obrien.david.j

2 hours ago, Zach0225 said:

Does anyone have experience with salt critters? This is my first time ordering from an online retailer and I’m hoping they are good. 

I've done a bunch of online orders over the years.  No outright negative experiences.   I've had FedEx hold shipments in Troutdale for three days, but that's a shipper issue.

I surfed saltcritters website.  Says they've been in business since 2007, that helps my piece of mind.

Delayed Posts...

Harvest #44 complete (Jan 13th) 

• Let this one go too long again.  Phyto is fine, super dark, but would prefer to harvest after two weeks.

Harvest #45 complete (Feb 9th) 

• Easy Summary, no change to procedures, same good results, including 100% Poseidon Reef Fertilizer.   
• Didn't make two weeks, but better.  Phyto is fine, super dark, but would prefer to harvest after two weeks.

On 2/12/2024 at 5:12 PM, SuncrestReef said:

You might find something here:

https://www.pvcfittingsonline.com/fittings/schedule-40-pvc/adapters/garden-hose.html

This is where I got my stash of non-metallic garden hose fittings.  

I use Bioadvance/Bayer.  I bought a few bottles a few years ago, therefore haven't had to shop for it.  But Amazon can put it on your doorstep in one day...

On 2/3/2024 at 10:49 AM, Brittany said:

Where do you get oxalinic acid?  

PM sent

35 minutes ago, Zach0225 said:

Ooph that’s awful!! I think that’s one of those 1 time mistakes!! 

Ever since then, I've plumbed my kalk reactors with 1/4" IN, and 3/8" OUT.   Just so I can't make this mistake again.   (I've had two different kalk reactors since then.)

I've been in the hobby for a long time.   Very active at times, and passively letting the tank do it's own thing other times.  Been very active for past 5 years.

I've had one serious tank crash, due to Kalk overdose.   I refilled my Kalk reactor at 11pm at night with 1cup of fresh powder.   Put the Out hose on the Inlet, the In hose on the Outlet... and overnight dosed all  the new straight white kalk paste into the tank.  Alk through the roof, Fish and Coral soup.    Knew it in the morning, house smelled like ... Dead Coral.   

I hope everyone realizes how lucky we are to have such a skilled grower in our community.  This is fantastic!

10 hours ago, pdxmonkeyboy said:

James at Envision makes QUALITY tanks.  This tank will outlast every single glass tank by a factor of 10!. 

I was going to make a wise crack about this 300g tank being a perfect Sump for your 850g system... and then I saw your crash email.  😞

9 hours ago, Krux said:

...  several similar looking species that were making it into the trade and that may be the cause of dramatically different levels of aggression and diet.  If Biota has the right ones I would be much more inclined to try one.

I have the same thoughts.  This may be the time to do captive bread, just to insure we're getting the right species.

So sorry to hear about your crash.  Classic "ATO desalinized my tank."   Scares the crap out of me.   

I've always setup my ATO to only be able to add a maximum amount in any 24hr window, and no more.   Under the idea, if I've got a problem, it will take more than one day to truly drop salinity to the floor.

Right now I'm setup to add no more than 5gallons a day.  It was 4 gallons for a while, but wasn't keeping it fully topped off.    Summer need even more Daily Max, and Winter may not need all of it.

Again, your crash Sucks!   Way to have the courage to post it.

55 minutes ago, Krux said:

I inquired about one of these recently, sounded like that are difficult to source.

Besides being a possible Aptasia predator, they have a look like it would take a mother to love them.   

Anyone ever tried a Molly Miller Blenny?  Interesting article in Reef Builders

https://reefbuilders.com/2024/01/29/molly-miller-blenny-is-a-viable-alternative-for-aiptasia-control/

I have no experience with this salt.  I'm a Red Sea, blue bucket user.

1 hour ago, islandVib3s said:

Thought I'd share the ink I did on my ankle. Lol 

What's the right way to describe the style?    Is this a Tribal Clownfish, a Hawaiian Clownfish, a Native Pacific Clownfish?

Almost looks like a cross from humuhumunukunukuapuaʻa and Amphiprion Ocellaris.   

I'm guilty of not QT'ing.   A red bug outbreak years ago caused me to become religious about my dipping Every coral that goes into the tank.  But not fish.

My coral dip procedure is:

1. 10-12 minutes in Bayer dip
2. rinse in clean salt bucket, rinse in 2nd clean salt bucket
3. 10-12 minutes in CoralRx (more in a second)
4. rinse in clean salt bucket, rinse in 2nd clean salt bucket
5. 10 minutes in Revive

Each of my steps is in a dedicated 1 gallon plastic bucket (paint store), and a cheapo Amazon tiny pump for water flow in the bucket.

Recently I've decided I'm going to replace Dip#2 with Exodus.  But haven't decided if 10-12 minutes is really enough.   

