Urgh seriously.

Wow Sarah! It’s really looking incredible!

Hello,

Thanks for the kind words it’s not doing to bad for being 18 months old lol. It looks better (if I keep it clean) hence why it looks so gorgeous now. The pumps and glass sides and back take forever but well worth it. I will try adding 300 microfiber socks to my returns and see how much that or if it makes it even better. The downside is they will clog up super fast, (shouldn’t since they are last in line ) but we shall see. Still have the second return pump to clean and one wave maker left thank goodness. Need to trim some corals and make more room for sps on top :). Tested water today and had really clean water which is good. Calcium and alk are steady about 1.5 tablespoons a day now and trace elements back up to 1.5 as well. Now that my phosphates and nitrates are extremely low, I have to still dose my nopox. So maybe I’ll cut it down to 15ml and then test and see how the skimmer does. As well as it’s doing I don’t wanna change anything I’m doing. Yet I can’t bottom by nitrates and phosphates out so I guess maybe feed more or dose reef roids more. Now thst I’m feeding more my fish seem much happier. You would think five frozen cubes of mysis Would be enough, Nope. They always want to eat and you can see their tummies bulge out.

Definitely need to get a larger clean up crew and work with them. Not sure I want crabs again, but definitely need more snails. Tired of the crabs eating all my snails, they are suppose to work together. I also need to get some heavy duty Velcro and place all of the power supplies on the back glass of my tank. (Luckily it’s completely covered top to bottom in coraline so I won’t see cords or supplies. Still need to add in my blue tooth device as well. But I’m getting to the point my tank just works and I’m always hesitated on changes. I should probably clean the lights better with warm water cloth tomorrow as well. There is salt Crete on them even though I ran my fingers over them.

I also changed the return flow nozzles (part of each one) to literally throw flow behind the rock work. I noticed that seemed to be where most of my dead flow and cyano was starting. Since I have one pointed directly behind the rock work I can definitely see the flow pattern is much more swift. If I need to I can turn them up from 50% but they were at 75. But after I cleaned the one it was a night and day difference and (oh so gross and nasty inside. Kind of the reason I want to try the super small 200-300 filter socks on the intakes. It will save me time cleaning them and I will see how much yuck gets through my first filter socks, skimmer and then microfiber pads then back into the tank. So it will be keen to see and try out.

Today as I purchased new filter socks to try, it seems the word is out that my reef is one of the better ones in Boise. I was asked by my lfs and another business owner if I would sell the entire system and they would move it to their office. Honestly I’m certain that’s a no, but for the amount they offered why not just make your own? Was a little thrown off by it today, and what’s strange is they want everything corals fish and all. Which I know 100% they are not getting them at all. They are not rare tangs so they can manage but I really do wanna add a long nose black tang. Just was certain it would conflict with my purple tang. Which strikes me, did purple tangs just go super crazy up in price? What they were asking for one at my lfs was absolutely nuts. Glad I have one (err still lol). Still trying to have a good idea about my new uv steralizer and if I’m going to run both ozone and the uv at the same time. @Lasse was curious on your throughts on this and @Brew12 .
 
First – your reef looks very well

In the thread about other methods than prophylactic QT - @Brew12 dig up an article about prolonged dormant stage of saltwater ich in anaerobic conditions. I do not know how this can be applicable to your reef – but keep an eye open to that

About running Ozone and UV-C. I would test with running the UV-C 24/7 and have the ozone in reserve. If your water has a yellow tint – maybe run the ozone very low. If you use the type of UV-C that we have talk about – you will have a low production of ozone in the UV-C and maybe that’s enough in order to get a clear water

Sincerely Lasse
 
Hello,

Thanks for the kind words it’s not doing to bad for being 18 months old lol. It looks better (if I keep it clean) hence why it looks so gorgeous now. The pumps and glass sides and back take forever but well worth it. I will try adding 300 microfiber socks to my returns and see how much that or if it makes it even better. The downside is they will clog up super fast, (shouldn’t since they are last in line ) but we shall see. Still have the second return pump to clean and one wave maker left thank goodness. Need to trim some corals and make more room for sps on top :). Tested water today and had really clean water which is good. Calcium and alk are steady about 1.5 tablespoons a day now and trace elements back up to 1.5 as well. Now that my phosphates and nitrates are extremely low, I have to still dose my nopox. So maybe I’ll cut it down to 15ml and then test and see how the skimmer does. As well as it’s doing I don’t wanna change anything I’m doing. Yet I can’t bottom by nitrates and phosphates out so I guess maybe feed more or dose reef roids more. Now thst I’m feeding more my fish seem much happier. You would think five frozen cubes of mysis Would be enough, Nope. They always want to eat and you can see their tummies bulge out.

