Great update and tank still looking 🔥 despite some of the issues you are facing. Are you planning on doing an update on the reef factory smart tester ? Not seen anyone do a longer term review - wanting to purchase but still waiting for updates. Is there an option to do test once per week yet ie for mag id really only do once / twice per week not daily.
Yeah it still looks great! Can’t get too caught up in the negatives :) The reef factory smart tester is just back in action, so I’ll give it a couple months and then do a long term review
I've always struggled with aiptasia in my aquarium-it's such a nuisance. I've been researching ways to get rid of them and discovered that Berghia nudibranchs seem to be the most effective solution. However, it appears they're not available here in Australia, as far as I know. I'm wondering if there might be a similar species native to Australia that could work just as well. I've come across some information online in old forums, but nothing definitive. Apparently, there are nudibranchs in Australia from the Aeolidiidae family that eat anemones and are closely related to Berghia. Some species like Austraeolis ornata, Spurilla australis, and Spurilla major have shown promise according to reports. I thought with your connections, you might be able to look into these nudibranchs. Perhaps this could become a breakthrough for Australian reef enthusiasts like us!
There are people on the search for aussie sourced aptasia eating nudibranchs, but as far as I know - no one has struck it lucky yet. I do keep my ear to the ground on the situation, but in the mean time I am happy to say that the aussie stripeys do work a treat :)
So many practical methodologies to tackle everyday reefing challenges. Love that you are keeping it real and sharing the good and the bad. Loved this one. Thanks Sam.
Maybe I’m a little bit late, but you should look into the rotating Powerheads like the sea swirl. We in germany have ocean motions which are basically the same and I’ve heard only good about them
You're going to think I'm making this up - but I assure you I'm not.... I swear that your Dream tank and my (First) reef tank are somehow connected... I think I started my tank at pretty much exactly the same time as yours - max a couple of days difference... And between your last video and this one I've had (a) Significant issues with my favourite Hammer receding.... (b) Loss of one of my clowns - first fish in the system and (c) STN on one of my - up until this point - most successful SPS pieces... If you could arrange for some amazingly good things happening in your tank in the coming weeks I'd more than appreciate it 😀
These ups and downs and slowly and carefully steering things back on track and keeping it there as long as we can IS the hobby. Well done showing the truth of it! Thoughts on tossing a large acclimation box or acrylic tank/box with holes in it over the hammers while you tackle issues to prevent the angel from picking until the hammers have stabilize again?
Yeah that’s it, no use pretending they don’t exist - we all face challenges like this in reef keeping. It’s possible to do so, although I’m happy enough to leave them exposed as bait for lack of better words to track down who is to blame :)
Good to see transparency and some realism. Most folks deal with aiptasia, bubble algae and even bristleworms - theres plenty of worse things out there that you can have in your tank for sure.
Hi love your videos. I used some of your build ideas for my current build. Do you have a link to the fans you are using attached to the lights? I'm trying to find one but wondering how you attached yours.
i reached about 17 mins of video. but did you mention or have you tried carbon dosing? i seem to see some discussions about carbon dosing once tanks have fully matured especially in tanks that have coral growth issues after many years. i think there’s some sense into it that the bacteria population may be depleted. another option they’ve discussed on reef bum is ammonia dosing. it was a discussion with mike peletta
I'm not carbon dosing, but I am following the talks about it (especially as it is a reef moonshiner recommendation). The Ammonia dosing is another I am following, I am not doing it yet (I don't like to make my personal reef a test site) but I like the theory to it and am keen to see the long term results :)
Despite all those problems, the tank is looking good and if anyone can pass this hurdle, its you buddy! Great content, it helps all us to understand some of our problems.
Great update Sam. You mentioned that your aiptasia has exploded. I had the same issue in my display so I picked up an aiptasia eating file fish and one Copperband butterfly. The file fish was rehomed because he decided that my LPS was a better meal but my CBB absolutely decimated the aiptasia and he’s been with me for two years now. 👍 your corals have really grown & very healthy since the last update. Hang in there with the ups & downs as your tank still looks remarkable.
thanks mate! I have tried a CBB before without much luck, my tangs ensured its eating difficulties saw it out which was a shame. We are lucky here to have access to Australian stripeys very easily and they are incredible at eating aptasia and have worked a treat :)
@@ParkersReef That’s great about being able to have access to the Stripeys. I now have 13 Tangs so I know what you mean with the CBB getting his share of food.
that was from the fine folk at NVS aquariums. Check them out, they make amazing stuff. Follow video on the lid is here: ruclips.net/video/LD8O7fVzvg4/видео.htmlsi=J5M91-8PAjv-C8HE
@@ParkersReef understood.. that's a major bummer! yeah any of those fleshy LPS probably die.. I too want a large angel for my new 300G and was told no elegances with that fish... gah!! I really want an elegance.. idk.. the only thing I can think of is again keep them super well fed.. the world needs a fish therapy business "turning your fish into model citizens!" hahah
Thanks for keeping it real Parker. I definitely get extra lazy when the reef problems won't stop. You made me step it up a bit. I was skimming through reef hobbyist magazine and was like what a sump! Had to go back and read the article after realizing it was yours in this video. Great job.
