Reefer 350 journey! Picture heavy!

[Denisk]

Awesome! I'm super glad to hear this! It sounds like we were in very similar situations. My alkalinity consumption was next to none during my dino outbreak and once I put the UV online, almost immediately I had to stop dosing such high amounts of KNO3/PO4 and start bringing my alk/cal dosing back online. It sounds like you're well on the way to reefing happiness again.

Yeah exactly the same thing here. Only thing is p04 continues to rise very slowly even though I’m no longer dosing no3 or po4. Hopefully it settle out soon. But thank you and hopefully your tank is back to normal by now.

 

[hockeyhead019]

Beautiful tank! What UV setup are you running out of curiosity?

 

[Denisk]

Beautiful tank! What UV setup are you running out of curiosity?

So I ended up getting a 13 watt sun sun uv sterilizer from Amazon. It was like 38 bucks and it’s fits right in the display where the problem was. I do however the 36 watt jebao uv sterilizer brand new in the box but it’s pretty big and didn’t want to hook it up. My 13 watt one got the job but maybe just a little slower than what a big up sterilizer can do.

 

[RUNVS]

Great Setup- I look forward to seeing this tank explode in growth. I have never battled Dinos or cyano (Luckily) But glad to hear you are on the right track!

 

[Denisk]

Great Setup- I look forward to seeing this tank explode in growth. I have never battled Dinos or cyano (Luckily) But glad to hear you are on the right track!

Thank you! I’m excited as well. Hopefully the Dino’s are in check and won’t come back.

 

[YHSublime]

Looking good brother.

So you recommend the light for the cheato? I'm considering a fuge for my new build.

 

[Denisk]

Looking good brother.

So you recommend the light for the cheato? I'm considering a fuge for my new build.

Thanks man! I still recommend the light for sure. I wouldn't recommend the H80 for a big refugium however for something 16x16 or less, I would. I did bring down the refugium since the dinos were outcompeting the chaeto. Also the way the reefer 350 sump is set up, I had no distinguished space for the refugium. Whenever I had the light on, it would eventually grow unwanted algae in the skimmer which then affected the skimmers performance.

But honestly as a light I think its a great! But definitely it all depends on your personal goals. The light and the oversized skimmer turned my n03 and p04 to undetectable. So if I ever put it back on my tank will try to turn the light intensity because I don't want it stripping my nutrients.

I know that answer was all over the place but I wanted to mention it all. That way some people can determine whether a refugium is necessary if you already have a oversized skimmer such as myself. (Its not like I'm not growing pods throughout the tank anyways)

I also hope all is well!

 

[Skep18]

Great looking tank!

 

[Denisk]

Big Update:

A lot has changed and I’m sorry I haven’t been posting much. 2017 has been quite the roller coaster due to losing my dad in December to cancer and this up and down battle with Dino in the Reef tank. However I wasn’t going to give up on this Reef.

Decided to get rid of the refugium and the vertex 180i. No more just listening to people saying get a refugium and get the biggest skimmer you can get. It was time to go back to the basics that got me to having such an incredible 50 gallon cube. Now all I have running is my plain old bubble magus curve 5 and I couldn’t be happier!

My tank has gone through the ringer due to the Dino’s. After using the cheap 13 watt UV, I think it stopped working as the Dino came back and came back even harder.

I decided to remove all the sand and attach the 36 watt jebao uv right to the display around the beginning of December. It started getting the job done immediately and I was completely Dino free within a week. However I didn’t want to push my luck and decided to keep it on until February 12th. Since then I still am running bare bottom and I have no Dino in sight.

Fingers crossed nothing returns.

If anyone is having trouble, please don’t hesitate to ask!

 

[Denisk]

Some growth pics I wanted to post up. These frags went into the tank on 09/17. Since then I’ve been battled dinoflagellates for 3 months and aquascape that has been changed. Otherwise parameters were always on point.

WWC Dirty Harry
09/17

2/18

Miyagi tort
09/17

2/18

PC Rainbow
09/17

09/18

Green Hairy Beast
09/17

02/18

I would love to hear what people think on the growth and colors!

 

[Denisk]

A couple zoa shots while I’m still in photography mode

 

[Denisk]

Little update:

So I just had knee surgery on my right knee last Friday. Glad the surgery went well and I’m already able to walk.

I realized I have an unconditional love for the hobby as I’m sure some of you do as well! But I really realized that love when I already had one person stop by just to pick up a frag a day after and when I was willing to drive 1 hour just 3 days after surgery to pick up new frags!

Maybe I’m crazy or maybe it was actually just therapeutic ?!?!

Here’s what I picked up yesterday :

From left to right!

Jason fox flame

RR Wolverine

Walt Disney

Pikachu

Sunset milli

Strawberry shortcake

Cali tort

Sarmentosa

Purple Slimer

All photos are unfiltered/raw.

 

[FredsNJReef]

Wow!! Looks amazing.

Sorry to hear about your dad. My condolences there my friend.

These tanks serve many purposes, and healing is one of them. battling your Dinos took your mind off of other thoughts I am sure.

Glad to see you kicked their butt so far.

Also, that JF Flame looks killer. And what is that red wrasse? It looked like a little grouper for a second lol. I love it!

 

[Fishfinder]

How are you getting that great growth?

 

[Denisk]

Wow!! Looks amazing.

Sorry to hear about your dad. My condolences there my friend.

These tanks serve many purposes, and healing is one of them. battling your Dinos took your mind off of other thoughts I am sure.

Glad to see you kicked their butt so far.

Also, that JF Flame looks killer. And what is that red wrasse? It looked like a little grouper for a second lol. I love it!

I truly appreciate the kind words about my dad! It wasn’t the easiest of years but I’m glad things are getting better with time.

I would definitely agree that Reef tanks can heal a person. However in this case, it was tough! Dino and dealing with my dads health/loss made me feel like I didn’t have a single good place to turn to. But I truly thank my wife and everyone on the forum for telling me not to give up on the Dino. Thank goodness I didn’t! Now I’m in an incredible place with life and just the tank brings pure happiness when I look at it.

Life gets better and I’m truly blessed!

The JFF is truly beautiful in person. I was in shock when I placed it in my tank.

So the red wrasse was a McCosker's Flasher Wrasse. I say was because one day I was stearing at the tank and the fish almost had a stroke/heartattack. It almost looked like it got electrocuted and sporadically started swimming everywhere. Literally within seconds it was dead however it was healthy and with me for many months. Weirdest thing I have ever seen.

 

[Denisk]

How are you getting that great growth?

Hmm... I was worried my growth isn’t where I want it to be. But I really do appreciate the compliment!

I try to keep my parameters really stable. I had a lot of issues in the very beginning especially when dealing with the Dino. Only lost one sps but a lot were fully affected. But anything I do now, I take very slow.

If you have any specific questions, don’t hesitate to ask. I’m happy to help!

 

[Fishfinder]

Hmm... I was worried my growth isn’t where I want it to be. But I really do appreciate the compliment!

I try to keep my parameters really stable. I had a lot of issues in the very beginning especially when dealing with the Dino. Only lost one sps but a lot were fully affected. But anything I do now, I take very slow.

If you have any specific questions, don’t hesitate to ask. I’m happy to help!

I have a ton of questions!!! Serious though for 4-5 months I think that is great.

 

[Denisk]

I have a ton of questions!!! Serious though for 4-5 months I think that is great.

Bring them on

 

[1WildBill]

Beautiful tank.

 

[Streetdoc77]

Your scape looks great !