obrien.david.j

I'll be there.

20 hours ago, reefrun said:

I told you those jawbreakers shrooms  are hardy! Looks like a pain, but hopefully it will all be worth it!

Jawbreaker and green goni - both are hardy!   I set the tank to low/slow flow, specifically for them.

16 hours ago, islandVib3s said:

my gawd! your tank look amazing lol even with the gunk what the heck!? lol one day ill be there hahahahah

Don't be confused by East Frag tank looking nice  (full violent flows, fed heavier every day) and West Frag swampy tank.   And I'll admit, west tank needs to get broken down. some time this summer.  It's just TOO crowded.   

If anyone wants to make an offer for effectively the whole west tank frag rack that's fully grown out, let me know.   Built on an 'building an obsession' 11x16" frag rack, on 4" tall legs ($65) to let water flow cleanly under and above.   plus a bunch of cool monties, one species of zoas, torts, and a number of other SPS.    

12 minutes ago, Brittany said:

I’ve purchased a rental space at the frag market April 27th & 28th.  It’s been fun getting ready for the show.  My husband and I have been working on our display stands and it’s turning out really nice!!  
I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

Sweet!   I'll be there helping the club spot, freshly back from a trip to Hawaii.  Should be mellow and chill. 

For my skin complexion, a successful trip will be judged by no sunburn.   SPF 50 Baby!

Today was the day...   I'd changed the light spectrum, and the slime in this tank got "better" but just never cleaned up.   So...   Removable Frag tank plumbing system pays off again.

Two cardinals, one crab, seven shrimp, a large Goni (thanks @SuncrestReef) and a single orange mushroom (thanks @reefrun) rescued and returned to their main home.   They were happy enough in temporary holding basket, in the east frag tank.

BTW, east frag tank is almost growing out of the water!  

Looked up my purchase details.  Ordered two of these tanks in July 2019.   Amazing how the price has increased.  They've basically doubled.

I bought from National Tank Outlet, and selected Norwesco based tanks.

https://www.ntotank.com/75gallon-norwesco-white-vertical-storage-tank-x9749447

https://www.ntotank.com/norwesco-vertical-storage-tanks

5 minutes ago, Coug Reef said:

Oh, and yes they came with threaded 2 inch bulkheads.  I wanted to use 1 inch PVC, so I got a 2 inch threaded pipe adaptor and then used a reducing bushing.   

I bought my two 75 gal tanks the exact same way.   Went to norwestco on the web, was connected to a distributor, ordered them Will-Call from the Washougal facility.  CAREFUL- If my memory is right, you have to pick models that have a W in the mfg site, not all plants make all sizes.

And YES, pay the extra ($10?) for the bulkheads to be pre-installed.   I wanted a smaller size and thought, "I can install those myself."  But in a fit of genius, I got lazy and ordered them pre-installed.   Looking now, I'm not sure how I'd install them myself.  Life saver.

13 hours ago, Krux said:

Fantastic intel, thank you! 

It's the reason I'm liking Reef Moonshiners system.   For me, it's not about Chasing Numbers only.  It's also about getting feedback, What does being "off number" really mean.   When to react strongly, when to let-it-ride.

For example, notice I didn't pick on any of the "daily" type elements.  (moonshiner term)    "Daily's" are consumed or vanish relatively fast.   Or need an ICP-MS test in order to believe the accuracy of the value.  And, unless they're added regularly (aka, almost daily), they'll go down naturally - fast.  <-- Assuming you've removed the source of what raised them in the first place.

• Cobalt, Chrome, Selenium, Iron, Manganese, Iodine (and Copper)

There's a pretty regular question in the moonshiners group.  Oh No, I accidently dosed (big amount, eg: 4-8x) more of one of my daily elements - what should I do?   Answer is reguarly, Do Nothing - just wait a week for them to burn off naturally, and resume normal dosing.     

The first step, is to admit you have a problem... I'm a Moonshiner.  (and I like it)

Took your first test results, typed them into moonshiners excel sheet to get it's interpretation of the situation.   Here's my translation of it's results.

