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

[RJT]

Now those pictures say more than a 1000 words

[roni]

There are times you're really glad you followed a reefcentral thread....

[SPotter]

Who needs FedEx Fridays when you this to look at!

[nightOwl]

Originally Posted by RJT

Glad you're back in the game.

Sorry about your losses in fish and corals. Have you checked ph, phosphate and nitrate levels? Since you have some cyano, when is the last time you changed your bulbs? May just be a little extra nutrients in the water.

I noticed in every picture of dead coral there is another coral(s) next to it that looks good.

Definitely a go with meeting up and getting donuts. Its never a bad time for one or six.

Richard - The losses are painful when I know how nice my tank has looked in the past. I think some of the corals you see that are still making it are ones I have had for many years now. I am glad it was not a total loss for the corals I have in the tank and also that the little wrasse made it. I checked the phosphates and they measure at zero but something is there. I am thinking the algae is consuming it before the levels are detectable. I will go back and check the last time I changed bulbs that may also be an issue.

Originally Posted by roni

Henry,

Sorry to hear about the losses. I can definitely commiserate as life has negatively affected my tank as well. However, given how nice your tank has looked in the past, I'm sure it will be up there quickly.

roni - Thanks as well. I am still trying to find that balance but I am getting into a routine so things may turn around in a month or two or at least I hope so.

Originally Posted by Newbie Aquarist

Sorry for your lost but glad you didn't quit. I was going to bug you like those individuals that post only once on many forums so they can meet the minimum requirement..

Wayne - I am still hanging in there man. I don't plan on quitting any time soon. I am back to being motivated now thanks to you guys. LOL about the posting.

Originally Posted by SPotter

Maybe Wayne can post the picture of him riding the pink bike to cheer you up a little....

All kidding aside.....glad you're hanging in there Henry. Is the STN starting from the tips or the base?

Steve - Having seen the picture I have to give you a special thank you for coaxing Wayne to post...lol. I am having STNing form all parts of the corals. Some in the middle, some bottom, some on the tips. That is the frustrating part that is not from one place!!!!!

[QUOTE=Newbie Aquarist;21764996]I am honored and want to say that was smooth how you got your self out of that.

Originally Posted by RJT

Sure Spike.

Is this better?

Wayne - This is one of the funniest pictures I have seen in a while and thanks for posting it. Please tell me its one of your kids bikes...lol. Nice paint job...LOL.

[nightOwl]

General Updates - Back to Basics

Today I took some time to do some of the basic things I have not done in a while. I removed some sediment from the sump, blasted the skimmer pump, put three pumps in vinegar baths. I actually removed the two WP-40 and put my Tunze's (6105) back in the tank today. I noticed that the WP-40 require frequent cleaning to perform at peak power. Right now I do not have the time to clean them every 1-1/2 to two weeks. If they are not cleaned they seem to push less water. That also could have been a contributor to my algae issues. Today I also went back to Two Little Fishes again. I took the time to make sure the dosage was right for my tank volume and since the two part contains magnesium as well I hope that the water chemistry balances out once again. I will test in the next few days to see where things are and supplement with BRS to get to the correct levels.

General Updates - Removing dead corals

I will have pictures tomorrow but today I started removing the dead corals from the tank. The tank is looking better already with the dead corals gone. The ones that are hanging on seem stressed but they are still growing. While I was in the tank I took the time to turkey blast the cyno away as well and also cleaned the glass on the tank. So far I have 1/2 gallon jug of dead corals. Actually its probably more because I have my giant Sunset Monti colony I lost. There is a 1" section that was still holding on so I trimmed it and kept it in the tank. My shamrock monti was another one that was almost completely wiped out. There is a 1/2 rim still holding on. I am hoping that with more stable water chemistry the corals will bounce back. Tomorrow I will start on the frag tank.

[nightOwl]

General Updates - Dead Corals Removed

By Sunday I had finally removed all the dead corals from the display and the frag tank. The picture below shows how much I was able to get rid of. The second picture is all Sunset Monti it shows the mother colony and some of the frags that I had. You will notice the frags are mini colonies to some but they are just frags to me...lol. The largest one was my mother colony and I am hoping that the little piece I was able to save will come back.

