstool ! ! Looking great ! !

najer · May 18, 2018

As above, that leather is looking great. :)

leahfiish · May 31, 2018

Did a water changed today and rearranged some of the rocks and corals.
I've been having a lot of trouble keeping myself motivated lately and it's really showing. I have a bunch of hair algae (due to lack of water changes and from feeding too many pellets) and some of my corals are dieing. My fascination favia (which was making such a great recovery), pink wwc goni, Vivid's Rainbow Delight acro, one of my maze brains, and one of my acans are all looking bad. The rest are all doing good but growth is very slow or nonexistent.
I rearranged things and moved a few rocks to the sump to open up some space, and I turned a bunch of rocks algae-side down. My chaeto won't grow, I think I don't have enough flow in the fuge, so I'm removing it for now. Im trying to limit feeding and switch back to frozen foods.
Doing the rescape was fun and it changed things up a little so I hope that will help keep me motivated to take care of things a little better.

leahfiish · May 31, 2018

Here's a bonus pic of my sump area.
I traded one of my zoas for that little biopellet reactor. There's about 1/4 cup of biopellets in there, that's pretty much all that will fit but it's better than nothing.

leahfiish · Jun 1, 2018

Took some pictures today

I love watching the clowns hang out in the leather, I hope they don't bother it too much.

DSC027572 by Leah S, on Flickr

DSC027992 by Leah S, on Flickr

DSC027682 by Leah S, on Flickr

This torch always looks great and it seems happy in its new spot. The other one next to it fell over and needs to be glued.

DSC027582 by Leah S, on Flickr

I got this green blasto when it had 3 heads, it is one of my best growers.

DSC027692 by Leah S, on Flickr