almost 35 year old reef pictures

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by Paul B
No, they don't seem to be smiling as much but as I said the temp always goes that high in the summer. I installed a fan and increased the circulation by directing the powerheads to the top of the water surface and the temp went down to about 86 which surprised me. My old fan never lowered the temp that much.
It is so cool in there now that I saw a chicken with a capon

You can just about make out his smile here

sounds good Paul===I am glad you are having more luck than me with the temperature swings.

When I first set the brain in the tank it was 78 degrees --same as my frag tank at home


five hours later the temp was 82.4 in the cube:



it was showning signs of distress then

[Paul B]

My tank never gets that cold

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by Paul B
My tank never gets that cold

I like to chill my Coors light in the display tank

How easy it is to slip up in that hobby. Notice the coral in the last picture----why I did not take that out yesterday when I saw signs of necrosis I'll never figure out
I almost lost that tank last night---went in this morning and nitrates were 1 or 100. Lost the anemone, the other brain I think will survive and a large hermit. I don't which killed which first.
As in a tank crash it really is a case of who comes first the chicken or the egg

Thank goodness for Seachem Stability--the best ammonia lockup on the market. I had 5 gal of salt water in the trunk so I changed that. Later of this afternoon I change 50 percent of the water again. The coral was perking up and thanking me and the water was now super clear so I guess I have fought that on off.
Stability locks up the ammonia from harming things but it is still read by the test kits---it was over 200 by this afternoon so that is why I made the comment above.

I should have listened to my wife and had the tank a fowlr--the feed back last night was all the kids were interested in were the fish---and nemo of course. That was my marketing strategy --to keep the kids busy while the parents were waiting in line for a table. Happy kids---happy parents

BTW
After you incident I though I should check the temp in the display tank===84.5 That's high for me but it has been a gradually thing all summer. I think with the weather we are getting some days you have the air on and others you don't. Its a small fish room--the temp in there was 89 today even thought the house was 76.
Three fans later in the room and I had it at 77. I am not going to touch the tank because it has been probably running that hot for awhile. With the room temp down now 110gal of water should lose heat very very slowly so as to not cause a problem in there.

With all the 5 gal water pails ect that I have been hauling out of the basement I don't need to work out this week. I did go for a 1 hour power walk this morning just to clear my head and appreciate the reasons why I had barely dodged a bullet this time
As my signature says---experience is the best teacher.

Well I hope your day was better on your new boat

[Alaska_Phil]

I'm in Alaska, I'd need to heat my tank all year to get it that warm.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by Alaska_Phil
I'm in Alaska, I'd need to heat my tank all year to get it that warm.

yes--your tank would make a good beer fridge

[RockDocPro]

Wow, this is a great thread. I just ran across it, and cannot possibly read 40 plus pages of posts, but I just had to weigh in. I don't have over 50 years experience, merely 30 years, but when I got involved, the hobby was still very young. What I remember about my SW tanks 30 years ago is basically:

algae,
Under gravel filters (probably not reversed),
more algae
Tap water
Anemones that lived 2 or 3 months.
clown fish
algae
mean damsels
and did I mention algae?

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by RockDocPro
Wow, this is a great thread. I just ran across it, and cannot possibly read 40 plus pages of posts, but I just had to weigh in. I don't have over 50 years experience, merely 30 years, but when I got involved, the hobby was still very young. What I remember about my SW tanks 30 years ago is basically:

algae,
Under gravel filters (probably not reversed),
more algae
Tap water
Anemones that lived 2 or 3 months.
clown fish
algae
mean damsels
and did I mention algae?

glad you joined us---you'll fit right in.

[Alaska_Phil]

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
yes--your tank would make a good beer fridge

Why bother when it's so much easier to just set it outside for a minute.

[ddinox64]

This the only thread were the people enjoy algae in their tanks.

Hey Phil. Can you give Sarah my number? Hook me up?

[Alaska_Phil]

Ahh yes, I love a little halimeda in my salad, adds a nice crunch.

Try the Wasilla phone book, I hear she's been off twitter for a whole 3 days.

[Paul B]

This the only thread were the people enjoy algae in their tanks.

Yes we don't get grossed out by that.

Hey RockDocPro, glad you are here. Don't read all 40 pages. It's not that earthshattering.

Capn, Sorry about your problems. Thats tough.

It's 2:48 AM here in NY, I don't sleep much anyway. Today will be a crowded boat. We have a big boat party planned with a few boats. It's not even supposed to rain for once.
Have a great day

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by Paul B
Yes we don't get grossed out by that.

Hey RockDocPro, glad you are here. Don't read all 40 pages. It's not that earthshattering.

Capn, Sorry about your problems. Thats tough.

