Urgh seriously.

[norfolkgarden]

What was the source of the top off salt water?
Had it been sitting around for a while?
Is there anything that could have fallen into it?

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

I’m agreeing with most that when I started to dose the Red Sea it kicked started a bacterial bloom. Which will make
My water cloudy, and all my critters were accounted for, the sps polyps were out. Only mad ones were my anemonies and leather corals. I have considered running a canister filter separate with just carbon in it. Now I have had about a 100 say yes good idea and the same say heck no that’s dumb.
Lol yet nobody tells me why. I’m just thinking of it one to help with the cloudy and if my corals release a toxin this will take it out so nothing else goes south.

I’m definitely going to do something even if I have to hire my lfs to do my maintenance for me. I love doing it and have time when I work just my three 24 hour shifts. It’s when the goobers ask me to cover for 12 hour shifts also so now I’m at plus 100 hour work week. Of course I say yes and now they ask nobody but me. I haven’t had much of a life from 15-25 lol by the looks of it I may not have one from 25-65 which is not okay with me.

 

[Bronc]

Hello friends,

For those of you who play Pokémon go depending the time zone you get to get the legendary zap something. As some of my friends want me to go, it will be the first time I have been to more than one gym in a day, or hour for that sake. But good luck in finding the special one (which ever that is). Apparently it’s a big thing here in Boise :).

I’ve just started playing - my daughter convinced me. Add me as a friend: 2645 3614 5836

 

[Brew12]

I have considered running a canister filter separate with just carbon in it. Now I have had about a 100 say yes good idea and the same say heck no that’s dumb

I believe Reefers have a natural aversion to canister filters. If you only run carbon in it, call it a reactor. That is what reefers call canister filters with only carbon or GFO in it. ;)

I’m definitely going to do something even if I have to hire my lfs to do my maintenance for me.

Automation can be your friend! Have you looked into getting a GHL Profilux or Neptune Apex controller?

 

[Sarah24!]

Lol @Bronc i will add you give me a second to do so:). We can become ultra and best friends lol.

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

So after turning down my return pumps and increasing my upper wave makers to stream and lower ones to wave my tank is no longer cloudy. As some may have suspected as well as I have I’m probably having a bacterial bloom.

I am definitely holding off on adding any additives or reducers and just staying with water changes for now. The tank should stabilize on its own. I’m thinking two 40 gallon water changes a week for like three weeks should help. What’s also different is I woke up Saturday morning with my tank normal came home to a very upset tank, cyano starting and three sps going to the death yard. Now I have no cyano (just changed flow, reduced lights and skipped a day of feeding And yes my fish are so mad at me). Every time I walk by the tank they are feed us feed us oh come on feed us already are we are jumping outta here.

As much as a research but that I am, I should have researched alpha more. Clearly it’s more of an expensive prime which could have led me to the cyano bloom and bacterial bloom. It clearly states ammonia, nitrates and nitrites reduced and clearly it doesn’t do all that it says lol. Maybe trusting the lfs too much isn’t such a great idea. But thankfully my tank hasn’t crashed but I sure thought it was going to.

I’m still only running an 8 hour light schedule which I think is helping as well. Plus the skimmer is definitely turning out some well nasty gunk. As Shrek has always said “better out than in” :)

 

[NY_Caveman]

I love doing it and have time when I work just my three 24 hour shifts. It’s when the goobers ask me to cover for 12 hour shifts also so now I’m at plus 100 hour work week.

Do not let those Dr.s take advantage of your good nature so they can have more free time in the summer.

 

[Fin]

Nothing wrong with using a canister filter for what you want to do. You could also just get a reactor, hook it up to a Maxi-Jet 1200 and set it in your sump. A little easier than dealing with a canister.

x2 to Brew's suggestion of considering a controller for some automation.

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello dear friends,

So finally home again from work and have to go back in 12 hours Urgh. But first thing, how is everyone one and for those who have super hot temps please please hydrate and (NO SODA guys and girls) it’s soooooo bad when it is hot out. Lots of water and gosh just carry some cold water with you. So many people coming where the heat has just cooked them.

So moving on lol, well after three days of working with my tank as much as possible updates. So the Red Sea no3 stuff well it works and pretty darn fast. I’m certain you have to do it daily but decrease it as you go. My nitrates which stuck between 20-30 ppm forever for some reason. Even with water changes between 20-40 gallons a week no change. So after running this for four days and only three doses my nitrates are between 5-10 which I don’t want much lower. They also basically wiped my phosphates to zero, or darn close. Not like they were high anyway but they really are not now.

