A Shallow sps reef

[Ryanerickson]

Hi everyone I wanted to share my new tank with the community, it was started in late September of 2016 for now the display is a frag tank of mine 48" long 24"deep 12" high. The tank is nothing special but works fine.

My goal is to achieve easy to maintain smaller sps reef. (That is algae free) in the past I've grown lots of sps with overall a pretty good result but I've always had my buddy bryopsis, bryopsis drives me crazy but regardless of what I've tried I could never kill it.

September 24 was the day the tank was moved in the house to a spare room now the (tank room). That day I also added a small 30 gallon tank for sump and plumbed it all up, By night it had live rock in tank and water running thru it.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-100811.png

Next day I started on the lights my plan was a lot of light in a hood I will build.
6x48"t5
2xai sol blue
1 250 halide
I'm using this combo hoping for the best color, I want the halide for the deep sps color they achieve, ai sol are for fluorescents they can produce and I like the dawn and dusk effect , I'm only running the blue channels white is off. And the t5 are for the fast growth I find they help with also they do a great job of removing most shadows in rock work.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-100745.png
Pic with all lights
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170206_120234.jpg
Added a white trim for finish
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170206_120936.jpg

The following week anything I wanted to keep from my frag table was fragged up and moved to new tank also added a few fish and my rock flowers . For the most part only high end sps frags made the cut as I was pretty picky with the limited space in this tank. I also added a older vertex skimmer a buddy let me borrow.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-100059.png
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-100330.png
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-100356.png

In the following week I also added 60 left hand hermits 4 golden cowries 10 trochus snails for clean up crew and 3 peppermint shrimp for aptasia. Well weeks later the aptasia was gone but they also ate 20 or more rock flower babies it was then I realized this combo will not work so I ordered a new sump, I got a eshopps adv-300 it has a nice refugium that I could use for my rock flowers.

Couple weeks later the sump showed up as it came from Ontario I'm in bc, by this time I've also added a bubble king mini 200.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-095724.png
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-095804.png
Back side
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-095927.png
Last pic has new skimmer in old sump also shows the brightwell bio brick and bio pellets in reactor.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-100631.png

[Bblinks]

Where are the rest of the pictures on the sump.....show us the real goodies Ryan!

[Ryanerickson]

Next step was to install all this for the most part it will be all piped in pvc the reactor on right was set up to run cheato it grew pretty well tell my phosphates dropped way too low .
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-095526.png

Around this time I also started using the aquaforest sps method,I started with salt and pro bio s with np pro for nutrient reduction.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170206_130249.jpg
at this time my nitrate is unreadable and phosphate was .06 since the cheato reactor was done I added rowa to get the phosphate a bit lower I'm looking to get it around. 03 before I started feeding the A,B,V,E sps food from af
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170206_130201.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-100531.png

[Ryanerickson]

Where are the rest of the pictures on the sump.....show us the real goodies Ryan!

There coming buddy doing this all from my phone

[Ryanerickson]

Added a float to skimmer lid
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-100010_1.png
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-095323.png
Also found with all the light I was getting pretty high temperature so added the Chiller too the loop.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-095159.png
Chiller will be in garage too keep heat outta house in summer.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-095153.png
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-095051.png
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-095044_1.png
That's also my ato water above the Chiller.

[Bblinks]

Here we go!

[Ryanerickson]

Few pics of earlier rock scape
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-095118.png
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-095138.png
Rock flowers in the refugium
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170206_094740.jpg
On the bottom right I plugged the return that comes directly from the drain before the filter bags, I found a lot of debris was going thru this tank then straight into my return pump and into display. To fix the issue of no water returning to refugium any more I piped my gfo reactor to drain into the refugium.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170206_135011.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170206_135026.jpg
Also week or so after being introduced to new home one or so rock flowers had babies again.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170206_094754.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170128_174506.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170201_083544.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170128_174209.jpg
Rock flowers janitor
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170128_175143.jpg

[Ryanerickson]

Few pics of the livestock up top I lost a lot of color when I moved everything over plus the lower nutrients was a bit of a shock. Everything is slowly coming back and growing finally.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-140702.png
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-140651.png
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-141529.png
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-141509.png
Bleached out rrc pc
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-140736.png
Tenius from wardog
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-140839.png
Rr loomy
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-140914.png
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-140642.png
Jf beach bum looks like Apple berry at best right now came in looking pretty shitty gaining color every day.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-140801.png
There's lots of other pieces I haven't really took pics of yet everything is still small.

[tang daddy]

Looking good buddy!

[Ryanerickson]

Looking good buddy!

