How can I forget buddy. You have done exceptionally well in the sps game. I will have to come out one day and see it in person my friend.

Hey, Rich, when you are in Langley sometime, let me know, and come by. Would love to get some more tips and ideas from the "master".

just saw your pics.. and WOW! Your tank is looking amazballs Walter !

Thanks, kien, but don't think amazballs is quite the correct description... lol.

Late summer update:
We had a bad storm and power outage last week. Because we normally don't get these until late fall and winter, my back up power packs were still at our lake cabin (used with our solar system there), and was not able to provide sufficient water circulation during the power outage. As a result, four of my fish died due to O2 deprivation. My corals seem to be all OK, so thankfully they were not affected.

I lost my Orange Flame Angel and Red Flame Hawkfish, both over 10 years old. Also lost both of my Pearlscale Butterfly fish, just over 5 years old. While any loss is sad, will really miss the Pearlscales. They did a wonderful job of keeping my tanks aiptasia free, while not bothering any of my corals. There are still some aiptasia in my system as I see them sometimes in my overflow and sump. So my fear now, is they will make their way back into my display tanks.

Another complication is that I just had shoulder surgery (rotator cuff) two weeks ago, and any major tank maintenance right now is out of the question, with just able to only use my left hand. I am overdue for a water change at this time, but hope to get that done next week. So, for the next couple months, will try to keep status quo, and hopefully not have any further major issues.

Sorry to hear your loss Walter. I know how it feels, coming from 2 heart surgeries in the past 12 months. And I lost all my sps this summer due to that heat wave, but that's another story.

Those pearl scales will be surely missed.

Get well my friend. Our health comes first before our hobbies.

Thanks, Mylon. And wow, 2 heart surgeries. Glad you're still with us!! My shoulder surgery is pretty minor compared to that, just more of an inconvenience now with my right arm in a sling. I'll be all good in a couple months. And sorry about your SPS loss. Hopefully, your recovery goes well and you'll be able to fully enjoy the hobby again as well.

Hey Walter if you need any help with those water changes just give me a call or pm me :)

Thanks for the offer, Janet. I can still do quite a bit on my own, and of course, my wife helps me out as necessary. I'm probably getting more sympathy than I deserve,... haha.

Great thread Reef Pilot, you have some incredible SPS. Nothing is more disheartening than an alk swing and losing full colonies that you grew out from frags, I really feel for you, but im glad you pushed on and stuck with it! And I hope your shoulder recovers quickly! We're eagerly awaiting another FTS!