So the interesting part, I’m sure my sps are still mad, some have gone back to normal and some are still upset at me. Some my sps like my pink lemonade went from the nice pink and green to some green and red lol. Hope she turns back. My pc rainbow lost some of its green and yellow but it’s kinda coming back. I’m terms of the three sps the second one finally gave way today :( so sad he goes into my coral cemetery in my garden). The third is trying to hang on but may have to stick him in a bucket and take him to the lfs and frag him above the tissue loss. All other corals seem to be just fine and wow my skimmer is producing some kind of funky gunk so gives me the creeps yuck.

But my fishies are super happy and I will have to find another Oregon tort. So if anyone knows somebody who would frag me a one inch piece I’m forever in debt. It’s very hard to find here in Boise. I have also noticed the cynao shows up in very small amounts and then is gone the next day or two. Then here and there then gone, pretty sure I don’t need chemi clean but still have lights down to 8 hours now and been switch flow at nights on food breaks.

It’s so depressing on how fast coral and just go south. I have now dedicated parts of my day where I go home and check my tank. I am still thinking of an ato and possibly hiring my lfs to do maintenance on it. They did offer me a darn good deal and yes I was very very picky. I did say that one of my conditions is that if they do something to my tank that causes harm to it and or it kills something they will replace what they ruined. I have worked too hard on this and just honestly tired of well honest mistakes ruining it, but I don’t want to take chances any more.

Oh and for those who know me I am now on the second movie of back to the future. I’m curious is the character Biff always kinda lacking in maturity. He is a terrible driver and seems to be a magnet for cow manure. So glad I was born with out that Genic trait.

 

[tiggs]

Hi Sarah!

Sorry to hear about your tank issues. SPS can definitely be finicky with sudden changes like that. It sounds like your PC Rainbow is just stressed. In my experience with that particular acro, colors will start to show again in most cases as long as things remain stable. If you're looking for an Oregon Tort, Cultivated Reef has it in stock (and free shipping for all orders over $99 with code 'FREESHIP99')..

http://cultivatedreef.com/product/item-113/

Hope all is well.

 

[ZAB]

Unique corals has O'Regan torte wyswg..have had very good luck with buying corals from them.

 

[Fin]

I hope you love your job. I know you do, but man the hours are brutal. Good thing you are only 25 and have the energy.

Time for a friendly reality check - and I hope you know I am not saying this to be mean. If you are struggling with this tank now, consider what it will be like with a 425 gallon on the way. There is simply not enough of you or your time to maintain the level of care that you want for your animals on two large tanks. Automation can help, but if you insist on keeping both of these tanks going, then a maintenance contract with your LFS sounds like the way to go. Personally, I would move to the 425 and just keep the one tank. I just can't imagine maintaining two big tanks, but then again - I am old. :-)

Have a good day, Sarah - and try to stay awake. :-)

 

[norfolkgarden]

Lol, drinking 3 liters of water a day. And i despise drinking water.

Too hot working outside not to.

Stay cool and get some sleep.
[emoji4]

Hello dear friends,

So finally home again from work and have to go back in 12 hours Urgh. But first thing, how is everyone one and for those who have super hot temps please please hydrate and (NO SODA guys and girls) it’s soooooo bad when it is hot out. Lots of water and gosh just carry some cold water with you. So many people coming where the heat has just cooked them.

So moving on lol, well after three days of working with my tank as much as possible updates. So the Red Sea no3 stuff well it works and pretty darn fast. I’m certain you have to do it daily but decrease it as you go. My nitrates which stuck between 20-30 ppm forever for some reason. Even with water changes between 20-40 gallons a week no change. So after running this for four days and only three doses my nitrates are between 5-10 which I don’t want much lower. They also basically wiped my phosphates to zero, or darn close. Not like they were high anyway but they really are not now.

So the interesting part, I’m sure my sps are still mad, some have gone back to normal and some are still upset at me. Some my sps like my pink lemonade went from the nice pink and green to some green and red lol. Hope she turns back. My pc rainbow lost some of its green and yellow but it’s kinda coming back. I’m terms of the three sps the second one finally gave way today :( so sad he goes into my coral cemetery in my garden). The third is trying to hang on but may have to stick him in a bucket and take him to the lfs and frag him above the tissue loss. All other corals seem to be just fine and wow my skimmer is producing some kind of funky gunk so gives me the creeps yuck.

But my fishies are super happy and I will have to find another Oregon tort. So if anyone knows somebody who would frag me a one inch piece I’m forever in debt. It’s very hard to find here in Boise. I have also noticed the cynao shows up in very small amounts and then is gone the next day or two. Then here and there then gone, pretty sure I don’t need chemi clean but still have lights down to 8 hours now and been switch flow at nights on food breaks.

