Problem Solvers

For many years, I've used foam sheets from Hobby Lobby (most hobby craft stores have these) to keep the refugium light off the rest of my gear. People often think they need colored or black acrylic in their sumps to avoid algae growth in other compartments and within their skimmer / reactors. However, that's really not the case. While we can see light in the other zones, what happens initially is the light bounces off the acrylic baffle and goes back into the refugium zone. 

And as the macro algae grows and fills the zone, even that is obscured.

After 10 months of dosing vodka in my tank, I felt it was time to do a synopsis.

Vodka Dosing - Why?

Here's a recent picture from my reef, with some of the new Lyretail Anthias

For some time now, I've really wanted something that would allow me to check on my tank when I'm out of town. Just a quick peek to see that all is well, although I don't really dread it - I just do whatever I can to keep it happy, and hope for the best. Once I'm out the door, there is little I can accomplish, other than call others to come investigate.

Ten days ago, I started dosing with Vodka to see how that does at lowering Nitrate and Phosphate levels in my reef. I'm taking a very slow approach to this to avoid harming the livestock. It will probably take another week to determine if it is having any effect at all.

Water parameters have been updated.

New page for the site: "How to Rinse Out Your Sandbed, and Why"

I treated my tank with a new product called Red Slime Control by Blue Life USA.

A few noteworthy things from today:

The copperband butterfly is still doing well, and was out briefly a few times. Looks like it got a few featherdusters, but the aiptasia population seems unchanged in the back of the tank. I'm hoping it will become more and more courageous, so that it can cruise the reef as it wishes.

While studying the 55g closely, I found new growth of the blue Milleopora on the LR it had been touching until recently. I think the sand shifted and caused the rockwork to move somewhat, and the colony no longer is in contact with that spot, but it looks like I may get a separate colony one day. As of now, it is about the size of a dime or less, but the color and the hair-like polyps are unmistakeable.