Day by day log of a newbies 75 gallon, TBS startup tank

[Skipper]

Hey zking67. I have a school of five chromis. They more or less hang together in a school 75% of the time. There is one, though, that is the smallest that gets picked on a lot. Nothing serious, though, just minor bullying. I've had this same school for several years now. Not sure if I would buy that theory that you read about. However, I don't have 6 or 7, just 5.

[wooglin]

I agree, I think they do fine.. I have seen them in other tanks as well doing fine.

[FastUno]

I have 2 damsels & they do chase each other from time to time, but more recently they have been getting along. The problem comes in when a new inhabitant is added, they will team up in an effort to chase the new comer away. BTW, one of my damsels attacked a zoo colony & I couldn't believe it. I had to remove only this one batch of zoos & place them in another tank. This one bastard damsel is all black (Velvet Damsel), but has this white ring around his mouth, evidence of his daily picking.

I tested my water for Alk & CA tonight & results are as follows. Just keep in mind 2 things, I missed 1 dosing session within the last 4 days & that I normally dose in the morning.

Alk = 9.6
CA = 450

I usually add about 60ml of B-Ionic daily & for the most part religiously. That homebrew that you had talked about earlier is sure starting to look good. I am going to investigate some. I have read the article, just need to find out where I am going to buy the ingredients from? Do you really bake the baking soda?

[wooglin]

Yes I cook the baking soda. I cook for more than an hour because I am doing a gallon recipie at once. It works well. I add alot more than 60ml. That is on the low side for my tank. I dose about 90-100ml of each part per day.

[dhebert24]

Wooglin- I seem to remember you got a mantis with your original TBS shipment. Is it still in your tank? If so, any problems with it ? Reason I'm asking is I found a 2 incher in my rock and am trying to decide if it's worth the effort to get him out.

[wooglin]

I have them in two of my three tanks. No problems besides disappering blue legs. I figure thats his food.

[FastUno]

I don't think I have as many corals or as high a demand, but I am sure as the corals are growing that I should increase the dose. That is why I am looking into making my own 2 part- it's getting darn expensive!

Can we get the calcium chloride dihydrate (Such as Dowflake 77-80% calcium chloride) locally? The baking soda & epsom salt are easy to obtain. Oh man, I could just hear my wife...you are baking what in my pans?

I have a clicker too, but have never been able to see him.

[FastUno]

Wooglin why do you continue to dose, as opposed to simply getting a CA reactor? I think there are more chances for a reactor to go wrong, but I can easily see how a dosing pump can go out. Leaving you the impression that things are in order, when they are not. Is there any real way of knowing that the pump has done its daily job?

[wooglin]

I use a Medical Dosing pump that has an intergrated battery backup. It is very foolproof. It is what they would use in a hospital to dose accurate amounts of drugs continously into your veins.

That being said, I dont use a CA reactor because I dont want the complexity added of a PH controller, bubble counter, CO2 cannister, plus all the tuning etc on the actual unit. Then there is the expense. Untill the homemade two-part became available a reactor was the only affordable option. Now its not. If I had a tank larger than 125 gallons I would still go with a reactor though.

[wooglin]

Just got my first digital SLR camera. Here is a pic I took tonight. It is so cool being able to finnally take real pics.

Night Photo


My favorite fish


Paradise Cove

[rjwilson37]

I don't see any pictures in your post, or is it just me.

[wooglin]

They are working here at work, so it may just be you.

[docklink]

I see the photos just fine... and they are sweet!! What type of SLR? I have a Pentax film SLR and was giving some serious thought to getting their digital body for my lens collection.

[wooglin]

Well guess what Jeff, I got the pentax *ist DS, and I love it. Works with a million lens, is available for the right price, and best of all is not giant like the Canon and the Nikon.

Here is a good forum for info on the pentax.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1036

[docklink]

That's what I was looking at. Small and light weight relative to some of the other digital SLR's plus I have an assortment of Pentax lenses already (including a very nice macro, though it is manual focus). What lens did you use for the photos above and what kind of flash (the pop-up or do you have a ring-flash or other)? Thanks.

[wooglin]

I used the pop up flash, and have the Pentax DA 18-55mm lens that comes with the camera in kit form. It seems to be a decent lens. I also have a crazy 80mm-300mm lens that they threw in for free that is fairly worthless. It would be very good for someone taking closeups from very far away though.

[wooglin]

Here are some raws that I edited. As you can see I dont quite have it down, but the image quality is much much better.

[rjwilson37]

Very very nice indeed!

[wastedalf]

Wooglin... I just realized you have a clown goby in your tank, the yellow one in the pics. Is that the only one you have? I'm thinking about doing a tank with a whole bunch of them. Does he stay in the acro all day or does he move around a bit? I don't know why, but recently I've become obsessed with these fish.

[wooglin]

If you look closely you will find two in the second picture. They move around quite abit, and have alot of personality. I love mine. I will probably try to get a green or two to go with my two yellows when I have a little more room in my acros.

[FastUno]

Nice shots! You can tell that your new cam gives you a lot more detail. I look forward to more of your shots.

I love your hawk. Seems like most people say that they are trouble, but my reef would not be complete without mine. I wouldn't mind getting one like yours though. Mine is an Arc-eye Hawkfish (aka Spotted Hawkfish, Cirrhitichthys aprinus), what kind is yours?

[wooglin]

Mine is an Arc-Eye as well. Paracirrhites arcatus. Here is a link:

http://www.marinedepotlive.com/543454.html

Must be one of those fish with where multiple variety's have the same common name.

[wooglin]

Picture of my purple cap.

[JSB5776]

Wooglin, Iam looking into setting up another TBS tank. My first one I went with the Southdown DSB. I see that you only used the TBS sand. Any reasons you didnt go with a DSB? Mine has been good so far, slight hair algae problem as many others have had. I dont blame that on the DSB though, more along the lines of my reef keeping habits

I am debating on wheher or not to go teh DSB route on this new tank... Any thoughts?

Jeff

[wooglin]

No DSB but thats just me.