08trdoffroad's Rimless 60 gal Mixed Reef Build

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Test results from this morning.

And some shots of the corals the other night.

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Spin test results from the LFS this afternoon.

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

My wife just sent me this pic while Im at work...

Something is up with the tank. Losing my Kole Tang now...whatever it is, has a very similar look to the royal grama I lost a few days ago. Bet my 12+ yr old clownfish are next...

Idk what is going on.

It has been eating great...I have been feeding nori every other day, pellets daily, and frozen at night when I get home from work...

So discouraged right now....

 

[JoJosReef]

My wife just sent me this pic while Im at work...

Something is up with the tank. Losing my Kole Tang now...whatever it is, has a very similar look to the royal grama I lost a few days ago. Bet my 12+ yr old clownfish are next...

Idk what is going on.

It has been eating great...I have been feeding nori every other day, pellets daily, and frozen at night when I get home from work...

So discouraged right now....

Definitely time to call in the fish medics to see if there is anything you can do @Jay Hemdal @vetteguy53081

 

[Jay Hemdal]

My wife just sent me this pic while Im at work...

Something is up with the tank. Losing my Kole Tang now...whatever it is, has a very similar look to the royal grama I lost a few days ago. Bet my 12+ yr old clownfish are next...

Idk what is going on.

It has been eating great...I have been feeding nori every other day, pellets daily, and frozen at night when I get home from work...

So discouraged right now....

Tough to say what’s happening here, but if you want to post a fish disease problem report, here is info on how to do that:

Some Helpful Hints When Posting or Responding to Threads in the Fish Disease Treatment and Diagnosis Section

Aquarium Fish Disease Problem Solving Determining the best course of action for a problem with your aquarium can be a difficult task. Even advanced aquarists will often need to seek the help of others for complicated or unique issues. Our intent here on Reef 2 Reef is to offer expert advice...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Lost my clownfish....I had them for 12+ years....I'm pretty devastated right now....my kids are devastated...my wife is devastated...this might be it for me and this hobby...my wife is demanding I quit...

We buried them in a flower pot in the front yard. My wife and I had them for pretty much our entire marriage...they were the first pet we bought together.

Disease ID became obvious last night when I got home from work and checked on them with a flashlight....

Marine Velvet.

I had work obligations this week that made it impossible to spend any time with the tank and when I saw the condition they were in I knew they were not long for this world...they are now swimming the never ending ocean...

I have no idea where it came from...haven't added a new fish in over a month...

Only thing I added was some pods...

I suspect I will lose the chromis I have left too...

Going to take some time to process this and decide what to do afterwards...not a good day...

 

[mch1984]

Lost my clownfish....I had them for 12+ years....I'm pretty devastated right now....my kids are devastated...my wife is devastated...this might be it for me and this hobby...my wife is demanding I quit...

We buried them in a flower pot in the front yard. My wife and I had them for pretty much our entire marriage...they were the first pet we bought together.

Disease ID became obvious last night when I got home from work and checked on them with a flashlight....

Marine Velvet.

I had work obligations this week that made it impossible to spend any time with the tank and when I saw the condition they were in I knew they were not long for this world...they are now swimming the never ending ocean...

I have no idea where it came from...haven't added a new fish in over a month...

Only thing I added was some pods...

I suspect I will lose the chromis I have left too...

Going to take some time to process this and decide what to do afterwards...not a good day...

Sorry to hear this, man, it's insane how attached we can get to some little fish. I'm not an expert on fish disease so I'm no help there. Keep us updated on what you decide, hope you stick around.

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Still not sure what I am doing....I would like to continue in the hobby, but am getting zero support or backing from the Mrs at this point.....

While trying to find excitement for the hobby again, I found out a couple of my LFS orders through Sea and Reef Aquaculture! I would love to get a pair of their Grade A Mochavinci's

Or Onyx

Or Black Photon

Idk, I just haven't ever really been happy with this tank... the shape, the lack of space underneath with the sump, the aquascape...none of it. I would like to move to a more rectangular tank that isn't 24" deep to make getting more PAR to the sand bed easier. Ideally I'd like to find a IM 40L, Waterbox 50.3 or 65.4 or similar AIO between 40 and 75 gal to replace it and "start over". So I have been watching my local classifieds and reef club sites to see if I can find something used for a decent deal.

 

[mch1984]

Still not sure what I am doing....I would like to continue in the hobby, but am getting zero support or backing from the Mrs at this point.....