Thanks Chris

[Ryanerickson]

Another project on my tank was to get the brightwell bio brick running a certain way recently I was informed the correct way of running this brick to encourage anaerobic bacteria was to run water thru the block something like the pic below.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170206-094938_1.png
So off to work i went I started with building these 2 supports.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170205_090805.jpg
Then glued them to sump
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170205_100644_1.jpg
Next I cut a tee in off my return pump line with a valve to control flow.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170205_115305_1.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170205_121953_1.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170205_123217.jpg
And finally it running, so enough water should go thru that water runs off each nipples.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170205_125243.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170205_131250_1.jpg

[Wheelman76]

Awesome build buddy , looking great.

[hunggi74]

Fantastic skills Ryan! Looks sexy!

[Ryanerickson]

Awesome build buddy , looking great.
Thanks jess getting there gotta fill with sps now


Fantastic skills Ryan! Looks sexy!
Thanks hung I have plenty of sump skills now let's see about those corals

[duncangweller]

Looking good Ryan.

[WarDog]

Mad skills indeed. I love this tank, now let's see some growth!

[tang daddy]

Ryan I need to do that with my block, when I had mine breaking the surface there was algae growing and now coraline from the sump lights. I have very slow flow off my rowa I could probably run overtop of the brick to replicate what you have done.

Keep us updated on the block and new corals!

[Wheelman76]

Ryan I need to do that with my block, when I had mine breaking the surface there was algae growing and now coraline from the sump lights. I have very slow flow off my rowa I could probably run overtop of the brick to replicate what you have done.



Keep us updated on the block and new corals!



Don't use the flow from your rowa Chris. The bacteria inside the brick need po4 to feed on and the effluent from your rowa reactor should have near zero po4 exiting it.

[Ryanerickson]

Ryan I need to do that with my block, when I had mine breaking the surface there was algae growing and now coraline from the sump lights. I have very slow flow off my rowa I could probably run overtop of the brick to replicate what you have done.

Keep us updated on the block and new corals!
I can help you make something Chris

[Ryanerickson]

Looking good Ryan.

Thanks Duncan when you getting a tank running again?

[Ryanerickson]

Mad skills indeed. I love this tank, now let's see some growth!

Very kind of you sir nice too get a pass from the sump king lol

[maron6977]

Looks awesome !

[Ryanerickson]

Looks awesome !

Thanks Mark one of the dosers i got from you is fueling the tank working great thanks again.

[duncangweller]

Thanks Duncan when you getting a tank running again?
Hopefully soon. I'm getting serious withdrawals.

[Amadod2]

tank looking good Ryan, how do you like the skimmer?

[Ryanerickson]

Time for some pics of faded sps , hopefully I will turn that around soon. I took most the pics threw a top down viewer I built outta scrap acrylic it's ugly but works pretty good.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170208_162812_001.jpg

http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170208_101153_001.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170208_110822.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170208_101137.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170208_101328.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170208_101437.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170208_101458.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170208_101618.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170208_161451.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170208_161526.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170208_161535.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170208_161700.jpg

[Ryanerickson]

tank looking good Ryan, how do you like the skimmer?
Thanks bud loving the bk skimmer I really could never go back it makes very very little noise takes up very little room and is just really good at its job.

[Amadod2]

the first thing i noticed was the small footprint. did you have to order that online or does JL carry it?

[Ryanerickson]

So the sump on this tank is pretty great looks sharp its built pretty well. only complaints would be the return pump area is a bit small but does work, my biggest issue is the rectangular filter bags you have to use. There 40 bucks for 3 that's just fine but I've found my washing machine just chews them up with there odd shape. http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170208-164759.png
The bags rip along the edge of the hard plastic so today I decided to cut the bags completely off and make something removable that I can wash without the hard plastic rim.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170208_145643.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170208_145846.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170208_145857.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170208_150021.jpghttp://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170208_150246.jpg

[Ryanerickson]

the first thing i noticed was the small footprint. did you have to order that online or does JL carry it?

I found it used locally I was very lucky got it for a great price don't think you can buy them new in Canada, premium aquatics in the US carries there line.

[maron6977]

Hey, those brown corals - did you snap those pics from my tank . Lol

[DKoKoMan]

Your corals look fine, the colours are definitely there. :smile:

[F.H]

That's a sweet setup Ryan! things have really come along now eh, it's going to look awesome once things hit their sweet spot.

Looking forward to checking it out sometime!

[Galizio]

Nice set up Ryan , I like the little refugium with rock flowers, also how that reactor ( I guess with the cheato) works for you?
Looks great


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ryanerickson]

That's a sweet setup Ryan! things have really come along now eh, it's going to look awesome once things hit their sweet spot.

Looking forward to checking it out sometime!

Thanks fhad come by anytime still looking for magicians by they way hope yours are growing.

