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And I didn't even notice the cat in the pics. My nitrate actually is way down from a couple weeks of very sparse feedings. I was on vacation out of the country and the house sitter was given VERY specific feeding instructions as to avoid a disaster. I had him feeding maybe 1/4 what I normally do so the nitrates came way down from 8 ppm when I left to 0.25 now a week after returning. 1/2 amount of recommended GFO brought my PO4 down to 0.04 from 0.21 a month ago and it's crept up to 0.07 so I replaced it. Since it's not soaking up so much I imagine it'll last a while. I haven't run gfo in over 2 years and I never tested po4 before so actually changing it based on test results is new for me and I expect to get a lot more mileage out of it. I have a feeling I've thrown away a couple gallons of good gfo over time that didn't need to be changed Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ah yeah it's diesel. Yeah he definitely has a flair for the theatrics with his online "brand" if you will but agreed his experience level and willingness to advise based on strong lighting opinions were greatly appreciated. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Here's a couple sectional shots using the new bulb combo. Not sure what this one is but it's my favorite so far. Was told it's an "Aussie tabling acro" which to me sounds like it was an unnamed mariculture but it's got a nice combo of colors My largest of the new frags is the red planet. The night time PE is pretty intense on it. It's fuzzy in the daytime but at night it goes wild in the dark Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Close to a month since my last update. Loving these lights. At the risk of beating a dead horse, I know all forms of light work well if you are skilled enough, but just like Ty told me years ago, T5HO produces colors and growth with minimal effort. I've never believed it more than I do now. In the last month of changing over I've seen a positive response in my livestock in such a short period of time. Its very motivating. I've been talking with another reefer from Houston who has decades in the field and has a ton of advice to offer who has helped me fine tune my bulb combo not only in color, but bulb placement and it has paid dividends. I'll be sticking with this bulb combo after seeing the positive results from it. I'm getting growth and colors from my SPS that i've not had in my previous 4 years. I've yet to set up a true quarantine, but after multiple dips and mounting to their forever homes I've started restocking on acropora. In record time (for me) I'm already seeing encrusting and new branches sprouting (after only a week mounted to their long term spots. Things are definitely heading in the right direction. Otherwise the tank is generally humming along. Parameters are being held well via Kalkwasser right now and a tiny amount of GFO use. Yesterday I checked in at 7.8 dKH, 410 ppm calcium, 0.25 ppm NO3, and 0.07 ppm PO4 (before loading in fresh GFO). Need some CARX advice. I was going to go with MTC, but they're temporarily shutting down production for at least 3-4 months he estimated and not taking any new orders. Build time after that (if they dont extend the no-build period longer) will be another month or two out because he's so backed up, its just not a feasable option for me. I have had multiple cross posted WTB ads up on every forum I'm a part of with ZERO replies. I seem to remember seeing CARX up for sale constantly but now that I'm ready to buy one I can't seem to find one. I am avoiding the Korallin (which i see so many of available actually) because for the money I feel like I can get a better built-easier to tune unit. Ive been talking with Jason and Luke at premium aquatics about getting a Geo reactor based on overwhelming positive reviews. I hate that they switched over to Sicce Syncra pumps for their reactors instead of the Eheim hobby pumps they previously used. Sicce pumps have caused me problems in the past and their customer service is terrible. Not to mention theyre cheaper than Eheims, yet Geo has increased their MAP pricing by almost 30% since changing over to Sicce. Profit margins coming their way I guess but I don't want a Sicce pump. Theyve said that Geo can custom make them a 612 reactor to accept the Eheim pumps, and theyd include one but it would run me $400, which seems steep to me considering the 618 is only $420. I know the 618 would be overkill for my tank, and it's 24" tall (giving me only 1" clearance to the very top of the stand, so I'd have to practically tilt it sideways to get it out to change media. I'm kind of torn between just getting the bigger unit and hoping space wont be an issue, or trying my luck with the stock 612 unit with Sicce pump and hoping I have better luck this time. Jason at PA agreed with me that the Eheim pumps are more robust, and that they've had ALOT more complaints about Sicce Syncra pumps than they have Eheim. Any ideas on what would be the better plan? I'm sure the 612 unit would serve me fine and my 90 gallon would never outgrow it no matter how much I packed in the tank, but I don't want to deal with another exploded impeller in under a year, potentially sidelining my CARX for a week or more waiting for a costly replacement. I want to set it up, tune it, and not worry about components breaking. They still have several 618 units in stock with the Eheim pump connections, but no more 612 units hence the need for a custom build. They reached out to Geo for me and were infomed that they aren't interchangeable and don't produce/include the connections to take the Eheim pumps anymore.

