With My Brides Blessings, My 75 gallon Reef Build

[Zhubbell]

I love the Radions, I have two over my 56G Shallow Reef, theyre my favorite light I’ve ever had for sure

 

[Ferrell]

Just a quick update! Radions up to 60% and I think I’m gonna let it ride there for a bit. Top rocks at ~200 par with all lights on, bottom and middle about 130ish.
Everyone is happy especially the Duncan’s...they are having babies. First time I’ve had them grow new heads! My other duncan departed from its skeleton and blended itself. Good things happening with new lights.

 

[Ferrell]

Another couple weeks gone by and running smoothly. Our local reef club Big Blue Reef took a trip to a local reefers grow out farm for a tour, check out some great colonies, talk reefs and pick up a few frags. Here’s my haul and thanks Josh Gonzolas:

 

[Ferrell]

So a bit of an update cause it’s been a while but tying into last 4 corals
Setosa is doing ok. Not seeing any growth or basing but not dying either
Bonsai has about died. It started showing less and less polyp extension and is down to 0. I’m holding out hope but...
Micromussa settles in and is showing excellent extension and growth, feeding well and happy
Monti cap I think I had too high and in started to bleach so moved it down and it’s maintaining what was left of it
Tubbs stellata was totally bleached when I returned from vacation. Tried to save but to no avail.
Still having tough time with acros.
Stay tuned because I have some new babies coming from WWC livesale. Mostly chalices and montis

 

[Ferrell]

Little delayed in the update from WWC delivery but here it is:

 

[Ferrell]

So now my large neon Green Leather decides it’s gonna frag it self. It started with a small hole which freaked me out at first, but as always R2R people to the rescue. So instead of going ahead and clipping the whole thing I let the “tears “ go and heal on their own all the while keeping the carbon reactor rolling to take care of the toxins. Today the whole head was hanging on a thread today so I finished it off and placed it on plugs. I’m experimenting with a couple different techniques to get it to attach itself to the plug. Here’s a few shots of what happened. All of them are had a little bit of the polyps extending as the lights wentout. Now just waiting for attachment. Going to give a couple to my club mates and maybe keep a couple til they grow out a bit. I think they’re just too cool

 

[Ferrell]

Just a quick post to tell everyone

IF YOU DONT HAVE A POWER LOSS BACK UP PLAN GET ONE

As I lay here tonight in complete darkness, in the mugginess of the night air I am comforted by the sound of my generator for as long as it needs to run.

We’ve been in our farm home for 6 years now and NEVER lost power. Snow storms wind storms you name it, we’ve had it. except tonight!!! I’ve sat through tropical storms that weren’t as bad as this one.

Lost power at 7:15. Yes I know cuz I immediately looked at the clock and said I hope power comes back on... 15 min no power. So my lovely bride of 33 years said what about the generator? Now mind you this thing was last run in 2005 when we lived in Florida and had 7 named storms roll through. So 14 years and two moves later im digging it out of the barn and inflating the tires and checking the oil. I flipped the switch, gave it a pull and wouldn’t you know it cranked on the first pull. What? I’m telling you it hasn’t been pulled in 14 years and it cranked.
It’s a crazy chain of events that led up to tonight and I feel compelled to document it. Just a little back story on the generator. It was a gift from my father in law after Charlie ripped through our area and we worked in his place for a couple months getting it back together. It was perfect for keeping our saw and tools running til power was restored and then he insisted we take it. Back in ‘05 I really wasn’t one to have the need for a generator on a regular basis, and I really didn’t want to go through the trouble of draining gas, storing gas and worrying about the crappy fuel we had destroying all the seals while it was stored, so I converted it to a dual fuel, gas and propane. Everybody has propane right? Grills, cookers, campers etc and I had plenty of cylinders so violá a propane generator. Long story short, tonight I wasn’t worried the gas was bad, the carb was corroded or anything that gas can do to an engine. My worst fear was the spark plug not firing and loosing my little critters to Mother Nature. So as my MPs churn and my return pump returns and my skimmer skims, I am truly a blessed soul.
And BTW we were supposed to be gone this weekend... I know how blessed and fortunate a person I am.

 

[BigRedReefer MT]

Just a quick post to tell everyone

IF YOU DONT HAVE A POWER LOSS BACK UP PLAN GET ONE

As I lay here tonight in complete darkness, in the mugginess of the night air I am comforted by the sound of my generator for as long as it needs to run.

We’ve been in our farm home for 6 years now and NEVER lost power. Snow storms wind storms you name it, we’ve had it. except tonight!!! I’ve sat through tropical storms that weren’t as bad as this one.

