2024 Ohio Reef Frag Swap

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Author Topic: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress  (Read 5794 times)

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Offline HomeReef

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Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« on: July 02, 2019, 14:31:15 »
I am using this thread to track progress, feel free to ask any questions along the way!


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Offline HomeReef

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #1 on: July 02, 2019, 14:33:07 »


Starting the hobby after many years moving around in the military.



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Offline HomeReef

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Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #2 on: July 02, 2019, 14:34:16 »


Upgraded from 36g corner bowfront to a 46g corner bowfront.


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« Last Edit: July 02, 2019, 14:53:03 by Beyerjc »

Offline HomeReef

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2019, 14:54:56 »


The 46g bow front that I bought from Facebook Marketplace sprung a small leak.  Took the opportunity to upgrade again.  Found this tank from a friend of Ohio Reef club member cbell56.

Offline HomeReef

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2019, 15:01:51 »


Tornadoes hit the Beavercreek area on Memorial Day, 27 May, 2019.  I lost everything in my tank due to an electrical outage.  Considered giving up the hobby at this point but ultimately decided to stick with it. 

With the opportunity to restart, I changed my rockscape and decided to change directions.  Planning to stock this tank with high end corals with the thought of propagation to help fund the hobby.

In case you are wondering, yes I have a generator now!  Expensive lesson learned.

Offline HomeReef

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2019, 15:04:52 »


Monthly update photo.  Will post more about the tank in coming weeks.


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Offline HomeReef

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #6 on: July 05, 2019, 07:16:46 »
Update on Sump/refugium
Sump:  Trigger System 20g sapphire cube

Filtration:

Mechanical: filter sock

Biological filtration: sump came with two filter pads.  Small coral/shells and some Marinepure High Performance media

Chemical filtration: Media bag of activated carbon.


Protein skimmer: Bubble Magnus Curve 5

Return pump: Kydor 1600 gph

Light:  I switched to a Tunze Eco Chic refugium light on a timer for 12 hours opposite the Display.


Refugium:

Refugium Mineral Mud

Pods: Algae Barn 5280 pods that includes trigriopus, Tisby, and Apocyclops.

Pod Hotel for transferring pods to the display tank.

Macro Algae: Refugium is split into three chambers to keep macro algae separate.  I have Chaeto, Dragons Breath, and Sea Lettuce.

I use the Sea Lettuce to feed my Yellow Eyed Kole Tang.  Will also feed Dragons Breath if I ever have to clear some out.  This is my third try at keeping either Dragons Breath or Dragons Tongue.  The current one I have is Dragons Breath.  If unsuccessful this go around, I will probably stop trying for a long while.

I have a problem with tuning my skimmer lately.  It was working great but now it does not seem to be collecting anything. 


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Offline SweetReefOH

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #7 on: July 05, 2019, 21:17:37 »
How do you like the Pod Hotel? Is it worth the cost or just a detritus trap?

Offline HomeReef

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #8 on: July 05, 2019, 21:31:06 »
I’m not too concerned with the detritus, my CUC will take care of the that. For the Pod Hotel I would say the jury is still out.  For me it is hard to tell because most of the Pods are too small for me see.  I release these once a week and there are usually 4-5 good size Pods that come out.  I like to assume there are many smaller ones as well.  I am not sure how many Pods are really pushed to the Display Tank so thought it can’t hurt.  I can also say they usually get eaten very quickly!

Offline HomeReef

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #9 on: July 07, 2019, 17:33:01 »


This post is not related to the tank but taking the week to enjoy ocean!

Offline HomeReef

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #10 on: July 10, 2019, 07:55:58 »
I like to have utility reef safe fish

B/W  Ocellaris Clown pair - aka Mr. White & Mrs. Black; possible breed, will see.

6 line wrasse - aka Stars and Stripes; feed on pests

Green Chromis (3) - aka Larry, Curley and Mo; reduce community tank aggression

Neon goby (3) - aka Threes Company; reduce tank aggression and eat parasites.

Lawnmower Blenny - aka Mr. Grouch; algae eater

Diamondback Goby- aka Gonzo; sand sifter

Dwarf flame angel - aka WhoDey; not a utility fish that I’m aware of but looks like my favorite football team helmet.

