Bought my tank (and myself, let's be real) a little xmas present. Just set up new Tunze MAR 3181. Threw a golf ball size ball of chaeto in and it's spinning nicely. I want to remove all the chaeto from the refugium in the next few weeks, get a better light and grow only coral in there. Got a lot of wire, etc cleanup to do (don't judge). Trying to come up with a controller rack of some kind; it's on the list... So far I'm likin' it
Not sure this is it's final location but I'll run it while I figure it out.
Did my first major wc since setting up this new tank in Aug; ~10 gal.
The MAR is working great. Almost grown down to the halfway point (thickened). I knew the light would grow macro (any light will really, right?) because I use an eco chic already in the refugium, but I'm impressed with the spinning. It stopped once but I was running it at the lowest; turned it up slightly and it's spinning again and hasn't quit. This is why a light on one side works on this unit (and the driver for tumbling chaeto in a refugium). Still very happy with it
Gonna do some testing today to see what it's doing to my water.
One part of my strategy to battle against the GHA that's attached to my new rockwork (phosphate absorbed) is to dose SunnyX's diy CaCO₃. One dose last night after scraping glass and another this morning after blowing rocks and I gotta say it might be a game changer to my reefing journey and I don't see myself shelving this any time soon. The water clarity is amazing! I pulled my carbon yesterday before dosing as I replaced the cup with filter socks to catch the flocculent. The results speak for themselves I think (on my modest, coming along, reef). I'm just so impressed (and a little mad at myself for not jumping on this technique sooner)
Also cleaned up the sump (wiring) a bit. Tried to move all controllers/electronics away from the tanks but the different lengths of wires can be a bit frustrating. All of you out there with super clean fish (room) setups, you deserve high praise. I may get there someday but not out of the box; so many more connectors needed... Better than before imo but not done yet...
Just watched this urchin eat a sizeable flake at the water surface. It happened to be near the surface when I hit feed mode and turned to the surface when the food hit the water. Watched it move the flake to the center then grab it with its mouth. Tried to grab the camera in time but it was fast! Neat creatures. These things eat anything!
Watching this purple urchin finish off this (only) patch of bubble algae in my system; on my nero ph. I'm convinced these things really do eat everything. This purple one in particular puts in work; moves quickly and gets around the tank in short order. Added a baby tuxedo yesterday to join the crew as well.
Thanks! I like adding things as I feel they're needed. I started simple but there's a lot to do, and not just with my tank, so adding here an there to make things easier makes sense to me. Appreciate the compliment
Just can't get over this guy. Urchins interact so much with the environment and they're mowing my algae down. Dosing some bacteria along with the coral snow now during glass/rock cleanings to hopefully take up the bare rock real estate the urchins leave behind. That's the theory in my head at least (from my interpretation of others' methods). The Starry Blenny hasn't done much for the algae...occasionally pecks here and there and is first in line at feeding time. Beautiful fish though so I cut it some slack Going to do a water change tomorrow (5 gal) which will be the second wc since I setup in Aug. Maybe I should have done more.... Not against them at all....just...still learnin. Actually considering a second DOS to do a constant/daily wc...