BobcatReefer

In a tank that small, I would avoid GSP like the plague.  It is bulletproof and will grow like the weed it is, so unless you put it on it's own little island*, it's only a matter of time before that entire rock structure is covered.

*If  you do make an island, I would suggest raising it up out of the sandbed and hovering it.  GSP grows towards light, so it won't go underneath in the shade.  If you leave a GSP rock on the sandbed, it will eventually grow out onto the sand as well.

Welcome to ARC!

I do, but it definitely got trimmed up and hasn't been growing much.  But, that's because my tank refuses to grow any SPS.  Seems happy enough, just never growing...

That froggy looking pretty good and sounds like it's growing a bit!

I am *pretty sure* that fungus is local to the dendro only.  Haven't seen any sign of it on any other euphylia.  They aren't in direct flow, but just shaded a bit from the nearest powerhead.

I have dendros (I think...) and I certainly don't feed them everyday.  I've actually cut back direct feeding quite a bit as my nutrient levels were out of control and had way too much algae.  Mine haven't grown at all, but I also have some weird external issue going on - tough to see in this pic, but it's the darkness at the base of the coral.  Seems like some parasite/algae that won't brush off and is attacking the exoskeletal part of the organism, but whatever harm it's doing, it's doing very slowly.

corals:

Here's my thread asking about the issue: http://www.austinreefclub.com/topic/39777-help-w-dendro-issue-please/

That purple stylo is still going strong!  

Fair enough on all accounts.  My assumption on the vinegar vs coraline was that the vinegar is stronger (that's why we use it) and 1gal vs <1gram shouldn't use up much, chemically.  Granted, I am not a chemist, and I only have 2 med, 1 sm powerhead.

12 hours ago, Sierra Bravo said:

Then I repeat for the other side with a fresh bucket of solution. 

Curious as to why you use fresh vinegar?  I don't believe you are changing the chemical composition or "using up" the cleaning properties of the vinegar.  I keep a small bucket of vinegar (1gal) for pretty much the same purpose - to dunk my powerheads in while cleaning.  I keep the same bucket (sealed up) for probably 18-24 months before dumping and refilling w/ new vinegar. 

Oh my goodness!  Hate to hear that Sascha! 😥😥😥

Haven't dosed Ca since at all since a water change on 10/20:

Wow John - hate to see that happen to such a thriving tank.  That pic shows SO much real estate, and you were literally jam packed last time I was over there.  Glad it looks to be on the mend!

I am a fan of the manual removal, fully aware that there are 100 more in there I can't see.  Don't care.  Just like winning those small battles!

Those small worms can grow into freakin' MONSTERS, and I'm just happier knowing I'm doing SOMETHING.  Still, it's not much.  Here are some beasts I found when I upgraded my tank and had the rock cycling: 

Every now and then they sell some frags on Facebook.  I never got any orange out of mine (before I killed it) either - always just dark green.  

Yup, I just haven't been able to find any chitons locally, and can't bring myself to spend for the shipping.  Need to add a couple of Emeralds if I can find them, and a new Tuxedo as mine died a couple of months back.

Tried it and it did not even slow down the turf algae.  Mind you, this isn't GHA at all - this is thick and well attached to the rock.  Doesn't budge unless you grab hold and pull tough.

My water/chem issues...

Had some TDS creep in (<5ppm), but did a full RODI swap, including membrane and I'm 0.0 now.

Finally figured out why my parameters were swinging so wildly - long story short I am an idiot and getting 9/10 things correct when setting up auto-dosing doesn't cut it.  Think I'm good now, and both Alk/Ca are fairly stable, dosing at between 1-2min/day.  Just did a water change so Alk dropped today, but should be good w/i the next day or so. For reference, 135ppm=7.55dKH, 155ppm=8.66dKH....pH is typically 7.7-7.9.

Going forward, I'm going to focus more on softies and LPS.  Other than the long gone Birdsnest and the current Purple Stylo, nothing hard is surviving and certainly not thriving in the tank these days. 

Even the formerly raging Palmer's Blue Mille has minimal extension and zero growth - been like this for 6+ months. 

Picked up probably 12 frags from folks about 6 months back, only 3 still live, and they aren't exactly thriving. 

The bleached one top left held on until like last week, I think the Hawkins is alive but barely - it hasn't had growth signs in months.  The red one lower right seems to have good polyp extension, but no base growth/encrusting at all.

The digi seems healthy and happy, but no growth at all lately.  The green one is dead, it just doesn't know it yet.  Mystic Sunset Monti was doing awesome until a couple of weeks ago when it got white blotches, then the rest of it seemed like it was going to fight back, it colored up, and then has looked worse this week.

My acans haven't been eaten any more, but something in the water is pissing them off - they've been like this for weeks now.  And the turf algae around them is out of control.  Not real sure how to deal w/ that.

Whatever is bugging the acans seems to be bugging the blasto as well

Ricordias look good - split and up to 4 now

Duncan that I was so worried about before is thriving now - this is still early waking, but it will be 1/4 bigger later today

Fuzzy blue shrooms are loving that the Peach Toadstool got cutback.

Hammer and Cinnamon Grandis are doing great, Cyphastrea is struggling.

Purple Stylo

How about an update...let's start w/ the fishes.  Kole Tang is out for being a bully.  Lost the Rainsford Goby to starvation, and the newest Orange Diamond (I've lost count now, but this one also looks like he's not much of a sand sifter) is thin as a rail, but I think he'll pull through.  He's still a scardeycat who hides under the grandis palys 23hours a day.  

Midas in his hiding spot

Out and about

Newest addition, and a fish I've always wanted:  Black Cap Basslet

Solar Wrasse

Filefish, of the non-Aiptasia easting variety 😡

Big Fatty Starry Blenny is shy

Pinkbar Goby and Tiger Shrimp still going strong

Emaciated, non-sand-sifting, scardeycat Orange Diamond Goby

30+ RSVP'd, dozens of frags for sale, not a single picture.  SMH.  How am I supposed to live vicariously through y'all?

On 10/7/2018 at 4:38 PM, Dominican said:

These are the incidents that test our resolve as hobbyists. 

Indeed.  I've had a couple of times over the last couple of years when I thought about selling it all off and pouring that money into my other hobbies that get shortchanged by my tank.  Then I think about how I've had that tank for longer than pretty much anything else in my life, including my daughter and dogs, and can't imagine the hole it would leave in my life.  Hell, I have a potential opportunity to move out of state and wouldn't be able to have a tank for a while, and even that thought has been bugging me!

Hang in there, SB!

Caught him! Hit me up tonight or he goes to the LFS tomorrow.

$40  Yellow Eyed Kole Tang  *** GONE ***

Ich free, Quarantined for 6 weeks (w/ Tank Transfer Method), been in display for just under a year. He’s fine w/ almost all the other fish in my tank, but bullies the smallest guy, and I have another fish ready to go in as soon as I can sell this one. Currently in a 75gal, and I think he'd be happiest in 90+. Starting trap process tonight and will want him out ASAP upon capture so the new fish can go in.

PayPal to hold, pick up in Westlake near Lake Austin Marina. Direct Message me for payment details if interested.

Why the cuc aversion?

On 9/27/2018 at 4:27 PM, Pau Silva said:

Shame, but this is the WORST message board setup that I have EVER seen.

Curious as to why?  I don't love the software/ui myself, but curious as to your specific complaint.

Happy to see you back, @Aaron@Just Reef!  Hope this business model is successful for you!  Love all the softies you have!

Thanks all.  I can wait another hour, but 24 would have me:

https://i.imgur.com/0st06qB.gif?1