Lost Shepard's Reef
- Build Thread
- Thread starter Js.Aqua.Project
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Gumbies R Us
Another Fish in the Sea
Love the update pictures!Photo Updates 2/8/24:
Tank:
End Shot:
Growth:
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
Appreciate it, just trying to have a place to look back in a few years and see where the tank started, right now the tank doesn't feel like much to me yet - hopefully as everything grows in that will change.
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
2/26/24 Photo Updates:
This is one of the first days in a long time I was home during the middle of the peak of my lighting cycle.
Growth tracking:
Left End Shot:
This is one of the first days in a long time I was home during the middle of the peak of my lighting cycle.
Growth tracking:
Left End Shot:
Last edited:
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
Back to our regular scheduled program with a Sunday night update.
Tested the tank:
PO4 .02 ppm
NO3 0 ppm (Red Sea Pro, ran test twice to verify)
Iron 16 ppb
I order a Salifert Potassium kit this week that should be in tomorrow.
My NO3 has been at 0 for a month now and I don't like it to be 0, I like low but not 0. I also know that since I have some algae growth my NO3 probably are not actually 0 but are just lower than what the kit can do. I am considering dosing Potassium Nitrate to bring them up to 1-2ppm, hence the ordering of the potassium test kit.
Topped off the Calcium Reactor with Seachem Reactor med - officially out of that now, before I need to refill it next time I am considering switching to TLF Reborn or CarbiSea's media instead as the Seachem one does not seem to be releasing trace elements the way I need.
Sometimes this week I am going to send off a Fauna Marin ICP test that I was given last week.
Photo Updates:
Growth Tracking
Full Tank Shot:
Right End Shot:
Tested the tank:
PO4 .02 ppm
NO3 0 ppm (Red Sea Pro, ran test twice to verify)
Iron 16 ppb
I order a Salifert Potassium kit this week that should be in tomorrow.
My NO3 has been at 0 for a month now and I don't like it to be 0, I like low but not 0. I also know that since I have some algae growth my NO3 probably are not actually 0 but are just lower than what the kit can do. I am considering dosing Potassium Nitrate to bring them up to 1-2ppm, hence the ordering of the potassium test kit.
Topped off the Calcium Reactor with Seachem Reactor med - officially out of that now, before I need to refill it next time I am considering switching to TLF Reborn or CarbiSea's media instead as the Seachem one does not seem to be releasing trace elements the way I need.
Sometimes this week I am going to send off a Fauna Marin ICP test that I was given last week.
Photo Updates:
Growth Tracking
Full Tank Shot:
Right End Shot:
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
Going to merge a couple of updates into one:
3/4/24:
Salifert Potassium came in, test came back at 450ppm so I performed a second test and got a confirmation as it was my first time using this test kit.
So using Potassium Nitrate to raise my nitrates is not a viable option for me as I am not in need of any more Potassium. So instead I will probably order some Ammonium Bicarbonate (aka Baker's Ammonia) if my next approach doesn't work...
...which leads us to...
3/5/24:
I custom ordered some fish, because I prefer aquacultured as much as possible these are all fish from ORA, I got them when the box came in so they didn't have to spend anytime in the LFS tanks.
8 Regal Damsels (one was DOA)
7 Pink Skunk Clowns
1 Striped Blenny
1 Randall's Assessor (aka Blue Assessor)
(I also ordered a Pink Birdsnest as it's been on my wife's wish list for a while, hence the one coral in the photo below)
Hopefully some fish fertilizer is going to help bring those NO3 as they'll generate more detritus and allow me to feed heavier without the food just rotting somewhere in the tank.
3/4/24:
Salifert Potassium came in, test came back at 450ppm so I performed a second test and got a confirmation as it was my first time using this test kit.
So using Potassium Nitrate to raise my nitrates is not a viable option for me as I am not in need of any more Potassium. So instead I will probably order some Ammonium Bicarbonate (aka Baker's Ammonia) if my next approach doesn't work...
...which leads us to...
3/5/24:
I custom ordered some fish, because I prefer aquacultured as much as possible these are all fish from ORA, I got them when the box came in so they didn't have to spend anytime in the LFS tanks.
8 Regal Damsels (one was DOA)
7 Pink Skunk Clowns
1 Striped Blenny
1 Randall's Assessor (aka Blue Assessor)
(I also ordered a Pink Birdsnest as it's been on my wife's wish list for a while, hence the one coral in the photo below)
Hopefully some fish fertilizer is going to help bring those NO3 as they'll generate more detritus and allow me to feed heavier without the food just rotting somewhere in the tank.
Last edited:
Jim Gomoll
Active Member
Cool looking tank. What kind of coral is this one?
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
It's a caulestrea just not the "Candy Cane". It's just a plain "Yellow Caulestrea"Cool looking tank. What kind of coral is this one?
Jim Gomoll
Active Member
Thanks to clarification. Love how the tentacles come out like a Duncan vs typical CandyCane.
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
It is one of the most entertaining corals during feedings as it does all of the stereotypical LPS opening as soon as it senses food in the water.
Jim Gomoll
Active Member
Where did you get it from? Online searches all got to Candy Canes....
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
@Jim Gomoll
These actually came from a friend who is also in the hobby, I got them from him last summer (only had 2-3 heads per branch at the time).
The closest I can find is what people are selling as "Green Trumpets" or "Green Candy Canes", or even "Kryptonite Green Trumpet".
ACI No Price listed (wholesaler)
SaltwaterAquarium.com $40-70 depending on how many polyps
Tidal Gardens $45
These actually came from a friend who is also in the hobby, I got them from him last summer (only had 2-3 heads per branch at the time).
