KrazyKuch's & Michika's 180Gal Tank Build [Archive] - Page 3

michika

12-13-2008, 02:49 PM

They came from Red Coral, and thats about all I know. They are pretty awesome though. The moment I put in nori they pop out of the sand and make a beeline for the food. They move really fast!

I definitely won't be heading outside today. Our road is all ice with a nice heavy layer of snow on top. We also have the perk of being in a semi cul-de-sac, so once and awhile someone takes the corner too fast and drives up on our lawn.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0373.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0376.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0378.jpg

Some updated photos of the tank, which needs cleaning:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0392.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0362.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0386.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0390.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0389.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0387.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0388.jpg

michika

12-13-2008, 03:09 PM

How is the tank doing after the gang got back from their vacation?

The tank doesn't quite seem as clear as it used to. I think its because we no longer run the ozonizer. I think I want to replace the one we lost in the flood. I never realized how much of a difference it made. I never saw much of a clarity difference from before to putting it online, but obviously it must have been doing something!

The algae growth is diminishing slowly. The tangs are taking care of a lot of the extra stuff on the rocks. I'm really happy they are back because I put all my tank livestock to work.

I love having SPS again, although I am seeing pretty much zero polyp extension, and that bothers me significantly. It doesn't seem to be related to water quality, or at least the tests I'm doing.

michika

12-13-2008, 05:14 PM

My lighting shift will be complete today. I've been adjusting my lighting from this:

T5s: On for 12 hours, 8am to 10pm
MHs: On for 9 hours total; 10am to 7pm
refugium: 24/7

T5s: On for 12 hours, 8am to 10pm
MHs: On for 5.5 hours; 2pm to 7:30pm
refugium: On and off whenever I remember. I need to find a timer.

I want to reduce the T5 photo period to maybe noon to 10pm. I need new refugium lighting as well, and I'm thinking of a two bulb T5 set-up. Its also almost time to swap the MH bulbs, one bulb has been running since Jan. 30th, 2008, and the other since June 21, 2008. Knowing me though it will probably have to wait until the beginning of January though for replacements.

JDigital

12-13-2008, 08:28 PM

By my calculations, your T5's are running 14hours.. not 12.. :lol:

Tank is starting to come around though eh.. What do you have back in there for fish?

michika

12-13-2008, 11:37 PM

Yeah...so...um....math is not my strong suit...

Fish:
scopas tang
purple tang
sailfin tang
doctorfish aka doctor tang
bristletooth tang
yellow damsel
various clean up crew members

I'm trying to get them all back on the nori stick diet as I've been using a piece of PVC in the tank up until now. Kevin stole and butchered my old stick to replumb the tank.

michika

12-14-2008, 04:07 PM

Kevin has been busy over the last couple of weeks building his own aquarium controller. I suggested that he take photos of programming the development board, but he never got around to it. So I snapped a shot yesterday of it. He finished assembling it early this week and is now onto the programming stage of things:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0418.jpg

He is programming to be a controller for the big tank.

untamed

12-14-2008, 04:16 PM

Some updated photos of the tank, which needs cleaning:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0392.jpg

Is that a powerhead held in place by suction cups on the far right side? That's a problem waiting to happen.

michika

12-14-2008, 04:31 PM

Its not actually on. Its been off since the sea hare went in the tank. It just hasn't been removed. Kevin wants to keep it in the tank for water movement behind the rocks. I hate powerheads in the tank, and would prefer it comes out permanently.

fencer

12-14-2008, 05:10 PM

Okay Kevin's controller is pretty cool. Where did he buy the parts and is ethernet capable. In other words I want to build one too. PM me I would like to talk to him on the phone

michika

12-14-2008, 05:19 PM

The kit came from ECROS, www.ecrostech.com, and it can be ethernet capable if you want it to be. Apparently everything is modular about it. Per Kevin, "its just a development tool, you can add anything you want, you just have to make it. E.g. for pH, or ORP you just need to make high impedence amplifiers.

I'll send you a PM as well.

Trigger Man

12-14-2008, 05:27 PM

Maybe Kevin is going to have to start making more controllers to sell. Food from you, controllers from Kevin, it will soon be a one stop shop.

Pan

12-14-2008, 06:00 PM

The kit came from ECROS, www.ecrostech.com (http://www.ecrostech.com), and it can be ethernet capable if you want it to be. Apparently everything is modular about it. Per Kevin, "its just a development tool, you can add anything you want, you just have to make it. E.g. for pH, or ORP you just need to make high impedence amplifiers.

I'll send you a PM as well.
What happened to your RKE?

michika

12-14-2008, 06:07 PM

Nothing, its running the 180g. Kevin is making his own because that was the deal, I got the RKE, and he gets to build one to try out on the big tank.

I'm looking for an electronic float switch, maybe two, to look at a continuous feeding model for the 180g for clams and SPS>

I was also browsing the forums on RC today and came across this, Kuramura's solution to adding more lighting to his system without adding more wattage. (http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1511602&perpage=25&pagenumber=2)
I think its really ingenious, and innovative. Its making me revisit my ideas on light movers for the big system.

michika

12-14-2008, 07:46 PM

So we taped out some options today for the big tank.

Option 1: 13ft (156") Long x 3.5ft (42") Deep x 2ft (24") Tall = 680.7g
This tank would be 3ft above the ground for optimal viewing when standing or seated.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0420.jpg

Some buckets for perspective
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0422.jpg

Pros:
- 13ft is a lovely length
- 3ft or 3.5ft of depth is easy for me to reach

Cons:
- Giving up the only window in the basement
- Loose approximately 6ft from the current room for the tank and a walkway behind

Option 2: 10ft (120") to 15ft (180") Long x 4ft (48") Deep x 2ft (24") Tall = 598.4g to 897.7g

Pros:
- In-wall design, means we only loose about 1ft of space from the entire room
- Length can be expanded up to 15ft
- Get to keep the window
- More spare for a moveable light rack
- Sump could be under the display and accessible from both sides

This shows a 10ft length
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0424.jpg

Where the back of the tank would go
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0426.jpg

Under the stairs where the tank some of the tank would be.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0427.jpg

I'm leaning towards option 2. It just has so many more pros then the original design. It would also allow us the added benefit of more space for entertaining in our basement.

And a lovely little winter suprise....you know your cold air intake is really bringing in cold air when:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0429.jpg

Rbacchiega

12-14-2008, 08:09 PM

***jealous!****

and I thought my 8X3X2 tank was big

untamed

12-15-2008, 12:55 AM

I like option 2 much better. You didn't even list any "cons" for option 2.

JDigital

12-15-2008, 12:59 AM

I'd say option 2 @ the 15ft length... :mrgreen: That would be an amazing tank.. That 12footer on Nano-Reef is truly amazing.. I could only imagine a longer, fatter, deeper version.. (did that sound dirrrrty?!?)

Lance

12-15-2008, 01:39 AM

Option 2 sounds like the way to go. Option 1 leaves little room for anything other than tank watching. Option 2 allows you some freedom for decorating, furniture, etc.

michika

12-15-2008, 02:03 AM

I can't really think of cons for option 2 since its a newer option....

Oh wait! Option No.2 cons:
- More demo required to get it set up properly into place, the wall will need to be completely replaced.
- More lighting required for longer tank, if we do over 13ft, thus higher costs.
- Will have a smaller work area (lower ceiling) behind a part of the tank due to the stairs, furnace, and hot water tank.
- The stupid telepost will still have to stay where it is. I have no love for this thing. It will still be skinned in whatever goes with the rest of the decor.

I will have to think on this for a couple of weeks. Go sit with the outline and decide if its really what I want, and make sure that its really what Kevin wants too. There are also new logistics that need to be worked out with this design; access to the fish room, maintenance access, costs for running the tank, set-up costs on the different dimensions, etc.

Things I definitely do know though regardless of which option we go with;
- tank will be over 500g
- will have a fish room, completely closed off from the rest of the house
- my lighting will try and be as power-bill friendly as possible, how yet, I don't know.
- I am going to eliminate the need to schlep buckets for anything, water changes, or adding top-off water to the top-off container.

GreenSpottedPuffer

12-15-2008, 02:30 AM

I vote option 2 as well! Very cool dimensions. How big is that room? I think it looks really small and to make it smaller with the tank IN the room would be a shame. You need room with a big tank to look at it from a good distance and take it all in.

I usually feel jealous of the big tanks (around 300G) but not this one :mrgreen: I just cringe at the cost of lighting and maintaining it! Actually even more when I think of the time it will take to maintain it...Your brave :biggrin:

Going to be amazing though to watch someone else take this on. I would never want a tank this big but I love seeing them :razz:

So your not building this one yourself though right?

steve fedyk

12-15-2008, 03:45 AM

I'm liking the 10' long tank tank. If your go 36" front to back and 24"-27" deep you might be able to get a way with four 250 HQI and couple t-5. But you would have to run the lights about 12"- 16" off the water for a good spread (Helps with cooling).

Lots of good ideas there good planing.

untamed

12-15-2008, 05:24 AM

It is my advice that you cannot sacrifice maintenance. If any aspect of keeping the tank is difficult to do, it won't get done.

GreenSpottedPuffer

12-15-2008, 07:59 AM

It is my advice that you cannot sacrifice maintenance. If any aspect of keeping the tank is difficult to do, it won't get done.

Well on a tank this size easy maintenance is a must! Monthly water changes of say 200G is not going to get done by buckets :mrgreen:

michika

12-15-2008, 02:18 PM

I do know this tank will be built on site, and the final dimensions will need to work with what the house has to offer, e.g. windows & doors to get the glass in. Other then that so far I don't know. Kevin wants to build the tank himself again, but we haven't really discussed it yet.

I know that I don't like powerheads in the tank, so I want to try and avoiding putting them in for any other reason beyond emergency purposes. I still want to go with Oceans Motions 4 or 8 ways, how though, I haven't worked it out.

The lighting will be on sliding racks, which will pull out in banks, e.g. 2MHs & T5s in a bank. I want to be able to push the lighting out of the way for adding in livestock, or doing maintenance, but still have enough lighting from elsewhere to be able to see. I want to almost make each set of lighting banks its own system where you can shut them off to move it.

The room is pretty big, about 13.5ft wide at the smallest part, and probably 15.5ft wide at the largest spot. Its probably 25ft long, maybe 30. The ceiling is 7ft I think, although we have this one bulkhead that is somewhat in the way, but we think it can be moved/made smaller. We never actually measured the room, and that is probably something we should do. I definitely don't want to take away from the space we have if we can, as I think it will really enclose it in and have more negative drawbacks then positive ones.

I have a notebook that I've been recording ideas in since we got our house and started planning how we want to do everything. I flip through it once and awhile and remember all the little things I want to do.

This is probably going to be my last tank build for a long while, so I want to make sure I get everything done right the first time.

