well, i figured it's been quite a while since i posted any pics or updates about my tank. so i figured i'll do that today 
this is the 55g of course. since the 75 still isn't done. it WOULD be, if i would ever get out there and finish it!! it only needs some overflows, and needs the sump sectioned off, and a few pieces of pieces of pvc to finihs off the plumbing. i'll get to it, in the next week or so....i hope
anyway here is an update on the 55, which will be moved over soon to the 75.
all water tests great.
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 10
ph 8.3
salinity 1.0225
temp 80-82
skimmer is dialed in pretty good and pulling out good greenish brown, very dry foam.
pumps are all working well, but i also do a quick once over on them bi weekly, jsut to be safe. same goes for the powerheads.
sump (converted we/dry) leaves a little to be dedired, since it's jsut a little small, due ot the space allotted for the bio balls. so everything is sort of crammed in there (heaters, return pump, skimmer and pump)
the overflow has yet to fail. i've had no floods (now i will tonight) and nothing has gone wrong. with the excepton of the copper scare that was assumed killed a few things.
it's ironic that i now can not find any detectable copper in the tank. it was assumed that copper is what killed my anthelia, buttons, anemone, and snails. but it's no longer detectable. i think the copepr was detected from the sample i took to the lfs, because it was transported in a mason jar, complete with two piece copper lid
so what killed my colonies and snails? i can only assume it was my fault, and that the tank was not yet mature enough, or stabile enough, or i didn't acclimate properly, or any other host of reasons.
the only good news from the ordeal, is that i learned a lesson, and now it looks as though i dont have to toss out my live rock or my pumps and skimmer!!
my corraline is really starting to take hold in the system. my rocks are getting very good coverage now, and my spray bar is getting covered. even though its just sitting there not being used
my back wall, does not get cleaned, so it has a lot of green algae on it, but there are a number of spots where the corraline is starting to take hold and cover over the green.
i've got some pretty cool algaes on the rocks, some furry green stuff, and some grass looking stuff. geoff referes to it as maidens hair. i like to call it sea grass, because it grows in little tuffts. i'm not doing anything to actively try to remove the algaes, because i like the way they look, and there are no corals anyway. i also havea few small patches of hair algae growing as well.
my one living astrea, has almsot doubled in size. my cowrie has almost doubled, my peppermint has molted 5 times, and my hermits are all doing well, and have transplanted themselves into the vacated astrea shells. and my green brittle, has grown all of his tips back (eaten by an eveil hairy red hermit) and his arms have gained about 1/2" in length, as well, his disc is about the size of a 50 cent piece (started out about the size of a quarter)
my fish are all doing well. the coral beauty, cinnamon clown, and blue devil, all still school together regularly. there are no fights, or territory disputes. no chasing. the clown is still hosting with the powerhead. the angel has a small cave he calls home at night. and the devil is still living inside the clamshell, which he has done since being in the 20g temp tank. the last of my chromis took a ride into sumpville last week, so now there are no chromis left.
lighting:
30w NO actinic blue from 8am till 10pm
30w NO 6.7k sunlight from 10am till 8pm
220w VHO actinic white from 12pm till 6pm
anyway, i think that's about it. i'll post some pics now.
first one is tank with all the lights on, and with jsut the actinic blue's on.
this is the 55g of course. since the 75 still isn't done. it WOULD be, if i would ever get out there and finish it!! it only needs some overflows, and needs the sump sectioned off, and a few pieces of pieces of pvc to finihs off the plumbing. i'll get to it, in the next week or so....i hope
anyway here is an update on the 55, which will be moved over soon to the 75.
all water tests great.
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 10
ph 8.3
salinity 1.0225
temp 80-82
skimmer is dialed in pretty good and pulling out good greenish brown, very dry foam.
pumps are all working well, but i also do a quick once over on them bi weekly, jsut to be safe. same goes for the powerheads.
sump (converted we/dry) leaves a little to be dedired, since it's jsut a little small, due ot the space allotted for the bio balls. so everything is sort of crammed in there (heaters, return pump, skimmer and pump)
the overflow has yet to fail. i've had no floods (now i will tonight) and nothing has gone wrong. with the excepton of the copper scare that was assumed killed a few things.
it's ironic that i now can not find any detectable copper in the tank. it was assumed that copper is what killed my anthelia, buttons, anemone, and snails. but it's no longer detectable. i think the copepr was detected from the sample i took to the lfs, because it was transported in a mason jar, complete with two piece copper lid
so what killed my colonies and snails? i can only assume it was my fault, and that the tank was not yet mature enough, or stabile enough, or i didn't acclimate properly, or any other host of reasons.
the only good news from the ordeal, is that i learned a lesson, and now it looks as though i dont have to toss out my live rock or my pumps and skimmer!!
my corraline is really starting to take hold in the system. my rocks are getting very good coverage now, and my spray bar is getting covered. even though its just sitting there not being used
my back wall, does not get cleaned, so it has a lot of green algae on it, but there are a number of spots where the corraline is starting to take hold and cover over the green.
i've got some pretty cool algaes on the rocks, some furry green stuff, and some grass looking stuff. geoff referes to it as maidens hair. i like to call it sea grass, because it grows in little tuffts. i'm not doing anything to actively try to remove the algaes, because i like the way they look, and there are no corals anyway. i also havea few small patches of hair algae growing as well.
my one living astrea, has almsot doubled in size. my cowrie has almost doubled, my peppermint has molted 5 times, and my hermits are all doing well, and have transplanted themselves into the vacated astrea shells. and my green brittle, has grown all of his tips back (eaten by an eveil hairy red hermit) and his arms have gained about 1/2" in length, as well, his disc is about the size of a 50 cent piece (started out about the size of a quarter)
my fish are all doing well. the coral beauty, cinnamon clown, and blue devil, all still school together regularly. there are no fights, or territory disputes. no chasing. the clown is still hosting with the powerhead. the angel has a small cave he calls home at night. and the devil is still living inside the clamshell, which he has done since being in the 20g temp tank. the last of my chromis took a ride into sumpville last week, so now there are no chromis left.
lighting:
30w NO actinic blue from 8am till 10pm
30w NO 6.7k sunlight from 10am till 8pm
220w VHO actinic white from 12pm till 6pm
anyway, i think that's about it. i'll post some pics now.
first one is tank with all the lights on, and with jsut the actinic blue's on.
