Pickupman66's 180 GC build

[Dave3112]

Dave, I'm actually headed up that way tomorrow and trading some stuff with Lindsey. Want me to swap anything for you?

Thanks for the offer, but my tank is over loaded!! You saw it the other day, I can't fit anything else in there! Guess its time for another tank.... LOL

 

[pickupman66]

WOW. so no updates since late JULY??? well, here is two months later.


The tank is churning along. while I still have some cyano issues, I feel they are waning as it grows very slow and dark. removing it takes two weeks to return. Diamond goby dies so the sand is not being stirred. hence the bit of green on it. otherwise, its not bad and I am happy with the tank. here are some coral shots and a FTS.

From the left end

Right end

Acans

This is a new addition that has been in the tank since saturday.

WOW, this thing has gotten huge. I think I need to cut it back a bit.

 

[swannyson7]

Everything seems to be filling in nicely. Keep up the good work! 1smile1

 

[pickupman66]

So while taking these photos, I noticed some strange things on the corals. one that stood out was Polyp extension on some of the Acros. another was the tell tale bite marks of AEFW. yes I said the bad word. well.. Um... yea. I got the worms. I also thought I saw a few red bugs, but on dip I am not sure yet. I ahve a pair of wrasses that I had hoped would pick anything off that managed to get past a Coral RX pro dip, but im afraid that didnt happen. I dip EVERY coral that goes into my tank. Zoas, LPS, and especially SPS. I am very diligent about it. but, I guess some worms were not removed. I even blast the corals with a baster in the dip to make sure all are gone'ers. AAAGGGHHH... SO, now *** do I do. Treat the tank? dip the corals? well. I am going to do both. First I went to teh garage and saw that I did indeed have a bottle of Bayer home insect killer. The exact stuff found in the threads about it. Ok. .5ml per 2 cups water. Ok. dim for at least 10 mins. Ok. so here we go. Pulled the tricolor. it looks the worst and should be easy to pull as its no longer encrusted. Dip started. WOW, look at the size of those two worms. BAYER KILLED THEM! Quickly I might add. I again usee the baster to blow the coral fairly hard to make sure none are clinging. it sits for to mins.

Also dipped two others that were easy to remove.
The Grape sherbert and another acro that I think is a valida. maybe. it was the worst. The white blotches in the image above and below are the bite marks. VERY OBVIOUS

here are some out of water photos.

this one is in a bit better shape. still got a worm off it.

 

[skinz78]

Looking real good!

 

[pickupman66]

SO.. we are dipping all Acros in Bayer. some of them I will be forced to remove the whole rock and dip it. thats ok with me. what has to be done. I have also ordered Zeovit Flatworm treatment. It does not kill the worms, but it strenthens the acro immune against them. it is in tank, and invert safe. it will be here tuesday I hope.

 

[swannyson7]

Sorry to hear about the pests. :sad: Best of luck eradicating them.

 

[pickupman66]

OK. HAPPY HAPPY PRETTY PRETTY time again. Top down shots. these are ok. I still had a bit of water movement with the sump on but everything else was off except my naso who kept making ripples.


The Zoa garden. good perspective of its size.

one of my favorites. Look at that tiny pretty one near the top. its hidden

 

[cdrewferd]

Very nice. The top down pics came out great.

 

[pickupman66]

New friend today.

Ate at the store. Ate cyclopeze just a few mins ago. The little guy is in a home made acclimation chamber for a day or so to make sure nobody else is upset at his presence. So far so good. In very good health but a little thin.

Funny without the acclimation tank, hell breaks loose. With it, nobody pays a lick of attention.
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[revsgirl]

Looks great!

 

[pickupman66]

He was let out just a few mins ago. I'd say it was 36 hours. Nobody in the tank paid attention so i felt it was safe. Lil guy has been free for 30mins now and ate really good on frozen mysys and rods food. He is now scouring the rocks looking for treats. Very active lil fish. My angel gave him some dirty looks and the clowns cowered in their corner. Other than that, no other reactions.

Clowns cowering. The little male was truly frightened. Momma had to come protect. No aggression and I didn't see eggs.

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[ReefDVMs]

I just spent the last few hours going through this thread, pretty cool all the work you have done and the successes you have achieved. I will keep following.

 

[pickupman66]

Thanks man. I appreciate it. Its been a long road.

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[pickupman66]

Sadly, the little guy didnt make it. something happened in the night that really messed him up. he was completely scared out of his mind for the next few days and died within 4 days of release. BOO HOO. anyways, I bucked up and decided to order from Liveaquaria.com. Ordered a larger one and he has come in PERFECT. he arrived on Friday afternoon. My lovely wife did all the acclimation for him and did a WONDERFUL job. we have witnessed him eat from frozen added to the tank. My Atlantic blue has been a bit of a bully, but I added a mirror to he opposite end of the tank and as of today...

Wife took this pic this morning. they are finally getting along. what you dont see here is the mirror on teh glass that they are both taking turns now getting upset at. Vain little fish.

 

[orthokardia]

you got all the tricks!

 

[pickupman66]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YaFlO9W0pU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Noob!

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[schooleyosis]

Just found this thread. What a great looking tank. I only skimmed a few pages but looks like you have turned your tank around to be quite a success. Hope to meet ya soon at one of the meetings.

 

[pickupman66]

We also did some changes in the fish room this last month. We pulled up all the carpet:

And put down hardwood to match the living room and entryway.

here it is all finished.

we just did the wood around the tank and then I added a 1x6 at the bottom that looks like the top of the stand then the quarter-round. Looks like it is finished! The stand is set on a 1" foam mat which is on the carpet and pad.

 

[pickupman66]

now here is a FTS and some coral shots.