Myka's 69 SPS Tank 2015

[DiscusHeckel]

I have just finished reading your article on Reef Hobbyist Magazine Mindy. You are a natural writer and excellent source of information. I have learned a lot about fish medication, which is my weakest point. Thanks

[Myka]

Originally Posted by DiscusHeckel

I have just finished reading your article on Reef Hobbyist Magazine Mindy. You are a natural writer and excellent source of information. I have learned a lot about fish medication, which is my weakest point. Thanks

Thanks Bülent! I do enjoy writing. I write weekly "Pro Tips" for the LFS newsletter too - mostly newbie articles. Those will go online at some point. I've learned a lot from many writers over the years and applied their techniques, and now it's time for me to "pay it back".

[Myka]

Big Bad John aka Johnny the Johnsons Fairy Wrasse is learning how to flash. My first time using a video editing app...didn't manage to do what I wanted to, but I hope you enjoy anyway!
https://quik.gopro.com/v/aAgJCoKGLq/

[markalot]

Wow, the red really comes out.

Tank looks good as well, we could use MORE pics please.

[martinphillip03]

You could practice your video editing by filming your whole tank. I liked the music in the other video!

Marty

Originally Posted by Myka

Big Bad John aka Johnny the Johnsons Fairy Wrasse is learning how to flash. My first time using a video editing app...didn't manage to do what I wanted to, but I hope you enjoy anyway!
https://quik.gopro.com/v/aAgJCoKGLq/

[Myka]

Originally Posted by markalot

Wow, the red really comes out.

Tank looks good as well, we could use MORE pics please.

Yeah, his fins turn bright red, his body turns yellow, and the iridescent patches behind his head really stand out.

Yeah pics...jeez, I hardly do water changes lately. When I videoed Johnny, that was the first time that I sat down and enjoyed my tank in many months.

Originally Posted by martinphillip03

You could practice your video editing by filming your whole tank. I liked the music in the other video!

Marty

Haha, thanks Marty!

[Myka]

So I decided to put off the tank upgrade until fall for a few reasons...

1) The weather is nice now, and I don't feel like doing the transfer.

2) The cost of glass has gone up 40% since I got the current tank built (Canadian dollar was on-par then), so I'm a bit miffed.

3) I bought a couple fish that may be poor choices. So if I upgrade the tank in the fall this gives me a few months to decide if the new fish will stay or not.

The fish I bought are a 2" Purple Tang and a 2.25" Multibar Angelfish. All the fish in my tank are very docile and friendly, so the Purple Tang may be too much for them, plus he might grow fast. The Multibar Angelfish - well, he may eat the corals. So these two may be bad choices. Hehehe.

[reefmutt]

I'd love to try a multibar.. but I'm too scared. Nice fish.
That purple being the last fish in, he should be ok.. assuming he isn't a nut..
Mindy, it might be time for some coral shots.. just sayin..

[Myka]

Originally Posted by reefmutt

I'd love to try a multibar.. but I'm too scared. Nice fish.
That purple being the last fish in, he should be ok.. assuming he isn't a nut..
Mindy, it might be time for some coral shots.. just sayin..

The corals look like poo. No nutrients in the tank since removing all the fish back in February or whatever that was. There's only been 3 fish in the tank since then. Acros have gone BAD downhill. Most are very pale, lost a few. Madly trying to get more fish in the tank. I've been dosing KNO3 and have NO3 somewhere 5-10 ppm, and PO4 is non-existent. When I dose PO4 I get green cyano, but I've still been trying to get some in there. Meh...once the fish are in that will help a lot.

[Myka]

Well, there is an ANGELFISH in my reef now - I swore I'd never do that again after that coral biting jerkface Flame Angelfish I had in the old 90-gallon. Installed the Multibar Angelfish last night. He picks at food, but doesn't eat really well (typical Multibar) though his weight is pretty good actually. Still, I gave him a quick and dirty run through quarantine along with the Purple Tang. I hope it was good enough. The Multibar came from SDC and his import papers say he came from Marshal Islands which is considered one of the best places to get them from, but who knows if this is accurate. Hopefully he doesn't see the corals as a food source - especially the gorgonians. If he eats the gorgs, I'll be disappointed. There is some tasty (and expensive) flubber in the tank too. Why is flubber so expensive?

The Purple Tang is doing well, hopefully he grows slowly and isn't too big of a jerk and he can be happy in the tank for a few years. He's a little cutie right now, but I know better.

