Maddie's 90 Mixed Reef Journey

[design.maddie]

My Favia coral is looking odd today. I have had this colony for pushing 5 years and have never seen this behavior. I assume this is some kind of tentacle but I thought this colony had different sweepers than this. I don't know what I am looking at and would love some input.

 

[Tahoe61]

Very very odd!

I am inclined to say Pearl Fish although I have never seen one in a coral. Beautiful coral BTW.

 

[design.maddie]

Very very odd!

I am inclined to say Pearl Fish although I have never seen one in a coral. Beautiful coral BTW.

Whoa! that is an interesting idea.

 

[design.maddie]

I finally purchased an autofeeder. I have wanted one of these things for so many years with no true reason to have never bought one. My kids are all grown and I have been traveling more than I used to. Taking an 4 day trip out of town once a month has become pretty regular. It was time to invest in a feeder.

I decided to go with something simple. My biggest thing being I wanted something battery powered. Eheim's Everyday Fish Feeder was what I bought.

Setup was a breeze, or so I thought. I put the batteries in and set the time and timers I was going to try. I wanted 2 feedings a day. I picked 1100 and 1800. I grab my phone and set a reminder so that I can watch the interactions of everything from the equipment to the fish. I watched 3 different feedings and all three times I had to go and manually push the button. I couldn't figure it out. Come to find out I set the timer but never set it to actual turn the barrel. I have that part figured out now.

I needed to modify my lid so that I could use the feeder. I took some rough measurements and got started.


I bought a lil hacksaw just for the job.

Welp! That was almost like butter if butter was kinda hard to hack through.

TaDaa!

I moved my feeder ring to catch the auto feeder to help manage the pellets till they begin to sink.

All ready to go.

 

[design.maddie]

I have had these zoas for pushing 1 year now and have not grown at all. I have no idea what type they are but I always think they are so beautiful.

 

[design.maddie]

Just a small update. All the new frags are acclimating well to the tank. I think there is still some more colours to be had on some of the Acropora.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Just a small update. All the new frags are acclimating well to the tank. I think there is still some more colours to be had on some of the Acropora.

Glad to see your new frags are acclimating well!

 

[design.maddie]

I took a short video of my tank during feeding time. Newest edition you may notice is the little yellow watchman goby in the front. He is adorable.

 

[design.maddie]

The tank has been in cruise mode for the last couple months. I haven't put much money into the tank as it will be getting moved across state in Feb. now. I want some new corals badly. I have plans to add an additional 20-40lbs of dry rock to the scape.

 

[design.maddie]

GusGus is growing and doing well.

 

[design.maddie]

I am only about a month away from my big move to my new place. I have started to place orders for the supplies that I expect to need to do this smoothly. I ordered 20 lbs of dry rock and 80 lbs of new sand. Grabbed a bucket of salt mix that I use while also grabbing what I needed for aquascaping.

My partner and friend are going to be helping me with the move but other than them moving the tank and stand for me I'm still not sure how to use their help. They are mostly there to use their vehicles to transport everything, a truck and SUV.

While I am stressing about it now. I hope that all the stressing and planning allows me the chance to enjoy the process as much as possible.

I'm sure I will have a few photos of my process to share.

 

[design.maddie]

Refugium lights burned out after being on my tanks for years now. It has spent some of that time completely submerged. Replacement seemed like a no-brainer.

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Refugium lights burned out after being on my tanks for years now. It has spent some of that time completely submerged. Replacement seemed like a no-brainer.

What brand light?

 

[design.maddie]

What brand light?

This is the Tunze Eco Chic Waterproof Refugium LED Light 8831.00. One heck of a name if you ask me. I think it is best just to say Tunze 8831? The original purchase date for the dead one is Nov. 1 2021.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Refugium lights burned out after being on my tanks for years now. It has spent some of that time completely submerged. Replacement seemed like a no-brainer.

So sorry that happened! Luckily it didn't start a fire!

 

[design.maddie]

So sorry that happened! Luckily it didn't start a fire!

I was beyond lucky. It is on a reverse 12hr cycle so I rarely see it on. I happened to open up my stand while making coffee early in the AM with it on and it started flickering and then just shut off. What are the chances that this thing has been running for 24/7 5+ years and I get to actually experience it finally giving out?

Kinda makes me want to order a replacement heater since I have had this one pushing 2 years and I tend to replace them around that time frame.