obrien.david.j

Phase 1 Success! Bigger Skimmer Box installed Bigger Skimmer Installed! (also relocated CO2 bottle off the equipment shelf, to the other side of the fish room) Before upgrading the CaReactor, there will be some cable management done. That will be phase 2 and 3. Photos in order. 0. Before, (aka My current skimmer & Ca reactor setup) 1. Before, Skimmer Removed 2. Old Skimmer Box, before removal 3. New Skimmer Box, before filling 4. After

Okay, I had to look up these two fish. Between the two, I like the Acares better. I like the look of yellow variation of Vanderbilt, but I think they mature into the dark blue form. And then I like the Acares better again.

Looking nice! I'm partial to the Banggai. Love to see them.

GMK is doing fine so far. I’ve moved it into a spot that gets concentrated small foods twice a day. (My baby banggai basket)

You've got a good punch list of activities! Congrats on getting an Apex and Trident. Between these two, I have diagnosed and improved temp control, alk control, pH issues, and tuned my Ca Reactor & Kalk addition cycles. I feel it has really helped me. For example, I've timed my current Kalk consumption rate to 4 days.

Hole drilled successfully for 3" overflow pipe through a uniseal. (final pipe will be 9" tall, to keep a constant height in the box for the skimmer)

Love the waterfall baffle system. Go Green. Wait, I meant to say Go Beaves! (Orange) The tank looks sweet. For contrast, you could add some Montipora Setosa and get that vibrant orange pop. (plus, it's generally easy) My favorite wire mgt solution is Wire Ducts. I've ordered them in multiple sizes, going all the way up to big. Here's a link for 4" wide, by 1.5" tall. Go back to their Wire Duct level, and see all the options. https://www.automationdirect.com/adc/shopping/catalog/wiring_solutions/wire_duct/wide_finger_wall/t1-4015g-1

It's the holiday season. Besides lots of food, friends, and festivities. I usually find time for a few tank related projects. This week, I'm working on upsizing my skimmer and Ca reactor. What are tank projects are you working on this season?

My recent history: 2020 I remodeled my fishroom, added two 50gal frag tanks, and upgraded the display tank from 120g -> 250gal 2021 kicked my butt with red slime, dinos, chemistry off, tank crash, etc 2022 has been about getting everything back on track, and things are starting to grow like weeds (see my battle with dinos thread if you want to know what i've done) In all of this, I've kept my favorite skimmer (Reef Octopus Elite INT-200) and my 1990's CaReactor (K2R). Both are keeping up, but I'm expecting them to be surpassed by tank needs in 2023. So I'm upsizing. New Skimmer: Reef Octopus Regal 300-INT New CaReactor: Reef Octopus CR5000D (8" chamber) My current skimmer & Ca reactor setup: (aka, Before) Newly created Skimmer box, with skimmer for sizing test: (still needs overflow holes drilled before install) Roughly what the two next to each other look like. CaReactor placement in fish room still WIP.

Harvest #26 complete (Dec 28th) Learning - harvested slightly over 2 weeks. and *DID* add mid-grow fertilizer kicker. Harvest is back to dark-dark grow of the past

I'm on the west side (97229) and I get my RO water tested monthly, as part of my ICP testing. No phosphates have been detected in the past 12 months I've been doing this. I like your idea of triple checking your test kit. Maybe a club member is close enough, or just take a sample to one or two LFS's - and have them check. For SPS die off and Algae problems - Argh, that's the classic.

Deal. PM me if you're able to hook up this week, or when you want it.

Passing on a white elephant gift from the club December party. Looks new, and I just don't need it. New $32, asking $20. https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reefdose-deluxe-4-color-tubing-accessories-kit-red-sea.html

I've got a lightly used GEO CR818 calcium reactor to sell. This has an 8" reactor chamber, holds a ton of media. Recirculation by a Sicce 3.0 pump, and integrated pH probe holder. Includes CO2 check valve. New these start at $695, before options. I'm asking $400, in the Pdx metro area. https://www.geosreef.com/product/cr818-calcium-reactor/

Good looking tank. And I'm impressed it takes three remote controls to keep it running. (Can't help you with all for reef. I'm a CaReactor/Kalk user.)

Bingo!

Santa is good to everyone! And there is one other reefing ornament in the picture to be found. I only called out the obvious one. Anyone spot it?

Happy Holidays everyone! May the success of your tanks continue through 2023, or may the wish for tank improvement come true in 2023. Our tree this year has a Christmas gnome at the top, and one special ornament. Can you zoom in and find it?

Actually, that was one of the claims of SeaTak. It's natural based, and according to the creator, encourages faster encrusting. Invariably, I always get some insta-set on the base of the corals. (It's a spray) Haven't had a problem.

Nice! thanks

I'm a super glue person. Thick gel glue, stick in frag, spray with insta-set. Wait two minutes. Dip frag in cup of tank water to wash off the insta-set, put frag in tank. (dump cup of water down drain, not back into tank) I agree with @Manny Tavan, I like that I can snap frags off their plug and then glue them directly on the rocks. All this being said, the next time I do frags - I'm going to try the sample of SeaTak I got.

Happy Holidays to you and your family too! and Thank You for hosting one of the club meetings this summer. Seeing your place was great.

Where did the live rock come from? Local source, or ordered from the wild by any chance?

I've never been to a Tyree sponsored event. Looking forward to it. I went back to the Coral Reef Farmers homepage. Looks like these are well planned events. The day before Portland (21st), an event is being held at SeaTac (20th). I'm impressed with the efficiency these vendors must have. Setup, Show, Teardown - Drive - Setup, Sleep, Setup, Show, Teardown... It might be interesting to do a roadtrip up to SeaTac, attend the show. Return home, attend Portland Show. And compare. Might have to add this to my calendar. SeaTac Show 20th Vendor Setup Saturday 5/20 [7:00 AM - 11:00 AM] Vendor Hall Open to Public Saturday 5/20 [11:00 AM - 4:00 PM] Vendor Teardown Saturday 5/20 [4:00 PM - 6:00 PM] Portland Show 21st Vendor Setup Sunday 5/21 [7:00 AM - 11:00 AM] Vendor Hall Open to Public Sunday 5/21 [11:00 AM - 4:00 PM] Vendor Teardown Sunday 5/21 [4:00 PM - 6:00 PM] http://www.coralfarmersmarket.com/cfmprotour_seatac_2023.htm

Thanks for the reminder! Great reminder to everyone.