skyscraper's PicO III (Picture dump 4/13 and top down shots 4/14)

[skyscraper2290]

I will definitely give it a try, thank you

[skyscraper2290]

So just did the basic water param tests and the one I have been concerned with, nitrate, is at 5ppm now. This was after changing about 7.5 gallons if water, still a bit concerned that the small amount if cyano I had was eating up some of the nitrates so the test might not be super accurate so I'm going to do about 10 more gallons of water changes. Also have scrubbed most issued areas and will I continue to do so for the rest of the wcs. I also removed a couple frag plugs that had quite a bit of the sponge stuff I saw, they had spread to the rock they were on. Also moved a couple plugs to different spots.

Quite a bit of my tank is a bit pissed right now but hopefully I will have some good pics soon after everything I have been doing and everything opens up again

[skyscraper2290]

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[skyscraper2290]

So I know it has been a while since I last posted anything on here. I went through a bit of a funk and was also traveling a bit so I wasn't keeping up with my tank and performing all of my husbandry duties so it isn't looking as good as it once did but I have been working on getting it back up to par and still plan on doing a couple more water changes in the next few days. That all being said I finally felt good enough about putting in an order for some new coral and also a skimmer from picoaqariums. Anyways here are the coral I ordered today...

 

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[ninjamyst]

great choices!

[skyscraper2290]

Thanks, I'm pumped because I haven't added anything to the tank since this summer

[skyscraper2290]

So took a couple new pictures of the corals I received but ended up having a huge issue while I was taking pictures which I don't feel like going into at the moment but lets say I am not sure when I am going to get light back over my tank.... but here are the couple pictures I ended up with.

 

 

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[ninjamyst]

frm saltcritter?

[skyscraper2290]

frm saltcritter?

 

They sure are, I really like salt critters, they may shoot under heavy blues but their prices are great and everything always makes it so I have really had no issues with them besides not receiving a couple corals I have ordered and having them replaced with random zoas

[ninjamyst]

They sure are, I really like salt critters, they may shoot under heavy blues but their prices are great and everything always makes it so I have really had no issues with them besides not receiving a couple corals I have ordered and having them replaced with random zoas

yea, i like them too. i wonder how he even makes money with his prices sometimes...haha.

[skyscraper2290]

I know, i just got 10 pieces for $130 before shipping, and I feel they are pretty good quality and personally I don't care if I get named or designer zoas or whatever, I don't see the point when there are so many other awesome stuff out there

[skyscraper2290]

So am hoping I can get some opinions. I have to put a temporary light over my tank because I have to ship back my duo because of my own boneheaded mistake. I am really trying to stick to a $125 budget and use amazon because I have gift cards there as well as prime so free 2 day shipping. I was looking at this light:

http://www.amazon.com/Coral-Compulsion-Par38-Spectrum-Dimmable/dp/B0099QU3VW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421099073&sr=8-1&keywords=coral+compulsion

and am hoping that this will be decent enough for a few week period until I am able to get the Duo back. I am not looking for anything too pricey just something that will keep the corals alive for the time being. If you have any other suggestions of a light that I could use temporarily I would love to hear any option. The tank dimensions are 18x18x16. Thanks for any help!

[skyscraper2290]

So I went ahead and ordered the coral compulsion bulb and it will get here Wednesday so just have to hope for the best for the next 2 days when it comes to all the corals in the tank but hopefully nothing too bad will happen. As of now a lot of the zoas are reaching for light but that's about the extent of it so far.

[ninjamyst]

I have heard many good things about coral compulsion and they are a sponsor here too. I was at my LFS recently and they had coral compulsion over their LPS and they look awesome. At least the black out now will help with any algae issues =P.

[skyscraper2290]

I have heard many good things about coral compulsion and they are a sponsor here too. I was at my LFS recently and they had coral compulsion over their LPS and they look awesome. At least the black out now will help with any algae issues =P.

 

 

I have heard good things about them too, I just know that it will be tested to the max with this tank being somewhat large for this size light. But should work in the mean time. And I do have a little algae so hopefully the blackout will take care of the rest of that. Gotta look for silver linings wherever you can haha. Also will get the new arrays in the duo and possibly add on the bluefish controller

[skyscraper2290]

So about an hour ago I got the coral compulsion par38 24W over the tank and almost immediately everything start to respond postively. All the zoa's started to open up and stop reaching for light. Everything else is looking good despite not having light for about 5 days now. I am actually really impressed with the light. It is a really nice light for the price and I will definitely keep it around for future tank plans. I will definitely be missing the storm controller in the mean time but I think I am going to be pretty set for now. The light actually has a really nice color being around 14k.

 

I will be sending the duo in on Friday and hopefully can get it back in a couple weeks. I am just glad to have light over the tank though. I will probably wait on purchasing any corals until I do get the duo back. There is a chance though that I change up the fish in the tank, but we shall see.

 

Also I received my PicO Skim 2.0 and hooked it up yesterday, its still breaking in but I'm happy to be running a skimmer now and hopefully seeing some benefits.

[skyscraper2290]

Here are some pictures of the tank under the coral compulsion bulb. I was messing around with the nifty fifty lens with a couple different size extension tubes and just shot everything hand held.

 

Toby the Clown

 

 

Emilio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ninjamyst]

looks really good!

[reefernanoman]

Nice tank!

[skyscraper2290]

looks really good!

 

Thanks ninja, too bad it's no where near your tank, your's is just incredible.

 

 

Nice tank!

 

Thanks en28so! Your tank with the watchman goby and two pistol shrimp are awesome. I would really love to get a goby/pistol shrimp pair. They are so cool with the relationship they have.

[skyscraper2290]

Couple pictures because pictures

 

Duncan

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Acan

http://s948.photobucket.com/user/skyscraper22900/media/_DSC2945_zpswfzlbsuf.jpg.html'>

 

Blasto

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Orange ric

http://s948.photobucket.com/user/skyscraper22900/media/_DSC2973_zps9davnk3l.jpg.html'>

 

Misc. zoa

http://s948.photobucket.com/user/skyscraper22900/media/_DSC2991_zpspvxwbka5.jpg.html'>

 

Misc. zoa

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Pink people eater

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Toby the Picasso

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[skyscraper2290]

So I went to my "LFS" yesterday and ended up trading in my Picasso and cleaner shrimp. I ended up walking out with 6 frags and the these....

 

 

Was not expecting to walk out with a clown pair and rose bubble tip anemone but it happened and I woke up this morning and saw that the clowns had already begun hosting the nem which was really exciting. I snapped this pic as I was walking out the door going to work with my phone so excuse the quality.

 

The nem had already relocated from the original rock that it came on and is looking happy happy

[skyscraper2290]

So have been looking at a new circulation pump and have put serious thought into an mp10 primarily for aesthetic reasons but have read a lot about how the dry side burns out after around 2 years and not sure if I want to have to worry about that. Was thinking jebao route but was also looking for suggestions if anyone could chime in.

[ninjamyst]

what's wrong with the one you have now? it's pretty well hidden in your FTS.

[skyscraper2290]

what's wrong with the one you have now? it's pretty well hidden in your FTS.

I have koralia but I feel like the tank could use a little more flow, I actually just moved the pump closer up front and on the glass (huge eye sore) to give the torch, hammer and nem some more flow. I need to update my FTS too it's been a while since the last one.