Hey, those brown corals - did you snap those pics from my tank . Lol

Your colours blow mine away mark lol what you talking about gotta come say hi soon.

Your corals look fine, the colours are definitely there. :smile:

Thanks Kokoman they are there but will be better 😉

Nice set up Ryan , I like the little refugium with rock flowers, also how that reactor ( I guess with the cheato) works for you?
Looks great


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks buddy the reactor worked fine when my phosphate was .08 ish now there very low hanna phosphorus reads 0-4 ppb on tests so that's 0. 012 if im correct on the higher end lol as a result the cheato melted away.

[Ryanerickson]

So my main goal for this tank (losing the bryopsis) is a fail my sps is all fine but there were multiple zoas frags I just couldn't throw away, at first all was well but when I started dosing the aqua forest foods the bryopsis went from I few small stems poping out to covering the zoas on affected plugs.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170208_111640.jpg

So last night I took the plunge I added 9 fluconazole pills at 200mg each, tank is 85-90 gallon total water volume.by the way thanks Dan (vanreefer) for ordering these up.
Few pics
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/IMG-20170209-WA0053.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170209_200132.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170209_200207.jpg
Got a bit cloudy
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170209_201543.jpg

[maron6977]

So, never heard of this . Can you explain ?

[Myka]

That's a pretty sweet looking sump. Does it just look pretty or is it good design too? Quiet?

Don't get discouraged...my SPS did the same thing when I transferred into my tank. Nutrients too low, all faded out. That's your issue too? I tried everything...Pohl's Xtra is the magic ingredient for me. My buddy is Valonia though, not Bryopsis. Not sure which sucks more. :lol:

[Ryanerickson]

So, never heard of this . Can you explain ?

Mark there's another thread about it on canreef but in short you add the pills to tank I removed skimmer cup others don't. Then wait for the magic to happen, day eight you do a 25% water change bryopsis should be dead by then.

[Ryanerickson]

That's a pretty sweet looking sump. Does it just look pretty or is it good design too? Quiet?

Don't get discouraged...my SPS did the same thing when I transferred into my tank. Nutrients too low, all faded out. That's your issue too? I tried everything...Pohl's Xtra is the magic ingredient for me. My buddy is Valonia though, not Bryopsis. Not sure which sucks more. :lol:

Thanks it's does work pretty well and was very very quiet until I added the dripping feature with the bio brick, but doesn't bother me at night and my room is very close. As for color yeah it's from low nutrients they were also dipped a few times so think it's a bit of both but I'm feeding lots they will come back. The valonia must be a mod thing pretty sure that wardog guy had a few also. But yeah either are brutal to deal with hoping for the best with the fluconazole.

[Rice Reef]

Sweet build Ryan! Can't wait to see it in person.

[Ryanerickson]

Sweet build Ryan! Can't wait to see it in person.

Thanks Wayne hope to see you today!!!

[maron6977]

so, been a few days - update on algae w/pics

[Ryanerickson]

so, been a few days - update on algae w/pics

Here you go bryopsis is turning white apparently you can run the fluconazole in your water for up to 14 days it will also kill hair algae people on r2r forum have reported so I'll give it the full 14 day try. This frag has Green hair algae and bryopsis you can see the bryopsis Is white, Gha still green for now.
this is day 3
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170212_160826.jpg
Day 4
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170213_100933.jpg

[Ryanerickson]

Took some pics of my favourite sps tenuis sp most are new couple have been around for a bit most are pale looking forward to see what they turn into.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170214_102916.jpg
Anybody have advise on loosing the worm with a fan or whatever it is living in the penthouse suite on this piece ? There's actually 4-5 of them and there in another piece I have.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170214_103045.jpg
This one is in bad shape didn't like the dip, also don't really look like tenuis but the colony it came from sure did.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170214_103122.jpg
Lots of potential with this one
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170214_103205.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170214_103213.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170214_103301.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170214_103317.jpg
This one looks amazing it's from Wayne thanks again what a gem he called it green passion it lives up to the name.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170214_102805.jpg
Another new one from Wayne I'll share not a tenuis this one is called cherry pie.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170214_102839.jpg

[hunggi74]

Delicious 😋

[DKoKoMan]

I need some of these frags.

[Ryanerickson]

Thanks guys can't wait for them to grow!!!
Todays update on bryopsis Gha kill with fluconazole.
Bryopsis is almost toast Gha still fighting my clean up crew is now eating the bryopsis at night. Today at 8:30 pm will be 7 days with treatment in water I'm going for 14 days as its not bothering anything but the algae.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170216_110352.jpg

[CoralPatron]

A very neat looking setup! Well done sir

[tang daddy]

But there is still bryopsis in the pic you posted Ryan, mine was gone in 3 days with the full dose.

