Steemax Posted January 24, 2020 Author Share Posted January 24, 2020 4 minutes ago, Amphrites said: I mean, you could try a go with the calibration fluid to make sure you didn't get a bad batch, but what you read is what you've got - if it changes from brown to green at all you've got > .01 phosphates. Check your lighting to make sure it's neutral and make sure it doesn't sit long after you mix it; fill to the base of the bulb (where it starts to be a cone), one drop reagent one, two of two, mix and check in 5-10 seconds under 6500k daylights. The only thing I may have messed up on was the amount of water. I filled it to the where the cone ends not begins. There's a line in the pipette so I figured that's where it has to be. I'll give it another shot. Thanks! Quote Link to comment
A.m.P Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 Hopefully the second test comes out better, the instructions are a bit vague. 1 Quote Link to comment
Steemax Posted January 25, 2020 Author Share Posted January 25, 2020 Alright re-did the test. Did a reference test as well to make sure i'm doing it correctly. Filled the pipette correctly this time. I can't tell exactly where it's but it's somewhere between 0.1 and 0.15 on the scale closer to 0.1. So phosphates are a tad high if I'm reading this correctly. Threw in a bag of Chemipure elite to see if that'll reduce it some, will have to test daily for now to make sure it's not going to strip it all away. On another note, tank is holding 5ppm of nitrates well after 24hrs. 1 Quote Link to comment
A.m.P Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 I actually try not to let my phosphates drop under 0.1 lol, but if it's high for your system or bothering your coral dropping to 0.05 won't hurt. Glad your nitrates are stabilizing. 1 Quote Link to comment
Steemax Posted January 25, 2020 Author Share Posted January 25, 2020 49 minutes ago, Amphrites said: I actually try not to let my phosphates drop under 0.1 lol, but if it's high for your system or bothering your coral dropping to 0.05 won't hurt. Glad your nitrates are stabilizing. Well the corals are happy and I don't see any issues so maybe I'll just leave it as is then. Thank you so much for helping me get this stabilized 😁 1 Quote Link to comment
A.m.P Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 No worries, just hope everything mends up and stays that way. 1 Quote Link to comment
Steemax Posted January 26, 2020 Author Share Posted January 26, 2020 A few updates... As far as dosing goes, having to add only 1.5ml of All For Reef per day to maintain DKH of 10, and Calcium at 420. That's right around what my current batch of Reef Crystals are producing and the corals are happy with it so I'm sticking to those numbers. Picked up a Jebao SLW-10 Wave Maker (The AI Nero clone) in hopes of consolidating my two Koralia 240's into one pump as there's just too much clutter in the tank plus the 240's barley move any water, it's comical. The Jebao + the AC should be more than enough. Also stepping up to my first "higher end" light. Always used budget lights in the past but someone one was selling a Hydra 26 HD + HMS mount both brand new still in box on eBay so I got a good price on it and couldn't pass it up. Can't wait to set that up. Lastly, i'm seeing some good growth on my Zoa's, 3 new polyps from the scrambled eggs, two from the Rasti's and what looks like new heads from my hammer coral? Maybe someone can confirm in the picture below. Photo dump from pics I took today. 1 Quote Link to comment
Steemax Posted January 26, 2020 Author Share Posted January 26, 2020 Was shipment day at LFS, they had 3 small BTA's in Styrofoam cups. There was no lighting so they just looked like RBTA's. Paid $50 for one of them and was on my way. To my surprise when I got it acclimated, in the tank and my lights turned on I was greeted with a speckled rainbow BTA. I'm not positive but I'd say that was a steal. I have some foam covers coming today for the power heads. Here are some pics. One of my clowns are curious about it so far. Once in a while will come up to it and nibble on one of the tentacles and run off. I'm guessing it's trying to get used to the sting. 2 Quote Link to comment
Steemax Posted January 28, 2020 Author Share Posted January 28, 2020 The new wave maker came in... much better than the two clunky Koralia's that barley move water. This thing rips. I have to run it on low power otherwise it's just too chaotic and the fish can't even swim. I have it set to 3 bars from lowest and it's easily double the flow of the two Koralia's. I finally have surface movement. Also digging how slim, small and dead silent it is. I used to have an original MP10 (before QD) and that thing sounded horrid. Now I patiently await the new light. Should be here Wednesday. Another thing to note, not sure if i got lucky or not but the anemone has not moved at all from the spot I placed it yet. Not holding my breath though. My clownish have also been ignoring it which is a bummer. We'll see with time if they take to it. Either way I won't be disappointed as it's a beautiful RBTA. Here are some pics: 3 Quote Link to comment
Steemax Posted January 28, 2020 Author Share Posted January 28, 2020 And a quick video.... 1 Quote Link to comment
A.m.P Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 Lol that thing moved wayy too much water for my 20l, was fun to play with though. 1 Quote Link to comment
Steemax Posted January 29, 2020 Author Share Posted January 29, 2020 Well I spoke to soon. Came home to find the anemone had moved right next to the Duncan coral. Looks to be bugging it. Should I just let it be and it'll likely keep moving or relocate the Duncan? Quote Link to comment
