1200 pounds of fun

Ram3500 · #1 03-21-2013, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lockrookie

Looks great... If I could make a friendly suggestion. Your powerbars worry me with possible splashing over or salt creep. You may want to make an umbrella or cover so you don't gave electrical issues/fire a simple acrylic or something to be sure water doesn't touch the power bars.

Thanks lockrookie I am planing on making some kind of cover for the apex just not sure on how or what material I am going to use .

Ram3500 · #2 08-31-2013, 04:19 AM

I haven't done a update on my tank journal for some time I have just been so busy with work summer as I'am sure you can all relate.
In case your wondering the new upgrade tank was doing great ! All the corals sps were responding well and encrusting and growing nicely .
But it happened to me I have been dealing with a huge tank crash I think I have lost around twenty or so corals. It started with a little bleaching and than it just went out of control from there .
What I have left is a few zoanthids and a green and red monti cap . I have had a salt water tank for the last five years . I started with a 33 gal and than a 90 gal and just last march I got my custom 152 gal so this is not new to me but the crash was .
Since I have a lot of room I thought I would post some pictures of the new aquascaping . It give the tangs lots of room to swim around . There is lots of sweet new spots for new sps frags !!!!

Sorry for the crappy iphone photos . The little man has been a big help withe the crash he is allways up for a water change

gregzz4 · #3 08-31-2013, 05:01 AM

Sorry to hear about your coral losses

Is it possible you suffered the same issues I'm going through ... too low nutrients ?

I've been trying to cram food into my tank as I don't have enough fish yet to keep my corals fed

Ram3500 · #4 08-31-2013, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregzz4

Sorry to hear about your coral losses

Is it possible you suffered the same issues I'm going through ... too low nutrients ?

I've been trying to cram food into my tank as I don't have enough fish yet to keep my corals fed

I think it went down hill after I left my tank with a friend who likes to feed A LOT . My nitrate no3 got a little high so I went water change crazy . Than I may have got some bad salt because my magnesium dropped to 800 in a matter of two weeks after some big water changes. So I think from this point on , I am going to just wait and see how things unfold . The few corals I have left still look a little rattled but my prams are looking better my nitrate seams to be stuck at about 15ppm tho . I am thinking about running bio-pellets .

tang daddy · #5 08-31-2013, 05:43 PM

I neglected my tank for awhile like 6 to 8 months, I can't remember.... Anyhow I am not proud to admit but my alk was at 4.5 ca 900 and mg800. Corals were definately not happy. Since then it's been a total 180 and the tank is looking fantastic.

Which salt are you using? You should do a test after your new first batch of saltwater is made up, from there you will be able to determine how much to adjust up your major 3. For me I use IO and the batches are pretty consistent, I only have to bump the mg up 200 and the other 2 are acceptable.

You'll have your tank running optimal in no time. We all have been through the bad times in this hobby, it's part of learning and gaining experience.

If you have a higher load of fish it's good to run BP, that will allow you to feed more. I noticed corals react well to heavy broadcast feeding that I have started to do it 2 times a week. I usually leave the return off for 3-5 hrs add some lps amino and gut load the fish, the amino triggers a crazy feeding response and gives me a chance to feed my Lps without fish snatching it. I love that frozen cyclopeze product at JL. The red square pack, noticed my sps polyps grabbing those aswell.

Ram3500 · #6 09-01-2013, 01:02 AM

The salt I am using was reef crystals . From now on I will always check my water change water especially when doing large water changes like I was.
I also picked up this today, I hope this will help with keep the sps happy . I am Just not sure how much bio pellets to start with I don't need another horror story . My tank is I think about 150-155gal sump is a about 40 gal so total system is around 190 ish .

HaZRaTTy · #7 09-01-2013, 04:50 AM

If you want to accurately I mean really accurately measure use water dissipation, if not do the cross multiply of 250mls = 1 cup

Or I'm sure there is an online calculator I think I used 1/3rd of what what the max recommended dose I wouldn't expect you seeing any change in your nitrates for 5-8 weeks due to it needs to culture the bacteria!