KrazyKuch's & Michika's 180Gal Tank Build

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by michika

I've also noticed since running ozone, which is injected into the skimmer, that I can smell when my skimmer needs to be clean. The skimmer head needs to be cleaned every 2-3 days, and you can tell because the "tank smell" gets stronger. The downside to have to clean out the skimmer so frequently is that the smell is so foul, we have to keep the front door open for an hour after cleaning it. I don't know what we are going to do in the winter

Thats quite surprising, I found that my skimmate production decreased by about 3/4 when running ozone. Granted it did smell pretty bad when I had to change the cup. I found that I could go for almost a week and a half without cleaning the collection cup but I like to keep the skimmer neck clean so I clean it every 4-5 days anyways. One of the first things I noticed when I shut down my ozone was that skimmer production definitely increased and now I definitely have to clean the cup every 3-4 days.

[adidas]

looks like alot of cyano in those pics, is it still like that?

[michika]

Nope, its not nearly as bad anymore. There is one patch, in the front left corner, but that is about it.

[michika]

Since my holiday plans were cancelled I've been hanging out with my tank all weekend, and some very cool things have come around.

This morning my dKH is 9! I have hit my target level! My Calcium is a bit on the low side, but I'm super happy that I am almost at the point where I no longer have to fiddle with dosing!

Since we've added on the RKE almost everything in regards to my tank is automated, just the way I like it! I do a once a month day of maintenance; pump cleaning, reflector cleaning, probe calibration, etc. On a daily basis I clean the glass and feed the fish. A couple times a week the skimmer gets cleaned. My tank is now at the point where it is very hands free, and I get to spend a lot of time enjoying it, rather then working on it.

Now if I could only win the lotto so I could go buy more clams and corals.

[michika]

This is Friday, we fed double the Nori we normally due to cover for our absence over the next couple of days. However I ended up staying home....


The naso is getting wide!


RKE is chugging along, aside from the fact that the enter button doesn't work.




The mess of starting the tank is still around, but its slowly diminishing!

[michika]

From Coral Master


From WickedFrags.com






From Red Coral




Random Zoas that survived the move & subsequent disaster from my move in November 2007. They are open, and seem to have come back from where they were in December. However, they aren't growing, but damn are they pretty!

[Murminator]

Looking good

[yeeg]

Originally Posted by michika

From Coral Master


From WickedFrags.com






From Red Coral

I'm no rocket scientist but from what I can see, Red Coral has the best bang for your buck...Unless of course you were willing to pay $100 or more for each colony of sps...