Man, I have the exact same problem. Not with my hammers (yet!) but my torches, torch heads, and also with SPS slowly dying off... I test my major perimeters they are all in check, except for calcium which is really high, then minor trace elements seem in check. My fish doing great, I have two angels (coral beauty and flame angel dwarf). I have not yet found a solution to my problems, I was thinking the 2 little angels bite the SPS and then they get messed up. But I don't know.... Lights I use Aqua Medic Spectrus Twins x2.
Love this Sam, bravo for showcasing the good and the bad of such an awesome reef tank - and I still want those hammers haha. Definitely looking forward to your thoughts on the QiJian! Do you find the Stripeys put the LPS on the menu once they clear Aiptasia? My LFS in the UK recently obtained some (though they are crazy expensive in relative terms for what they are)
Much appreciated! Yes the quijan looks a fantastic bit of kit, very excited to test it out. I haven’t had issues with stripeys doing that yet, but it certainly is a common theme that they can so you need to watch them
This might be a left of field idea, but what about setting up a small LPS tank and removing the Hammers? You could do a Goni garden as a replacement. I've had a little bit of die off of my Montis lately and know how your feeling at the moment. Of course it was my expensive Montis to die off first. Good luck getting on top of your struggles.
This video was perfectly timed for me as i am battling high phosphates and a torch that has lost a head . But i will push on im enjoying it too much Im installing a phosbane reactor this week so hopefully that in combination with less feeding will sort me out. By the way Sam your tank still looks absolutely amazing 🙏
Appreciate that mate. It’s a journey, not the end result or the hobby would be very short lived. I’m sure with those steps you’re taking, your phosphate will be back on track real soon and you’ll be set :)
Just used some standard t nuts to mount some timber strips to the desk and then usual fittings from there. More info here: ruclips.net/video/IE34b_KfhSw/видео.htmlsi=zMDpjGSB9P8ITQs8
With your fish that is harrassing/nibbling the hammer, instead of removing or isolating the fish, try putting a cage around the hammer. Maybe the fish will lose interest.
Is it only the front section of your hammer garden that hasn't done well? They might be getting too much flow. I found with my garden they were in abit of flow they stayed happy for abit of time but eventually got over it. I've shifted all my hammers to much lower flow and never had a problem since. Uncle Lam at Fish are friends runs little to no flow on his hammers and they are the most puffiest hammers i've seen ( he gave me the low flow advice ). Try that, i think you will succeed with the hammers. Also, once my hammers did retract and not be so happy is when my pyramid angels would go to town on them. If they were fully extended they would never go at them. Might be the same issue with your angel, although i got rid of my pyramids because of this, but seems like you wouldn't do the same haha.
Na it is random locations. I don’t normally have the flow up that high but have wound it up recently to help with the cyano and detritus. The hammers that are healthy seem to love it 😅
Did you get the stripeys from that shop in Canberra? Love the tank - even while not at its best. Still one of the absolute best on RUclips. Love that its getting better again and bubble and aiptasia are improving vastly. Is it possible, that if you take out 25% of the fish, the corals might be perfect again. It does seem like a lot of fish, especially if adding more fish to distract Prius. My local fish shop once had a 50 litre tank, no equipment associated with reef tank was required (no skimmer, UV or sump) because there were zero fish and the corals were perfect, never seen any die off. Had the tank for years. Maybe they added organics as well as feeding corals lightly. But very little nutrients, nitrates. Will a gigantic UV affect aiptasia populations ? The aiptasia cells need to get in the water column to spread right? What am I saying, you probably already have one. Might also be possible that some coral are being lost to coral warfare. The larger the spread of corals, the greater the chance of coral warfare. Not trying to sound like I know much Tom, your reef knowledge far and away exceeds mine by a country mile. But sometimes it helps to brain storm with others.
I’m just an everyday reefer like you too! I got the stripey from my local, deer park aquarium. I don’t think uv will affect aptasia all that much. Coral warfare is absolutely real, although interestingly most of the coral issues I’ve had have been on isolated pieces?