Parker

12-15-2008, 02:29 PM

I like option two for the simple fact that you can view the tank while doing other activities, entertaining, tv watching etc. Option one seems to me like that room would be soley for the tank? You would only be in that room to view that tank and wouldn't really have the room for other activities?

Pan

12-15-2008, 06:06 PM

GreenSpottedPuffer

12-16-2008, 12:08 AM

Sounds like you are planning this very well and it will be a great build!

The only thing that I would think isn't such a good idea is building the tank yourself...600G + is kind of a lot of water :surprise:

michika

12-17-2008, 04:39 PM

We have decided to go with option 2, and in-wall tank will have more long-term benefits for us, and its the better choice overall. I haven't done any planning yet, but I'll get to it soon enough.

Its definitely time to go back to the feeding stick, little pieces of PVC are a pain, and the fish make a huge mess with them. The less aggressive fish, like the bristletooth or the scopas, aren't getting their fare share.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0439.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0470.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0512-2.jpg

I also wanted to show a bit of the awesomeness that came back with my clams from Tony's.

Look at the growth that came back on this one
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0529-1.jpg

These guys all grew a lot and got placed together on a rock. They need to be separated because they are soon going to start growing into each other
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0531.jpg

This guy came back with TONS of extra eyes
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0539.jpg

Red Coral Aquariums

12-17-2008, 04:48 PM

Tank sizes.

I know you have possibly made a decision on your sizing but any glass that is over 126" raises the cost exponentially.

Just to think about.
Kevin

michika

12-21-2008, 05:49 PM

So Kevins controller is sort of like this ?
http://www.appdig.com/adicon_new/ocelot.htm

I honestly have no idea. Kevin won't look at the page, he is too busy playing Fabel 2?

Well something is off in my tank. I'm going to try a water change to see if it helps things. 7 of my clams aren't looking so hot. They have retracted mantles, and I think a couple might already be on their way out. This is very frustrating. One more crash or semi-crash type event will probably make me want to give up the hobby.

I'm fed up with my tank right now, and I'm trying to be patient and waiting for things to come back in their own time, but its hard. Its harder when there are more downs then ups.

Skimmerking

12-21-2008, 06:17 PM

Catherine, sorry for all the crap your getting with the tank... Well Im going say something and don't take to heart. why not slow down a bit. really thou if seems that your rushing to get this tank up and running really fast here, stocking the tnak with clams and tangs and this..... know your passion for the live stock. May be it time to just sit back and do a life check here.... I'm just giving you my opinion that is all.. Just seems you are running in to major negetivity here since the crashes... time to take a look on why..

I hope you get it all sorted out since you have a passion for clams and SPS

fishytime

12-22-2008, 01:11 AM

Hopefully nothing too major. I can offer tank space if, heaven forbid, you need it.

michika

12-22-2008, 01:50 AM

I think my salt went bad. I think something settled to the bottom of the salt itself. I usually shake buckets up before we use them, and I think maybe this one escaped the salt shake/mix.

I opened a new mixed bucket, did a WC, and have left the MHs on a little longer then usual right now; they were on for 8.5 hours today. Clams seem better.

Skimmerking

12-22-2008, 01:53 AM

michika

12-22-2008, 02:00 AM

Hahaha high Alk, would probably show up as normal alk. levels in my tank. I swear its the clams that bring my dKH levels down so low all the time.

The offender was a bucket of IO salt that we've had for a long while, we somehow managed to have three buckets going at once, and have finally gotten to this one. I bet we've had this salt since probably the summer.

Trigger Man

12-22-2008, 03:11 AM

Summer doesn't seem like that long ago for salt to go bad, but as you said when packed it may have settled different. Like you I like to mix my bucket of salt to make sure everything is well spread.

Delphinus

12-22-2008, 05:10 AM

Aw geez, sorry to hear. Hopefully they'll look better in a day or so. Sometimes they just seem to sulk if there's something a little off... hope it's just an off day in this case..

argan

12-22-2008, 07:37 AM

I would step back from the 500g+ tank idea for awhile, and get your 180 to where it is more stress free. of course you cannot control bad salt mixes, but maybe try to improve some little things.
for instance why not use an algae clip instead of the PVC pipe thing?
Also if you had a few less clams, maybe wouldn't have a big of a problem with dKH? (realizing this is like asking the sun not to shine, but JMO)

Too much ambition in this hobby can be a bad thing.

michika

12-22-2008, 03:59 PM

I usually don't keep salt around longer then 3 months, so for us having a bucket that long is quite old. It definitely wasn't mixed because the texture was different right at the very bottom apprently, but it never triggered any flags at the time. Most of the clams seemed better last night after the WC. There were two who hadn't quite come around yet, but hopefully today they will have improved.

Algae clip still causes the same problem. The more aggressive feeders take all the food. A longer PVC pipe like I was using before allows me to spread the food over more space allowing all the fish, aggressive, or not, to get in and eat. Its all about surface area in this case, the more you have, the easyier it is.

Anyone know what kind of table saw blade you would need for acrylic cutting?

Chaloupa

12-22-2008, 04:07 PM

Anyone know what kind of table saw blade you would need for acrylic cutting?

Just asked the same question....the more teeth the better...we got a really good one at Canadian Tire, I think it was 80 teeth...but they are costly! $90.00...but works sooooo very well!

Skimmerking

12-22-2008, 04:17 PM

actually the more teeth the better Ridgid has a good blade to lifetime warrenty on them. if you can get a finishing blade that is what you want. fine teeth is the key...

StirCrazy

12-22-2008, 04:49 PM

Anyone know what kind of table saw blade you would need for acrylic cutting?

how much acrylic are you going to be cutting.

the best blade is one designed for acrylic in a no melt design. it is a tripple chip tooth design with a zero rake and a no melt design specificly designed for the acrylic industry. it is so good you can glue directly from the table saw, but it is about 160 to 170.00. I bought one as I was cutting a tone of acrylic, but if you only have a little to do you can get what Sarah got and just use a 400 grit sand paper or a fine file to clean up the edges, but be carfule not to round them over.

Steve

michika

12-23-2008, 01:12 AM

I think it will just be a little bit.

So if I take what you just wrote right to the hardware store will someone who is reasonably versed in such things be able to point me to the right product?

StirCrazy

12-23-2008, 05:10 AM

tell them you want lots of teeth and a tripple chip design.

Steve

michika

12-23-2008, 01:42 PM

Thanks Steve! It worked!

brizzo

12-23-2008, 03:30 PM

http://www.amazon.com/Freud-LU94M010-10-Inch-Plexiglass-Plastic/dp/product-description/B00004T7AL

Aka, Triple chip melamine blade, or negative kerf blade. Store I work in retails them for $114

michika

12-27-2008, 03:01 PM

Thanks everyone for the blade recommendations. They helped a lot, and made shopping very simple.

All the clams are happy again. The water change and extending the MH lighting period again seemed to have solved it. I'm returning the MHs back to 7 hours a day.

Kevin has been very good about watching over the tank. I've been really sick for all of December, and unable to do much of anything. I only worked 3.5 days this month for my regular day job. I wished I could have take advantage of boxing day sales, but I'm still mostly house-bound.

I still think that some predator survived the crash. Before we moved I had at least two fish that just vanished without explanation. I think some predator survived because Kevin told me that we have a missing fish. I thought I checked over all the rocks when we re-started after the crash. I guess I missed something.

Until I'm better I'll just keep planning the big tank and living vicariously through everyone else. I think the internet has been the sole thing to accredit for me retaining my sanity through this illness.

michika

12-31-2008, 12:53 AM

Lets start with some proof that growth does occur in my tank!

Yesterday:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0563.jpg

December 12:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0387.jpg

Yesterday:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0566.jpg

From Nov. 30th
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0222.jpg

Some top down action
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0572.jpg

And where all my x-mas money went, twice over; custom short boots. The pink ones came in too big, so I re-ordered in green. I'm dying to skate on them on Saturday. My beautiful Roll-Line driver plates are being put on them right now. Think of them like the Bubble King or maybe Volcano skimmer equivalents. I also got myself a Crackberry Storm. So voila, my half of the explanation as to why there were no reefy goodies under the proverbial tree.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0560.jpg

Skimmerking

12-31-2008, 01:24 AM

hey catherine are those the new frags that you ahve there the Pink Styropora and green pocilapora LOL

michika

12-31-2008, 01:45 AM

hey catherine are those the new frags that you ahve there the Pink Styropora and green pocilapora LOL

:lol: Yes, they are exceptionally slow growers, taking 4-8 weeks to show up at your door upon ordering!

michika

12-31-2008, 04:36 PM

Alright I need to finally make a firm and lasting decision on salt. I used Red Sea Coral Pro very happily until about Dec. 2007. Then I couldn't find anymore after we moved back to Calgary, so I hopped around from Ocean Pure Pro, to Instant Ocean, to Reef Crystals.

I found OPP didn't do anything for my tank overall, I had to fight extra much with Ca and dKH levels when I used it. IO and RC always leaves a lot of crap at the bottom of my mixing barrels. Red Sea Pro left a lot of crap too, but I Ca and Mg. weren't such an uphill battle.

So I'm debating Reefer's Best as my next trial product. I go through about a bucket every couple of months. I do not use any of the bacterial systems, but I hear good things about the potassium regardless of if I'm running a low-nutrient system. I admit I do hesitate at the price.

So I'm not really sure what to do right now, do I switch to trying RB salt, or do I stick with something else? My biggest ongoing issues is, and seems to always have been, low dKH. While I think I might have a solution to the low dKH in the form of a new Ca reactor, I think it would be prudent to maybe find a salt mix that would help solve the issue as well.

Skimmerking

12-31-2008, 04:43 PM

i have always used IO and just beef the CAL with calcium additive for my water change Catherine and i have never had a problem since 2002.

michika

12-31-2008, 04:56 PM

Every tank I've had has had low dKH since I started adding clams into my systems. I am almost positive it is clam related based on all the data I've collected on my parameters.

I think my last dKH reading was 5, or 6. When I hit the sweet spot, which is 8, things just take off with growth.

My Ca. levels are fine (usually about 400-440), its just the dKH gets sucked up so quickly in my system that my reactor couldn't previously meed the dKH demand. I'm hoping that the new Ca. reactor will help balance everything properly.

I've never found supplementing my WC water to have any better benefit vs. non-supplemented water. What happens if you don't mix in the additional Ca and you do a WC?

