Kyl
And how does it feel like, to wake up in the sun
That's what I thought. Tried a 1prop 230 in my frag system (bb but still small~ish at 30" x 22" x 10"), and couldn't put any euphyllia in there even at 10% heh.
A 25 Gallon reward for success
- Thread starter JBKReef
- Start date
- Tagged users None
OP
OP
JBKReef
Valuable Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2017
- Messages
- 1,962
- Reaction score
- 2,317
- Location
- Bloomington, Indiana
- What state or country do you live in
- Indiana
The lagoon is recovering from whatever almost knocked it out. All my zoas were not extending lashes and were not coloring up.
I've been using the Reef Energy Coral Nutrition from Red Sea. This has helped to get nutrients up, additionally I've suctioned up a good bit of the sand bed. Every water change I'm taking a couple pounds of sand out.
I think the combination of these two elements is bringing the reef in line. Additionally added an emerald crab.
I started to wonder if the abundance of Cyano I had might have been out competing corals for nutrients, O2, and available space. Regardless its on the road to recovery.
AOI's are not looking 100% yet but I would say a definite improvement.
I've been using the Reef Energy Coral Nutrition from Red Sea. This has helped to get nutrients up, additionally I've suctioned up a good bit of the sand bed. Every water change I'm taking a couple pounds of sand out.
I think the combination of these two elements is bringing the reef in line. Additionally added an emerald crab.
I started to wonder if the abundance of Cyano I had might have been out competing corals for nutrients, O2, and available space. Regardless its on the road to recovery.
AOI's are not looking 100% yet but I would say a definite improvement.
OP
OP
JBKReef
Valuable Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2017
- Messages
- 1,962
- Reaction score
- 2,317
- Location
- Bloomington, Indiana
- What state or country do you live in
- Indiana
For my latest vision for the tank, which might be a work in progress for the next couple months would be upgrading lighting. I love the Kessil shimmer, but upgrading to A160's would cost almost $500. I want better spread than just one light so the A360X is out. What I've decided to do is add in supplemental T5's.
The Reef Brite Supra Slim retro kits:
These bad boys are single bulbs and at 23.4 inches wide would fit perfectly over the lagoon. I think two will work best. (Photo credit to BRS)
Two fixtures, with the kessils will be pushing almost almost 80 watts of lighting power. I'm sure the kessils will be drowned out by the T5's however at ramp up and ramp down when it's only the kessils they will pull their weight just fine.
I'm not one for DIY projects, however with roping in my FIL again and his wood working skills I think a floating canopy for the tank, with matching wood and stair would be easily attainable. (Famous last words)
The only decision to make is how to mount the lights. I would like a tank mount, however I would not be able to move the stand enough to mount the light to the back. I am considering two options a conduit rail coming off the side of the tank or hanging the fixture.
The currently plan not perfectly to scale but I think you would get the idea from the following sketch.
any thoughts out there, opinions?
The Reef Brite Supra Slim retro kits:
These bad boys are single bulbs and at 23.4 inches wide would fit perfectly over the lagoon. I think two will work best. (Photo credit to BRS)
Two fixtures, with the kessils will be pushing almost almost 80 watts of lighting power. I'm sure the kessils will be drowned out by the T5's however at ramp up and ramp down when it's only the kessils they will pull their weight just fine.
I'm not one for DIY projects, however with roping in my FIL again and his wood working skills I think a floating canopy for the tank, with matching wood and stair would be easily attainable. (Famous last words)
The only decision to make is how to mount the lights. I would like a tank mount, however I would not be able to move the stand enough to mount the light to the back. I am considering two options a conduit rail coming off the side of the tank or hanging the fixture.
The currently plan not perfectly to scale but I think you would get the idea from the following sketch.
any thoughts out there, opinions?
OP
OP
JBKReef
Valuable Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2017
- Messages
- 1,962
- Reaction score
- 2,317
- Location
- Bloomington, Indiana
- What state or country do you live in
- Indiana
An additional upgrade as well... I just picked up the new innovative marine desktop DC skimmer from BRS. I hope the kinks have been worked out from the previous version. Between the light upgrades, pump upgrades, and removing the sand I might branch this tank out to more types of corals than the original softie plan.