[Ryanerickson]

A very neat looking setup! Well done sir

Thanks you

[Ryanerickson]

But there is still bryopsis in the pic you posted Ryan, mine was gone in 3 days with the full dose.

Chris it kills it in 3 days when also using vibrant I'm not using vibrant you are. I've read the vibrant will make it weak then the fluconazole will finish it off in 3-4 days. By the way most the bryopsis is dead and breaking off by now but stuff in low light areas is still holding on for now.

[Galizio]

Hey Ryan looks good!!! Hopefully can get the algae under control soon. BTW you got better at taking pics...new camera?

[Galizio]

Joking :-)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[maron6977]

Looks like I should pop out some time & have a look . Maybe put dibs down on some frags when they grow out !

[Ryanerickson]

Hey Ryan looks good!!! Hopefully can get the algae under control soon. BTW you got better at taking pics...new camera?

It's almost gone buddy, pretty happy as I didn't wanna toss all my zoas. As for pics nothing has really changed just using a older Samsung for pics but thanks for compliment.

[Ryanerickson]

Looks like I should pop out some time & have a look . Maybe put dibs down on some frags when they grow out !

I'm around all weekend come on by if you have time, I gotta come see you also.

[Galizio]

It's almost gone buddy, pretty happy as I didn't wanna toss all my zoas. As for pics nothing has really changed just using a older Samsung for pics but thanks for compliment.



Nice... is coming along very nice.. cant believe those are phone pics good job.. I was going to swing by but the wife put me on paint duty lol...
Looks great....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ryanerickson]

Nice... is coming along very nice.. cant believe those are phone pics good job.. I was going to swing by but the wife put me on paint duty lol...
Looks great....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Happy painting Galizio 😀 come by anytime no rush

[Ryanerickson]

So i have a day 11 of using fluconazole in tank update.
Most algae is dead now one thing I have noticed is my no3 has gone from 0-0.2 ppm to now 1ppm this has actually been pretty good for the sps as colour is coming back now. On the down side tanks a bit dirty as in glass gets brown crap every three days. Usually I do 10 percent water change every 7 days so that can't help either.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170220_134111.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170220_134127.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170220_134138.jpg
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http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170220_134211.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170220_134307.jpg
Indo SSC stump finally showing pink
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170220_134626.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170220_134831.jpg
Bonsai from rich going purple again
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170220_134918.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170220_134938.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170220_135021.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170220_135126.jpg

[WarDog]

So in your professional opinion, the stuff works?

[Ryanerickson]

So in your professional opinion, the stuff works?

Haha professional yes I'm very pleased I just took a toothbrush to all my zoa frags Ill update with more pics tomorrow anything that was hanging on fell right off. On a side note I found 4-5 thick string like algaes I could not identify, they were a bit round on the point after pulling on one it burst fml!! Some type of bubble algae I'm guessing the rest of them were cut right off outta tank hoping for the best.

[GoFish]

I think those bubble algae things are related to bryopsis, I could watch them wither away after a Fluc treatment. They took longer to die off than the ferns, actually may still have a few left as well.

Keep it up, looks great!

[Ryanerickson]

I think those bubble algae things are related to bryopsis, I could watch them wither away after a Fluc treatment. They took longer to die off than the ferns, actually may still have a few left as well.

Keep it up, looks great!

Thanks Bryant hoping there all gone at this point fluconazole is still in tank tell Thursday night also. I think I could do a water change at this point but it's not hurting anything so I'll continue. Took a few pics today unfortunately the la laker zoas I've had in most pics are still closed up from me brushing last night I'll get a final pic of them on Thursday.

Colour is coming back fast now so excited !!!
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170221_132514.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170221_132519.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170221_132524.jpg

[Ryanerickson]

I'm not even sure what these are worm with a fan I'm guessing but regardless of what they are there not helping this piece grow. Time to manually remove them. By the way I dipped these pretty good with no results kinda looks like they can seal there opening.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170221_150030.jpg
When outta water they look like this it's the white area circled I basically got a sharp pin and dug the area out, it's a open void once thru skin from there I removed the bug.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170221_150304.jpg
All done
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170221_141156.jpg

[DKoKoMan]

Some funky little bugs hiding in the polyps. Did you only notice them when taking the photos?

[Ryanerickson]

Some funky little bugs hiding in the polyps. Did you only notice them when taking the photos?

No I saw them right away but I've just left them in the past I actually have a frag I bought about 2 years ago with them and it's only ever encrusted I'm guessing from these little guys irritating the top of frag. Anyways both were dealt with yesterday.

[DKoKoMan]

Crazy! good share though as I have never saw these before.

[Myka]

Dem feathers be leetle barnacles.