Lost power at 7:15. Yes I know cuz I immediately looked at the clock and said I hope power comes back on... 15 min no power. So my lovely bride of 33 years said what about the generator? Now mind you this thing was last run in 2005 when we lived in Florida and had 7 named storms roll through. So 14 years and two moves later im digging it out of the barn and inflating the tires and checking the oil. I flipped the switch, gave it a pull and wouldn’t you know it cranked on the first pull. What? I’m telling you it hasn’t been pulled in 14 years and it cranked.
It’s a crazy chain of events that led up to tonight and I feel compelled to document it. Just a little back story on the generator. It was a gift from my father in law after Charlie ripped through our area and we worked in his place for a couple months getting it back together. It was perfect for keeping our saw and tools running til power was restored and then he insisted we take it. Back in ‘05 I really wasn’t one to have the need for a generator on a regular basis, and I really didn’t want to go through the trouble of draining gas, storing gas and worrying about the crappy fuel we had destroying all the seals while it was stored, so I converted it to a dual fuel, gas and propane. Everybody has propane right? Grills, cookers, campers etc and I had plenty of cylinders so violá a propane generator. Long story short, tonight I wasn’t worried the gas was bad, the carb was corroded or anything that gas can do to an engine. My worst fear was the spark plug not firing and loosing my little critters to Mother Nature. So as my MPs churn and my return pump returns and my skimmer skims, I am truly a blessed soul.
And BTW we were supposed to be gone this weekend... I know how blessed and fortunate a person I am.

God bless friend. I've been following your build thread for a while and I am happy for you that you had a back up plan even though you didn't know it. I hope your power is restored soon and all ends up well.

 

[najer]

Hope you get power back soon.

 

[Ferrell]

Thanks friends I’ll get some pictures tomorrow if I ever get to sleep tonight.

 

[Ferrell]

Power came on at 6:00 am just as I was hooking up the second propane hose tank. 11 hrs could have been the end...

 

[BigRedReefer MT]

Good news. I'm glad all worked out alright. I now am looking at a battery backup for my power heads. Not sure how I'm going to get koralia's to hook up though?

 

[Ferrell]

Not familiar with the koralias, but all sorts of things went through my head as I pulled out the gen. As simple as a power inverter hooked to my truck with long extension cords stretched to my tank to getting the battery out of my tractor and googling wiring instructions for dc.
As safe as I thought I was, I wasn’t prepared. I will be now. It was good prep for my upcoming thanksgiving vacation and my daughter watching the tank.
Thanks for the kind words and good luck with the backup system

 

[Ferrell]

When it rains it pours...or so it seems sometimes

I know we’ve all have gotten alarms on our tanks for something going wrong but this has no alarm, at least none that I have.

Jumping right in, I generally test my Alk about every 2-3 days unless I’ve mixed new Alk/Ca for dosing then I’ll check every day for a day or two then back to normal routine. I dose BRS soda ash. Alk generally between 8.7-8.9 and Ph has a steady up down oscillation day/night. 8.3_ to 8.0_

Leading up to the event:
-Sunday night is WC maintenance night
-Mixed and filled Alk and Ca containers and Kalk container (yes I dose all three)
-Sunday checked Alk and all good
-Checked Monday up a little to 9.0 from 8.7
-Worked crazy late Monday night/ Tuesday morning and didn’t have time to test Tuesday at 13:00
-Noticed Ph Tuesday night at work doing strange ups and down trends and Ph over 8.4 so skimmer and doser were shut down per programming,

Normal graph at night

Odd graph that night


-Tested Wednesday morning when I get home and boom up 3 points!

What would cause that? I thought. Turned off all dosing immediately to start tracking it down. What would YOU think it would be?

I retested, same 12.8!
I visually looked at Alk and kalk containers for a “overdose”, nothin
I manually operated pumps for calibration, check
I checked the graph for the dosing pump and it had ran for 15 minutes, off for a few hours (I don’t remember how long and ran for 15 minutes again... why?

Normal dosing graph

Odd dosing graph

-How it was changed is a mystery but the apex was disconnected from fusion because of internet issues about that time and I have no clue

I checked program and it was something crazy like OSC 000:00/625:00/000:00 Then Off. What? Supposed to be
OSC 015:00/000:25/044:35 Then On
If Ph>8.4 Then Off
(Skimmer programmed to go off at Ph>8.4)

Never mind the cause now I needed to get the tank back to normal so I went back in my memory to various R2R members posts on high Alk problems and remembered it must be sloooow, so I left the Kalk doser and Ca Doser on in hopes that it would lower itself through consumption of Alk over a few days to a week. So far so good. I know it takes a few weeks to a month before it may show the ill effects but for now...all good

So, even though no “alarms” went off, the trend lines on the apex still alerted me “something” was off, trend lines had changed and something was wrong. I hope this helps some others out and shows being in tune with your tank and paying attention to trends and not so much numbers could save your tank too. Thank you Neptune Systems for a great product!!! You saved me a bunch of work and money

 

[Ferrell]

So as my birthday nears a new shop opened about an hour away, so my wife and I did a little road trip Sunday to Whitlyn Awuatics Louisville for their grand opening weekend. Of course I had to bring something home...
Couple emerald crabs, a few $10 frags and some supplies I needed.

