72 Oceanic Reef Ready Bow Front Evolution...

[mikeguerrero]

Knowing that LFS save a lot of SPS from certain death after RTN is detected, I decided to give it a try.

I'm no expert on fragging but I asked around and found out what some LFS use to get the job done.

I purchased this cool set of clippers for only $9 at Home Depot. Here are pictures to show you my work.

I also use BSI glue which my LFS swears by, and I also believe it's the best glue out there for its price, only $9 bucks.

Mike G

 

[Anonymous]

yep - not much to it is there??
I've been fragging softies for years and thought that was easy till i did my first SPS - I have found in very short order that they love to be fragged - mine grow a lot faster after cutting then they did before........... Dawn is threatening to hide my pliers on me
very pretty rose milli (right????) BTW - and nice work!

 

[mikeguerrero]

Thanks John,

Yes it's a rose milli that has been doing great since I purchased it but three days ago, it started RTN from the base up.

I was so mad when I saw that because it's my favorite SPS coral. I knew that if I didn't act quickly it would be gone so I went and puchased the tools to frag.

I'll see if it pulls through because the polyps underneath didn't look all that great but were not bleached yet.

Mike

 

[skipm]

Fragging can be addictive, especialy with SPS being as its so easy. Hopefully all will be well for your mille. Mike.

 

[drty811]

all i think about is fraging.....everytime i look at my tank i wonder what is ready or where do i place the rock..... :mrgreen:

 

[mikeguerrero]

Hey Reefers,

I've been doing a lot of research regarding Ozone in the last three weeks, tons to be found on RC. I decided in an attempt to help my Acros out I need more water purification and what better way to do than with Ozone.

Since my skimmer is rated to receive and handle ozone I decided to start the process; here is a list of my equipment that I put together to make this project work.

Here they are:

All the components.

Coralife 8ft norprene ozone safe tubbing.

Hagan elite check valve and T fitting ozone safe.

Coralife luft air pump ozone safe.

Sanders 50mg/hr ozonizer.

Milwuakee SMS 510 ORP controller

Controller in place

I spoke to Milwaukee tech support and they let me know not to connect my controller until Saturday. They let me know that I must run the probe for at least 5 days to stabalize the accuracy of the unit.

He told me not even to look at the values in MV on the screen as they will flucuate like crazy as the unit begins to stabalize.

He was right, man did they jump all over the place and this morning I it reads 241 MV, which when I went to bed it was at 119 MV.

My redsea 500g air dryer has not come in yet, hopefully today at work.

MG

 

[aromano]

As usual top of the line equipment for a top of the line reefer.
Good info about the ORP controller Mike. I had no idead that these units had to go through a break in period to stabalize.

 

[drty811]

looking really good mike....how about a full pic of the underneath. :mrgreen:

 

[EDGRAY]

wow really alot of equipment .... got a big investment over there mike....i have to go to your condo to still some equipment :lol: :lol:..... and they say is easier to keep a big tank????? i doubt it :lol: :lol:

eddy :cool1:

 

[mikeguerrero]

Hey guys,

I came home from work at about 7pm and my tank is running PH 8.3 and my ORP was at 273.

I proceeded to feed my fish pellets and then some flakes, in about 10 minutes I checked the ORP and it started to drop and hit 261 and now it's starting to go back up.

I'm suppose to wait till at least Saturday to make sure the ORP is fully ready to dispense ozone correctly.

I'm wondering how high my ORP will go before I run the Ozone?

Mike G

 

[aromano]

I have a feeling your ORP controller will continue to fluctuate for a couple more days, until the unit begins to stabilize and you can have a better idea what the ORP really is with more accuracy.
I would wait about a week before adding ozone, to give your controller a chance to properly break in.

 

[mikeguerrero]

Andre,

I would have never known about the break in period on ORP controllers as the instructions don't ever mention it, neither do any of the threads I read.

Had I not called Milwaukee just out of curiousity, I would've started the assembly premature.

He told me to at least wait until Saturday (4-5 days) so I'll do that, since this weekend is a long break for me, no work on Monday, I'll have all weekend to play with the unit.

Thanks for the heads up...

I've read that some really nice reef tanks can reach up to 400 mv in ORP without the assistance of Ozone; via a really great skimmer.

I'm wanting to bench mark my skimmer and see up to what level I can get before I start to inject Ozone.

I'm going to post to find out what the knuckle heads at RC have gotten prior to injection of Ozone; no one over there ever mentions it, all they talk about is the injection part.

Mike G

 

[aromano]

Nice, I think it's a good idea.
You have top of the line equipment maintaining your reef for about six months now, and IMHO your tank is an example of what a cleaned and well balanced environment should be. By letting the controller stabilize and give you an accurate ORP reading, will give you chance to compare what's the ORP levels before introducing the ozonizer and see what kind of improvements this unit will give you in the long run. ;-)

 

[mikeguerrero]

Update,

ORP reading has finally maxed out at 326 mv... I would love to run the Ozonizer now, since it's a long weekend, but I'm reluctant because my airdryer is not here it will arrive on Wednesday.

Any recommendations if I should wait until Wed, making sure dry air is going through the sanders unit?

I have placed the ozone unit in place but haven't wired it yet, here are two pics:

MG

 

[mikeguerrero]

Being that my ORP is 326 mv without Ozone, I took some pics of my reef so we may compare a before and after shot.

Here are the before pics:

 

[sadielynn]

Great shots , I am drooling :mrgreen:
cant help on the question sorry

 

[reefman23]

Mike, sorry but I cant help you with the O-zone...I have no knowlecge of that stuff.

Your tank is looking better every day. The fish all look fantastic and your rock is really looking good! Just an outstanding tank... :kewlp

I especially like those blastos in the second picture...I really want to keep blastos, but they are pretty pricey.

One last thing...I think I will have to steal those clowns out of your tank...they are EXACTLY what I am looking for.

Great job as always,

Jesse

 

[mikeguerrero]

Well,

Here is a step by step process on me connecting my Sanders 50 mg/hr onto my Deltec AP 600 skimmer:

Remove collection cup for easy access to air intake valve

Cut small piece of effluent tubing to join air intake valve with ozone safe tubing

Connect ozone safe tubing to ozone safe T connector

Place T connector onto modified air intake valve

Make sure you firmly insert tubes to both ends

Connect ozone safe tubing to the output of the Sanders unit

Connect ozone safe air check valve to ozone safe T connector

Make sure all connections are in place and set the dial on the ozonizer to 25% - 50%

The sanders unit has a blinking green light in the center that reflects how much ozone is being administered via the rheostat knob

Set the Coralife luft pump to desired setting; #2 for my system

 

[reefman23]

Very nice, Mike. There is so much going on under your tank, but it is all very clean and organized...well done.

I look forward to seeing how this unit effects you reef.

Jesse

 

[lgreen]

Mike,

If you don't mind sharing, I was wondering where you got your Deltec AP600 skimmer and how much you paid for it. One of my family members wants to get one and I'm trying to help them find a good price.

Thanks,

lg