Slims 20 long

[Slim64684]

Small update.

Did my first water change with my float to shut off my refill pump and found out my pump isn't strong enough to overcome the check valve from the floor. Not a huge deal as I make water in a 5 gallon bucket and I can sit it on my stand until I get a stronger pump. 

 

Got my clear mesh in to redo my screen top (was using regular window screen) and painted the frame black.

 

Got a new friend.(ignore the particles in the water, was right after a water change)

 

I also started to develop a bio film on top of the water so I decided to try to make a surface skimmer for my canister.I tried just 2 pieces in a 90° just sitting in but didnt get the results I was looking for so I will go ahead and make the full box and try that, but will have to wait til next weekend so I can monitor throughout the day.

 

And I hated to see foster and smith close but I took advantage and ordered a second current ic light. Should be here tuesday.

 

One last thing, I'm starting to see coraline alga all over the rocks so kinda pumped about that. But at the same time my kedds red zoas keep losing polyps and I have no idea why.

[Slim64684]

Tank has been running good other then the kedds red zoa, but i think i finally found a spot it liked even if I'm down to 3 polyps. Hopefully it will make a come back. 

 

Picked up another acan. Had some awsome yellows in it at the lfs.

 

And got a solar flare favia frag.

 

Candy cane is doing good as well as my green zoas.

 

And lastly the big head on my hammer is splitting. kinda had to see in the pic, but has two mouths and they are starting to grow apart.

[mtnbikeracer]

How do you like the Current powerhead?  And what is the thinking behind going with the 6005 instead of the 6004?  Reason I'm asking is that I'm planning on getting the Current Marine Pro IC light with Loop. And would like to integrate equipment as much as possible.

[Slim64684]

40 minutes ago, mtnbikeracer said:

How do you like the Current powerhead?  And what is the thinking behind going with the 6005 instead of the 6004?  Reason I'm asking is that I'm planning on getting the Current Marine Pro IC light with Loop. And would like to integrate equipment as much as possible.

I origionally got a light and flow bundle that came with the 1050 gph wavemaker. When I decided to add a second i just got another of the same size so I could set them up to pulse back and forth. 

 

So far they have been doing good. Tank is right by my bed and I really don't notice them running. I have them set to 60% And dont really notice any dead spots.

[Slim64684]

Went by the lfs yesterday and picked up a couple more corals. The had a raffle going so I got into that and got a favia and a cup coral

 

 

Also picked up a frogspawnall 3 pics right after placing in the tank.fts 1/25/19

 

 

Lfs also had this amazing green mouthed torch with black teniticles and orange tips. But it's currently a grow out project and sadly not for sale. Maybe I'll be able to pick one up in a few months.

[mtnbikeracer]

What materials did you source for your screen?

[Slim64684]

1 hour ago, mtnbikeracer said:

What materials did you source for your screen?

It's just white aluminum screen frame kit from menards (already had it) and clear 1/4" mesh from Amazon. Then once it was assembled i spray painted it all black.

[Slim64684]

Completed my testing and water change tonight. Also moved some corals into what I hope become their forever homes.

 

Test results:

Tank water

Temp: 78.3

pH: 8.0

Salinity: 34 ppt

NO3: 20

PO4: .1

Ca: 470

Mg: 1500

Alk: 7.3

 

New water

pH: 8.2

Salinity: 35ppt

Ca: 475

Mg: 1300

Alk: 11.2

 

My mg has been rising in my tank and my all stays pretty steady around 7.3-7.8. Im going to start tracking my tank vs new water a little closer to see if i can figure out what's going on.

 

fts 1/27/19 right after water change and moving corals.

[Slim64684]

Everything other than the kedds red zoa is going good. I have now lost all of the kedds and no idea why. When I lost the last polyp it was open all day and looked good when I went to bed at 11. When I got up at 530 it was completely gone. Same thing happened with the final 3 polyps from that frag. I've been checking my incredible hulks and counting polyps every morning when I get up, i get home from work, and before i go to sleep. 11 every time. But I did go back to when I first got it and I have gained 2 polyps on that frag. 

 

I also started to slowly increase my lighting. I went from 50 to 55 blue, stayed at 13 white, 10 to 13 red and green. All corals responded nicely (did this after i lost the last kedds red). I plan to keep bumping my lights up slowly until i see a negative response.

 

Took my 2 year old to the fish store and he had to have nemo. So after hearing from him for the last month about wanting nemo i finally gave in. so suprise I present nemo the clown fish. I'm thinking about getting a black and white to pair here soon.

[Slim64684]

Interesting development tonight. I went upstairs, my tank is in my bedroom, to check my salinity on my water change water and as i was looking the tank over good i noticed a chip in the glass. I have no idea how it go there or what caused it but its in the middle of the front panel.

