Ratvans 'Rona Boredom Breaker [thread closed]

[Ratvan]

20 minutes ago, Snow_Phoenix said:

I actually had my LFS manager help cut out the slot in mine. But he only widened the edges so that my camera can fit. He didn't want to risk removing the whole thing (like you did) because he was worried the clip's rim would break.  

Yeah it has affected the strength of it, with a lense fitted you don't notice. 

 

 

In other news flow testing an SW-2 in my 5 Gallon Cube

 

 

[HeyArnold]

That power head is really pushing some flow in that tank, is that maxed out? What brand is that?

[Ratvan]

Just now, HeyArnold said:

That power head is really pushing some flow in that tank, is that maxed out? What brand is that?

Jebao SW-2 

Water just stays in the tank

[Snow_Phoenix]

3 minutes ago, Ratvan said:

Jebao SW-2 

Water just stays in the tank

I'm using a Jebao too! But on the 60G. 🤗

 

I only use mine at half strength because it was too strong - at max. strength it can cause a spillover, but the bracings of my tank stop it. 🙂

[Ratvan]

Well I was thinking since the FW tank is 24x12x12 and the cube is 12x12x12. I could potentially start cycling half the required rock

[Proxo]

Don't buy any driftwood, redmoor wood, rocks i have many 😛 not sure when i can get to them though - i stashed my 4ft tank and everything at my nans and she's old af so don't wanna risk corona - can maybe jump over the fence and see if u need 😛

Cheap for you my friend 😉

[Ratvan]

On 5/9/2020 at 3:44 PM, Proxo said:

Don't buy any driftwood, redmoor wood, rocks i have many 😛 not sure when i can get to them though - i stashed my 4ft tank and everything at my nans and she's old af so don't wanna risk corona - can maybe jump over the fence and see if u need 😛

Cheap for you my friend 😉

Are you C. M. O. T. Dibbler? 

 

Anyway, tank is looking a lot nicer since the addition of the HOB which is annoying as I was planning on running without one. However the surface skimmer intake is too close to the water fall output so it cycles the same water, irritating. Might see if another straw will fix that slight issue. 

 

Will try and reposition the drain the other side of the Kessil light bracket

 

The Spiney Astrea has surprised me, I plucked the algae from the right hand rock and placed it there. It has ignored that rock, moved to the other and is currently mowing it clean.

Think I might need some Nori soon

 

So now I turn my attention to the long term goals of this tank. I love the rockwork, and the tank is functioning very well now I have a CuC involved as well as manual removal. I have managed to keep parameters stable and the corals look happy and healthy. I am currently pushing it to 10 days between water changes. I would like to add a fish to this system. 

 

So since I don't want @Proxo*'s wood since I am SHUTTING THE FW DOWN. I will move the LPS into that and run as a main tank. Will have a Blenny and a Pair of Clowns.

 

I would like to keep this little tank running maybe as an obersavtion tank or its own dedicated SPS system.... Which brings me full circle back to a Damsel.... 

 

Springeri damsels with LPS? Any issues? 

 

[Ratvan]

So looks like I need a glass cleaning Snail, will look out for a Cerith or two. Might look at something for the Fluval Spec at the same time. 

 

[SeaFurn]

On 5/10/2020 at 11:57 AM, Ratvan said:

Springeri damsels with LPS? Any issues? 

None that I’ve ever heard of. I’ve read it’s the least aggressive of the damsel fish  Love the coloring. Wish I had one. 

[ECLS Reefer]

1 hour ago, Ratvan said:

So looks like I need a glass cleaning Snail, will look out for a Cerith or two. Might look at something for the Fluval Spec at the same time. 

 

That rock scape really does look so nice.

[Ratvan]

1 minute ago, Dirté Sanchez said:

That rock scape really does look so nice.

Thanks, I have permission to keep this as a Quarantine/ Observation tank when I get the 15 up and running, really considering dumping those Cory's in the 5G cube and start turning the 15 (24*12*12) tank into a Reef.

 

I have everything I need except the 90 degree attachment from the Kessil. (and all the FW stuff alive in it) No idea where that has gone, might have to cable tie it until i can be bothered to get back to the office. Thinking similar thing for the larger tank as that'll be it for a while, we're looking at downsizing soon so that we can save for our own place. So this is the largest reef for a while, unless the new place has the perfect spot for the RSM then we shall swap around again.

