Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board

Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/index.php)
-   Tank Journal (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=18)
-   -   The LAST big upgrade (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=51185)

iceman86 02-11-2014 04:31 AM

Amazing tank! Whats the thickness of the glass?

michika 02-15-2014 09:31 PM

The LAST big upgrade
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman86 (Post 879612)
Amazing tank! Whats the thickness of the glass?


Thank you. 3/4" there was an option to use thinner glass but this way I have peace of mind.

Picked up some tanks which should be perfect for a frag system and for a less cumbersome fish QT.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...pshsrklbby.jpg

michika 03-04-2014 11:53 PM

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/05/ebuvejam.jpg

Recently out of QT and into the big tank.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/05/basasuty.jpg

Clams that hate standing up.

pinkreef 04-07-2014 03:47 PM

Your clams are beautiful!:biggrin:

michika 04-26-2014 07:17 PM

Some top down shots I took sight unseen.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/27/evy5aved.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/27/ygaze2az.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/27/uvemeruj.jpg

My smallest clam at 2" with his buddy Bubbles.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/27/aqyvugyn.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/27/satupuna.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/27/yqeje7ud.jpg

FishyFishy! 04-26-2014 07:47 PM

Beautiful!!!

kien 04-26-2014 10:55 PM

Looking great Catherine! Those birdsnests look happy :-). Actually, everything looks pretty happy.

michika 04-27-2014 05:50 PM

Thanks everyone.

michika 04-27-2014 09:16 PM

The LAST big upgrade
 
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/28/4ymavyve.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/28/7y2ygehu.jpg

Floating in the display while the QT is topped up.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/28/za8ajumy.jpg

DIY leg tank scrubber. Regular maintenance is tedious, so anything to lesson the strain.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/28/e7ugybyj.jpg

Next up; just waiting on some addition LED fixtures for the left side of the tank.

I'd like to re-arrange some of the rock work and build upon some specific points, but since I have so many fish, I can't do any rearranging until I have more rock cooked to ensure there are enough hiding spaces for everyone.

I'm also making homemade fish food again. It's full of scallops, shrimp, krill, mysis, cuddlefish, bloodworms, squid, sometimes garlic, and sometimes silversides. It's too costly and I keep screwing up the proportions of different meaty foods on their own. http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/28/5u4e9yta.jpg

My clams need to pull in their mantles the fish come darting out for the food that quickly.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/28/py6evu5y.jpg

I was also lucky enough to be able to pick up a Kalk stirrer from a local. I'm chomping at the bit to set this back up again. Here it is post clean. http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/28/qara4yqy.jpg

I dose via two part and I use a stirrer/reactor to keep my dKH where it should be (8-9). It's a lifesaver because my tank is going through about .75 dKH/day.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/28/ysave4ag.jpg

Soon it's time for an SPS buying spree I think. The left side of the tank is looking mighty empty. Please ignore the bags, they were floating while I tested the QT parameters.

April FTS

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/28/e7azysu5.jpg

brotherd 04-27-2014 11:13 PM

Looking good. What led's do you have ordered?

michika 04-28-2014 12:28 AM

Thank you.

AI Sols and an AI Hydra.

michika 04-30-2014 04:59 PM

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/30/utydy4e6.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/30/dynunynu.jpg

hillegom 04-30-2014 05:31 PM

I have always liked a school of yellow tangs.

michika 05-05-2014 11:24 PM

I find them so colourful and they really add a calmness to the tank.

Today has been productive;
- replaced the netting on my lid.
- set up two new light fixtures (AI Sols)
- did some in tank clean up; last minute colony moves before encrusting begins
- refilled my autofeeder and upped the frequency of feedings (I have pigs, not fish)
- refilled my dosing containers
- re calibrated my daily dosing to account for the upped usage lately.
- Added T5s to the refugium

Three more fixtures and I should be done adding lights. I'm just waiting for an AI Hydra to show up so I can decide if my last two fixtures will be Kessil 360s or Hydras.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/06/y9uve4ev.jpg

brotherd 05-06-2014 03:05 AM

You are going to have first hand experience with different lighting simultaneously over one tank. Will you keep them all or settle with a favorite and sell the others?

michika 05-06-2014 04:00 AM

I'm going to settle with LEDs, half blues and half full spectrums. I'll repurpose what I can and probably sell the rest. Whichever full spectrum LED fixture doesn't make the cut will become primary frag tank.

