jaggedfire

Something is def off...that much actual bbs would bring the tank up to around 20dkh assuming ionic balance. Have you tested the solution directly? Possible crossed with a BRS mag solution? I feel your pain.

I was just trying to understand how much actual (dry) bbs was being added. Earlier it was stated 6 cups to maintain...i am guessing this is diluted, but to what degree?

Just to make sure its covered, is dkh or meq/l confirmed for units for your calculations. Using JDiecks calc online with your tank size and additions point to meq/l calc and addition...~32tsp baked b.soda.

What is your fish load currently? I battled low alk forever along with red hair algae. It wasnt until I finally got all my light cycles/dosing timed that I got it under control.

Is there possibly a cryptic zone here?

Wow, cool of you to drop in and join Paul. I read the entire thread this weekend on the road...twice. Lots of detail and great story to follow. This is a dream build...in our own back yard here in ATX. And Ching joining in....awesome! Cant wait to see more!

I had read about Red Sea Coral Pro salt doing something similar after a fellow reefer was having issues. I haven't had an issue, but have seen it happen. The official reply from the vendor was along the lines of 'mix the bucket first'. Seems the high calcium carbonate and other compounds weren't dissolving fast enough or at the same rate, thus precipitation out of solution. This would happen too if Mg levels were lower too, right?

As a data point, I would test Alk, Cal, Mg at this stage to see what is happening.

I know most people kill these off. How invasive are they, really? I wish I had a small tank to experiment (and time)!

I have never actually seen one. Wanted to confirm. Height maxes at around .75" and 3/8" wide. Tentacles are pretty maxed here.

Thanks

I recently trimmed several (15) kenyas back. Just gently tore them off the rock. Only one left even a small part and it grew back. I did run some carbon afterwards as it took a firm grip on the base to pull them off. Will almost have to crush the base between your fingers. HTH

I lost ~20 2+ inch frags of S. Apple birds nest about a month ago. Interesting thing, a purple bonsai took over 2 and is encrusting.....the rest sadly didnt make it. Are these big/small enough?

I think the most important thing so far is, What do YOU want to keep? Though this dictates how small of a 'big' tank you can go. But, if your goal is to keep angels, no less than 120 for a long term.

I wish I would have started with a 40 breeder instead of a 25 tall. The taller tanks dictate more light whereas you can get by with less light (T5) on more forgiving coral/inverts in a shallower tank. I have grown SPS well in a small tank for over a year, but not without work.

Determining how big you might go, say a 48" tank, try a smaller dimension tank of equal length, such as a 55 or 75 gallon (upgrade later to 90, 72bow, 100, and 120 too). This would keep cost down for early learning and maintenance, but can grow into a bigger tank of similar footprint.

Setup a staging growth for a tank. When you start a new tank, it doesn't have to have a big skimmer, loads of rock and a massive sump. (Unless it is drilled, and even then......) You can add rock as you find what you want and cheaper if you buy dry rock and cure yourself. The skimmer can grow with needs (begin with $20 used starter) or added later once your load exceeds what the rock handles and inhabitants dictate.

I am still running a 10 gallon tank with inverts and fish, some coral and awesome macro won at a club meeting. In almost a year with no more than top-off, the tank is thriving. No skimmer, no fancy light, no fancy rock, and I love it.

One other thing, your starter tank probably wont be your only tank...........

Bump

So far so good! Any word yet on other items?

We are moving soon and I need to clear out the gear that I decided not to use.

I bought this awhile back and was gonna use it on my 25G tank....before I went bigger.

Well, it was a bit much and I never mounted it over the tank. Really nice pendant and would work well over a bit bigger tank, just a bit much on mine. If I had a Solana or other 30-40 gallon tank, this would be on it.

Set includes the pendant, ballast and hanging hardware.

I'd like $125 or trade for other gear or coral.

Thanks!

Photos:

Petco has $/gallon sale going on now.

I ended up fragging the entire colony Tuesday night by cutting above dying parts. Wed morning the remains were completely bleached but I now have ~20 large frags of SA BN that seem to be healthy.

I will be keeping a close eye on these for the next few weeks to see what might be happening and ensure this does not spread. So far though, it is only this one type of BN as I have 3 and nothing else in the tank is affected.

Of note, the last few days the necrosis seemed to accelerate rapidly. The only thing I can come up with are the lack of trace elements in the water or light spectrum.

Patrick,

My girls kept finding them and were super excited. We did keep many of the sand clams that would could. Many (maybe all) made it home. Only one sand dollar didnt make it.

Interestingly, I did catch 2 pipefish in the floating macro. The small shiners were swarming in the shallows also. I caught many small (<1") shrimp. Unfortunately, we stopped by the Texas State Aquarium before heading back. They were all alive as I kept a bubbler in the bucket. After leaving the TSA, we stopped by the bay and topped off the bucket with "fresh" water. Three hours later all shrimp and fish were dead when we got home. pH was 7.8, Ammonia was .5! and salinity was 1.031! with all else within norms (0'nite, 0'nate). I am guessing the bay water was the culprit as they survived overnight in the bucket with less water (~1.5 gallons).

I was most bummed about the pipefish as I have wanted one for many moons.

Lessons learned:

1. Take 5+ gallons RO water and dry salt for mixing on site/over night
   
2. Bay water =/= Gulf water
   
3. Keep two containers, one for fish and swimming inverts, another for sand dwellers
   
4. Take something for ammonia control on the transit.
   

On another note, temperature wasnt an issue in the back of the car. I was expecting this to be the culprit, not NH3.

Wow, I didnt expect the high desire. I have plenty for anyone who would like a few. I can meet in S. Austin after work tomorrow or during lunch off Mopac and Soutwest Parkway. Or if anyone lives in Kyle/Buda area, I can meet down south. I have them in some sand from the coast right now, but they wont have much to feed on just that. They will need some care and finer substrate, but being smaller, would be great for 'fuges.

We brought some back from PortA if anybody would like a couple. All are 1-1.5 inches. Pm is best.

Interested in the other module, until pump and testing apparatus. Is pm preferred?

On another bummer note, I lost another tang today.....this tank falling apart has really !@#$ed up my everything lately.

It has grown from 3 1" pieces into a colony(ies) totaling the size of two softballs. But once the coral load was high, it seemed to slow in growth and I couldnt keep up with the alk swings. I cant discount the age of my bulbs being a huge factor here either.

It doesnt seem like I can catch a break lately. I recently got the 25g tank setup with a sump and dosing system to stabilize the alk and calcium levels. This is working incredibly well despite a long time to setup and tweak.

I did notice my birds nest to start receding at the base about a month ago (slowly) and thought it might be not enough light as it is in a shaded spot. I am not so sure now as I have moved the colony slightly and the 'shadier' spots darkened up. BUT...the STN seems to have accelerated once the dosing has been online and alk is more stable.

Params:

9/11/2012

API

• ph:8.1
  
• Alk: 9
  
• Nitrate:0
  
• Phos: >0, <.25
  

Red Sea Test

• Alk: 10.0
  
• Cal: 435
  
• Mg: 1560
  

Salinity: 1.025

Temp: 81

I am seeing much better coloration in my acros and monti's and the hyacinth BN, as well as excellent polyp extension in all....but this guys seems to be getting too much light. Is this a catalyst for RTN?

Thanks Gator. I have three and SO in college....I struggle to have my time also.

Unedited straight from my phone.

The brown gorg I believe is a Green Lace and the Purple in the back is a Plexaura sp (NPS).