Current stock list:

Breeding pair of Onyx Clowns
Bonded pair of Helfrich's Firefish
Johnson's Fairy Wrasse
Multibar Angelfish
Purple Tang


Future plans:

Candy Basslet (my holy grail fish)
Bell's Flasher Wrasse
Blue Flasher Wrasse

[lynchmob3000]

I'm dosing DIY Aquaforest Components 1+2+3+. I have the containers mixed differently though. I wanted to use Magnesium sulfate because my tank is super low in sulfate, plus I wanted a bit of a pH boost, and I also find my tank uses more potassium than the mix provides, so I made the following changes:



Container 1: Calcium chloride + Components Strong A & B

Container 2: Sodium carbonate + Components Strong C

Container 3: Mineral Salt + Components Strong D



Then I add 10g Potassium chloride and 10g Magnesium sulfate to the freshly mixed saltwater for water changes.

Are you adding their recommended grams per liter? I'm wondering if I can use the brs soda ash and calcium chloride at the same rates with the same amounts of components strong they recommend?!










Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Myka]

Originally Posted by lynchmob3000

Are you adding their recommended grams per liter? I'm wondering if I can use the brs soda ash and calcium chloride at the same rates with the same amounts of components strong they recommend?!

Yes, the Aquaforest bulk chems are the same as anywhere else. The AF KH Buffer is Sodium bicarbonate and the AF Calcium is Calcium chloride.

[lynchmob3000]

Originally Posted by Myka

Yes, the Aquaforest bulk chems are the same as anywhere else. The AF KH Buffer is Sodium bicarbonate and the AF Calcium is Calcium chloride.

Thank you! I just wanted a little reassurance


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Myka]

Spike the Multibar Angelfish has been doing really well. I haven't seen him eat frozen food, pellets, or even live blackworms, but he has been maintaining lean but ok weight pecking at the rocks. However, tonight I saw him bite an Acro, and upon closer look, he's been actively eating Acro polyps. He has his favorite corals (luckily not my favs), but he's got to go ASAP. I'll probably order in another one, and give it one more shot.

[Myka]

Operation Spike Removal was successful. I revamped the tank seeing as I removed all the rocks to get Spike out. He killed a few Acros. Bad fish.

I already ordered another one. What's that saying... "Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me."?? Heh...let's see if I'm luckier this time around. Multibar are just too beautiful to not try again.

[reefmutt]

You are brave, Mindy.

[Ucantwin]

I want to add an angel but the first try didn't work out to well as it started nipping coral. I am to scared to try again.

[Randy27]

Had the same experience with the flame angel, so do i swore off angels. Tried a heniochus diphreates bc I read so many places that they're "reef safe". Bad idea, he tried to eat everything. Not more angels or butterflies for me You're brave! Good luck

[kainic]

Genicanthus angels are known to be reef safe. They are pelagic feeders so won't touch any invert nor any coral. They are also smaller than other angels and would fit your tank.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Myka

Operation Spike Removal was successful. I revamped the tank seeing as I removed all the rocks to get Spike out. He killed a few Acros. Bad fish.

So when I said "he killed a few Acros" I didn't really describe the total damage very well. I didn't take a picture of what I removed from the tank a couple weeks prior to this picture, but this picture shows about half the damage. It was mostly smaller pieces. The colonies for the most part were able to survive the molestation.

August:



Here is the RR OP (in August):

[Myka]

I'll take some update pics in the next week or so. Most of the remaining Acros have mostly/partly recovered, but there are still a few that are struggling. It's been a long, hard road out of hell. (5 point to whomever can quote the lyrics!)

[reefmutt]

Ouch!! That’s brutal.

[DiscusHeckel]

Originally Posted by Myka

I'll take some update pics in the next week or so. Most of the remaining Acros have mostly/partly recovered, but there are still a few that are struggling. It's been a long, hard road out of hell. (5 point to whomever can quote the lyrics!)

Hello Mindy,

You have not updated your tank thread for a long time. How is your tank doing?

Cheers

Bülent

[Alex Costa]

Funny to see this topic bumped up today.
Today I finally got a frag of pectinia Space Invader, a coral that since I saw in this thread, just stayed in my mind.
I'm curious to see what's happening too.
Regards,
Alex

[Myka]

Hey guys! Thanks for still following! I haven't managed to get any decent photos lately but I did catch a few short videos showing big PE. Tapatalk won't post them though. I'll see what I can do.