d2mini's 200g Reeftastic Reef - Part Deux!

d2mini · Jul 1, 2015

Dextereef said:
Those are some fancy sticks! Are your parameters up to date on your signature? Looking back are you able to keep better parameters with the calc reactor or dosing?

Thanks!

Yeah, those stats are pretty accurate give or take a couple decimals points.
Havent checked no3 or p04 lately.
I do prefer the CaRx over dosing. Sometimes it take a while to get it dialed in, especially if something changes, but it just means checking alk daily and making minor adjustments if needed. If it drops a little low I can toss in some baking soda to level it out and make the adjustment on the reactor to hold it there. I never hardly ever check calcium or mag. So the 60 seconds it takes to check alk is no big deal.

Diesel · Jul 1, 2015

You're ALK takes 60 seconds...................... dude, time for a upgrade, LOL!

Dextereef · Jul 2, 2015

Are you still running sockless w/filter pads? Good results?

What are the black pads underneath the frag and mangrove tanks?

Is the tampa bay sand like a crushed coral consistency or finer?

Thanks for being patient with all the questions you get. You've got something really special goin on and we all would be nuts to not try and replicate your success. Reef on man

d2mini · Jul 2, 2015

Are you still running sockless w/filter pads? Good results?
Yes, so far so good. I hate socks. I only used them periodically before. They clog, have to be changed often, then have to be washed. Major PITA.
I pull these filter pads every few weeks, rinse them real good in the sink, let dry and then put back. Or rotate out a second pair. There is a third filter pad holder in front, sitting just above the return line bulkhead. This is supposed to hold something like a blue polyfilter pad. I bought some, but have been too lazy to put it in there. I should do that. lol

What are the black pads underneath the frag and mangrove tanks?
We have a Tractor Supply nearby so I went in there and got some of that stuff. It's just a heavy duty rubber mat used in horse stalls. Probably stiffer than I'd like but it's fine. Especially for under the 40b which has a frame and you are not really supposed to use a mat. I just didn't want the tank pulling the paint off if I needed to shift it or remove for cleaning or something.

Is the tampa bay sand like a crushed coral consistency or finer?
It's varied in particle size. Everything from sugar sized up to crushed shells. Very natural looking but some people might consider it "dirty" looking. Those who are used to a very consistent grain from the bagged stuff at the LFS. I personally like the natural look. But it does have it's limits in tank size IMHO. I've tried it in nano tanks, like under 10g and found it a bit large in scale for that size tank.

Thanks for being patient with all the questions you get. You've got something really special goin on and we all would be nuts to not try and replicate your success. Reef on man
No problem! The point of this thread is to document and help others.

d2mini · Jul 4, 2015

It's been 7 months since the rebuild and transfer of everything back into the tank.
Did some testing this morning.
Nitrates are still at around .5 ppm or less. Which is the highest I've seen them.
And P04 is down to .009

Current fish list in the 200g display...

1 Desjardini Sailfin Tang
1 Bristletooth Tang
1 Yellow Tang
1 Magnificent Foxface
1 Scribbled Rabbitfish
1 Spotbreast Angelfish
1 Lubbock's Wrasse
1 Melanurus Wrasse
1 Snowflake Clown
5 Blue/Green Chromis
2 Purple Firefish
2 Blue Eye Cardinalfish

The frag tank has a Spotted Rabbitfish and two Percula clowns.
And the mangrove tank has one Banggai Cardinalfish.

I think I need more fish. :lol:

Saltgator · Jul 4, 2015

I can't stop looking at my fish stock and seeing where I could fit more, lol.

clarke.matthew1 · Jul 4, 2015

It's been a joy to read your build threads while I have been on vacation. Caught up on all of them. I hope one day the ball and chain will allow me to do a fish room. I think I won her over with the video of the cheato ball slowly turning.

d2mini · Jul 4, 2015

Saltgator said:
I can't stop looking at my fish stock and seeing where I could fit more, lol.

haha, yeah but I actually enjoy the coral much more. I find myself coming home and looking straight through my fish and inspecting all the coral for the slightest improvement in color or growth, especially new frags.
I'll go days before releasing a fish disappeared and having no idea the last time I saw him.
But my nutrients are so low... I think I need more fish poo for the coral!