[DKoKoMan]

Dem feathers be leetle barnacles.

Myka are they harmful in any way?

[Myka]

Myka are they harmful in any way?
Theu make the coral grow funny in that spot, but don't seem to really cause much grief. I remove them though because I don't like that funky looking growth.

[DKoKoMan]

Thanks! I was just wondering In case I come across them.

[Ryanerickson]

Doing my morning dosing and saw this guy cruising.

Ehhhh
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170223_081905.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170223_081932.jpg
Fire the most part I could care less about bristle worms but this one was becoming snake size time to hit the road.

[duncangweller]

That gives me the heebie-jeebies.

[Potatohead]

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa1/RabidRabbit33/577_zpstnihz6p9.gif (http://s200.photobucket.com/user/RabidRabbit33/media/577_zpstnihz6p9.gif.html)

[DKoKoMan]

Nasty!!! How did you get that out LOL.

[Ryanerickson]

Nasty!!! How did you get that out LOL.

I like to sit back and watch the tank for 5-10 minutes before work in the am during that time I add a few things then feed fish. I left the room the grab bio s from fridge. when I came back it was making its way alone a big Rock I quickly looked for anything to grab It, luckily I had a skewer handy, I ran outta glue last night was digging the corner bits outta bottle lol. I managed to swipe it off the rocks from there it didn't have a chance I was very lucky it was fully outta the rocks. Usually one end is stuck in a hole.

[DKoKoMan]

HA HA... Good work!~ That is nasty for sure.

[Bblinks]

Hate those things...

[Ryanerickson]

K day 14 treating bryopsis with fluconazole. I can report it works well all is dead I finished tonight with a 20 gallon water change. I took some pics with my cell phone and a orange cellophane filter works alright they are taken with just blue led on. First pic is the la Lakers the pic I showed on day one , it was a green bush at that point.
Day 1
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170208_111640.jpg
Day 14
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170223_180456.jpg
Zoas are closed because there still mad I tooth brushed them a couple days ago well just the la laker there pretty picky ones.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170223_180511.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170223_180622.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170223_180608.jpg
Anything still hanging I'm pretty sure is dead but I'll let the cleanup crew take care of it and keep updating to with pics.
Pretty in Pink looking nice
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170223_171538.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170223_180411.jpg

[Potatohead]

Nice 😎

[Bblinks]

That's awesome Ryan! Thanks for sharing. I hope that dirty bastard ace can learn from your experiment. 🙊😉

[Myka]

Nice, that looks a lot better!

Love the Pretty in Pink. That's one I wanted for my tank, but I am SO out of space.

[shabidou1990]

Very nice build! And some gorgeous live stock!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tang daddy]

That's awesome Ryan! Thanks for sharing. I hope that dirty bastard ace can learn from your experiment. 🙊😉

They don't call him the bryopsis king for nada....

[Bblinks]

They don't call him the bryopsis king for nada....

Dirty! lol

[Ryanerickson]

Thanks everyone for the kind thoughts, today I'm playing around with a par meter interested in seeing how much light I have hitting my coral I'll update with pics later.

For now I'll add a few pic I wanted to share, I was checking out the rock flower babies (always hoping for more babies) when I noticed all the skirts or outter rims of the babies are changing colour from grey to purple �� this should make them pretty cool looking when bigger.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170224_141834.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170224_142014.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170224_141902.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170224_141939.jpg
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170224_141916.jpg
Theres a Couple of these beauties don't think there going purple but that's OK the grey is a good contrast with green and yellow.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170224-144810.png

[Ryanerickson]

So this happened last night
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170227_204346.jpg
Usually babies arrive 8-10 weeks after ��
Still playing with par meter I'll update soon

[Galizio]

Lol, got some 50 shades going on in your refugium


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DKoKoMan]

Holy rock flower anemones! I might have to get one of these.

[Ryanerickson]

So I did some par testing I had 2 difference apogee usb models
Sq 420 vs the sq520
Sq520 is more money and says it can do led better on the website.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170303_224337.jpg
Vs
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170303_192325.jpg

http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170304_111141.jpg
Pics are in order from one to nine
1
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170303_195349.jpg
2
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170303_195458.jpg
3
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170303_195546.jpg
4
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170303_195652.jpg
5
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170303_195714.jpg
6
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170303_195753.jpg
7
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170303_195855.jpg
8
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170303_195923.jpg
9
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170303_194824.jpg
Overall the sq 520 shows a higher par on all tests but the biggest difference was under the halide not the led as I was expecting.

[Ryanerickson]

Update on fluconazole, don't hesitate on trying this as it works great I dosed 9 pills for 90 gallons for 14 days everything was left on for the most. (Skimmer was off for 2 days) don't think it hat needed to be.
Before
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170208_111640.jpg
After
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170308_081505.jpg

[DKoKoMan]

That stuff worked wonders according to the before and after photos.

