Tom@HaslettMI's 75 gallon mixed reef

[Tom@HaslettMI]

After 12 years running a 50 breeder it was time to get a little more space. So, awhile back I upgraded to a 75 gallon tank I've had in storage. Which means... it's time to start a new tank thread!

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMG_5653.jpg (http://s137.photobucket.com/user/tomalwin/media/IMG_5653.jpg.html)

The main reason for the move was to get more space... especially for my Tridacna derasa and T. squamosa. I also wanted to gain more open swimming space.

Overall the move went fairly smoothly. Minus breaking a T5HO bulb and dropping brains of my Tunze 6055 in the tank:duh:. Thankfully after fully drying out it still functions normally.

The process was as follows:

Moving Day 1 (starting around 10:30 pm)

Mix 20 gallons of saltwater in a 20 long positioned on the counter above the 90 gallon sump.
Move Caulerpa taxifolia and skimmer into 20 long.
Attach CPR overflow onto 20 long to drain into 90 gallon.
Transfer all liverock 'n stock into the 90 gallon while draining clean/clear water from 50 breeder.
Move output of return pump (Maxi-jet 1200) to discharge into 20 long.
Move lights and circulation pumps to 90 gallon.
Leave 15-20 gallons of saltwater in the 50 breeder.
Stir the sandbed in the 50 breeder by hand, siphon out detritus laden water, and dump down drain.
Leave ~2 inches of water in 50 breeder with sandbed.
Add Maxi-jet 900 and heater to 50 breeder.
Go to bed (2:00 am)


I will continue to recap the move later... it's time to go play in the tank!

Tom

[Tankster]

Good luck Tom! I don't think it will take that long.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Good luck Tom! I don't think it will take that long.

Thanks!

The BGM is doing great. I still need to figure out where I want it in the aquascape. I'd like it to be in the spotlight as it's a beautiful coral. Currently it is in the back where it's far too hidden from view.

Tom

[MizTanks]

Wow! How beautiful is that!! Look at that Duncan :) Every thing looks sooo happy Tom. I know you gotta be feeling wonderful!!

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Wow! How beautiful is that!! Look at that Duncan :) Every thing looks sooo happy Tom. I know you gotta be feeling wonderful!!

Thanks Jamie. Yeah, your Duncan is much happier in the new tank. I'll get a close up of it for you shortly. I'm going to try to keep this thread updated with pics of everything in the tank as a sort of time capsule to be able to look back on. We'll see how well I do with that!

Overall I'm really happy with the rock structure and space in the tank, but the coral placement is far from final. That's always a slow, but enjoyable, process for me.

Tom

[MizTanks]

Haha I know what you mean...I have corals I refuse to glue down just cause I know I'm gonna be wanting to move them :) Everything really does look much much better in this tank. I'm happy for you Tom!!

[MizTanks]

Yo Tom!!! What's up with this thread? UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE!!

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Yo Tom!!! What's up with this thread? UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE!!

Hi Jamie! Thanks for giving me the much needed kick in the butt to update the thread.

Bottom line: Life is too busy. And it seems like I spend most of my tank-time on the pico.

So, the main tank is on cruise control right now... and not looking its best. Most of the corals and other inhabitants are doing fine though. It's really kind of frustrating in so much as the upgrade took place quite awhile ago and I still haven't finalized much of the coral placement.

A word of wisdom to all who would listen...

Don't put your tank in the basement (unless your basement is where you hang out all of the time)!!!

I just mixed up a water change, and I'm getting ready to do a water change blitz. The goal is to clear up the cyano plague and reestablish a better alk and Ca balance. Hopefully I will be feeling better about the condition of the 75 gallon soon.

Tom

[MizTanks]

Aww geezzz it's in the basement!! What's up with that? That's gotta be hard, attention wise for sure. I just know you'll get it together right? You now know I'm gonna be a pain in your a$$ right? Hehehe :)

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Well I've had some tissue loss on some of my LPS recently. So, I decided to get my water tested at Preuss Pets. Well the nitrates are 100! My best guess for the reason is that the skimmer from the 50 breeder was not keeping up with the larger tank. Well, I had been thinking that the skimmer was undersized and was on the lookout for a larger skimmer body to match up with the Tunze hydrofoamer pump I have... and it just happens that they had a used Euroreef rs180 skimmer body... and here it is!

new skimmer outside the tank next to the old skimmer running in the tank...
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMAG1054.jpg

...and vice-versa
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMAG1056.jpg

Hopefully, the NO3 will be back under control in a flash.