The closest I can find is what people are selling as "Green Trumpets" or "Green Candy Canes", or even "Kryptonite Green Trumpet".
ACI No Price listed (wholesaler)
SaltwaterAquarium.com $40-70 depending on how many polyps
Tidal Gardens $45
Jim Gomoll
Active Member
Your picture has coral tentacles out which make it look different than the typical CCane or Trumpet when searching for them. Thanks again.
twentyleagues
Valuable Member
Yeah those are something! Ive never seen feeding response like that from trumpets before, nice!
Gumbies R Us
Another Fish in the Sea
Love the livestock list!Going to merge a couple of updates into one:
3/4/24:
Salifert Potassium came in, test came back at 450ppm so I performed a second test and got a confirmation as it was my first time using this test kit.
So using Potassium Nitrate to raise my nitrates is not a viable option for me as I am not in need of any more Potassium. So instead I will probably order some Ammonium Bicarbonate (aka Baker's Ammonia) if my next approach doesn't work...
...which leads us to...
3/5/24:
I custom ordered some fish, because I prefer aquacultured as much as possible these are all fish from ORA, I got them when the box came in so they didn't have to spend anytime in the LFS tanks.
8 Regal Damsels (one was DOA)
7 Pink Skunk Clowns
1 Striped Blenny
1 Randall's Assessor (aka Blue Assessor)
(I also ordered a Pink Birdsnest as it's been on my wife's wish list for a while, hence the one coral in the photo below)
Hopefully some fish fertilizer is going to help bring those NO3 as they'll generate more detritus and allow me to feed heavier without the food just rotting somewhere in the tank.
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
Playing around on my phone, here is a more direct growth comparison of this monti:
I did my best to crop them at the same size using the rock as my reference so that the coral growth would be easier to see. Looking at the texture of the rock I think I got the scale pretty close for doing this on my phone tonight.
I did my best to crop them at the same size using the rock as my reference so that the coral growth would be easier to see. Looking at the texture of the rock I think I got the scale pretty close for doing this on my phone tonight.
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
3/13/24 Update:
Tested my full panel yesterday
Fe 13ppb (Hanna)
K 440ppm (Salifert)
NO3 0ppm (per Red Sea Pro Test)
PO4 .12 (Hanna)
My PO4 are really high for me as they are normally closer to .02-.04ppm. I am assuming this has gone up significantly this month due to me feeding heavier to try to bring up NO3. I want my PO4 around .02ppm with NO3 around 1-2ppm (I believe the Redfield Ratio is an impractical and nearly useless thing in the home aquarium).
Photos:
Growth Updates:
End Shots:
Tested my full panel yesterday
Fe 13ppb (Hanna)
K 440ppm (Salifert)
NO3 0ppm (per Red Sea Pro Test)
PO4 .12 (Hanna)
My PO4 are really high for me as they are normally closer to .02-.04ppm. I am assuming this has gone up significantly this month due to me feeding heavier to try to bring up NO3. I want my PO4 around .02ppm with NO3 around 1-2ppm (I believe the Redfield Ratio is an impractical and nearly useless thing in the home aquarium).
Photos:
Growth Updates:
End Shots:
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
This morning I finally got the chance to send off the Fauna Marin Reef Total ICP test I received a couple weeks ago. (Post #26)
Going to use this reply as a place keeper for the results as today is when the samples were taken.
Update: Here is the test results for the ICP Analysis by Fauna Marin.
First impression of FM test results is that they are a lot more detailed than other tests I've tried. I like that they include ratios to salinity for major elements instead of just a blank "you're X test is Y, here is what the target is". So if you're salinity is high or you're aiming for elevated values you can see the relationship between each other.
Thoughts on the results: (I take ICP results with a little bit of skepticism as there is a delay between the test and there is only so much accuracy)
Going to use this reply as a place keeper for the results as today is when the samples were taken.
Update: Here is the test results for the ICP Analysis by Fauna Marin.
First impression of FM test results is that they are a lot more detailed than other tests I've tried. I like that they include ratios to salinity for major elements instead of just a blank "you're X test is Y, here is what the target is". So if you're salinity is high or you're aiming for elevated values you can see the relationship between each other.
Thoughts on the results: (I take ICP results with a little bit of skepticism as there is a delay between the test and there is only so much accuracy)
- Salinity - 36.6 ppt (target 35ppt) - maybe my Hanna pen's calibration is off, will verify and let come down slowly as I empty the skimmer and top off
- Nutrients - NO3 .2 ppm and PO4 .015 ppm - believe it or not these are "high" for me, I've been trying to slowly bring my NO3 to be at 1-2ppm and the Red Sea Pro test still comes back 0, PO4 in last ICP came back at 0 but my Hanna checker hovers around .01-.02 aside from my last test which was .15 but back down to .04 after a GFO change.
- Iron 6.03 ppb - a little under my target range of 8-12, but after reading all of the threads on ICP tests I take this one with some inaccuracy in mind as Iron tends to come back low for just about everyone in their tests.
- Iodine .016 ppm - so this would coordinate with a Salifert Iodide/Iodate test I did two days ago. I will need to order some Iodine supplement moving forward.
- Flouride .18 ppt - have been curious is this was low and I have not seen any recommendations for at-home test kits. Flourine is part of the Idodine (Trace A) supplement by Red Sea so that's is what I'm going to be getting.
- Results that are "n.n." or "non-detectable". Not really sure how many of these have a verified impact on our coral's health. I plan on ordering the Red Sea Coral Colors trace supplements for my dosing as I know they also contain micro elements along with the trace elements.
Last edited:
Similar threads
