Randy's Tank and Learn Thread

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Looks great - love the sponges. Mantis is very cool. I’d be tempted to keep it.

Thanks!

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Just saw a peppermint shrimp. Have not seen them for a long time. They came from TBS in the initial shipments.

Mine disappeared about a month ago. He was always tank front center, then nothing. I assumed it fell victim to one of my red morph Emerald crabs, but this gives new hope!

 

[bureau13]

Mine disappeared about a month ago. He was always tank front center, then nothing. I assumed it fell victim to one of my red morph Emerald crabs, but this gives new hope!

I had three but they vanished a while back and I was sure something took them out, but my kid was looking at the tank at night and found two of them. I guess they just got shy during the day.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I saw that shrimp again yesterday. I wonder if something else took over it’s preferred daytime hangout.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

I saw that shrimp again yesterday. I wonder if something else took over it’s preferred daytime hangout.

I think mine may have moved because during a cyano outbreak, I directed a new powerhead right down the channel he used to hang out in. He disappeared around that time. The confusing part is that he always came out at feeding time and now I never see him. I just sit and wait and hope. Life on the reef.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Tank Update

I am very happy with how the TS k is looking and the systems are functioning. It’s about time to start switching over to summer protocols, with the fan taking air out of the 4 Brute dumps exhausted outside instead of into the basement, for the cooling water system to be turned on, and one of the three heaters removed.

Pics from today;

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Tank Update

I am very happy with how the TS k is looking and the systems are functioning. It’s about time to start switching over to summer protocols, with the fan taking air out of the 4 Brute dumps exhausted outside instead of into the basement, for the cooling water system to be turned on, and one of the three heaters removed.

Pics from today;

I love the white lights so you can see the yellows and reds!

 

[reefmadness]

Yes, actual trash cans. All of these were used in my previous setup, so are old.

The sump/refugium setup is

Can 1. Water from tank enters here, so does diversion from the return pump, if needed. Excess rock, one 32 w led for macroalgae, and vinegar dosing if I need it. AWC removes from here.

Can 2. Skimmer, water cooled plastic tubing coil for cooling (more on that later). Temp sensor for cooling system.

Can 3, refugium with 3x32 w led, rock on bottom, AWC enters here or can 4.

Can 4. Return pump. Cold foods fed here. Heaters. pH meter. Temp sensor for heating controller. ATO measured and added here.

I love the forethought put into this!

 

[dwest]

Tank Update

I am very happy with how the TS k is looking and the systems are functioning. It’s about time to start switching over to summer protocols, with the fan taking air out of the 4 Brute dumps exhausted outside instead of into the basement, for the cooling water system to be turned on, and one of the three heaters removed.

Pics from today;

The tank looks great! It’s almost like you know what you are doing

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The tank looks great! It’s almost like you know what you are doing

Almost. luckily there are lots of helpers in this thread. :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Red Tree Sponge Update

Remember my first red tree sponge withered away after initially growing a bit. Perhaps the dinos caused it problems.


The second one I added on April 23, 43 days ago. It looks to me as if it may be growing, but the texture looks very different. Maybe good, maybe bad.

The first picture is from when it was added and the next two are from today. Note that it is rotated 180 degrees.

Any thoughts?

 

[BeanAnimal]

It appears to be filling in, so I would assume growth.

Example look at lower alien thumb area of top right photo. The gap is certainly smaller between the thumb and main body in the newer photos.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Any thoughts?

None that will help answer your question, but my thought was, "Wow! What a great way to add some bright red to a tank begging for more red!" Gorgeous! Good luck with it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It appears to be filling in, so I would assume growth.

Example look at lower alien thumb area of top right photo. The gap is certainly smaller between the thumb and main body in the newer photos.

Thanks. Thanks the sort of thought I was having as well.

 

[Dan_P]

Red Tree Sponge Update

Remember my first red tree sponge withered away after initially growing a bit. Perhaps the dinos caused it problems.


The second one I added on April 23, 43 days ago. It looks to me as if it may be growing, but the texture looks very different. Maybe good, maybe bad.

The first picture is from when it was added and the next two are from today. Note that it is rotated 180 degrees.

Any thoughts?

High water flow maybe is reshaping the sponge as it grows. The fingers are vulnerable structures so they are thickening to add strength. In time it might be more a tall blob-like structure.

Your reef is beautiful.

 

[Subsea]

Red Tree Sponge Update

Remember my first red tree sponge withered away after initially growing a bit. Perhaps the dinos caused it problems.


The second one I added on April 23, 43 days ago. It looks to me as if it may be growing, but the texture looks very different. Maybe good, maybe bad.

The first picture is from when it was added and the next two are from today. Note that it is rotated 180 degrees.

Any thoughts?

Very nice. And very red. Your white light highlights the reds, yellows and blue.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Very nice. And very red. Your white light highlights the reds, yellows and blue.

Thanks. I agree the white light really pops colors that are muted with the deep water blue look.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Cyano Update

I’ve been very pleasantly surprised how little cyano has reappeared since the antibiotic treatment. I cannot see any.

I thought I was seeing a bunch on the glass after being away for a while. But with a razor blade scraper it was hard to get it up, and after removing some of it, the edges are still sharp a few days later. It appears to be a more red coralline than the pink/purple I have in most places.

These are the pics of it. In the first pic you can see some patches of the normal type of coralline I have.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Maybe cyano over film agae? Doesn't look like coralline but maybe it is, you have a lot on the rocks.

Microscope?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Maybe cyano over film agae? Doesn't look like coralline but maybe it is, you have a lot on the rocks.

Microscope?

No scope.

I hope whatever it is doesn’t spread too much.

I would have expected cyano to come off more easily with a razor blade, and at lead the cyano I had before would not hold a sharp edge for days without expanding.