Returning with a 90 mixed reef build

Airforceaquariu

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Evening!

I'm rejoining the hobby after about 5 years out due to a high tempo at work and several moves. I kept an undrilled 65 as my first reef and it was a real hodge podge of equipment and provided my lots of learning. I made plenty of mistakes, fought algae and pest inverts, learned a tremendous amount, and vowed I'd be back when I had to break the tank down.

My current 90 build was bought off a reefer breaking down his tank and came with a stand, hood, sump, ato, and plumbing. I've added in an apex A3, RO/DI system, and an mp10+mp40 for flow as well as to xr15 G5s on a diy hanger from the hood. I have a dos which I'll be setting up for an awc system from my brute to my tank and tank out side of the house.
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Current stocking is a pair of black lightning clowns from clownfish corral (great and caring seller) and on the way is a Midas blenny and an exquisite firefish. Taking it slow for now. I have also added a few frags from my LFS (ricordea, forgspawn, toadstool, warcoral, and a Stylo).

As an engineer I love the projects and I have always loved animals and the ocean. Glad to be active in the hobby again and will try to be more active here as I was on reef central years ago.

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Mike
 
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Airforceaquariu

Airforceaquariu

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Added a new exquisite firefish and Midas blenny to the DT today. Both are happy and healthy. Using the Mobius acclimation period to help them settle, but both are eating and already out and about.

I can't imagine a tank without a Midas blenny, like having a puppy in the tank! Firefish is a first but love the fin flick and seems very active and enjoys exploring the sand bed and bottom 3-4 inches so far.
 

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Airforceaquariu

Airforceaquariu

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Considering future stocking as things continue to settle down I plan for a smaller tang (scopas or maybe a sailfin especially if I have a comfortable place to rehome), anthias (lyretail most likely), a flasher and/or fairy wrasse, and eventually a mandarin once my pod population is stable.

I am also open to good suggestions for a 90!
 
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Airforceaquariu

Airforceaquariu

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I love the rock work. Can you post a picture with the lights on? The feature on the right is spot on.
Thanks! I'd love to say I made it, but I purchased that feature as a single piece. LifeRock tree I believe? Wanted to balance some swim space with some NSA style. I may add another arch on the left of I run low on coral space or fish open space.

Here's a pic at my daily max, not super bright. 2x XR15 at about 40% right now.
 

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Airforceaquariu

Airforceaquariu

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Well a lot of changes in the last few weeks. Took my first trip letting the tank run on its own for 3 days and all went well. Some dirty glass and a bit of cyano, but it's also about right for the 'uglies' . Overall not so intrusive and simple. I plan to run a 1/2 dose of chemipire elite to help maintain nutrients and tank some yellow color from the water. Nitrates are only about 2ppm and I'm still doing bi weekly 5gallon water changes and every 3rd as a 10 gallon.

Next major project is the auto water change via a dos. Need to run some cable channel for the airline tubing across the basement ceiling and out the conduit in the basement wall that the sump goes out. I'll post how it goes

In bad news, I did introduce a pest. A nudibrach egg must have made it through my dip and scrub so my lone stick has a lone slug on it. Luckily I'm not wedded to sticks and it's the only frag I have so I plan to clean it off, dip regularly, replace the plug, and not add more sticks until it seems to be settled. It has grown quite fast in just 2.5 weeks adding that whole second branch.

Cheers!

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Airforceaquariu

Airforceaquariu

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Well I've solved my nudibrach problem (by pulling my one and only stick) and have had no sign of the pests for 2 weeks on any other coral. I'll avoid sticks the rest of the year to let them starve out.

Unfortunately I did have another loss. I added lyretail anthias which are lovely. A huge thanks to Adam @oceandevotion for helping stand oth timing shipping and healthy fish! Unfortunately one seems to have been injured her second night in the tank. No sign of disease (which with Adams through QT process is as expected) but went downhill and seems to have an open wound that did her in. No predators or over aggression that I saw but an unfortunate turn. All the rest seem healthy.

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SaltyT

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Well I've solved my nudibrach problem (by pulling my one and only stick) and have had no sign of the pests for 2 weeks on any other coral. I'll avoid sticks the rest of the year to let them starve out.

Unfortunately I did have another loss. I added lyretail anthias which are lovely. A huge thanks to Adam @oceandevotion for helping stand oth timing shipping and healthy fish! Unfortunately one seems to have been injured her second night in the tank. No sign of disease (which with Adams through QT process is as expected) but went downhill and seems to have an open wound that did her in. No predators or over aggression that I saw but an unfortunate turn. All the rest seem healthy.
Sorry about the loss. Anthias are susceptible to uronema which is tough to treat and can slip through QT processes. Based on the photo I believe your anthias died from this. Check out this article, it has good info on uronema:

 
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Airforceaquariu

Airforceaquariu

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Sorry about the loss. Anthias are susceptible to uronema which is tough to treat and can slip through QT processes. Based on the photo I believe your anthias died from this. Check out this article, it has good info on uronema:

Upon a bit more research it would seem you are right. I will be working on the plan forward, but for now it will be to monitor and research more on humblefish. Any advice is welcome here, I know there are a lot of opinions but some personal experience is welcome from anyone in this case. I have seen there are some reef safe management strategies and likely nothing 100% foolproof.
 

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Upon a bit more research it would seem you are right. I will be working on the plan forward, but for now it will be to monitor and research more on humblefish. Any advice is welcome here, I know there are a lot of opinions but some personal experience is welcome from anyone in this case. I have seen there are some reef safe management strategies and likely nothing 100% foolproof.
Uronema sucks. I’ve dealt with it myself with chromis. Some will disagree, but I did manage to save one of my chromis that looked to have a sore starting using humble’s old trifecta method - metro, furan 2 and kanaplex. It’s a shame furan 2 is no longer available. He’s updated his uronema recommendations since I‘ve dealt with it, I don’t think you can go wrong trying what he says.
 
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Airforceaquariu

Airforceaquariu

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Well, the holidays have me reflecting and I realized I only ever post about problems! Despite the Uro and the nudi's I have been relatively successful in the first 6 months back in the hobby! I have a thriving tank with several fish and corals all growing and eating healthily.

Current Stock: Midas Blenny, 2x Lyretail Anthias(one is starting to transition), 1x Exquisite Firefish, 2 by 'Blue Ice' Clownfish (bonded pair) from clownfish corral!, and 1x BTA for non-coral // Coral 2x Branching Hammers (1 growing tons of new heads....at least 4), 1x ricordea, garden of zoas, toadstool, 1 by mintyfresh (my name) candy cane, a lovely acan that has about 7 new heads growing, and a warcoral that is coloring back up after being a little low.

I have gotten my alkalinity and calc very stable using all for reef dosing, I am finalizing my auto water change system to help with low physical maitenance, and I have a large ppod population, a bit of chaeto growing nicely (niotrates read near zero as do phosphates), and ...well, I just wanted to brag a bit in to the void!

Pictures for fun (I spring for some fancy orphek cellphone filters):

Happy New Year to all, and I hope you all still love the hobby like I do!
 

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