The 210 tank build

[NikkiT]

Ouch. Well glad that's over with. If I was in mikes situation, it would have ultimately been my fault and I would have been cursed off lol. What are you using to battle the bubble algae? I just started dosing ultra algea x to fight off a cross of Dino and hair algae.

I couldn't really curse at Mike, I was the one who picked the urchin. I have never had one before, and I've always wanted one. I all but begged.

To combat algae, we are doing a few things things. We are trying to reduce the nutrient levels in the tank with more frequent water changes (Mike's job), and we are removing rocks from the tank and manually removing bubble algae (my job).
We clean the frag tank together.

 

[jimroth]

Ouch. Well glad that's over with. If I was in mikes situation, it would have ultimately been my fault and I would have been cursed off lol. What are you using to battle the bubble algae? I just started dosing ultra algea x to fight off a cross of Dino and hair algae.

Sorry to butt into the thread. I had the dino/hair algae nightmare and got a lot of help from Boyd Chemiclean. Expensive but it knocked down the brown stuff and was a big help.
Nikki! Ow, your poor finger. Have done that, do not wish to repeat!

 

[NikkiT]

Sorry to butt into the thread. I had the dino/hair algae nightmare and got a lot of help from Boyd Chemiclean. Expensive but it knocked down the brown stuff and was a big help.
Nikki! Ow, your poor finger. Have done that, do not wish to repeat!

Jim, happy to have you joining in!
The finger was sore, but nothing a bottle of wine couldn't help cure. I have a new appreciation for the urchin's ability to protect itself.
I have not tried Chemiclean on the tank, we used it in the past with one of our other tanks.
We have been trying to combat with manual removal, which has gone really well. I have a few pieces I will pull again this weekend, but overall we are winning the battle. I really think it is a nutrient issue. Having stepped up the water changes, replaced Ro filters, and done a better job with syphoning the frag tank and sump, things are coming back under control.
The frag tank is still a work in progress, but I think it is also a matter of us learning what is needed to truly maintain a 400g system. Its a little different from the 12g, the 45 cube, and the 57

 

[Empire]

NikkiT I'm telling you, get ultra algea x!!!

 

[mnat]

We spent a few hours yesterday and today doing some fish tank work on the display on Saturday and then in the fish room today. Lots of scrubbing, vacuuming, water change, and cleaning but it is all the stuff you have to do. We got another set of the frag racks from TBG which allowed us to pull one set and soak them in vinegar. We can now do this rotation to keep them clean which will help. All in all, things are coming together really well. The fish are doing amazing and the corals are starting to do very well. We have been dosing acro power now for about a month and I like the product. We are only dosing acro power, Kent Tech M, and some Dr. Tims Eco balance. I have put all the other stuff aside to test the acropower and also cut down on nutrients being added in. I am also feeding a lot more black worms and I just got some LRS frozen food in which so far so good (using the herbavore blend for now, have the regular one I will use after the first pack). I will report my feeling on this vs Rods Food soon.

Now time for the good stuff:
ORA Red Sea Mimic Blenny, Love love love this fish. If they were cheaper I would have more than one:

Small Borb:

Helfrichi:

Sunburst:

Male clown:

Female clown:

Hawenisis:

Big Borb:

Group shot:

 

[mnat]

Cooperi before flashing:

Cooperi Flashing:

Coco worm:

Goni from Spotter:

Alevapora:

Frogspawn:

Earls wrasse:

Lunate wrasse:

Barnacle Blennies:

 

[kschweer]

Looking great as always guys! Your pictures are getting very good too. I really need to start taking more for practice. Can't wait to see some more updates

 

[mnat]

Those were trimmed from over 200 photos. Just shoot away and spend some time deleting.

 

[Jing_xoxo]

I cant get enough of those barnacle blennies!

 

[Empire]

How are those blennies with your sps? I'm afraid to try a blenny again after my last mistake. What camera are you using?

 

[greybolt03]

How are those blennies with your sps? I'm afraid to try a blenny again after my last mistake. What camera are you using?

I have a bi-color, Midas, and had barnacles before and none ever touched a coral...

 

[greybolt03]

Were did you get the bleeny from?

 

[mnat]

We have no SPS in the display tank right now, it is all down in the frag tank. We have had barnacle blennies for years though and they never went after any sps. The new guy has not had any exposure to SPS so we will see.

The mimic blenny came from Live Aquaria because I could not find one locally. The barnacle blennies (we currently have 4 that I know of) came from both Trop and AO.

 

[spotter]

Nice pics Mike.....especially the Goni!!!! I almost forgot who that one went to!

 

[MatteZ]

Very nice. I like the before and after flashing photos.

 

[JRWOHLER]

I like the Sunburst, saw one at ACC the other day. How is it to keep?

 

[mnat]

James, we have had our guy for 2 plus years at this point. They kind of hang out in the rocks and are not real active swimmers. They have a big of a chip on their shoulders towards some of the other anthias, but are mostly peaceful. They do well as singles which is nice.

The camera was a Nikon D3100 with stock lens.

 

[JRWOHLER]

Thanks good to know both the fish and camera as that is what I have too.
What sort of setting do you use? Adjustments?

 

[TanksNStuff]

Great shots Mike! You guys have a fantastic mix of fish there.

 

[BuGG]

Cool barnacle blennies!!