Tom

[MizTanks]

Wow! Quit the beast :)

[Preuss Pets]

Just looking at the density of the foam in the new body I'd say that body is pretty well matched up for the Tunze pump. Do you have it substantially dialed back? I'd be curious to have you borrow our air flow meter sometime and see home many l/m of air intake you're getting there.

Steve

[jimsflies]

Looks like a big difference! It would be interesting to know the l/m difference between the two.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Just looking at the density of the foam in the new body I'd say that body is pretty well matched up for the Tunze pump. Do you have it substantially dialed back? I'd be curious to have you borrow our air flow meter sometime and see home many l/m of air intake you're getting there.

Steve

I agree I think it's a great match up. I have it dialed back a little bit, but way less than when I had it running on the old skimmer body. I'll check with you next time I'm in the shop to see about borrowing the air flow meter. Thank you for all of your help.

Tom

[Tom@HaslettMI]

The skimmer is doing a great job. As of a few weeks ago the nitrate had dropped from 100 ppm to ~30 ppm. The LPS are all looking much better.

I also picked up a used Tunze recirculating pump (thank you tazzy695). I'm still in the planning phase for the plumbing but hope to have it up and running soon. The Tunze will replace a MJ1200, which is pitifully underpowered for this tank.

Lastly, I installed the DIY LED light from the pico I was running as the fuge light. The macro seems to appreciate the upgrade.

Tom

[slapshot]

Sounds good, time for a new FTS?

[Tom@HaslettMI]

...time for a new FTS?

Yes. Yes, it is. Looking back this thread is photo anemic. I will try to do better.

FTS #1 (http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=1) (with the old camera settings)
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMG_5475.jpg

FTS #2 (http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=2) (perhaps I finally figured out how to use my camera...)
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMG_5488.jpg

Other random shots from tonight...
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMG_5499.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMG_5492.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMG_5484.jpg

Thanks for looking!
Tom

[MizTanks]

Awesome pics Tom!! Tank looks amazing. Cant wait to see my hammer looking as big and gorgeous.

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

[slapshot]

Looks great Tom!!!

[Tom@HaslettMI]

I have been working on a few small projects/improvements. The first one is a probe mount for the DA temp probe...
To make it I used a two pieces of scrap acrylic, drilled two holes with a paddle bit, and superglued them together. I'm using the Tunze Osmolator magnet to hold it in place.http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMG_5685.jpg

Prior to this the temp probe was just hanging loose in the sump.

A second project had to do with hiding the output of my Tunze Osmolator. Here's a before picture...
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMG_5691.jpg

and and after...
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMG_5692.jpg

and it's possible because of this...
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMG_5684.jpg


Happy Reefing,
Tom

[MizTanks]

What is an Osmolator? :)

[Tankster]

What is an Osmolator? :)

high end auto top off system http://www.tunze.com/149.html?&L=1&C=SE&user_tunzeprod_pi1%5Bpredid%5D=-infoxunter036

[MizTanks]

Haha sorry cant read nothing but English.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

high end auto top off system TUNZE GmbH High-Tech Aquarium Technology: Catalog (http://www.tunze.com/149.html?&L=1&C=SE&user_tunzeprod_pi1%5Bpredid%5D=-infoxunter036)

Thanks for fielding that one, Rick.

The top-off water now gets pumped into the external durso-style drain rather than the overflow box in the tank. The upside is a cleaner looking tank rim and a little less noise (water splash) when the ATO is running. The only downside (I can think of) is that I can't actually see the top-off water entering the tank. Occasionally an air bubble gets into the ATO pump when I'm filling the reservoir and causes the pump to run but not push water. Thankfully the pump runs louder when this happens so I should still catch it and correct it.

Tom

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Just a few pictures... Enjoy!

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMG_5757.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMG_5751.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMG_5750.jpg

Tom

[slapshot]

Very nice, I'm a big fan of a tank that looks natural. Like you plucked it out of the ocean. Congrates your have accomplished that!

[Preuss Pets]

Looks great Tom!

[Tom Toro]

Very nice, Tom! Great placement of corals and I like that you put that cool clam out front. Your soft corals are awesome! That's the look that I'd like!

[Tom@HaslettMI]

I took the aquascape apart a few weeks ago. The tank is in shambles... corals spread out all over.

I got tired of the hydroid/whatever-they-are overgrowing one of the rocks, so I pulled it and and am "cooking" it in hopes of killing them off.