My other hobbies are fairly drab compared to most here. No extreme sports or activities. When I'm NOT thinking about, reading about, or working on the tank... I like to think about, read about or work on the following: Gardening, all types. I like dabbling in soil mixtures, vegetable growing, ornamental plants ect. I have a fascination with carnivorous plants but this region isn't great for them outdoors and I don't have the time or resources to do a lot of indoor or greenhouse cultivation of carnivorous plants. Weight lifting. I'm no mr universe, but I've been an on/off avid weight lifter for the better part of the last 10 years. I have bad feet, ankles, and knees so I can't do a lot of cross training/running type stuff but I do love lifting and martial arts. Studied and practiced a bit over the years and follow MMA fairly closely, all the way back when it was bare knuckle and you could wear shoes, to now where everyone is an athlete first and fighter second. Disc golf. I used to play a ton. Daily. For years. Most often alone. Never competed or anything just love playing. Though since growing our family more my time to play has all but disappeared. Lastly, my favorite next to reefing, is the collecting, study, tasting, and overall experience of fine spirits. I have a love for single malt scotch whisky, the peatier the better. I also appreciate a good small batch/single barrel bourbon and a nice aged rum. But scotch is my number 1. I am not an alcoholic and I almost never even get buzzed, but I love enjoying a scotch whenever I can. Tonight I'm working on a lovely Ardbeg Uigeadeal while doing some late night housecleaning. I am what some would call a scotch snob. Scotch drinkers are kind of labeled whisky snobs alone, but I take it a step further. I generally avoid buying anything that is chill-filtered and uses E150 caramel coloring. I also despise the new fad of non age stated scotch. It's destroying the industry from a quality standpoint. It is an excuse to put 4 year old scotch in a bottle with a ton of artificial color, give it a fancy name, and charge a fortune for it. Yes the bottle I'm sampling tonight is a non-age stated variety, and they're not all garbage, but it's a bad trend. You won't find me buying any of the new Macallans for instance. Not because they cost too much, but because if I'm going to pay $100+ for a bottle, it better be as natural of a product as I can get, and sport an age statement. Older doesn't always mean better, but transparency of what is in the bottle is something that has been lost in the industry. I digress Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you sir! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The sgt500 is one of the few regulators I would buy if I found one. Even though I don't need it they're the best of the best. Here's a few Zoa pictures from today. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I thought you'd appreciate that. Nothing like asking for a frag and getting a colony Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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That's understandable. You're busy stocking people's tanks across the state with top shelf acros. Hard to research replacing a piece of equipment that hasn't failed you yet lol How's that slimer doing? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you sir! Of course SS would have been nice, but that adds significantly to cost for mostly aesthetic reasons. This will definitely do, though I've been a bad buyer and havent leak tested it yet. Still need to get the spare CO2 tank filled, as the primary tank is in use on the planted tank. I won't hate too much on the carbon doser, as some really well respected and successful reefers use it. I do think the only reason Aquariumplants.com is able to continue selling it is predominantly to reefers for their calcium reactors who are just not generally aware of a better option. Its been spread among the national forums that the carbon doser is the pinnacle of regulators. You RARELY hear of planted tank people using them, instead you find most those hobbyists are at the extremes of the spectrum. Either using ultra cheap paintball co2 regulators, or milwaukee regulators, or at the other extreme really nice custom builds. You can just get so much better of a regulator that is more reliable, longer lasting, easier to use, and less expensive all together. Another high end regulator you see thrown around is the GLA SS dual stage regulators. They're very nice...but...cost prohibitive and no better than a custom build for 1/3-1/2 the cost. The beauty of a custom regulator build is all you need is an ebay account, teflon tape, and a couple crescent wrenches. It's not like building LEDs where you need some level of soldering and electrical work skill. Or stand building where you need to know how to use power tools and understand wood working. A regulator build is literally just taking the parts and screwing them together. No form, talent, skill, or technique involved. Just get yourself well known and trusted components, and put them together. Easy as that. It's like 10 pieces or less. Anyhow. I've ranted enough on regulators lately. I like this one just fine and it should fit the bill nicely, and at an attractive price

