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Unread 09/03/2014, 07:37 PM   #376
muttley000
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Really looking good. Did the flow carve the sand away in the middle there?


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Unread 09/03/2014, 10:54 PM   #377
karimwassef
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Yes. It's very slow, but every surge moves a little pinch of salt and after a few days of surges, it goes to this exact shape- even when I try to fill it in.

The only way to reshape the sand is to redirect the flow at the source or with obstruction.


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Unread 09/03/2014, 11:55 PM   #378
mtlreeffreak
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wow this really is SICK!


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Unread 09/04/2014, 11:41 PM   #379
Joel_155
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Very nice Karim! Impressive work for the past year or so!


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Unread 09/04/2014, 11:57 PM   #380
karimwassef
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Thanks guys. Until It's covered in coralline and demonstrating coral growth, I won't call it a success yet. I'm thankful for all the great help I've gotten here and expect I need a lot more to get to my goal.


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Unread 09/06/2014, 07:07 PM   #381
karimwassef
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A little new learning on the surge.

The outlets need to be horizontal. If they're pointing slightly upward, you risk splashing. If slightly downward, you have sandstorms. It sounds trivial, but with 35gallons moving over a few seconds, small angles have big effects.

Having a ledge or rock immediately under the outlet also acts as a guide.


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Unread 09/14/2014, 05:48 PM   #382
karimwassef
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My macroalgae scrubber is up and running with a new platform, new lights and new macro:

 photo F7C6FBBF-BD4F-4532-882B-C983E871B846_zpsxnme1yo6.jpg

 photo 81EE9164-248C-454B-BBCD-97954044135D_zpsfisrpetk.jpg

 photo 9B001498-CEF8-4A72-9EF9-697406F98C7D_zpsbcnqside.jpg


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Unread 09/14/2014, 09:01 PM   #383
karimwassef
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Also updated my kalkwasser reactor with a stirrer

 photo C8E9CCFB-E26D-43E8-B0C2-9999F397818A_zpst62euz8z.jpg


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Unread 09/14/2014, 09:13 PM   #384
karimwassef
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- Kalkwasser ATO (done)
- Macroalgae/algae scrubber (done)

- CO2 reduction plastic sheet on aux containers (starting next)
- Nighttime vinegar / batch bacteria (close to starting)
- Mylar curtains for increased lighting
- Concrete fish housing under overflow
- Calcium reactor
- Exhaust fan for humidity control
- DT to Sump forced flow (bubble reduction)
- Outside mangrove greenhouse

I'm going to upgrade a few things - better light on the scrubber, doser on the kalkwasser reactor instead of ATO.

Corals doing well. Got a few more corals too

 photo FF8075C2-95F1-4396-96ED-17B4E3EED081_zps0qhs5kcg.jpg

 photo 074FA50A-BE65-4879-8DEC-6E7D110DE7CE_zpstla9fusi.jpg

 photo 4CCDABE9-5123-4F12-9640-A3AC3189BE1E_zpsetnecfjt.jpg


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Unread 09/14/2014, 09:14 PM   #385
karimwassef
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 photo 77BC0DF8-6069-48A7-9A86-C51B48E2A002_zpsyin55ytv.jpg


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Unread 09/14/2014, 09:15 PM   #386
karimwassef
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 photo AA1D18AE-E289-4015-B721-81440BD51E6D_zpsmijb05ou.jpg

 photo 95C94AA3-E2E9-4E51-935C-BB8AADED4178_zpsdzxnktig.jpg


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Unread 09/20/2014, 07:45 PM   #387
karimwassef
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So since adding the macroalgae scrubber, the hair algae in the tank has been getting thinner and more "fluffy" except where there is very strong flow.

