Back in Georgia! Back to the tank! (lots'o pictures)

[rskillz]

Two months after upgrading from a 72 gallon to a 180 gallon, I had to leave for Colorado for work for 3 months. I tried to set the tank up where it could basically be auto-pilot for my wife, but as we all know too well, there is no auto-piloting this hobby. One week after I left, my Neptune Apex system crashed due to a small leak under the tank, which made my LEDS unusable. Luckily, we have awesome people here on ARC like Bud, who drove all the way to Augusta, then to Columbia, then back to Augusta, then back to Atlanta all just to get my controller and LEDS back on line. All told, the tank went without lights about 4-5 days. Shortly ater that, my Calcium reactor starting leaking co2. =(

Overall the tank did quite well. Reggie (reeferman) kept a close eye on things and kept the tank up. Between the lights and Alk swings due to the reactor, I lost about 30% of my LPS, mostly chalices and acans. I think the fact the tank was not being spot fed led to the unhappiness of my of my LPS.

Anyway, thanks a ton to the awesome community we have here, without people like Budd and Reeferman, this hobby would be too maddening to take alone.

A little info about my setup:

180g
60g sump
Custom LED
Neptune Apex controller
Super RO XRO skimmer
Reeflo DART return
2LF Carbon reactor
2LF Bio-pellet reactor
Vertex Calcium reactor
2x Vortech mp40

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Some of my fishies

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FTS

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[smallblock]

I've been wondering where you have been, dang I hate to hear about your troubles. Its awesome those guys stepped up like that.

 

[rjrgroup]

Welcome back Ryan! :yay:

 

[dawgface]

Welcome back bud!

Sorry to hear about the losses! You have one of the most extensive collection of chalices I've seen! I probably don't even want to know what you lost....

 

[kirru]

tank looks amazing.. love those corals!

here is what your scooter is saying....
"CRAP! I have been pictured! They will find me now!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/Rskillz/scoot.jpg[img]

Edit: well **** that faiiled lol

 

[mike oglesby]

Good looking stuff. Glad to see others in Augusta. Welcome back home

 

[acroholic]

Glad you're back.:thumbs:
Dave

 

[smoothie]

acroholic;691482 wrote: glad you're back.:thumbs:
Dave

+1

 

[reeferman]

great pics Ryan.thats a sweeeet brain!i gotta come by and check it out.

 

[umbrellacorp]

nice pics!

 

[whitneyd88]

Dang your calcium reactor sure does leak a lot. If they're that iffy I definitely don't ever want one. James and I were wondering what happened to you

 

[rskillz]

DawgFace;691457 wrote: Welcome back bud!

Sorry to hear about the losses! You have one of the most extensive collection of chalices I've seen! I probably don't even want to know what you lost....

Yea, you don't want to know. I'm doing my best to not stress over it, haha. Lost about 6-7 super nice LE chalices. Oh well. Hows your zoa collection coming?

Whitneyd88;691527 wrote: Dang your calcium reactor sure does leak a lot. If they're that iffy I definitely don't ever want one. James and I were wondering what happened to you

They are a pain in the butt to dial in for sure, but once they are right they are good for months and months. How have you and James been? You guys still in Augusta? You should stop by so we can catch up.

 

[bobz]

Rskillz;691413 wrote: . Luckily, we have awesome people here on ARC like Bud, who drove all the way to Augusta, then to Columbia, then back to Augusta, then back to Atlanta all just to get my controller and LEDS back on line.

Wow! Where else can you find folks who are pretty much strangers, go out of their way and drive hundreds of miles to help out a fellow reefer! I would guess only on the ARC. That is incredible. Great job Bud!!!

 

[whitneyd88]

James and I are doing great! We actually moved to Fort Pierce FL back in July! We're in school for aquaculture at Indian River State College. James got a job at a fish store and I got a job at ORA!! So awesome! But we'll be visiting Augusta for thanksgiving and maybe even before then. Maybe we can stop by

 

[ruadh]

Nice pics Ryan! You have one hell of an amazing tank....so much better in person!

 

[rskillz]

Whitneyd88;691576 wrote: James and I are doing great! We actually moved to Fort Pierce FL back in July! We're in school for aquaculture at Indian River State College. James got a job at a fish store and I got a job at ORA!! So awesome! But we'll be visiting Augusta for thanksgiving and maybe even before then. Maybe we can stop by

Nice! I know you guys were happy to make the move, I hope it's fun. Very happy for ya! Tell James I said hello. Def give me a call when you're back in town.

 

[gnashty]

Rskillz;691540 wrote: Lost about 6-7 super nice LE chalices. up.

Aw man, there goes my frag pack..just kidding. Sorry for your losses

Welcome back!!

 

[rskillz]

gnashty;691658 wrote: Aw man, there goes my frag pack..just kidding. Sorry for your losses

Welcome back!!

R.I.P Tyree Red, Aspera, Knockout. LOL. Man, this hobby stinks sometimes:sad:

 

[gnashty]

Rskillz;691662 wrote: R.I.P Tyree Red, Aspera, Knockout. LOL. Man, this hobby stinks sometimes:sad:

NOOOOO!!!!!

I bet that Aspera was looking nice too. Hang in there, tank still looks great! Do you even remember how to do a water change? LOL

 

[rskillz]

gnashty;691664 wrote: NOOOOO!!!!!

I bet that Aspera was looking nice too. Hang in there, tank still looks great! Do you even remember how to do a water change? LOL

LOL, it was overwhelming to come back to the tangled mess of wires, salt creep, and occasional coral carcass. It took me 20 minutes to even get comfortable with my controller, haha.