OP
OP
JBKReef
Valuable Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2017
- Messages
- 1,962
- Reaction score
- 2,317
- Location
- Bloomington, Indiana
- What state or country do you live in
- Indiana
Well upgrades abound... RFGs from @Vivid Creative Aquatics hooked up and the NuvoSkim DC from Innovative Marine I'm certainly on my way to really making this nano take off.
Still working on siphoning out the sand, and have no completed my weekly cleaning so ignore the uglies please. The skimmer has only been on the tank for about 3 hours and is already producing some skimmate. Amazing little guy, obviously not dead silent but its quiet enough to drown out in some white noise.
Once the lights get upgraded and the rest of the sand it out so I can kick up the flow might try out a couple tester SPS pieces.
Still working on siphoning out the sand, and have no completed my weekly cleaning so ignore the uglies please. The skimmer has only been on the tank for about 3 hours and is already producing some skimmate. Amazing little guy, obviously not dead silent but its quiet enough to drown out in some white noise.
Once the lights get upgraded and the rest of the sand it out so I can kick up the flow might try out a couple tester SPS pieces.
Dj City
2500 Club Member
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2017
- Messages
- 3,163
- Reaction score
- 3,407
- What state or country do you live in
- Maryland
Hey buddy...
I see you have had challenges. Believe me, we all do.
The upgraded lights should be a good addition.
I would advise to be careful with the flow. Softies and zoas don't really like a lot of flow.
What is making you want to up the flow?
I see you have had challenges. Believe me, we all do.
The upgraded lights should be a good addition.
I would advise to be careful with the flow. Softies and zoas don't really like a lot of flow.
What is making you want to up the flow?
OP
OP
JBKReef
Valuable Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2017
- Messages
- 1,962
- Reaction score
- 2,317
- Location
- Bloomington, Indiana
- What state or country do you live in
- Indiana
Really just wanting to change the flow patter, keep the detritus in the air. Move the MP10 down to the bottom left corner and let the RFGs provide the main flow for the tank.
Nice! Those RFG nozzles should do well in your tank. What pump are you using to drive the two 1/2in RFGs?Well upgrades abound... RFGs from @Vivid Creative Aquatics hooked up and the NuvoSkim DC from Innovative Marine I'm certainly on my way to really making this nano take off.
Still working on siphoning out the sand, and have no completed my weekly cleaning so ignore the uglies please. The skimmer has only been on the tank for about 3 hours and is already producing some skimmate. Amazing little guy, obviously not dead silent but its quiet enough to drown out in some white noise.
Once the lights get upgraded and the rest of the sand it out so I can kick up the flow might try out a couple tester SPS pieces.
OP
OP
JBKReef
Valuable Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2017
- Messages
- 1,962
- Reaction score
- 2,317
- Location
- Bloomington, Indiana
- What state or country do you live in
- Indiana
Until I get all the sand siphoned out I’m just using 1 Mj1200. I have a sicce 1.5 on standby.
OP
OP
JBKReef
Valuable Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2017
- Messages
- 1,962
- Reaction score
- 2,317
- Location
- Bloomington, Indiana
- What state or country do you live in
- Indiana
Not sure if I could be happier right now with the way the tank is progressing. I have continued to take out the sand bit by bit every water change. I dont know if the tank is just settling in (about 9 months into the tank) right now and the balance is clicking. Or this is just a simple tank with low demand corals that are just thriving.
The zoas are all popping and I'm seeing growth on almost every frag. I want to get all the sand out so I can space these guys out a bit more. I dont want any cross over from the frag's I've established. I will eventually use these colonies as grow out to propagate the zoas. I like the clumbs of colonies zoa garden than the all intertwined 30 varieties on the same rock.
The ricordia rock is alright. Super colorful however I did not place them very well and they have not spaced out quite like I had planned. With time aesthetically they will be fine, they're very healthy regardless.
