My RSM 130. 1st SW Tank. Trials and Tribulations

[Gavin1110]

Hello all I have long looked at your forums but never posted.

I started my RSM 130 January of 2010. What a long trip its been.

As many RSM owners it is my first venture into SW. I knew very little about SW and reefkeeping and thought an all in one would make things simpler. Not so sure about that now but I love the look of the tank, plus I probably would of cracked quite a few tanks trying to drill.

So as of right now I'll list my specs.

RSM130 (not 130D)
Tunze 9002 - MP10, Aquatic Life 4x24w T5, Steve T's Media Rack and Cup.

Inhabitants:
Inverts:
A few Blue and 1 Red Hermits. The blues don't like the reds on their turf and only 1 left.
Approxamately 4 snails (maybe astrea not 100%) the blues pick them off.
1 Blue Tuxdeo Urchin
1Green Emrald crab
1 Coco worm
4 Featherdusters

Fish:
1 Firefish
1 Black Perc clown
1 Scissortail Dartfish
1 6 Line Wrasse (very aggressive)

Corals:
4 Types of Zoa's, Orange, Green, Yellow, and a Green Mix. Most have turned brown and I fear they are being eaten by an infestation of nocturnal mini-snails of which I have 1,000's of.

Blue Favia
Purple Lps
Yellow Acro
Blue Acan
Yellow Cup Coral
GSP
Florida Rics
Fiji purple Mushroom
Watermellon striped shrooms

 

[Gavin1110]

So here are some former shots of my tank.

Orange Diamond Goby RIP. Knowing what I know now I never should of bought him with the crushed coral substrate.

Sea hare RIP. Got rid of most of the bryo at its worst but got caught in the overflow.

Torch Coral, stung me so he had to go.

Yellow polyps, had to go as the rock they were on was infested with bryo.

 

[Gavin1110]

Top was the dreaded Green hair.

Bottom was the lovely Jaba the hut.

 

[Gavin1110]

Was quite happy with this set up... but as things grow, attract detritus, and let you know they aren't happy where you've placed them. Things change.

 

[Reefmack]

Great way to start a tank thread, and the tank looks superb!

Is Jaba the Hut a plate coral or ??? Those blue "eyes" are amazing!

On the zoa issues this is a good read:

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums...nthids-closed-care-pests-troubleshooting.html

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

Thanks for sharing your tank & starting a tank thread - very pretty !

 

[tnwillia]

Super looking tank, have fun with it!

 

[Gavin1110]

@ reefmack,
Jaba the hut was actually my sea hare. He was amazing They are so beautiful however he did not take to seaweed paper after the algae was gone.

Thank you for all the other replies. I'll take some FTS when the whites kick on and everything wakes up.

Because of a work/school schedule I like to have the tank wake up later so I can enjoy it.

 

[Gavin1110]

Also I'll post some more photos of my polyp problems but it appears it is what I feared that my polyps are done for... sundials, whom I have 10k of seem to be getting their fill. I also have worms who's silk irritates them as well.

I'll be sure to QT on my next system.

 

[Reefmack]

Hah - Jaba had me fooled! The bottom looked a bit like a plate, but not the top. I lost a sea hare too - I never had mych algae, but he even ate the cyano from my rock. But he starved also - wouldn't touch algae sheet or disks. Beautiful critters in their own ugly way.

I was wondering if it was Sundials attacking your zoas. I didn't want to hear you confirm that.

 

[Gavin1110]

I'm 90% certain they are eating the polyps. I wish I could get a good macro shot the shells. The shells now that I got one close up may not be sundials but since they appear to be eating the polyps I suppose it doesn't matter. The shells are a 3-4 mm in size, but also different, some tiger striping and spots while the colors are brown/orange as opposed to checkerboard. All I know is these things cover the polyps and everything else for that matter at night. However, my polyps are looking better with the new fixture. Perhaps its just the worm silk irritating them. Only time will tell, either way when I get some new bulbs I hope things pick up. Brown corals are no fun.

 

[Reefmack]

The worm silk sounds like maybe Vermetids?

Melevsreef.com - Vermetids

The webs can irritate corals.

 

[Gavin1110]

Took a photo yesterday. Lots of changes from the last photo, some good, some necessary. Its hard to believe that yellow acro grew as much as did and the green shrooms.

 

[Gavin1110]

 

[Gavin1110]

 

[Reefmack]

Wow - that acro really has grown - the tank looks great!

 

[Gavin1110]

Thanks... looks better changed the sand in the front of the tank yesterday... unfortunately I will be moving the tank this sunday. Any suggestions... on how to transport the water, rocks, sand and fish? I'm looking to purchase some all purpose buckets from home depot only moving about 20 min drive so I'm not concerned with the temp change. Going to dose bacteria (microbe lift special blend) after the move and test the params twice a day to make sure there is no mini cycle.

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

the above sounds like a good plan... when I moved my tank I used some Walmart storage tubs & 5 gal Home Depot buckets

 

[Gavin1110]

Just moved the tank. No casualties yet. Here is the new scape, inspired by reefmack.

Not sure if I have a broken sensor (sea chem) but looks like I tested positive for some Total ammonia, while I tested nothing for regular ammonia.

Changed about 12 gal with the tank and most of the water was pretty clean.... my crushed coral bed was filthy tho... I'm second guessing my decision to reuse it. Rinsed it about 3 times with new salt water.

Added 50 ml of microbe lift special blend to help any spikes... and fresh purigen also.

Unfortunately my blue starfish a new addition to the tank was stuck inside of a rock and I had to expose him to the air for a few seconds... I hope he will be ok.

 

[Gavin1110]

Ph is a bit low 8.1 ish prob because the bulk of the day was lightless. Corals look ok, my rics flipped over in a tupperware. Unfortunately the Acro took a beating but only the parts that I don't like were affected... funny how that works.
I am very pleased as my 6 line is not very aggressive towards the others for once. The most I've seen my firefish in months. All the fish looked to be stressed but seem ok after adding them to the tank. My scissortail dartfish is mia but that no different than usual.

Unfortunately some of the corals and the fish took a 10-4 degree change in temp respectively but most are opening and look ok.

Overall I am very pleased on how the move went. I am especially thankful for my girlfriend's and family's help. My only complaint is the overall soreness I am experiencing. I'm sure it will feel better tomorrow. (sarcasam) Only time will tell as far as the tank.

Going to refill on some RO tonight and try to keep an eye on the levels. Anyone recommend a good ammonia test?