Turtle's Fairy Tale

SashimiTurtle · Feb 16, 2019

I need a better camera...

Oh, things are continuing to look better. I'm sure it was the water change, but I think the microbacter7 has been helping also. Im looking at getting a few more of Brightwell's products for my "method" of reefing.

And the award for most improved goes to... the SPS, in particular, the elkhorn monti. It's not pale green anymore.

Katrina71 · Feb 16, 2019

Gorgeous Robin!

najer · Feb 17, 2019

Very nice, whatever works for you, looks like it is settling well.

SashimiTurtle · Feb 19, 2019

Good morning!

SashimiTurtle · Feb 19, 2019

Alk tested at 8.3, just a few minutes after dosing pump went off so likely to be skewed slightly. Seems to be on track tho. I'll test again this evening when I normally test to be sure.

najer · Feb 19, 2019

The more I look at this the more I love the scape, very nice.

SashimiTurtle · Feb 19, 2019

Side shots... (my term for it would get filtered out... side profile of a woman's chest)

Branch side, LPS heavy

Shapes side, SPS heavy

SashimiTurtle · Feb 19, 2019

Thanks for the love brother!

Brew12 · Feb 19, 2019

Robin Haselden said:
Thanks for the love brother!

That's a serious Bro hug!

Matt Carden · Feb 19, 2019

I was trying to set up my tank to be a no water change system. I have also changed my mind on that.
Your tank is looking very good.

SashimiTurtle · Feb 19, 2019

Matt Carden said:
I was trying to set up my tank to be a no water change system. I have also changed my mind on that.
Your tank is looking very good.

I really wanted to do the same.

The problem I have, is I actually live in my house. I have a fireplace to use on those very rare cold nights in SC. I have two dogs who stay inside 90% of the time. We cook. We burn candles, but not right next to the tank. We clean and stir up dust occasionally, but I and the girlfriend know not to use aerosols anywhere near the tank.

There are way too many instances where something could become airborne and settle out in the tank. I can't do an ICP test every week, and they would just tell me I need to do a water change anyway. I've just decided to syphon(back door is close and the porch is 5' off the ground. 20' hose and I can syphon the sump pretty effectively) and vacuum the sump of detritus once a month. There is around 20-25 gallons of water down there or about 25% of my water volume. Maybe more, I'll have to measure sometime... anyway, it gets rid of contamination and excess nutrients and replenishes some of my trace elements. I can manage to make up 30 gallons of water a month and do 30 minutes of maintenance.

Matt Carden · Feb 19, 2019

Myself I can only clean my baffles and return pump area because the rest of my sump is fuge area. I didn't a 99% water change a month ago before adding any coral or fish. I'll probably do 5 gallons every 2 weeks.

Matt Carden · Feb 19, 2019

I have a Ricordia I got Sunday to see if I can keep coral alive. Maybe I'll make it to Reef Dreams.

Brew12 · Feb 19, 2019

Robin Haselden said:
I really wanted to do the same.

The problem I have, is I actually live in my house. I have a fireplace to use on those very rare cold nights in SC. I have two dogs who stay inside 90% of the time. We cook. We burn candles, but not right next to the tank. We clean and stir up dust occasionally, but I and the girlfriend know not to use aerosols anywhere near the tank.

There are way too many instances where something could become airborne and settle out in the tank. I can't do an ICP test every week, and they would just tell me I need to do a water change anyway. I've just decided to syphon(back door is close and the porch is 5' off the ground. 20' hose and I can syphon the sump pretty effectively) and vacuum the sump of detritus once a month. There is around 20-25 gallons of water down there or about 25% of my water volume. Maybe more, I'll have to measure sometime... anyway, it gets rid of contamination and excess nutrients and replenishes some of my trace elements. I can manage to make up 30 gallons of water a month and do 30 minutes of maintenance.

I don't see water changes as a hardship. Doesn't take that long and has some great benefits imo. I do wish I had a setup like yours where I could drain it out a door or window. I siphon into 5 gallon buckets and refill with 5 gallon buckets. That's the hardest part for me. Doing two 25g water changes a month right now normally.
Oh, and I use this on my sump. Best sump cleaning device ever!
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bucket-Head-5-gal-1-75-Peak-HP-Wet-Dry-Vac-BH0100/202017218

najer · Feb 19, 2019

Side ****!

SashimiTurtle · Feb 19, 2019

najer said:
Side ****!

EXACTLY!!!!

SashimiTurtle · Feb 19, 2019

Brew12 said:
I don't see water changes as a hardship. Doesn't take that long and has some great benefits imo. I do wish I had a setup like yours where I could drain it out a door or window. I siphon into 5 gallon buckets and refill with 5 gallon buckets. That's the hardest part for me. Doing two 25g water changes a month right now normally.
Oh, and I use this on my sump. Best sump cleaning device ever!
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bucket-Head-5-gal-1-75-Peak-HP-Wet-Dry-Vac-BH0100/202017218

I need to get a bucket head.

I didn't plan it that way, but being in close proximity to the back door makes for a really easy siphon. With a long enough hose, I can even pull it out of the water and move it to another section before all the water drains out of the hose and it'll pick up siphon again and keep going. No sucking dirty salt water... ;Vomit lol

SashimiTurtle · Feb 19, 2019

Matt Carden said:
I have a Ricordia I got Sunday to see if I can keep coral alive. Maybe I'll make it to Reef Dreams.

You should come. Last year was a ton of fun! It's going to be even bigger this year.

Matt Carden · Feb 19, 2019

Brew12 said:
I don't see water changes as a hardship. Doesn't take that long and has some great benefits imo. I do wish I had a setup like yours where I could drain it out a door or window. I siphon into 5 gallon buckets and refill with 5 gallon buckets. That's the hardest part for me. Doing two 25g water changes a month right now normally.
Oh, and I use this on my sump. Best sump cleaning device ever!
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bucket-Head-5-gal-1-75-Peak-HP-Wet-Dry-Vac-BH0100/202017218

I use a wet-dry vac to change water!

SashimiTurtle · Feb 22, 2019

Alk holding steady at 8.3dKH. Tested this afternoon before work. I dosed 14ml on the 15th when I tested 7.8, which should have been enough to get back to 8.0. I was at 6ml dose per day, but decided to go to 5ml a few days after... alk was 8.3 on the 19th and on the 21st. It seems my tank likes that number, that's where it was running before the dip. Corals are healthy so I'm not going to try and adjust it any.