My Big Beautiful Budget Breeder Build

[Victoria M]

I've been busy trying to decide which I want more -- a zoa garden or my blue tuxedo urchin. He destroyed my garden, but he is funny and wears almost everything he finds. Decisions, decisions.

This is tough. I love them both. But zoa gardens never make you laugh. Keep him for now. Zoas later.

 

[Crabby48]

Retro Reefer do I remember reading you had a Hanna salinity/temp tester that read .002 low.
I have one that is the same and a few guys at the LFS. I’m thinking Hanna reads high what is your findings?

 

[Retro Reefer]

Retro Reefer do I remember reading you had a Hanna salinity/temp tester that read .002 low.
I have one that is the same and a few guys at the LFS. I’m thinking Hanna reads high what is your findings?

it varies slightly but yes it’s reading low, just calibrated it last week and checked it against my calibrated refractometer, the Hanna reads 1.025 and my refractometer reads 1.026. I was a little disappointed at first but it has become one of my favorite tools, it has been very consistent and I have only calibrated it twice since I’ve had it.. I can check all my tanks and saltwater holding container in a matter of minutes with it

 

[Retro Reefer]

I’m really behind on my thread and my tank ;Facepalm Its been very hectic the last week or so for me so lots of things got moved to the back burner.. I was asked to join the R2R Reef Squad this week, hopefully I can help someone and give back to this great community all at the same time, if not they will probably boot me out ;Hilarious

happy thanksgiving everyone!

 

[Crabby48]

Congratulations becoming reef squad it is well deserved.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Congrats!!!!

 

[NY_Caveman]

Nice Retro! Congratulations!

 

[Retro Reefer]

Time to get in gear, planning to mount and re secure a few things today..

things could get a little “sticky” ;Wideyed;Hilarious

 

[Retro Reefer]

You can only see this new growth from the top of course it would grow like mad in the opposite direction of which I planned and right towards my ASD venom :mad:

 

[najer]

Good, Mr Impatient, can't wait to see the results once you have glued yourself to the phone!

 

[Retro Reefer]

My orange pavona is coloring up nicely, the aminos seem to be helping with coral health however they have also triggered a hair algae outbreak.

this morning, pumps are on low so not the clearest picture..

 

[Retro Reefer]

Good, Mr Impatient, can't wait to see the results once you have glued yourself to the phone!

its an iPad thank you very much ;Hilarious

 

[najer]

I love that pavona, very nice.
I need all lights on to take proper pics, still hanging on but like the other 3 acros I have left shut down due to the lemon peel.

 

[Retro Reefer]

I love that pavona, very nice.
I need all lights on to take proper pics, still hanging on but like the other 3 acros I have left shut down due to the lemon peel.

that’s a shame man.. you have better restraint than me, I would be having fish and chips for dinner

 

[najer]

that’s a shame man.. you have better restraint than me, I would be having fish and chips for dinner

I am trying, just about to move the fish trap, it will be baited!

 

[Victoria M]

looking beautiful as usual reef friend.

 

[Retro Reefer]

so in keeping with my budget build theme Im picking up some equipment this weekend while it’s on sale

upgrade kit for my RO to turn it into an 8 stage system, I have chloramines so I will now have 3 carbon block filters before membrane and 3 DI stages after.. one Antion, one Cation and one mixed bed at the end.

 

[Retro Reefer]

9 month progression pictures.. my Caulastrea‘s are out of control, the mother colony has been cut back several times and now it‘s dropping babies ;Facepalm

February 2019

November 2019

 

[najer]

9 month progression pictures.. my Caulastrea‘s are out of control, the mother colony has been cut back several times and now it‘s dropping babies ;Facepalm

February 2019

November 2019

Looking great.

 

[Retro Reefer]

these are super easy to grow but still amazes me to have this much progress with a stony coral in just a few years.

A baby picture of my Caulastrea mother colony (Feb 2016)

current picture..

And some frags taken from original colony..