 

I'm at a loss as to what to do. Should I just let it be? Should I replace the tank? Should I get a slightly larger tank (29)?

 

I need help and suggestions please.

 

sorry for the bad pic its hard to get my phone to focus on the glass.

[mtnbikeracer]

How deep is the chip? If it's not too deep, maybe fill it with silicone? 

[ReefGoat]

11 hours ago, Slim64684 said:

Interesting development tonight. I went upstairs, my tank is in my bedroom, to check my salinity on my water change water and as i was looking the tank over good i noticed a chip in the glass. I have no idea how it go there or what caused it but its in the middle of the front panel.

 

I'm at a loss as to what to do. Should I just let it be? Should I replace the tank? Should I get a slightly larger tank (29)?

 

I need help and suggestions please.

 

sorry for the bad pic its hard to get my phone to focus on the glass.

Whoa. You got kids that throw stuff? It seems like it would take a decent little knock to chip that glass like that. 

[ReefGoat]

It may be alright. But I'll just say that if it was my tank that had a chip in any of the panels. Id be replacing the tank as fast as humanly possible. I wouldn't trust a chip anywhere on any part of my tank. But that's just me. 

[Slim64684]

8 hours ago, mtnbikeracer said:

How deep is the chip? If it's not too deep, maybe fill it with silicone? 

It's not that deep. But the possibility of a crack forming and growing is what im concerned with. 

[Slim64684]

6 hours ago, ReefGoat said:

Whoa. You got kids that throw stuff? It seems like it would take a decent little knock to chip that glass like that. 

I don't know what happened. I'm thinking it might have been my 2 y/o. Asked my wife if anything happened while she was upstairs with them and she said no. So i honestly have no idea.

[debbeach13]

I would not trust it at all. A standard 20 L is $40 at Petco. If you get lucky and it's the $1 per gallon sale $20. Either way a small price to pay for piece of mind. JMO

[Slim64684]

Well after working a 32 hour shift and going to all 5 pet stores in the area, not one of them had a 29 gallon tank only. Everything was a 29 gallon kit and I wasn't about to spend $150 on a tank and a bunch of stuff I didn't need. Went back to 1 if the 2 places that had a 20 long and picked that up.

Now to get the back and side painted and everything else ready.

 

Hopefully I can get them changed out in the next few days.

[Slim64684]

Next few days didn't happen but my tanks are officially changed out. 

 

Before

 

No after yet tank us cloudy as could be, and every thing is pissed off right now.

 

Did pick up a couple new corals today at the lfs Valentine's day sale

this nice big zoa rock and a chalice i forgot to get a pic of.

 

And one last pic of a favia just because i think the colors coming out in it are awsome.

[Slim64684]

Next moring and tank has cleared up nicely.everything is still a little mad and lights have just come on. Hammer and frogspawn are the most upset, along with my firefish.

zoas aren't quite as upset 

and the chalice I picked up yesterday 

[Slim64684]

Dinner time on the reef. Tonight's menu includes mysis. 

Somebody's hungry

 

And I think someone's eyes are bigger than their tummy. 

 

But hammer is still mad. But looking better so hopefully in a few days it will perk back up to full glory. The frogspawn right beside it is getting big so I have high hopes on my placement.

 

Now back to put my screen top back on before i forget.

[Slim64684]

Had the top off and all flow shut off to hit a couple aiptasia with some aiptasia x and thought I would take come top down pics. fts

zoashammer and frogspawnacansfaviasolar flare

[Slim64684]

chalice and scroll coral.

 

I also took some lux readings with a free app on my phone. One benefit of having a water proof case is being able to get readings on the rocks. 

 

The top above the candy cane came in at approx. 2400 lux. All along the slope from the candy cane towards the zoas was 3000-3100 lux. The top of the rocks by the scroll are 2400 lux. All measurements were taken on my daylight setting and not the lighting in the pics.

 

I know it doesn't mean a whole lot but i atleast got a baseline for when I start upping light to try some "lower light" sps.

[Slim64684]

Wifey gave me the go ahead to do some online shopping tonight. New powerhead for the 65 gallon planted to replace the 20 year old one in it now, Hannah ulr phosphate checker and some things to finish my power strip/ board. 

[Slim64684]

Got most of my goodies in today. Got the new powerhead in the 65 planted. And started working on my relays for my power for the reef. 

 

And for the record I had an old aquaclear 802 powerhead on the planted tank turned down with a spraybar attached and I replaced it with a hydor nano 565 and I feel like I need more. The hydor i quiet, cant hear it standing at the tank, but not really impressed with the flow. 

[Slim64684]

Got a new toy today courtesy of @Premiumaq. 

Hanna 774

Ran a test and came back at 0.00. Thought I screwed it up so I reread the directions and tried it again, same result 0.00. Guess I need to work on getting those up.