The Garden -- Rakies shallow SPS cube

[Rakie]

My brothers baby parrot has taken up gold digging... We're hoping he gets over this phase soon, he's insatiable

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Next week, on Goooold Ruuusssh!

 

[RichtheReefer21]

He would a number on Parker's shaauuuz

 

[Fudsey]

My brothers baby parrot has taken up gold digging... We're hoping he gets over this phase soon, he's insatiable

;Hilarious;Hilarious;Hilarious;Hilarious

 

[Rakie]

So as corals came home alk consumption of course went up. Tank slowly went down to 7.4, and I turned down the pH setpoint for my CalRx. After putting in the new Ballasts in my Aquatic Life fixture, my alk dropped down to 6.7 in two days.

Lowered the low set point from 7.2 to 7.0 -- My effluent is a stream, so running the setpoint too low isn't the best way to run a CalRx. Lets hope this time tomorrow it's above 6.7 alk lol. Here's hoping for 6.8-6.9

 

[Janci]

So as corals came home alk consumption of course went up. Tank slowly went down to 7.4, and I turned down the pH setpoint for my CalRx. After putting in the new Ballasts in my Aquatic Life fixture, my alk dropped down to 6.7 in two days.

Lowered the low set point from 7.2 to 7.0 -- My effluent is a stream, so running the setpoint too low isn't the best way to run a CalRx. Lets hope this time tomorrow it's above 6.7 alk lol. Here's hoping for 6.8-6.9

This situation is almost asking for a reactor upgrade...

 

[Rakie]

This situation is almost asking for a reactor upgrade...

My reactor is rated for like 200 gallons it's more than fine, just needed to lower the pH set points lol.

 

[Rakie]

My reactor is rated for like 200 gallons it's more than fine, just needed to lower the pH set points lol.

Well... It SHOULD be more than fine... Who knows lol. I do have a lot of SPS... I won't lie, if I manage to max out my reactor rated for 200 gallons, on about 50g water volume.. I'm gonna be proud. I might even demand a special badge from @mdbannister

So about 18 hours later, alk has gone up by 0.2 -- from 6.7 to 6.9, I think it may max out today at 7.0 alk at around 20-24 hours, which isn't too much of an increase, although I think i'll tone it down just a hair to be safe.

 

[NY_Caveman]

LOL, are you quoting yourself again?
;Hilarious;Hilarious;Hilarious

 

[RichtheReefer21]

LOL, are you quoting yourself again?
;Hilarious;Hilarious;Hilarious

I do this all the time in my head, and end up editing posts over and over. Ha

 

[Rakie]

LOL, are you quoting yourself again?
;Hilarious;Hilarious;Hilarious

Oops! Meant to quote @Janci saying I needed a bigger reactor! Ah well.


_______________Basic Tank News_______________


1) Ordering the bonsai structure, the big one in a slightly custom size (18x18x9). Bubble algae will have a harder time sticking to the plastic shelves and I'll finally like my rockwork. So if bubble algae doesn't go away, it'll be significantly more manageable. I'll also finally dump the Real Reef Rock, which everybody warned me of.

1.5) At this rate the emeralds would probably stop the bubble algae quite well.. BUT, I'm willing to pay $200 to not need to clean my pumps every other day. The bubble buildup is annoying, and lighting quick. Additionally, I failed to realize I wouldn't like a corner rockwork as I don't like to have powerheads on the side of such a small tank. They do quite well on the back wall. So this will allow me to place my pumps as I like them.

2) Alk is back up at 7.2 now, so counterbalancing the alk drop from the improved T5 lighting. Corals are coloring up, they're almost acceptable at the moment. Seem to be raising about 0.3 dkh per day, so should be around 7.5dkh tomorrow at 8pm. I'll be taking it to 8.5-9.0

3) My tang is stupid. He'll nip at bubble algae, but he wont eat nori OR green flake. He goes nuts for meat, and has HLLE, which he acquired during QT. Seems to be slowly improving but I'm not a big fan of seeing big open wounds on my poor dumb tang.

 

[Janci]

Oops! Meant to quote @Janci saying I needed a bigger reactor! Ah well.


_______________Basic Tank News_______________


1) Ordering the bonsai structure, the big one in a slightly custom size (18x18x9). Bubble algae will have a harder time sticking to the plastic shelves and I'll finally like my rockwork. So if bubble algae doesn't go away, it'll be significantly more manageable. I'll also finally dump the Real Reef Rock, which everybody warned me of.

1.5) At this rate the emeralds would probably stop the bubble algae quite well.. BUT, I'm willing to pay $200 to not need to clean my pumps every other day. The bubble buildup is annoying, and lighting quick. Additionally, I failed to realize I wouldn't like a corner rockwork as I don't like to have powerheads on the side of such a small tank. They do quite well on the back wall. So this will allow me to place my pumps as I like them.

2) Alk is back up at 7.2 now, so counterbalancing the alk drop from the improved T5 lighting. Corals are coloring up, they're almost acceptable at the moment. Seem to be raising about 0.3 dkh per day, so should be around 7.5dkh tomorrow at 8pm. I'll be taking it to 8.5-9.0

3) My tang is stupid. He'll nip at bubble algae, but he wont eat nori OR green flake. He goes nuts for meat, and has HLLE, which he acquired during QT. Seems to be slowly improving but I'm not a big fan of seeing big open wounds on my poor dumb tang.

Good news on the bonsai. I like this.
Is HLLE contagious for other fish?

 

[Rakie]

Good news on the bonsai. I like this.
Is HLLE contagious for other fish?

No, it's usually from diet issues and possibly from stress on rare occasions.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Looking forward to seeing that new bonsai piece come in and fill up with your pieces. Should turn out sweeeeet

 

[Rakie]

Looking forward to seeing that new bonsai piece come in and fill up with your pieces. Should turn out sweeeeet

Yeah I'm excited. It'll be like 2-3 weeks to complete from scratch.

 

[najer]

3) My tang is stupid. He'll nip at bubble algae, but he wont eat nori OR green flake. He goes nuts for meat, and has HLLE, which he acquired during QT. Seems to be slowly improving but I'm not a big fan of seeing big open wounds on my poor dumb tang.

Pop them off the scape into the water column, see what the tang does!

 

[Rakie]

Bonsai structure ordered. $175 custom sized 18x18x9, it will look like this guy, with a tiny bit of modification: Original size was 21x18x12 -- So the top section will be brought down a hair, and the left most plates will be moved in and switched out with a smaller size plate.

Pop them off the scape into the water column, see what the tang does!

I have, he'll nibble at them half heartedly. As for the Nori and Algae flake he doesn't really seem to care. He DOES seem to enjoy the Hikari algae extreme pellets... Which are more filler than algae it seems

Spiralina loaded brine/mysis work for him though, and he goes after Ulva with gusto.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Those bonsai scapes remind me of the giant mushrooms from OG Mario.

 

[Rakie]

Those bonsai scapes remind me of the giant mushrooms from OG Mario.

I could see that lol.

It's gonna take 3 weeks but here's hoping it somehow gets done super early! Not holding my breath for that... But man am I hoping.

 

[lbacha]

I could see that lol.

It's gonna take 3 weeks but here's hoping it somehow gets done super early! Not holding my breath for that... But man am I hoping.

I’d love to see one full of of mini colonies