It’s so depressing on how fast coral and just go south. I have now dedicated parts of my day where I go home and check my tank. I am still thinking of an ato and possibly hiring my lfs to do maintenance on it. They did offer me a darn good deal and yes I was very very picky. I did say that one of my conditions is that if they do something to my tank that causes harm to it and or it kills something they will replace what they ruined. I have worked too hard on this and just honestly tired of well honest mistakes ruining it, but I don’t want to take chances any more.

Oh and for those who know me I am now on the second movie of back to the future. I’m curious is the character Biff always kinda lacking in maturity. He is a terrible driver and seems to be a magnet for cow manure. So glad I was born with out that Genic trait.

 

[siggy]

This morning however, last night it was crystal clear and this morning the tank was cloudy.

Was the little on up early

 

[Brew12]

Was the little on up early

It is shark week! ;Woot

 

[Sarah24!]

Wow hello friends

Gosh I have been so busy where has the week gone, wait I know I was at work all darn week. Lol sheesh.

So working on my 240 it has at least stabilized which is good and I’m not losing coral lol anymore. So sadly I lost the two and the third is hanging on it’s putting up a fight that’s for sure. Didn’t test my water today but last time I did my parameters were looking nice. Some of my sps did lose their colors but in time I think they will come back. Two have already started the pc rainbow and my pink lemonade is starting. A lot of my other sps didn’t lose the color at all (so lucky) my mars planet (is that the name of red mars planet) anyway was bright red and now its kinda red kinda brown but very alive lol.

The tiny bit of cyano can’t make up its mind, one day I have the same tiny spot with it, and the next day nothing. Then if I turn my lights back to normal it comes back, maybe a good month of acclimation would do everything good. I definitely went to re configure my sump tank. When ever my skimmer goes nuts well if I don’t catch it I’m time all the nasties spill over and go back into the tank. That can’t be good for nitrates.

I have thought very strongly of automaton and or just hiring my lfs to do basic things for me. I still enjoy doing things with my tank but good grief I need 72 hour days lol. The 425 meh I’m gonna have to do automation and definitely hire more help. Now that i am home more, I can monitor my tank more. But unless I come home on food breaks and what not it would go 24 hours w out a peep. Plus with it soooo hot I’m evaporating water like crazy. Today I topped off with r/o and it was almost five gallons. I can’t imagine what the 425 will be like. I keep my house at 70 so it’s not super cold or warm.

But hope all my dear friends are here and I am back to my normal schedule next week yay so I can post more yay. Maybe we can talk about favorite cereal or what people make for dinner when they are suoer lazy or tired to cook. :)

 

[mike werner]

Hello dear friends,

So finally home again from work and have to go back in 12 hours Urgh. But first thing, how is everyone one and for those who have super hot temps please please hydrate and (NO SODA guys and girls) it’s soooooo bad when it is hot out. Lots of water and gosh just carry some cold water with you. So many people coming where the heat has just cooked them.

So moving on lol, well after three days of working with my tank as much as possible updates. So the Red Sea no3 stuff well it works and pretty darn fast. I’m certain you have to do it daily but decrease it as you go. My nitrates which stuck between 20-30 ppm forever for some reason. Even with water changes between 20-40 gallons a week no change. So after running this for four days and only three doses my nitrates are between 5-10 which I don’t want much lower. They also basically wiped my phosphates to zero, or darn close. Not like they were high anyway but they really are not now.

So the interesting part, I’m sure my sps are still mad, some have gone back to normal and some are still upset at me. Some my sps like my pink lemonade went from the nice pink and green to some green and red lol. Hope she turns back. My pc rainbow lost some of its green and yellow but it’s kinda coming back. I’m terms of the three sps the second one finally gave way today :( so sad he goes into my coral cemetery in my garden). The third is trying to hang on but may have to stick him in a bucket and take him to the lfs and frag him above the tissue loss. All other corals seem to be just fine and wow my skimmer is producing some kind of funky gunk so gives me the creeps yuck.

But my fishies are super happy and I will have to find another Oregon tort. So if anyone knows somebody who would frag me a one inch piece I’m forever in debt. It’s very hard to find here in Boise. I have also noticed the cynao shows up in very small amounts and then is gone the next day or two. Then here and there then gone, pretty sure I don’t need chemi clean but still have lights down to 8 hours now and been switch flow at nights on food breaks.

It’s so depressing on how fast coral and just go south. I have now dedicated parts of my day where I go home and check my tank. I am still thinking of an ato and possibly hiring my lfs to do maintenance on it. They did offer me a darn good deal and yes I was very very picky. I did say that one of my conditions is that if they do something to my tank that causes harm to it and or it kills something they will replace what they ruined. I have worked too hard on this and just honestly tired of well honest mistakes ruining it, but I don’t want to take chances any more.

