Krok's IM 25 Fusion Lagoon

[jcolliii]

I *love* Platygyras - feed them often with the pumps off and they will grow FAST! I use reef roids and reef chilli mixed fairly thick. Just let a little of the mixture drizzle onto the polyps - it combines with their mucus and they begin drawing it in almost immediately. I have a couple that have quadruped in size in 5 months, and one that I only just got is already laying down significant tissue. Really great, underrated corals, IMO. I really want a chunk of WWC's rainbow platy - nice looking coral that one.

Nice additions, all!

 

[Krokilus]

I *love* Platygyras - feed them often with the pumps off and they will grow FAST! I use reef roids and reef chilli mixed fairly thick. Just let a little of the mixture drizzle onto the polyps - it combines with their mucus and they begin drawing it in almost immediately. I have a couple that have quadruped in size in 5 months, and one that I only just got is already laying down significant tissue. Really great, underrated corals, IMO. I really want a chunk of WWC's rainbow platy - nice looking coral that one.

Nice additions, all!

Thanks for the tips

 

[RRsNano]

Ultra Orange Hammer Coral

I have the same tank and recently bought a bicolor hammer. Do you think they like low flow?

 

[Krokilus]

I have the same tank and recently bought a bicolor hammer. Do you think they like low flow?

I know based on fact sheets and other info they are preferential to medium flow, that being said I am still fidgeting with where they like so. In fact on my next day off i will probably be moving both hammers lower and towards the middle of the tank to shield them from the highest flow. So experiment with positioning till they seem happy then leave them be.

 

[Krokilus]

So I did a thing today.

 

[reef-rc]

A 2 for The front paly was my bonus coral from Unique Corals which @reef-rc called a Gold Spec Paly. The one in the back is the Blow Pop Palys.

I think i found your coral and what Unique Corals calls it - Palythoa sp. - Fools Gold Palys

 

[Krokilus]

I think i found your coral and what Unique Corals calls it - Palythoa sp. - Fools Gold Palys

Thats it thanks man

 

[Krokilus]

Alright update time

Unfortunately my success with encrusting sps before the cyano took its toll back when everything was in the 14 gave me false confidence with sps.


As you know i recently purchased a birdsnest and a pink pocillopora, i have lost both lost the birdnest to rtn and the pink pocillopora to stn. I had not heard of rtn and stn before this.
Unfortunately as i have my parameters set to general levels recommended for mixed reef which is greatly higher than that most sps are kept at by dealers. It sucks but hopefully this post will help others avoid my mistake.

The hammer corals are still being moved around as i havent found their happy spot yet in the tank.

I also made a big mistake last week with phyto as i did not think something living would have sucb a profound effect on algae. I had some leftover and deciding to mix it up for my coral I dumped what i had left in the tank within 24 hours i had about 4-6 different types of algae when i had none previously.

Now for the most recent issue monday night I came home from work to find my return pump not working thankfully it was due to build up and I got it working again but i have never had to clean a pump before so I was in panic mode I know most places recommend every 6 months but as i have only had this pump for about 4-5 months I will be using a vinegar bath to clean it every 3 months instead, same for my circ pump, and skimmer.

I will post some current pics of the tank later today once i wake back up as i have been up cleaning the pumps properly with a vinegar bath since i got home from work.

 

[Krokilus]

forgot to add I love my new hanna checkers.

 

[reef-rc]

Alright update time

Unfortunately my success with encrusting sps before the cyano took its toll back when everything was in the 14 gave me false confidence with sps.


As you know i recently purchased a birdsnest and a pink pocillopora, i have lost both lost the birdnest to rtn and the pink pocillopora to stn. I had not heard of rtn and stn before this.
Unfortunately as i have my parameters set to general levels recommended for mixed reef which is greatly higher than that most sps are kept at by dealers. It sucks but hopefully this post will help others avoid my mistake.

The hammer corals are still being moved around as i havent found their happy spot yet in the tank.

I also made a big mistake last week with phyto as i did not think something living would have sucb a profound effect on algae. I had some leftover and deciding to mix it up for my coral I dumped what i had left in the tank within 24 hours i had about 4-6 different types of algae when i had none previously.

Now for the most recent issue monday night I came home from work to find my return pump not working thankfully it was due to build up and I got it working again but i have never had to clean a pump before so I was in panic mode I know most places recommend every 6 months but as i have only had this pump for about 4-5 months I will be using a vinegar bath to clean it every 3 months instead, same for my circ pump, and skimmer.