Definitely need to get a larger clean up crew and work with them. Not sure I want crabs again, but definitely need more snails. Tired of the crabs eating all my snails, they are suppose to work together. I also need to get some heavy duty Velcro and place all of the power supplies on the back glass of my tank. (Luckily it’s completely covered top to bottom in coraline so I won’t see cords or supplies. Still need to add in my blue tooth device as well. But I’m getting to the point my tank just works and I’m always hesitated on changes. I should probably clean the lights better with warm water cloth tomorrow as well. There is salt Crete on them even though I ran my fingers over them.

I also changed the return flow nozzles (part of each one) to literally throw flow behind the rock work. I noticed that seemed to be where most of my dead flow and cyano was starting. Since I have one pointed directly behind the rock work I can definitely see the flow pattern is much more swift. If I need to I can turn them up from 50% but they were at 75. But after I cleaned the one it was a night and day difference and (oh so gross and nasty inside. Kind of the reason I want to try the super small 200-300 filter socks on the intakes. It will save me time cleaning them and I will see how much yuck gets through my first filter socks, skimmer and then microfiber pads then back into the tank. So it will be keen to see and try out.

Today as I purchased new filter socks to try, it seems the word is out that my reef is one of the better ones in Boise. I was asked by my lfs and another business owner if I would sell the entire system and they would move it to their office. Honestly I’m certain that’s a no, but for the amount they offered why not just make your own? Was a little thrown off by it today, and what’s strange is they want everything corals fish and all. Which I know 100% they are not getting them at all. They are not rare tangs so they can manage but I really do wanna add a long nose black tang. Just was certain it would conflict with my purple tang. Which strikes me, did purple tangs just go super crazy up in price? What they were asking for one at my lfs was absolutely nuts. Glad I have one (err still lol). Still trying to have a good idea about my new uv steralizer and if I’m going to run both ozone and the uv at the same time. @Lasse was curious on your throughts on this and @Brew12 .

FWIW - Pentair is currently running a factory direct sale on UV units. They are offering very good pricing and they're units are solid performers.

https://pentairaes.com/smart-uv-high-output-sterilizers.html

And

https://pentairaes.com/smart-uv-sterilizers-31295.html
 
Was his step 3 two days also a 7 block hour and then a 9 block hour day? Did he have to travel to take his exams also?

Oh and huge pet peeve of mine is when I want a patient on a med and insurance argues w me. They are not doctors I will ask for brand and they say no and generic and I give them my reasons. Yet they always get their way how do I override them? Even when they send a pre authorization over they say it’s too much money. I don’t care about their profits I care if my patient is happy and doing well.[/QUOTE]

My recert was shorter as they all are. 4 hours day one then 4 hours orals day two. My sons was yes 8 hours each day. He didn’t have to travel as there was a testing site in Ohio for the written. And orals were at his site. For step two he had to go to Chicago for the orals as they only offered them in Chicago or Philly. When I was in the ARMY I had to go to Oklahoma to take my part 3. I drove all night then fell asleep in the parking lot until morning came and went in took my exam all day then drove back to Fort Sam.

DM me I will give you my number. I am an executive for a major national carrier for many years now and if and when you have problems getting something for one of your patients I will either get it approved for you or tell you how.
Even for my own patients which none of them have insurance I am able to treat them with any medicine or tests and get them done for very little money. Where there is a will there is a way. Most docs just want to complain about it and not actually do anything! Be a doer!! I’ll help when needed!!
 
Still trying to have a good idea about my new uv steralizer and if I’m going to run both ozone and the uv at the same time. @Lasse was curious on your throughts on this and @Brew12 .
I would agree with Lasse, use the UV first since it is actually your back up plan. Allowing the fish to fight it with their immune system is the primary plan and should be very effective. Save the added complexity of an ozone generator as a future emergency option imo.
 
