Hawkeye's AGA 120

[Hawkeye]

Well the frag swap is finally here and I will finally be indulging funds on my tank again.

a) New T5 lights. Will be tinkering with maybe a different combo since I got some of the new ATI coral plus bulbs. It will be a 6 bulb combo of ATI Blue Plus, ATI Coral Plus, and ATI Purple Plus. I still have a bulb of aqua blue too. So will mess around and see how they look.

Here's the definition for the coral plus bulb: Coral Plus

Combines the properties of a Blue Plus (~50%), Aquablue Special (~40%) and Purple Plus (~10%) producing a bulb with a cool, crisp white color with hints of red and blue. The higher blue component compared to an Aquablue Special produces better fluorescence in capable corals and the red component is excellent for color rendition. Approximate color temperature: 15000K+. Recommended Use: As a stand-alone bulb or in combination with Blue Plus, Purple Plus, True Actinic or other supplemental T5 bulbs.

Anyways - will post pics tomorrow of the haul i'm getting from the variety of members who were gracious enough to sell some frags to me. I really wanted to buy from everyone but would have been so broke if I did that. I'm excited to report that I've decided to get a new RBTA. My clowns appear a little worse for wear as they are being chased a bit by the Kole Tang. Dunno why - maybe the kole realizes now that the clowns can't hide from it. The tang never exhibited aggression before. Lesson here: if your clowns are fine without an anemone (as mine were) don't get an anemone. They don't know what they are missing!!!

I ran into Mike M at AqOB yesterday. So great to see him again. While celebrating Will's bday at AqOb, I was happy to have purchased a pair of kuda seahorses (for my other tank) and a valentini puffer (we think...pics to come) and a flame hawk. There were many other fish that looked great but I had to weigh it against the fact that my tank has some killer aggressive fish...lol.

Well that's all for now. AFter the swap will post back here and also try and get some pics with the lights on of the new fish.

 

[Hawkeye]

pic of the puffer....cute little guy that my kids love. Amazingly no one is bothered or bothers him. A rare community fish. Note that it is probably slower than my sea horses when it comes to eating. Sorry it was taken with the ATI blue plus on and my white balance is way off.

 

[Hawkeye]

Things have been busy and time flies. I'm still in the hobby - but I haven't had as much time to contribute to the club lately. Hope to make it to one of the meetings again to at least show my face so you guys know i'm still alive...lol.

The 120 continues to live on...apparently the one RBTA I purchased long long ago has decided that the scientific reproductive method of fission needs to be done not once, but over and over and over again. My tank has gone from a mixed-coral tank to now just a tank with RBTAs...

Here is just a pic of part of the tank with all the nems retracted for sleep/night.

The clowns jealously guard that patch as that is where they lay their eggs. You can see the new batch there (in orange). If I ever decide to raise the babies again - i'll be sure to post my progress here. I'll also try and get a pic where all the nems are out. You can't see any of the rock picture below. Mind you the "rock" that is direct front closest to you was my idaho grape cap...which died when power failed and I ran out of gasoline during hurricane sandy mess. The RBTA survived though...

 

[JRWOHLER]

Well my RBTA has decided that the Idaho grape was the perfect place to spread out so we ended up at the same place just different roads.

 

[Hawkeye]

Here's a pic lights on - you can see the LR is mostly occupied. LOL.

 

[premilove]

Looking good

 

[Hawkeye]

Hey all - I know this is a very old thread and I haven't updated in 8 years...

Anyways apparently one of my overflows is clogged. I'm not sure what is going on as the last of my snails perished a while ago so doubt it's a snail. Maybe just 17 years of continuous use? lol.. yeah probably that.

I have a couple unions where I can uncouple and check and clean - but the plumbing goes about 5 feet below the display tank as the sump is NOT directly underneath the tank, but rather further down into a 40 gallon sump down in my laundry room. My concern is that if I take the plumbing down, it won't go back up due to age. I may want to go out now and purchase the pvc, pvc primer, etc - "just in case".

I am slightly nervous only because with one overflow failing, if the other were to go, there would be tank water on my floor since the top-off would keep running and the return pump would keep going as long as water is in there. I may turn off the tunze osmolator as a precaution when I'm sleeping until I get this overflow fixed. OR is it time for a new tank? lol no i'm just kidding.

 

[mnat]

Get the new tank Phil! Just kidding, glad to see the tank is still running and good luck with the fix, sounds like you are taking the right approach.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Wow, Phil is still kicking! Welcome Phil. Anyway, before you go and start taking apart fittings, I'd run a snake up your pipes. I was shocked to see the vermetid snails and other hard creatures that were in my 1 1/2 overflow plumbing....after about 12 years:



Believe it or not, that drain line was still running and I was simply knocking down the tank, and this is what I found. This is what came out of these pipes....it's a five gallon bucket:

 

[DEL]

I agree on using a snake. They have non metal ones now that may be safer to use.

 

[Hawkeye]

Wow, Phil is still kicking! Welcome Phil.

lol just barely. and yes I've got 1 and 1/2 plumbing so it's hard to believe those bastard snails would clog it up - but I did have major problems with them in the past. (didn't QT a coral properly and introduced into the tank).

 

[Hawkeye]

Get the new tank Phil! Just kidding, glad to see the tank is still running and good luck with the fix, sounds like you are taking the right approach.

The tank is "running"? Well the fish are happy that's for sure - but gone are the glorious days of coral and things to look at. Who knew that after all these years my yellow tang would actually appreciate in value? lol.

 

[Hawkeye]

Wow, Phil is still kicking! Welcome Phil. Anyway, before you go and start taking apart fittings, I'd run a snake up your pipes. I was shocked to see the vermetid snails and other hard creatures that were in my 1 1/2 overflow plumbing....after about 12 years:
Believe it or not, that drain line was still running and I was simply knocking down the tank, and this is what I found. This is what came out of these pipes....it's a five gallon bucket:

OK I reached to the back corner of my tank and used my phone to try and snap a photo of the overflow. There was a very thick branch of vermetid snails there. I cleared that all out best I could - some of it fell to the bottom. I may just run the tank with one overflow and let this one dry out.

But it's clear to me there must be something in the pvc pipe itself. I tried a flex brush from the top but it didn't work. I've ordered a snake to try and clean it from the bottom.

Below is the photo of the union I have for drain. I guess after the water drains, I would turn my valve off and open it so that the top is exposed? Then insert the snake straight up into the PVC? Dumb question I know but I have neglected maintenance for a very long time...

 

[Hawkeye]

well sad news - I must have used the wrong bucket to put my filter sock in for cleaning. It must have somehow got contaminated with soap. everything is dead this morning. It's been a fine ride but I guess this chapter closes. Good luck in your endeavors and thanks all for the friendship and memories. I'll be on to chime in advice but this thread will no longer be updated.

 

[MadReefer]

Damn, sorry to hear that.

 

[Eddie]

I'm so sorry for your loss.