Barely made the club but time for my 180 upgrade (Warning: Progress may be slow)

[nightOwl]

Originally Posted by SPotter

how much do you charge for tanning sessions under that fixture??????

Steve,
I am hoping this will make the coals happier...lol. I plan to take some before and after pictures in the coming days and weeks. I have only been running the VHO's on the tank for some time now and everything is brown. Hopefully in a few weeks color will start to come back.

[nightOwl]

Originally Posted by SPotter

how much do you charge for tanning sessions under that fixture??????

Steve,
I am hoping this will make the corals happier...lol. I plan to take some before and after pictures in the coming days and weeks. I have only been running the VHO's on the tank for some time now and everything is brown. Hopefully in a few weeks color will start to come back.

[nightOwl]

General Updates - Frag Tank Lights

I finally have the lights over the frag tank and wanted to capture a before and /during/after picture. This is what the frag tank looks like as of 12/22. Every thing is pretty much drab and some even bleached out. I am not sure how long it will take for things to color back up but I can see the even lighting over the tank now.

General Updates - Black Friday Sales

There is not much to report on this front. Kelly over at Aquarium Specialty updated the notes on my order on Dec 19 that she spoke with Jeff at UV lighting and the super actinics were supposed to be back in stock on Friday 12/21. It has now been over a month on this part of my order but there is still hope...LOL. Hopefully I will get the bulbs before the second week in January. I actually need them at this point as I can see the VHO spectrum changing. I will give them a call today and see if there is any progress.

General Updates - Mini Starfish Spawn - 12/22

Over break I decided to do a large water change after noticing my phosphates were a little elevated. I performed a 35 gallon water change and some of the water was not heated (about 20 gals) to the proper temperature. I am thinking this may have triggered the event. When I first noticed what was going on I thought my starfish in my sump were starting to die. I started to see them try to get to the surface one by one. Before long my chetto in my sump was covered with starfish. For a while I did not think any were in the refugium part of my sump since I never see them. It was at that point I realized what was happening and ran to get my camera. The wrasses seemed to love it especially the Red Velvet Wrasse and the skimmer went crazy for a bit as well but after an hour or so the tank cleared back up.

About 20 mins into the event


FTS -This is what the tank looked like about 30 mins into the event.

[nightOwl]

Well it is a new year and Reef Central seems slower than ever. Other than that its time for updates!!!

General Updates - New Fish on 1/2/2013

Before I went on vacation I had my eye on an Orange-Back Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis) and my LFS still had it in stock so I picked it up yesterday. It is pretty shy but the colors are amazing. I was able to catch a few snaps of it and the details in the fins are amazing.

General Updates - New Water Reservoir

My water reservoir has been leaking on me for over two months and I finally got around to replacing it. For the past 2 weeks I have been using my water changing tub as a water reservoir when not doing a water change. Before that I was just using a 7 gallon bucket. I decided to just buy a glass tank and use it. It will allow me to hold more water which means I will not have have to fill up my reservoir as often. Petco had a sale on their 29 gallon tanks which it made it cheaper than the 20 gallon high I originally wanted.

General Updates - Fish Pictures

Was able to snap a few shots of the fish yesterday as well. My wrasses are still coloring up nicely.

[nightOwl]

General Updates - Coral Growth Pictures

08/13/2011


01/02/2013 - On the right from the picture above


09/21/2011


01/02/2013


01/02/2013 - I think this one is on its way out. I am not too worried as I have another mini colony doing fine in another location.


05/18/2012


01/02/2013


05/30/2012


01/02/2013

[nightOwl]

General Updates - Coral Growth Pictures - Continued

09/21/2011


01/02/2013

[SPotter]

Henry.....you make it look so easy to grow corals!!!!!! Also, I think your tank is too small for that orange back so let me take it off of your hands for you and put it in mine

Seriously though.....all I can say is WOW!!!! Great job!

[nightOwl]

Originally Posted by SPotter

Henry.....you make it look so easy to grow corals!!!!!! Also, I think your tank is too small for that orange back so let me take it off of your hands for you and put it in mine

Seriously though.....all I can say is WOW!!!! Great job!

Thanks Steve - I wonder if you would say that if I started posting the ones I lost this past year...LOL. I was looking back through some pictures and was crap I lost a lot of corals...LOL. I like looking back at the growth shots though. I will probably post some more soon. I have some colonies that have really grown! I plan on picking up some new ones in the next couple of weeks.

[nightOwl]

Steve - I forgot to mention you can not have the wrasse...LOL. Remember nothing new for you for 3 months . I am off to check out a LFS that usually gets some pretty wrasses in I may have a new one by the end of day .