I also started using Seachem Phos-Guard. So far I fell like I'm seeing better polyp extension from the LPS and the clams are looking happier. Algae growth on the glass seems to be a little slower too.

I'll get some pics for the next update...

Thanks for looking,
Tom

[MizTanks]

Sounds like a **** of a big job. What issues were the hydroids causing Tom?

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Sounds like a **** of a big job. What issues were the hydroids causing Tom?

May be nothing, may be crowding out zoas. The rock was once covered in zoas (100s of polyps) but had dwindled to a dozen or so while the 'droids had covered almost all of that space,

Tom

[MizTanks]

Reason I ask is I too am fighting with what I'm told are Digitate Hydroids. And my zoas have dwindled big time! What's worse is the hydroids have taken up residents within the zoa colonies so I've no real ways to get at em.
I'm wishing you the best :)

[tcp316]

Your corals are beautiful. Very vibrant and well place. Love it!

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Long overdue update... First the bad/sad news: My T. derasa died this spring. It was a battle trying to keep it alive, but in the end I failed. The cause of its demise is unknown but was similar to my first T. derasa that died at around the same age (7 years). Anyone have any ideas?

The good news is that otherwise the tank (and its inhabitants) are doing good. Though I need to get the cyano. under control.

Either way here's a pic of the T. squamosa from last night.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/null_zps5b2f0b47.jpg (http://s137.photobucket.com/user/tomalwin/media/null_zps5b2f0b47.jpg.html)

[tcp316]

That is HUGE! and so colorful. I love it

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk HD

[MizTanks]

So for your loss Tom :( I know how you love your clams.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Finally got around to setting up the RO/DI holding tank. Up until now I was filling 5 gallon jugs and would often leave them filling too long. Resulting in too much wasted water. Now I've got just shy of 25 gallons of RO/DI water on hand at all times!

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/null_zps2a441369.jpg (http://s137.photobucket.com/user/tomalwin/media/null_zps2a441369.jpg.html)

Have a great day,
Tom

[MizTanks]

How cool is that! Wish I had to room for something that large. I just started keeping a 5g bucket handy though :)

How about some updated tank shots?!! :)


Sent from my iPhone 4s via Tapatalk.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

What!? You want a FTS more than once a year? I'll work on it.

Tom


How cool is that! Wish I had to room for something that large. I just started keeping a 5g bucket handy though :)

How about some updated tank shot?!! :)


Sent from my iPhone 4s via Tapatalk.

[MizTanks]

Ahdah!! Well yea!! :)


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[Tom@HaslettMI]

For you MizTanks!

Not the best pics but hey its a PNS camera...

FTS
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMG_5908_zps1c359f1b.jpg (http://s137.photobucket.com/user/tomalwin/media/IMG_5908_zps1c359f1b.jpg.html)

Left side
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMG_5909_zps0b2aa151.jpg (http://s137.photobucket.com/user/tomalwin/media/IMG_5909_zps0b2aa151.jpg.html)

Looking down the right pane
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMG_5910_zps79564695.jpg (http://s137.photobucket.com/user/tomalwin/media/IMG_5910_zps79564695.jpg.html)

Thanks for looking,
Tom

[MizTanks]

Thank you Tom!! Your tank is beautiful!! Wow!! Talk about a natural looking reef! :)


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[Tom@HaslettMI]

Thanks. Its a bit of a mess in there right now. Cyano, frags cluttering the sandbed, and the arch is still dismantled. Next week the tank will be getting moved onto the wood stand I built, which means it will be get messier before it gets better. Once on the new stand I will finally be able to run the DIY wavebox. So, stay tuned as I should be updating this thread more frequently.

Tom

[binford4000]

Awesome clams ! Tank looks great! Nice job Tom. :thumbsup: :highfive3:

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Thank you binford4000! Your tank is both inspirational and motivational. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Here a a few pic from tonight. I'm preparing for the stand switch out.

Clearing space, getting the 29 gallon ready to transfer the refugium livestock, and mixing 20 gallons of SW.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/null_zps7494e9b5.jpg

The new stand... Currently the tank is on a metal stand that has begun to rust and rocks back and forth when the DIY wavebox is running.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/null_zps93ddf4a2.jpg

Not a great shot, but it shows that the new stand is a little taller.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/null_zps801307ed.jpg

A mock up of what the new stand will look like... Not highly polished but very sturdy and pretty enough for my unfinished basement.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/null_zps2ca92790.jpg

Thanks for looking!
Tom

[MizTanks]

Definitely gonna look much sweeter on that new stand! :)


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[binford4000]

Sharp looking stand ! It will be a very nice looking combo! I know what ya mean about the shaking steel stand! Mrs .Binfords former 75 was on a steel angle iron stand. Man that thing was scary. Use to shake like crazy when she used the mag float to clean the glass! Use to scare the you know what out of me evry time! Nice Job! :oldman:

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Thanks guys/gals.