Skimmerking

12-31-2008, 05:05 PM

pm me your number i will talk to you about what I do ok. im off today lol

michika

12-31-2008, 05:19 PM

I am unfortunately still at work...

fishytime

12-31-2008, 05:37 PM

Whats your mg at?

christyf5

12-31-2008, 06:51 PM

I'm using RBS currently, I switched from IO which I was supplementing with zeomag (in my reactor) and of course my ca reactor. Thing is my potassium levels were low. At the time everyone was all hoo haa about potassium. My tank doesn't look any different (granted, I'm using zeo so technically it does look different but who knows if thats zeo or potassium :razz:). Anyway, supplementing with all the various stuff was becoming a pain so I switched. All my levels are happy now. I found IO to be low in Mg and K but alk and ca were fine (Sr was also low but...whatever). Anyway, I've tried IO, Kent, Seachem and now RBS. So far RBS has been the best bang for my buck however when I run out and am not near J&L to get it likely I'll be back to IO as I hate paying shipping for salt.

michika

01-01-2009, 02:44 AM

Mag. is 1320 upon last measurement, which was two weeks ago. It rarely moves around, I think the lowest its been since we moved was 1280 and the highest was 1360.

Thankfully RBS is locally available, so I can avoid the shipping costs. I've actually never bought salt and had it shipped. I've always been very lucky that way.

Pan

01-01-2009, 03:34 AM

Best test results i've ever got to date is with h2ocean. Mind you I don't use it. too expensive. I like ocean pure pro, never had a problem....oceanic salt isn't to bad.

fencer

01-01-2009, 04:50 AM

Actually h2ocean is my first choice for the UltraLith test. But no one cares it in Edmonton (I was told you can buy it at Golds). Coralife is my second and ME (aquacraft) is what I was using. I switched to Coralife bcause I needed to raise my potassium.

michika

01-01-2009, 09:48 PM

Well we're starting 2009 off with a bang!

Kevin went downstairs after a shower this morning and wow, look, our basement has transformed itself into a lake, complete with a few extra deep parts! It was a freshwater lake, filled from our overflowing floor drain! Yay! Just what I wanted to do on my day off! <--- I'm a little bitter about this....

There is water damage, and damage to my laundry, mostly work or sports clothes. The tank stand also seemed to have wicked up quite a bit, the bottom 2" of the stand is wet, and it seems that in some places the water has wicked up further. I am REALLY hoping that I don't have to dismantle the 180 and replace the stand. Thankfully the tank itself is fine, the only potential issues we see is the stand.

In general the lowest areas have about 2" of wetness, and the bathroom where the drain is located is looking like its heading for a complete gut. I can't say I'm upset, the room needed to be gutted anyways 'cause its going to be our eventual fishroom.

So now we're waiting on insurance, and a plumber possibly. We're trying to figure out if there is a problem with the city's side of things, or if a clog developed today sometime while the shower was running.

Rbacchiega

01-01-2009, 10:00 PM

geezus. When it rains it poors. Sorry about the luck Catherine. Fingers crossed

i have crabs

01-02-2009, 12:56 AM

hopefully insurance will pay for your new fish room, i think my insurance dosnt cover that for some reason but im shure it depends on why it happened

Delphinus

01-02-2009, 01:36 AM

saltwater-virgin

01-02-2009, 01:47 AM

What the heck?? :neutral: Weird. Sorry to hear.

If your stand is solid wood I don't think there's a problem other than it's wet. If it was say MDF or something yeah you'd have a problem but 2x4's and stuff .. Speaking from experience anyhow, I can say 2x4's and 2x3's and plywood can get pretty darn wet and there's no structural concern other than maybe screws may start to rust.

1+ on the 2x4 being ok after being soaked ... I've become quite competent in soaking my stand and no ill effects to date.

Your having quite the run of bad luck, hope 2009 brings better luck your way. I'm quite envious of your big tank plans; maybe this is all a sign that you need to start that build...

Lance

01-02-2009, 03:47 AM

Let's hope it's the City's problem, or if your problem, an insured one. I can't believe the run of bad luck you've had.

Red Deer Reptiles

01-02-2009, 05:34 AM

just wondering this is going to be a sw setup right? did they drill holes aswell. if so what did it cost for the whole package??

michika

01-02-2009, 03:23 PM

Well the issue turned out to be roots in the drain pipe, the result of it not having been cleaned in a very long time. It cost us $50 to have a company come out and clean the line. The guy said that he could only make it 70 of the 90 ft because the root system that had developed were too difficult for his machine. He made some changes and pushed through the last 20 ft eventually.

The basement was under 3" of water total, and we couldn't use any drains or the toilets for most of yesterday. Its all cleaned up now, but there is damage to most of the walls, the old front door that was stored in the basement, as well as all my laundry. I took photos and now we need to inform our insurance and then make a decision as to if we should make a claim or not.

After the cleaning and before the plumber showed, the drain is still under 3" of water
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0600.jpg

This morning
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0609.jpg

The new reactor
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0589.jpg

Top down
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0592.jpg

just wondering this is going to be a sw setup right? did they drill holes aswell. if so what did it cost for the whole package??

I'm confused by your questions. What are you asking me about, the existing 180g or the new system? Our current system is completely DIY, so we did all the work ourselves.

fishytime

01-02-2009, 04:34 PM

Gawd Catherine! Sorry to hear the new house is turning into the "money pit". Did the doctors know why you were so sick?(pm me) Just wondering if perhaps the drain was an ongoing problem in the house. If there was water damage to the drywall before you bought the house Im sure it was painted over and the previous owner did his/her best to hide it. Maybe there is mold in the walls that caused you to get so sick, is what Im getting at.

michika

01-02-2009, 04:49 PM

I'm just unlucky when it comes to getting sick. I only ever get sick about once every 3-5 years, and when I get sick, I get really sick. Although I think this is the longest to date I've ever been so ill. I had a cold, then I caught the flu, and then I caught the stomach bug while I had the flu. Oh...yeah I have a cough, its free to a home, any home, want to adopt? I'll even let you hear it it all its seal-like glory tomorrow.

There didn't seem to be any water damage before the first flood, when the tank emptied itself onto the floor. Who knows though right? Its coming down anyways now.

sharuq1

01-02-2009, 05:14 PM

Man, what rotten luck. :( I hope things get bet for you soon Catherine. Get well, take care of yourself.

Skimmerking

01-02-2009, 05:21 PM

Catherine put the claim in for the amount of 500 i think is the claim amount or lower you will have the reno company come in clean all the water damage and re build everything that got wet i did it here and it work ed great back in 2001 the water came up thru the drain and it was on the city's side. if you have trees around your place if they are on your side then its your fault and the insurance wont cover it. if its on city property then its their falut they take over the expense.

if the roots are on city property then they will paid to get this done every 3 months and you just pay up front and they will cut the money back to you..

michika

01-02-2009, 05:32 PM

Well I did call insurance and the lady was as dumb as a rock. I'm waiting until Monday when our broker is back to work. Our deductable is $1000, and we don't think there is that much damage. However I did take a lot of photos, and we've already cleaned up most everything. I guess we'll figure it out on Monday if it worth it to move forwards with a claim or not.

We just looked out the window and our neighbor has a plumber over right now....hmm I wonder if everyone is having issues?

michika

01-04-2009, 03:58 AM

I picked up two new SPS mini-colonies today. A confusa, and a I don't know what, however I previously had another frag of it, which did not survive the heater crash, aka crash #1.

Revive/floor cleaner bath
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0614.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0616.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0617-1.jpg

This is what I am hoping it will turn into,
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0742.jpg

Skimmerking

01-04-2009, 04:07 AM

some nice pieces there Catherine

christyf5

01-04-2009, 04:36 AM

yep the second piece is an A. abrotanoides. I'm patiently waiting for mine to color up to that last pic too :biggrin:

Pan

01-04-2009, 06:19 AM

tang daddy

01-04-2009, 06:25 AM

Hey catherine sorry to hear about the flood!

I see something blue or purple beside the new monti any pics of those?

fishytime

01-04-2009, 02:22 PM

I see the big end is first :)

Inside joke folks don't worry..... :)

:lol:And they say size doesnt matter. :wink:

michika

01-04-2009, 02:43 PM

:lol:And they say size doesnt matter. :wink:

You guys kill me! :mrgreen:

yep the second piece is an A. abrotanoides. I'm patiently waiting for mine to color up to that last pic too :biggrin:

Thanks Christy!

Hey catherine sorry to hear about the flood!

I see something blue or purple beside the new monti any pics of those?

This is the one to the left of the monti
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0567-1.jpg

To the right
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0569.jpg

tang daddy

01-04-2009, 03:47 PM

wow thanks!!

I love anything blue, my car, my walls and ofcourse blueberry sps...

I see that you're using the pinesol cleaner for qt, I recently found out that it works wonders form threads that I found on RC and have been passing the happy news around town.

If it's not too much to ask when you have sometime a 2009 ft would be cool thanks.

michika

01-04-2009, 03:51 PM

I asked Kevin at RC to bring in Revive for me after I kept reading about it on Reef Central. So far I think its a great product!

I'm hoping tonight to clean up the extra algae around the top & bottom of the tank, as well as fix the aquascaping. There will be lots of photos to share.

Delphinus

01-04-2009, 05:38 PM

What's this about Pine-Sol? Are you guys kidding? Or is there an URL you can point me to, or can give me a quick synopsis?

Skimmerking

01-04-2009, 06:06 PM

Catherine where are you getting your coral colonies from very nice..

robzilla

01-04-2009, 07:57 PM

Roots in the drain pipe? does this mean the line running to the city line is broken? how did the roots get in there? it might cause another problem down the road.....

Well the issue turned out to be roots in the drain pipe, the result of it not having been cleaned in a very long time. It cost us $50 to have a company come out and clean the line. The guy said that he could only make it 70 of the 90 ft because the root system that had developed were too difficult for his machine. He made some changes and pushed through the last 20 ft eventually.

The basement was under 3" of water total, and we couldn't use any drains or the toilets for most of yesterday. Its all cleaned up now, but there is damage to most of the walls, the old front door that was stored in the basement, as well as all my laundry. I took photos and now we need to inform our insurance and then make a decision as to if we should make a claim or not.

After the cleaning and before the plumber showed, the drain is still under 3" of water
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0600.jpg

This morning
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0609.jpg

The new reactor
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0589.jpg

Top down
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0592.jpg

I'm confused by your questions. What are you asking me about, the existing 180g or the new system? Our current system is completely DIY, so we did all the work ourselves.

Delphinus

01-04-2009, 08:46 PM

WHAT a good looking reactor. Kudos to the clearly very talented person who built that thing. :)

michika

01-04-2009, 08:52 PM

These colonies came from Red Coral here in town.

The Pine-Sol we're chatting about is Revive by Two Little Fishies.

The reactor is awesomely huge. Possibly big enough to run the large system for awhile when its lightly stocked.