It's 2:48 AM here in NY, I don't sleep much anyway. Today will be a crowded boat. We have a big boat party planned with a few boats. It's not even supposed to rain for once.
Have a great day

things are working out quite well---you can't panic in this hobby but you do have to be proactive and take counteractive measures when things happen.
Also it has certainly helped to have been a sponge on your site Paul and soak up all your experience/knowledge.

The biocube losses were miminized by water changes and Stabilizer: one brain coral, one anemone and a coral banded shrimp.
I'm not goint to add anything to that tank for at least a week or so

The two fans in the fish room keep it at 76 now. One fan is on the same timer as the halides so that helps out alot.
The tank is running about 82 now so it is gradually cooling down on its own----none of the inhabitants seem perturbed.

Have fun on the boat today---no three hour tours and hopefully we can look forward to some pics

[ddinox64]

I picture lots of empty Merlot and Cabernet bottles. Along with some very tired boaters in the evening with big grins and squinted eyes.

Paul. You and Waterkeeper need to share a bottle and just agree to disagree. I have a DSB and going DSB(sorry, please don't ridicule me), Capn' has a RDSB. Don't know if it's IR or RF though. And things seem cordial here.

Maybe it's the algae that brings us together.

Anyway.

I did a water change on my 30 set up(yesterday) and threw that water in my 90. Water params seem ok. So I threw a damsel in there today. I know, I might be cruel. But hey, someone has to be first in the pool. Ordered 1,000 pods today for it. Those along with what's going to be transfered ought to get things going.

Hair algae on one side(in my 30) looks as though some one has found it tasty. Or atleast palatable. Seems ashame to break it down.

I hope my success, or what I think is success, transfers to the new setup.

[Paul B]

Paul. You and Waterkeeper need to share a bottle and just agree to disagree

Me and WK havwe always agreed to disagree. The only reason I installed a RUGF was to disageree with WK

I picture lots of empty Merlot and Cabernet bottles. Along with some very tired boaters in the evening with big grins and squinted eyes.

We did go through quite a few bottles of all sorts of stuff but first we had to soak up a little NSW in the Sound.
Here is where I spent my last 40 years. Every weekend when it is not raining too hard, this is where I was.
We are floating behind the boats. You can tell by our hats that that one guy was in Nam with me, in the same unit. All of us and the people not in the picture have been friends for over 40 years.
He was infantry and also has a purple heart.



OK so the quotes and pictures are not working. Maybe later

[Paul B]

Yes I know we are a motley looking crew but three of us are Vets and one is in the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

The big ugly guy in the back was on an Aircraft Carrier off Nam

[ddinox64]

Hey Paul. Looks like a good day. Do I see Champange flutes?

Your day is coming to an end and I'm just about to walk out the door to a BBQ.

How late does the sun stay up there where you are?

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by ddinox64
Hey Paul. Looks like a good day. Do I see Champange flutes?

Your day is coming to an end and I'm just about to walk out the door to a BBQ.

How late does the sun stay up there where you are?

I had a beer today with a salmon sandwich on whole wheat bread
The guilt trip of Pauls fine living is getting to me---pretty soon I will be as old as he

Thanks for posting the pics Paul---your life style is envious but unfortunately has elluded me

My nice pink anemone today split---that was cool to watch and my big crab came out of nowhere and ambushed a big tang for a good size piece of shrimp--took it right out of its mouth. It then pounced on it like it was a football---tonight it was still keeping it very close and eating it

[Paul B]

Capt, it's a good sign when an anemone splits. He (or she being it is pink) must be happy.

Looks like a good day. Do I see Champange flutes?

We go through a lot of Champaign, really Presecchio which is Italian sparkling wine. We are not big beer drinkers but there is a case on the boat. The fridge is also full of mixed drinks.
We use the champaign glasses on the boat and use plastic cups when we have some drinks in the water.
Behind the boat is the start Gold Coast of Long Island. There is a house there which sold for 3 million in 1973.
We also have the house owned by the owner of Arista Records, the house from the original owner of Weight watchers, Alan King, the comedian who died last year, the home where the movie "The Great Gatsby" was filmed, the Lowes estate from the movie theaters, and the largest house is Arizona Ice Tea.

There are also 3 castles that were owned by Guggenheim who was one of the wealthiest men of all time.
When we take people for the first time, we give them the tour.

We are going out again today with a different crew but we will be tied up to the same 36' boat that is also in the picture. They slept out there last night.
We just have to re stock with food and drinks.
I am going to try to get to that beach to collect some pods.


Have a great day.
Paul

How late does the sun stay up there where you are?

The light lasts until almost 9:00 but I like boating better at night anyway. Back at the marina on weekends is always a party. There is a rock band at the Tiki bar with dancing and food. It's also a great restaurant.

