Luck be a Lady

[Fish Styx]

I'm a little tied up at the moment. Give me some time to digest this and I'll circle back later this evening. Chin up.

 

[Fish Styx]

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you here. I wanted to be able to sit down and give this the respect and attention that it deserves.

First and foremost, I'm sorry to hear that you're in such a bad way. It sounds like you've been through the ringer. Sending lots of positive vibes your way and hoping things turn around for you soon. At the risk of sounding trite or cliche here, how do you eat an elephant?

One bite at a time.

It would appear as though you're eating an elephant right now. You'll need to tackle one step at a time here, but first you have to figure out what it is that you want to, and realistically can, do.

Turning my attention first to the tank situation, I agree with @Nman wholeheartedly- some of the nicest tanks I've ever seen were "budget" systems. That being said, even "low cost" systems have a basic cost. This may not be what you want to hear, but if you are struggling to make ends meet or cover the basic expenses of even RODI cartridges and membranes, would it be wise (or realistic) to continue? This could also be a contributing factor to your water quality issues Something to noodle over...

As far as the dinos go, they are a royal PITA, but the battle is winnable. You have a UV sterilizer, so that's a big plus. How old is the bulb? Also, if you haven't checked it recently, is it still working / is the bulb on?

You said that there are issues with your test kits. What are you currently using? Do you have any one close to you geographically that you can lean on? Maybe a club member that could loan you test kits or reagents? We will need accurate readings of your nutrients to tackle this.

Manually remove / siphon as much out as possible and then do a blackout for 72 hours. Your tank inhabitants will be okay . When you turn your lights back on, only run blues. You will need to do this (light discipline) for the foreseeable future

Are you currently running carbon, or do you have the ability to run some? The die off from the dinos will be toxic and you'll want to mitigate that.

Patience and good husbandry are key, but again, the battle is winnable. It just won't happen overnight. This will be a lather, rinse, repeat situation.

 

[i cant think]

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you here. I wanted to be able to sit down and give this the respect and attention that it deserves.

First and foremost, I'm sorry to hear that you're in such a bad way. It sounds like you've been through the ringer. Sending lots of positive vibes your way and hoping things turn around for you soon. At the risk of sounding trite or cliche here, how do you eat an elephant?

One bite at a time.

It would appear as though you're eating an elephant right now. You'll need to tackle one step at a time here, but first you have to figure out what it is that you want to, and realistically can, do.

Turning my attention first to the tank situation, I agree with @Nman wholeheartedly- some of the nicest tanks I've ever seen were "budget" systems. That being said, even "low cost" systems have a basic cost. This may not be what you want to hear, but if you are struggling to make ends meet or cover the basic expenses of even RODI cartridges and membranes, would it be wise (or realistic) to continue? This could also be a contributing factor to your water quality issues Something to noodle over...

As far as the dinos go, they are a royal PITA, but the battle is winnable. You have a UV sterilizer, so that's a big plus. How old is the bulb? Also, if you haven't checked it recently, is it still working / is the bulb on?

You said that there are issues with your test kits. What are you currently using? Do you have any one close to you geographically that you can lean on? Maybe a club member that could loan you test kits or reagents? We will need accurate readings of your nutrients to tackle this.

Manually remove / siphon as much out as possible and then do a blackout for 72 hours. Your tank inhabitants will be okay . When you turn your lights back on, only run blues. You will need to do this (light discipline) for the foreseeable future

Are you currently running carbon, or do you have the ability to run some? The die off from the dinos will be toxic and you'll want to mitigate that.

Patience and good husbandry are key, but again, the battle is winnable. It just won't happen overnight. This will be a lather, rinse, repeat situation.

I agree with this, also don’t add any CUC - They will eat the dinos and then they will die and risk more of an ammonia/nitrate spike. Dinos are toxic to anything that consumes them so adding CUC to your tank will risk the issue of them eating it and then you may lose your fish as well from the die off of inverts.

