Lost Shepard's Reef
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OP
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Js.Aqua.Project
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3/31/24 Updates:
For the second week in a row one of my urchins decided to relocate my green birdsnest so I had to reglue it.
Due to the low Iodine values in the ICP and verification via Salifert, I have starred dosing Red Sea's Trace A and decided to add Trace D as well as I am already dosing Trace C for Iron. All of my Potassium tests (Salifert) have come back at 450ppm so I am not worried about that at all right now.
Current Tank Values:
dKH (Trident) 11
Ca (Trident) 458
Mg (Trident) 1320
NO3 (Red Sea Pro) 0
PO4 (Hanna) 0.03
Iron (Hanna) 2
Iodine (Salifert) 0
Potassium (Salifert) 450
On the the photo updates...
Right end:
Growth Updates:
For the second week in a row one of my urchins decided to relocate my green birdsnest so I had to reglue it.
Due to the low Iodine values in the ICP and verification via Salifert, I have starred dosing Red Sea's Trace A and decided to add Trace D as well as I am already dosing Trace C for Iron. All of my Potassium tests (Salifert) have come back at 450ppm so I am not worried about that at all right now.
Current Tank Values:
dKH (Trident) 11
Ca (Trident) 458
Mg (Trident) 1320
NO3 (Red Sea Pro) 0
PO4 (Hanna) 0.03
Iron (Hanna) 2
Iodine (Salifert) 0
Potassium (Salifert) 450
On the the photo updates...
Right end:
Growth Updates:
Last edited:
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
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4/7/24 Updates:
So this has been the week that has reminded me of why I don't fully trust technology...
My Trident clogged and wasn't getting a sample, had to sort that out. It is still giving me "bad range" for Ca and Mg test...so still sorting that out.
Multiple of my Hydra 26HDs decided to reset their time and date...one still isn't behaving (see end shot below).
Had to replace the modem in the house because it decided to die.
Testing by hand today:
Ca 480 (Hanna)
Fe 0 (Hanna)
I <0.01 (Salifert)
K 450 (Salifert)
NO3 0 (Red Sea Pro)
PO4 .04 (Hanna)
On to the photos:
So this has been the week that has reminded me of why I don't fully trust technology...
My Trident clogged and wasn't getting a sample, had to sort that out. It is still giving me "bad range" for Ca and Mg test...so still sorting that out.
Multiple of my Hydra 26HDs decided to reset their time and date...one still isn't behaving (see end shot below).
Had to replace the modem in the house because it decided to die.
Testing by hand today:
Ca 480 (Hanna)
Fe 0 (Hanna)
I <0.01 (Salifert)
K 450 (Salifert)
NO3 0 (Red Sea Pro)
PO4 .04 (Hanna)
On to the photos:
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
4/8/24 Update:
I took the Trident down to its bulk components, pull the hub out, gave it a soak in RODI and flush it out with a syringe and needle. It definitely seems to have some build up in it again (not the first time I have flushed it). I also pulled the sample line off and flush it out too, while some water was getting through it was not filling the vial up like it should and was definitely part of my erroneous test results the past two days.
I did a factory reset on my problem lights but they are not linking as s parent-child, so for now programmed them as stand alone fixtures. Fortunately I plan ahead and save the lighting schedule as a present in myAI so I just reupload the programming and move on. However, it is a pain not having them all linked together; the next time I have more patience I will factory reset all of them and try to get them all linked up together again.
I took the Trident down to its bulk components, pull the hub out, gave it a soak in RODI and flush it out with a syringe and needle. It definitely seems to have some build up in it again (not the first time I have flushed it). I also pulled the sample line off and flush it out too, while some water was getting through it was not filling the vial up like it should and was definitely part of my erroneous test results the past two days.