So I got my maintenance done and some frags moved and placed and everyone seems happy so far hanging on the frag rack. Got these cool little mushroom boxes to get my mushrooms started

Moved the green slimer Acro more to the middle of the DT, although it is alive and fuzzy it has been 9 months with no grow at all so time for a move. Also moved the Duncan from the frag rack where the clowns were loving it to death. Also moved a couple of acans to their new permanent home. Dipped a couple Chalice frags I got at the last WWC live sale which seen to have been receding recently.
Toadstool frags are doing great.

Gotta find a new home for them and also fragged some green cabbage leather to see how that does.

 

[Ferrell]

I’ve not had real success with acros in the past but I think my problem was enough light intensity. Borrowed the club par meter and mapped out the lights at all intensities and ramping them up a bit. Sooo here we go again. Got another box from WWC s last sale, fragtoberfest. Blue slimer, frogger, blueberry twist and diesel, banana table and a couple Paletta tricolors. Got them at a good price during and after the sale and hope the lights were what I was missing.

 

[Ferrell]

i know I know it’s been a while

since an update. Not a lot has changed, still cannot grow SPS, lost a few easy SPS while on vacation. I think it was a salinity swing due to a bad optical sensor in the ATK. Those have been replaced now and working fine.
So here is a picture update hope you enjoy.

 

[Ferrell]

So as the 75 chugs along I’ve gotten a little antsy. Always like to have something going to tinker with. I ran in a guy I work with at the LFS and found out he keeps reefs too. Amazing neither one of s had a clue. Anyway, he had just purchased a shallow reef tank and had his IM 30L he was going to sell. I scooped that puppy up for cheap and began a new journey. Don’t know how to link up this build thread on my build thread banner but here’s the link if anyone’s interested

AIO Build - Doubling Down-My 30L Build

Hello, I’m a reef-aholic. But seriously I’ve wanted a 2nd tank for sometime and rolled across this 30L with APS stand upgraded media basket, pump and a pair of AI primes for a steal. Really wanted a shallow cube but could not have even bought the stand for that price. Coat of paint on the stand...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Ferrell]

My 75 is just chugging along and looking good. I think I’ve finally whipped the one patch of hair algae i had just by daily removal from the sandbed. So with that said, my 30 gallon is still in the cycle and I should get a couple clowns by the end of the month. Finally mapped out the par on it and have a nice even spread of 80-120 for the LPS specific tank. I’m a big fan of chalices acans and some zoas so I’ve laid this out basically for them. Couple of AI Primes and an ato and I think I’m ready to go.... in a few months. Seeded recently with some coralline scrapings so hopefully when I kick the lights on it’ll begin to encrust. I sprinkle a little in each time I change out my wetsides. Outside of waiting Heres all I have by way of pictures. Enjoy

 

[Ferrell]

Its been a while since an update so while Im in QT myself I've been muddling over things and trying to keep my mind occupied. Mostly un-reef related things like gardening and catching up on household chores BUT have been getting to enjoy the tank more lately and watch the progression of the 30 into the uglies. My two little clowns are doing great but even though they were tank raised, ORA fishes they do appear to have some sort of internal parasites and I have started treating them with food soaked in GC and Focus for the next 15 days. Thanks @HotRocks for your sticky thread on treating this. Outside of that Ive been trying to decide on which little fishes to add next. I've got it narrowed down to a Starry Blenny and a Wheeler's Shrimp Goby with Shrimp... Any suggestions would be welcomed.

I also bought a used Tunze 9001 Skimmer which I think is working out ok. It was a little cumbersome to get installed but seems to be skimming now that it's settled in. Not real thick gunk that Im used to on the 75 but still removing some.
And the AI Primes Im running for the first time are producing some nice effects and I am using a program I got from a fellow reefer and AI user and after a few adjustments seem to like the program. Here is what I am running at the moment.

It is producing a nice even spread of 100-140 par throughout the tank which is perfect for an all LPS, chalice, hammer, micromussa, zoa tank. I have resisted adding any corals at the moment until I can get the nutrients, algae and parameters stable enough that it will run on it's own with regular dosing and maintenance.
That's about all for now. Will probably throw out a few more updates while in QT myself...
Peace Out and be safe