- Joined
- Oct 2, 2015
- Messages
- 178
- Reaction score
- 209
The original build and actual building of the tank can be found here:
It had a really good couple years, and a couple not so great years. My fault, kids and life got in the way. Using this thread to document regrowth now that I feel confident to start adding acros again.
March 2020:
Peak of tank before I got distracted,
December 2021
Summer 2020 was not kind to the tank, the temperature raised to 84+, we had no central air, happened so fast and was heartbreaking. Most acro colonies were lost. I lost the motivation to provide care for the tank outside of what kept the shark and fish healthy. By the time I refocused (after I installed forced air into our home and was confident I could control the temp), the tds coming from the RODI was in the 60s, alk and calcium were both bottomed out, and nutrients had been rollercoastering for a year with all the coral loss.
October 2022
Massive amounts of carbon were added to remove anything from the increased TDS paired with very regular large water changes. No growing coral and reef crystals waterchanges brought the calcium and mag up above target levels. I started trying different foods for the shark and learned about PO4 preservatives on seafood the hard way. PO4 was .9 when I caught it with NO3 completely bottomed out at .0 and hair algae starting to grab hold. This picture is after calcium had dropped enough to turn the CaRX back on and PO4 had been below .1 for a couple months. Finally acro growth, months since a coral loss, mag still way too high so monti’s struggle but feeling confident again that things are reigned in.
I have to get this tank turned around, I’m going to try to post a full tank shot of the tank every other month to help me see progress. Fingers crossed it’s finally in the correct direction!!
Monster Build - Vances 700 plywood build.
Well the tank has been full for a couple months now and I am confident enough that I'm not going to have an embarrassing catastrophe, that I want to share! I know everyone just comes for pictures so with further ado... Starting space: Framing and whole room tile drip pan to floor drain...
www.reef2reef.com
March 2020:
Peak of tank before I got distracted,
December 2021
Summer 2020 was not kind to the tank, the temperature raised to 84+, we had no central air, happened so fast and was heartbreaking. Most acro colonies were lost. I lost the motivation to provide care for the tank outside of what kept the shark and fish healthy. By the time I refocused (after I installed forced air into our home and was confident I could control the temp), the tds coming from the RODI was in the 60s, alk and calcium were both bottomed out, and nutrients had been rollercoastering for a year with all the coral loss.
October 2022
Massive amounts of carbon were added to remove anything from the increased TDS paired with very regular large water changes. No growing coral and reef crystals waterchanges brought the calcium and mag up above target levels. I started trying different foods for the shark and learned about PO4 preservatives on seafood the hard way. PO4 was .9 when I caught it with NO3 completely bottomed out at .0 and hair algae starting to grab hold. This picture is after calcium had dropped enough to turn the CaRX back on and PO4 had been below .1 for a couple months. Finally acro growth, months since a coral loss, mag still way too high so monti’s struggle but feeling confident again that things are reigned in.
I have to get this tank turned around, I’m going to try to post a full tank shot of the tank every other month to help me see progress. Fingers crossed it’s finally in the correct direction!!
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