Put a little polish on the regulator today. I have had visions of a mirror shine finish but this thing is insanely heavy and my hands were cramping after about 20 minutes of polishing. I think im giving up on mirror finish Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sounds like scotch time!!!! Kudos for building the tank NOT flush against the wall. The Grinch has been giving me guff for our tank being like 8" from the wall. How the heck else are you supposed to manage the wires and plumbing without a little working room? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'll be going either geo or MTC. But with the rate the geo is going up in price, MTC probably going to be the way. The 612 was $299 one year ago on premium aquatics, today $369. Massive jump. Only changes are the lid is now white, and it uses a sicce instead of an eheim (a downgrade in my opinion). And it's a MAP priced item based on information on their website Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh and also a green pocillopora the size of a softball Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Compelling enough for me. I'm not in a hurry but don't want to pass on a deal either way. And I'm not totally sps free. I have a purple stylo colony no less than 8" in diameter, and my overflow is nearly covered in non-removable encrusted growth from montipora spongodes and rainbow montipora. Not a ton in the tank but definitely enough to make a small dent without supplementing. I can get by for a while with kalkwasser in ato thojgh Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ty tell me one good reason I should hold out the months it will take to get a new MTC minical, instead of spending 1/2 the amount and buying a used Korallin next week Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

And my clownfish may have to go. 8 year old clarkii. Mean as a bull. Bit a chunk out of my thumb today when aquascaping. And fearless. Attacks hand and tools relentlessly as soon as they're in the water. Knocked down several rocks I had carefully placed. Broke some corals in the process. I'm beyond fed up. The benefit to her aggression and fearlessness is that she should be easy to net tomorrow. We will see what a couple days in the skimmer chamber does to calm her down a bit. I won't put her in the refugium. There's a good sized mantis shrimp in there. I hate the fish but not THAT much. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

And believe me I really do want to have a coral quarantine tank I just have no Idea where to put it Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Negative. I wouldn't use the carbon doser honestly. It's nothing more than a Milwaukee regulator, with a clippard mouse solenoid hooked to a timer allowing it to open and close rapidly. I know a lot of reefers like them, but they're criminally overpriced for what they are. Which is a single stage regulator, and a solenoid with a timer that can run in small increments. I went with a custom build Air Products dual stage regulator, with a Fabco NV-55-18 and a Burkert 6011 solenoid. If it doesn't sustain any physical damage like a failed check valve, or being dropped, this regulator should last decades, outliving any other single piece of gear used on the tank, and being dual stage it will keep a rock solid ultra steady output clear until the tank is empty. And the best part, by a little searching and haggling I got it for about half the cost of a carbon doser Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I forgot to mention. I also cannot find a place to put a quarantine tank. The only place I can think of is either under the fw tank stand, which I'm not crazy about, or in the utility room, which is where the litter box is and everything in there tends to get cat litter dust on it. That can't be good for acros. Sadly our house is so small there's not many other hiding places. Wife not going to approve a coral quarantine setup on the kitchen counter. All my tank stuff is in our living room and we just don't have any more spare wall or surface spaces to put a 20 gallon. So it's sat in its box in the attic for months now Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I won't lie it did make a dent. I picked up my new regulator yesterday as well. Each of those independently will end up costing more than I hope to pay for the reactor itself. Anyhow. A coral quarantine is high on my wish list. I have the tank. I have the cycled mature rock. I have the powerheads. I don't have a light. And I don't have the spare funds to pick one up right now. I'm going to pick up a handful from a source in so confident doesn't have bugs or aefw (famous last words), based on the fact that his tank has hands down the best PE I've ever seen on acros anywhere. It might burn me. But I'm confident enough to try. And keeping my eyes out for a small 4 bulb t5ho light I can use as a quarantine light. I have a source for interceptor as well. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Also. I lost count a while back. But I've been acro fallow now for a while. 3-4 months at least. Lots of carbon use followed by lots of water changes. No addition of anything other than mysis and pellets. No dosing aminos or any other products going into the water. Just fish food, flow, skimmer, and t5ho. Gfo has knocked my PO4 down to 0.06 ppm and nitrates hanging out around 10. Everything else in the tank looks happier than ever and I'm definitely past any issues I've had last year. Wanting to pick up a few acros to try tomorrow. Nervous as all get out. Should I go for it?!?!?!?! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well. I don't own a calcium reactor yet. That's coming soon. But...I did get this in the mail. Against Ty's good advice of course, but the stability due to them is too well documented for me to ignore. Though...it is a little noise. I'm brainstorming on ways to quiet it down some. It's just the usual 60hz hum that many older AC devices make. The wooden cabinet it sits in seems to amplify it some. I can live with it. Not sure if my wife can lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the comments. This aquascape did take me longer than I usually spend stacking rocks. I admire your patience in creating yours. I tend to get rolling and finish. I don't have the patience to break out the acrylic rods, masonry drill bits, and mortar to create ultra fancy rock stacks. Theyll be covered and completely hidden if you're doing it right! My thoughts anyway. I favor function over form 100% of the time. I want my rock work to best facilitate coral placement, and secondly fish health. How the rock looks bare is of little concern. I see these amazingly clean, almost futuristic builds and pictures, of display sumps and plumbing that looks like it cost more than my whole tank, and rock work that looks like it took weeks to sculpt...With no corals at all. To each their own. Anyhow I tested the waters tonight. It's been months since doing a test it feels like. The big 3 were all in line with where I wanted/hoped for/expected. 7.0 dKH, 400 ppm Ca, and 1420 ppm Mg. I am not surprised. I don't have much of a stony load at all right now and have just done about 75% water change in the last week. What was alarming was the PO4. Using the Hanna PPB phosphorus meter and conversion, I got 0.21 ppm, which is higher than I've ever had. Ever. Yet...Virtually zero nuisance algae, and zero cyano. Odd. Even with a decent herbivore load I'd expect SOME algae, but I've got none. Nitrate came in at around 10 ppm. Still a little high but not enough to kick up a fuss. The PO4 is concerning though because I know that sometimes acropora can struggle at such high PO4 numbers. I think it may be time to bring the GFO and Biopellets back online. I never expected to have to use them, but I always like to have it in my tool belt, so I have kept a couple gallons of GFO, some fresh pellets, and some spare reactors in storage in case I need them one day. I think I'll try to get that running at some point in the next week to get those numbers in a little more acceptable range. I'm back to number chasing. A new toy is on it's way as well, but I will wait until its in my hands before I post a pic. I know the suspense will kill some of you lol, and you'll probably roll your eyes when you see it, but I'm fired up. It's one of my favorite pieces of gear in the aquarium hobby, and it commits me to another purchase. While I love my BML strip, and I know you can't get them anymore, I have big plans for this tank, and The Warden runs a tight financial ship here at this house, so I have to let something go to afford something new rather than break into our family money/savings. Ive decided to let the LED's go in order to help facilitate other upgrades. I love the way they look for an hour a day when they're the only things running, and they supplement the actinic T5 period well, but they're not essential enough to hold onto. I'm going to try to unload them this week to help fund my calcium reactor purchase. I'll miss them, but in the grand scheme of things, they're not doing enough for my tank to warrant keeping them, knowing what I can get for them. I couldn't sell them on any local forums or craigslist (not for lack of effort, theyve been posted for quite a while, zero interest), and I got an LFS offer for store credit/trade in so Im going to jump on it tomorrow. That's it for tonight. No pics because I've not done anything but feed the fish since the last update