Yes, having the whole tank rock back and forth when I use the mag-float is quite unnerving!

I think the stand will look good... as long as you don't look too closely. My carpentry skills are not where I wish they were!

Tom

[Tom@HaslettMI]

The tank has been moved! Special thanks to my dad for being the extra muscle and hands I needed to pull this off in just about 4 hours. These are iPhone photos so the quality is so-so.

The tank still on the old stand. At this point the large corals, clam and middle and right rocks have removed. Oh yeah, and all the water has been drained too.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/null_zps5b015a5a.jpg (http://s137.photobucket.com/user/tomalwin/media/null_zps5b015a5a.jpg.html)

The fuge rocks, macroalgae, and a few corals in temporarily in a 29 gallon while the main tank is moved
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/null_zps7727ba3a.jpg (http://s137.photobucket.com/user/tomalwin/media/null_zps7727ba3a.jpg.html)

The 50 gallon sump/fuge off to the side with the display rock, clam, and fish.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/null_zps4be92c46.jpg (http://s137.photobucket.com/user/tomalwin/media/null_zps4be92c46.jpg.html)

Tank with no water, but at least on the new stand. No sump yet. Notice the left rock work was left intact for the move.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/null_zps6ff627de.jpg (http://s137.photobucket.com/user/tomalwin/media/null_zps6ff627de.jpg.html)

Sump installed. Please note the tilted water... that's not an uneven stand... that's the DIY wavebox! I'll try to post a photobucket video.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/null_zpsa1427b0f.jpg (http://s137.photobucket.com/user/tomalwin/media/null_zpsa1427b0f.jpg.html)

Thanks for looking,
Tom

[MizTanks]

Wow does that stand make a difference! Excellent job Tom!


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[slapshot]

Looks great Tom"

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Here's a video of the tank. As you can see now that the new stand is in place I have the DIY nano Wavebox running. Please pardon the dirty glass, and lack of aquascaping. This was taken just after moving the tank. I'm in the process of placing all of the corals. Anyway, this wavebox rocks (literally)!


http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMG_0511_zps0c82d340.mp4

Thanks for looking,
Tom

[MizTanks]

Love the motion of the ocean! :) Tank looks awesome Tom! I know you've gotta be pleased :highfive3:

[JokersCool]

Wow,just Wow! I aspire to have my reef look half as good !

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Thank you for the kind words.

Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I'll be able to post a few more upgrades I have in the works! Now it's time for me to go change the Phosguard... so I can get rid of that evil cyano!

Happy reefing,
Tom

[Tom@HaslettMI]

OK. I just had a really close call with the tank today. Here's the long story...

Got home from work this evening and the family was outside playing. I did a little play time and we all went out to dinner (I didn't even go in the house). Got home and watched part of Rio the movie (great kids movie by the way). On the way up to putting the 24kids to bed tried to turn on the stairway light. It didn't work. Though "oh well may be the bulb burnt out". I soon discovered that several other lights and outlets upstairs weren't working. Now I'm confident that a breaker has tripped. I head to the basement (where the tank lives) and the lights down there don't work and the ever present blue glow was also missing.

Yup, the breaker that powers the tank, basement lights, and several lights and outlets upstairs was tripped (who the **** wired this house?!). Once I get the flashlight, my first order of business is to shine the tank. The verdict... everything looks good! Now I flip the breaker and hear the joyous sound of the skimmer and return pump. Then the fireworks start...

I hear a giant POP and see a flash in the sump. A few seconds later, as I'm trying to get the controller reset it happens again. Then I smell the ozone... I quickly pull the heater plugs and see that one of the heaters broke.

I have no idea when the heater broke. All was well last night a midnight. It had to have been awhile since the tank temp was 65 degrees. I am very grateful that all livestock seems fine and that the electronics (minus the heater) are fine.

If only I had a controller that would let me know when something goes wrong...

Tom

[MizTanks]

Dang Tom glad things turned out ok. Truly could have been so much worse right?!
Now I get to add one more tank check to the 3 I already do-lol.


Sent from my iPhone 4s via Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1).

