Smitten

[Acro_leaf]

Just wanted to say - I really enjoyed reading this tread, Loved the Clam shots and the overall aesthetic with the Reef Casa.

 

[Tahoe61]

Just wanted to say - I really enjoyed reading this tread, Loved the Clam shots and the overall aesthetic with the Reef Casa.

Thank you.

 

[Tahoe61]

IM 25 Lagoon corals and Yellow Damsels.

Transfered everything from the Pico and IM 14 Peninsula to the IM 25 Lagoon and the NEW IM 20 long.

All live cured rock and water, cycled socks and equipment transfered straight over.
Fish never even blinked, and the process took 2 hrs.

Down 2 tanks, but the Pico I do miss. Aww well.

 

[tripdad]

Nice! What zoa is that yellow and green one? They are pretty cool.

 

[Tahoe61]

Nice! What zoa is that yellow and green one? They are pretty cool.

Gatorade. As with the majority of Zoanthids my images don't truly capture their beauty.

 

[Tahoe61]

Xenia, Sarcophyton, Sinulara, two Gorgonian, Bam Bam Zoanthid.

And the Kraken Cyphastrea.

 

[Tahoe61]

I have never tried of Xenia. Knock on wood I keep it isolated, but the day is soon coming when I am going to have to cut it back.
It's memorizing to watch the polyps open and close. If the polyps stop pulsing then I know I need to investigate water chemistry. Xenia is the Canary of the aquarium.

 

[Project1004]

I don’t think Xenia is a good indication of your water chemistry. I’ve kept one for an half year and they do close up from time to time for no good reason. I use anemone as an indicator of my water chemistry.

 

[Tahoe61]

I don’t think Xenia is a good indication of your water chemistry. I’ve kept one for an half year and they do close up from time to time for no good reason. I use anemone as an indicator of my water chemistry.

If or when I dose AFR or add kalk to the top off the Xenia stops pulsing. It's always been my experience that Xenia are sensitive to changes in pH. My Duncan does the same thing.

I dose the tank with the hard corals and the soft coral tank is not dosed.


Picture of the (Kraken Contest) Cyphastrea, it's open. Everything I have read about Cyphastrea states low lighting placement and lower flow. I have never had Cyphastrea and have no clue what I am doing.

 

[tripdad]

Is the intent to get it to cover the sculpture? If so, that will look cool.

 

[Tahoe61]

Is the intent to get it to cover the sculpture? If so, that will look cool.

Yupper.

That's the contest by @Dust Bowl Corals. Cover the Kraken first get a $500.00 gift certificate.

I just retired so what the hay. I got nothing better to do than organizing my tank equipment and chemical closet.

 

[Project1004]

Picture of the (Kraken Contest) Cyphastrea, it's open. Everything I have read about Cyphastrea states low lighting placement and lower flow. I have never had Cyphastrea and have no clue what I am doing.

I'll give them low /med light with high flows. And if you seen it not looking good, move it to new spot right sooner than later. I never seen them do well in the spot where they start looking bad. Moving them to new spot seems to work the best and faster instead of waiting. Once encrusted, dont disturb it and it will take off in my experiences.

 

[Tahoe61]

I completely changed over to kalk in the ATO, alkalinity 8.5-8.9 constantly x 2 weeks. No more AFR for now. Calcium 440.

Some Acropora too green, trying some potassium.

Meridian 11 12 hrs.

Nitrates still 10-25. Phosphate uggggg, despite dosing N/P Plus and NeoPhos no detectable per Salifert. I am beginning to question the kit. Ammonium Bicarbonate , 2 ml/day. I am inclined to think the addition of N/P is contributing to the Acropora green coloration.

Currently TM A and K, Tropic Marine Salt. Kalk administration currently has shown more growth.

For 5 months some corals growth is pitiful.

 

[Tahoe61]

March 21st I noticed a slight cloudiness to the IM 20. By March 23 the tank was completely cloudy.

Decided to add Microbactor7 and add a nano skimmer. Today March 25th the tank is crystal clear.

I started this tank early March with all live rock, a portion of live sand, live filter media/socks from the IM 14. I used all the water as well. Absolutely no cycle.
Honestly I don't know if it was a bacterial bloom or algae bloom.
Got lucky the haze resolved quickly.

 

[Tahoe61]

Dang, I need a bigger tank. I really like the Dwarf Angels. This is my 4th Flame in about 20 yrs. I have always wanted another CB, or Lemon, Potters, Cherub.

 

[Tahoe61]

 

[Tahoe61]

More of the same but bigger.
Put the fans on the tank, summer southern Arizona ughhh. A gallon a day for the 25.

No skimmer, no UV. I am still dosing small amounts of Neophos. Continue with AFR, and I rotate coral foods.

Right now the tank is cruising but the pessimist in me says a bump in the road is right around the corner.

 

[Calmwaters]

Beautiful!

 

[Tahoe61]

Alk 7.8
Calcium 420-30.
Specific gravity 1.026
Temp 78 F

I stopped testing nitrate and phosphate a month ago, both always chronically low. Removed skimmer, reduced wc frequency. Socks for water polishing as needed.

Dose 1.5 ml/daily AFR manually. Red Sea Reef Energy twice a week with Reef Roids. I continue to dose small amounts of phosphate.

 

[Tahoe61]

I always keep a Fire Shrimp.

The Duncan was a Petco nub, it's growing 3 new polyps. Sps are cruising, it's great to see growth.

No skimmer.

I feed the corals every other day and still add sm. dose of Neophos.

Alk 7.8
Calcium 420
SG 1.026
Phos .04