[Brando457]

I have 2 33g brute containers, Im thinking of swapping out for 2 x 29g tanks instead, what you think?

[nightOwl]

Originally Posted by Brando457

I have 2 33g brute containers, Im thinking of swapping out for 2 x 29g tanks instead, what you think?

Brando457,
Are these for two separate tanks or just using two containers for more volume? So far I am liking the 29 tank. It sticks out a little bit more than I would like but is working well. I am just worried since it is glass and right at the door entrance. I am thinking of putting a plexiglass side on it or some styrofoam to protect it.

[Brando457]

One tank would be for strictly RO storage, the other for when I do my water changes to mix my salt.

[nightOwl]

Originally Posted by Brando457

One tank would be for strictly RO storage, the other for when I do my water changes to mix my salt.

Brando457 - I Looked back at my post and realized I put water reservoir instead of top-off water reservoir. That is what my 29 gallon tank is replacing. The one I made kept leaking after I dropped a weight on it. I still have a 33 gallon brute trash can for my main reservoir and an 18 gallon Sterlite container for my water mixing. I like the flexibility of the Sterlite container since I move my water mixing station around from time to time I am not sure glass would be the best option for me. I also try to clean it every other salt change. Instant Ocean sometimes makes a brown film on the container for some reason. You might be on to something with the main water storage container though since I never move it. I will have to do some measuring to see if another tank would fit under my frag stand.

[Brando457]

I actually was able to make 2 brutes work fine

Here is a pic of my tank w/ the rock and cycling.

I guess I will start a tank thread soon.

http://imgur.com/a/4DOPC

[Brando457]

I actually was able to make 2 brutes work fine

Here is a pic of my tank w/ the rock and cycling.

I guess I will start a tank thread soon.

http://imgur.com/a/4DOPC

[nightOwl]

Originally Posted by Brando457

I actually was able to make 2 brutes work fine

Here is a pic of my tank w/ the rock and cycling.

I guess I will start a tank thread soon.

http://imgur.com/a/4DOPC

Brando457,
Thanks for sharing seems like things are coming along nicely. I have found with the build threads it helps you look back and see your progress so join the fun...lol.

General Updates - Orange Back Wrasse

So far the wrasse is doing well. Tonight I started my normal 5 day treatment so in 4 more days I will be done with treatment. After that it will remain in QT till the 22nd or so. So far the transition to pellets is not going well. It will taste the pellet but spit it back out. I ordered some Entice and it arrived today so I will begin trying pellets after the 5 day treatment is over. Like my last two wrasses I will try to transition them to pellets before being being added to the main display.

General Updates - Computer Fan Cooling

Saturday I finally got around to working on my computer fans. I used the fan controller and some speaker wire to extend the length of the cords. I need to pick up some more speaker wire to wire the next two fans. I will probably order them from Amazon in the next day or so. I have attached the terminal stip to the lighting rig and wired two fans already. When the other two fans arrive I will post some updated pictures.

Fan Controller




Terminal Strip

General Updates - Aqua Medic Doser

A while back I mentioned that one of my doser tubes had failed and I removed it. Well Saturday one of my LFS had some on hand and the prices were pretty comparable to on-line prices so I picked up three and replaced them all. I am in the process of trying to stabilize my alkalinity then I will switching from BRS two part back to TLF two part.

Replacement Santoprene Hoses

General Updates - Frag Tank

The T5 lighting is already starting to have an effect on the corals in the frag tank. Since I can see some color starting to come back on some of the corals. I picked up some frag plugs from a LFS while out wrasse hunting. Next step will be updating my frag rack and getting rid of some of my existing frags that are in there.

New Frag Plugs

[SPotter]

Henry it looks like you have a genius for a fish....he's writing on the glass!!!!! What mathematical equation has he solved in this picture????

[nightOwl]

Originally Posted by SPotter

Henry it looks like you have a genius for a fish....he's writing on the glass!!!!! What mathematical equation has he solved in this picture????

Steve,
I will say he is very smart. I guess hunger drives all animals. The first day he did not respond well to lighting queues. By day two he caught on that cutting off all pumps and the light is associated with feeding time...as well as two drops garlic extreme . Next step will be getting him to like pellets soaked in Entice.

Wrasses remind me of dogs wagging their tails at feeding time the way they put on a show. He also keeps great eye contact before feeding.

The writing on the glass is him figuring out how much longer he has in isolation, number of days left in his "treatment program",and water changes. There is also a note stating he does like pellets and they should be removed from his dining options. But I ignore that one like my parents did with me and brussels sprouts .