[tdb320reef]

Looking Good!

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Dang Tom glad things turned out ok. Truly could have been so much worse right?!
Now I get to add one more tank check to the 3 I already do-lol.[/URL].

Thanks. There appears to be no negative impact... frankly I'm shocked (pun intended).


Looking Good!

Thank you Tom. Your tank is an inspiration and makes me want to get more SPS.

Big update coming soon!

Thanks for looking,
Tom

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Another milestone for my tank... an APEX controller! While I still need to figure out the more advanced features, I have it up and running the tank. Overall the set up was smooth and I really like controller.

I bought the controller from Preuss Pets, who recently started carrying the Neptune Systems products. Thanks Preuss!

Thanks for looking!
Tom

[Tom@HaslettMI]

My next project is to make my DIY LED lighting full spectrum. Currently I run RB and NW LEDs from LEDGroupBuy.com. My plan is to add their OCWs and possibly a few other colors. I am also planning to switch out my analog dimming drivers for digital LDD drivers. My hope is to have all of this done before the Lansing swap. Stay tuned for more fun!

Tom

[MizTanks]

What exactly does the controller, control? :)


Sent from my iPhone 4s via Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1).

[Tom@HaslettMI]

What exactly does the controller, control? :)


Sent from my iPhone 4s via Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1).

It can do all kinds of stuff. Currently I have it controlling 2 heaters, 2 lights, canopy fan, return pump, 2 tunze pumps, skimmer and the ATO is plugged into it as well. I just recently got it so I can access it over the internet... so I can turn things on and off from across the room or even at work! I soon hope to have it dim the LEDs but I have to get another part to be able to do that.

Things I still need to work out are having it send me an email or text when something is out of whack, programing the ATO outlet to ensure the pump shuts down when the reservoir is empty or when the kalk plugs the outlet (which causes the kalk chamber to pop its top and put up to 6 gallons of water on the floor!).

Longterm I'd like to get a pH probe as well as the new APEX fish feeder.

I'll probably thing of more things to do with it but those are my plans for now.

Tom

[MizTanks]

Wow! I had no idea what all those controllers could do. NOT a seed I needed planted-lol!


Sent from my iPhone 4s via Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1).

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Wow! I had no idea what all those controllers could do. NOT a seed I needed planted-lol!


Sent from my iPhone 4s via Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1).

There is so much more they can do... especially this APEX line of controllers. Prior to this controller I was running a ReefKeeper Lite (RKL) that had very basic controls (mainly light timer and heater control). It did the job well but is not nearly as powerful as the new one. You totally need a controller!

Tom

[MizTanks]

A controller for my lil 26? My lights have their own timer. Only other things I'm running is a heater & ATO. Both run fine by themselves :)


Sent from my iPhone 4s via Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1).

[tdb320reef]

There is so much more they can do... especially this APEX line of controllers. Prior to this controller I was running a ReefKeeper Lite (RKL) that had very basic controls (mainly light timer and heater control). It did the job well but is not nearly as powerful as the new one. You totally need a controller!

Tom

Hey Tom - I have quite a complex apex program so let me know if you need help with something.

Tom

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Hey Tom - I have quite a complex apex program so let me know if you need help with something.

Tom

Thanks for the offer. I will definitely take you up on it at some point. While learning the program language doesn't look impossible, I'm sure I will have plenty of questions.

Tom

[Tom@HaslettMI]

LED upgrade is in full swing! I switched out drivers so I can dim the lights from 0 to 100%. I also picked up a used VDM module for the APEX to control the dimming.

Last night I also added four OCW (each one has a deep red, a turquoise, and a cool blue LED) and four additional cool blue LEDs to the hood. The new LEDs make the tank color so much better. I didn't realize how blue the tank looked.

Next will be adding six hyper violet LEDs. These LEDs won't add much visually but they should really boost the PAR values. The goal here is to be able to keep more species of Tridacna clam and a wider variety of SPS. I will update my DIY LED thread with more details on this upgrade once its complete.

Thanks for looking,
Tom

[Sir Patrick]

Lets see some new pics Tom.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Lets see some new pics Tom.

I was thinking the very same thing! Now I just need to take some pictures and post them...

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Lets see some new pics Tom.

Took some iPhone pics this afternoon... I really need to figure out how to get better pics!

