KrazyKuch's & Michika's 180Gal Tank Build

untamed · #1 01-08-2009, 10:29 PM

You know those touchpads on labtop computers? I use them all the time, but whenever I use them during a presentation, the cursor jumps all over the screen whenever I touch it. Maybe I'm nuts, but something about me changes when I'm presenting in front of people an the touchpad doesn't work. Sweaty fingertip, nervousness, electrical...I have no idea.

I do presentations all the time. Its not like I'm a nervous wreck or anything.

It is really dramatic. I simply put my finger in the centre of the touchpad and the cursor jumps erratically all over the entire screen. Later, it works fine.

Kevin may have the same effect on the RKE.

michika · #2 01-08-2009, 11:36 PM

I'm bugging him now asking if he has performance anxiety when he has to use the RKE. I now can't stop snickering either...

Skimmerking · #3 01-09-2009, 01:03 AM

Hey there Catherine I was thinking about something all the dead corals would that have a play in the troubles that you have been having.. or is that the first time that you have been putting the corals in there. I know that i have ready that using dead corals can give off phosphates..... i cant remember where it was..

michika · #4 01-11-2009, 03:43 PM

I don't think so. The dead corals were from after the crashes. I'm not having any more problems.

michika · #5 01-11-2009, 04:12 PM

I added two newcomers to the tank yesterday, a colony that looks to be a tri-colour, and an unknown tang, who I think is Acanthurus sp.

New colony

The tang is really unique, which is why I couldn't pass it up. However This poor tang is getting the beats big time. I've employed the mirror trick, which is working, although, I'm unsure if this new tang should stay long term. It worse comes to worse, I do have somewhere he can go short term, but of course I hope it doesn't come to that.

We are however back to the PVC stick feeding

Kevin is leaving today for at least a month long work term out of town. It was quite unexpected, as in we found out the details on Thursday. This means all the tank maintenance falls to me. I'm okay with all the basics, skimmer cleaning, top-off, WCs, etc. However its things like the Ca. Reactor that worry me. I know how they work etc. but since I never really do hands on stuff with the reactor, I'm feeling uncomfortable about it.

I do know though that I miss my kalk. reactor like crazy. Ca this morning was a pathetic 300ppm. Everything else was more of less in line. PO3 is 0.3, and Nitrates are less then 5ppm. So I know what I'll be doing all this week, bumping my calcium levels!

The tank needs more clean up crew members, and in the least, a pair of shrimp, I'm thinking fire shrimp over the traditional cleaners. When I see them next I'll pick some up. I did however yesterday see a harem of 7 Tuka anthias, and resisted the urge. Even though I know they aren't right for my system, I can't help but be tempted every time.

One of my three clams that were huddled really close together on a single rock jumped ship. I think from now on I'll just place my clams on the substrate. I really hate trying to re-arrange rocks with clams on them, and its frustrating to try and predict how big a clam will grow and if the rock I want it on is right, etc.

I think while Kevin is gone I'm going to start deconstructing the basement. The first step is the walls and ceiling have to come down. In the very least I can pry off all the moulding, and remove all the plug covers. It depends though on what Kevin leaves here for tools.

Updated shot from last week's addition. It fell, and experienced some die off before it got noticed and picked up.

michika · #6 01-11-2009, 04:13 PM

I missed adding this one. Its the fish shortly after we added the mirror to the left side of the tank.

fencer · #7 01-11-2009, 04:15 PM

So Catherine.....

Which one are you going to keep...Kevin or the RKE?

michika · #8 01-11-2009, 04:19 PM

Hmmm tempting...the RKE has been pretty good to me lately!

i have crabs · #9 01-11-2009, 04:27 PM

the fire shrimp i have hides all the time and is barely ever seen so for the extra price do you really want one? i probably wont unless its for a smaller tank

also mabey you need a grounding probe since kevin keeps messing up the rke mabey his animal magnitizm is messing up the corals when youve had problems
i think it might be his fault that frags keep falling over due to his magnetic field also.

fencer · #10 01-11-2009, 04:30 PM

Nice corals....at the end of summer we're going to have to do a frag swap. I should have some nice frags by that time. BTW I have never been able to keep that last blue coral alive.