I here Potassium Chloride is a great dip too.  Who's got mixing instructions, and length of time?

Pictures look a lot better (blue removed) with an orange filter.  I use this one.

https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/2021-extra-wide-52mm-smartphone-coral-lens-kit-4-lens-w-storage-box-orphek/

7 minutes ago, Krux said:

The company making them is Aqua Life Studio and they have a good video on how to make the connection. 

...

You can also find them on Amazon, but I prefer to shop with the builder whenever possible

 

Thanks again for the demo, I have been wanting to build a larger battery bank for emergencies and a visual walkthrough of the project is helpful.

Would you mind publishing the direct link to the builder, so people can get their directly/easier.  (to support the builder)

And you're welcome for the demo.  Hardest part was lugging that battery.  I'd forgotten how heavy it is.

We had a good club meeting yesterday.   Small enough we could all have a good conversation of how the storm affected each one of us, and what was needed for each persons situation.

A few people talked about having multiple independent, smaller, tanks - and obviously my MP solution wouldn't work for them.  Some people used battery powered air pumps and air stones, in order to generate circulation.   @Eatfrenchfries turned me on to small USB based air pumps as possible solutions.    Thought I'd pass along what I found.

Found easily on Amazon for $10 each.  Found on Ebay for down to $6 each - and maybe even $6 for two.   In order to power for a Long time, all you'd need is the deep cycle battery, the charger/tender, and a 12v to USB port converter.  Found one on Amazon too.

7 hours ago, LavenderTi said:

I really enjoyed hosting and getting to know more people. The pH dip was totally worth the good company. Thanks @obrien.david.j for the presentation and the encouragement to host. 

Great graphs and correlation.  The highest I CO2 I saw visually on your meter was slightly over 1000.   I don't think I've ever seen 1200 on my own meter... I think I have a draftier house.    But nothing like @Krux.   His story of ice cold walls was .. 😞

12 minutes ago, Blstravler said:

Just wanted to say thank you for posting all of the detail for your dose. Assuming things are still going well for your tank/coral?

Tanks are a never ending labor of love.  Yes, tank and corals are still going well.   Even after an 11hr power outage, and 20degree temp drop.  (different thread)

14 hours ago, chewyblunts said:

i also never make any changes for like a month before hand especially with equipment.   

Oh this is one of the most important pieces of advice.     Don't make any changes the Day Before.   (especially not the night before you fly out, thinking you'll get that one last thing done before leaving) 

Don't make any big equipment changes for longer.  1week, 1month - your choice.   But big equipment changes generate opportunites for big disasters. 

You've all seen my saga of surviving last weeks power outage at my house.   

• https://www.pnwmas.org/forums/topic/53337-11-hr-power-outage-at-our-house/

I am going to bring my DIY solution to Sunday's PNWMAS Club meeting.   But thought everyone would like to see the details here first.   

• https://www.pnwmas.org/forums/topic/53318-rsvp-free-corals-for-those-with-power-outage-losses-club-meeting-and-frag-swap-sunday-128-1-3-pm/

I've made this as specific to my solution, but also called out things you can change.

** Key Enabler - I had the battery, sitting on my workbench, with Battery Tender/Charger already attached.  So I had a fully charged battery, when the power went out.

I've got Apex and Wyze Cam Pan v3, which means I can check on things and pan around from my cell phone.

Besides watching the tank for abnormalities, I only have two tasks needed daily.

1. Feed the fish
2. Daily trace element additives

If I'm gone for a weekend, I don't do Anything.   No Fish food, no trace element additions.   Safer and more convenient

If I'm gone for up to a week, Fish Sitter time.   I ask them to feed Frozen Cubes, with written instructions how many per tank.  (usually less than normal)   six cubes in main tank, two cubes in 1st frag tank, 1 cube in 2nd frag tank.    And I tell them if they forget a day... No Problem - just skip it.

If I'm gone >1wk, Fish Sitter, with a bit more experience.    Same story on food.   I just buy a stack of frozen cubes.   But I have to train them on trace elements.  Each bottle is labeled, there are seven of them.   4 squirts of this, 2 squirts of that, 5 squirts, 7 squirts, 10ml this, 12ml that, 25ml last (Iron).   Same instructions, if they forget a day - No sweat, skip it.

At the same time, I've got 1-2 friends who I notify of being out of town - and leave their name and cell number for the fish sitters - In case of Emergencies/Big concerns.

I once got a call, after traveling international for around 30hours, from a fish sitter.   Didn't answer the first time (was asleep), didn't answer the 2nd time (woke up, but was TIRED), answered the 3rd call - which is the emergency signal.  I'll drop Anything if I get three calls in a row.   

1 hour ago, Emerald525 said:

Heres a song about corralline algae to get you through 😂

I remember when you did this post.   Great Song.