Reef Blog

Both URI VHO Actinic bulbs were replaced today, as they need to be replaced every 6 months.

I moved the green Goniopora into my 29g reef, the purple Goniopora in my son's tank, and a new Red Goniopora into my 55g reef. The red one was purchased from a club member's tank, who's had it for over 9 months with good success. While his setup looks like it matches mine (Skimmer, sump, and refugium), what surprised me was what he'd been feeding the goni: flake food! I can't believe it. :)

Trying to reduce nitrates in the 29g, I did a 10g water change last night. I never like doing water changes, as it exposes corals to air and the pumps blow bubbles everywhere when restarted. The evils of water changes.... :(

When you install a Mag drive on your system, such as a return pump or a closed loop, that isn't the end of it. The pump needs to be cleaned and inspected to keep it running at peak performance. Ideally, it should be connected to your plumbing in a way where it can be easily removed. One nice option is the use of a "union," which is two threaded parts held together with a threaded collar. By twisting the collar counter-clockwise, the pump can be disconnected from the plumbing and is ready to clean.

It looks like the reason the Anthias died was suffocation. After talking with a couple of people on Reef Central, it seems reasonable to believe that the large fish in a small amount of water (small bag) would use up oxygen rapidly, and my slow acclimation process was my error. It was recommended to use an airstone while acclimating, even if you are doing so in a bucket of water.

All the water tests were done today.

The Anthias didn't survive the night. At 3:30 am it was already lying upside down on the substrate, gills flared completely open as well as his mouth. I've got no idea why this fish didn't make it. This is so sad. I took that lifeless fish and gave it to the larger rock anemone, who ate it within a minute. Waste not, want not. 

I found six more baby whelks, about 1/8" long, 1/16" wide. I used tweezers to pull them out.

Lots going on at Melev's Reef tonight. We got back from the Winter Social (the annual DFWMAS party) with 6 bags of goodies!

Some new metallic zoas, a few surprise polyps as well, a dispar anthias, a new tank raised clown to replace the last one that disappeared, a bunch of snails, a Green Linkia.... all new additions to the reef tanks. A few of the snails went into my son's 29g as well.

I came across a good deal on digital grounded timers to Costco yesterday. Unlike mechanical timers, these have a rechargeable battery backup to keep the timer on schedule. Two for $10 is really amazing, with 3-hole recepticals. 

By feeding a small amount of shrimp to the BTA every other day, it has improved in appearance by inflating itself further.

The BTA looks a little better today. The mouth is still a little too exposed, the the tentacles are more inflated. Several of the zoa frags I traded for are not doing so well. That could be due to livestock (emerald crab?) pulling them off the rock or just a placement issue. Others look great though.

The BTA still doesn't look too happy. I think the move from the older tank to the new one was pretty taxing on it. It did take a little food, but....

I'll do some water tests to see if there are any issues that I can pinpoint.

I was at my LFS this evening, and decided I couldn't pass up this acropora. The color was a golden yellow under MH, and it was a nice colony size (~5"). He'd had it about 3 weeks and it still had all its color.

The Golden Acropora is in my 55g under MH lighting.