About the drain, I don't know, our house is from the late 50s, and I'm pretty clueless about this drain line business. I think it needs to be investigated further so we know what to expect down the road, or if we have to start gearing up to do a replacement this summer.

michika

01-05-2009, 01:41 AM

I sort of reaquascaped. I fixed up the right side of the tank that I hated so much, but lost motivation to do the left side. I still don't really love it though. Finally got around to removing the heater and the seio powerhead (which was not even plugged in) from the tank to clean it up. The sand got smoothed out a little bit, and most of the algae around the top and bottom of the tank was removed. Kevin also swapped out the refugium light bulb.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0633.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0623.jpg

The power control center is getting a work-over. Half of the timers are no longer needed, and the DJ powerstrip isn't being used, so its being removed, and it keeps tripping the GFI for no reason. The new power center is going to be half the height, and will hold 3 timers, a switched plug, the RKE head unit, and maybe the nitrate monitor.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0624.jpg

The tank needs a new float switch, ours is not longer sending correctly to the RKE. It just uses everything in the top-off bucket. We are still using the top-off system, but only when topping off in small doses, this method is allowing us to continue to dose Kalk. via the freshwater.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0638.jpg

JDigital

01-05-2009, 01:49 AM

Interested in selling the DJ powerstrip?:mrgreen: If so, can you pm me some dimensions on its length?

michika

01-05-2009, 01:51 AM

Interested in selling the DJ powerstrip?:mrgreen: If so, can you pm me some dimensions on its length?

It has a problem though, it works, but kicks off the GFI when its plugged in to the GFI. I think its 20" long.

JDigital

01-05-2009, 01:58 AM

It has a problem though, it works, but kicks off the GFI when its plugged in to the GFI. I think its 20" long.

I'm a bad reefer tho, and don't use GFI.. :redface:

michika

01-05-2009, 02:03 AM

Kevin says its destined to be fixed. Apparently it keeps kicking off the GFI because current is going through the ground. <-- this means nothing to me. He says he wants to try and fix it.

JDigital

01-05-2009, 02:31 AM

Kevin says its destined to be fixed. Apparently it keeps kicking off the GFI because current is going through the ground. <-- this means nothing to me. He says he wants to try and fix it.

That's cool.. They aren't too bad brand new, just thought I would see. :biggrin:

Tank is looking alot better..

michika

01-05-2009, 02:32 AM

Thanks, its getting there.

I need to bug you about getting my camera dialed in right next time I see you. I just can't get the white balance right no matter what I do.

michika

01-08-2009, 07:21 PM

I think Kevin is going to toss or force me to sell the RKE. The RKE does not like him at all.

If you didn't know the head unit works using Capsense (?) buttons. For some reason Kevin cannot get within 1/2" of the unit or it just starts randomly freaking out by clicking options, scrolling through menus, etc. The point here is that Kevin cannot touch the unit without it having a serious meltdown, which sometimes requires a complete restart. Its not just Kevin either unfortunately, it seems like there is a small set of people who throw the unit off somehow.

I however can touch it mostly without difficulties. The only thing I can't get it to do is set the time right, and have it consistently keep time. It also takes up to an hour after a reset and reprogramming session for the proper date to show up.

While the RKE did have its problems, I never experienced the bulk of them. Our first head unit's buttons would randomly stop working, always starting with the Enter button and eventually spreading to all buttons. DA replaced the unit.

I acknowledge that our replacement is better, and that Digital Aquatics has made a fantastic effort with their customer service, and in offering up firmware upgrades. However, I am unsure if I had the option, that I would once again buy the product. I say this for 4 reasons; 1) Kevin can't use the unit, 2) Its not mac compatable, so I have to find a PC to update it with 3) there are no Canadian dealers (not the last tiem I checked) who carry the RKE, so I'm always looking at additional duty when I purchase to expand the system, 4) the time hasn't bee right on my unit for at least 3 months, making it untrustworthy.

I'd also recommend to DA that they find a better way to seal in the back of the head unit. Its a controller that is undoubtably around corrosive salt water, and I am concerned about its long term survivability. A second recommendation would be to adjust how the wire comes into the head unit. Is awkward and difficult for people with bigger fingers to manuver with additional tools.

The unit seems like a good bang for your buck, but like any new unit it obviously requires some time for the bugs to be worked out.

karazy

01-08-2009, 10:08 PM

could it be a cellphone or maybe something magnetized that kevin is carrying with him? or does he have any metal plates in his body?

just a guess, i have no clue if that would mess it up or not though

untamed

01-08-2009, 10:29 PM

You know those touchpads on labtop computers? I use them all the time, but whenever I use them during a presentation, the cursor jumps all over the screen whenever I touch it. Maybe I'm nuts, but something about me changes when I'm presenting in front of people an the touchpad doesn't work. Sweaty fingertip, nervousness, electrical...I have no idea.

I do presentations all the time. Its not like I'm a nervous wreck or anything.

It is really dramatic. I simply put my finger in the centre of the touchpad and the cursor jumps erratically all over the entire screen. Later, it works fine.

Kevin may have the same effect on the RKE.

michika

01-08-2009, 11:36 PM

I'm bugging him now asking if he has performance anxiety when he has to use the RKE. I now can't stop snickering either...

Skimmerking

01-09-2009, 01:03 AM

Hey there Catherine I was thinking about something all the dead corals would that have a play in the troubles that you have been having.. or is that the first time that you have been putting the corals in there. I know that i have ready that using dead corals can give off phosphates..... i cant remember where it was..

michika

01-11-2009, 03:43 PM

I don't think so. The dead corals were from after the crashes. I'm not having any more problems.

michika

01-11-2009, 04:12 PM

I added two newcomers to the tank yesterday, a colony that looks to be a tri-colour, and an unknown tang, who I think is Acanthurus sp.

New colony
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0746-1.jpg

The tang is really unique, which is why I couldn't pass it up. However This poor tang is getting the beats big time. I've employed the mirror trick, which is working, although, I'm unsure if this new tang should stay long term. It worse comes to worse, I do have somewhere he can go short term, but of course I hope it doesn't come to that.

We are however back to the PVC stick feeding
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0722.jpg

Kevin is leaving today for at least a month long work term out of town. It was quite unexpected, as in we found out the details on Thursday. This means all the tank maintenance falls to me. I'm okay with all the basics, skimmer cleaning, top-off, WCs, etc. However its things like the Ca. Reactor that worry me. I know how they work etc. but since I never really do hands on stuff with the reactor, I'm feeling uncomfortable about it.

I do know though that I miss my kalk. reactor like crazy. Ca this morning was a pathetic 300ppm. Everything else was more of less in line. PO3 is 0.3, and Nitrates are less then 5ppm. So I know what I'll be doing all this week, bumping my calcium levels!

The tank needs more clean up crew members, and in the least, a pair of shrimp, I'm thinking fire shrimp over the traditional cleaners. When I see them next I'll pick some up. I did however yesterday see a harem of 7 Tuka anthias, and resisted the urge. Even though I know they aren't right for my system, I can't help but be tempted every time.

One of my three clams that were huddled really close together on a single rock jumped ship. I think from now on I'll just place my clams on the substrate. I really hate trying to re-arrange rocks with clams on them, and its frustrating to try and predict how big a clam will grow and if the rock I want it on is right, etc.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0779-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0781-1.jpg

I think while Kevin is gone I'm going to start deconstructing the basement. The first step is the walls and ceiling have to come down. In the very least I can pry off all the moulding, and remove all the plug covers. It depends though on what Kevin leaves here for tools.

Updated shot from last week's addition. It fell, and experienced some die off before it got noticed and picked up.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0747.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0771-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0772-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0776.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0777.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0778-1.jpg

michika

01-11-2009, 04:13 PM

I missed adding this one. Its the fish shortly after we added the mirror to the left side of the tank.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0756.jpg

fencer

01-11-2009, 04:15 PM

So Catherine.....

Which one are you going to keep...Kevin or the RKE? :)

michika

01-11-2009, 04:19 PM

Hmmm tempting...the RKE has been pretty good to me lately!

i have crabs

01-11-2009, 04:27 PM

the fire shrimp i have hides all the time and is barely ever seen so for the extra price do you really want one? i probably wont unless its for a smaller tank

also mabey you need a grounding probe since kevin keeps messing up the rke mabey his animal magnitizm is messing up the corals when youve had problems
i think it might be his fault that frags keep falling over due to his magnetic field also.

fencer

01-11-2009, 04:30 PM

Nice corals....at the end of summer we're going to have to do a frag swap. I should have some nice frags by that time. BTW I have never been able to keep that last blue coral alive.

michika

01-11-2009, 04:42 PM

I think so too, we have a giant swap in August possibly. I'm hoping most everything will have grown out considerably by then. So far the blue blob coral hasn't been doing much. Its SLOWLY spreading its base out I think. The thing is such a slow grower its a bit hard to tell.

Kevin's just forbidden to touch the RKE now, and my new phone, 'cause I'm afraid he'll screw it up.

michika

01-12-2009, 12:32 AM

It has begun...

If you remember this from a little while ago, this is now what constitutes a before shot.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0424.jpg

Then there was this...me being silly, and its starting to become a tradition. I did it on the 230g build, and I did it tonight!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0789.jpg

Some "quality" work had been done before hand putting up this wall. The studs ranged from 22" to 26" on center. The electrical wiring is also running quite hot to the touch. Kevin believes its aluminum. He also wants to re-route plumbing, electrical, and the heating vents while the ceiling is down.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0791.jpg

Next we knocked down the wall to expose the extra ghetto bathroom we have in the basement.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0807.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0808.jpg

The ducting that has an offset with no purpose. The offset is the reason for the bulkhead. When we re-route everything we'll be downsizing the pipe, assuming its okay to do so.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0810-1.jpg

Where we've left off. There is still clean up to do, and a lot more ceiling to pull down.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0806-1.jpg

My new little tang did eat today, and the aggression between all the fish has diminished to almost nothing. I'm still waiting in hopes of getting a photo or two for ID.

I also wish that I'd purchased better quality garbage bags. Those, along with a wet/dry shop vac is on the list of stuff to purchase in the near future.

JDigital

01-12-2009, 12:45 AM

Not gonna start a new thread for the big tank?

michika

01-12-2009, 12:48 AM

I don't really want to for the sake of simplicity, although maybe I should...thoughts?

JDigital

01-12-2009, 02:41 AM

I don't really want to for the sake of simplicity, although maybe I should...thoughts?

I say a new one would be good.. lol :mrgreen:

michika

01-12-2009, 01:37 PM

Alright, I'll probably start another one. Although I'm keeping my RC one all together for the sake of simplicity. Its hard to keep multiple threads together and organized!

fishytime

01-12-2009, 11:55 PM

And it begins:lol: lookin forward to watchin this one evolve.

michika

01-13-2009, 03:49 AM

My new tang didn't make it. :(

JDigital

01-13-2009, 05:38 AM

Oh damn.... sorry to hear that! Just too much aggression from the others?

michika

01-13-2009, 01:27 PM

I don't think so, they were all fine together last time I checked. Although I wasn't watching them all the time, so who knows. It sucks, big time, and I have some serious guilt over it.

fishytime

01-13-2009, 03:25 PM

Im sorry Catherine. I posted this quote in another thread but perhaps it applies here as well "I think we underestimate the effect of stress and lactic acid build up in fish. Im an angler and it has been long known that a certain percentage of released fish will die due to not being able to recover from the latic acid build up caused from the stress of being caught. Every time we put a net to a fish it causes a stress probably equal to that of a fish caught on a line." Perhaps this coupled with the initiation from your resident tangs was too much for the newbie. Did it have ich?

michika

01-15-2009, 07:53 PM

I honestly have no idea what happened. There was no ich when I last saw it alive, however what remained of the corpse had little white bumps, similar to ich, but I can't confirm it was actually ich.