• Potassium Very Low "correct to target level immediately" (379, expected 410)
• Boron is High, close to critical.   "do not let exceed 10 to avoid damaging corals" (9.7, expected 6.  Critical is 10)
• Iodine is "low, but not depleted"
• Barium is WAY high "not recommended to exceed 100.   Urgently find source of Barium to avoid further increase"  (101, expected <= 15)
• Molybdenum high "let it naturally settle down" (37, expected ~15)
• Vanadium is above, but "still no concern"  (7.5, expected 1-2 range)

My interpretation.   Need to bring Potassium up to target right away.  It's one of those basics.    M.Shiners recommends Brightwell Potasssion-P, mixed into solution.   I think I have this if you need it.

Only way I know to bring boron down is Dilution, eg large water changes.  Or check on your absorbers.

Otherwise, I assume Barium came from your UV unit.   

Dino's seem to come when something(s) aren't in balance.  (my impression).   I'm going to refer you back to the beginning.   I've found no better single consistent source of info than...  (they're up to Rev H now)

Summary of what to do about Dino's:

1. join the "Mack's reef Dinoflagellates support group!" on facebook
2. goto "Files" on the top row and download "Dealing With Dinos" (currently Rev G - published Feb 2022)
3. read it, top to bottom.  Think about it, read it again.
4. If nothing else, just read the index.  It covers chemistry, identification, bacteria, phyto, copeopds, UV, hydrogen peroxide, silica dosing, blackouts, ...   All methods I'd read about in different forums, in one place.

So THIS is what you brought up last time we talked!  I didn't realize how recent it really was.  Looking forward to what happened next.

Harvest #47 complete (Mar 29)

• Easy Summary, no change to procedures, same good results, including 100% Poseidon Reef Fertilizer.   
• All is fine, dark and thick.
• Also harvested my 5 and 1 gallon pod culture jars.   I'm clearly not a pod growing master, but they're alive

Fresh water, and starter culture of pods.

PhytoFeast, bubbler, and heater - Check.   Good to ignore it again

10 hours ago, Abarger16 said:

One final touch up of paint and we will be leak testing asap!

Looking good.  I'm enjoying following your build.   Keep the updates and pictures coming.

I want to see how those "white wings" to the right and left of the tank will contrast with the tank itself.

41 minutes ago, badguitarist said:

Thanks for the links, It looks like these places have what I need.

And it looks a lot cheaper to buy form F.A.F.  (verses Amazon)  Winner Winner, Chicken  Dinner!

1 hour ago, badguitarist said:

Oh I should clarify. I’m Kyle @ Tampico Coral Farms. I just hide in my little country home and wholesale coral to pet stores and wholesalers across the US. A few thousand gallons of water, give or take. I think there’s a YouTube video and a social media if your inclined to see what we do.

I feel better!   Thank you for adding, "... a few thousand gallons..."

That's funny.  I went through my amazon search history, and found the last generic sodium nitrate I bought.   Picture attached.  (it's the same as yours)   

You've got me curious.  What size system are you keeping, that's chewing through 1/3 lb of NaNO3 every week.

What a fantastic meeting.  Interesting tour, great host(s), and a beautiful day.

In case anyone wondered what it looked like as we started the hatchery tour...

And our hostess investigating oyster larvae.

3 hours ago, danlu_gt said:

Was really looking forward to this but all 3 of us got food poisoning yesterday and still haven't fully recovered.  Please let me know whoever won the ReeFi $150 GC raffle and I'll send them the GC.

Sorry to hear the whole family is knocked down!   Hope you feel better soon.

Story of this weeks equipment adventure, that ended with a clogged 1/4" RO water line that fed my calcium reactor.

My target Alk is 9.0.    Turn on CaReactor if below 9, turn off CO2 gas if above 9.  

