I own Reef2Reef and I am coming clean....

revhtree · Dec 14, 2015

Pete polyp said:
Rev I am in the same boat. I have always had simple reefs with no sump, no skimmer and really nothing but flow, light and heat. So I decided to go all out and get that sump, skimmer, reactors, controller etc. And guess what? Biggest pain I have ever had to deal with! It just won't get right no matter how much I work with it. Without the sump and all the gadgets I can literally abuse a tank and it will THRIVE. Overfeeding and forgetting to do a water change for 3 months, no problem. But with this more complex system (which is supposed to make it easier) nothing will go right. I'm under the assumption to use the K.I.S.S. method from now on.

I hear ya! I have always ran a skimmer and firmly believe in it for people who don't perform regular water changes and feed a lot.

revhtree · Dec 14, 2015

jsker said:
as @kschweer said and @Paul B has stated keep it simple. I could be as simple as the increase in water changes.

I usually change out about 25-30g in a 120g.

steve&mari · Dec 14, 2015

We all go through the trials and tribulations of reef keeping as in life. I for one admire your honesty and respect it. As a leader it's only smart to use your resources you've accumulated with R2R. Your showing us all that our problems in our reefs are felt all the way throughout the community top to bottom nobody's exempt from having a bad spell. Stay strong and step back take a breath n know it can turn around again for the positive and think how awesome that feeling will be. I thank you Rev for R2R and the family it's created to support each other in good and bad times. Your honesty shows how great of a leader you are for R2R.

Brian Kim · Dec 14, 2015

DON'T make me do it again..............argghhhhh you guys done it again with that simple and easy comment lol

CastAway · Dec 14, 2015

Ummm, isn't someone supposed to ask for parameters?

twilliard · Dec 14, 2015

I am just as honest!
I am going to say over complicating the basic needs.
My tank turned 5 this month. Now there has been many setbacks since filled.
Lost a seal, all water gone. Fixed and filled.
Heater failure, cooked my tank.
Skimmer leak left unnoticed salinity to 1.010
Many ups and downs
But this all lead me to one thing..
The basics
Rev you have an amazing group of people here!
And we listen

revhtree · Dec 14, 2015

steve&mari said:
We all go through the trials and tribulations of reef keeping as in life. I for one admire your honesty and respect it. As a leader it's only smart to use your resources you've accumulated with R2R. Your showing us all that our problems in our reefs are felt all the way throughout the community top to bottom nobody's exempt from having a bad spell. Stay strong and step back take a breath n know it can turn around again for the positive and think how awesome that feeling will be. I thank you Rev for R2R and the family it's created to support each other in good and bad times. Your honesty shows how great of a leader you are for R2R.

Thank you buddy. I have been racking my brain for MONTHS and MONTHS now. I know all the precautions to making changes slowly but I can't find the root of the problem. I thought I was over the hump and my zoas and palys took off recently. Well now the past couple of weeks they started closing up and they peek out but I fear it may get worse.

revhtree · Dec 14, 2015

Brian Kim said:
DON'T make me do it again..............argghhhhh you guys done it with that simple and easy comment lol

This video reminded me of one of the things I used to have with my successful tanks that I don't now. A lot more live rock. Meh who knows?

Brian Kim · Dec 14, 2015

revhtree said:
This video reminded me of one of the things I used to have with my successful tanks that I don't now. A lot more live rock. Meh who knows?

It reminded me of how we get mad sometimes when we stop and think about how much we have invested on our hobby lol

revhtree · Dec 14, 2015

I am a hobbyist at heart. I love reefs, fish, beautiful corals, the ocean in general. I started forums because of the hobby and as a hobby.

IronVulture · Dec 14, 2015

My advice is to take a step backwards simplify a few things the solution is probably easier than you realize. First I would stop dosing totally unless you have so much coral that your levels drop dangerously low between water changes. I prefer small weekly water changes vs larger biweekly or monthly water changes. Maybe dial back your lights some most of "the best" lights put out far more light than is needed. Don't chase any magic par number or any number for that matter. Every tank is different but really basic water changes should be enough to keep your levels in an acceptable range. Bring it back to the basics and add in the fancy stuff only after you can achieve stability.

revhtree · Dec 14, 2015

I get bubble algae and cyanobacteria too!

whew this feels good!

revhtree · Dec 14, 2015

I have it now......

Brian Kim · Dec 14, 2015

LOL.....how many more pages before you finally show us your tank

kacrocorals581 · Dec 14, 2015

maybe go back to simple. I had problems when I had all that mess went back to no WC and part time skimming and everything back to doing great.

rmiles54 · Dec 14, 2015

Rev, with the forum you have a ton of reef tanks. A lot of other people would not have been successful without you. Your tank is looking pretty nice anyway. Thanks for making this community possible!