While trying to find excitement for the hobby again, I found out a couple of my LFS orders through Sea and Reef Aquaculture! I would love to get a pair of their Grade A Mochavinci's

Or Onyx

Or Black Photon

Idk, I just haven't ever really been happy with this tank... the shape, the lack of space underneath with the sump, the aquascape...none of it. I would like to move to a more rectangular tank that isn't 24" deep to make getting more PAR to the sand bed easier. Ideally I'd like to find a IM 40L, Waterbox 50.3 or 65.4 or similar AIO between 40 and 75 gal to replace it and "start over". So I have been watching my local classifieds and reef club sites to see if I can find something used for a decent deal.

Just my two cents, but if you aren’t happy with the room in a cube cabinet, you’ll hate an AIO. You could go wider and probably still use a lot of the same equipment, maybe you just have to change up the lighting. AIOs are cool, and I've seen some beautiful tanks with them. My experience was just the hatred for the lack of space. I am putting one together for work, but it's a freshwater AIO and a lot less complicated.

Cube tanks are some of my favorites from an aesthetic point of view, but the lack of space makes them challenging. The only reason I'm getting away with them is that the wife let me put a cabinet next to it.

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Just my two cents, but if you aren’t happy with the room in a cube cabinet, you’ll hate an AIO. You could go wider and probably still use a lot of the same equipment, maybe you just have to change up the lighting. AIOs are cool, and I've seen some beautiful tanks with them. My experience was just the hatred for the lack of space. I am putting one together for work, but it's a freshwater AIO and a lot less complicated.

Cube tanks are some of my favorites from an aesthetic point of view, but the lack of space makes them challenging. The only reason I'm getting away with them is that the wife let me put a cabinet next to it.

A cabinet next to the tank would definitely make things easier. Unfortunately, in the tanks current location, it wouldn't be an option for me. Maybe I could move the tank somewhere else in the house that would make it possible. I can always buy rock and tweak my current aquascape...hmm...some food for thought I guess!

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Test results from today.

Also went to the LFS to get a dosing tubing kit so I can actually get my AFR running so I can stop manual dosing my ALK. Plan to finish installing it when I get back home tonight.

And couldn't help myself (and desperately needed a morale boost) so I picked up a couple shrooms (blueish purple disco, and a green bouncish rhodactis) and a frag (2ish heads) of nulcear green hammer (not sure of its name, but that is what I call it). I will post pics once they open!

 

[mch1984]

Test results from today.

Also went to the LFS to get a dosing tubing kit so I can actually get my AFR running so I can stop manual dosing my ALK. Plan to finish installing it when I get back home tonight.

And couldn't help myself (and desperately needed a morale boost) so I picked up a couple shrooms (blueish purple disco, and a green bouncish rhodactis) and a frag (2ish heads) of nulcear green hammer (not sure of its name, but that is what I call it). I will post pics once they open!

I've never seen that kit, thats pretty cool.

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

I've never seen that kit, thats pretty cool.

They also have a red/yellow kit too!

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Finally set up my doser! After putting it off for years (on a different tank) due to intimidation, I was surprised at how easy it actually was! Set the doser to 15 ml, and it will automatically split the dose to twice a day (using a pretty basic bubble magus single head doser). Starting with the recommended 5 ml per 25 gal base dose and will test in a few days to see where I am at.

DIY Voss dosing container

Tubing holder dosing into the return section of the sump

Set the doser on the top my ATO reservoir

Hard to get a picture, but I can monitor the level of my 800 ml dosing container through my top off reservoir!

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Two of the latest additions!

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

3 days in dosing the AFR and it might be my imagination, but my corals look fantastic this afternoon during peak photo period! I had to document it so I busted out the filter kit and took pics of everything!

Duncan

Pink diamond palys

Green toadstool

GSP

Reverse hammer

Purple Monster palys

Nuclear green hammer

Magician palys

Disco shroom

Green Rhodactis with a little bounce action going on

Even my blue tip frog spawn that has been struggling is showing signs of life with a little tissue inflation and is starting to cover the edges of the skeleton again!

Pic of the hammer with no filter!

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Test results from tonight...

A little higher than where I am aiming for, so I reduced the AFR 5 ml a day to 10 ml. Will test again in 3 or 4 days to see if alk is holding between 8 and 9 dKH! I suspect I might have to come back up a few ml, but this will allow it to slowly taper back into the 8's and then I will increase 1 ml a week until it is holding mid 8's.

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Tonight's results.

Upped the AFR by 2 ml per day. Will test again this weekend.

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

@JoJosReef

This is the frag plug. You can see the nasty bugger hiding amongst the bubble algae!

 

[Mas0n]

Man... First off, Sorry to hear about your clowns, that's awful.

Been off the forums for a while, so just now checking in on your thread. I see that you got some aqua rocks. Still loving mine, what do you think?

Looks like you're headed in the right direction with dosing and your corals are responding well.

As for the Aptasia, I've had good luck with Joe's Juice. Melts them instantly.