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melev

Day 25 - topdown pictures

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Today is the 25th day since the reef was taken down... the livestock has been in vats and I've done my best to maintain stable water parameters.

Within the first few days, alkalinity shot up to 15dKH, and it took a week to let that burn off to 9 again. Currently, the water measures 10 dKH and the calcium reactor seems to be dialed in for the current set up.

Within the first few days, PO4 was .03ppm. Amazed and impressed, I was happy to not have to worry about that number. I cut back the amount of vodka being dosed daily since there was no sand or rock in the system (other than what was in the sump and refugium). Recently, I checked and it was up to .5ppm. I dosed Phosphate control to knock it back down.

Temperature and salinity have been pretty good throughout.

Livestock lost so far: Yellow Coris Wrasse, acro fraglet, efflo that never was happy nor colorful, and the Toadstool leather is on its way out I'm sad to report.

However, everything else is looking good. Here are some images I took today.





















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Categories
Tank Entry , ‎ Photography/Video

Comments

  1. Cookiejar's Avatar
    Wow, those are some big colonies and looking healthy. How old is that birdsnest? Is that an acan in the 4th pic, in the middle towards the top?
  2. Reefski's Avatar
    that is mostly great news. good job!

    when is the new tank to be ready? can you pass out frags of the leather to save it somewhat?

    how will you fit it all back in? an impossible task.

    Carl
  3. Hat39406's Avatar
    Beautiful Marc! Glad to hear about the minimal loss but still have hope for the toadstool.
  4. OneReef's Avatar
    Marc, have you had any thoughts of leaving out all leathers and shrooms altogether in the new tank to create a cleaner enviornment for your SPS?
  5. melev's Avatar
    Cookiejar - yes, that's an Acan echinata. It's very aggressive, but the BTA has been stronger along that one side you can't see.

    Carl - I don't have a timeline on the new tank yet, but I'd expect it to arrive after MACNA. Last I heard, the leather was floating like a cork in Drew's system, and he was considering taking some cuttings. I have a feeling what I have won't look like much in the new tank at all. It doesn't look like much to me. There should be plenty of space for growth.

    Hat - thanks

    Onereef - yes, that thought has resonated through my skull.
  6. agsansoo's Avatar
    Is it me, or just the photos. Don't the acros look a little stressed (brown) ?

    Silly question: Marc, why not build your own tank from 1" and 3/4" acrylic ?
  7. melev's Avatar
    Yes, they aren't as pretty with all that has happened. Additionally, they are under two 10,000K bulbs with no actinic supplementation. The LPS corals are under the 20,000K bulb.

    I don't want an acrylic tank.
  8. mro2you2's Avatar
    that hammer is AWESOME!!
  9. cruelle's Avatar
    WOW things are looking great... Marc, has anyone thought of making a glass tank that is curved on the bottom and sides so it would be "seamless tank" so to speak. I know my little 8 gallon bio-cube has curved front glass to it. Just a thought.... chris
  10. mro2you2's Avatar
    hey mark, Theres a aiptasia next to the birdsnest in the 4th picture. Get rid of it before you move the rocks or you might rip it.
  11. melev's Avatar
    I need to nuke some aiptasia, some majanos, and remove any and all mushrooms!

    cruelle - Odds are this has been considered by various manufacturers. As a general rule, the material (glass or acrylic) weakens where it has been heated and bent. A bent area tends to distort your view, something I don't like looking at either.
  12. mro2you2's Avatar
    Im ready to put mushrooms and GSP on the pest list anytime
  13. NightShade's Avatar
    wow, not going to be able to setup until after MACNA. . . that isn't until September right? Well at least things are doing well for now, it should all stay pretty stable till your new system can be setup.

    Are your dimensions and changes that need to be made figured out yet so you can get started on those? You have about a month to get crackin on them and work out any problems that may arise.
  14. melev's Avatar
    Trying to ascertain exactly what I'm getting before they even start is the best way to make the stand the proper size and prepare the room. Once the stand has been ordered, I can build the new sump. Hopefully I'll time everything out so that when the tank arrives, the stand is in place and it is ready to accept it. With the waiting period, I'm hoping to maintain good water quality and stability for the corals. Since the LR isn't in the vats, I'll be able to put the sand in the tank and arrange the rockwork, then move the livestock into it. I don't see the rush to move it in once it is set up, but by then I may be ready to just get-r-dun to get my kitchen and living room back.
  15. Deanb's Avatar
    is your purple tang nice?
  16. melev's Avatar
    She likes me. Why? Just kidding. She's pretty peaceful to her other tank mates.
  17. Deanb's Avatar
    Lol thanks. Im getting one for free and have herd they are pretty mean.
  18. baker.shawn's Avatar
    im sad to say that your disasterous vats are still 1000x better then anything i will ever dream of owning -_-