My path towards SPS

stephj03 · Aug 15, 2020

Man I have to say, I've really enjoyed watching this all progress. I think by far the most important thing you've done is dial in a good and realistic pace on your build, even though I'm sure it feels like it's taking forever.

A few impulse adds here and there to satisfy so that you still get to enjoy a fish/coral hobby along the way, but mostly within reason.

I wish I had been able to achieve this kind of glide path on my rig. Would have saved me a few mini crashes along the way.

Shawn_epicurious · Aug 15, 2020

stephj03 said:
Man I have to say, I've really enjoyed watching this all progress. I think by far the most important thing you've done is dial in a good and realistic pace on your build, even though I'm sure it feels like it's taking forever.

A few impulse adds here and there to satisfy so that you still get to enjoy a fish/coral hobby along the way, but mostly within reason.

I wish I had been able to achieve this kind of glide path on my rig. Would have saved me a few mini crashes along the way.

Wow, thank you! Reading that just made my day! : )

Hydrored · Aug 15, 2020

Shawn_epicurious said:
Okay so... I just heard something new... “heavy in and out method” I’m assuming that means heavy feeding and heavy export of waste?Idont have any algea scrubber...

Correct!

Shawn_epicurious · Aug 16, 2020

The obligatory full tank shot.

Shawn_epicurious · Aug 26, 2020

This path has led to me to a fight with phosphates. I recently bought a Hannah ULR phosphate checker and was shocked at the level! I have been running above .5 and didn’t know it. I did learn that I am horrible at reading color change tests. I started running PhosGaurd 6 days ago and have barely made a dent in that level. I think I am going to switch to GFO once I use up all the PhosGaurd I bought. I also recently replaced my RODI system. Hopefully the new one is pulling more “stuff” out of my water. I have also recently learned the water supply where I live is naturally high on phosphates. : (

Shawn_epicurious · Sep 4, 2020

Kind of a sad day today. ...problems with current LFS... (long story) good guy... no available time...moving on.

I had to remove a rock today... some of my corals... wanna take over. I had to sacrifice one today... really 3 different species on that rock. I still have 2 of his propagations in my tank. I have trouble reaching one of them (tuff spot in the rock to reach).

...feeling alone in this hobby tonight...

Shawn_epicurious · Sep 5, 2020

I am almost 4 months into this six month plan. It’s funny, I set out to upgrade all of my equipment. You have no idea the amount of research I’ve done along the way... The learning : ) ...I’ve discovered problems I didn’t even know I had : ) R2R helped solve most of them. I am very very close to being done with this equipment phase. (I’ll be posting a lot in the next couple of weeks)

This weekend I entered a new phase... reduction of softies, that want to tank over my tank. I sold off 2 this weekend. My GSP and a Zenia. (and had to pull out all off her propagations...) still scrapping off a few very small GSP spots. I know... it is progress... my tank seems... diminished : (

Shawn_epicurious · Sep 15, 2020

I am so close... Sooooo close : ‘

Shawn_epicurious · Sep 16, 2020

Tomorrow is gonna be a cool day!

Shawn_epicurious · Sep 17, 2020

I just finished up my lighting. I replaced my 2 Hydra 32HDs and 1 Hydra 26 with 3 Hydra 64HD and I fixed my flow issues by adding some wave makers!

I also am using my DOS dosing system now (no more manual dosing)

Good day!

Shawn_epicurious · Sep 17, 2020

Shawn_epicurious said:
The obligatory full tank shot.

My bioload was cut heavily today. I no longer have any corals that want to take over my tank.

I think I just attained my goals for my equipment. This bad boy is ready for SPS now. The only question left is... am I? Lol

stephj03 · Sep 17, 2020

Looks great! What schedule are you running on the hydras?

How's your PO4 coming along?

Shawn_epicurious · Sep 17, 2020

stephj03 said:
Looks great! What schedule are you running on the hydras?

How's your PO4 coming along?

I downloaded this lighting schedule from AI. (Pic below)

The PO4 is improving but still a way to go. (I found out I have been over-feeding... and doing a few other things wrong). I am staying below .22 now and it drops a little more each day. The PhosGaurd is working.

(edited: I forgot the pic)

Shawn_epicurious · Sep 18, 2020

So... I am now auto-dosing Calcium and Alk. I am still fighting phosphates : ( Hannah ULR checker still at .35 as of 5 minutes ago. I have finally listened to those numbers and changed my feeding habits. I was feeding Nori almost 24/7... I just kept it in there for them. Now I put half a sheet and take it back out after 4 hours. I also just started defrosting my frozen foods in a small amount of tank water and then dumping that into a net to throw away the liquid. I also stopped feeding dehydrated krill to my eel and anemone. I bought them some human grade frozen “popcorn“ shrimp At the grocery store today.

Hope it helps! I want to start buying livestock again

Shawn_epicurious · Sep 19, 2020

Well... I went and did it. I just bought my first 2 SPS. They are both Metallic Milliporas.

PAR at the mid point on the first one is 390. PAR on the second one is 305.

I also picked up 2 Twinspot Gobies : ) They are hard to get a good picture of. They are the same color as my sand lol

WIReefer · Sep 19, 2020

Congrats trying sps is always a fun thing to do!

Hydrored · Sep 19, 2020

Shawn_epicurious said:
Well... I went and did it. I just bought my first 2 SPS. They are both Metallic Milliporas.

PAR at the mid point on the first one is 390. PAR on the second one is 305.

I also picked up 2 Twinspot Gobies : ) They are hard to get a good picture of. They are the same color as my sand lol

Are they maricultured? Now the fun starts!

Shawn_epicurious · Sep 19, 2020

Hydrored said:
Are they maricultured? Now the fun starts!

I did not ask that question.. : ( I do not know.

Yeah, I was like a kid in the candy store today! I did start with “beginner SPS”

Hydrored · Sep 19, 2020

Shawn_epicurious said:
I did not ask that question.. : ( I do not know.

Yeah, I was like a kid in the candy store today! I did start with “beginner SPS”

Just ease them into that par unless you know what par they came from. they looked maricultured from the photo