The bad behavior from my other tangs stopped immediately after I put the mirror up to the glass. I think I once saw my bristletooth dart after the same piece of food as the new tang, and the new tang did shy away. However that in and of itself isn't conclusive either. In the end it just flat out sucks that it died, and I feel responsible.

michika

01-15-2009, 07:58 PM

Info Dump, skip if you don't care about clams:

I just need somewhere to store this information because my documents holding the data keeps getting deleted:

Papers with online access:

Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture (CTSA)
http://www.ctsa.org/PublicationList.aspx (Dec 11, 2008)

CTSA #143. Ellis, S. 2000. Nursery and Growout Techniques for Giant Clams (Bivalvia: Tridacnidae). 99 pp.
(http://www.ctsa.org/publicationDetail.aspx?pID=1018) (Dec 11, 2008)

CTSA #139. Ellis, S. 1999. Lagoon Farming of Giant Clams (Bivalvia: Tridacnidae). 6 pp.
(http://www.ctsa.org/publicationDetail.aspx?pID=1022) (Dec 11, 2008)

CTSA #130. Ellis, S. 1998. Spawning and Early Larval Rearing of Giant Clams. 52 pp. (with companion video while supplies last).
(http://www.ctsa.org/publicationDetail.aspx?pID=1031) (Dec 11, 2008)

CTSA #114. Leung, P.S., Y.C. Shang, K. Wanitprapha and X. Tian. 1993. Production Economics of Giant Clam Tridacna species Culture Systems in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. 30 & A-14 pp.
(http://www.ctsa.org/upload/publication/CTSA_114631681200866637652.pdf) (Dec 11, 2008)

FAO:
Hatchery operation: culture of larvae basic methodology, feeding and nutrition, factors influencing growth and survival, and settlement and metamorphosis.
Entire Document, Pts 1 -5
(ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/007/y5720e/y5720e00.pdf) (Jan 15, 2008)

PT 5.
(ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/007/y5720e/y5720e04.pdf) (Nov 12, 2008)

Artificial propagation of bivalves: Techniques and methods
UNDP/FAO REGIONAL SEAFARMING DEVELOPMENT AND
DEMONSTRATION PROJECT (RAS/90/002)
(http://www.fao.org/docrep/field/003/AB739E/AB739E00.htm#TOC) (Nov 12, 2008)

Papers with no online access:

Genetic structure of Linckia laevigata and Tridacna crocea populations in the Palawan shelf and shoal reefs By: M. A. Juinio-Meñez; R. M. Magsino; R. Ravago-Gotanco; E. T. Yu. Marine Biology, 2003, Vol. 142 Issue 4, p717-726; (AN 130619988205786) (Dec 11, 2008)

Effects of copper and decreased salinity on survival rate and development of Tridacna gigas larvaePreview By: Blidberg, E. Marine Environmental Research, December, 2004, Vol. 58 Issue 2-5, p793-797; (AN 231801984821884) (Dec 11, 2008)

Fitt. W.K., Fisher, CR., and Trench, R.K., 1984. Larval biology of tridacnid clams.
Aquaculture. 39: I8 l-195.

Author: Huang
Title: Locomotion and Aggregative Response in Juvenile Fluted Giant Clams (Tridacna squamosa)
Source: Eos [0096-3941] yr:2006 vol:87 iss:36

Author: Hirose
Title: Establishment of the photosymbiosis in the early ontogeny of three giant clams
Source: Marine biology [0025-3162] yr:2006 vol:148 iss:3 pg:551-558

Author: Hean
Title: A growth model for giant clams Tridacna crocea and T. derasa
Source: Ecological modelling [0304-3800] yr:2003 vol:163 iss:1-2 pg:87-100

Books:
- Giant Clams (1996) Daniel Knop
- Coral Propagation (2007?) Anthony Calfo
- Giant Clams in the Sea & Aquarium (2007?) James Fatherree

Need to source out:
Author: Sheppard , Sheppard
Title: Perkinsus olseni detected in Vietnamese aquacultured reef clams Tridacna crocea imported to the USA, following a mortality event
Source: Diseases of aquatic organisms [0177-5103] yr:2008 vol:79 iss:3 pg:229-235

Gwyther, J. and J.L. Munro. 1981. Spawning induction and rearing of larvae of tridacnid clams (Bivalvia: Tridacnidae). Aquaculture. 24:197-217.

Fitt WK, Trench RK (1981) Spawning, development, and aquisition of zooxanthellae by Tridacna squamosa (Molusca, Bivalvia) Biol Bull 161:213-235

ElGuappo

01-15-2009, 09:10 PM

michika

01-17-2009, 03:24 PM

hey just looking at your pics there and your ducting that you think serves no purpose, could very likely be where your upstairs vent connects. this loooks like the cold air return. if this is the case there is no downsizing as it will restrict you circulation.

Its actually the offsets that serve no purpose and we want to re-route. The ducting is from the previous furnace, and wasn't changed out when a new one was installed in November 2007. If we can downsize, or re-route the ducting, then that would be great, if not, we'll find an alternate work around.

My bristletooth tang recently started developing what looks to be the beginning of streamers
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0844.jpg

I also removed the clove polyps from one colony yesterday:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0811-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0814-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0822-1.jpg

A few colony updates:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0858.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0869-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0817-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0870-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0818.jpg

michika

01-17-2009, 03:25 PM

I think this guy is darkening up a little bit
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0832-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0823-1.jpg

Some birdsnest growth;
12/29
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0566.jpg

Today
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0820.jpg

OCDP

01-17-2009, 05:30 PM

Nice growth :biggrin:

fishytime

01-18-2009, 04:10 AM

*patiently waits for the new pics*

michika

01-18-2009, 02:04 PM

*patiently waits for the new pics*

Soon...lights come on in 26 minutes...the stuff looked awesome yesterday before I left for the evening, here is hoping it looks just as good this morning.

michika

01-18-2009, 02:54 PM

Updated FTS
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0873.jpg

New green digi from Nixon
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0874.jpg

New goodies
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0875.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0876.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0877.jpg

A little bit more of a close up of the right side of the tank
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0878.jpg

I think I MIGHT be able to fit two more colonies, and maybe a bunch of small frags, and then I will be out of space. I need more rock, and regret turning down a recent opportunity to obtain some.

JDigital

01-18-2009, 06:26 PM

Looking good Catherine!

fishytime

01-19-2009, 02:52 AM

Well you know there is more than acros and clams at the shop:razz:

Pan

01-19-2009, 08:18 AM

Well you there is more than acros and clams at the shop:razz:
yep an he ^^^ is for sale to :)

michika

01-22-2009, 06:53 PM

yep an he ^^^ is for sale to :)

Like I need any more temptation to shop! :lol:

I've been working on sorting out our, well Kevin's, RKE issues, and we will once again be receiving a new head unit. This will be our third unit. Digital Aquatics is abandoning the capsense buttons the original two head units arrived with. It seems that Kevin is not the only new owner to have these issues. So provided that this new head unit, and its new components, fix my two biggest issues: Kevin's button issues, and the clock, I'm going to go ahead and expand a bit more on the RKE.

They are doing pre-orders for the RKM-Net which will give me the connectivity I've always wanted when I'm out of the house. It will email me, etc. should anything happen.

I'm also going to try and pick up the SL2, and the associated salinity probe. I'd also be nice just to glance and get an idea of the SG without having to pull the refractometer.

We need a couple more power bars and I want LEDs. However it seems that the moonlight which was supposed to be free with our original pre-order is lost somewhere. DA says they shipped it out, but don't know where, or when they did so. They are looking into it and will get back to me.

Someone on the DA forums has also pointed out that you can make a water sensor by hooking in a Water Bug Leak Detector to your RKE. The RKE can then text, or email you phone to let you know. This feature alone would probably give me a lot of peace of mind.

My tank also looked awesome this morning at 6am. I turned on the lights and the polyp extension was fantastic. I should have taken a photo or two. Things are finally starting to fall back into place, and I'm starting to be happy with my tank again. Yes, there is tweaking to do, but overall as a system I'm not frustrated anymore, and I'm not annoyed about having to do maintenance, etc. Its a good day to have a tank!

Phanman

01-22-2009, 07:37 PM

Looks good Catherine. Glad all your hard work is finally paying off :biggrin:

michika

02-10-2009, 01:46 PM

The tank is starting to settle down and mature a little bit right now. I'm finding that its gulping down more FW per day then it was about a month ago. Before I was looking at about 3g per day, now I'm looking at around 5g per day. I haven't changed anything related to the tank, so I suspect either the skimmer is removing more crap, or the humidity/temperature in the basement is the reason behind this.

The orange digi recently grew into its neighbour the tri-colour. I have been so busy lately that I didn't catch it in time and the digi's extended branch died off as a result. They've since been further separated. I'm finding the same goes with a lot of colonies I have, and the urchin isn't helping things. I'm glad I chose not to glue anything down because I probably would have glued them too close together as I didn't account for how quickly things have taken off recently.

I'm finding I have to dose Calcium every second day manually because the Kalk. reactor is still not up and running. I just found a Mag 5 pump, so hopefully this weekend I can once again have a running reactor! The cost of manual dosing is really expensive overall, about $30 a month in supplements. With the reactors I think I was looking at about $120 to $150 a year total for everything.

The plans for now is just to keep up with the 180g, water changes, cleaning, etc. while we work on the basement. I'm just so busy right now that its really difficult to find time for the basics from Mondays to Fridays. Originally I was feeling pretty confident about having a lot done by the end of February, but at the rate I'm moving, nothing is happening.

FlamesFan

02-10-2009, 08:08 PM

Lance

02-10-2009, 10:36 PM

If for some reason you are unable to get your reactor up and running properly and have to manually dose, I recommend the 2part from bulkreefsupply. The package is about 150 bucks after shipping costs but i've used about 15% of the total supply in one year. I am heavily SPS stocked and dose close to 100ml per week of alk/cal over the course of a week.

2 cups of ca powder makes 4 litres of calcium and you get a good size tub of the powder.

Absolutley. I too use the 2-part from BRS and find it fairly reasonable

Skimmerking

02-11-2009, 12:17 AM

Glad that you are getting the tank the way you like it.. It’s been a long road there with you tank for awhile. How about some pictures, KIDO And with all my frags that I have I’m still using the Kalk reactor to run the ALK and CAL in the tank. May have to bum up the drip to keep up, looks like that I’m getting around 8 DKh out of my Kalk reactor with a drip every 2-3 sec.

