Lagoon Reef Build

David Caplan

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Jan 30, 2015
Location
Toronto, Ontario
I feed processed foods very sparingly, the tank is stocked with pods + rotifers that reproduce and feed the fish. The tangs and a pair of emerald crabs take care of any filamentous algae, hermits graze, and my two-spot sifts the sand while my Gyre cleans. Every once and a while I act as cleanup crew, and turkey baster off any sticky algae and scrape the glass. I am also very shocked at how spotless it is staying, I had 20+ snails in my 20 gallon plus a bunch of crabs. I also keep my lighting below 10% power on whites, even at high light, and below 5% of reds.
 

David Caplan

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Jan 30, 2015
Location
Toronto, Ontario
I left the house for three days to go to a conference, first time leaving the tank unattended. While I can control the tank remotely, look at temperature and ph, and have video, I had no clue what I was coming back to.

My auto-doser went a little overboard (even after I reprogrammed it twice) and likely dosed too much NoPo4x, as my glass, rock, equipment and plumbing were covered in a whitish translucent slime. The slime clogged almost everything, the UV filter failed, both reactors failed and the skimmer failed. When I removed the return line it looks like the pipe was coated in a very thick layer of it, allowing only half the water to pass.

My wrasses were mia, both of them, even after scraping down everything and syphoning out the bacteria. After killing the return 3 times, I spotted the male wrasse in the overflow and grabbed him. He was being harassed by every tank-mate. When I put the net with the male into the tank the female came out and I saw even the smallest clownfish try to take a nip. I transferred the male (who was totally white) into the frag tank. As soon as he was put in the tank, the juvenile tang started attacking. I pulled all the frag racks, and nabbed the tang.

I tried catching the female in a net without success. Using an inverse coke bottle, I finally nabbed the female this morning and got her into the frag tank. The male has almost fully recovered, and the female is in good shape. Now there is no one to bother them in the tank, but it is significantly too small, and at 4" tall it is not a good home for the jumpers.

I have to decide if I am going to get rid of the Tangs or the Wrasses, as it seems that the fairy wrasses are very susceptible to harassment.
 

David Caplan

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Jan 30, 2015
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Toronto, Ontario
100% bounced back. I scrubbed every piece of equipment in the sump, and cleaned out the plumbing when I got back. I also scraped off all the glass, including the back, and turkey bastered all the rocks. I syphoned out the slime, and things are looking better than ever. The coral is growing astoundingly quickly, the fish are all healthy and fat, except the fairy wrasses (for now). I added 2 gallons of matrix to the sump, and am awaiting some Sipramax, hoping to avoid the bacterial problem next time.
 

David Caplan

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Jan 30, 2015
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Toronto, Ontario
Fish are doing great. I have them in the frag tank with a lid on it. They got their colour back and are swimming near the top again. Very happy I was able to prevent any serious damage from this. I am noticing that all the slime that was still around is sort of melting away since I cleaned the equipment and added the matrix. Maybe I will try for a full tank shot tonight if things are still looking good.

Just picked up a SWC Cone 180, finished cleaning it up. Hoping its gonna fit in my sump, because it will be a huge upgrade. This thing is a beast.
 

David Caplan

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Jan 30, 2015
Location
Toronto, Ontario
Its one or the other. I think I am going to sell the Tangs as they will eventually outgrow my tank. For sure the Hippo and the Dussumieri tang.

Swapped the skimmer for something much bigger, and it fit!


Grabbed a couple frags from March @ Fragbox.
Jedi Mind Trick Monti


Tyree Armageddon, just opening up





Updated full tank shot:
 

David Caplan

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Jan 30, 2015
Location
Toronto, Ontario
Skimmer fits like a glove, I don't think I have more than an inch to work with to fit it in. I am amazed at how much control you have over it, and how much crap it can pull in such a short period of time. In fact, I have ditched both filter socks for now to see if the skimmer can grab what the socks do and save me some maintenance.

I had to return my friend's tripod that allowed me to shoot at 90 degrees, so I had to find another solution. Turns out my tripod company makes an arm that allows you to do this. Only had the energy to snap a couple shots after setting everything up :p





 

David Caplan

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Joined
Jan 30, 2015
Location
Toronto, Ontario
Picked up some frags today from a member on GTA Aquaria. His tank is packed top to bottom with RR SPS. Pretty incredible.

RR Pink Matrix


RR Strawberry Shortcake

RR Needle in a Haystack


Watermelon Chalice

ORA Red Planet

RR Red Dragon
 

BigReefer

Super Active Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2011
Location
London, Ontario
man this is amazing corals ... and amazing shots ... its like reef porn forsure

can you explain what camera you use and the lens and such again ...

I have canon ti or something ... idk it was like a grand ... i think i can get some nice shots if i had a different lens
 

BigReefer

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Joined
Jun 1, 2011
Location
London, Ontario
Canon EOS Rebel T5i DSLR Camera with 18-55mm IS STM Lens Kit

  • Model #: 8595B004
  • Web Code: 10176113
  • Release Date: 04/19/2013


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BigReefer

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Jun 1, 2011
Location
London, Ontario
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