Upcoming projects for the tank would be to upgrade flow, with winning the January Supporter give away I upgraded to their MightyJet return pump. I need to install that, I will also be adding in 2 single bulb T5's and build a floating canopy. Two tasks which I most definitely look forward to. Happy Reefing everyone!
The zoas are all popping and I'm seeing growth on almost every frag. I want to get all the sand out so I can space these guys out a bit more. I dont want any cross over from the frag's I've established. I will eventually use these colonies as grow out to propagate the zoas. I like the clumbs of colonies zoa garden than the all intertwined 30 varieties on the same rock.
The ricordia rock is alright. Super colorful however I did not place them very well and they have not spaced out quite like I had planned. With time aesthetically they will be fine, they're very healthy regardless.
Upcoming projects for the tank would be to upgrade flow, with winning the January Supporter give away I upgraded to their MightyJet return pump. I need to install that, I will also be adding in 2 single bulb T5's and build a floating canopy. Two tasks which I most definitely look forward to. Happy Reefing everyone!
OP
OP
JBKReef
Valuable Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2017
- Messages
- 1,962
- Reaction score
- 2,317
- Location
- Bloomington, Indiana
- What state or country do you live in
- Indiana
Not a happy update this morning. My nearly brand new skimmer broke overnight. Walked into the office this morning to silence instead of the small amount of white noise it puts off. The pump had been running since March 22nd, so barely a month.
It was pumping out skimmate like it was its job, well I guess its only capable of handing the bioload as a part time job. I emptied and cleaned the cup 2x per week but my pumps are on 3 month service cycles so I had not even though of cleaning the air pump.
I reached out to IM today for a warranty claim, or maintenance suggestion. Little depressed just because for the first month it has had phenomenal performance.
It was pumping out skimmate like it was its job, well I guess its only capable of handing the bioload as a part time job. I emptied and cleaned the cup 2x per week but my pumps are on 3 month service cycles so I had not even though of cleaning the air pump.
I reached out to IM today for a warranty claim, or maintenance suggestion. Little depressed just because for the first month it has had phenomenal performance.
OP
OP
JBKReef
Valuable Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2017
- Messages
- 1,962
- Reaction score
- 2,317
- Location
- Bloomington, Indiana
- What state or country do you live in
- Indiana
Small update...
The replacement pump from IM came in today, difficult to replace it and the skimmer is much harder to dial in now that I messed with the pump. Upset with the quality.
I sold my first “frag pack” this past weekend. I had some doubles and grew out pieces that had broken off. I sold 4 zoas and threw in 1 baby mushroom I had for $100. While the guy got a decent of a deal I was glad to help out someone in my reef club. Here is the pack I sold. Rasta, Gooseberry, Pandora, Apple Jack, and a small dippindot mushroom
The replacement pump from IM came in today, difficult to replace it and the skimmer is much harder to dial in now that I messed with the pump. Upset with the quality.
I sold my first “frag pack” this past weekend. I had some doubles and grew out pieces that had broken off. I sold 4 zoas and threw in 1 baby mushroom I had for $100. While the guy got a decent of a deal I was glad to help out someone in my reef club. Here is the pack I sold. Rasta, Gooseberry, Pandora, Apple Jack, and a small dippindot mushroom
OP
OP
JBKReef
Valuable Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2017
- Messages
- 1,962
- Reaction score
- 2,317
- Location
- Bloomington, Indiana
- What state or country do you live in
- Indiana
Update plans for the hybrid lighting fixture. 2 Kessil A80 (existing lights on the tank) and the 2 ReefBreeder slimline t5's Aqua Blue+ Bulbs.
Should get final plans with the Father in Law laid out this coming weekend and hope to begin construction in early June!
Should get final plans with the Father in Law laid out this coming weekend and hope to begin construction in early June!
OP
OP
JBKReef
Valuable Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2017
- Messages
- 1,962
- Reaction score
- 2,317
- Location
- Bloomington, Indiana
- What state or country do you live in
- Indiana
For the second time my IM DCSkimmer motor crapped out. While I am loving the performance, air exchange, and funk it’s pulling out the unreliability of the Skimmer is annoying me.