clarke.matthew1 said:
It's been a joy to read your build threads while I have been on vacation. Caught up on all of them. I hope one day the ball and chain will allow me to do a fish room. I think I won her over with the video of the cheato ball slowly turning.

lol, thanks!
Show her the other thread of me harvesting the cheato and explain that you can sell it to local reefers or your LFS to help fund the new fish room.

d2mini · Jul 5, 2015

Here's the mangrove tank and some critters that call it home.
I was able to trim the two mangroves down to their first set of leaves so they would sprout another set of branches.

malira · Jul 5, 2015

That's cool. I would love to do that.

d2mini · Jul 6, 2015

Thanks! Julian Sprung's mangrove tank is kind of my inspiration.

d2mini · Jul 6, 2015

Picked this guy up this weekend.
I've had pink tube anemones before, but I thought the iridescent dots within the tentacles were awesome! Like jellyfish or something.

d2mini · Jul 8, 2015

Picked up the new frag racks from www.buildinganobsession.com last night!
Took a few quick pics and then transferred them into the frag tank.
Have some arranging and mounting to do but here it is. Notice the chalices under the clear section.
And I included a pic that shows all three kinds of plugs that I use.

FoD · Jul 8, 2015

d2mini said:
Picked this guy up this weekend.
I've had pink tube anemones before, but I thought the iridescent dots within the tentacles were awesome! Like jellyfish or something.

Awesome Tube! I've had my pink/green tube for 6 years. It has survived two bailouts (where it leaves its tube in search of greener pastures), and an MP40 fight. Tough little creatures. Mine has the same specs as yours. Nice frag setup too. I like the racks. Now I'm totally thinking of having my acrylic guy copy your clear section for one of my tiers!

d2mini · Jul 11, 2015

IT'S BLUE CLOVE POLYP KILLING TIME!!!! :mad:
No pics... just recording for posterity.

They started taking over so I was able to score a few Fluke Tabs from a friend who still had some. Last night I dissolved 3.5 tabs in tank water and dumped it into my sump.
I took the mangrove tank offline because I didn't want to kill my pistol shrimp and there is no sign of cloves in there.
Left the frag tank online even though there are no cloves there either but I didn't want the sps going through any temp swings or anything.
The skimmer is offline, as well as my carbon reactor and UV.

Now we wait....

Civilized_drifter · Jul 11, 2015

Just went through 25 pages of the thread and all I can say is wow! Attention to detail and the almost perfection is top notch. As a person just starting out in the saltwater hobby I must say this is my insperation. Random question though, what's the white car in garage? Kinda a gear head myself

Diesel · Jul 11, 2015

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!!

Thanks for stopping by and taking some Pro-pics for me.
As I said I'll drop by sometimes mid-week and take care of that Dream front yard of yours.

Aquaph8 · Jul 11, 2015

Fluke tabs work wonders, I was so happy to be rid of those things

d2mini · Jul 11, 2015

Civilized_drifter said:
Just went through 25 pages of the thread and all I can say is wow! Attention to detail and the almost perfection is top notch. As a person just starting out in the saltwater hobby I must say this is my insperation. Random question though, what's the white car in garage? Kinda a gear head myself

Thanks! Always glad when someone can benefit from the thread.

It's an Audi A4.
I don't have any decent recent pics but it's lowered on coils, 9.5" wide wheels with michelin pss, awe-tuning exhaust. Next up is brakes, downpipe and stage II tune.

Diesel said:
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!!

Thanks for stopping by and taking some Pro-pics for me.
As I said I'll drop by sometimes mid-week and take care of that Dream front yard of yours.

LOL, always a pleasure.
Working on them... looking mighty fine. You should see them. Too bad you have to wait! muwahahaha....

Aquaph8 said:
Fluke tabs work wonders, I was so happy to be rid of those things

It's been less than 24 hours. They are already looking pretty sad. Darker color, not as fluffy, some are already receding.
And it appears to have really ticked off some other wavy encrusting soft coral that came in on some rock years ago that I have always wanted to get rid of. Bonus!
Hard to notice any casualties yet. Possibly one of my fighting conch. All my gorgonians look a bit upset too.

Aquaph8 · Jul 11, 2015

I don't remember if I had gorgonians when I treated my tank, all 3 conchs came out fine though. It did kill green star polyps and Xenia, like you said, bonus!