Yellow eye Kole Tang - aka Rocky; demolishes algae

Phone does Not take great pictures, any suggestions to make them better?

What do you have for reef safe ‘Utility’ fish?



Offline casper320

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #11 on: July 10, 2019, 10:13:08 »
How do chromis and engineer gobies reduce aggression? I'm not asking in a cynical way but a curious way.

Offline HomeReef

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #12 on: July 10, 2019, 10:33:09 »
Imo, the Chromis will travel together and they are active, they will swim towards other fish in the tank and distract them.  The Neons eat parasites off other fish so if the tank mates get used to that, they seem to be less aggressive.

Offline HomeReef

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #13 on: July 11, 2019, 11:40:23 »
As promised, I plan to share all the news with my tank, even if I make a bonehead rookie mistake.  Returned from vacation today to find my favorite fish, Rocky, dead.  I have no idea why, everything in the tank is doing fine.

Offline SweetReefOH

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #14 on: July 11, 2019, 21:17:28 »
Sorry for your loss. No obvious signs?

Offline HomeReef

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #15 on: July 11, 2019, 21:22:11 »
Well... I don’t believe he was eating.  The only thing I ever saw him eat was off the rock.  He must have picked it cleaned and died of starvation.  I was trying to feed leaf lettuce and seaweed but never observed him pecking at it.  Not sure why he wouldn’t be eating it or how you make the fish eat.

Offline HomeReef

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #16 on: July 13, 2019, 21:02:23 »
Started this project, bought four 20 gallon Longs and a 10 gallon.  The 10 gallon will be a coral quarantine tank. Bottom right will be a fish quarantine. Bottom left is a sump.  The top two are connected with a bridge and will be for frags. 

Offline HomeReef

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #17 on: July 20, 2019, 18:32:38 »
Got my first fish for this project today.  Time to get the cycling going!

Offline SweetReefOH

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #18 on: July 20, 2019, 20:13:39 »
Homereef, if I’m understanding you correctly you bought a fish to cycle the tank/tanks?

Offline HomeReef

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #19 on: July 20, 2019, 20:26:04 »
Yes I did but I also added live bacteria.  I plan to keep the fish in the tank, it’s a Blenny.


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Offline SweetReefOH

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #20 on: July 20, 2019, 20:40:49 »
Well, I guess it’s too late now but I am assuming that you weren’t aware of the other, less brutal ways to cycle a tank?

Please understand that using a fish to cycle a tank is an extremely torturous process for the fish? I am sad for the blenny

Offline HomeReef

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #21 on: July 20, 2019, 20:50:02 »
Not aware of any other way.  I have read a little about people using decaying food but not sure how confident I am in that process.  I do know, I added live bacteria and live rock from an established tank so the process should be fairly easy on the fish.  I doubt ammonia spikes too much.

Offline SweetReefOH

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #22 on: July 20, 2019, 21:03:10 »
I assure you, the fish will suffer the moment you have an ammonia reading. I would equate it to breathing diesel fuel exhaust and not being able to get out of it as it gets worse and worse. Yes, a piece of live rock will help, but it will still cycle.

For future reference there are at least 2 other ways to humanely cycle a tank.

1. Fill the setup, add your bacteria then lower a cup into the system with a piece of cooked deli shrimp in it. It will only take a few days to get your ammonia up and then you remove the cup and let the tank finish it’s process.
2. Add your bacteria. Purchase Dr. Tim’s ammonium chloride (Marine Depot) and dose it to 2 ppm. The system will do the rest.

Not aware of any other way.  I have read a little about people using decaying food but not sure how confident I am in that process.  I do know, I added live bacteria and live rock from an established tank so the process should be fairly easy on the fish.  I doubt ammonia spikes too much.



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Offline HomeReef

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #23 on: July 20, 2019, 21:09:17 »
Awesome, thanks for the information! That’s why I am on the forum and sharing what I do, willing to learn all I can.
« Last Edit: July 20, 2019, 21:15:04 by HomeReef »

Offline SweetReefOH

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Re: Tracking Mixed Reef Progress
« Reply #24 on: July 20, 2019, 21:20:32 »
I understand. And I’m not trying to club you down. I just wanted to make sure you were aware and I just hate to see/hear of any of these little amazing creatures suffering.

 

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