Myka's 90 gallon build & 3 province move (Pics Feb 6)

[Myka]

^ Change your name?? Thanks for your comments.

[Myka]

So yesterday I decided to check the calibration on my hydrometer which I do every few months. I have a few hydrometers, but the one I use daily is the Deep Six. I have had it for 2 years, and remarkably it has actually been accurate from day one. So I test my tank with the hydrometer - 1.026, then I test with my refractometer - 1.030! Then I carefully recheck using the same sample for each check. Yep, that hydrometer is now reading 0.004 lower than actual. Yikes! So starting yesterday I slowly lowered my salinity down to 1.026 which also dropped my calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium which I slowly bumped up. I think I used up half my test kits today. Ugh.

So let it come to awareness yet again! Don't trust those dang hydrometers - recalibrate often!

[Skimmerking]

Mindy I can't beleive that you are still using a hydro meter shame on you

[Myka]

I just use the hydrometer for daily checking. It's quicker and easier. I tell you though, I'm going to start using my refractometer more often. I can't believe the hydrometer held steady for so long, then so quickly went outta whack!

[Myka]

Red Bug Battle - Round 3!

Last Thursday I noticed my Alien Freckles Acro (the one most affected in the first infestation) was lightly covered in red bugs again. I treated for a second time as described above. Last night I notice a few RBs on the AF Acro AGAIN! So I'm going to break off as much of the AF Acro I can (it is short growing and very encrusted), give it a 2 hour strong Interceptor bath, and put it in my Zoa tank. I will use a pipette with boiling water to kill the remaining part of that coral. I'm hoping I can get away without treating the tank again.

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My SPS corals' colors continue to improve since I ditched the Zeovit and started running my GFO reactor again. As expected, the Halimeda and Grape Caulerpa are significantly repressed as well, but surprisingly the Bubble algae seems to be showing a bit of die back. I can only cross my fingers! These red bugs are just hindering my attempts to use Emerald crabs to graze the Bubble algae, and that is getting frustrating.

[fishytime]

aw geez Mindy.....that sucks.....RBs are definitely a tough one to get gone..... I hope you can nip it in the butt.....

[Myka]

I don't have anything to complain about compared to you Doug. Most people seem to get good results on a single dose of Interceptor, I think I am the exception.