A.m.P Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 It'll bug anything it's too close to, if it seems to be settlin' down and bothering the duncan I'd move the coral out of the way. 1 Quote Link to comment
Steemax Posted January 29, 2020 Author Share Posted January 29, 2020 7 minutes ago, Amphrites said: It'll bug anything it's too close to, if it seems to be settlin' down and bothering the duncan I'd move the coral out of the way. I guess I'll give it a chance until tomorrow morning to see if it keeps moving. If it doesn't i'll move the duncan. 1 Quote Link to comment
Steemax Posted January 30, 2020 Author Share Posted January 30, 2020 Well things are starting to not be very "barebones" ... The Hydra 26 HD + mount I picked up from eBay arrived. It's my first "big boy" light and all i have to say is... wow. I also have a diffuser for the Hydra on the way. Second, ordered a dosing pump to dose "all for reef" as the tank is now consuming Alk/Calc consistently and it's going to get annoying quick remembering to manually dose every day. 1 Quote Link to comment
Smurf Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 Great pics and awesome build so far! It’s still pretty bare bones, nothing that time won’t help. I am trying the same approach with my pico right now. 1 Quote Link to comment
Steemax Posted January 30, 2020 Author Share Posted January 30, 2020 10 hours ago, Smurf said: Great pics and awesome build so far! It’s still pretty bare bones, nothing that time won’t help. I am trying the same approach with my pico right now. Thank you! I would hope it's still considered bare bones. There are plans already for a large build once I move to a house from my apartment. I'll check out your pico. 2 Quote Link to comment
Steemax Posted February 1, 2020 Author Share Posted February 1, 2020 Dosing pump is online, the Kamoer X1 was very easy to setup. Very accurate too. Used their dosing container too. At this point i'm dosing 1ml of All for Reef to maintain 10dKH and 420 calcium. I just wish I had a better place to mount the doser. On top of the AC will have to do for now. I also continue to dose Nitrates into my new saltwater mix bringing it to 5ppm since no measurable amount is being produced in the tank. This boggles my mind and I still don't know what's causing this. Phosphates remain the same. 1 Quote Link to comment
Steemax Posted February 2, 2020 Author Share Posted February 2, 2020 Just messing around with my old camera and Sony Vegas... 2 Quote Link to comment
Steemax Posted February 4, 2020 Author Share Posted February 4, 2020 3DReefing diffuser came in today. Really like how it softened up the light. No more "static" disco ball effect, did have to bump up the lights slightly to account for it but no worries there. 1 Quote Link to comment
Steemax Posted February 4, 2020 Author Share Posted February 4, 2020 Well I really hate to do this since I love the personality the Skunk Cleaner shrimp adds but I'm going to have to get it re-homed. It started with picking at my mushroom coral. It did a number on it but it's survived and recovering. Now it's latest shenanigans includes trying to tear into the Duncan coral and my RBTA to find food. After seeing what it did to the mushroom I'm scared to wait and find out what it'll do to my anemone! 1 Quote Link to comment
aclman88 Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 How are you liking that light? I want to convert my 20H to a reef and am not sure what lighting to go with. Quote Link to comment
Steemax Posted February 4, 2020 Author Share Posted February 4, 2020 27 minutes ago, aclman88 said: How are you liking that light? I want to convert my 20H to a reef and am not sure what lighting to go with. Loving it thus far. It's my first "high end" LED fixture and now I see what all the hype is about. It's plenty powerful to grow anything you could possibly want and adjust ability is great to get your desired spectrum. I also like how you can share and upload other peoples light profiles. I do recommend getting the diffuser like I did, completely eliminates any disco ball/static effect. 1 Quote Link to comment
jservedio Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 2 hours ago, Steemax said: Well I really hate to do this since I love the personality the Skunk Cleaner shrimp adds but I'm going to have to get it re-homed. It started with picking at my mushroom coral. It did a number on it but it's survived and recovering. Now it's latest shenanigans includes trying to tear into the Duncan coral and my RBTA to find food. After seeing what it did to the mushroom I'm scared to wait and find out what it'll do to my anemone! As with most shrimp, the best place you can re-home them is in a large skillet over medium-high heat with a few tablespoons of olive oil, some finely minced garlic, and just a pinch of red pepper flakes. If you want to really get fancy with your shrimp's new home, you can add arugula and gnocchi and finish it with a half-cup of dry white wine and finely grated Parmesan. Season well. It's really everything you could ever want for your shrimp. 2 2 Quote Link to comment
Steemax Posted February 4, 2020 Author Share Posted February 4, 2020 Just now, jservedio said: As with most shrimp, the best place you can re-home them is in a large skillet over medium-high heat with a few tablespoons of olive oil, some finely minced garlic, and just a pinch of red pepper flakes. If you want to really get fancy with your shrimp's new home, you can add arugula and gnocchi and finish it with a half-cup of dry white wine and finely grated Parmesan. Season well. It's really everything you could ever want for your shrimp. Not gonna lie, that sounds delicious.... gonna have to fatten it up if I want to have any chance at getting a bite out of em. 😄 Quote Link to comment
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