michika 05-18-2014 06:34 PM

The LAST big upgrade
 
Added some rock to the display to fill in some of the empty spots. I'm still not happy with the left side, but I am getting closer to something I can live with. I'll keeping adding more rock every week until I'm pleased with it I guess.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/19/uqata3ez.jpg

After nearly a month in the tank my butterfly, the first fish to do so, has finally figured out what the shrimp are for. Now he is hanging out being cleaned all the time.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/19/sa6ybeha.jpg

Friday afternoon movie

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psgu5hbwie.jpg

Link; http://s21.photobucket.com/user/michika/media/B52715D1-27C1-4DFF-AC91-00F67D276FB9_zpsgu5hbwie.mp4.html

Post re-aquascaping movie of the stalkers I call fish.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psh4zdcarh.jpg

brotherd 05-18-2014 11:45 PM

Looking great! Did you get the lights up you were waiting for?

michika 05-19-2014 12:14 AM

Thank you. Yes, I did. The Sol Blues are up and running, the Hydra is here but not online yet. I'm just waiting for the Apex AI module to arrive, hopefully Tuesday.

kien 05-19-2014 03:46 PM

love that mini-school of tangs! Looks great C!

michika 05-19-2014 11:32 PM

Thank you!

Here is the hydra light. It's thinner than the SOLs, and the number of lenses are different, 4 vs. 8. Should be interesting when it goes online considering my SOLs are only at a 48% intensity.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/pyga2asy.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/ejumujyr.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/anynevet.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/a5azetyt.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/rubusy6y.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/y8y6e3ed.jpg

Somebody's going through a growth spurt!
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/udu7u3u4.jpg

Madreefer 05-20-2014 03:16 AM

You'll like the Hydras. I ran Sols for a long time and was always looking to supplement for more coral pop. Since I put the Hydras online i'm way happier and i'm betting you will be too. Good choice.

RSM 05-20-2014 02:42 PM

I love how all the fish you bought are together in the picture! Looks great!

michika 05-20-2014 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madreefer (Post 897717)
You'll like the Hydras. I ran Sols for a long time and was always looking to supplement for more coral pop. Since I put the Hydras online i'm way happier and i'm betting you will be too. Good choice.

I'm dying for UPS to deliver my package today.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSM (Post 897763)
I love how all the fish you bought are together in the picture! Looks great!

They integrated so very well and easily. They all eat and all the zebrasoma tangs follow the new yellow. I'm very happy with them, and they seem pretty pleased with their new home.

RSM 05-21-2014 01:15 AM

So Happy they are in a good home. Those clams are awesome!

Nuttyreefer 05-21-2014 05:43 AM

Hi
 
Hydra 52 looks good

michika 05-29-2014 03:21 AM

Thank you. So far I'm very happy with it. One hydra balances out the colour, to the eye, of two SOLs.



Ch-cha-changes!

Top is before.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/29/gy6ajesa.jpg

FTS

Last weekend

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/29/u6e5a8en.jpg

Today, about 5-6 hours after I moved the rocks.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/29/udyjyda9.jpg

It's the heights of the left most structure I'm not happy about. It's too forced, and the flow sucks in some spots. But, there are lots of nice places for frags to take hold.

JDigital 05-29-2014 05:46 PM

Looks great Catherine!

michika 06-17-2014 06:19 PM

Thank you!

This mornings view from the couch.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/18/anedazeg.jpg

Had to bump the auto feeder up again last week. It keeps the peace and let's me realize my dream of colourful swimming sausages.

I need to add some more sand to my display soon. I'll start with 2 or 3 more bags but I think I'll need 4 when all is said and done.

I think I'm going to bite the bullet on a new calcium reactor too. This manual dosing stuff is a huge PITA as my tank goes through stocking surges and growth spurts. Frankly I'm tired of constantly recalculating my dosing and fiddling with this or that. I'll still dose to fine tune parameters but I need a reactor to set a higher baseline so I don't have to waste so much time and find ways to add more liquids then is needed. I need more stability in my tank's life.

kien 06-17-2014 07:26 PM

that's an impressive panorama..

colourful swimming sausages !! :lol:

michika 09-09-2014 03:41 PM

Thar, she blows.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/09/09/yzyty5uh.jpg

So much cyano, still. Oh well it's probably only about a quarter of what it was in late July.

I bought the materials to enclose the canopy yesterday to get that done. I've settled on LEDs and T5s as my lighting system so I can finally build. I hope it will also afford some cost savings now that the heat from the tank will be fully contained in the fish room.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/09/09/3ynepa4u.jpg

My little emperor is so big now!