I did a factory reset on my problem lights but they are not linking as s parent-child, so for now programmed them as stand alone fixtures. Fortunately I plan ahead and save the lighting schedule as a present in myAI so I just reupload the programming and move on. However, it is a pain not having them all linked together; the next time I have more patience I will factory reset all of them and try to get them all linked up together again.
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
4/28/24 Update
Haven't posted in a couple weeks so here are so updates on things that have been going on...
Had a recent Cyano outbreak, having been in the hobby about 10 years now I've noticed in Cyano can be cyclical with outbreaks occurring late-Spring to early-Summer and some years I've missed it - this year I wasn't as lucky. My Nitrates are still non-existent and my Phosphates are still really low so this was more environmental driven than nutrient driven.
So I treated with Chemiclean, did my first water change in 4ish years (about 32 gallons), replaced the carbon, GFO, and filter floss so now will be moving forward again. Going to give the carbon 24-48 hours to pull out some of the Chemiclean so that I don't have to deal with as many micro-bubbles is the display tank.
I refilled the media in my Calcium Reactor for the first time this year back on the 14th or so, which used up what was left of the Seachem media that I had remaining. I have not overall been a huge fan of the Seachem media because it is not releasing a lot of the Trace Elements like Iron, Iodine, and Potassium so I still find myself having to dose those separately.
On to the photos
Growth Tracking:
Haven't posted in a couple weeks so here are so updates on things that have been going on...
Had a recent Cyano outbreak, having been in the hobby about 10 years now I've noticed in Cyano can be cyclical with outbreaks occurring late-Spring to early-Summer and some years I've missed it - this year I wasn't as lucky. My Nitrates are still non-existent and my Phosphates are still really low so this was more environmental driven than nutrient driven.
So I treated with Chemiclean, did my first water change in 4ish years (about 32 gallons), replaced the carbon, GFO, and filter floss so now will be moving forward again. Going to give the carbon 24-48 hours to pull out some of the Chemiclean so that I don't have to deal with as many micro-bubbles is the display tank.
I refilled the media in my Calcium Reactor for the first time this year back on the 14th or so, which used up what was left of the Seachem media that I had remaining. I have not overall been a huge fan of the Seachem media because it is not releasing a lot of the Trace Elements like Iron, Iodine, and Potassium so I still find myself having to dose those separately.
On to the photos
Growth Tracking:
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
5/5/24 Update:
Trident:
So the Trident is trying to take our battle into extra rounds this past weekend...remember that I've had it since the beginning as I won it at MACNA 2019 in Orlando when the Tridents ere first coming out, and this this has no filter on the sample line, so I sometimes get clogs like nobody's business. I ran the whole sample line and cleared it with warm fresh water, I also let is soak in warm fresh water to dissolve anything still in the tubing. I also disassembled the "hub" again (at this point my Trident doesn't even get put all the way back together anymore) and flush it with warm fresh water and soaked it too. It seems to be working again but the calibration was way off so since I don't have any calibration on hand I pulled out the Hanna checkers and did the Alk and Calcium and ran each test three times for verification and then calibrated the Trident to the tank. I know this is what ABC Reagents and some other people recommend but I prefer to calibrate to a "guaranteed" reference standard as much as possible.
Water Chemistry:
Salinity - 34.4 ppt (via calibrated Hanna Checker)
Iron 0ppb - ugh
Iodine 0ppm - double ugh
Potassium - 440 ppm
Calcium - 390 - lower than the 450 Coral Pro should be (450)
Alkalinity - 13 - way higher that the 11.5 that Coral Pro should be (11.5)
NO3 - TBD
PO4 - TBD
Will raise my Iodine and Iron doses to get them closer to their respective targets of 60ppm and 10ppb.
Additions:
Because the school year is winding down, I moved some of the corals home that are in the tank at work, so there are some chalices that the Marine Biology Club students have been struggling with that we will see if the recover better in my tank at home verse school. I also brought by Micromussa lordhowensis (formerly Acans) home as well as a Pachyseris sp. from ORA that has begun paling out.
