My AEFW journey

Dowtish · Dec 2, 2012

Keeping good levels so far. But I went ahead and added a reactor with some GFO, and added carbon too. I also hooked up an ATO to the tank. Trying to keep all levels as stable as possible.

gmoney243 · Dec 2, 2012

I'm using a hob filter in the sump with gfo/carbon in the filter pad

Sent from my Vortex using Tapatalk 2

Dowtish · Dec 4, 2012

I am amazed on how much my skimmer is pulling out of this tank. There is one tiny sixline wrasse, that I barely feed in there. And I have changed over 12 gallons of water since setting it up.

Dowtish · Dec 4, 2012

Dipped all large colonies tonight. Found some eggs on the large blue tip stag, but nowhere else. Had about 10-12 AEFW fall off total on 6 colonies.

pickupman66 · Dec 5, 2012

How often r u dipping?

Sent from my Galaxy S 3 with Tapatalk.

schooleyosis · Dec 5, 2012

Wow, that is some good skimmate you are pulling. And sounds like you are making progress do rid the corals of the eggs and worms. I'll be curious to see how many you find, if any, on your next dip. Keep up the good battle my friend.

Dowtish · Dec 5, 2012

Thanks Ryan

Lindsey, I am dipping once every 7 days.

pickupman66 · Dec 5, 2012

OK. on that advice, i think ill dip tonight....

Dowtish · Dec 13, 2012

Lost another frag last night. This one was a no name frag someone gave me, that was not quite happy to begin with. All others seem to be okay. Even all the frags of Red Planet that I had to make are encrusting on the plugs in just 2 weeks. I have been doing steady 5 gallon water changes every 3-4 days to keep water pristine. I am having a slight brown slime algae problem, but I am cleaning and siphoning it out with each WC. I am due for another round of dipping tonight.

schooleyosis · Dec 13, 2012

Sorry for the loss but sounds like all the others are doing well. Keep us posted.

6272862829 · Dec 15, 2012

Man every body its getting them. I just stop by the critters and their red sea max tank has flat worms. That sucks I hope knock on wood my tank does not get them I did found some red bugs. :mad:

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

sluicebox · Dec 15, 2012

iiluisii said:
Man every body its getting them. I just stop by the critters and their red sea max tank has flat worms. That sucks I hope knock on wood my tank does not get them I did found some red bugs. :mad:

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

I'm kinda new to this flatworm problem but if you don't put them in your tank, you will not get them. Right? Be ready to quarantine and dip everything that goes into the tank and you should be safe. Is that the right line of thought?

Dowtish · Dec 15, 2012

sluicebox said:
I'm kinda new to this flatworm problem but if you don't put them in your tank, you will not get them. Right? Be ready to quarantine and dip everything that goes into the tank and you should be safe. Is that the right line of thought?

That is the right way to think. Because dipping alone will not do it. They need to be thoroughly inspected for eggs, and just in case you missed them, having them in QT and dipping every 7 days for 4 weeks, would eliminate the possibility.

The other question is: Does everyone in this hobby who plans on keeping acropora in their tanks have the money, time, and patience for a QT?

schooleyosis · Dec 17, 2012

Any updates on the QT setup? Curious how it's all going as I didn't get much time to talk to ya at the meeting.

I would love to run a QT and have a 20 long that would be perfect but the fact of having 2 tanks setup doesn't sound very appealing to me at this point in time. I'd love to have it setup full time with rock and everything in it and use it as a QT but not sure if I could convince the little lady of letting me do that. LOL

gmoney243 · Dec 17, 2012

if you dont QT its only a matter of time before your fish/corals bring in something that can wipe out all the others. just saying with all the time and money we spend on corals and our DT a small corner for a cheap tank isnt to much money or hassle considering the ammount of money you will loose later if you dont.

schooleyosis · Dec 17, 2012

Good point Mike. Guess I need to look into getting my 20 up and running.

Dowtish · Dec 19, 2012

schooleyosis said:
Any updates on the QT setup? Curious how it's all going as I didn't get much time to talk to ya at the meeting.

I would love to run a QT and have a 20 long that would be perfect but the fact of having 2 tanks setup doesn't sound very appealing to me at this point in time. I'd love to have it setup full time with rock and everything in it and use it as a QT but not sure if I could convince the little lady of letting me do that. LOL

All corals look pretty good. My dipping schedule is all screwed up though, because my mother was in town for the last 7 days for early xmas. My guest room is where the tank is, and the guest bathroom is where I do all my mixing of water and dipping. All of that was broken down and stored in the garage. So I will be setting everything back up tomorrow, and start dipping again. I think I am over the hump though. I will be surprised to find anything on the next round, because of the way the corals look. They have ZERO signs of worms at all. No bite marks, and good PE. But that doesnt mean that I wont continue the full 3 more weeks.

schooleyosis · Dec 20, 2012

Great news! That stinks that you had to break it all down and move it and now move it again. I think you really like the hassle don't you??? LOL Good luck! Only 3 more weeks and your DT will be back to "normal".

Dowtish · Dec 20, 2012

Just to be clear, the tank was not broken down. Just the mixing station and the area where i do all my dipping. That is a minor pain to break down, the frustration comes when you cant keep on your dipping schedule.

Typed from my phone, because I have nothing better to do.