Dez' Tank Journal

[Dez]

Originally Posted by Leah

Just wondering if things are getting better?

Well, I'm back tonight and we'll see if my test fish is still doing good. I had new saltwater mixed and fish was good. I put some rock from the display in with the fish to see if there were any adverse effects, so far none. We'll see tonight. If everything is good, them I'm going to switch out as much water as possible and just assume that something leached into the tank during my tank build. Sucks, but it's better than a whole tank crash I guess.

Des

[Skimmerking]

looksa good man

[Dez]

Well, after a rough couple of weeks with my fish problems I think that my problems are solved *knock on wood*. I did a 100% water change today - that's right 100%. It was a pain, but worth it. It is now about 8 hours after it's complete and everything seems to be fine. I got some sps frags from a friend yesterday and I'm getting full polyp extension and all the other corals that I acquired from friends are doing well - GSP's, leathers, xenia. The fish that's in my frag system (now hooked up with the main system) is doing well. Ate well after the water change and wasn't shy. I got another 100 lbs of rock yesterday that's well seasoned so there shouldn't be much of a spike, if any. Here's a picture of the tank almost drained.



It was a chore, but all worth it in the end. I will attribute my problems to either a bad batch of salt or something that leached in unknowingly. I am praying that this does the trick as I was ready to throw the towel in.

[lastlight]

Great news! Just think of how much your kids would miss the tank at this point =)

[Lance]

Hurray! Good News.

[subman]

I'll keep my fingers crossed!

[Dez]

Originally Posted by subman

I'll keep my fingers crossed!

I am too.....I just hope that whatever was leached or if it was bad salt is gone with the wind. My "test" fish is doing awesome and feeding from my fingers. So obviously not stressed and he's been in for about a week now and still feeding after 100% water change. Corals are showing polyp extension. So fingers crossed for the next week to see if I have broken the unknown problem barrier!

[Dez]

Good news. It's been a couple of days since the 100% water change. Fish are doing awesome. I bought 3 clownfish and they are doing well and eating. Good polyp extension on whatever frags I had before, so I think whatever problem I had is solved. I have to start raising my calcium though because I tested it and it's only 320 - 340ppm. DKH is good at about 8. I'm surprised reefer's best salt tested so low in calcium. I tested twice just to make sure. Regardless, this is a minor problem.

This is what it looks like now:



From the living room:



Man, I have to start using a camera other than my cellphone. Those pictures suck. Sorry guys.

My cabinetry for the other side should be coming sometime in the next couple of weeks so I added a fan today so that the canopy stays dry. I had this 12V DC fan from 5 years ago. It's adjustable speed so I have it dialed down so that I can't hear it. Just a bit of airflow to keep the canopy dry. The less voltage, the slower the fan goes. I think I got the fans at Princess auto ages ago.



And mounted:



Hopefully its smoother sailing from here.

[Dez]

I have been pretty crazy with work and haven't updated the journal in a while. I've hooked up the fan from the basement. Here are the pictures



Here is where the vent ends up (goes upstairs, up the side of the fish tank and ends at one end - when you place your hand there you can feel the sucking of air so I am pleased with the flow)



And my fish tank stand/frame skirt from the den side:



With the canopy open allowing full access which I am enjoying:



and a crappy picture of my nice fishies:



Generally things are going really well in the tank. All sps have full sps extension and some of the tips are changing colour indicating growth starting. The tank is almost there. I still have to drill my water change tank and install and plumb it. Right now for calcium I'm just doing the old fashioned "let the kalk sit for a few ours in a 5 gallon pail and drip it in to replace all top-off water". It's annoying but I haven't had the time to hook my kalk reactor and calcium reactor with all the other stuff that is going on. Enjoy.

[Leah]

Wow!!!! the cabinet is just Beautiful. And the fish look great, can't wait to see some more shots.