[Ryanerickson]

Quick pic for the weekend sps is looking better everyday
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170316_153252.jpg

[Bblinks]

Quick pic for the weekend sps is looking better everyday
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170316_153252.jpg

Packed! Looking good buddy!

[WarDog]

Looking great.... tell us, how often do you test your params? Lol.

[Ryanerickson]

Packed! Looking good buddy!
Thanks rich but I'm planning on at least doubling those numbers :biggrin:
Looking great.... tell us, how often do you test your params? Lol.
Lol oh boy I'll just say more then some, the trick is smoking pot makes testing water a joy
:hat:

[WarDog]

Lol. Good thing it's Perscription. :wink:

[tang daddy]

Thanks rich but I'm planning on at least doubling those numbers :biggrin:

Lol oh boy I'll just say more then some, the trick is smoking pot makes testing water a joy
:hat:

Smoking pot is a thing of the past...all the cool kids are inhaling ice now jk lols!

Your rainbow loom is one big hunka love!

Looking good buddy....

[Galizio]

Quick pic for the weekend sps is looking better everyday

http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170316_153252.jpg



Looking good Ryan , nice pile of sps there, colouring up nicely... well done...


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[DKoKoMan]

My wife saw the Anthias today at the LFS in their huge 400g tank and now he wants one lol. I heard they are very finicky eaters. Ryan yours look awesome!

[duncangweller]

I had a little gathering of anthias way back when, and asked the LFS to feed them in the tank whilst I was there. They ate up mysis straight away so I knew they were at least eating.

I feed mostly pellets so eventually they got the message and started eating them. They also got a taste for nori and they would pick off chunks that the tank would loosen up.

When they get hungry they'll eat whatever you throw in there. That's what I found anyway.

[Ryanerickson]

My anthias are doing well I feed twice a day with pellets. I think one of them is yours Dunc lol anyways this type in particular lyretail seem pretty hardy I've only lost one because it jumped .

[Etaloche]

Lol oh boy I'll just say more then some, the trick is smoking pot makes testing water a joy
:hat:

Amen :lol:

[Ryanerickson]

I find I'm always looking for my phone to use my apex controller while working on the tank so I added this old phone to the hood today it's always plugged in even the screen stays on kinda handy.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170320_161946.jpg

[DKoKoMan]

Ok well that's good to hear that they eat a variety of food. That's a sweet setup Ryan and the phone permanently in place makes for much less hassle.

[duncangweller]

I find I'm always looking for my phone to use my apex controller while working on the tank so I added this old phone to the hood today it's always plugged in even the screen stays on kinda handy.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170320_161946.jpg
I kept an old Nexus tablet for this exact reason. Now I just need a tank

[Bblinks]

I kept an old Nexus tablet for this exact reason. Now I just need a tank

Money bags...lol

[DKoKoMan]

Everyone needs a little tank in their life!

[tang daddy]

Ryan love the new touch to the tank, gives it a step up of elegance with the white everything rather than a black box. Looks sharp!

I gotta stop by and grab that frag and drop off the salt on of these weekends...

[dino]

Is you cabinet done? I also like white and im trying to sell it to the wife but she wants black. maybe a pic of your can convince her

[Ryanerickson]

Thanks Chris come on by.

Dino unfortunately I can't help you out as I have not finished that part of the project. I was planning on making 3 magnetic panels but it hasn't become a priority, tanks also pretty easy to work on as is.

[DKoKoMan]

I would be interested in the design for magnetic panels as I will need to do the same. I have read a lot of people just purchase kitchen cabinets and then put magnets in the panels. Not sure where one would pick up strong the strong magnets to attach to the metal frame.

[dino]

I bought magnets from KMS and in set them into my wood stand and I also have magnets on the panel works well

[duncangweller]

I would be interested in the design for magnetic panels as I will need to do the same. I have read a lot of people just purchase kitchen cabinets and then put magnets in the panels. Not sure where one would pick up strong the strong magnets to attach to the metal frame.
Lee valley sells earth magnets which are strong enough to hold a panel.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=42348&cat=1,42363

Rona also does custom cabinet doors for a reasonable price if you're not into making them yourself.

[newbie2]

Stole the idea from kien and got cheap cupboard doors from ikea. 2x2 door is $20-30

[Ryanerickson]

Stole the idea from kien and got cheap cupboard doors from ikea. 2x2 door is $20-30

Not a bad idea

[Ryanerickson]

adding my first goniopora after lots of reading and watching youtube vids for the most part these awesome looking corals prefer the same conditions as sps so found a great looking frag to give a try. Anybody interested in learning about flowerpot coral or (goniopora) I would recommend looking up Justin credabel he has a book on them also is the creator of (gonipower) as far as I know the only food made specifically for this species.
In bag pic
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170326_124125.jpg
20 minutes after adding to tank
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170326_133844.jpg

[DKoKoMan]

Nice piece! I currently have one and will be ordering another as I love how big they get and flow in the water.

