Here We Go Again!

[Melanie]

I want you to see the difference from the photos I took only a few hours ago (now that I have turned on all the lights.)

[DrHank]

Yep, that's why I always used all the lights. Sorry but I can't let you get away with that one. But it does sound like something that I might do if I was in a hurry. You may want to put them on timers. I had an actinic and 10K come on an hour before the other 2 10Ks and go off an hour after the 2 10Ks. Had a separate timer for each power cord.

[Dentoid]

I just love your video! It's the next best thing to being there! Well aside from having a martini with you!

We should set up as RS Academy Award. Pull all videos for a year and have everyone vote on the best one. I wonder if we can fit them all into one thread? That would be fun!

[lcstorc]

Great video. Your tank is coming along beautifully. Personally I think firefish is the camera hog not clownie. Regardledd they both look healthy and happy. Looks like you are definitely headed in the right direction.

[Melanie]

Today I did a 10 gal. h2o change and cleaned out the sump, filters, and sponges. Turkey basted detritus off of the LR, vaccumed the sand bed. Relocated the brain, finger leather, and colt coral. Added another powersweep powerhead, added wavemaker.

Observations: Firefish is a little more skittish now that clownie is in the tank. Royal Gramma will not come out from behind the rocks but did dart out to get a bite of food this morning. Color is going from pale yellow to bright neon yellow on the yellow fiji leather.

Test results:
SG 1.025
Temp 78 degrees
pH 8.4
Alk Normal (1.7 - 2.8)
Amon 0
Nitrite 0
Ca 540
Nitrate 0
Phosp. 0
KH 179 ppm

Calcium is still too high. I need to do more research to figure out what is going on. I'm wondering if the salt I use is too high. I might have it tested after I mix it.

[Melanie]

I bought a phosban reactor and Seachem Matrix carbon to go inside it. I'm nervous about adding it to the tank because other than Ca, my parameters are good. Can anything bad happen if I hook it up????

[lcstorc]

Only if you mess something up and somehow send carbon into the tank. Even that I don't think would harm anything other than looks.

[Dentoid]

I can only think of positive things related to carbon useage. Just make sure you rinse it well in RO/DI water before putting it in the reactor. When you rinse it, it will sound like Rice Crispies, sanp, crackle and pop. Listen closely, you may hear Davy Jones.

[tbittner]

[DrHank]

Carbon removes lots of bad stuff some of which your protein skimmer won't get. Activated carbon is even taken internally for some types of poisoning in people and animals. Once one of my dogs got into something and emergency vetrinary services told me to give some to my dog.

The only problem with carbon is that it does need to be changed monthly and some folks (like me) sometimes forget. It's even suggested to replace 25% every week instead of all monthly. The phosban reactor is the best way to run it.

[hma]

Originally Posted by Melanie

I bought a phosban reactor and Seachem Matrix carbon to go inside it. I'm nervous about adding it to the tank because other than Ca, my parameters are good. Can anything bad happen if I hook it up????

Hi Melanie,

it harmes in no case. If nothing else is to be filtered from, it still clears the water of yellow materials (of the corals) and uric materials of the fish.

I use it for years around remainders of ozone (I use also a Ozonisator) from the water to remove.

[DrHank]

If I'm not mistaken, the yellow is actually caused by a build up of phenols. Skimmers can't clear it.

[Melanie]

OK, I am pretty close to hooking up the phosban reactor. I am missing the hoses (had a pump already) so ANOTHER trip to the hardware store. Jeez, they think I'm a contractor I'm in there so much.

Royal Gramma is not coming out from behind the rocks in the QT. It's been 3 days. Hmmmm. I hope he won't be a permanent hider.

I hope my trates start to come down in my QT. No change since I added the skimmer. This week I added 2 lbs. of LR. I don't like having ANY trates to stress newcomers.

Have you ever heard the expression "too stupid to live"? Sometimes I feel that way. Guess what I did Saturday night? I was going out with my GF and I decided to leave the lights on late to show them my tank. When we left at 8 PM I went to turn off the lights and just turned off the power strip. Sunday morning when I woke up at 7 AM, I went to the tank and realized the powerstrip also controls all my pumps and powerheads and heater and fan.

Seriously, I wonder how I even make it through life. And you know what? I'm in Mensa. SUPPOSEDLY with an IQ in the top 2 percent of the population. I think I belong in Densa instead.

[Dentoid]

We all make daft mistakes. You are as far from stupid as Pluto is from earth. You have shown that here, over and over. You are still in the learning curve, as long as your curve is continuous and smooth you'll be alright. One day you will be one with your tank!

[Craig Manoukian]

Just buzzed through 24 pages of the FOWLR to Reef tank morph. Kudos Melanie, husband, & son for a great team effort. Karma to you for not overstocking your tank, patience is a virtue, eh?

Very nicely done, and awesome help from the RS membership!

Scott, how's my punctuation?