Photo updates:
Growth:
End Shot:
Trident:
So the Trident is trying to take our battle into extra rounds this past weekend...remember that I've had it since the beginning as I won it at MACNA 2019 in Orlando when the Tridents ere first coming out, and this this has no filter on the sample line, so I sometimes get clogs like nobody's business. I ran the whole sample line and cleared it with warm fresh water, I also let is soak in warm fresh water to dissolve anything still in the tubing. I also disassembled the "hub" again (at this point my Trident doesn't even get put all the way back together anymore) and flush it with warm fresh water and soaked it too. It seems to be working again but the calibration was way off so since I don't have any calibration on hand I pulled out the Hanna checkers and did the Alk and Calcium and ran each test three times for verification and then calibrated the Trident to the tank. I know this is what ABC Reagents and some other people recommend but I prefer to calibrate to a "guaranteed" reference standard as much as possible.
Water Chemistry:
Salinity - 34.4 ppt (via calibrated Hanna Checker)
Iron 0ppb - ugh
Iodine 0ppm - double ugh
Potassium - 440 ppm
Calcium - 390 - lower than the 450 Coral Pro should be (450)
Alkalinity - 13 - way higher that the 11.5 that Coral Pro should be (11.5)
NO3 - TBD
PO4 - TBD
Will raise my Iodine and Iron doses to get them closer to their respective targets of 60ppm and 10ppb.
Additions:
Because the school year is winding down, I moved some of the corals home that are in the tank at work, so there are some chalices that the Marine Biology Club students have been struggling with that we will see if the recover better in my tank at home verse school. I also brought by Micromussa lordhowensis (formerly Acans) home as well as a Pachyseris sp. from ORA that has begun paling out.
Photo updates:
Growth:
End Shot:
Attachments
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
5/7/24 -5/8/24 Update:
So the Trident definitely took things to extra rounds last night and I was ready to throw it a dumpster cover it in kerosene and set it ablaze while laughing maniacally as it melts into a blob or orange and grey goo....
Anyway...so it's been throwing the "no water sample error" and I had dismantled the manifold and flushed it multiple times, even flushed the sample hose from the sump...but for some reason it didn't occur to me in this battle that the clog might be in the 5" piece of hose that comes off the manifold into the pinch valve and the adapts to the little segment that takes the line out of the Trident....because why not have as many segments of hose as possible in as small of a space as possible?
Needless to say...as I finally realized that I should take these two hose segments out to see if they were the problem, I knocked over my last bottle of calibration solution and yeah...some choice words were said. So I am going to mix up some fresh saltwater, test it 3 times for validation with my Hanna Checkers and call that close enough for this round of reagents. I will also use the Hanna a couple times this month so see how close the Trident is really running.
How can something that has truly helped the tank be so stable the past 5 years be one of the biggest quagmires I have to deal with?
So the Trident definitely took things to extra rounds last night and I was ready to throw it a dumpster cover it in kerosene and set it ablaze while laughing maniacally as it melts into a blob or orange and grey goo....
Anyway...so it's been throwing the "no water sample error" and I had dismantled the manifold and flushed it multiple times, even flushed the sample hose from the sump...but for some reason it didn't occur to me in this battle that the clog might be in the 5" piece of hose that comes off the manifold into the pinch valve and the adapts to the little segment that takes the line out of the Trident....because why not have as many segments of hose as possible in as small of a space as possible?
Needless to say...as I finally realized that I should take these two hose segments out to see if they were the problem, I knocked over my last bottle of calibration solution and yeah...some choice words were said. So I am going to mix up some fresh saltwater, test it 3 times for validation with my Hanna Checkers and call that close enough for this round of reagents. I will also use the Hanna a couple times this month so see how close the Trident is really running.
How can something that has truly helped the tank be so stable the past 5 years be one of the biggest quagmires I have to deal with?