 

[Nano_Man]

@revhtree hope your keeping well please read the last four posts this Lady is struggling and needs our help. Is there anything r2r and members and sponsors can do to put a smile on a lady's face and keep Reefing. Sponsors maybe group together for test kits and ro membrane. I have some test kits here but the pond is in the way.
REV. we appreciate everything you do try and pull some strings and give this lady a Happy Christmas.

 

[LadyMac]

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you here. I wanted to be able to sit down and give this the respect and attention that it deserves.

First and foremost, I'm sorry to hear that you're in such a bad way. It sounds like you've been through the ringer. Sending lots of positive vibes your way and hoping things turn around for you soon. At the risk of sounding trite or cliche here, how do you eat an elephant?

One bite at a time.

It would appear as though you're eating an elephant right now. You'll need to tackle one step at a time here, but first you have to figure out what it is that you want to, and realistically can, do.

Turning my attention first to the tank situation, I agree with @Nman wholeheartedly- some of the nicest tanks I've ever seen were "budget" systems. That being said, even "low cost" systems have a basic cost. This may not be what you want to hear, but if you are struggling to make ends meet or cover the basic expenses of even RODI cartridges and membranes, would it be wise (or realistic) to continue? This could also be a contributing factor to your water quality issues Something to noodle over...

As far as the dinos go, they are a royal PITA, but the battle is winnable. You have a UV sterilizer, so that's a big plus. How old is the bulb? Also, if you haven't checked it recently, is it still working / is the bulb on?

You said that there are issues with your test kits. What are you currently using? Do you have any one close to you geographically that you can lean on? Maybe a club member that could loan you test kits or reagents? We will need accurate readings of your nutrients to tackle this.

Manually remove / siphon as much out as possible and then do a blackout for 72 hours. Your tank inhabitants will be okay . When you turn your lights back on, only run blues. You will need to do this (light discipline) for the foreseeable future

Are you currently running carbon, or do you have the ability to run some? The die off from the dinos will be toxic and you'll want to mitigate that.

Patience and good husbandry are key, but again, the battle is winnable. It just won't happen overnight. This will be a lather, rinse, repeat situation.

No worries and thank you for that. I try not to be so emotional but it’s overwhelming and I was in a good bit of pain at the time of posting. I should have sat down and breathed instead of exploding.

As for what I want to do, I just want a stable reef. And I agree, with the expenses part for sure. I am trying but you can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip. Everything plummeting at the time my money os gone seems like a common occurrence lol.and I’m willing to let things go for sure. The clowns could live in a smaller setup. Rehoming the others will hurt but if I have to then I will. I worry about the frags and thought I was ready for them but seems not. My tds reads at about 3 now so it’s not significant quite yet. Just something needing attention.

UV, I’ve had the unit for a few months so less than a year. It’s not constantly on though. Or it was not. It will probably be now and I’ll be investing in a bulb for it in several months.

Test kits are salifert. They’re out of date now but they have not given accurate readings since purchase. I went with it because it was suggested as one of the best. So first and foremost I probably need to find another brand.

I have turned the whites off last night and will do the blackout starting tomorrow. I’m not home to switch the them off and the apps on my phone.

I have a bag of aquachar charcoal in there. It’s probably no good now. I pull it, wash it then sit outside to “recharge” in the sun but it may just be a waste of effort on my part. I’ve dosed vodka but I think tat may have started my issue as I don’t think I did it right.

Definitely don’t mind the patience aspect. I feel like I got ahead of myself and that’s what caused this. When it went down it went fast.

I appreciate the response. A lot.


Someone mentioned to me to dose silicates and use dr Tim’s waste away. I’m hesitant on chemicals. But willing to try if that will impact them. Know there’s more than one way to skin a cat but the problem is finding the right way to skin this one.

 

[LadyMac]

Memories from the tank popped up on Facebook today, showing my palys and my frammer. Iim planning once the tank reaches a good balance to aquire more palys and even zoas.