[Ojos22]

Henry.. You have the best updates out of any thread I am following. Keep the pictures coming. Looks great!

[nightOwl]

Originally Posted by Ojos22

Henry.. You have the best updates out of any thread I am following. Keep the pictures coming. Looks great!

Jon - Thanks man. I am still mad Webshots screwed people over so the majority of the pictures are gone, but hopefully everyone enjoys the latest.

General Updates - New Supplies

Ordered some Seachem Entice to get the Orange Back Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis) to eat pellets. So far he is taking them in multiple times but still spitting them out.

Seachem Entice


My Yellow Tang - Hawaii (Zebrasoma flavescens) dorsal fins have been erroding so I ordered some Selcon and Zoe to help replace any nutrients he may be missing. I had run out of both and have not been soaking the food as consistently as normal. I have been reading and found that some people are able to make the fin grow back.

Selcon


Zoe


Phosphate has been and on and off issue based on how heavy I feed so I decided to try something new just to see if it works. I know the true issue is over feeding but I just wanted to give it a try. Another side effect of overfeeding seems to be Aiptasia. I had a Peppermint Shrimp in the tank that was keeping them at bay but he has been missing for over 3 months now and there is a little colony starting to form. I ordered some Aiptasia-X and will dose tomorrow hopefully.

UltraLife - Phosphate Remover


Red Sea Aiptasia-X


My heater for my water changes had started to show signs of condensation which is never a good sign so I ordered a new one.

New Heater


Due to user error I managed to spill about a half-a-gallon of water on the floor two weeks ago trying to multi-task while doing a water change. My hose moved as the water got higher and then I heard water hitting the floor. To keep my hose in one place I ordered some hose clips so it will stay where I put it. This is not going to help the user error but will make me feel better .

Hose Clips


Finally the last thing is I ordered a new Ammonia Alert as this one has been in use for a while now and I think it has a 1 year lifespan on it.

Seachem Ammonia Alert


Thats all for today...tomorrow I will try to take some new top down pictures and post them later this weekend along with pictures of newly installed fans.

[nightOwl]

General Updates - Orange-Back Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis)

I finished my five day treatment on Friday and now I have moved to the hurry up and wait stage. My estimated date of release is the 22nd and I already have my eye on my next wrasse so hopefully people will not buy it before I am done with QT.

Another update with the wrasse is that he is eating two different types of pellets (Ocean Nutrition and New Life Spectrum) so I am pretty happy about that. He is still not eating flakes, but as long as he eats the pellets I am happy. I attribute Seachem Entice to getting him to eat pellets so quickly. As of yesterday I do not even have to soak the pellets. I can just throw them in the tank and he eats them.

General Updates - Black Friday VHO Bulb Order...Still Not Here

Well my bulbs were supposed to be here today and they did not arrive. I called and was unable to speak to Kelly at Aquarium Specialty today so I will follow up tomorrow. This now past crazy.

[nightOwl]

General Updates - Pictures

The saga with my picture hosting sites continues. Photobucket has a beta program that I had been ignoring. I finally switched over to see how it was and was kinda impressed. Then I checked the pricing and see they are changing their pricing model so when my current contract expires I would probably have a different price. I am trying out Flicker now even though I do not like the interface.


IMG_2249 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2252 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2256 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2266 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2269 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2271 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2273 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2279 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2303 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2306 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr

[nightOwl]

General Updates - Pictures Continued

IMG_2314 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2317 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2320 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2327 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2333 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr

General Updates - Black Friday VHO Bulb Order - Partially Here

So yesterday I received an email from Aquarium Specialty with a tracking number and I was excited. I got home and saw the package on the doorstep and thought my ordeal was over. When I opened the box I had to do a double take. I am still missing two 72" VHO bulbs! I called and left a message yesterday and today.



IMG_2351 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr

[SPotter]

You seem to have a lot of problems with getting vho bulbs....maybe its time to switch to reefbrite stunner strips or something??????? I know how much you like LEDS

[nightOwl]

Originally Posted by SPotter

You seem to have a lot of problems with getting vho bulbs....maybe its time to switch to reefbrite stunner strips or something??????? I know how much you like LEDS

Steve,
Funny you mention LEDs I am actually thinking about doing a DIY for the frag tank but only in the spectrum of the VHO. I am still not sold on them as regular lighting but I have seen them make some corals pop. I don't want that overly blue look though just the same as my VHO's give off .

General Updates - Black Friday VHO Bulb Order - Saga Continues

I am still missing two bulbs....!

This whole ordeal is really testing my patience!