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/09/09/5y2a3e4y.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/09/09/aqe7uzyj.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/09/09/unymy4ez.jpg

I want to put black backing on my tank I think. Now I just need to find some. :)

The Grizz 09-09-2014 04:01 PM

Doesn't cyano suck to deal with in large tanks!!

For the back I used black limo tint from Canadian Tire on the 300 and it worked great.

michika 09-09-2014 08:17 PM

The LAST big upgrade
 
I have nothing to say on the subject of cyano that will not earn me an insta ban at this point in time. I practice a lot of deep slow breathing when it comes to my tank lately.

My clam really seems to be enjoying the PAR38 bulb I keep over my refugium. It's shunned the MH I had specifically set up for it so much so that I shut it down.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/09/10/8a4edyjy.jpg

I'll have to make a trip to Canadian Tire and see what's around. Thanks for the tip.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/09/10/peqa8aqa.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/09/10/ze6ejydy.jpg

I think I need a second autofeeder, one for each end of the tank. My fish who prefer the side opposing the feeder aren't getting their fair share and when people come to hand feed all you get is a swarm, see above.

Guess the good news is that I can probably offset it's cost with the sale of al the MH equipment I have. Ooh I'm practically salivating at all the extra space I'll have in the fishroom.

And for the record a fish room is the greatest thing I've ever done. Everything is in one room, it stays in one room, and, my favourite, it stays organized and findable.

michika 09-10-2014 03:19 PM

And the power is out. Been out since just after 5am today. No leaks, no messes and I think everything is accounting for. Now to just wait it out.

mseepman 09-10-2014 07:37 PM

One of my favorite tanks to distract me during my work day. Cyano is tough though...I recently had a bout that i'm still fighting off. Hope the power is back soon for you. My whole home generator was the best insurance i've ever bought. It was cheap in comparison to what I spent on tank build.

michika 09-11-2014 01:44 AM

The generator came out but never got turned on. My 1st backup system, battery power heads for oxygenation, worked well, and my second back up, the generator, wasn't really needed. After ~9 hours with no power the tank only dropped 2 degrees. I "covered" the top to keep the heat in for about 4 of those hours.

Everything seems to be business as usual in the tank.

I do need to upgrade my generator though as it's only sized to run the tank; pumps and heaters particularly. Some lights now too since I'm mostly LED now as well. The next step up would be a whole home system.

mseepman 09-11-2014 03:37 PM

Take a look at KMS tools for the Whole home system. They have a store in Calgary and they were the cheapest price I ever found.

michika 09-17-2014 08:28 PM

Ugh. I am so tired of cyano. I just got rid of it early this year, only for it to return late July after a vacation away. It is getting better; I clean the glass less often, I blow off the corals and rocks less frequently. But, I am still tired of its maroon colour and how hard it is to tell apart from some types of coraline.

Today I scraped the glass, I miss when I only did this every 10 days rather than every 3. I blew everything off today with my good old trusty turkey baster too; stringy pieces of cyano everywhere. There was a break for drinks and a pep talk on why I don't quite need to bust out the Red Slime remover yet. The kalkwasser reactor got refilled, and the parameters tested. Now its back to the old reefkeeping standards; time and patience. I just want to stock my tank with SPS.

FishingGoalie 09-17-2014 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michika (Post 913679)
Ugh. I am so tired of cyano. I just got rid of it early this year, only for it to return late July after a vacation away. It is getting better; I clean the glass less often, I blow off the corals and rocks less frequently. But, I am still tired of its maroon colour and how hard it is to tell apart from some types of coraline.

Today I scraped the glass, I miss when I only did this every 10 days rather than every 3. I blew everything off today with my good old trusty turkey baster too; stringy pieces of cyano everywhere. There was a break for drinks and a pep talk on why I don't quite need to bust out the Red Slime remover yet. The kalkwasser reactor got refilled, and the parameters tested. Now its back to the old reefkeeping standards; time and patience. I just want to stock my tank with SPS.

Hi Catherine

What kind of salt are you using I was using H2O ocean and i started getting cyano. I am now switching and havent had any cyano come back since the switch.

michika 09-17-2014 08:43 PM

Hey,

I use Instant Ocean. The cyano this time around is definitely nutrient based. While I was on holidays my house sitter added at least an extra 2 cups of pellet foods to the tank over a 14 day period in addition to that one of my yellow tangs died during that same time period which just made things worse. :( Thanks for the recommendation though.


All times are GMT. The time now is 08:11 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.