I also didn’t realize it had been two years since i got the R24 light. I have yet to find the right balance on the blues and whites without it causing so many issues.

 

[LadyMac]

Also forgot I finished this digital piece some time back lol. 2014.

I’m not happy with the wood….

 

[fishguy242]

Is that the light you have currently?
tell me specific brand & model ?
i'm sorry ,but dimensions of tank again please ?

 

[LadyMac]

Is that the light you have currently?
tell me specific brand & model ?
i'm sorry ,but dimensions of tank again please ?

Yes, it’s the Current USA R24 uh, 52 watt? I think. Lemme hunt the deets right fast. Tank is 24x24x21. That’s l/w/h.

Orbit R24 52W REEF LED with Smart App Control

Bring your reef to a whole new level with the R24 LED. Delivering a light intensity and color spectrum specifically for corals, it provides optimal growth, eye-popping color rendition, and brilliant shimmer. Packing a compact array of powerful dual-core LED chips, the new Orbit 52w R24 REEF LED...

current-usa.com

This is the light they promised to send for me and it took them awhile to get it to me, and was clearly a used unit, probably one of the ones they had been using in the promos. I haven’t been happy with it for quite some time but lights are pricy and I couldn’t just sell it off.

I’ve been thinking of an AI blade but seen issues with those, or a Fluval Marine. Idk. I’m about ready to toss all my Current USA equipment :/

 

[fishguy242]

no,fluval ,current stinks all around , #Cronies light recommendations?
anyone happen to have a light laying around ?? a used viperspectra would even work better than current...

 

[Stang67]

I can look after work today.
Edit, searched answered own question.

 

[Fish Styx]

no,fluval ,current stinks all around , #Cronies light recommendations?
anyone happen to have a light laying around ?? a used viperspectra would even work better than current...

I may have some old kessils still lying around, but I'm not sure if they got tossed, though. I have some lighting stuff to do today myself, so I'll rummage through the garage and report back in a bit.

 

[tbrown]

Viparspectra and Noopsyche are both good lights for inexpensive.

 

[LadyMac]

no,fluval ,current stinks all around , #Cronies light recommendations?
anyone happen to have a light laying around ?? a used viperspectra would even work better than current...

what’s wrong with the fluvals? I’ve seen a lot of nice reefs with them. Just curious. I have two of the plant lights and they’re pretty fantastic. My thing is I’ve gotta have them on a timer, and would prefer a ramp because I’m not there during the daytime, and I’d honestly forget to turn them on lol. That was the selling point for me with the currents, having them ramp on. They just aren’t strong enough.

Kessils look nice, but pricy. Viparspectra are the black boxes? They scare me. Have they been UL listed yet? My house has horrible power (we have two trailers rednecked into a “doublewide” lol. The power is one of the issues I have. Which is why no metal Halides and no T5s anymore.

 

[LadyMac]

Viparspectra and Noopsyche are both good lights for inexpensive.

I’ve been eyeing the noopsyche lights. They do seem pretty nice.

 

[danieyella]

When I took down my vipars and replaced them, I noticed melting in the box.

 

[LadyMac]

When I took down my vipars and replaced them, I noticed melting in the box.

Yeah I’ve heard they are a fire risk. I’m glad you didn’t have a fire issue what did you replace them with?

 

[Fish Styx]

I’ve been eyeing the noopsyche lights. They do seem pretty nice.

I love my noopsyches. I'm adding two more to my array today. If I have any Kessils lying around, I'll ship one to you free of charge. No guarantees, though. I don't know if I still have them.

 

[LadyMac]

I love my noopsyches. I'm adding two more to my array today. If I have any Kessils lying around, I'll ship one to you free of charge. No guarantees, though. I don't know if I still have them.

No worries either way

 

[Fish Styx]

Well, well, well. Lookie what I found...