I will post some current pics of the tank later today once i wake back up as i have been up cleaning the pumps properly with a vinegar bath since i got home from work.

Sorry to hear about your run with STN and RTN. I have been there myself and it's definitely frustrating. Based on lessons learned - stability and consistency is one of the key. With a nano tank, being on top of it is important.

If you have not tried it, try criticus acid instead of vinegar. It's easier on many aquarium parts and easier to mix too as it comes in power form which you can mix at anytime you need it.

 

[Krokilus]

Alright ive taken a few days before posting as I was extremely mad at myself. When cleaning the equipment the other day as i posted I made the biggest mistake i jave ever made while reefing and it cost me both hammers and both turbo snails. While not lost the toadstool and echinata are not happy.

The mistake i lost track of what plug was what and plugged the heater straight into power instead of the controller, woke up to my water temp at 92F.

In other news i have discovered that my leather has baby and the button palys came with a little green mushroom.

I have also had an algae bloom of about 4 or 5 types. Turns out my photoperiod was 15 hours 30 minutes. I have since pulled it down to 11 hours with 7 hours of max intensity. This has already helped with the algae.

I also didn't realize how strong my circ pump was till i was working in the tank after cleaning it and it felt like the air dryers 8n bathrooms blasting my arm. So i have reduced forward flow from 70% to 10% which is still pretty strong so i ended up playing with position so that it wasnt battering the zoa garden.

The changes i have put into effect are already showing positive change in the corals.

 

[Krokilus]

Sorry water in pics are cloudy but i way over fed couple days ago, and i have been having to change filter floss 2-3 times daily and skimmer cup emptied daily.

 

[Krokilus]

I really like the gold psammacora and UC Tanzanite Favia and The Red Velvet Micro Lord is really happy.

 

[reef-rc]

Sorry to hear about the lost and frustrations. Seems you are on a path back to recovery and growth. I understand all what u said too well unfortunately but experiences is a good teacher .

 

[Krokilus]

Sorry to hear about the lost and frustrations. Seems you are not path back to recovery and growth. I understand all what u said too well unfortunately but experiences is a good teacher .

Im good now I just had to give myself some time before posting so I wouldn't bash myself and could try and make my post as helpful for others as possible so that they maybe can learn from my experince and not have to make the same mistakes. But the heater mistake i was so mad at myself because its one of the braindead moments. And thanks for always being supportive.

 

[Krokilus]

The tank seems to be really happy with the changes things are opening up and color is started to return to those that it faded on. The Platygyra is starting to grow. Algae seems to have stabilized at its current growth nothing new and that's letting the 2 bumblebees, 2 ceriths, and 1 scarlet legged hermit do there job. The ceriths are so excited about the smorgasbord they don't know where to really dig in. So next move replenish the cuc.

 

[Krokilus]

Sidenote I really need to get some phone lens filters.

 

[TheWB]

Sidenote I really need to get some phone lens filters.

I recommend the Icecap filter set. It’s $29 bucks and works great.

 

[Krokilus]

Not much to update got the QT up and cycling using 3 bio blocks i have had in display for a month, a bottle of Dr. Tims one and only bacteria, and Dr. Tims ammonia, for the qt i am testing with api test strips and they have been susprisingly accurate checked against my api tritation kit for ammonia, nitrites and my red sea for nitrates.

As for the QT tank it is the IM 14 Penisula
I originally setup almost 2 years ago. Using filter floss for mechanical and once it cycles ill pick up a couple of pvc elbows and ts to put in it.

For the Display Tank not much going on, after the series of mistakes and errors i now have the tank stable again and the corals are looking good. Only note on coral is my echinata which was an orange eye completely changed colors but looks awesome went from blue with orange centers to neon green with blue center.

About 4 types of algae, diatoms, and some cyano still present but it doesnt get worse just doesnt get better, as for cuc i only have 6 critters right now as the heater mistake claimed most survivors are a scalet legged hermit, 2 bumblebee snails, 2 cerith snails, and a peppermint shrimp. The 4 snails and 1 crab are doing what they can but there is just too mich for them to handle so hopefully next month i can pick up some more cuc.


And here is some pics excuse the green hue as i fed them redsea reef energy ab+ right before.

I continue to love the gold psammacora but i keep finding myself mesmerized by the red velvet lord.

 

[Krokilus]

Going to post this here and in theid section so if anyone knows what this thing is it would be helpful.