Chris' Reef

[creefer]

Yes it has been a crazy journey to say the least. I really enjoy everything about this system and am enjoying it quite a bit. Fits perfectly between 2 windows directly across from "my spot" on the couch as well lol. Taking down the 180 also freed up out 4th bedroom and we decided to convert it into a master bath/ walk-in closet since we didn't really need it anyways and I figure a 3bed 2 bath is more appealing for resale then a 4 bed 1 bath lol.

I think I may try to get my hands on another 2-3 leopards, either the bipartitus or kuiteri (if I am lucky and can get a decent enough price on some small females lol)

That sucks about the swings and losses hope you didn't lose a bunch! Sounds like you have it back on the right track tho which is a huge +, are you using a reactor? I think I will try to get the one I have working right and running on this system before to long to try to keep things more stable. Not to sure if I will make it to the AA swap or not, but hoping to as I have never been to that one.

Keep me posted on your AA swap plans. I'll PM you my phone #.

I am using a reactor. I've been running EcoBak and just recently changed from a TLF 150 to a Reef Octopus BR-70. The RO is a much better reactor for the pellets. I was thinking of going recirc, but decided against it due to cost. I'm planning a new build for 2 years from now, so maybe on that one....not sure. I did take quite a hit on the SPS with the alk swing. I had a kalk reactor go haywire on me and it ended up that no kalk was getting into the system, only RO. That caused an alk drop and it happened twice. I think I've got that problem solved right now, so hopefully I wont run into that issue again. I've considered taking the kalk reactor off line, but decided against it due to the pH benefit. Just need to watch it more closely and be sure I take it off line monthly for a good vinegar bath and I think all will be well.

 

[chort55]

Keep me posted on your AA swap plans. I'll PM you my phone #.

I am using a reactor. I've been running EcoBak and just recently changed from a TLF 150 to a Reef Octopus BR-70. The RO is a much better reactor for the pellets. I was thinking of going recirc, but decided against it due to cost. I'm planning a new build for 2 years from now, so maybe on that one....not sure. I did take quite a hit on the SPS with the alk swing. I had a kalk reactor go haywire on me and it ended up that no kalk was getting into the system, only RO. That caused an alk drop and it happened twice. I think I've got that problem solved right now, so hopefully I wont run into that issue again. I've considered taking the kalk reactor off line, but decided against it due to the pH benefit. Just need to watch it more closely and be sure I take it off line monthly for a good vinegar bath and I think all will be well.

How do u like the biopellets? I haven't even really looked into them, but the vodka/vinegar has been working for me and simple enough lol. I was actually asking about a calcium reactor, but the kalk reactor screw up makes sense too. Definitely sucks about the losses tho man, once I get things grown out some more I am sure we can find ya some goodies

 

[chort55]

Ok heres a good one, hopefully someone can help me out.... My wife would like some new fish, preferably blue, purple or green.... But she doesn't want wrasses (doesn't mean I wont add more anyways lol), or chromis because I have had about 10 chromis die over the years, and well she knows I will get more wrasses anyways.

The problem I am having tho is, obviously it has to be reef safe, and peaceful enough to coexist in my tank with my leopards. Mess with my leopards and you get the frying pan LOL. Also, it can't get huge since I don't have a big tank and not another tang because the yellow isn't going anywhere and I'm not trying to take down my tank to catch a fish and certainly not breaking an acro in the process lol. Oh yeah, she doesn't really care for firefish either.......... atleast she is trying to like the tank :squigglemouth:

 

[creefer]

Good thing for you that she's at least trying to like the tank. My wife could care less.

So far I've been pleased with biopellets. I'm using ecobak and have 0 nitrates and. 02 phosphates. I never had a cyano outbreak or bacterial bloom. I did develoo some cyano in the sump, but none in the display. Just recently I started using prodibio as a bacterial supplement. It seems to have improved the condition of tge tank, more so than MB 7. Don't know if it works any better than the KZ bacterial product though. With prodibio, I'm using only bio optim and bio digest every 15 days. I plan to keep this program going for a few months to better judge performance. But in general, I'm pleased with the pellets.

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[chort55]

Good thing for you that she's at least trying to like the tank. My wife could care less.

So far I've been pleased with biopellets. I'm using ecobak and have 0 nitrates and. 02 phosphates. I never had a cyano outbreak or bacterial bloom. I did develoo some cyano in the sump, but none in the display. Just recently I started using prodibio as a bacterial supplement. It seems to have improved the condition of tge tank, more so than MB 7. Don't know if it works any better than the KZ bacterial product though. With prodibio, I'm using only bio optim and bio digest every 15 days. I plan to keep this program going for a few months to better judge performance. But in general, I'm pleased with the pellets.

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Yeah she likes watching the fish and a couple corals. She didn't like it so much when I had my angels cuz she couldn't get any of the corals she liked (lps) but now that I got rid of them she doesn't seem to care for coral much just likes the fish lol

Did your phos go down at all with biopellets? I have read numerous times that they do not effect phos, same for vodka/ other carbon dosing. Sounds like what your doing is definitely working for you tho, and the pics seem to show more of the color IMO.