Hello,

@Lasse ahhh thanks coming from you that means lots and lots :). I currently run my old uvc which are a c level 24/7 and my water is always super clear. The only reason I switched was these don’t have the 185nm wavelength that kills bacteria viruses and parasites (free swimming), and the dwell time is much longer on this one. I just don’t wanna over do it and get rid of good bacteria and things that will benefit the tank. But as far as parasites and viruses go, I’m hoping all but to wipe them out. So like you both said @Brew12 I will just run the uv 24/7 (and go from there) then if something starts to show its signs I can kick the ozone generator on and hit it with that also. I’m pretty much trying to do strict preventive as plan A since (being realistic catching or ripping my tank apart isn’t really viable option), then if something comes use the ozone to help even more. Feeding better food as well as giving them vitamin c and b12 should boost their immune system.

I still want to add two fish that have been on my bucket list but (yes they would be in qt for as long as possible), but still want to get a nice achiellies tang or powder blue, (either or) and would love to get a long nose black tang. Not sure how he would do with my purple tang though. The purple is kinda shy and hangs out with my tommini tang 24/7, it’s minda like they are dating lol). But again i don’t want to take risks either and I’m not sure if I have enough room in my tank for two more. I have five tangs bellus angel goby (1) clown and 6 blue green chromies (hopefully less here soon if I can catch them). There is no aggression between any of my tangs with each other, the only aggression is the six chromies try and gang up on one of the tangs. Then usually they all gang up on them. Normally the Lt tang slaps them across the tank. But I have seen the hippo and purple do it as well. The Naso Tang which is three times the size of any of my fish is a big baby. She avoids everyone unless there is food in the tank.
 
Was his step 3 two days also a 7 block hour and then a 9 block hour day? Did he have to travel to take his exams also?

Oh and huge pet peeve of mine is when I want a patient on a med and insurance argues w me. They are not doctors I will ask for brand and they say no and generic and I give them my reasons. Yet they always get their way how do I override them? Even when they send a pre authorization over they say it’s too much money. I don’t care about their profits I care if my patient is happy and doing well.

My recert was shorter as they all are. 4 hours day one then 4 hours orals day two. My sons was yes 8 hours each day. He didn’t have to travel as there was a testing site in Ohio for the written. And orals were at his site. For step two he had to go to Chicago for the orals as they only offered them in Chicago or Philly. When I was in the ARMY I had to go to Oklahoma to take my part 3. I drove all night then fell asleep in the parking lot until morning came and went in took my exam all day then drove back to Fort Sam.

DM me I will give you my number. I am an executive for a major national carrier for many years now and if and when you have problems getting something for one of your patients I will either get it approved for you or tell you how.
Even for my own patients which none of them have insurance I am able to treat them with any medicine or tests and get them done for very little money. Where there is a will there is a way. Most docs just want to complain about it and not actually do anything! Be a doer!! I’ll help when needed!![/QUOTE]

Hello,

Yes I can do that and see what we can come up with if It happens again. It just bugs me because insurance companies are not health providers, so they should stop pretending to be. It’s amazing how they have been
Left unchecked for so many years, same with social security disability. It’s insane how people have to try five or six times just to get approved.

I also noticed that my thread has over 70,000 views wow that’s sooo awesome. I hope to continue to lol not bore people :) however once I decide what I’m doing with my new. Tank the 425 I have to decide if I want that as a separate thread or just include it in this one. Hmmm.
I don’t even know if I have the energy to start another one but I have some fun plans for that tank. Which at the same time also makes me re think them because I had stress ick in the 240. I still have the rocks etc but wanna use staxx rocks in the new one and silicon them to the back glass and make it where even the wave makers are hidden by the rocks. Which two things if I ever have a break out in that tank it’s impossible to move the rocks etc. if I ever move again,
Not being able to take those rocks out may cause a small problem lol. I love the idea of my new tank but deciding if I wanna move really kinda is draining. Of the things I dislike in life being close to number one is moving. But it’s a great way to get motivated and throw stuff away. Definitely going to hire one of those huge garage bins lol I will probably need it dumped two or maybe five or six times. Things in my house will come down to, hmmm is this worth my time moving (nope in the trash you go).
 
