Back to the hobby 75 gallon build.
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OP
OP
Salt Creep
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I agree with you. I don’t trust the readings they are giving me and using them for more of a “is it detectable or not” For when getting a more accurate reading is needed I have Red Sea test kits ready to go and have found them reliable in the past. I will be getting a second set of test kits from a different brand like Hanna to double check once I start testing after the cycle. I got the ammonia Red Sea, seachem badge, and API to have three tests for fish in QT. Nitrite… I’ve never really paid much attention to so once it lowers to undetectable in this tank it’s going to be a throwaway test that I probably won’t use again before it expires.
OP
OP
Salt Creep
Active Member
yeah, I’m not too worried about it though. The nitrites, assuming API is accurate enough, is higher than I’d like for sure but as long as there are nitrites detected my nitrate test is not going to be accurate.
OP
OP
Salt Creep
Active Member
Been about a week since I posted. I have been busy though.
I set up a phyto culture station. Might work my way up to pods. I’d like to get a pair of manderine dragonettes around this time next year.
I also built a cabinet for the ATO and my other power strip. I’m going to be putting a shelf in here for storage of test kits and other stuff I use often. I put the doors on the sump part of the stand but still have to do some painting of the other doors.
My nitrites have dropped, nitrates at 20ppm before a water change, and the tank is doing its thing. Going to do a 50% water change tomorrow.
And one of my favorite features… LED strips on the back. I put those on everything
This weekend coming up is our local frag swap. I’ll be adding the CUC and maybe a few other things
I set up a phyto culture station. Might work my way up to pods. I’d like to get a pair of manderine dragonettes around this time next year.
I also built a cabinet for the ATO and my other power strip. I’m going to be putting a shelf in here for storage of test kits and other stuff I use often. I put the doors on the sump part of the stand but still have to do some painting of the other doors.
My nitrites have dropped, nitrates at 20ppm before a water change, and the tank is doing its thing. Going to do a 50% water change tomorrow.
And one of my favorite features… LED strips on the back. I put those on everything
This weekend coming up is our local frag swap. I’ll be adding the CUC and maybe a few other things
OP
OP
Salt Creep
Active Member
Got a new wall piece today and a couple coral
I’ll try to name them off if anyone is interested but for now I just want to get pics up to track progress. I will say a couple of my favorite are the orange passion and solar flare. I cut these all off the plugs and dipped. Also got a CUC with 2 conch, 5 turbo snails, 10 astrea, 10 trochus, 10 nassarius, 15 blue leg hermits, a fire shrimp, and a cleaner shrimp each with their own rock structure. The snails are making quick work of the rock work.
Everything is doing well. I did lose the smallest of the Millie I got a couple weeks ago, but the rest seem happy with one encrusting already. The nem is looking good.. inflated and no gaping mouth, but it did decide to crawl somewhat in the darkness. Guess time will tell if it will move again. I’m not going to mess with it.
Crappy cell phone pics incoming
And the phyto seems to be doing well. Should be ready in about 5 days.
I’ll try to name them off if anyone is interested but for now I just want to get pics up to track progress. I will say a couple of my favorite are the orange passion and solar flare. I cut these all off the plugs and dipped. Also got a CUC with 2 conch, 5 turbo snails, 10 astrea, 10 trochus, 10 nassarius, 15 blue leg hermits, a fire shrimp, and a cleaner shrimp each with their own rock structure. The snails are making quick work of the rock work.
Everything is doing well. I did lose the smallest of the Millie I got a couple weeks ago, but the rest seem happy with one encrusting already. The nem is looking good.. inflated and no gaping mouth, but it did decide to crawl somewhat in the darkness. Guess time will tell if it will move again. I’m not going to mess with it.
Crappy cell phone pics incoming
And the phyto seems to be doing well. Should be ready in about 5 days.
HumuhumuFan
Active Member
You are not messing around!