Catherine what about going with the Proflux controller. if you are having that much trouble with the RKE. I have been hearing a lot of crap about them WRT pushing the elite model and ending up having programs problems just something to look in too.

When and if I get one it will be a Pro flux and I will be getting the doing pumps to go with it too.

tang daddy

02-11-2009, 03:39 AM

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0869-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0817-1.jpg

I really like the look of this piece, you are lucky to aquire such a gem!!

michika

02-11-2009, 04:36 AM

I'll definitely look two-part if I decide not to put the reactor online, or if I can't put it back online. Thank you for the suggestions.

I turned the lights on to pick up a couple of pieces that had fallen today. Just after the lights came on I got a quick view of some great polyp extension on this piece.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0903-1.jpg

This piece is spreading out quite rapidly all of a sudden. I had to move both the above colony, and the orange digi out of its way.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0905-1.jpg

The birdsnest looks amazing. It has a green sheen to it, and that purple you see, it actually looks like that in real life, its not a camera figment.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0911.jpg

michika

03-01-2009, 07:23 PM

Alright some pre-cleaning photos. The tank needs a bit of an overhaul before I head away next week.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0944.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0928-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0931-1.jpg

MHs only, which is more realistic
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0937-1.jpg

A comparison; with T5s:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0936.jpg

MHs only
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0939-1.jpg

Re-arranged right side to provide more space for the growing cap
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0925.jpg

From V-day
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0919.jpg

michika

03-24-2009, 05:09 AM

Some photos from just after I came back from San Diego.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0667-1.jpg

I love how vibrant this piece looked when I got home.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0662.jpg

Everyone's accounted for
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0669.jpg

This showed up in the mail today, replacement head unit to deal with the capsense problems we were having. So far Kevin can use it with no problems. He even re-set up the RKE and made a bunch of great little changes.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0675.jpg

Moon lights showed up too finally
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0672.jpg

Moon lights look really nice too, but the photo doesn't do them justice
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0678.jpg

We fixed the top-off switch problem, added the moonlights online, and made a few small changes to the system. Kevin fixed the excessive bubbles we were getting in the Ca. reactor. As well the Kalk. reactor is back online and its all programed for easy kalk. powder additions. I'm so excited, it means that tomorrow is the last time I'll have to add any more powdered Ca. and the timing couldn't be any better, I'm on my last little bit of powder!

I'll get around to the photos of the San Diego Sea World later...its time for bed.

banditpowdercoat

03-24-2009, 06:05 AM

Atleast you coulda put Canreef on your comp when you took the pic LOL

michika

03-24-2009, 12:57 PM

Hahaha, I should have. One picture for RC and one for here, all the please the masses.

Parker

03-24-2009, 01:50 PM

Looks good, I hope the new head unit works out for you.

michika

03-24-2009, 02:09 PM

Me too. So far its a huge improvement over the original head unit the RKE was released with. I find that I'm spending less time fiddling with everything, and its simpler to navigate because you know one push and the resulting click is just one push.

Digital Aquatics also released a lot of new little features, but there is no manuel out for this firmware version yet. I think once its out we'll be able to expand on the unit's capabilities some more. Also I want the Net module, and a bunch of other items.

How is your build coming along?

Parker

03-24-2009, 02:44 PM

How is your build coming along?

The tank is stitting in the garage but I haven't had much time to move forward on it. I'm thinking of getting it up and running and letting it cycle over the summer months then I can come back to it when I have more time in the fall.

michika

03-24-2009, 05:05 PM

Sounds like a nice plan. We were actually thinking of the same thing, because it actually makes a lot of sense. I still love those book shelves you've built into your plans. I'm really jealous.

Parker

03-25-2009, 02:58 PM

Sounds like a nice plan. We were actually thinking of the same thing, because it actually makes a lot of sense. I still love those book shelves you've built into your plans. I'm really jealous.

Thanks, we're happy with how it turned out. I'm looking forward to getting the canopy built and seeing the finished product.

I think your going to blow me out of the water with your big tank though..

michika

03-25-2009, 04:35 PM

We'll see. Right now we're focusing on just getting our house togther (we STILL haven't finished unpacking since we moved in October), and getting the 180 to a more "finished" state. I wish I could buy time, 'cause I need a lot of it.

I'm pretty sure I am going to go with a similar stain to yours. I've been bugging Kevin's brother, who works with wood, about some help skinning the tank in a similar colour.

michika

03-26-2009, 10:42 PM

I came downstairs this afternoon and my second favorite piece, the A. abrotanoides has RTNed and there is no saving it at this point. I'm really hoping I'll be able to find another colony, or a frag in the near future.

As a somewhat knee-jerk reaction, I did a 15% water change on the system and did a little bit of tweaking. We finally figured out what the on/off electricity leak in our tank was, despite hours of dedication to solving this before. It turned out it was my Koralia #1. I ended up removing it, and will find another use for the magnet. Next up was some rearranging, my green digitata has decided it doesn't want to stay where its been for the last month or so. I found it a new home.

Pretty minor changes overall, but I felt I had to do something "productive" after finding that piece RTNed.

michika

03-30-2009, 06:48 PM

I did find a replacement colony for the one that RTNed on the weeked, however I did not buy it. I'm debating picking it up next weekend though.

However, I found one of my dream fish, a magnificient foxface, at Red Coral and was thrilled to be able to bring it home on Saturday. It was at home in the tank within about an hour, and there was zero aggression from the other inhabitants. I saw it eat nori on Sunday, and I'm finding it to be less of a scardy-cat then most other rabbitfish I've ever kept, or seen.

I have a bunch of photos to share, but I can't seem to get photobucket to accept the uploads. I'll be trying again tonight when I get home.

Kevin completed his skimmate collector yesterday, he is just waiting on the weld-on to cure for 24 hours and it should be ready for a long-term water test. I sort of understand how it works, but I'm a visual learner, so seeing it in action will make everything click.

We also found an unused hardware store gift card that we made short work of. We re-purchased, and have begun to build a new mesh top for the tank. This time around we found a stronger mesh, which I'm hoping will prevent any jump-throughs. The trade off though is that the mesh holes are larger then before, however none of our current fish have a hope of fitting through them so it seems like it might work out.

Delphinus

03-30-2009, 06:51 PM

Any details on the mesh? Where did you find it? I need to do something similar. I have a serious need to lose my eggcrate lids.

michika

03-30-2009, 06:54 PM

I'll do you one better and give you pictures when I get home in a few hours.

It came from Home Depot, and I probably have enough left over that you can just have it. Its like flimsy plastic chikenwire I guess.

michika

03-30-2009, 07:03 PM

New thread for the build on the big tank, just to separate it out a bit more, so voila, the Last Big Upgrade (http://canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=51185).

fishytime

03-30-2009, 07:16 PM

Im glad the MF went to a suitable home. Great to hear hes doing well.

michika

03-30-2009, 07:20 PM

I'm so pleased with this fish. I STILL can't believe my luck in finding one after so many years of searching. It was definitely meant to be.

I have some entertaining photos of Matia, our smaller dog, trying to figure out what was in the acclimation bucket.

hillegom

03-30-2009, 10:14 PM

Great build thread. I am half way. Loved the build on the tank in the beginning. Am building a sump and learned a lot about siliconeing the glass. Thank you
Will try it out when I find the GE 1200

michika

03-30-2009, 11:18 PM

If you can't find GE 1200 you can also use GE I windows and doors without anti-fungicides I believe.

Anyways, a photos update.
The promised photos

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0679.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0692.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0699.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0701.jpg

Other inhabitants
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0682.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0687.jpg

michika

04-03-2009, 11:02 PM

Some new additions from the recent Calgary Wicked Frags order.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0746-2.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0747-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0749.jpg

Some older favorites
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0755.jpg

This is like its own version of ponape birdsnest. It has a green body and purple tips, but it is considerably darker then the actual ponape birdsnest I just acquired.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0758-1.jpg

This one is just taking off, there is new growth on it everytime I look into the tank
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0752.jpg

michika

04-11-2009, 03:35 PM

I have two really pretty new pieces of SPS, a colony and a frag. I'm trying to get photos up but Photobucket just doesn't want to make it happen. I also ordered in a lovely little pair of butterflies that should be arriving at the end of the month.

michika

04-12-2009, 06:00 PM

Fixed the Photobucket problems!

Photos of Thursday's new additions:
This one I've had before, and I adored it, so I found another to adopt.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0940.jpg

This guy is a cute little frag and I think might turn into something really interesting.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0941.jpg

Kevin wanted to hatch Brine Shirmp on Friday, so I let him. He added way too many eggs to the container... It was his project, so I let it be, and it doesn't seem to have turned out too bad overall. There is just way too many of them.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0938-1.jpg

Skimmerking

04-12-2009, 06:55 PM

catherine they are looking great nice score , glad the tank is 100% better in turn around

michika

04-12-2009, 07:00 PM

Me too, thanks!

michika

05-01-2009, 12:04 AM

Photos of some recent acquisitions:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0012-2.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0013-2.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0014-3.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0015-3.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0016-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0017-1.jpg

fishytime

05-01-2009, 12:07 AM

Those frags better do some growin if they are gonna make any kinda dent in the big tank:lol:

michika

05-01-2009, 12:08 AM

Older pieces that deserve an update:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0010-4.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0018-2.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0019-3.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0021-2.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0022-1.jpg

And a FTS Finale
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0020-1.jpg

michika

05-01-2009, 12:09 AM

Those frags better do some growin if they are gonna make any kinda dent in the big tank:lol:

:mrgreen: I figure by that point we'll be calling colonies frags!

JDigital

05-01-2009, 01:21 AM

:mrgreen: I figure by that point we'll be calling colonies frags!

Then what will frags be?? :lol: haha!

michika

05-01-2009, 04:37 AM

Mini-frags?

Rbacchiega

05-01-2009, 06:23 AM

awe....look at that little sunset... and I know it's not what you're taking a picture of, but that just might be one of the nicest apista (or however you folks are spelling it) I've seen in a while :wink: :D

michika

05-01-2009, 01:16 PM

I wasn't, but the camera kept focusing on it.

In the last week they just started popping up like mad. Tonight, I'm going to stick 'em all with with a good healthy dose of lemon juice. Plus that Xenia is coming out, so I'm stoked!

christyf5

05-01-2009, 02:36 PM

Nice frags :cool: Heh, I've got one monster aiptasia that my camera loves too. Finally I nuked it with some aiptasia destroyer, be interesting to see how long that lasts.

Anyway, whats this one? Me likey!

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0014-3.jpg

michika

05-01-2009, 03:31 PM

It was a cool freebie from Lobsterboy on Wednesday. I'm predicting purple or possibly purple-blue coralites with bright yellow tips, possibly a slight green to the yellow, but more yellow then anything. Other then that, I haven't a clue! I do know though that I love it!

michika

05-05-2009, 11:44 PM

One step forwards two steps back...aka dialing in reactors is a PITA!