Half a gallon of dead corals

Dead Corals by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr

Sunset Monti Corals

Sunset Monti Colony and frags by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr

General Updates - McCosker's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus mccoskeri)

The little guy is growing fast and starting to come out more. He still stays to one side of the tank but no one bothers him and he is not camera shy. Tonight I was able to snap a few pictures of him. I did not turn off the pumps so the picture has a lot of spots in it but it shows that he is coloring up nicely.

McCosker's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus mccoskeri) - 08/2013

McCosker's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus mccoskeri) by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr

[RJT]

That's a great start to having the tank the way you want it.

Beautiful wrasse.

Thanks for the update on the powerheads and good luck with maintaining the proper levels for your tank. I really look forward to a fts one day when you get it squared away.

[SPotter]

Originally Posted by kylelaflamme

amazing

someone is looking for access to the forsale threads!!!

[nightOwl]

Originally Posted by RJT

That's a great start to having the tank the way you want it.

Beautiful wrasse.

Thanks for the update on the powerheads and good luck with maintaining the proper levels for your tank. I really look forward to a fts one day when you get it squared away.

Richard - Slowly but surely I plan on getting back to what it use to be. I might get around to taking a FTS this week. I am having some issues with the lights after a firmware upgrade. I am hoping there are not issues with the wrasse as he gets bigger. I am down to two now and itching for a new one already...lol.

Originally Posted by SPotter

someone is looking for access to the forsale threads!!!

Steve - I saw that earlier maybe the mods removed it. It sucks when people try to get their count up like that. I think this morning he had 50 posts.

[worm5406]

OK no problem on the Krispy Kremes... I will get them and even get the ones you like.

You set the date and we will be there.

Make it an all day affair and we can chip in for lunch.


Yeah he had 50 posts... I reported him and he was taken care of... LOL
If you see something like that click on the report button in the corner. It helps us get them removed.

[nightOwl]

Originally Posted by worm5406

OK no problem on the Krispy Kremes... I will get them and even get the ones you like.

You set the date and we will be there.

Make it an all day affair and we can chip in for lunch.


Yeah he had 50 posts... I reported him and he was taken care of... LOL
If you see something like that click on the report button in the corner. It helps us get them removed.

worm5406 - This will be fun. I am going to check with the wife and see when I have a free weekend...lol.

I checked the other night and looks like he had 20 posts in one day or something crazy like that. I could see it was an attempt to bump the his count.

Welcome back from vacation...let me know when you have your pictures uploaded.

[worm5406]

Good.

Tell her i'll bring the coffee too if needed.

Did you see my videos yet?

[nightOwl]

Originally Posted by worm5406

Good.

Tell her i'll bring the coffee too if needed.

Did you see my videos yet?

Yep I am caught up on everything now .

[davyjone]

I've got an empty 180 gallon tank sitting in my living room that I'm planning on setting up soon. Read the whole thread and took me a week at least, but it was worth it. Thanks for the details and consistency it's helped a lot. Given me some ideas and killed others. Better now than later. Great looking tank.

[nightOwl]

Originally Posted by davyjone

I've got an empty 180 gallon tank sitting in my living room that I'm planning on setting up soon. Read the whole thread and took me a week at least, but it was worth it. Thanks for the details and consistency it's helped a lot. Given me some ideas and killed others. Better now than later. Great looking tank.

davyjone - I am happy some of what I have done has helped you even before you begin your adventure. I am still trying to get back to regular posting so keep an eye out for new updates. A new fish may be coming in a few days .

[davyjone]

I'm finding all the 180 threads I can and this one is one of the best I've found.

[nightOwl]

Originally Posted by davyjone

I'm finding all the 180 threads I can and this one is one of the best I've found.

davyjone - I really appreciate the compliments. There are tons out there that are very informative. I am glad mine is one of your favorites I only wish I had all the pictures from the beginning. I may figure out a way to do a recap somehow so you can see how far it really came along.

General Updates - New Fish

I picked up a new fish yesterday. It's an Orange-Back Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis). The last go around with this fish did not go well. I decided to try again . There is no Long Fin Fairy Wrasse to bother him this time. He is a little thin but I will fatten him up over the next few weeks. I just feed him mysis and he eagerly ate them so not sure why he was not plump when I got him. I will go through the normal 5 day process with the Instant Ocean tabs starting on Monday. Wrasses are so cool! I love the way they change their colors. The two pictures below show the variation of colors they can achieve. The under stress colors are sorta muted but its still a beautiful fish. I will take some pictures over the weekend of what he looks like normally.