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
5/12/24 Updates:
Still arguing with the Trident a little as I'm getting repeated test fails, but when I prime the sample it fills, and if I prime the reagent it fills....so it must be the range due to calibration. I did an in-tank calibration Saturday night after testing my Alk, Ca, and Mg and for all of 24 hours the Trident behaved but now I'm back to "Test A Fail"...
Growth Updates:
End Shot:
Still arguing with the Trident a little as I'm getting repeated test fails, but when I prime the sample it fills, and if I prime the reagent it fills....so it must be the range due to calibration. I did an in-tank calibration Saturday night after testing my Alk, Ca, and Mg and for all of 24 hours the Trident behaved but now I'm back to "Test A Fail"...
Growth Updates:
End Shot:
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
Looks like it has been a couple weeks since I added any updates, so without further ado...
5/27/24 Updates:
I am going to order a Trident DIY service kit with my next paycheck, I did the math on just ordering sample line and the filter and by the time I pay shipping it is only $25 more to buy the kit that has all the parts and pieces.
No big chemistry updates, will probably test later this week.
Photos:
Growth:
End Shot (Right):
5/27/24 Updates:
I am going to order a Trident DIY service kit with my next paycheck, I did the math on just ordering sample line and the filter and by the time I pay shipping it is only $25 more to buy the kit that has all the parts and pieces.
No big chemistry updates, will probably test later this week.
Photos:
Growth:
End Shot (Right):
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
Again, it has been a couple weeks since the last post but here are the latest updates on how things are going:
Water Quality:
Salinity 34.1 ppt (Hanna checker)
dKH 11.7 (Trident & Hanna) - target 11.5
Ca 435 ppm(Trident) - target 450ppm
Mg 1315 ppm (Trident) - target 1350ppm
Fe 12 ppb (Hanna)
I <.01 ppm (Salifert)
NO3 0 ppm (Red Sea Pro) - target ~2ppm
PO4 .35ppm (Hanna) - target <.08 ppm
I also sent off an ICP test as I had some freebies from MACNA 2019 still hanging around and ICP-Analysis announced they were going out of business so you can find that attached.
Looks like it is time to change the GFO, I also am really looking into RHF's method for using Baking Ammonia and I just can never seem to get any testable level of Nitrates in this tank.
Photo Updates:
Growth:
New Addition:
First attempt at a clam in about 8 years.
I found a video I did last November of what the tank was looking like so I made another on today for comparison (when I am at a computer and not my phone I while figure out how to embed the videos instead of just linking them):
November 23
June 24
Water Quality:
Salinity 34.1 ppt (Hanna checker)
dKH 11.7 (Trident & Hanna) - target 11.5
Ca 435 ppm(Trident) - target 450ppm
Mg 1315 ppm (Trident) - target 1350ppm
Fe 12 ppb (Hanna)
I <.01 ppm (Salifert)
NO3 0 ppm (Red Sea Pro) - target ~2ppm
PO4 .35ppm (Hanna) - target <.08 ppm
I also sent off an ICP test as I had some freebies from MACNA 2019 still hanging around and ICP-Analysis announced they were going out of business so you can find that attached.
Looks like it is time to change the GFO, I also am really looking into RHF's method for using Baking Ammonia and I just can never seem to get any testable level of Nitrates in this tank.
Photo Updates:
Growth:
New Addition:
First attempt at a clam in about 8 years.
I found a video I did last November of what the tank was looking like so I made another on today for comparison (when I am at a computer and not my phone I while figure out how to embed the videos instead of just linking them):
November 23
June 24
Last edited:
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
7/15/24 Updates:
So let's start with the negative...
One of my gyres decided to lock up today. Noticed that the the flow was quite right and upon closer inspection the gyre on the left side of the tank (happens to be gyre "b" in programming terms) wasn't working. I initially thought it might just need to be serviced/cleaned but when I pulled it out I found that I couldn't turn the impellers - so the motor was seized. So I reached out to BRS as as both of my Gyres are about 3 months old (RMA replacements on each right at one year after purchasing due to a rattle within the motors) and BRS is shipping me a replacement that will be here on Thursday.