Anyways, the tank is looking a little bit better, but I'm still seeing some impact from that stupidly high Ca reading on April 24th of 770ppm. As of tonight its 575ppm, better, but definitely not in line. DkH, my arch nemesis, is low again, around 5.5. It needs a kick in the pants, but I'm hesitant to do anything until the Ca is lower. I might just try to bump it a little to about 7 with Baking Soda, since both reactors are still off until we can dial them back in again.

My new frags are still adjusting, but I'm hoping for big things from them. No pressure.

michika

05-19-2009, 02:16 PM

My tank and I are back in the disagreement phase of things. I want one thing, it does another.

The crappy
- my foxface died, and I am heartbroken about it.
- about 80% of my new and existing frags RTNed due to sand
- My rock is covered in sand because of the sandsifting goby
- One of my clams jumped from its perch, and now I'm concerned that it will not get enough light in its new location.
- I need to turn on the dehumidifyer

The not so crappy
- 30g water change done yesterday with the DD Salt
- Added on two reactors, one of carbon media, and one of nitrate absorbing media
- Moved the brown cap, and did some re-arranging
- Ponape birdsnest survived
- The sand looks nicer

The still to do:
- Buy new MH bulbs
- Clean the reflectors and existing bulbs
- More WCs
- Fix/dial back in the reactors
- Have a heart to heart with the tank
- Win the lotto

michika

05-19-2009, 11:40 PM

Some photos to brighten this page up.

This is the corner in which the bristletooth tang likes to do its business. It goes here and only here....
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0148.jpg

How a large portion of my rock looks now that the goby has done its job
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0145-2.jpg

Old additions with some new growth
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0147-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0114-1.jpg

What the skimmer pulled out recently...I called dibs on not emptying that sucker
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0132-1.jpg

Recently re-located caps. The brown one has a blanched part because of the sand that settled on it, so it found a new home.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0099-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0100.jpg

Some of the remaining frags
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0101-2.jpg

The Showboat
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0142-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0133-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0098-1.jpg

Rbacchiega

05-19-2009, 11:57 PM

looking good Catherine!

Love how you've mounted the green cap...that'll look deadly as it grows....thought you were getting rid of the xenia though?

michika

05-20-2009, 12:00 AM

I'm still working on its eviction, notice has certainly be served though! Its time for it go!

Delphinus

05-20-2009, 01:18 AM

There's something weird going on with your SPS. They are different colours and there are these weird little tentacles coming out of them.

michika

05-20-2009, 03:15 AM

Definitely weird! I guess I should trade them all in for those rare white arctic corals hun?

sharuq1

05-20-2009, 03:21 AM

Looking good Catherine!

fishytime

05-20-2009, 07:19 PM

Soooooooooo sorry to here about the FF.:sad: I wish you luck with your "xenia eviction"...there is no blowtorch smiley so....:laser:

michika

06-13-2009, 03:32 PM

The eviction of the Xenia is complete! I traded it into my favorite LFS, RC, in exchange for credit. I picked some new rock, beautiful stuff!

I'm really hoping removing the xenia will help improve my water quality, and in turn, SPS growth. Plus I now have tons of extra space for future additions.

Before:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0098-1.jpg

After:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0035-1.jpg

This is all the clove polyps I pulled off an SPS colony and a clam. They are like the plague. This is the second time I've pull mini colonies off both.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0014-4.jpg

I want to see some growth on this guy!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0036-2.jpg

Kevin's sandsifter that won't touch the poop pile.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0034.jpg

We also got to go see Fishytime's tank in person, very sweet! I'd definitely recommend a visit if you can!

fishytime

06-14-2009, 02:38 AM

michika

06-28-2009, 07:03 PM

I'm so happy to have the Xenia out of the tank. Some of my pieces that weren't doing so hot have stopped declining. The skimmer isn't pulling out as much crap, the tank water is that much cleaner and clearer. So all in all, it was a great move to get that stuff out of my tank, and I wish we'd done it sooner.

Pictures from this morning!

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0088.jpg

A few of my resident clams
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0087-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0085.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0084-2.jpg

My favorite as of late
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0083-1.jpg

FTS
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0082-1.jpg

One of the aformentioned colonies that had started to go downhill prior to the removal of the Xenia.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0065-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0064.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0052-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0050-4.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0049-2.jpg

michika

07-05-2009, 08:49 PM

Operation Kill those &%#$ Mojano Anemones has begun!

I injected all the ones I could get to with Lemon juice, my first method of attack. So far it seems like Lemon Juice is a fail. Next up Kalk. paste, although I'll save that for next week.

Water change and skimmer cleaning has been completed for the week. We have also once again been assured about our skimmer collection container, it definitely works, no smell until you crack it open.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0111.jpg

Skimmerking

07-05-2009, 09:10 PM

catherine do you have the collection vented out side then you would not get the humid air from the skimmer

michika

07-07-2009, 07:36 PM

The collection container vents out the top.

This morning my bristletooth tang started looking different. Its suddenly developed a yellow backend, almost like an Orange Shoulder tang.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0189-2.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0153-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0230-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0133.jpg

The camera hog
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0206-1.jpg

Skimmerking

07-07-2009, 08:59 PM

no the out vent piece on the top of the waste container is that vented outside to the outside...

michika

07-07-2009, 10:02 PM

no the out vent piece on the top of the waste container is that vented outside to the outside...

Oh! Unfortunately at this time its not an option without some additional renovations.

michika

08-08-2009, 04:14 PM

A little bit of an evolution of this tank. It was set up in May 2008, and has experienced a few crashes when we moved from our condo to our house.

May 13, 2008
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0311.jpg

June 26, 2008
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0939-2.jpg

July 21, 2008
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0269-1.jpg

August 8, 2008
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0532-1.jpg

September 21, 2008
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0892.jpg

November 11, 2008
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0220.jpg

December 30, 2008
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0587-1.jpg

Jan 4, 2009
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0633-1.jpg

January 11, 2009
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0787-1.jpg

January 17, 2009
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0857.jpg

April 30, 2009
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0020-2.jpg

May 19, 2009
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0098-1.jpg

June 13, 2009
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0035-1.jpg

June 28, 2009
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0082-1.jpg

lastlight

08-08-2009, 05:55 PM

Whoa those caps on the wall and returns are going to look awesome! Should be awesome just in time to rip'em out for the new monster =) How is the green attached?

The second pic looks really SUNNYX nice... Anyone who reads the RC will know what I'm talking about.

michika

08-08-2009, 05:56 PM

The cap is glued to an old koralia base. Works great now that its solid. Although it was a huge PITA to get the green cap to glue to the base at first.

michika

08-08-2009, 06:25 PM

Updated FTS from today
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0802.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0807-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0808-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0812.jpg

How to kill aiptasia

1) Locate your target
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0738.jpg

2) Inject with a poison of your choosing, in this case, lemon juice
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0753.jpg

3) Watch it swell, shrivel, turn purple, and die
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0765.jpg

4) Celebrate your victory

michika

08-18-2009, 08:03 PM

My tank isn't happy this past week, so I'm frustrated.

Friday I came home to find one of my ultra croceas cleaned out of its shell. It was find Friday morning at 6am, and then at 6pm it was gone. Never showed any signs of anything. I immediately broke my personal rule about placing clams on rocks and moved all my remaining clams up high. I was and still am absolutely devistated. I adore my clams, and for something like this to happen so quickly and without warning is hard to swallow.

The nice thing about Friday though is that I moved a Powder Blue tang into the tank. This is my last attempt at this beautiful fish. It eats voraciously and fits right in already after just a few hours using the mirror trick. It picks at the rocks, and seems highly sociable.

The other downside is that I have two SPS mini-colonies that just aren't thriving. In the last week or so I've seen a distinct downwards slide, which includes STN. Neither of these colonies have ever had any polyp extension so to speak of. So I've dipped both in ReVive for the time being. I will be heading out to pick up more Tropic Marin Pro Coral Cure, aka the bottle that without fail leaks and stains your hands.

I also pressed to do a water change, which was completed yesterday. I'm hoping it will turn things around.

I need to get my Calcium reactor back in-line this week. Its been offline for maintenance, and because I wanted to place it somewhere different, but never got around to it. Its time to fire that puppy back up. I also need to pick up a new dKH test kit as mine seems to have grown little test kit legs and walked off. I'll also be picking up another new set of membranes for the RO/DI as its due for a change.

I also ordered myself a gift, a photobox from Melev's reef so I can try and take a few topdown photos and learn to better use my camera to my and my tanks' advantages.

Quite a few people have been asking me what we intend to do with this system once Tibet is up and running. I'll be selling this system, the tank, sump, skimmer, plumbing, and stand will be up for sale. I will however be keeping the lighting system and the livestock. I hope to have this up for sale by the end of the year!

michika

09-01-2009, 03:44 AM

We've now started to struggle with keeping our parameters in check. Honestly, if its not one thing, its another. We haven't been dosing anything, just topping up and doing regular water changes.

So August 19th - 7 dKH, 540ppm Ca
August 31st - 7 dKH, 480ppm Ca

Bleh, I'm now just working on pulling down the Ca a touch more, and then I'll be happy.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0885-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0911-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0913-1.jpg

michika

09-06-2009, 07:54 PM

This morning's parameters - 9dKH, and 450ppm Ca. I also ran out of salt, I'm two cups short of what I require, so its possible that I need to make a salt run today, or just leave it for a few more days.

Skimmerking

09-06-2009, 07:55 PM

leave it 2 cups isnt going to matter Catherine, i do it all the time if im under in salt i just add a couple more cups or over i leave it out.

michika

09-06-2009, 07:58 PM

Good plan. I'll just let it go and see what happens. Its still mixing up now, so now I'm just waiting to see.

Skimmerking

09-06-2009, 08:31 PM

ya in your tank 180 gal 1-2 cups isnt going to matter, i would do it all the time then you are going to be low and have to drip concentrated salt water to bring it up.

michika

09-07-2009, 05:49 PM

Those extra two cups definitely did something...

When we mix up our water we do so using 30g of RO/DI and 25 cups of salt. This time though 23 cups of salt yielded 1.042 SG. We're both confused how this happened, but I'm thankful that I re-test everything before we use the water.

New MHs are ordered and we're just waiting on delivery. I'm sticking with my favorites, 250w XM 15K moguls.