[Paul B]

My tank cooled down a lot with that small fan and directing the circulation towards the surface of the water. I have never needed a chiller.
My temp is down to 86 now which is fine. Everything looks great.
I have been very busy and neglecting the tank a lot. I really need to stick my hand in there to move some corals around. The large cup coral grew some and is touching a gorgonian (as in the picture a few pictures above) It killed a few branch tips. Also a couple of corals fell down and are on the gravel. I am sure the urchin had a hand in that (or a spine)
The rest of the fish still seem to be spawning including the bluestripped pipefish. It has been hard keeping up with hatching shrimp and cultivating worms because my workshop is a wreck due to my installing a new boiler. The boiler is in a different place and I have pipes all over the place but I still manage to get the shrimps hatched. Sometimes I forget to feed them to the fish and they just die. The summer is hard with all the parties on the boat. Every weekend for the summer is booked, some are over booked. But it is what it is. You got to live when the living is good.

[Aquarist007]

Here is a post I started in the chemistry forum but seemed to have puzzled them unless they are just laughing at me

Seachem Stability and testing
I had problems with temp fluctuations in a 24 gal nanocube
A coral died overnight and took out a coral banded shrimp and a good size anemone. Since I only had 5 gal of salt water in the car I changed that out of the tank and then added seachem stability.
Seachem stability has been very effective for me in establishing biolife in fresh water tanks/canister filters and I was told it should be equally effective in salt water---however I still realize that the water change is the best and swiftest measure to take---I just didn't have the nsw with me.
Later that day I did another 50 per cent water change and today another 50 per cent change.

However the chemical tests for ammonia and nitrates still read very high--so high that I would assumed that tank fully crashed by now. I was told by a supplier that the stabilizer locks the ammonia and nitrate in solution so it is no longer harmfull to the fish corals and inverts but it still gives high reading on the test kits
Is this correct information?
If so how long till I get a lower reading of ammonia and nitrates

Billybeau responded saying not to rely on the seachem but to continue water changes

However I wrote back:

thanks Billy
Yes, my first response to high ammonia readings is the water change.
I am curious though why after changing out over 30 gal of water in a 24 gal cube the tested ammonia and nitrate levels remain unchanged---super high. I have never had this situation before where doing a 50 percent water change doesn't budge the level of ammonia in a tank. This is why I started questioning the test kit results
At the same time there are hermits, leather corals ,polyps and a brain coral in there all doing fine.
To check the kit itself I used it on three of my tanks at home and it came out zero for nitrates and ammonia
Really puzzling this one

I thought someone here might have an answer

[Paul B]

I never heard of Seachem Stability.
I guess I never needed it.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by Paul B
I never heard of Seachem Stability.
I guess I never needed it.

that's not my issue rather
why can't I bring the ammonia levels down in that nanocube with 50 percent water changes

I thought you were out collecting pods

[Paul B]

I thought you were out collecting pods

I am waiting for the rain to calm down

why can't I bring the ammonia levels down in that nanocube with 50 percent water changes

I don't know Capn. Ammonia is controlled by one of the first bacteria's to colonize your rock. If they are not colonizing it in sufficient numbers then you have more problems than SeaChem Stability will correct.

They are aerobic bacteria and are very quick to grow unless you have some big fish with dijestive problems.
Are you sure your test kit is good? It is very rare to have any ammonia on any tank with a couple of months on it, or is it a new tank?
I guess I didn't read that far

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by Paul B
I am waiting for the rain to calm down



I don't know Capn. Ammonia is controlled by one of the first bacteria's to colonize your rock. If they are not colonizing it in sufficient numbers then you have more problems than SeaChem Stability will correct.

They are aerobic bacteria and are very quick to grow unless you have some big fish with dijestive problems.
Are you sure your test kit is good? It is very rare to have any ammonia on any tank with a couple of months on it, or is it a new tank?
I guess I didn't read that far

I'm waiting for the rain to calm down too so I can go for a power walk.

I purchased the nanocube which the guy said had been setup for six months--it had 35 lbs or so of live rock in it.
I transported the tank twice--once to my garage and then to the restaurant where it is now.
Both times I removed the live rock and put it in a bucket of the existing nanocube water. It was outside of water about 10 sec so I don't think I screwed up the aerobic bacteria.

I tested the the test kit on three of my other tanks at home---they all had zero ammonia and nitrates with it.

It just does not make sense that if you test ammonia before a water change--do a 50 percent water change--test 10 min later and you still have the same level of ammonia??

Further every thing is doing well in that tank---a few leathers, brain coral, three very small damsels, a clown and a yellow goby.

(yes I know damsels and clowns can thrive in windex if they had too )

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
sounds good Paul===I am glad you are having more luck than me with the temperature swings.

When I first set the brain in the tank it was 78 degrees --same as my frag tank at home


five hours later the temp was 82.4 in the cube:



it was showning signs of distress then

Notice the first picture Paul---I didn't clue into it at the time but all that corraline was dead at the back of the tank when I purchased the cube. That's not a good sign of a tank with healthy water parameters.