On to the positive...
I adjusted my lights down a little in intensity about a month ago and lowered my vodka dose again down to 5ml/day as my nitrates were still undetectable per Red Sea Pro test kit and I am starting to get some better coloration. Still thinking I need some more livestock in the tank as for a 240gal I think I am a little on the light side of how most people who stock a tank this size.
Photos: (notice Spots is doing some modeling again)
So let's start with the negative...
One of my gyres decided to lock up today. Noticed that the the flow was quite right and upon closer inspection the gyre on the left side of the tank (happens to be gyre "b" in programming terms) wasn't working. I initially thought it might just need to be serviced/cleaned but when I pulled it out I found that I couldn't turn the impellers - so the motor was seized. So I reached out to BRS as as both of my Gyres are about 3 months old (RMA replacements on each right at one year after purchasing due to a rattle within the motors) and BRS is shipping me a replacement that will be here on Thursday.
On to the positive...
I adjusted my lights down a little in intensity about a month ago and lowered my vodka dose again down to 5ml/day as my nitrates were still undetectable per Red Sea Pro test kit and I am starting to get some better coloration. Still thinking I need some more livestock in the tank as for a 240gal I think I am a little on the light side of how most people who stock a tank this size.
Photos: (notice Spots is doing some modeling again)
SaltySqueeble
Valuable Member
Beautiful, love the color scheme7/15/24 Updates:
So let's start with the negative...
One of my gyres decided to lock up today. Noticed that the the flow was quite right and upon closer inspection the gyre on the left side of the tank (happens to be gyre "b" in programming terms) wasn't working. I initially thought it might just need to be serviced/cleaned but when I pulled it out I found that I couldn't turn the impellers - so the motor was seized. So I reached out to BRS as as both of my Gyres are about 3 months old (RMA replacements on each right at one year after purchasing due to a rattle within the motors) and BRS is shipping me a replacement that will be here on Thursday.
On to the positive...
I adjusted my lights down a little in intensity about a month ago and lowered my vodka dose again down to 5ml/day as my nitrates were still undetectable per Red Sea Pro test kit and I am starting to get some better coloration. Still thinking I need some more livestock in the tank as for a 240gal I think I am a little on the light side of how most people who stock a tank this size.
Photos: (notice Spots is doing some modeling again)
Gumbies R Us
Certified Noob
Hate the gyre started acting up, but glad your corals are doing great!7/15/24 Updates:
So let's start with the negative...
One of my gyres decided to lock up today. Noticed that the the flow was quite right and upon closer inspection the gyre on the left side of the tank (happens to be gyre "b" in programming terms) wasn't working. I initially thought it might just need to be serviced/cleaned but when I pulled it out I found that I couldn't turn the impellers - so the motor was seized. So I reached out to BRS as as both of my Gyres are about 3 months old (RMA replacements on each right at one year after purchasing due to a rattle within the motors) and BRS is shipping me a replacement that will be here on Thursday.
On to the positive...
I adjusted my lights down a little in intensity about a month ago and lowered my vodka dose again down to 5ml/day as my nitrates were still undetectable per Red Sea Pro test kit and I am starting to get some better coloration. Still thinking I need some more livestock in the tank as for a 240gal I think I am a little on the light side of how most people who stock a tank this size.
Photos: (notice Spots is doing some modeling again)
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
Me too, I had some of the first gen Maxspect Gyres that lasted close to 7 years, these new ones barely made it one but at least they went out under warranty and are being replaced without any hassle.
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
So it looks like I haven't done an update in two months...oops....so here goes...
9/16/24 update:
Let's catch up from the last two months first I guess...
