Myka's 90 gallon build & 3 province move (Pics Feb 6)

[Myka]

Oh you need to cook rock for several months to kill off all the hitch hikers. 6 weeks isn't even enough to kill GSP, polyps, or bubble algae. Although I think most/all of the hydroids are actually dead, and it's just the tubes left. I don't see any little heads poking out anywhere. Those nems still aren't out yet. I think I shocked the crap outta them though. That rock was in 1.012 (was in hypo at 1.009, but evaporation raised it), and the temp was 86. The tank is 1.026 and the temp is 78. So I don't think the nems liked the change.

The excess rock will be for sale in the next couple weeks for sure, if not sooner.

LOL, ya I think that fishing line is antique!! Maybe I will sell it on Ebay!

Tested the tank just now:

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5 ppm
Phosphate 1.0+ ppm (it's at least 1, but definitely not near 3...I wish the Salifert kit had some gradients in between)

Eep! Phosphate is even higher now, which is what I suspected would happen when I added the rest of the rock. I ordered some GFO from Bulk Reef Supply, but it won't be here until next week, so I'm going to see if I can go find some locally for a decent price.

[Myka]

So, of the handful of hydroid colonies I found it appears as though they are all dead since there are no little heads poking out, just the tubes. Weird. BUT GOOD!!!

I got a pic of one of the anemones. Definitely ball anemones. The balls look orange in the pic, but look bluish grey in person...that's weird too. I will try to get a better pic at some point, but for now this is what I managed:

[Myka]

I added 5 Astraea snails today from Bayside Corals. There are 3 Astraea tecta, and 2 Astraea caelata, the latter of which I find to be the better algae eater, and super hardy. I also got some epoxy, so hopefully I will get going on the rock formations tomorrow.

[mseepman]

Very cool. I'm looking forward to this.

[Blom]

Originally Posted by Myka

I added 5 Astraea snails today from Bayside Corals. There are 3 Astraea tecta, and 2 Astraea caelata, the latter of which I find to be the better algae eater, and super hardy. I also got some epoxy, so hopefully I will get going on the rock formations tomorrow.

And now your ahead

[Myka]

Thanks Mark!

Too funny Blom!

Weird thing I've noticed is that the ball anemones dislike light. They come out at night, but even with just the natural light from the sunlight room they close up. Maybe they just aren't very acclimated yet. Tank lights are off 24/7 at this point since the phosphate is so high right now...trying to prevent some algae bloom.

Oh a bit of a setback, my livestock won't be arriving until Monday June 8th now.

[Blom]

Originally Posted by Myka

Oh a bit of a setback, my livestock won't be arriving until Monday June 8th now.

Nice.... still a chance hah. Sorry to hear about that

[Myka]

Hahaha Blom!!