[iamfrontosa]

I put mine as high as I could in my tank. High light doesn't seem to bother them. Super fast growing and will sting your sps. Send out super long sweeper at night time. So watch out.

[Wheelman76]

Great looking Goni Ryan

[Ryanerickson]

Thanks Kokoman and jess
I put mine as high as I could in my tank. High light doesn't seem to bother them. Super fast growing and will sting your sps. Send out super long sweeper at night time. So watch out.
And thanks for this info I have it to the side still about 300-350 par, but Im still waiting for it to fully open I'll leave it for now.

[Ryanerickson]

Time for a update. I recently found my nutrients slowly going up, so i have decided to add a refugium hoping this will be a cheaper method to keep nitrate and phosphate low. This is in my garage the display is on the other side of wall inside house. So far added cheato and some red mangroves.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170415-083152.png

Next I've changed up my rock work a bit, I'm liking this look much more.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170415-083327.png
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170415-083348.png

Added a few clams, in the past I had up to 15 clams at a time and I swore I would never get anymore but these came in at a great price and looking pretty nice also couldn't resist.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170415-082943.png
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/20170413_150612.jpg

Next up I've been adding lots of frags as you can see in the pics above . Thought I would show off a particular nice tenuis I picked up its still small and green but sure glows already.

Walt Disney tenuis
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170415-083254.png

Another nice one not gonna say what it is, good luck guessing.and sorry winner doesn't receive a free nub off it.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170415-083055.png

Final part of this update is about the rock flowers. Males spawned on Feb 28th if I remember correctly as of the last few days the females are looking swollen and one has shot out some babies. I find as the babies grow the mother will release 2-3 babies to make room for the rest to continue growing in mom . I'm expecting more in the following weeks.

In this pic you can see the mother showing off a huge baby she closed back up right after pic and still holding this one.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170415-083038.png
Pic of my favourite baby from last batch eating pellets.
http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd406/ryansmallenberg/Screenshot_20170415-083229.png
Males also spawned again last night not sure what's gonna happen this round as most females are still holding babies.

That's it for now thanks for looking. Ryan

[jhj0112]

very nice Ryan! love your RFAs!

Sent from my ASUS_Z01BDC using Tapatalk

[iamfrontosa]

Looks awesome. Where did you get your WD from? Could the 2nd piece be JD ?

[Ryanerickson]

Looks awesome. Where did you get your WD from? Could the 2nd piece be JD ?

Holy crap your good at this game good guess . I got the Walt Disney from candy corals in Ontario.

[iamfrontosa]

Holy crap your good at this game good guess . I got the Walt Disney from candy corals in Ontario.



Hahhaha. Cool stuffs. Afnan has all high end. I knew it was a JD because I had it. and died in a tank crash.

[DKoKoMan]

Sweet updates, the fuge should help you out with the extra nutrients. The RFA spawning is pretty cool, do the colours usually come out the same each time?

[Myka]

Ryan, why do you have nutrients? Pics don't look like you have many fish. JD is looking nice, you get it from Afnan too?

[Ryanerickson]

very nice Ryan! love your RFAs!

Sent from my ASUS_Z01BDC using Tapatalk
Thanks you, I love them also pretty fun watching these guys breed.

[Ryanerickson]

Hahhaha. Cool stuffs. Afnan has all high end. I knew it was a JD because I had it. and died in a tank crash.

I also killed a jd hoping I'll do better this round, first time it was my own fault.

[Ryanerickson]

Sweet updates, the fuge should help you out with the extra nutrients. The RFA spawning is pretty cool, do the colours usually come out the same each time?
Usually about 1/2 the babies will resemble there mother exactly or somewhat close . The rest are just a lottery they come out with new colours and patterns every time.

Ryan, why do you have nutrients? Pics don't look like you have many fish. JD is looking nice, you get it from Afnan too?
Lol I'm not sure why I have nutrients I don't think I have that many fish.
Chevron tang
2 clowns
4 lyretail anthias
4 springer damsels
That's it, I've always assumed it's from the chevron but I really don't know.
Last test read 17 ppb on hanna phosphorus (this was up to 31when I started the refugium)
N03 was .2 but a week ago it was 2.5-5 ppm on salifert. I'm trying to find a red sea pro nitrate kit atm localaly, im done with this salifert test kit.