So like you both said @Brew12 I will just run the uv 24/7 (and go from there) then if something starts to show its signs I can kick the ozone generator on and hit it with that also.
I would only run the UV on an as-needed basis. I want as much life in my tank as possible and while running the UV full time might not hurt things too much I wouldn't do it more than necessary. I would let the immune system take the lead, and run the UV if you start seeing symptoms. Add the ozone if it doesn't clear up in a few days or gets progressively worse.
 
I would only run the UV on an as-needed basis. I want as much life in my tank as possible and while running the UV full time might not hurt things too much I wouldn't do it more than necessary. I would let the immune system take the lead, and run the UV if you start seeing symptoms. Add the ozone if it doesn't clear up in a few days or gets progressively worse.

Hello,

So the new level one only use when needed per say like you said. What about the two uvc I have now? They are basically water clarifiers (the green killing machines). They are nothing close to the strength or power of the new one. Heck I still get some alage blooms and or cyano even with those two running full time. Maybe that’s why I have some alage and or cyano I don’t have enough good bacteria to kill the bad.
 
99 % of the useful bacteria is not free-swimming, the are instead bacteria that forms biofilms and attach to one or another substrate. IMO – it will not disturb the most important parts of the biological system if the UV-C will work 24/7. It will neither kill all parasites or microorganisms that are free swimmers - only the one pass by the reaction chamber. The ones with 185 nm will make some ozone that will be active in the DT too but it is not so effective that it will disturb a natural biological life (IMO at least).

Sincerely Lasse
 
Hello,

So the new level one only use when needed per say like you said. What about the two uvc I have now? They are basically water clarifiers (the green killing machines). They are nothing close to the strength or power of the new one. Heck I still get some alage blooms and or cyano even with those two running full time. Maybe that’s why I have some alage and or cyano I don’t have enough good bacteria to kill the bad.
Sarah,

My take is that you have a beautiful, highly effective system. I would deviate from it as little as possible and only for good reasons.
 
Sarah,

My take is that you have a beautiful, highly effective system. I would deviate from it as little as possible and only for good reasons.

Hello,

Coming from you that’s like me winning an Oscar or Nobel peace prize lol. My tank is very simple and works well and yes I try not to deviate from what I’m doing because it works. Yes the stress ick made me panic something crazy and what’s worse is I felt horrible that I didn’t have any plan of action or way to immediately help them. So that’s why I panicked and wanted to make sure next time I have something in place and ready to go.

What’s worse is I really want this long nose black tang or achielles tang. Now I’m terrified about adding fish to my system (still should have enough room) but not sure how they will work with my other tangs. Hopefully my lfs will get some clearner shrimp in soon. :)
 
The cleaner wrasse and cleaner shrimp are an internet myth when it comes to Ich. :-/

A favorite LFS has a black tang for years. They are beautiful fish. It is about 7-8" now. Lives in a 180 with a couple of clownfish.
Awesome tank. Frogspawn and hammers almost the size of basketballs.
Tang barely has room to swim.
 
The cleaner wrasse and cleaner shrimp are an internet myth when it comes to Ich. :-/

A favorite LFS has a black tang for years. They are beautiful fish. It is about 7-8" now. Lives in a 180 with a couple of clownfish.
Awesome tank. Frogspawn and hammers almost the size of basketballs.
Tang barely has room to swim.

Hello,

Isn’t it funny that when we first start a 220-240 gallon tank it always seems massive till it grows. Then as it grows it feels like it’s a 55 and there is no room. We then upgrade to a 425 and curious if it will be the same lol. Eventually I will have a tank so large I will have to go inside it to clean the glass, it can be like the open ocean display in the movie finding dory. But even looking at my tank now, I have some corals the size of soft balls and basketballs. I trim them back but neat to see them and how they grow. Black tangs and Achilles tangs are sooo pretty. I wouldn’t mind a Sohal either yet some of them are nice and peaceful and others are terrors. But they are so beautiful.
 
