Freakyyfort
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What ammonia kit did you use and nitrite?
DKOSDROS's 75 GAL REEF BUILD
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dkosdros
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Ok a quick update. A week ago I added two black ice clowns. They came straight into the LFS from the plane and straight into my car. The LFS said to quickly acclimate them faster than I would normally do since they had a long flight. I was hesitant but followed their directions. I skipped the PraziPro since they looked pretty stressed as it was. One of them looked pretty stressed from the get go with some of his tail fin looked missing from being attacked or some kind of fin rot. The other looked healthier. I quickly acclimated them and put them into the Display. The healthier one went straight to exploring and the sick one just went to the side glass and stayed there. I fed and they both nibbled a little. The next day I fed again and both ate but the sick one you could tell wasn't fully there. That evening the sick one died. The other one lived for a few days later and then he died. I was pretty bummed. They ate when I fed them so I don't think they starved.
Well i told myself to slow down. Work on getting the tank parameters pristine and stable. With the Apex it's been great to monitor. Temp, PH, Salinity, have also been stable. I've been doing some water changes trying to get the tank clean looking. Siphoning the sand, brushing rocks, moving the snails to where I need them to work (which works great). I put on my filter socks to polish the water and catch any debris floating around. Tonight i decided I would test to see where I'm at.
I'm happy to report:
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0 (can you believe it?!?! Finally!!!!)
Nitrates 3
PH 8.2
Temp 78.6
Salinity 1.026 (I'm going to work on lowering it to 1.025 and then maybe 1.024 when I do water changes) I've read people saying 1.024 seems to keep everything in perfect balance as far as coral growth and fish health. So we will see.
So this weekend I plan on doing another big water change, trying to get the rest of the algae in sand and rocks. Then I'm going to look into getting a serpent star for the cleanup crew.
Debating on ordering two more black ice clowns or trying the cheaper and maybe more hardier Oscellaris clowns that flood our LFS.
The wife wants more corals but wants ones that "flow" so I might pick up a hammer coral or something of that sorts for some movement in the tank.
Well i told myself to slow down. Work on getting the tank parameters pristine and stable. With the Apex it's been great to monitor. Temp, PH, Salinity, have also been stable. I've been doing some water changes trying to get the tank clean looking. Siphoning the sand, brushing rocks, moving the snails to where I need them to work (which works great). I put on my filter socks to polish the water and catch any debris floating around. Tonight i decided I would test to see where I'm at.
I'm happy to report:
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0 (can you believe it?!?! Finally!!!!)
Nitrates 3
PH 8.2
Temp 78.6
Salinity 1.026 (I'm going to work on lowering it to 1.025 and then maybe 1.024 when I do water changes) I've read people saying 1.024 seems to keep everything in perfect balance as far as coral growth and fish health. So we will see.
So this weekend I plan on doing another big water change, trying to get the rest of the algae in sand and rocks. Then I'm going to look into getting a serpent star for the cleanup crew.
Debating on ordering two more black ice clowns or trying the cheaper and maybe more hardier Oscellaris clowns that flood our LFS.
The wife wants more corals but wants ones that "flow" so I might pick up a hammer coral or something of that sorts for some movement in the tank.
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dkosdros
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Tanks been doing good so far. Did a 20 gallon water change this morning. Siphoning sand and sump. Changed filter socks as well. Also went to the LFS since they were having a sale with 40% off corals. Got talking to the guy and turns out he breeds clowns that host anemones. He asked about tank and recommended I put the RBTA in now since tank had leveled out before I get it stocked with corals so it doesn't move around and kill them. He recommended a toadstool coral for flow and a Duncan coral. So I picked up both of those as well as a Red Nightmare Zoa's and the RBTA. He said in a month he will get me two snowfall clowns that will host it. I also got a Tri color fairy wrasse that was cool looking that my daughter will like. Going to keep my eye out for a red or yellow serpent star.
Freakyyfort
Active Member
Gotta love those sales.... or hate them.
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dkosdros
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Some day shots. The toadstool is extending out more and more which is nice. The Duncan's look great. And the RBTA moved and found a different spot. You can see the bubble tips here. Can't wait for it to get settled and fully extend.
Freakyyfort
Active Member
Soon the Duncan will explode. Under a month mine had probably 15 heads.
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dkosdros
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Today's project was to build the sensor bars to go into my RO water reserve and my Salt water reserve and one for my sump. I used float sensors and put them at the bottom of the bar and at the top. I ran wires through the 3/4 inch PVC and then sealed all the holes with silicone. The sensors say waterproof but I figured two lines of defenses against water was better. I then filled the tubes with sand so they stay under water easily. I added heater suction cup mounts so they will help keep the bars in place.
I plan on running to wires to th Apex Breakout box I have. I have no clue how to connect the wires to it and program it so that's my mission the next few evenings.
The plan is when the lower sensor in each reservoir trips it will send me a text that reservoir is empty. Signaling me to turn in RO/DI. Then when the top sensor trips in each it will send me a text saying reservoirs are filled. Signaling me to turn off the RO/DI. The unit has an auto shut off but I prefer to turn the water off to the unit as a back up. One day I'll probably hook up a solenoid that can be triggered in the same manner.
With the sensor bar in sump I plan on programming a feed mode that will be my water change mode. It will turn everything off and then turn on a pump in sump that will drain 18 gallons out. When the lower sensor is triggered It will turn off that pump and then turn on the salt water reservoir pump and pump water back in until the top sensor on the bar is triggered. When that is triggered the salt water pump will turn off. And then everything will resume back up.
Here's what the bars look like.
I plan on running to wires to th Apex Breakout box I have. I have no clue how to connect the wires to it and program it so that's my mission the next few evenings.
The plan is when the lower sensor in each reservoir trips it will send me a text that reservoir is empty. Signaling me to turn in RO/DI. Then when the top sensor trips in each it will send me a text saying reservoirs are filled. Signaling me to turn off the RO/DI. The unit has an auto shut off but I prefer to turn the water off to the unit as a back up. One day I'll probably hook up a solenoid that can be triggered in the same manner.
With the sensor bar in sump I plan on programming a feed mode that will be my water change mode. It will turn everything off and then turn on a pump in sump that will drain 18 gallons out. When the lower sensor is triggered It will turn off that pump and then turn on the salt water reservoir pump and pump water back in until the top sensor on the bar is triggered. When that is triggered the salt water pump will turn off. And then everything will resume back up.
Here's what the bars look like.