Skimmerking

09-07-2009, 06:00 PM

that dont make sense when I make salt water and i do a 5 gal change i will check my salt in the main display. If the Salt content is high i will take out of cup only making it 1.5 cups of salt. when its lower i will add a extra cup to the 5 gal change.

hillegom

09-07-2009, 08:56 PM

Did your refractometer accicently get bumped? Maybe recalibrate? Just a thought.

michika

09-07-2009, 09:39 PM

The display is fine, its the make-up water that has the problem. Calibration shows the refractometer is fine. We're just chalking it up to a one-off experience. We just ended up cutting in RO/DI to bring the salinity down.

michika

09-11-2009, 06:09 PM

http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/010905/part-of-the-solution.gif

New bulbs arrived yesterday, and wow what an improvement! Next up will be new T5s.
September 9th, before the new MH bulbs
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_1001.jpg

Today, September 11th, with the new MH bulbs
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0119.jpg

I had the city in this morning to move our water meter, so that is one more thing I can knock off my to-do list for the basement. We're still waiting on moving the electrical panel, but its slowly coming along.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0061-2.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0072.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0098-2.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0152-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0151-2.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0150-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0143-1.jpg

michika

09-26-2009, 01:05 AM

September 24th, 2009
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0171-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0160.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0162.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0158.jpg

Damage by possibly the Urchin?
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0165-1.jpg

Top down
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0183-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0179.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0182.jpg

Straight on shot of the birdsnest
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0173.jpg

Top down
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0191-1.jpg

Another top down.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0178.jpg

hillegom

09-26-2009, 03:18 AM

Nice!
Catherine, what is the name of those anenomes in the eighth pic down, beneath the orange cap? I think I have some of those as well.
Thanks

Delphinus

09-26-2009, 04:18 AM

Them's majano's. Lovely aint they? They're worse IMO then aiptasia.

I tried a raccoon butterfly against them and he did a bang up job removing the ones he could get at. Unfortunately he also went after a brain coral and I lost 4 clams under mysterious circumstances during his tenure (but to be fair, I'm not 100% convinced he was responsible, he might not have been).

So anyhow though, if your clam load is minimal and you don't have LPS, you could try one of them..

hillegom

09-26-2009, 04:57 AM

Majanos!!
Darn... I guess I have a had an inkling that is what I had. They sure look the same.
My biggest one is roughly 2 inches with the tentecles spread. They have split twice, so I have 4 now. Thats in 2 and a half years.
Mine don't spread very quick, so still controllable.
Sorry Catherine for hyjacking, your corals are awesome. Someday I will have some tool.

michika

09-26-2009, 02:29 PM

hillegom

09-26-2009, 09:09 PM

I have a less polite name for them....

I have tried injecting them with lemon juice, air, and kalk paste with no luck. My next step is going to be covering them over either with epoxy or with super glue. They are a HUGE pain and they spread quickly and easily.

I want a raccoon butter fly, or two!

Well, mine look just like that, but do not spread. Hopefully, then, mine are not majanos.

JDigital

09-26-2009, 11:12 PM

I have a less polite name for them....

I have tried injecting them with lemon juice, air, and kalk paste with no luck. My next step is going to be covering them over either with epoxy or with super glue. They are a HUGE pain and they spread quickly and easily.

I want a raccoon butter fly, or two!

You should give Taylored Aquatics Aiptasia Detroyer a try.. I had a couple Mojanos in my old 20G nano, and it nuked them instantly. :)

Myka

09-26-2009, 11:27 PM

Lovely looking corals Catherine!

Delphinus

09-27-2009, 12:58 AM

Give them time .. they will.

I had the same sort of "live and let live" philosophy with mine. In hindsight this was a tactical error. All of a sudden one day I just noticed they are everywhere and on every rock, even in the scutes of some of my clams.

I would keep an eye on them for sure.

The raccoon is the only thing that took a liking to them. I had a CBB before and he wouldn't touch the majano's.

Well, mine look just like that, but do not spread. Hopefully, then, mine are not majanos.

Skimmerking

09-27-2009, 02:44 AM

vi had a problem too i used about 4 to 5 peppermint shrimp and they took them away.

sharuq1

09-27-2009, 03:08 AM

I love your new pics Catherine. The corals are looking great! That birdsnest is a stunning.

michika

09-27-2009, 03:05 PM

I'm trying to convince Kevin to go for a drive today. I can't drive because I have a knee injury. Maybe he'll take me on a trip for all of the above, butterflies, shrimp, TA products, and some other goodies.

I've figured out the "trick" with this new system and my next chosen brand of salt. Things have really been 'popping' lately. It just top off via a kalk reactor, and dose with baking soda for dKH at around 8-9ppm. I have the calcium reactor offline, but I would like to get it back online, and saving me the trouble of dosing.

fishytime

09-27-2009, 03:27 PM

:biggrin: a drive???? up north you mean???:biggrin: we got T.A. aptaisia destroyer,peps and a flutterby in atm.:lol: Corals are lookin goooood Catherine:wink:

michika

09-27-2009, 03:35 PM

I'm coming for a visit. I just need to get my list of stuff I need together.

michika

09-29-2009, 07:05 PM

I visited, I purchased, and I came home happy. New additions to be revealed shortly.

Finally got around to ordering some more expansion modules for the RKE. Picked up the Net module, two pH probes (one replacement, one for a reactor), and SL2 and a Salinity Probekit. I got tired waiting for the expansion power bars to come in stock, and just pulled the trigger.

The shipping was quite reasonable, $29USD, which I very much so appreciate. Shipping from out of country plus customs charges are usually the largest deterent for certain purchases.

Everything purchased right now can be used immediately on the 180g, and will definitely be put in use on Tibet when she is up and running.

fishytime

09-29-2009, 07:36 PM

How is he doing Catherine? Tell me Tell me tell me:lol:

michika

09-30-2009, 05:27 PM

She is big and pig-like....food inhaling machine!

I got dumped by my BB Storm yesterday so I sent it off to go fly a kite with a hole in it. To complement my RKE purchase I got myself an iPhone, you know as a treat for all that hard work! I got myself iReef to help out with checking in on the go. I like the peace of mind that can potentially come with this.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/iphone.jpg

Delphinus

09-30-2009, 05:33 PM

Raccoon?

michika

09-30-2009, 11:44 PM

Bigger still, and much wider!

Just a bit of visual comparison between the end of June and the end of September
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0082-1.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0171-1.jpg

The only new addition who is willing to show themselves;

Just about too fast for the camera, she comes with the name Jasmine and is about 8" long
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0212.jpg

Its a 1" feeding stick for reference
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0209.jpg

Definitely a grazer this one is!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0221.jpg

One of my colonies that seems to have become a late bloomer, from bright red-brown to mute brown....boo
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0222-1.jpg

A new offshoot that is a different colour
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0215.jpg

I think the density of my little ponape birdsnest is increasing
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0217-2.jpg

Delphinus

10-01-2009, 12:25 AM

Man I love those colours on Naso's. Very nice!!

michika

10-01-2009, 12:38 AM

Thanks, she is a big pig!

A photo from way back when, probably the beginning of the sumer, of the ponape.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0019-3.jpg

When I first got it. Its definitely come a long way!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0747-1.jpg

fishytime

10-02-2009, 08:43 PM

michika

10-07-2009, 03:58 AM

My Digital Aquatics order came in this afternoon, total customs charge of $20.17. Its all hooked up and running already.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/photo.jpg

Borderjumper

10-07-2009, 05:37 AM

Thats not bad at all for customs.!

michika

10-07-2009, 01:38 PM

Definitely not bad at all, especially since my order came to just shy of $400USD. The shipping was right quick too, purchased in the afternoon on the 29th, and here by the 6th!

I'm having issues getting the RSS feed (which is what you see above in the screen shot) to come up. I think we have router issues, or its possible one of the dogs tripped on the temporary cord after we left the hosue this morning. I was really looking forwards to logging in this morning to see all the graphs!

argan

10-08-2009, 05:27 PM

tanks looking good, its gonna be amazing in 2 years or so all grown in!

lastlight

10-08-2009, 06:45 PM

I'm going to pretend that iPhone capture didn't just make me giddy. I chose to keep it simple and relatively LOW-TECH. Don't force me to get a controller after all! Man that's sweet. So it's just a plain ole RSS feed? Website could absorb it too...

untamed

10-08-2009, 09:42 PM

I like how it keeps track of your Pods. That is a really amazing sensor!

michika

10-08-2009, 10:28 PM

I'm still learning about it, but so far I've got the online graphing function working. I just need some more time to set up the alarm system and link it to my phone.

So far the only things I need that aren't available are a dKH/alkalinity probe, and Calcium probe. Then everything would be perfect.

michika

10-13-2009, 01:32 PM

I've definitley got the graphing part down. I still however haven't gotten around to setting up the alarm system. Per the instructions all the probes have to be in use for one week and then re-calibrated so that explains the high Salinity and low pH, or at least I hope it explains the low pH.

These are all from this morning.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/temp_5mins_10-13-09.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/salinity_5mins_10-13-09.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/pods_5mins_10-13-09.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/pH_5mins_10-13-09.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/ORP_5mins_10-13-09.jpg

michika

10-13-2009, 07:25 PM

Here is a screen shot of my initial log in options;

The two 'errors' aren't actually errors, they're are just no probes plugged in at those points.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/rke-net.jpg

mseepman

10-13-2009, 08:28 PM

The shots from the controller are very cool. Your tank is looking great too.

untamed

10-13-2009, 09:16 PM

Your ORP graph looks the same as mine every time I recalibrate the probe. It seems that ORP probes take quite a while to stabilize after calibration, so I doubt that your actual ORP is rising like that...it is just the probe.

Can you alter the scale of your pH graph so that you can better see the fluctuations? I'm thinking a scale of between 7.0 and 9.0...or 7.5 to 9.0. The Aquatronica graph function can do that, but won't hold the setting so you need to reset the scale every time...very annoying.

OK, I give up....what is % Pods measuring?

...and don't hold your breath for a Ca/Alk probe!

Delphinus

10-13-2009, 09:43 PM

I'm wondering about the pods charting thing too??

Delphinus

10-13-2009, 09:45 PM

I don't think there will ever be an Alk probe. If you can figure out how to make one though, you could probably get a PhD out of it. :)

michika

10-13-2009, 11:42 PM

I have to wait one more day, probably two, to re-calibrate both the ORP and the pH. I wish I knew how to change the scale, but I'm not overtly adept at it. I can import the data to another program, like Excel, but I'm not sure how to import data that isn't properly separated.

I can dream about an Alk probe! At least the test isn't overtly complicated or time consuming, so I can live if it never happens. I could definitely do with a PhD!

Pods are sets of two light LEDs that are part of the RKE system. The RKE simulates a lunar cycle, which is why you're seeing that repetitively decreasing pattern in the graph.

michika

10-14-2009, 12:46 AM

I'm bored and learning how to use my iPhone for things that are a bit more practical, like work, so I'm using the tank as my test subject.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJFi9LjVD04

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAtL_4MNsNg

Feeding time after the above video
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0245.jpg

I've got my own little cryptic zone going on
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0276.jpg

Jasmine's handywork (naso tang)
Before
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0221.jpg

Today, after
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0281.jpg

April 3, 2009
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0746-2.jpg

Today
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0278.jpg

April 3, 2009
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0752.jpg

Today
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0280-1.jpg

May 19, 2009
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0099-1.jpg

Today
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/michika/DSC_0275.jpg