First Foray into Reefkeeping

[AnomMatty]

Had to relocate the Blasto, both hermits were overly interested in it.

Pretty sure the uglies have appeared.

 

[AnomMatty]

Added a Torch yesterday, and pods and phyto today. Also a RO 110 SSS, though I'm unsure I'll run it 24/7. Currently off as I just added the pods and phyto.

Planning to run it for a week or two for break in, and see what it's doing to numbers once it's broken in.

 

[AnomMatty]

6/24 Parameters:
Salinity: 30*
Nitrate 42.1
Alk: 7.4
Calcium: 416
Phosphate: 0.37**

*Settings in my ATO somehow turned it on for ~1hr, hence the hyposalinity. Everything seems to be alright with it for now, gonna let evap get water levels back to normal and see how close to target I am before reacting. Pretty sure I got the snag straightened out, but keeping an eye on it for now as well.

**Haven't been running filter socks and still breaking in the skimmer, want to see where this lands post skimmer break in, but may run socks for a day out of the week or so to help if it keeps climbing.

Blasto and Stylo are both showing growth. Moved the zoa's as we don't think they were getting enough light, and unsure torch is happy with it's placement, but gonna give it a few more days.

Have been dosing 20ml of phyto daily. Started AFR (15ml/day) and Chaetogro. Algae/dino outbreak is noticeably receding.

 

[Jmcdaniel0]

a 40b is an awesome tank to start with. Are you into Zoas?

 

[AnomMatty]

a 40b is an awesome tank to start with. Are you into Zoas?

We'd like to have a variety (and a bigger tank lol). The blowpop is the only one atm.

 

[AnomMatty]

6/27 Parameters
Salinity: 31
Nitrates: 44.7
Alk: 8.1
Phosphate: 0.38

Slowly adding some salt over the next couple days to come back to 35 ppt.

Clownfish due to arrive today

 

[AnomMatty]

Salinity 33. Clownfish acclimated and added, second A360X added, and added some more salt.

 

[AnomMatty]

Spot and Speckle, and current coral pics

 

[AnomMatty]

6/29 Parameters
Salinity: 35
Temp: 77
Nitrate: 46.8
Alk: 9.0
Phosphate: 0.40
Calcium: 583

 

[AnomMatty]

7/5 Parameters
Temp: 77.6
Salinity: 33
Nitrate: 53.1
Alk: 8.7
Phosphate: 0.34

Did a small water change and vacuumed sand today, along with some other general maintenance stuff. Hoping that and running filter socks for a few days will get Nitrate/Phosphate back down. Pretty sure alk is low due to salinity being down, will check again tomorrow to see where we are.

 

[AnomMatty]

7/7 Parameters
Temp: 77.3
Salinity: 35
Nitrate 50.1
Alk: 8.8
Phosphate: 0.30

Good bit of gha starting, going to continue fairly consistent water changes and maybe add some more cuc next weekend.

 

[AnomMatty]

Updated 1st post.

 

[AnomMatty]

First post update. Smaller water change today.

 

[AnomMatty]

First post update. Added a couple Turbos to try to help with a gha outbreak.

*Edit to add: Forgot we added the Purple Firefish - Remy Jr.

 

[AnomMatty]

7/12 Parameters
Temp: 77.8
Salinity: 35
Nitrate 41.6
Alk: 9.0
Phosphate: 0.12

 

[AnomMatty]

Did some deep cleaning of rock and sand last night. Somewhere in the midst of it our Pandora Zoa got knocked loose of the plug. Recovered it and got it glued back down, but not sure the prognosis is good.

Also just realized I missed pics of the zoas.

 

[AnomMatty]

First loss, RIP Remy Jr. Not sure what got him, but suspect it was parameter spikes from cleaning. I knew he wouldn't be as hardy as the others, but was out fine and eating first feeding around noon.

 

[Jmcdaniel0]

That sucks man!

 

[AnomMatty]

That sucks man!

Yeah it does. Was honestly expecting to lose coral over a fish, but it's a sad and unfortunate part of gaining experience.

 

[PolypParty]

So sorry to hear. I suddenly lost my firefish. They are a bit more timid and the other fish outcompeted him for food. I see some good growth on that stylo. Are you able to lower nitrates?