Eric and Melissa's 125 gallon build

[eric.battani]

As it turns out no. I had that rbta I got from you for over a year. But one day my skunk cleaner shrimp decided he wanted the silver side I just feed to the bubble and reached down the bubbles mouth and pulled it out along with the bubbles guts. Sadly it didn't make it even a week after. But a few weeks ago I got another rbta from chris and it split in three. Traded one and the other two I just placed in rhe 125. I want them to find there happy spot before I move my corals over.

 

[eric.battani]

But its kinda funny, they have been swimming all out in the open since I put them in. Now they are hiding and only one comes out at a time. Kinda fun to watch.
Going to try to get the stuff tomorrow to finish the hood so the rbta will have better light.

 

[eric.battani]

Its so fun watching the clownfish and chromis now that they are a little more active. But still will not venture more than 12 inches from there new home in a cave they found. Going to add the pj cardinals later tonight. Any ideas on future fish for this tank? I already have 2 pj's, red firefish, 2 yellow clown gobies, watchmen goby, regal blue hippo tang small. So any suggestions on what to add in the future? Also one fish that will be added is a flame angel but not untill last. Oh and all fish ideas must be reef safe. Thanks

 

[eric.battani]

Started on the hood. Then finished plumbing the return and algae scrubber. Going to paint hood tonight or tomorrow

 

[eric.battani]

Ok so I thought I would show you what's under the tank. My refugium is a 29g that contains a coralife 220 protein skimmer, 500gph return pump, (was using a 1600gph pump but decided against it today and changed toa 500gph today) a 400gph pump to power my algae scrubber, 2 filter socks and some heaters. Now I did a little change on my scrubber lights this time. First I used plastic sockets instead of porcelain this time and I upgraded my bulbs to 23 watt energy efficiency bulbs. Also I am using a small aquarium filter that sits inside your tank as a type of media filter. Currently running phosband and carbon in separate bags. Its a real cheap and effective way of running water through my media.

 

[eric.battani]

Couldn't wait, had to cut the top for the led's and painted the lids and canopy. Going to place led's after the paint is dried.

 

[eric.battani]

So what does everyone think?

 

[eric.battani]

Finally put hinges on the doors

 

[dcsaquarium]

Like it!

 

[pickupman66]

Looks good man.

 

[jbonez]

Nice..

 

[eric.battani]

Ok another update. Its official, I lost all my sps in the upgrade. One of the brightest green birdsnest that just glowed even when not under lights, really hurt to lose that one. Sorry Chris, I lost that baby blue color Montipora I got from you. Will have to come buy another from you soon if you still have any. My glaxia, never like it once those 8in sweeper tentacles came out and started stinging my other corals. Have to admit that was a very hardy sps. I had a deep red monti capricronis. And also I lost my big bubble. But the little one with only 1 mouth did live. I had a huge drop in alkalinity over last week, but now I'm back on top of it. I just started using baking soda this weekend. Never knew you could before. I was mixing up some alk booster and realised it was going to cost a kings ransom to keep this larger tanks alk up over a long period of time. So after trying to find a cheaper source, I found out about baking soda. And its so cheap.
But as for the rest of my corals, mostly zoas and a large handful of lps. They seem to be doing ok. Only time will tell.

 

[eric.battani]

Just added some new fish. 2 blue star leopard wrasse and a orange shoulder tang.

 

[H@rry]

I never had much luck keeping Leopard Wrasses but I have an Orange Shoulder Tang. You'll enjoy it. I got mine as a juvenile (yellow). I've had it since May and it is showing very little signs of changing to the adult coloration but it is a beautiful fish.

 

[eric.battani]

Harry you have me a little worried. What was the no luck? Mine seem to be doing ok. When I first placed them in the tank they hid, but since I have been home watching them they seem to be full of life swimming. I bought some live brine shrimp and feed them today. They really seemed to like them and after those were gone they have been hanging out with all my fish on the right side of my tank with all my other fish. I thought I did my homework before I bought them, did I miss something?

 

[H@rry]

No, I don't think you missed anything. I just never was able to keep them. They always turned up dead or missing. I quit trying a while back.

You may have a lot better luck with them than I did. Hope so.

 

[eric.battani]

Had me worried for a moment. Read somewhere that they pick polyps but after further research I feel they were just picking pods around the polyps. And I was afraid you had bad story about them eating your coral etc. But I did note there were not for brand new tanks. Now my 125 in "new" but I transferred all rock, sand, and refugium all from another system. And the refugium is loaded with pods. I have been seeing them pick pods and that's a good sign as long as I can keep up the population of them to eat.