The jd came from the east I've been asked to not publicly say who it came from, i think this piece is getting rarer by the day in Canada as its going for 2k a 1/2" in the us, I've seen pics of jd frags going south shit I would do the same if I could at that price. Really hoping for the best with this one looks like it's encrusting already :lol:

[Myka]

Lol I'm not sure why I have nutrients I don't think I have that many fish.
Chevron tang
2 clowns
4 lyretail anthias
4 springer damsels
That's it, I've always assumed it's from the chevron but I really don't know.
Last test read 17 ppb on hanna phosphorus (this was up to 31when I started the refugium)
N03 was .2 but a week ago it was 2.5-5 ppm on salifert. I'm trying to find a red sea pro nitrate kit atm localaly, im done with this salifert test kit.

The jd came from the east I've been asked to not publicly say who it came from, i think this piece is getting rarer by the day in Canada as its going for 2k a 1/2" in the us, I've seen pics of jd frags going south shit I would do the same if I could at that price. Really hoping for the best with this one looks like it's encrusting already :lol:

So are you wanting NO3 lower than the 2.5-5 ppm that it was? I'm dosing KNO3 to try to get that high! :lol:

Which foods do you feed? That may contribute to the PO4. 17 ppm is 0.05 ppm, that's the target I'm dosing to too! Could we switch some water around? :D

USD$2K? :eek: Can't say I've seen it over USD$1200 in the US. Weird that the price is going UP rather than down. I'd spend that on a fish, but not a coral. Though I guess a coral gives you the chance to recoop cost.

[Ryanerickson]

Mindy I agree my nutrients are about right but what I didn't add was I previously was using 250ml of rowa every 14 days to keep phosphate at this level and after dosing fluconazole to kill bryopsis I've had hair algae start growing in a few spots mainly on zoa frags. So I'm hoping the refugium will help keep the phosphates low without the rowa and also hoping the refugium will become the ideal spot in the system for algae to grow and die off in my display. I feed vitalis marine pellets twice a day that's it. Guessing my aquaforest foods add nutrients also.

As for jd check out big r corals I think this guy has the best looking colony around definitely inspired me.

[Myka]

Wow, yeah that's a lot of RowaPhos! :eek: So where the heck is all the PO4 coming from? Your tank is setup up in a fashion you'd think it would be nutrient-poor. What do you have for clean up crew?

The Aquaforest foods (Amino Mix, Build, Energy, and Vitality) are designed for use after achieving ULNS so you can tweak exactly how you want nutrients in your tank. You're not supposed to use them in tanks with nutrients. Also "Energy" has copper in it which promotes the pastel look, so if you're looking for rich colors, don't use Energy.

Yeah that Big R Corals guy has a lot of nice stuff. Too bad he's in Texas (iirc).

[Ryanerickson]

Wow, yeah that's a lot of RowaPhos! :eek: So where the heck is all the PO4 coming from? Your tank is setup up in a fashion you'd think it would be nutrient-poor. What do you have for clean up crew?

The Aquaforest foods (Amino Mix, Build, Energy, and Vitality) are designed for use after achieving ULNS so you can tweak exactly how you want nutrients in your tank. You're not supposed to use them in tanks with nutrients. Also "Energy" has copper in it which promotes the pastel look, so if you're looking for rich colors, don't use Energy.

Yeah that Big R Corals guy has a lot of nice stuff. Too bad he's in Texas (iirc).

For clean up crew is have or had 60 lefty hermits 3 turbos 3 yellow ring cowries 8 trochus snails and a conch. I'm pretty sure I had phosphate in the live rock i used and it's leaching out but only a guess. So with the af foods I do amino and vitality 1 drop of each every second night and only the build on the alternative night also at one drop. Recomended dose is 5 drops on my system Im going super light because of my nutrients and yeah I don't use the energy as it has copper in it. I use kz coral Vitalizer instead as I think it's somewhat the same minus the copper.

[Frogger]

The problem could be your nitrates.

Get a Red Sea Pro nitrate test kit. Reef Supplies sell it. I found the salifert test kit sucks when measuring below 5ppm.

Find out exactly what your nitrates are. I was having a problem with phosphates off the chart on a similar low fish bioload system. Once I got my nitrates to 1.5ppm I was able to take the GFO off line and now have acceptable level of phosphate without any GFO

[Ryanerickson]

The problem could be your nitrates.

Get a Red Sea Pro nitrate test kit. Reef Supplies sell it. I found the salifert test kit sucks when measuring below 5ppm.

Find out exactly what your nitrates are. I was having a problem with phosphates off the chart on a similar low fish bioload system. Once I got my nitrates to 1.5ppm I was able to take the GFO off line and now have acceptable level of phosphate without any GFO

Thanks I'm on this as I think you may be right