bowen1022 Posted February 13, 2016 Author Share Posted February 13, 2016 So today I went to Ocean in a Box to pick up my thicker sand that I ordered. I came back and was watching my fish then looked away and back again and he was dead:( I think it was a result of a not fully cycled tank as my nitrites were a little high this past week. I thought it was cycled when I tested and got back all zeros but I guess not. I added a small piece of live rock and my coarser live sand hopefully that will help speed up through the cycle process. Im pretty bummed because I really liked that little guy but I guess thats why you take things slow. I hope that nothing too bad happens to the corals and Im looking forward to getting back on track. Overall a pretty depressing day, but I guess there are worse things that could happen. Any tips and criticism would be appreciated to help make me a better reefer. Thanks all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 Sorry about the fish. It has happened to many people when they add fish too early. I use the Dr. Tims bacteria when I start a cycle as it speeds up the process. I also usually start curing live rock for months while I am thinking about upgrading. I hate the cycle process personaliy so anything I can do to speed it up I do. Did you remove the old sand and then add the new sand? Stirring up a sand bed in a small tank can cause a major spike in nitrites. I lost a fish that way once because I was trying to get a wrasse out of a biocube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowen1022 Posted February 13, 2016 Author Share Posted February 13, 2016 I didn't remove the sand or stir it up at all for that matter. I just put a thin layer on top which should settle and 'blend' with time. It is mostly to keep that fine oolite from blowing around. Im not as bummed anymore because I've learned a lesson. But it still kinda sucks. Thank you for the reply! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowen1022 Posted February 14, 2016 Author Share Posted February 14, 2016 Well I did about a 50% water change today, it was WC day anyway so I decided I should try and get my water parameters back to normal. I cleaned the back chambers of debris and re organized everything while I was at it. I got a new cube stand which has made everything much more clean looking. Here are some random photos. I think I know someone that has this same stand 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Ha ha ! That stand looks familiar! Looking good!???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paratore Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Love the stand and how organized everything looks! it's not the typical unorganized, wire crazed, messy stand....or maybe that's just me.... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowen1022 Posted February 14, 2016 Author Share Posted February 14, 2016 Haha Paratore I'm pretty sure it's not just you. And I'm convinced if I keep it nice I will have better success Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowen1022 Posted February 14, 2016 Author Share Posted February 14, 2016 And emerald was the reason for getting it Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paratore Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 It will probably help cuz you'll be organized and more likely to take care of the tank! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 I can't take credit for the IKEA stand. I got the idea from a guy on here too as well as nanoreef! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snyderjd Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Looks great. I love the, everything is better by the ocean sign... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowen1022 Posted February 14, 2016 Author Share Posted February 14, 2016 That stand is so easy to organize and it looks neat! I just hope it doesn't fall apart (my luck would have it) but emerald you have a 20 on it so I'm a little more relieved Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowen1022 Posted February 14, 2016 Author Share Posted February 14, 2016 Looks great. I love the, everything is better by the ocean sign... Thanks Snyder! I actually changed out the sign for a picture with waves and a pier. I might put the Ocean on on the left side but I haven't decided Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 That stand is so easy to organize and it looks neat! I just hope it doesn't fall apart (my luck would have it) but emerald you have a 20 on it so I'm a little more relieved Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Yeah that was my fear too but it's sturdier than it looks so your 10 will be no problem and I like all the cubbies and being able to hide everything. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowen1022 Posted February 14, 2016 Author Share Posted February 14, 2016 Emerald how's the tank doing lol hopefully better than mine[emoji4] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Tank is doing well thanks! ???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowen1022 Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share Posted February 16, 2016 So my Zoas have been closed up since yesterday. I'm not sure why. One of my hermits is bothering them a little but I've read they normally open back up after 15 min or so. I wonder what's up, too high lighting or? Here is a pic of the poor guys Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowen1022 Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share Posted February 16, 2016 Starting to open a little bit. There were a few other polyps starting to open but receded when I added more water to the back chambers and tested salinity. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Contrary to what people say zoas are not always easy even for some of the masters. Some are hardier than others but having done growouts with many a pro some of the more expensive ones will look great , close up on you and then melt. Ask Reefnjunkies about a soprano growout he did... Zoas are prone to infections. I used to dip them in coral rx, or sometimes fish flex but now I just leave them alone because sometimes you end up with more problems if you start treating the tank. My magicians are closed up right now. I suspect it is because the torch is irritating them. Many times if I just leave them alone they will fight off whatever is ailing them and open up again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowen1022 Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share Posted February 16, 2016 Thanks for the info emerald! It's really appreciated. I did dip in revive when I got them. More are opening now which is nice. I'm surprised because I normally don't like Zoas but I love these ones and were upset when they weren't opening Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Thanks for the info emerald! It's really appreciated. I did dip in revive when I got them. More are opening now which is nice. I'm surprised because I normally don't like Zoas but I love these ones and were upset when they weren't opening Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk There are lots of different dips that you can use, Actually I mistyped and use coral revive too before putting them in the tank. I have also used furadantin and fishflex which are both antibiotics. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowen1022 Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share Posted February 18, 2016 Here are some random photo updates Cats Eye Zoas Hammer Blue German Digi Birdsnest Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowen1022 Posted February 21, 2016 Author Share Posted February 21, 2016 So I just got back from a 3 day trip away from school. I tested my basic param's and got Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: ~0 pH: 8.2 All of my Zoa polyps are out now and three out of the four SPS I have are showing good extension. The sarmentosa doesn't have great extension and I'm thinking maybe due to flow. Unknown SPS is still brown and hopefully it'll start coloring back up now that my parameters are normal. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uliulimaka Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 looking great! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowen1022 Posted February 21, 2016 Author Share Posted February 21, 2016 Thanks uliulimaka! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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