New JBJ 45 build, almost a year!

[ralquist]

Got a wild hair and got 25ft of 3/8 tubing and ran a line through my living room out a window for a test to see 1) if it would still skim with that long of a run 2) will it increase my pH. Decided to do this on a 94 degree day, my ac hates me. Skimmer seemed to work but bubbles diminished. Let this run for about 5 hrs (dunno if this is enough time to tell) Started with a pH of 8.2, within an 30 min this had dropped to 8.1 and back down to 7.9 (like this tank normally does) when I disconnected it. I didn't get the results I was hopping for but was pretty impractical to begin with and now I know.
Next step was my alk trying to keep in the 8.5-9 range, decided to try dosing Kalk in addition to AFR (not mixed together) in the evening when pH starts to drop. Tank has been using more alk and up to 28ml of AFR daily. About 1/2 max dose for AFR but reason for kalk was the pH boost. If I can do this without sending my alk/cal through the roof its a win, if not I will just continue to increase my AFR dose and live with the pH.
I'm still learning all this but also seems the pH may possibly diminished by the carbon dosing also, I was at a pretty high dose to start 5-6ml. Now down to 2ml daily so maybe that will improve in the next week.

Happy Friday!!

 

[lil sumpin]

Happy Friday! Wow 94 already… I took my heater offline cus it’s been mostly 80s here. The ambient temp in the room my tank’s in is always 76-80. You noticing more evaporation?

 

[ralquist]

Happy Friday! Wow 94 already… I took my heater offline cus it’s been mostly 80s here. The ambient temp in the room my tank’s in is always 76-80. You noticing more evaporation?

Yea hot day hopefully not many of those! I keep my room temp at 74 so hasn't changed too much. Last weekend did a water change, new mixed water got about 80 so just turned off my tank heater after the change. Thought maybe with all the pumps running it would stay in the sweet spot, just happed to check later that night and tank temp was 75! So heater stays on for good in my situation!

 

[ralquist]

Itching for an eviction… ugh just needs to turn and give me the bird

 

[ralquist]

Going fishing!

 

[ralquist]

Little update, not much changed. Really been putting off moving my hammers, needs to be done soon. Uv bulb burned out already and need to clean my skimmer. Gunna be an all day project. Everything’s growing nicely for the most part. Did have to do a KFC dip on a torch, lost 1 head but the other seems to be doing better… always the most expensive ugh!

JB baby is just like momma!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Little update, not much changed. Really been putting off moving my hammers, needs to be done soon. Uv bulb burned out already and need to clean my skimmer. Gunna be an all day project. Everything’s growing nicely for the most part. Did have to do a KFC dip on a torch, lost 1 head but the other seems to be doing better… always the most expensive ugh!

JB baby is just like momma!

Your corals are looking great! Thanks for the update!

 

[dangles]

SO much to be jealous of there!

Your torches look great!

I especially love the zoa/RFA/candy cane garden!

 

[TheWB]

Little update, not much changed. Really been putting off moving my hammers, needs to be done soon. Uv bulb burned out already and need to clean my skimmer. Gunna be an all day project. Everything’s growing nicely for the most part. Did have to do a KFC dip on a torch, lost 1 head but the other seems to be doing better… always the most expensive ugh!

JB baby is just like momma!

Love those Torches and the branching Cyphastrea. Also digging the photography skills.

 

[ralquist]

Love those Torches and the branching Cyphastrea. Also digging the photography skills.

Thanks! Taking pictures is hard! I’m using an iPhone with orphic filter, very few come out like that it seems haha.

 

[TheWB]

Thanks! Taking pictures is hard! I’m using an iPhone with orphic filter, very few come out like that it seems haha.

Well, I’ve got an iPhone and a filter and mine don’t come out like that so I’m gonna go with you’ve got some photography skills.

 

[ralquist]

I’m using a 14 pro, I’ve had better luck switching the macro off and holding about 3-4in away from the glass.

Side note plate looks like it’s been roughed up.. I dunno but this bubble is new.

 

[ralquist]

Short update, still running good. In serious need of some TLC, some bubble algae, cyano, and bit of bryopsis. Have honestly missing the enjoyment, paired with a few bad experiences selling torches to an LFS and another killing coral I had there for sell….was enough to make me want to give it up. Just have to accept there are pretty crappy people out there.
Here’s where I am, still having good growth and color but far from thriving. Torches are on a frag rack, would like to get rid of them. I will update after I get this back where I want it hopefully sooner than later.

 

[dangles]

Man I love your branching cyphastea

 

[ralquist]

Man I love your branching cyphastea

Thanks man, the mushrooms moved almost over the top of it and did a number. Coming back finally but mushroom wins vs cyphastera!

 

[JdubC]

Short update, still running good. In serious need of some TLC, some bubble algae, cyano, and bit of bryopsis. Have honestly missing the enjoyment, paired with a few bad experiences selling torches to an LFS and another killing coral I had there for sell….was enough to make me want to give it up. Just have to accept there are pretty crappy people out there.
Here’s where I am, still having good growth and color but far from thriving. Torches are on a frag rack, would like to get rid of them. I will update after I get this back where I want it hopefully sooner than later.

Thanks for you honesty and openness around the struggles. As a newbie, this helps me remember that this hobby is full of ups and downs.

 

[smiley28]

So I was just looking for a thread that had a jbj 45 flatpack for inspiration and man this thread is amazing! I recently picked one up for a species specific tank and wasn’t thinking I’d do much with it but this thread has me thinking crazy thoughts..

 

[ralquist]

Thanks! Not quite as in detailed as I’d planned but it’s something lol. Happy to help if you’ve got any questions on what may or may not fit. Been through quite a few remodels in the back.

 

[ralquist]

Quick update, noticed my clown fish acting odd recently. Found they had laid eggs Friday 12/13! This was last night 12/17, you can now make out eyes!! Pretty neat but no plans on doing anything with them at this point, far from set up for something like that. Don't mind the bubble algae :oops:!

 

[SanFernandoValleyAIOReef]

Hey, I have the tunze 9004 also but it doesn’t work very well and makes a lot of micro bubbles, did you have the same problem