Third pump for the Skimmer inbound. Shout out to great customer service from #innovativemarine but I just wish it would work for more than a month at a time.
Third pump for the Skimmer inbound. Shout out to great customer service from #innovativemarine but I just wish it would work for more than a month at a time.
OP
OP
JBKReef
Valuable Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2017
- Messages
- 1,962
- Reaction score
- 2,317
- Location
- Bloomington, Indiana
- What state or country do you live in
- Indiana
For the second time my IM DCSkimmer motor crapped out. While I am loving the performance, air exchange, and funk it’s pulling out the unreliability of the Skimmer is annoying me.
Third pump for the Skimmer inbound. Shout out to great customer service from #innovativemarine but I just wish it would work for more than a month at a time.
Third pump for the Skimmer inbound. Shout out to great customer service from #innovativemarine but I just wish it would work for more than a month at a time.
OP
OP
JBKReef
Valuable Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2017
- Messages
- 1,962
- Reaction score
- 2,317
- Location
- Bloomington, Indiana
- What state or country do you live in
- Indiana
For the second time my IM DCSkimmer motor crapped out. While I am loving the performance, air exchange, and funk it’s pulling out the unreliability of the Skimmer is annoying me.
Third pump for the Skimmer inbound. Shout out to great customer service from #innovativemarine but I just wish it would work for more than a month at a time.
Third pump for the Skimmer inbound. Shout out to great customer service from #innovativemarine but I just wish it would work for more than a month at a time.
OP
OP
JBKReef
Valuable Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2017
- Messages
- 1,962
- Reaction score
- 2,317
- Location
- Bloomington, Indiana
- What state or country do you live in
- Indiana
A quick update on the lagoon. We have gone through some major ***** since updating in June.
The tank had a HUGE Diatom bloom. I believe this was due to removing the sand. Even with removing the sand slowly over a 3 month period of time, and dosing Dr Tims Waste away it still hit me hard. I went through all the motions to fight Diatoms and it actually worked but I'm not sure which method worked or if it was just a combination of the efforts. The steps I took are as follows:
The third pump for the DC Skimmer has seemingly dialed itself it, I empty the cup which looks like a weak tea about once a week. Not the best, but it does a good enough job.
I do not run floss anymore in this tank, only for about 2-4 hours after a water chance to pick up anything that got stirred up during the change that is in the water column.
We're still sitting at 4 fish(2 clowns, 1 tribal blenny, 1 purple firefish), 1 emerald crab, 2-3 trochus snails, 2 nerite, 1 astraea snail, and 1 tuxedo urchin.
Lots of zoas, and a handful of mushrooms, I'm trying my luck with a couple monti's to see if they grow in the tank. Both have been stung heavily by a wondering bubble tip anemone so I'm hoping they recover but will not be torn up if they do not make it.
The tank currently runs 3 Kessil A80's, 2 MP10's, IM DC Skimmer, IM UV Serilizer, IM DC Return Pump, InTank Media Basket with ChemiPure Blue, InTank Fuge Basket fitted with Marinepure gems in a bag. Barebottom with about 20 pounds of Marcos Rock.
The tank is deffinitly on the rebound but I hope for it to continue to grow. I need to figure out what I'm going to do long term with the main rock structure. right now My zoas are forming a garden on the main bed of the tank, I have a shroom garden on one forward island but the bulk of the rock is still bare.
Happy Reefing everyone!
The tank had a HUGE Diatom bloom. I believe this was due to removing the sand. Even with removing the sand slowly over a 3 month period of time, and dosing Dr Tims Waste away it still hit me hard. I went through all the motions to fight Diatoms and it actually worked but I'm not sure which method worked or if it was just a combination of the efforts. The steps I took are as follows:
- Stopped Water Changes
- Dr Tims Waste Away / Refresh
- 3 Day Black Out
- Added the Innovative Marine 9 Watt UV Sterilizer
- 2nd 3 Day Black Out
- Dosed up to 1.5 PPM Nitrate using ME Nitrate solution.