Strong algae:
 photo 6B45E405-2D99-4567-BA54-0EB3459E2FBB_zpstqn9z1bq.jpg

Weakening:
 photo 26532538-44BB-4D16-B66D-4A7FA4E52623_zpsonywxzyo.jpg

In the shade too:
 photo A045131C-9B9F-4DF2-9CF3-21FF40B720B1_zpsirzfxvzh.jpg


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Unread 09/20/2014, 07:46 PM   #388
karimwassef
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So I think it's slowly deteriorating.


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Unread 09/20/2014, 11:36 PM   #389
Joel_155
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Looks like it. Not sure if you can manually remove it but when it dies it will release all that PO4 back into the system


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Unread 09/21/2014, 12:04 AM   #390
karimwassef
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I have a GFO reactor and the scrubber. I expect that they're killing of the hair.

I wish I had a micro fork to wind it up like a plate of spaghetti!


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Unread 09/21/2014, 12:10 AM   #391
karimwassef
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I have to say.. The hair is housing an outrageous number of mini pods. They're jumping around it like fleas in a hairy dog. I first noticed them when my arrow and emerald crabs were eating the hair. They were actually going for the pods and eating the hair incidentally.


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Unread 09/24/2014, 10:08 PM   #392
madean
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Thank you for providing all of the information you do. It's nice to see people take the time out to share information instead of just bash others. Again thank you.


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Unread 09/24/2014, 10:32 PM   #393
karimwassef
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Love to share and learn for others. This can be a social hobby, after all.
When I started in the 80s, this kind of sharing was a dream.

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Unread 10/04/2014, 07:19 PM   #394
karimwassef
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Ok. Getting started on the fish hotel

 photo 5BA9988B-F5F9-4D00-B7DF-817FEA7371C8_zpsecgrqfuz.jpg

I'm going to test it as PVC only to see if it's viable before covering it up. Maybe I'll do foam this time.


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Unread 10/04/2014, 07:20 PM   #395
karimwassef
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 photo C97ACC7C-9114-4151-A49E-6C1A1DF7BAC4_zps46gs45eu.jpg

I had to cut back some apartments to fit it through the existing rock work openings.


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Unread 10/04/2014, 07:32 PM   #396
karimwassef
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They hang our together but noone's moving in

 photo 6D0C8D8C-E7BF-48E9-9285-51EA88376140_zpsu1jh73eo.jpg

 photo 639A3FCD-A512-49C3-9998-3CFCFC3FE471_zps5iyqvado.jpg


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Unread 10/05/2014, 06:46 AM   #397
Lavoisier
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They will need time to trust it and some may be waiting to see if it receives a 5 star or a 4 star rating

It should look good when "covered." I worry the foam would float the structure unless you used some cement or mortar mix as well.


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Unread 10/05/2014, 09:26 AM   #398
karimwassef
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So the PVC isn't light. The structure probably weighs ~10lbs as it is.

Two nights now and no one is using it. The Naso and Purple are long time tank mates (came from someone's tank) and don't display aggression at each other. They sleep under the rocky ledge, nearly exposed without issue. The small sailfin and rabbit each find a little crack to sleep in.

I don't know if the white side by side rooms are freaking them out or what. I'll give it a week.


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Unread 10/14/2014, 08:46 PM   #399
Michael Hoaster
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Karim, they may not move in. I remember when my old reef tank was set up, when the lights started dimming, all the fish went to their own private spots, away from each other. With all the room they have in your big tank, I doubt they'd want to sleep together. Territories and all that.

My advice then would be to build multiple single-fish dwellings, and spread them throughout the tank. This would also offer you the chance to make any changes to your fake rockwork you may have thought of since the build. If they don't use them, at least you made the tank look better to you.

Personally I'd probably do nothing. The fish will find their own spots-sounds like they already have. Plus your rock wall is cool as is.


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Unread 10/14/2014, 10:14 PM   #400
karimwassef
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Thanks Michael and welcome to the thread!

I was under the impression that the lack of houses and crevices was increasing fish stress, but my PVC "projects" didn't change any of that.

The 4 fish keep rotating housing spots a little each night...


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