 

This one I want thinner shelves, or maybe try and find some branch rock 

[Ratvan]

 

Needs a clean and some small repairs but looks decent. Need to work out a scape, I already know a Clown pair and blenny will be living in here

[debbeach13]

Is that the 15 gallon? I always wanted to copy Martins Moes 15 just running a skimmer. Plus at 24" long tons of great T5 fixtures fit it.

[Ratvan]

13 minutes ago, debbeach13 said:

Is that the 15 gallon? I always wanted to copy Martins Moes 15 just running a skimmer. Plus at 24" long tons of great T5 fixtures fit it.

Yeah it's the 15 I been banging on about for a while now, just a skimmer? Sounds interesting although not ran one before 

 

I did consider a 4 Tube T5 set up, found one that retro fits to a similar tank but I already have a Kessil A360WE so seems silly not to use it

 

Rim removed so I can see the state of the Silicone, it's pretty poor and simply missing in some spots at the back, explains the drips I have been getting while running it

[EfrainChicagoDeepdish]

Looks good de-rimmed.  Super annoying about the leak.  

[Ratvan]

9 minutes ago, EfrainChicagoDeepdish said:

Looks good de-rimmed.  Super annoying about the leak.  

It does but it annoys me that I can't hide the wires and equipment as easily. With the rim I have a couple chennels to run cables. Kessil arm is perhaps a little large, will see if I can make a leg mount bracket for it

 

Light spill is acceptable for me, just need to run the light and the wavemaker and see if the noise annoys the Mrs. 

[debbeach13]

That looks sweet. Absolutely use what you already have. We should always save every penny we can for Coral!

[Ratvan]

1 minute ago, debbeach13 said:

That looks sweet. Absolutely use what you already have. We should always save every penny we can for Coral!

Another option (I know right) is to try and find some Orphek LED light strips and hide them in the hood. Essentially replacing the freshwater lighting. I actually like the whites that this tank puts out so a simple and single Reef Blue Plus may work

[Ratvan]

Have put off the water change for 10 days now, so plans are to test the water today. Clean up some algae, scrape the glass and see if a Water Change is needed. Just need to wait a little longer until payday and can get some CuC for the tank as well as a couple of pieces of SPS that I have had my eye on for a little while now

[Ratvan]

So changed 50% as my nitrates were at 10ppm, I'd like to keep them lower at 5ppm hence the water change. 

 

Also moved my Hammer, can you see where it used to be? 

[Ratvan]

Hmmm one of the Hammers is not looking too good, moved it down into lower light and more gentle flow. 

 

Can see lots of filaments where I used to have nice long tenticles, might need to shift that hermit

[Ratvan]

Doesn't seem any better but hasn't got worse, removed a small amount of algae from the frag. Might have been the irritant who knows

Reacts Well to feeding however

[A.m.P]

Springers are wonderful, but they can become a little picky and harrass inverts, sometimes coral.

They mostly just like to turn into chunky little blighters and sit still, they just throw occasional tantrums if you change things up, mine started to munch on lps every time I went in the tank and had to go, but that's pretty uncommon.

[Proxo]

My half dead hammer from my tank move was looking like this, i tried moving it everywhere.
I let my XL hermit crab play football(soccer for you muricans) with it for a couple of days now it's opening up a little more.

I've done nothing else, just added a bag of phosguard 😅 my nitrates are sky high due to tank cycle, lockdown, rodi unit dying.

[Ratvan]

Well the Hammer hasn't changed again, so back to Hammer rock it is. 

 

Nope thats the wrong Hammer,  here we go. The flesh seems to slowly covering the exposed skeleton. No Brown Jelly still so hopeful that I can get this to bounce back. 

 

The tank is looking nice and clean, do not have too much to do maintenance wise. Once a week water change (roughly 50%) and clean the glass. With the exception of the one Hammer the corals are looking good, the Elegance seems to have settled down now and is most likely palm sized, have seena  couple of little mouths on the main"face?" of the coral which is exciting. 

 

Still want some more CUC for the tank, particularly glass cleaners, Ceriths? Although the back is (poorly) painted I can see a fair amount of algae on there, have been debating a Tailspot Blenny for this tank but think that the Bio load would be too high based on my experience with Cujo (Poop Machine)

 

The Montipora is doing well in this tank, which is good as I want to include more SPS pieces in here. I can see Polyp extension on the cut sides of the coral as well as the top, I might change the tank so one rock is Montipora and the other is Hammers. Not yet sure.

Terrible top down shot for you