Not quite FTS
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/image_zps3290de0c.jpg

Blasto. Note the vermetid snail sticking out of its mouth. It was there when I got the coral at the 2013 Lansing swap.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/image_zps545bbff4.jpg

Blue digi. From @dputt at the 2014 Lansing swap.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/image_zpsf06d054f.jpg

And my T. maxima from ebushrow the 2014 swap.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/IMG_5948_zpsee488b97.jpg

The other big update is that I added a Koralin 1502 calcium reactor. It is awesome. I do not miss the manual 2 part dosing and the Ca and alkalinity fluctuations. A big thanks to ReefHero for giving me such a great deal on the reactor and assesories.

[MizTanks]

Those are some awesome pics Tom!

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Thanks! I just scored huge at the Ann Arbor swap... Can you say SPS? I'll try to post some pics soon.

Tom

[tdb320reef]

Thanks again for the mg.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

The tank has been in a terrible state the last few months. Here are the lowlights...

Lost 90% of my SPS
Huge dinoflagellate bloom

Lost over 30 heads of Duncans. A single heads remains. Most brown jellied. A polyps just separated from the skeleton.
All three acans were impacted. Complete loss of a golfball size acan, Several head frag severely affected, and another golfball size one slightly affected
War coral turned dark grey and won't open
Tissue recession on all favias and most candy cane corals



The highlights...


The harlequin shrimp decimated the asterina population
My two clams have survived all of this



So, you're probably curious what caused all the death. Well so am I. Water parameters never got too far out of whack. Alk and Ca got a little too high at one point but the death spiral had already begun. Temp, salinity, and nitrates never changed and phosphates have read zero all along. It is possible that unquarantined frags brought something in but the broad spectrum of species impacted makes me doubt that. My leading theory was that poor flow (due to dirty powerheads and less laminar flow with the use of a Wavebox). However, the tissue recession and loss of Duncans continued after adding more flow. I've been running purigen and cuprisorb through the whole process.

Needless to say I very frustrated with all of this and have done some deep soul searching. The conclusion... I think I'm down sizing and simplifying my system. Doing so will allow me to restart with rock and sand that are not 20+ years old and bring the tank up from the basement. The latter being a major factor. The current tank does not get the attention it needs down there.

And so begins my next reefing chapter! Stay tuned.

Tom

[MizTanks]

Aw **** Tom, I'm so sorry this happened. Words can't express how bad I feel for you. Talk about powerlessness :(
I'm glad your not giving up :)

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Aw **** Tom, I'm so sorry this happened. Words can't express how bad I feel for you. Talk about powerlessness :(
I'm glad your not giving up :)

Thanks Jamie. I'm actually really excited to have a tank on the main floor of the house. I think I'll enjoy the hobby a lot more with a smaller, more convenient to clean. My mind is racing with ideas for the new tank!

The saddest/hardest thing about this is I will have to give up my huge T. squamosa clam.

Tom

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Bye bye 75 reef!
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/Mobile%20Uploads/FE8139A9-1035-441F-8E05-FEAC4F3F2FBA_zpssgcqx2c9.jpg

Hello 25 cube!
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q234/tomalwin/Mobile%20Uploads/90F35E1C-507B-44F1-A319-114DB0D2F35E_zpstbovcq4r.jpg
I'll try to get a new build thread started soon.

Tom

[MizTanks]

Aaahhhhh it's a rimless, very nice!! Your going to love having your tank on the main floor :) Looking forward to see what you do. Bet you get a lil T. Crocea-lol.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Aaahhhhh it's a rimless, very nice!! Your going to love having your tank on the main floor :) Looking forward to see what you do. Bet you get a lil T. Crocea-lol.

Thanks Jamie! You're right about the clam. I hope to have a number of Tridacna species eventually.

Tom

[larryandlaura]

Nice looking rimless cube! Now we need to start a rimless cube club here on CR! You will love going smaller. I know I do. A lot less maintaince and electric bill.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Nice looking rimless cube! Now we need to start a rimless cube club here on CR! You will love going smaller. I know I do. A lot less maintaince and electric bill.

Thanks! The tank has been up for about a month (in a temporary location) and I am very much enjoying the smaller tank. Someday I'll get a tank thread going on the new tank.

I'm game for a rimless cube club... All the cool kids are doing it!

While I was taking the 75 down I think I discovered why it was killing all stoney corals. The TUNZE magnets I was using on the overflow weir were rusty.

Tom

[Poseidon]

I look forward to seeing what you come up with Tom!

[Tom@HaslettMI]

I look forward to seeing what you come up with Tom!

Thanks. I've got big plans for this little cube... hopefully I can bring them to fruition!

Tom