KrazyKuch's & Michika's 180Gal Tank Build

[michika]

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]

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

[fencer]

So Catherine.....

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

[michika]

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

[i have crabs]

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]

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.

[michika]

I think so too, we have a giant swap in August possibly. I'm hoping most everything will have grown out considerably by then. So far the blue blob coral hasn't been doing much. Its SLOWLY spreading its base out I think. The thing is such a slow grower its a bit hard to tell.

Kevin's just forbidden to touch the RKE now, and my new phone, 'cause I'm afraid he'll screw it up.

[michika]

It has begun...

If you remember this from a little while ago, this is now what constitutes a before shot.


Then there was this...me being silly, and its starting to become a tradition. I did it on the 230g build, and I did it tonight!


Some "quality" work had been done before hand putting up this wall. The studs ranged from 22" to 26" on center. The electrical wiring is also running quite hot to the touch. Kevin believes its aluminum. He also wants to re-route plumbing, electrical, and the heating vents while the ceiling is down.


Next we knocked down the wall to expose the extra ghetto bathroom we have in the basement.




The ducting that has an offset with no purpose. The offset is the reason for the bulkhead. When we re-route everything we'll be downsizing the pipe, assuming its okay to do so.


Where we've left off. There is still clean up to do, and a lot more ceiling to pull down.


My new little tang did eat today, and the aggression between all the fish has diminished to almost nothing. I'm still waiting in hopes of getting a photo or two for ID.

I also wish that I'd purchased better quality garbage bags. Those, along with a wet/dry shop vac is on the list of stuff to purchase in the near future.

[JDigital]

Not gonna start a new thread for the big tank?

[michika]

I don't really want to for the sake of simplicity, although maybe I should...thoughts?