The third pump for the DC Skimmer has seemingly dialed itself it, I empty the cup which looks like a weak tea about once a week. Not the best, but it does a good enough job.
I do not run floss anymore in this tank, only for about 2-4 hours after a water chance to pick up anything that got stirred up during the change that is in the water column.
We're still sitting at 4 fish(2 clowns, 1 tribal blenny, 1 purple firefish), 1 emerald crab, 2-3 trochus snails, 2 nerite, 1 astraea snail, and 1 tuxedo urchin.
Lots of zoas, and a handful of mushrooms, I'm trying my luck with a couple monti's to see if they grow in the tank. Both have been stung heavily by a wondering bubble tip anemone so I'm hoping they recover but will not be torn up if they do not make it.
The tank currently runs 3 Kessil A80's, 2 MP10's, IM DC Skimmer, IM UV Serilizer, IM DC Return Pump, InTank Media Basket with ChemiPure Blue, InTank Fuge Basket fitted with Marinepure gems in a bag. Barebottom with about 20 pounds of Marcos Rock.
The tank is deffinitly on the rebound but I hope for it to continue to grow. I need to figure out what I'm going to do long term with the main rock structure. right now My zoas are forming a garden on the main bed of the tank, I have a shroom garden on one forward island but the bulk of the rock is still bare.
Happy Reefing everyone!
Last edited:
OP
OP
JBKReef
Valuable Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2017
- Messages
- 1,962
- Reaction score
- 2,317
- Location
- Bloomington, Indiana
- What state or country do you live in
- Indiana
So i guess I missed the one year update by a couple days but the tank is still going through some struggles. Here is a FTS as of 9/24.
Due to no nitrate and no phosphate I started to feed heavier and dose both... this has caused some hair algae and cyano. I figure the bacterial population is still trying to adjust. The two photos here are just the front left and right of the display.
We had a fish up and disapear. my Purple fire fish had been looking a little ragged and we would normally only see him once every other day for feeding. I wonder if the tribal blenny was harassing him. Regardless we're down to three fish my two clowns and the blenny. The Blenny is SUPER camera shy but these two are always moving so much its impossible to get a good photo of them.
I'll throw in some of my favorite corals in the tank here. My shroom rock, none of the shrooms have actually split but the two that were suffering terribly from the Dino outbreak are starting to bounce back.
Zoas, Zoas, and more zoas. The two zoas when I first got into this hobby that I absolutely loved the looks of were Gaia's and AOI's from WWC. While this is my second frag of Gaias i'm trying to keep my frag of AOI's have exploded. Love the way this colony is shaping up. Also a couple of nice shots of my Pandoras and SunnyD's. While they're not the most expensive morphs they are fun to look at.
Upcoming changes will be adding in T5 lighting, adding more LPS to the back rock wall, and finding some more livestock that will get along. Happy Reefing everyone and here is to another year in the tank!
Due to no nitrate and no phosphate I started to feed heavier and dose both... this has caused some hair algae and cyano. I figure the bacterial population is still trying to adjust. The two photos here are just the front left and right of the display.
We had a fish up and disapear. my Purple fire fish had been looking a little ragged and we would normally only see him once every other day for feeding. I wonder if the tribal blenny was harassing him. Regardless we're down to three fish my two clowns and the blenny. The Blenny is SUPER camera shy but these two are always moving so much its impossible to get a good photo of them.
I'll throw in some of my favorite corals in the tank here. My shroom rock, none of the shrooms have actually split but the two that were suffering terribly from the Dino outbreak are starting to bounce back.
Zoas, Zoas, and more zoas. The two zoas when I first got into this hobby that I absolutely loved the looks of were Gaia's and AOI's from WWC. While this is my second frag of Gaias i'm trying to keep my frag of AOI's have exploded. Love the way this colony is shaping up. Also a couple of nice shots of my Pandoras and SunnyD's. While they're not the most expensive morphs they are fun to look at.
Upcoming changes will be adding in T5 lighting, adding more LPS to the back rock wall, and finding some more livestock that will get along. Happy Reefing everyone and here is to another year in the tank!