No major changes, but I did add a couple of new frags; two cyphastrea and a chalice, I added them to my frag rack and the chalice didn't like the light but by the time I got it down to a lower light area (and an urchin decided to bully it) it doesn't appear that the frag will survive as very little tissue is left on it.
I did do some rearranging as one of my big montipora colonies was doing a little too well and trying to take out some other corals, so I used some kalk past to take out the top of the colony where it was encroaching too much for my liking. I also moved one of my Seriatapora colonies away from where that montipora growing into in order to buy more time and space.
Photos:
9/16/24 update:
Let's catch up from the last two months first I guess...
No major changes, but I did add a couple of new frags; two cyphastrea and a chalice, I added them to my frag rack and the chalice didn't like the light but by the time I got it down to a lower light area (and an urchin decided to bully it) it doesn't appear that the frag will survive as very little tissue is left on it.
I did do some rearranging as one of my big montipora colonies was doing a little too well and trying to take out some other corals, so I used some kalk past to take out the top of the colony where it was encroaching too much for my liking. I also moved one of my Seriatapora colonies away from where that montipora growing into in order to buy more time and space.
Photos:
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
10/21 Update:
Last night I needed to do some rearranging/relocating of corals in the tank as it was becoming obvious that as the grew in there was going to be too much competition for space. So now the top left rock of the tank is set aside just for the green birdsnest, the ORA Birds of Paradise, an Acropora that was on there as well as what I believe is a Pocilopora were redistributed throughout the tank.
Also, one of the Montipora sp. was becoming too much in the center of the tank so I broke most of it out and passed all the pieces on to a friend (who has been quite adept in the past at returning corals as calcium reactor media so hopefully he fairs better this time). The next time I need to break off a bunch of this green montipora I'll probably post it for trade.
I've been fighting a slight GHA battle the past few weeks, hopefully that will come under control soon. I upped my skimmer output and added some Chaetomorpha in the refugium alongside my mangroves to help outcompete it so we will see who wins.
This week I also started a Google Site to better track the growth of individual corals. If you're interested you can check it out: Lost Shepard's Reef
Photos:
Growth Tracking:
Full Tank/Section/End Shots:
Last night I needed to do some rearranging/relocating of corals in the tank as it was becoming obvious that as the grew in there was going to be too much competition for space. So now the top left rock of the tank is set aside just for the green birdsnest, the ORA Birds of Paradise, an Acropora that was on there as well as what I believe is a Pocilopora were redistributed throughout the tank.
Also, one of the Montipora sp. was becoming too much in the center of the tank so I broke most of it out and passed all the pieces on to a friend (who has been quite adept in the past at returning corals as calcium reactor media so hopefully he fairs better this time). The next time I need to break off a bunch of this green montipora I'll probably post it for trade.
I've been fighting a slight GHA battle the past few weeks, hopefully that will come under control soon. I upped my skimmer output and added some Chaetomorpha in the refugium alongside my mangroves to help outcompete it so we will see who wins.
This week I also started a Google Site to better track the growth of individual corals. If you're interested you can check it out: Lost Shepard's Reef
Photos:
Growth Tracking:
Full Tank/Section/End Shots:
OP
OP
Js.Aqua.Project
Reef Addict
10/28 Update:
Nothing major this week. The one chalice that had the odd bubble finally ruptured and the tissue that formed the bubble went necrotic; so I took it out, carefully removed the tissue and dipped it in order to help it recover. I also repositioned my Gyres a little higher as the toadstool has grown tall enough as to interfere with the flow.
Photos:
Growth Tracking
FTS:
Nothing major this week. The one chalice that had the odd bubble finally ruptured and the tissue that formed the bubble went necrotic; so I took it out, carefully removed the tissue and dipped it in order to help it recover. I also repositioned my Gyres a little higher as the toadstool has grown tall enough as to interfere with the flow.
Photos:
Growth Tracking
FTS:
Attachments
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