OP
OP
Salt Creep
Active Member
Im just getting started
I am a SPS addict. I probably need help and my girlfriend totally enables me, but hey… at least it’s not crack
Petcrazyson
5000 Club Member
The Hammerhead touch suits it well!The snails are putting in some work! Two days ago when I added them vs today. I already moved a couple turbos to the sump to clean up
OP
OP
Salt Creep
Active Member
Thanks! I got it from a guy at the local saltwater expo. We are going to talk to him about a custom banner that can go back there saying Coral Cove (what I named the tank) with 3d overlays inside the letters that have different coral scenes. He does it with a laser cutter and said he can do custom work so we will see. If not I’m totally happy with the shark. I turn the kelvin way down to take pics with my phone but under normal lighting with the UV the orange absolutely glows!
OP
OP
Salt Creep
Active Member
The fish eat well. A mix of PE Calanus, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, a chunk of rods food, and a few pellets sprinkled in at times. Been feeding about 4 times a day. I turned my skimmer and reactor off trying to increase nitrates and phosphates a little.
The tank is staying pretty stable at these numbers
alk - 7.8
Calcium - 380 (slowly raising this to more around 420
mag - 1280
pH is really steady at 8.2
temp - maintained within .5 of 78
nitrate - 5… too low, trying to get this between 10-20
phosphate 0.03… decent, but want it a little higher
The tank is staying pretty stable at these numbers
alk - 7.8
Calcium - 380 (slowly raising this to more around 420
mag - 1280
pH is really steady at 8.2
temp - maintained within .5 of 78
nitrate - 5… too low, trying to get this between 10-20
phosphate 0.03… decent, but want it a little higher
OP
OP
Salt Creep
Active Member
Just got a filter delivered for my camera. No more adjusting the lights or messing around with editing. These are just shoot and upload. Going to make taking pics more fun for sure.
And it's not officially a thread until there is a top down shot.
And it's not officially a thread until there is a top down shot.
Petcrazyson
5000 Club Member
How you were able to capture the Midas Blenny perfectly I have no idea lolJust got a filter delivered for my camera. No more adjusting the lights or messing around with editing. These are just shoot and upload. Going to make taking pics more fun for sure.
And it's not officially a thread until there is a top down shot.
OP
OP
Salt Creep
Active Member
He is a tough one to get. A fast shutter speed and low aperture. These were some quick ones over lunch. I’ll probably post more once I have time to actually sit down and shoot.
I like pictures if you couldn’t tell
OP
OP
Salt Creep
Active Member
Just ordered some polyp booster and reef roids. Should be here tomorrow.
I had these syringes from last year’s Halloween party used for Jell-O shots (this one was unused). Airline tubing fits well on the nipple and ran that to rigid airline tubing. I wanted something a bit more precise than a turkey baster for target feeding. Tested it out with water and it works great and just the right length to reach the bottom.
I had these syringes from last year’s Halloween party used for Jell-O shots (this one was unused). Airline tubing fits well on the nipple and ran that to rigid airline tubing. I wanted something a bit more precise than a turkey baster for target feeding. Tested it out with water and it works great and just the right length to reach the bottom.
Troylee
all about the diy!!!!!
What meter did you use to get these readings? Every time I see posts on here with a xr15 reading it’s like 100 mid tank at 100% intensity.. really curious I run 3 XR 15’s and added metal halides because of the low numbers I keep seeing.. I haven’t got my hands a par meter to check my tank yet..Got some PAR readings on the tank tonight. These are at 15% intensity.. I think I need a much deeper tank!
had to do top down pics for the back.. looking at the pictures now I might just complete the top down with the front too. I like that view better.
This is not the spectrum I’m running, just better looking pics this way with the phone.
OP
OP
Salt Creep
Active Member
That was a mistake on my part. I’m not sure why but when I was messing with the app on my iPad I got those numbers at 15%. I don’t think it was really 15 though because I tested again to make sure from my phone and those are the numbers at 80%.
I used the Apogee MQ-510
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