Maggie's Mixed Reef Build V3, now a 75!

[Mhamilton0911]

Not even 10 minutes ago I found this snail dried in my cabinet. It would have had to travel about 3 feet total out of water to get there. Plopped it back in the tank. Seems like it's doing fine though. Amazing lil creatures.

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Definitely my favorite spot in the house. My tank has been doing good, I really need to get those frags mounted and the rack outta there, but overall I'm happy with it.

I need to test my water again, I haven't done it in ages. Just weekly water changes. I currently use the salifert tests, but the nitrate and phosphate are the worst to decipher what colors are there, so these will definitely be my first Hanna checkers. Testing today to see if I will still need the ULR ones or the regular ones. I'm hoping to score some good deals on the checkers with all the holiday sales going on.

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Just scored a sweet deal on LR nitrate and ULR phos hanna checkers. both for 80, new from saltwateraquarium

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Wow, learning curve with these Hanna tests.

Took 2 attempts with the phosphate, first time I didn't hold the bottom down for the 3min countdown, tested 0.03. Then the nitrate took 3 tries only to have a 0.00 reading. So either my nitrate is really 0 or I fubbed that up again. I saw it was slightly pink,I thought for sure decent nitrates.... Hmmm. Brain hurts now.

I was always testing 0 with salifert tests too. That's why I jumped to Hanna testing.

Break time.

 

[danieyella]

I previously heard the nitrate ones were as finicky as the calcium one of theirs, so I never bothered with it.

I have made that same mistake with phos though, forgetting to hold the button

 

[Mhamilton0911]

I thought I'd try it, since the salifert tests are so hard for me to tell which shade of barely pink it gets. My system is apparently low on nutrients,I'm increasing feeding slowly and I have phos and nitrate from brightwell if I need to dose. Corals are happy looking though, and no serious algae outbreaks. I've already been through a small dinos phase, uv cleaned that up quickly and hasn't returned.

But dang, my husband laughed so hard when he saw the nitrate kit. He could barely spit out "good luck" through his hysterical laugh-crying.

Jokes on him though cuz we're driving up to Spokane today and I'm stopping by Inland Corals for the first time, it might get expensive for him, muahahaha.

 

[danieyella]

Yessss, can't wait to see your haul

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Yessss, can't wait to see your haul

Not much of a haul. Store was ok, has potential, but he just moved a few months ago and many tanks weren't wet yet. Saw a bunch of stuff out of my price range, torches and sps mostly. But I did grab one stetosa, a nice coral pink color. I'll have to visit again once he's got more of his grow out tanks functional.

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Tried Hanna testing again. Went much better! Phosphate at .04 and nitrate at .16

So still low, but detectable. I did dose brightwell for both phos and nitrate and I'll retest tomorrow to see where I'm at.


Side note, I officially have a teenager. My oldest just turned 13. I made him an Xbox remote cake.

 

[danieyella]

That's some skill

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Been a sad few days for me at home, my late father in law left us an old weenie dog and the last couple months he's really gone downhill, so yesterday we decided it was time for him to reunite with dad. Never easy putting a pet down. He lived a good 14 years with dad and the last year with us.

My father in law really enjoyed my tanks. He loved that I got into saltwater and always had questions about everything. He also loved going in to the lfs with me. He'd love what they look like today.

This will be the first Christmas without him and my kids are pretty sad about it. It's been a gloomy holiday season. Kinda want it to be over.

In brighter news, I did stop by lfs today for food and got a mandarin while I was at it. I've been hunting for one for a while now that I've been culturing copepods successfully. Already in love. What a cool fish. My father in law would love him. Crappy pictures for now until I clean the glass. So far he's not scared at all and just pod hunting.

Bonus is my secret Santa got me some food supplements and that will be beneficial for getting my new friend into frozen. Thanks Santa!!

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Got myself a sexy new acan. Probably a good 2-3".

And a new ugly duckling mushroom. Looked better in the store but at home it looks a little bleached. So this one will be a surprise at what it transforms to.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Got myself a sexy new acan. Probably a good 2-3".

And a new ugly duckling mushroom. Looked better in the store but at home it looks a little bleached. So this one will be a surprise at what it transforms to.

Those look awesome

 

[Mhamilton0911]

OMG look at this amazing tiny little thing!!!! My amazing secret Santa gifted this treasure to me from a little Etsy shop all the way from Ukraine!!! Very amazed at the beauty of such a little figure and feel lucky to have been gifted him. Big shout out to my secret Santa!!! Thanks so much!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

OMG look at this amazing tiny little thing!!!! My amazing secret Santa gifted this treasure to me from a little Etsy shop so the way in Ukraine!!! Very amazed at the beauty of such a little figure and feel lucky to have been gifted him. Big shout out to my secret Santa!!! Thanks so much!

is that octopus made of glass? Really like how it looks

 

[Mhamilton0911]

is that octopus made of glass? Really like how it looks

It IS!! Little amazing handblown art. Super neat in person!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

It IS!! Little amazing handblown art. Super neat in person!

Yah it looks really neat!! I always like those handblown art pieces, so many unique designs you can make!

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Found these little treasures!

 

[Mhamilton0911]

I haven't updated in a while, but things have been steady. A few weeks ago I received some great frags of zoas from the amazing @CmMagenta and they are doing so well. I love the long skirts on the green ones!! Finally got two placed and mounted and should be doing the third today.

And my neat orangy mushroom had a baby. I love mushrooms.

 

[Mhamilton0911]

I do love this tank... But the urge to go bigger I cannot escape. I keep looking at the boring planted 75g in my living room and have finally decided it's time. I haven't had any major setbacks to keep me from wanting bigger so my brain has been non stop on how to get this done. My biggest issue is my house is tiny and loaded with people so there's not much room for large tanks. Nanos or picos could go just about anywhere, but a biggin' is harder. Plus I do like my freshwater fishes, I have a pair of pearl gouramis and they are very personable and friendly and I feel bad about the thought of just unloading them all to the lfs.

So. Lightbulb moment of switching tanks. The current reef is a 29g and fresh is 75. So I think I'll get another blank glass 29 since my current is outfitted with the AIO insert, and basically transfer all the fresh stuff to temp holding tanks (2 10g tanks I already have), clean and prep the 75g for salt. (I bought an AIO insert for the 75g, I just can't do a sump, too dumb for it) and then start the process of transferring all the rock and corals and inhabitants to the 75. Then clean and store the old 29g, then put up the new 29 with all my fresh plants and fish. Sounds exhausting but I hope it'll be worth it. I'll have a few more options for fishies and loads more coral room. Plus I can use my current lights and pumps to this saves money upfront.

Starting the process of locating other supplies I'll need plus waiting for warmer weather so I can rinse the sand for both tanks outside. So I've got 40lbs of dry rock coming and I'll go grab a brute can to get those rocks going while waiting on weather. I have a few pieces I can add to the can from my display to get them seeded so hopefully I can avoid the uglies a little by prepping the rocks.

Here's to creating problems!!