Hello,

Coming from you that’s like me winning an Oscar or Nobel peace prize lol. My tank is very simple and works well and yes I try not to deviate from what I’m doing because it works. Yes the stress ick made me panic something crazy and what’s worse is I felt horrible that I didn’t have any plan of action or way to immediately help them. So that’s why I panicked and wanted to make sure next time I have something in place and ready to go.

What’s worse is I really want this long nose black tang or achielles tang. Now I’m terrified about adding fish to my system (still should have enough room) but not sure how they will work with my other tangs. Hopefully my lfs will get some clearner shrimp in soon. :)
You give me way too much credit. I bet you can grow coral better than I can!

Having plans is always a good thing but stability is still key. Adding new fish is tough, especially when mixing tangs. You never know how they will get along. If they stress each other out it can cause issues knowing you have ich in your tank. That's not to say it can't work, and work well, only that it needs to be done with caution.

Cleaner shrimp do play a role in fish health, but agree they seem to have little value for ich. They may clean up the entrance/exit wounds on the fish but don't target the parasite directly. They could possibly eat the eggs of some flat worm type parasites like flukes though. Cleaner fish are much the same.
 
Well Sarah I spent several hours in an ED on Saturday night at Deaconess in Spokane...was it a full moon Saturday night....seems like we were over run with crazies on Crack. Not sure how you all survive those shifts and keep youself smiling! I spent the whole time praying for the staff and their safety.

Glad you have an aquarium to keep you smiling! It is so calming to watch the fish and coral!
 
Well Sarah I spent several hours in an ED on Saturday night at Deaconess in Spokane...was it a full moon Saturday night....seems like we were over run with crazies on Crack. Not sure how you all survive those shifts and keep youself smiling! I spent the whole time praying for the staff and their safety.

Glad you have an aquarium to keep you smiling! It is so calming to watch the fish and coral!

Hello,

Oh no (did you have to work or I’ll) and it takes some will power to muster through it. I was off Friday to Monday but work tonight. However my co worker she said it was absolutely nuts yesterday and people were just not being smart on some things. But there are days where I can’t even catch my breath and what’s worse is the wait times for people. I will say I have seen quite a few of (you came to the er for this?, like common cold, or they bring children in for scraped knees (literally and the child is up playing and jumping and being normal), but they insist lol. But holiday weekends are never fun at work lol. My tank does relieve a lot of stress, and some days it piles it on. But usually it really relaxes me. It’s sad I’m in my mid 20s and I have no problem sitting on the couch in silence and just watching my tank till I fall asleep. Not movies music etc (but usually I move to bed). I often at times listen to music or watch cartoons to relax as well.

@Brew12 I totally understand, most things are only preventive which if it works fine by me. Honestly I probably don’t have the will power to add any fish to my system lol. I drive some of my friends crazy but I have always been happy with hey this works leave it alone. The issue I’m looking into now is the anything wet contamination. I can’t imagine with how my lfs do their coral it’s very likely. However I have no idea how the coral is before they get them. But definitely now there is no cross contamination. I will simply get new corals but drain my tank water into a bucket and let that accillmate. Then when ready, I will coral dip it and then rinse in new fresh saltwater then my tank. I have always cut the plugs off but hoping this will eliminate most of it.
 
I have spent rather much time in different emergency rooms around Sweden (and two visits in the Norwegian version of emergency rooms too) during my lifetime. I can only say – thank you to all that works in the ED all around the world – without you there is many like me that would not be alive today if you were not around than you were needed.

Sincerely Lasse
 
Hello,

I had the chance to get a frog skin Acro at my lfs and a yellow tip acro as well. :) we shall see how colorful they turn out:). One of my birds nest is really starting to grow out of control in prime space. It’s starting to shade other corals where that’s a problem lol. As soon as I get them in I will show them. Though the yellow tip isn’t super pretty now it has potential :).
 
Always look forward to seeing your tank. Amazingly beautiful!

You mentioned hand dosing 1.5 teaspoons of calcium.

Do you just dump it in the sump? Sprinkle in a little at a time?
Dose 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 at night?

Lol, we still have mostly softies and a few frogspawn. Water changes take care of everything we need for now.
Getting an ATS up and running to work on the high nitrate. Hoping to add sps at some point.

Thanks!
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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