1. Two days ago, I notice Alk going down
2. Maybe ATO sensor is fouled, and nightly not ATO happening.  100% of ATO is through Kalk, and to help Alk & pH.  NOPE
3. Maybe I'm out of CO2 gas.  Check the pH inside calcium reactor, it's not perfect, but clearly acid (~6.55).  NOPE
4. Check CO2 on/off control, maybe Apex outlet is busted, CO2 Asked to be on, but not flowing.  NOPE

Look in fishroom, see that there is no water coming OUT of the CaReactor, back into the sump.

• My CaReactor is fed by 1/4" RO tubing, pushed ~20feet into reactor, and returned ~20feet back to reactor

BINGO!   Water line must be clogged.   Air Compressor fixes that.   Set it all back up again.

Give it overnight... Alk is coming back up.

My corals are consuming an impressive amount of Alk each day.   My ATO is about 5 gallons of straigh disolved KalkWater.  (not paste).   Calcium Reactor is a large 8" diameter chamber model, and usually isn't enough to fully keep up.    Looks like this week I proved I really need BOTH methods to keep the tank going!

EVENT SUMMARY:

11:30 - Shellfish Hatchery Tour

• Whiskey Creek Shellfish Hatchery
• 2975 Netarts Bay Rd
• Tillamook, OR  97141

12:45 - Meeting at Brittany's House

• 4025 Westwood Drive
• Tillamook OR 97141
• Brittany 503-801-1777

Weather should be fantastic, and you can get to and from this meeting in full daylight.    

• 11:30-12:30   Hatchery tour starts.  
• 12:45-3pm-ish:   Club meeting, Tank Tour, and Lunch at Brittany's.
• Drive time from PDX and Vancouver metro areas is generally 1.5-2hrs
• Drive time from Hatchery to Brittany's is generally 20minutes
• Tillamook Cheese Factory/Creamery is an easy stop on the way home if you're interested, they close at 6pm

NOTE:  The most direct route from PDX is to take Hwy 6, direct into Tillamook.    Hatchery is slightly south, Brittany's house is slightly north of Tillamook - close to the Creamery and Hwy to get you back home.    

9 hours ago, Brittany said:

Raffle information:

We will raffle off three things.  I’ll announce one each day for the next three days.

 

First item is a Salty Raven Cup.

Same rules as normal.  PNWMAS officers in charge of raffle and tickets.  😜

That's very generous of you.   (And an awesome cup.  I know, I own one.)

I'll bring raffle and petty cash supplies.  So we're all set in the mechanics department.

2 hours ago, SuncrestReef said:

The weather forecast for Tillamook on Saturday looks great!

Saturday's meeting at the coast is going to be Beautiful!

Harvest #46 complete (Mar 11th)

• Easy Summary, no change to procedures, same good results, including 100% Poseidon Reef Fertilizer.   
• Had this harvest planned at +2wks, and Life Happens.. Looks like it was another 4wk harvest.   
• All is fine, dark and thick.

I found the link to Nitrate Destroyer.   

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/poor-mans-nutrients-control-donovans-nitrate-destroyer.302685/

Is this the  "Zeovit Forum"?

https://forum.zeovit.com/

As a complete side note.  I just bought a bag of zeolit.  I'm constantly low on Barium (like 3-5 range), and found a discussion that it may leach from Zeovit.  Next time I open my calcium reactor, I'm going to put a layer of zeolit on top.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/high-barium-and-zeovit-media.1012652/

Another side note, I'm using the KZ "Coral 1, 3, 4" (in addition to moonshiner system/MS).  This is NOT the zeovit system.  It's additives on the side.  Overall, their product lines and offerings are confusing.   My thought behind using KZ Coral started before moving to MS system.  Do weekly additions, keep them up.   I've just kept them up.  May drop now that I'm feeling on top of things.

The red goni in the lower left corner make an impressive statement.   

Sweet colors and great variety.   What month will you be in town - Any chance you'll be in town March 16, to attend the club meeting at Brittany's (in Tillamook) and a tour of Whiskey Creek Hatchery?