Oh and for those who know me I am now on the second movie of back to the future. I’m curious is the character Biff always kinda lacking in maturity. He is a terrible driver and seems to be a magnet for cow manure. So glad I was born with out that Genic trait.

hey sarah,i'm a big fan of all your posts.you have made me laugh on more than one occasion .when you are ready I have a huge coloney of Oregon tort and would be clad to send you a nice (much bigger than an inch) piece for free.just pay the shipping charges.you can pm me when you are ready.best of luck with the tank.

 

[Brew12]

Wow hello friends

Gosh I have been so busy where has the week gone, wait I know I was at work all darn week. Lol sheesh.

So working on my 240 it has at least stabilized which is good and I’m not losing coral lol anymore. So sadly I lost the two and the third is hanging on it’s putting up a fight that’s for sure. Didn’t test my water today but last time I did my parameters were looking nice. Some of my sps did lose their colors but in time I think they will come back. Two have already started the pc rainbow and my pink lemonade is starting. A lot of my other sps didn’t lose the color at all (so lucky) my mars planet (is that the name of red mars planet) anyway was bright red and now its kinda red kinda brown but very alive lol.

The tiny bit of cyano can’t make up its mind, one day I have the same tiny spot with it, and the next day nothing. Then if I turn my lights back to normal it comes back, maybe a good month of acclimation would do everything good. I definitely went to re configure my sump tank. When ever my skimmer goes nuts well if I don’t catch it I’m time all the nasties spill over and go back into the tank. That can’t be good for nitrates.

I have thought very strongly of automaton and or just hiring my lfs to do basic things for me. I still enjoy doing things with my tank but good grief I need 72 hour days lol. The 425 meh I’m gonna have to do automation and definitely hire more help. Now that i am home more, I can monitor my tank more. But unless I come home on food breaks and what not it would go 24 hours w out a peep. Plus with it soooo hot I’m evaporating water like crazy. Today I topped off with r/o and it was almost five gallons. I can’t imagine what the 425 will be like. I keep my house at 70 so it’s not super cold or warm.

But hope all my dear friends are here and I am back to my normal schedule next week yay so I can post more yay. Maybe we can talk about favorite cereal or what people make for dinner when they are suoer lazy or tired to cook. :)

Automation can make many things better! You need to spend some money to do it, but it can make your life much easier. A good controller with automatic doser and some add-ons will run you in the $1500 to $2k range. Another thing you could use is a skimmate locker with automatic skimmer neck wiper. Probably set you back another $600 or so, but you could only deal with your skimmer once every few weeks that way. Lots of options.

Back when I was your age and single, I always kept Red Barron pepperoni pizzas in the freezer. Nothing easier after a long day at work than to throw it in the oven and take a shower. I didn't even bother preheating the oven. After 16 to 18 minutes I was dry and the pizza was ready. Well.. that is when I wasn't out on the Submarine. Then, meals were provided every 6 hours so you ate what was served!

 

[Sorcha2]

As far as evaporation goes adding a lid will really help if you dont have one already.

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello friends

@mike werner wow that’s soooo amazing of you and kind, as soon as I make sure my tank is stable lol I will totally take you up on that offer. I wanna make sure it has a safe home to stay in. Which lights do you have now, and how high up is it?

@Brew12 I’m probably gonna go for some of the automation on my 240 first. It may push back my 425 a tad but will be worth it. I so can not believe I slept in so late Urgh. I didn’t get off work till probably 230 am but woke up at 10. I missed all the cartoons :(.

Ahhh frozen pizza lol my Nemis. A sgood as frozen pizza actually is lol it’s horrible when you come home turn the Oven on, wait to preheat (as preheat take a shower hopefully to wake back up) go back down stairs put the pizza in and set the timer for 30 min. Sit in the couch w my fav pillow and blankey, watch cartoons and then darn wake up to a horrible smell and smoke alarms going off. Then feeling really dumb because I fell asleep on the couch waiting for it to cook to where it becomes one with the oven and over grate. Than I have to clean my oven so now I order pizza lol, I just have to worry about the poor delivery person standing st my door going is this person gonna answer or leave me out here all night in the rain or snow or dry heat. What a lovely person this should be, I better get a large tip and if they don’t answer soon I’m eating this thing.


Still trying to figure my 240 out, I have done less feeding and less light and every other day or two days a small section of cyano comes back. I am not found of chemi clean not sure what else to do. Flow has been changes as well. Maybe putting the wave maker towards the corner of the glass will help

I was gonna do lids but heard they really mess with the led lights. Any thought on this and @Sorcha2 thanks for the idea.