Take 3: The 120 gallon journey

[pdiehm]

Oh, this made my morning. I was dying laughing on the train. Thanks!

Yeah. Glad I could make your morning. I had both ends plugged into the eb8. Amazingly once I removed one and plugged into the brain the green light appeared. Just amazing

 

[pdiehm]

So we are pretty close to starter sps. Have coralline all over the pumps, none on the rocks that I can see but it’s obvious that it’s growing.

Just tested. 1.025/8.1 pH/8.5 dKh/430 calcium/1360 magnesium/nitrates are well below 1 per NYOS (going to test with RS Pro).

 

[pdiehm]

Nitrates are 0 per RS Pro.

I will resume feeding every day as I moved to 3x a week because they were over 10ppm (which isn’t awful but for a new tank I think it’s a bit high).

 

[pdiehm]

First coral added. Green Slimer.

Also added 3 rainbow anemones.

 

[pdiehm]

just put an order with @BoomCorals.

Bunch of easy, starter types. Purple Styloe, Neon Pocillipora, Pink Birdsnest, Green, Purple and Orange Digitata's (Plan is to have them 3 within close proximity of each other).

 

[pdiehm]

Corals are in. Purple Stylo, Pink Birdsnest, Green, Purple and Forest Fire Digitata. sitting on the frag rack in the tank and away we go.

 

[Jeight]

I have worked in the trades all my life..for the love of god do yourself a favor and spend a couple bucks on some stainless breeze clamps and loose the cable ties on your pump fitting...if something goes wonky ( and it always does) those cable ties have no real holding power

 

[pdiehm]

Pink Birdsnest:

Purple Digitata:

Green Slimer:

Purple Stylophora:

Forest Fire Digitata:

Green Digitata:

 

[pdiehm]

We have growth, noticeable limbs growing on the Birdsnest.

 

[.ReefPlague.]

I have a similar sized tank to you and are looking to get an ATI fixture how is it. Also what bulb combination do you run for your SPS

 

[pdiehm]

The bottom of this piece was laying in the frag rack for 15 hours or so with no flow, the area was bright white the next morning. I cut it, and glued the dead spot on the rock. Looks like it’s doing good!

As a whole I am seeing signs of growth, the house is being renovated so water changes are not as frequent as they should be.

 

[pdiehm]

I have a similar sized tank to you and are looking to get an ATI fixture how is it. Also what bulb combination do you run for your SPS

I love the fixture. One less user error variable. On off, right spectrum.

My bulb combination is 4 blue plus, 1 actinic and 1 purple plus though I am seriously contemplating replacing that with another blue plus.

 

[pdiehm]

Corals are ready to be mounted to the rocks. I just need to figure out how to use glue to get them onto the rocks. Last time I tried (a while ago), the glue went all over and a film was on the surface, so I did something wrong.

All the corals are doing fantastic.

 

[pdiehm]

Mother’s Day growth.

Some have grown. One has not but it’s extremely puffy.

Birdsnest

Purple Digitata

Green Slimer

Forest Fire Digitata

Green Digitata

 

[Hella_Reef]

Corals look happy, as for the cloud of glue, it just happens, hit or miss.

 

[pdiehm]

Growth, side by side

 

[pdiehm]

so it looks like the Green Slimer has encrusted on the frag rack over the frag plug. I think when I go to pop this off, I may have a permanent frag grower.

 

[Jon Fishman]

I didn’t read so I apologize, but bare bottom again?

 

[pdiehm]

I didn’t read so I apologize, but bare bottom again?

Yes

 

[pdiehm]

Trying something. Made a full bag of IO, into 44g of RODI. 1.026. Was 11.2 dkh, 380 calcium, 1240 mag.

Added 330ml of CaCl to bring to 450ppm
Added 220ml of Magnesium Solution to bring to 1300

I figure alkalinity will fall then I will lower that with some Muriatic acid to bring to 8.5 dKh and aerate for 24-36 hours with an air stone.

Then I should have 44 gallons of perfect reef water