Fishfreak2009's 75 Gallon Mixed Reef

[Fishfreak2009]

Does reef crystals mix high alk then settle down after awhile? That is terrible. Sorry

It does to some extent, but I tested my well water which is what I've been using and my alk from the tap is 11.5! So add that to the alk in reef crystals and it's mixing at a alkalinity above 15 dKH. Wasn't so much of an issue when we were keeping the alk at 11.5-12 in the tank, but it is now that we are keeping the alk at about 9.3 dKH. That's where it is sitting stable with no water changes or dosing, just top offs using well water, so that's where we want to keep it. We are going to be buffering the saltwater for water changes using sodium bisulphate. Hopefully that makes all the difference.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Couple pics from tonight. Hermits and astraeas are already devouring the hair algae. And we spotted one of the red stoplight cardinals peeking out during daylight hours for the first time since they were added!

 

[Smoke-Town]

Awesome tank! Love the stock list. Saw your post on the overstocking thread and knew this would be a cool system to check out. Good man for not being afraid of adding lots of fish for a proper reef!

 

[Fishfreak2009]

A couple quick pics of my good boy watching the tanks from his favorite chair

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Quick pic from tonight. Both the breeder boxes will be out of the tank by the end of the week. The fallow period is done on the 13th for my wife's evo, so her fish can move back into it, giving me my evo back for the wyoming white clowns. The second breeder box has the rock flowers for the 47 gallon, but it's a little cloudy from a bacterial bloom, so letting it clear before adding the anemones. The bubbletip also split again, so if I can get one of them off the rocks, I'll move it to my evo with the maxi mini anemones and try to get the wyoming whites to live in it.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Forgot to post this earlier. Managed to snap a picture of the Alpheus armatus peeking out of his burrow next to the maxi mini anemone in the display. He's such a neat thing to see. Honestly I forget he's in here half the time, then when I do spot him it's a fun and exciting surprise that reminds me why reef biodiversity is so interesting.

 

[Crabby48]

Removing BTA’s never is fun. Definitely need to show of the RFA’s

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Finally got the breeder boxes out! Moved a bunch of LPS frags and one of the gorgonians over to the 47 gallon rimless.

The clowns also laid yet another clutch of eggs, and the male banggai cardinal has a mouth full of eggs as well. Thinking about grabbing an urchin so the babies have somewhere to hide.

I'll get pics posted after I finish pruning the hair algae and wipe the glass down.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Couple pics, even one showing the weekly macroalgae harvest from the sump.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Lots of pics inbound! And a video! Unfortunately messenger killed the video quality

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Whites went out for the night.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

2 pics from this afternoon. It's really coming along nicely

 

[Fishfreak2009]

My wife snapped some pics under the blue lights while holding the Kraken Reef UV glasses in front of the camera on her phone.

Also including a pic of the 2 kittens my roommate here in St Kitts is fostering, Flounder and Peaches.

 

[SaltyT]

Tank is looking good!

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Tank is looking good!

Thanks! Can't wait for the corals to grow in more and for the hair algae to finally be gone.

 

[SaltyT]

Thanks! Can't wait for the corals to grow in more and for the hair algae to finally be gone.

I hear ya about the algae I’ve been dealing with bubble algae

 

[Fishfreak2009]

I hear ya about the algae I’ve been dealing with bubble algae

Knock on wood I've never had an issue with bubble algae in any system. I do have a couple emerald crabs though, and my old systems all had tangs that liked to eat it. I'm contemplating getting a tang for this tank to eat the hair algae, but I don't want to keep a tang in a small tank.

Talked about it with the wife the other night and her response was that if we do get a tang, she's not doing the upgrade herself. I have to be there to set the tank up and do the upgrade, which is a big change from not upgrading

 

[SaltyT]

Knock on wood I've never had an issue with bubble algae in any system. I do have a couple emerald crabs though, and my old systems all had tangs that liked to eat it. I'm contemplating getting a tang for this tank to eat the hair algae, but I don't want to keep a tang in a small tank.

Talked about it with the wife the other night and her response was that if we do get a tang, she's not doing the upgrade herself. I have to be there to set the tank up and do the upgrade, which is a big change from not upgrading

Green light! So what size is the upgrade?

This is my first battle with BA. I’ve had it in every tank bc it comes in with my gulf live rock, but this is the first time I’ve had it take over. My fox face doesn’t eat it so I’m relying on a few emeralds and frequent WC to beat it back.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Green light! So what size is the upgrade?

This is my first battle with BA. I’ve had it in every tank bc it comes in with my gulf live rock, but this is the first time I’ve had it take over. My fox face doesn’t eat it so I’m relying on a few emeralds and frequent WC to beat it back.

In a perfect world it'll be an 8'x4'x24-30", but I think a standard 180 will fit the spot better. Still not happening soon though. But not too worried about it now, focusing primarily on school now, with this tank playing second fiddle.

The tilefish and the firefish both wanted to show off today. The tilefish is an extreme camera hog. Literally follows you all around the tank, and has even began chasing the fairy wrasses away from his little burrow under the rocks. Definitely no longer a super shy pushover.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Wifey sent me a ton of amazing pictures tonight! She's been working on her macrophotography skills using her Samsung Galaxy S10+. You can definitely tell the male banggai has a mouth full of eggs.