Randy's Tank and Learn Thread

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Added a Blood Simple leptoseris coral to the tsa order (not wysiwyg) for $24.

 

[rtparty]

I just got 6 SPS frags from TSA yesterday and it’s some of the best packaging I’ve ever seen. Frags came in healthy and opened right up

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I just got 6 SPS frags from TSA yesterday and it’s some of the best packaging I’ve ever seen. Frags came in healthy and opened right up

Good to know!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I just ordered a Koji wada nephthea from Reef2Reef member Thunderstruck34, coming Wednesday.

Going to be an exciting week with sponges, macroalgae and a sea fan from gulf coast ecosystems, various corals and trochus snails from Top Shelf, and the Koji wada. :)

 

[rishma]

I just ordered a Koji wada nephthea from Reef2Reef member Thunderstruck34, coming Wednesday.

Going to be an exciting week with sponges, macroalgae and a sea fan from gulf coast ecosystems, various corals and trochus snails from Top Shelf, and the Koji wada. :)

I’ve been interested in the Koji wada but never pulled the trigger, looking forward to your impressions under full spectrum

 

[dwest]

What do people think of trochus snails? I’m considering adding a few onto my tsa order.

They are one of my favorites.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

They are one of my favorites.

Good. I’ve got some coming. :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Coral Acclimation

I have read many different philosophies on dipping corals before adding to the tank. I never dipped anything in the past (or so far on this tank), but I’m not averse to doing so if it’s a net benefit.

Do folks think I should dip the incoming hard corals from Top Shelf before going in the tank? Anyone have a good KCl dip recipe?

I assume dipping the Koji Wada is not advised?

I don’t plan any treatment of the incoming sponges, macroalgae and sea fan that were ocean harvested.

 

[X-37B]

Coral Acclimation

I have read many different philosophies on dipping corals before adding to the tank. I never dipped anything in the past (or so far on this tank), but I’m not averse to doing so if it’s a net benefit.

Do folks think I should dip the incoming hard corals from Top Shelf before going in the tank? Anyone have a good KCl dip recipe?

I assume dipping the Koji Wada is not advised?

I don’t plan any treatment of the incoming sponges, macroalgae and sea fan that were ocean harvested.

3 grams per liter KCL for 5 minutes is what I use.

 

[spsick]

^ that is good advice. I cut everything off of plugs and inspect as well. The struggle with that is, in a new tank you lose all of that biodiversity you bring in.

 

[X-37B]

^ that is good advice. I cut everything off of plugs and inspect as well. The struggle with that is, in a new tank you lose all of that biodiversity you bring in.

There is not much biodiversity comming off of frag plugs, imo. Something you don't need to worry about if you start with live rock.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Gulf Coast Ecosystems

I’m a little concerned about my order. I placed the order before 8 AM on Thursday.

I ordered only listed in stock items (which is all they let you put in a cart anyway) and checked out. Paid by PayPal (the only way, I think), and got a paid confirmation from PayPal.

But I’ve received nothing from the company, and have not heard back from an email sent yesterday. Granted it’s the weekend, but I’d expect some company communication.

Anyone order from them and get a company confirmation?

I’ll try calling tomorrow morning. My window to accept a shipment is not unlimited.

 

[REEFRIED!]

Randy, I would definitely dip all incoming corals. KCI dip is great. 2TBS per gallon for 7-10 minutes. Also coral RX or revive is decent, especially on LPS or softies.

I don’t cut them off the plugs. Some people do. If I ever saw any eggs on the plugs I would probably just toss the coral, and whatever else came in with that order.

 

[Subsea]

Gulf Coast Ecosystems

I’m a little concerned about my order. I placed the order before 8 AM on Thursday.

I ordered only listed in stock items (which is all they let you put in a cart anyway) and checked out. Paid by PayPal (the only way, I think), and got a paid confirmation from PayPal.

But I’ve received nothing from the company, and have not heard back from an email sent yesterday. Granted it’s the weekend, but I’d expect some company communication.

Anyone order from them and get a company confirmation?

I’ll try calling tomorrow morning. My window to accept a shipment is not unlimited.

GCE ships Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday. I get an email with tracking number when item ships.

Randy,
There are two people & a dog in the whole company and Russ is trying to sell the company.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

GCE ships Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday. I get an email with tracking number when item ships.

Randy,
There are two people & a dog in the whole company and Russ is trying to sell the company.

Ok, thanks. I figured those were the shipping days based on 2 day air.

He needs to train the dog to answer emails. lol

 

[Subsea]

Ok, thanks. I figured those were the shipping days based on 2 day air.

He needs to train the dog to answer emails. lol

Try texting Russ at 941-225-9465

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Try texting Russ at 941-225-9465

Thanks. Before I tried that, PayPal sent me an alert that the order shipped. So all is good. :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Livestock Update

All fish (yellow tang, 3 green chromis and mandarin) seem to be doing fine. My wife says the little mandarin is larger now. Tang is nicely yellow. Looks just as I remember the wild one I had years ago.

All corals also seem good, with no apparent issues.

I expect that with the existing large milka stylophora and the two SPS frags (WWC Slimeball anacropora and either Bubblegum or Forest Fire digitata) , and a bunch more hard corals coming Wednesday from TSA (ORA cherry Red goniopora, oregon blue tort, TSA blood red leptoseris, Red sentosa montipora), alk demand is going to tick up and at some point soon I'll start AFR.

I haven't measured alk yet, but will later today. Reef2Reef member exnisstech gave me a BRS 1.1 ml per min doser and timer that he was not using (Thanks, exnisstech!). I'll set it up to begin dosing AFR when needed.

On the down side, there's a too much brownish algae growing on some of the rocks. Probably diatoms from the silicate and nutrient dosing to beat back the possible dinos, although I did not try to identify it. The TSA order has 7 trochus snails in it that may help with that. I also have a bunch of macroalgae coming in the Gulf Coast Ecosystems order to beef up the refugium. Ulva is one of them, which I will also hope to use to feed the tang after it grows out in the refugium.
FWIW, the refugium has a thin layer of green algae growing on the egg crate, and thats where the new macro will help fill up. No sign of the dino-type stuff there now, which is where it was bad before.

Tank lights have been raised to 39% intensity all channels.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Is the brown algae on dry rock or live rock? I can't remember what you ended up putting in.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Is the brown algae on dry rock or live rock? I can't remember what you ended up putting in.

Everything in the display is TBS live rock. :)