 

[creefer]

Phos did go down. Had to take GFO offline. Was hurting the sps

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[chort55]

Phos did go down. Had to take GFO offline. Was hurting the sps

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Good to know if I decide to go that route. I have been thinking about running gfo/carbon in a reactor soon but may reconsider that thought then.

 

[creefer]

I passively run carbon. Works well for me. Be advised on pellets .....they are not all equal. Things got better for me when I changed to ecobak.

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[chort55]

I passively run carbon. Works well for me. Be advised on pellets .....they are not all equal. Things got better for me when I changed to ecobak.

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Yeah I have heard the ecobak are the better ones. Thanks for the tip tho definitely nice to hear experience from someone I know. I used to run carbon in an old HOB filter and just change it regularly on my 180, worked ok but I haven't messed with it at all on this system. Been considering picking up a TLF-150 for it but haven't decided if I even want to mess with it, just another thing to change or cause problems lol.

 

[creefer]

Yeah ...i hear you. I run it in a bag and change it monthly

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[chort55]

LFS got their order in today, after sitting and talking with my friend that runs the place for an hr past closing wife decided on getting a McCosker's flasher as she liked the colors and the flashing activity. It was that or a neon dotty so I think she made a good call I plan to go pick it up tomorrow afternoon. Just might grab an adornatus as well but not 100% sure if I will or not on that one yet...... lol

 

[chort55]

Picked up the nice male McCoskers Flasher Wrasse today. Looks great but being shy, hopefully tomorrow while I have the camera out for my sons birthday (2yr) it will be more active and flashy for some pics

 

[creefer]

Nice!! Jealous........

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[ReefPops]

Nice pickup. They are beautiful fish and I agree she probably made the better decision, think they're definitely more friendly. Can't wait to see pics.

 

[mike007]

Looking good. I like how you have kept the tank simple not cluddered. What is bayer i have never heard of doing that.

 

[chort55]

Nice!! Jealous........

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Thanks Chris. He is still a little timid when I am within about 5' of the tank, but I have noticed it out swimming and flashing the other fish quite a bit when I am in the other room.

Nice pickup. They are beautiful fish and I agree she probably made the better decision, think they're definitely more friendly. Can't wait to see pics.

Thank you. Pics are uploading, the new photobucket seems slower then the old version and I cannot open them once a single pic is uploaded without cancelling the rest.... talk about a bad new version lol

Looking good. I like how you have kept the tank simple not cluddered. What is bayer i have never heard of doing that.

Thanks, I hate the cluttered look. I tried for a nice clean scape that still provided enough room for a decent amount of acros If I could have the room for coral that I wanted and sufficient space for fish to hide/ sleep and swim through I would have kept the center island out as well.... but it just looked a little to open lol

Bayer is bayer complete insecticide. Some people have begun using it as a coral dip. I am not super familiar with it as the last round was my 1st time using it for coral, but I know there are several good threads and write ups on it here if you do a search you will get much better info then I could provide with limited experience.

 

[chort55]

Today was my sons 2nd birthday so I only did a quick fish shoot while I had the camera out for him but here goes...... after a pic of the birthday boy of course:

Alright now for the fish pics:

I am not 100% sure, but I think someone may have slipped up when they labeled/ bagged this fish, but I believe it is actually a Yellow Fin Flasher wrasse.... Either way still super cool and happy the wife liked it and picked it out.

 

[chort55]

Ordered a MP40 through my LFS the other day and it came in today..... Not really impressed with it tho, my modded maxi-jet out hustles it for sure and cost me about $430 less! My yellow tang dropped a large log about 6" from the MJ, the MJ picked it up sucked it in spit it all the way down to the mp40 (in a 48"tank) and the mp40 proceeded to burp it out about 6-8" max! I fed the tank with all pumps running, and the mp40 moves NLS pellets about 20", the MJ again will push them the full distance of the tank.


I have the vortech in reef crest mode peaking at 90%, and the best I have seen anything move from it is about 20-22". What mode is everyone using these things in on a full sps tank?? Especially a 48" tank.

 

[chort55]

Stopped into my LFS again today, racks are jammin pretty good, amazing selection of acros! So I snagged 5 gems for sure! SunnyX mille, a sweet pink mille, 2 BAAAAD deepwaters that finally made if from the display to the sale racks, and a piece of ReefRaft Poison Ivy..... Can't beat the selection thats for sure! A couple need to color up a little still but to me thats part of the fun.


I also started running carbon in a DIY reactor to try to clear up the water clarity a little more.

 

[chort55]

Ok, took these pics quickly late lastnight to do somewhat of a before/after from getting the mp40..... I ran the vortech in nutrient export mode, wiped the glass, fed and then pulled out the camera so besides the lack of skill, they are not the best...


FTS:

Random Coral shots:

I really wish I could get the pink in this thing to show!: