JJ's Red Sea Reefer 250 G2+ (1 Viewer)

[Jake]

Quick tank update.. I think I was able to get most of the bubble algae removed. This tool is great! Thanks again @spsick for the link.

Even with 20% water changes, I am not making much of a dent on the nutrients.

Have not seen much of a drop with the reefmat either. Plan to give it more time. I also started just a little Nopox.. planning to just do 2ml a few times a week and testing daily so nothing drops too quick. Use AFR has really helped keep things stable and I no longer have had to dose anything else. Currently doing 15ml a day.

Salinity = 1.026
pH = 8.0
Alkalinity (dKH) = 8.5
Calcium (Ca2) = 456
Magnesium (Mg2) = 1280
Nitrate (N03) = 19.5
Phosphate (P04) = 0.21

Also, finally rehomed the blue hippo. He grew so fast. Only took me two days to catch him. LOL. The Nyos trap was the winner. Replaced it with a Flame Angel. The Tomini tang started bulling him and the Angel hid for two days. Using a mirror distracted the tang enough and now everyone seems happy.

I was able to get my nutrients in check with 50% water changes on my new tank. Did them weekly, sometimes more for about a month. I am now down to 20% weekly and Nitrates are around 1-2 phosphates are down to .10 or so. If you have room in your sump add some more media. I have 4 bags of the media spheres in my sump as well as the reef matt. Everything in your tank looks pretty good. I think my tank is about the same age as yours, keep at it and the nutrients will come down. Better to have somewhat elevated nutrients than near zero as that creates bigger problems I believe.

 

[Jjdurrant]

Thanks! Yeah I agree.. I may kick up to 20% WC twice a week and see where I end up here. I do not think my parameters are bad. Just elevated. And certainly want to get them down a bit.

 

[Jjdurrant]

Couple updates for me here..

Replaced a few pieces of equipment:

1. Bubble Magnus 5 Skimmer replaced with Red Sea RSK 300
2. Replaced SICCE Syncra Silent 3.0 with a Red Sea 5500

Figured I already had the ReefRun controller with an extra pump spot so might as well take advantage. These DC pumps are so much nicer! I cannot believe how quiet they run. Also added a few new coral and inverts:

1 - Pink Tip Torch
1 - Cotton Candy Micromussa (Thanks @Chad Vossen)
2 - Pitho Crab
1 - Caribbean Feather Duster
5 - Lightning Dove Snail
5 - Astraea Snails

I know I said I would never get another crab, but hoping these Pithos work out a bit better and bubble algae is kicking my butt.

Current parameters:

Salinity = 1.026
pH = 8.6
Alkalinity (dKH) = 8.8
Calcium (Ca2) = 478
Magnesium (Mg2) = 1345
Nitrate (N03) = 15.4
Phosphate (P04) = 0.14

 

[Jjdurrant]

Figured it was time for update. Parameters staying stable at the daily 15ml of AFR. Been doing weekly 20% water changes which has helped with the NO3. Not as much on the PO4 though. But still acceptable ranges.

Pitho Crabs have been great and I have seen no bubble algae. So highly recommend them. I just wish they were more active during the day like the emeralds were. They are cool though and no regrets adding them so far.

Corals seems to be doing good. I have one crabby Zoa colony but the others are great. Even the last euphyllia I added weeks ago seem healthy.. whoo hoo!

Added a few new pieces as well.. thanks @Dadzilla11 for these:

- Kenya Tree
- Devil's Hand Leather
- Slimeball Anacropora

Salinity = 1.026
pH = 8.6
Alkalinity (dKH) = 9.3
Calcium (Ca2) = 535
Magnesium (Mg2) = 1465
Nitrate (N03) = 9.9
Phosphate (P04) = 0.15

 

[Varig]

I still love the fat fingers on that fungia!!

 

[Jjdurrant]

Forgot to add, you guys can see the Yellow Finger Gorgonia is still hanging on.. I have been feeding it but a few of the branches are starting to dwindle away. Bummer as I love the aesthetics adds to the tank.

 

[Jjdurrant]

Well I finally ended up disposing of the Gorg. Bummer as it was awesome!

But I did get my first real Nem! Can't believe how much these actually move around. Clowns do not seem interested yet though.

 

[MistakesWereMade]

Clowns do not seem interested yet though.

Took two years before my clowns were interested in my nem. Now they only leave to grab food then zip right back to it.

 

[Jjdurrant]

Crazy... I figured they would naturally gravitate

 

[Jjdurrant]

Nem seems to be doing good.. has not moved around much after that first day.. crazy to me how these look before and after lights ramp up.

 

[Jjdurrant]

Well I am closing on new house next week and was dreading the tank move. So I decided to just hire it out to New Wave. Not cheap but I rather just let them handle it

 

[H2OHOH]

Probably a great relief of stress and anxiety. Plenty of other stuff to get done and they have all kinds of equipment

 

[reef junkie]

Congrats on the new place. Figured I’d see an upgrade coming. Lol.

 

[Chris Goetz]

Yep, new place, new tank. Dem da rules.

 

[Jjdurrant]

I was not planning to upgrade but was thinking of maybe jumping to a 350 from the 250 and reusing all my same equipment. But I am still not sure that upgrade is worth it. I plan to put the tank in my front office. Only it is carpeted so I was planing to replace part of the flooring with LVP. Anyone do flooring? LOL

 

[MistakesWereMade]

Throw it on the carpet anyway! If you wreck it for whatever reason, you can just replace it later.

When I needed to move my 250, when my new tank arrived, I moved it on carpet sliders. Filled trash can on wheels full of water and drained what I could of the sump. Left about 6 inches of water in display so I didnt have to move the fish and that was enough. Slid into new location and filled back up. Ran for months there until new tank was set up and running.

 

[Jjdurrant]

Tank move was successful.. and so far no losses two days later! Big thanks to @Jennifer Wanner and the NWA team for their help.

 

[spsick]

Awesome!! Tank moves are stressful!

 

[Jjdurrant]

Couple new pieces from Jason Fox today.. no pics as the shipping was delayed and they sat in box for two days so they are pissed. lol

Jason Fox Yellow Fever Montipora
Jason Fox Purple Montipora Cap

These will be adding to my SPS collection. I only have two others now (Anacropora and a Digitata) which have been doing fine even only sitting at 175 par which I figured would not be enough light. I have been pretty lucky with not higher intensity not only with SPS but my Maxima Clam. Currently running AB+ @ 70%

 

[Jjdurrant]

Well it has been an interesting week with my tank. I found my diamond goby half dead in the arms of my pitho crab. Half his body looked eaten up and he was still breathing. So odd. Fish was fine the day before so not sure what was up. My first fish loss Kind of bummed but more curious what happened.

Parameters as follows.. other than elevated calcium all appears ok and stable. My P04 while kind of high is the lowest it has been in months. So kind of at a loss. This hobby is so frustrating at times especially when you feel you are doing everything right.

Salinity = 1.027
pH = 8.6
Alkalinity (dKH) = 9.1
Calcium (Ca2) = 600
Magnesium (Mg2) = 1125
Nitrate (N03) = 11.8
Phosphate (P04) = 0.22

Total losses since starting late last year:

1 - Diamond Goby (Died 8/2024)
1 - Pink Tip Torch (Died 8/2024)
1 - Jason Fox Purple Montipora Cap (Died 8/2024)
1 - Yellow Finger Gorgonia (Died)
1 - Blue Hippo Tang (Rehomed 4/29/2024)
1 - Pincushion Urchin (Died 4/18/2024)
1 - Peach Octospawn (Died 4/4/2024)
1 - Indo Green Torch (Died 4/1/2024)
2 - Red Acan (Died 4/1/2024)
2 - Emerald Crab (Rehomed 3/18/2024)
1 - Bicolor Hammer (LPS) (Head bailout 2/25/2024)
1 - Halloween Hermit Crab (Rehomed 2/3/2024)
1 - Blue Legged Crab (Rehomed 2/3/2024)
1 - Cherry Limeade Ultra Rock Flower Anemone (Crab attacked)
1 - Horseshoe Crab (Died 1/29/2024)
3 - Red Acan (LPS) (Died)
1 - Mummy Eye Chalice (Died)
1 - Meteor Shower Cyphastrea (Died)
1 - Indo Ruby Red Cynarina (Died)