Orange-Back Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis) being acclimated


Orange-Back Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis) in specimen container

[RJT]

Yes!! Great addition. You won't have any problems this time

[SPotter]

Ahhh...my favorite wrasse and I miss mine!!!!! Mine was very timid at first but after a few days he settled in with the other wrasses I had and they all got along. Great pickup Henry!

[Newbie Aquarist]

Originally Posted by nightOwl

Wayne - This is one of the funniest pictures I have seen in a while and thanks for posting it. Please tell me its one of your kids bikes...lol. Nice paint job...LOL.

Unfortunately I am the proud owner of the bike.

[davyjone]

[QUOTE=nightOwl;21833706]davyjone - I really appreciate the compliments. There are tons out there that are very informative. I am glad mine is one of your favorites I only wish I had all the pictures from the beginning. I may figure out a way to do a recap somehow so you can see how far it really came along.

That would be cool. That's a nice looking fish. Hope it works out better this time. I just need to figure out what protein skimmer I'll use

[nightOwl]

Originally Posted by RJT

Yes!! Great addition. You won't have any problems this time

Richard - I am hoping there will be no issues this go around. The next one will be the Red Velvet or some other peaceful wrasse.

Originally Posted by SPotter

Ahhh...my favorite wrasse and I miss mine!!!!! Mine was very timid at first but after a few days he settled in with the other wrasses I had and they all got along. Great pickup Henry!

Steve - Thanks. I won't be long before you are back in the game and have the fish you want again.

Originally Posted by Newbie Aquarist

Unfortunately I am the proud owner of the bike.

Wayne - I am still laughing. I had to tell my wife about this post a few weeks ago and we both still get a good laugh out of it. Thanks for owning up to "your bike"...lol.

[QUOTE=davyjone;21838500]

Originally Posted by nightOwl

davyjone - I really appreciate the compliments. There are tons out there that are very informative. I am glad mine is one of your favorites I only wish I had all the pictures from the beginning. I may figure out a way to do a recap somehow so you can see how far it really came along.

That would be cool. That's a nice looking fish. Hope it works out better this time. I just need to figure out what protein skimmer I'll use

davyjone - I think we will agree on this about a skimmer get the biggest one you can afford that is overrated for you tank size. That leaves you a little room for expansion. I love the skimmer I have and it pulls out thick skimmate continuously.

General Updates - Water Tests

I had a chance to do some water test today to see if things are turning around any. Phosphate some how has really crept up over the last few weeks and it explains whey some of my more sensitive corals have not fared well. I also think I need to change bulbs so I have turned my T5's off and placed an order for some new bulbs. I may change my MH later tonight or sometime this week. Its getting close to Black Friday so I will plan to order some new Radiums in November. My water results today were as follows:

• Calcium: 300 ppm
• Alkalinity: 2.42 ppm
• Magnesium:1260 ppm
• Phosphate:.07 ppm

General Updates - Fish Updates

I did not bring my camera down to the basement to take any new pictures but the new fish is doing well. I almost have him eating pellets. He it repeatedly trying them but spitting them back out. I will start to soak them in Entice and see if I can get him to keep them in. I also started my five day treatment today. So by this Friday I will be done with treatment and will observe for another week or so. If I can get him to eat pellets before then I will be extremely happy.

[davyjone]

I agree with you on that. I just don't know which brands to stay away from.

Any idea why your phosphate level is out of wack?

[nightOwl]

Originally Posted by davyjone

I agree with you on that. I just don't know which brands to stay away from.

Any idea why your phosphate level is out of wack?

davyjone - I am pretty sure it is from me just throwing pellets and flakes in the tank. I also was not rinsing the mysis shrimp before throwing in the tank. Do that over a few weeks and no water changes and things get hairy (literally) fast...lol. I just did a quick test with some mini mysis cubes and the results were startling. I put one cube in @80 ml of tank water in a small container and let the mysis thaw out. Then I tested for phosphates using my Hannah Checker and it was .57ppm in the test sample of 10ml. When I was not taking care of the tank I was throwing 2-3 in the tank at a time cause they were so small. I am going to run some more similar test and post the results.


Krispy Kreme Crew it may be second weekend in September...I am still working out the details.

[worm5406]

Originally Posted by nightOwl

Krispy Kreme Crew it may be second weekend in September...I am still working out the details.

OK We are already planning it...

I might be able to get Leory (Newbie Aquarist) to come too. It depends though.