Finally!!!

Shawn_epicurious · Feb 13, 2021

I started a thread on Nov 6th 2020 called “Been Struggling ”

Tonight... I am finally able to skim again!!! First time it has worked. (Quite happy right now) I failed at my first (several) attempts with adding SPS to my tank... in this.. ahem... interim... I have been focusing on only one thing... water stability. Yeah... I‘m stable now. : ) ... at every measure

I have not added any livestock since this happened. Things are growing everywhere.. things are propagating. Some things have come back that I didn’t want (GSP, anthelia). I saw a 5” brittle star out in the open yesterday : ) Yeah, never saw him before: )

Should I add fish back first? (I lost half my fish) Or just try again with an SPS frag bundle? I was advised to “calll” the online vendor, let them know I am new to SPS and have them suggest a packet of species” I am also going to get a frag rack. I have a nice PAR meter... set the Frag rack at what light level? 300 for that?

I am SKIMMING AGAIN!!!

HD_Reefer · Feb 13, 2021

Shawn_epicurious said:
I started a thread on Nov 6th 2020 called “Been Struggling ”

Tonight... I am finally able to skim again!!! First time it has worked. (Quite happy right now) I failed at my first (several) attempts with adding SPS to my tank... in this.. ahem... interim... I have been focusing on only one thing... water stability. Yeah... I‘m stable now. : ) ... at every measure

I have not added any livestock since this happened. Things are growing everywhere.. things are propagating. Some things have come back that I didn’t want (GSP, anthelia). I saw a 5” brittle star out in the open yesterday : ) Yeah, never saw him before: )

Should I add fish back first? (I lost half my fish) Or just try again with an SPS frag bundle? I was advised to “calll” the online vendor, let them know I am new to SPS and have them suggest a packet of species” I am also going to get a frag rack. I have a nice PAR meter... set the Frag rack at what light level? 300 for that?

I am SKIMMING AGAIN!!!

Congrats! I would add fish and make sure it stays stable, then on to the corals.

Shawn_epicurious · Feb 13, 2021

Oh yeah... my tank turns 13 months old in 2 days

Try'nNotToKillStuff · Feb 13, 2021

IMHO, sps corals should not be your first move even after fish. Start with something much easier such as Zoas or leathers. SPS, particularly acropora in my experience, are very difficult. In particular, it is not just about having stable water parameters, but also flow and lighting need to be very specific for their needs. LPS corals are much more forgiving than SPS. I could be wrong on your specific tank. Perhaps you have lighting and flow dialed in. I am just giving you my experience.

Shawn_epicurious · Feb 13, 2021

I haven’t posted in awhile.., I have pretty much all of that covered... I have several leathers in my tank now.. all of them are propagating right now.... more than I want them too : ) .....take a look at my build thread?

ScottR · Feb 13, 2021

Congrats! Haven’t seen you in awhile haha. I’d start with some easy SPS like birdsnest, monti digi, or monti cap. They’re generally cheaper and will tell you if you’re ready for harder SPS like acros. But good call on waiting it out. Your tank has run fallow long enough to mostly be free of parasites. So I’d QT every fish before they go in for peace of mind.

Shawn_epicurious · Feb 13, 2021

I do have a qt set up now and plan on using it : )

Vette67 · Feb 13, 2021

Yes, glad to see you back. I would think you should get some fish first. Fish are important for keeping SPS healthy. They are an easy way to keep some nutrients in your tank, some phos and nitrate. TheN once you have your nutrients stable, you can start looking into acropora. I wouldn’t do this the opposite way. You’ll have to figure out your nutrient export method; skimmer, ATS, refugium, carbon dosing or any combination thereof that works for you. And once nutrients are stable, then I would consider acro. Unless of course, you have no plans of getting more fish, then by all means, try some easier acro.

But that’s just what I would do...

Shawn_epicurious · Feb 14, 2021

Vette67 said:
Yes, glad to see you back. I would think you should get some fish first. Fish are important for keeping SPS healthy. They are an easy way to keep some nutrients in your tank, some phos and nitrate. TheN once you have your nutrients stable, you can start looking into acropora. I wouldn’t do this the opposite way. You’ll have to figure out your nutrient export method; skimmer, ATS, refugium, carbon dosing or any combination thereof that works for you. And once nutrients are stable, then I would consider acro. Unless of course, you have no plans of getting more fish, then by all means, try some easier acro.

But that’s just what I would do...

I have the nutrient levels very stable right now. And that just got better now that I am skimming again. I have been using a combination of Phosphate-E and NOPOX to keep things under control without the skimmer. Also a bit of carbon dosing and have been using poly pads up until here very recently. ... and weekly water changes.

You are right tho. My current export measure are working for my current fish load... I’ll have to adjust again once I add more fish. Good advice!

Shawn_epicurious · Feb 20, 2021

So, I live in Houston, Tx. My power went out for 57 hours... I just knew everything was going to die! A rough two days! Yeah, nothing died : ) I am so happy about that right now you have no idea. My BTA... I only bought one. : ) it split after I got it in my tank a few months ago. No it it looks like both of them are about to split again.

I don’t really want 4 of them... I’ll figure something out.

Shawn_epicurious · Mar 7, 2021

This is not my best picture ever... it I just got this guy in my display tank! : ) very happy right now!

sp1187 · Mar 7, 2021

Shawn_epicurious said:
So, I live in Houston, Tx. My power went out for 57 hours... I just knew everything was going to die! A rough two days! Yeah, nothing died : ) I am so happy about that right now you have no idea. My BTA... I only bought one. : ) it split after I got it in my tank a few months ago. No it it looks like both of them are about to split again.

I don’t really want 4 of them... I’ll figure something out.

I have the same problem, started with two, now I have seven. and to top it off my two clowns want nothing to do with any of them.

and who's pouring the scotch, me or you?

Shawn_epicurious · Mar 7, 2021

sp1187 said:
I have the same problem, started with two, now I have seven. and to top it off my two clowns want nothing to do with any of them.

and who's pouring the scotch, me or you?

I am happy to pour!

I also have a copperband butterfly fish back in niw too. And he is eating! I am picking up a diamond goby on Tuesday