The "She Said Yes!" 120 Gallon Build

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Man, I miss the life fish bring to a tank....since the issues I had with my tank and losing the majority of my fish, I have been scared crapless to add anything to the tank. I did have two chromis survive the shenanigans, but from what the fish disease experts have said, the longer I go with them in the tank post deaths, the less likely I am to have a secondary infection.

I did ask my in laws for a hanna copper tester for christmas to get more serious about qt'ing new arrivals.

I think even if you don't do a full blown medicated QT, a 1-2 week observation period in a bare-bones tank for new fish would go a long way in improving your chances for success. I knew it in theory, but the more often I do it, the more obvious it becomes that introduction of new fish is a HUGE stressor (mostly for the new fish but also the established ones). It just seems dumb and irresponsible to order a fish online, and immediately dump it into an established population. A few days at least of rest and stress-free living in an obs tank is a must IMO.

Caveat being I've only been doing this for 2 years lol

 

[dangles]

This is just embarrassing. And frustrating. I'm pretty sure this is why my corals aren't doing great.

I'm trying something new. I came across a DIY dehydrated reef food recipe that's comparable to the Avast Reef Jerky I've been using (only half the price!). Thanks @Reefer Dan for the recipe. This will ensure that each component of the food I'm feeding is precisely measured out.

On top of that, I'm limiting my hand feedings to none. Zero. Nada. I have been somewhat faithfully adding a single cube of frozen mysis as a "treat" roughly 2 out of 3 days, and some random pellets for the chromis. I didn't think I was doing it frequently enough (or with enough quantity) to really have an effect on my nutrients but I'm at the point I need to rule it out as a cause. I don't want to assume anything anymore.

I may need to tweak the feeding amounts as I move forward since I won't be doing manual feedings anymore. Anthias and chromis are hungry little basturds!

Wish me luck, frens.

 

[dangles]

ICP came back pretty decent actually.

My fluoride and iodine were slightly low (according to Triton) at 0.84 ug/l and 43 ug/l respectively. I won’t be doing anything about those. Not likely the culprits.

My iron was elevated at 8 ug/l. Again, elevated according to Triton. They put that level in the “red zone” (all the way in the red zone on their “slider”). I initially panicked a little thinking a magnet was rusting or my RODI system was failing to filter it out (I’m on well water). But some RHF posts around here indicate that’s not a meaningful level. And none of the other metals that would suggest rusting metal were detected. I guess Red Sea suggests dosing iron to a level much higher than that even.

So that pretty much points to my fluctuating nutrient levels as the most likely culprit for my corals doing so poorly. F my L

I guess on the bright side since I’m more confident what the issue is I can focus on that more. *shrugs*

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

I have found reef tanks in general dislike change, regardless of what it is. Feeding/nutrient levels, lighting, flow, etc. So I could see the combo of the swings you are having and the change to lighting throwing your corals for a loop.

 

[dangles]

I have found reef tanks in general dislike change, regardless of what it is. Feeding/nutrient levels, lighting, flow, etc. So I could see the combo of the swings you are having and the change to lighting throwing your corals for a loop.

Yeah I'm 90% convinced that's what it is. Plus maybe crappy AI light spectrum lol

Can't wait for January when Luca gets more Quanta Helix lights in stock!