End of the day, you still have a very very beautiful tank. With regards to aiptasia, I noticed in my LFS that they had a display full of LPS corals and 0 aiptasia was observed. When I inspected the overflow, I saw that there were tons of aiptasia. My guess is that the aggressiveness of LPS corals chased away aiptasia and the aiptasia knows that. They retreated to a safe place (overflow) for refuge. So indeed, one of your corals kept those aiptasia in check.
Appreciate that, thank you! That is interesting, were there any fish in the system? I suspect the fish were pestering them more than the LPs, but you never know!!
@@ParkersReef I cant remember but I think there are fishes though not many. It's those kind of shallow display tank filled with coral frags and colonies for display. It was very mesmerising to me as I felt that the aiptasia knew what was going on and did their best for survival hence they migrated to the overflow for safety. Incredible how these animals are just following their survival instincts. I use to keep a torch and a hammer and never noticed aiptasia near them especially where their tentacles could reach. Only noticed aiptasia hiding between zoas and GSP probably because zoas and GSP dont sting. This led me to a conclusion that buying random zoas/gsp especially in colonies from stores may lead to a higher chance of introducing pest such as aiptasia and pest clove polpys. I've eliminated bubble algae through vibrant reef NOT virant Saltwater and am dealing with aiptasia but (pest clove polyps is the worst thing anyone can deal with. Tiny brown/blue flower like appearance that spread like crazy by physical touch. May be spotted on zoa frag plugs. They can literally live in toilet bowl water conditions. I once took out a rock filled with them, burned it with a blowtorch "not the best idea" and placed it back. They just came back with greater vengeance awhile later) and the only way to kill them is the use of fenbendazole a dog dewormer. proceed with ultra caution and check out maxdracole's write up. whereas buying LPS would have a lower chance of incurring such pest. That's my personal conclusion... haha.
Sam, greetings from Phoenix, AZ! As you know, angels (depending on the type), will pick at your corals. Fish deserve the same respect that we give cats and dogs. With that being said for now you have him and he's a fish you love. Just know, he likes hammers, try to distract him with something else. If that dosent work you may have to move your hammers to another system. Great video as always. Thank you for your time and keep up the amazing work. We all are very lucky to be able to learn from you
@ParkersReef the random stn. When you have a tank with lots of Acropora they are pretty hard to avoid. They seem to pick and choose which Acropora they go for. They completely destroyed my tank. No way to best them that works.
I say mate, that was quite the update. I really appreciate the amount of information, knowledge, insight and time that you put into these videos which potentially help fellow reefers throughout the world. Showing the good and bad in this beautiful reef tank is an testament to the respect you have for your viewers and clearly demonstrates the character and integrity that you possess. Finally, what we plan and envision our reef tanks will look like, will evolve and take on a life and shape of its choosing, and then we realize we are simply along for the ride as nature has her on plans, all taking place in the comfort of our homes. Pretty cool hobby. Cheers, and reef on brother.
Loved the honest update Sam! In the scheme of things, the tank is still crushing it and looks incredible despite those hurdles. So good to hear you’ve found some success with blowing off the detritus in the DT - crazy how much junk comes flying off when you really get in there, and it’s somewhat satisfying in a weird way 😂 are you using a turkey baster or a small powerhead? I might have missed what method you said you were using. I imagine on a tank your size you could use a pretty decent sized powerhead!
I have used both, the pumps are great for the bulk of it, but the turkey master works so well in tight spaces. Appreciate your tips with this, has made a big difference with my tank!
@@ParkersReef nice! One thing you could also try if the turkey baster is a bit too slow/manual, is (depending on the powerhead nozzle you’re using) is you can attach a few inches of RODI tubing so it creates a really narrow jet to get into tight spaces. The small sicce pumps work a treat for this!
The angel is not going to stop nipping at your hammers. Make a aquarium that is dedicated to your angel along with a couple wrasses maybe and other small fish
@@ParkersReef i suppose you could always make another tank dedicated to the hammers and maybe a couple of other LPS that you couldn’t keep with the angel
Great video, Sam! You've definitely achieved legendary status in the game now. I especially loved the detritus part of the video; I'm a stickler for it! Filter rollers and sump maintenance are really crucial for this. "Blowing off my corals," haha, yes, hawk tuah those corals, Sam! 😅🤣🤣
also the open hood is really distracting from the focal point and a 2ft cube is definitely not in the nano category..I think nano is under 25g / 100L isn't it?
Just got my 500 litre from a 52 litre. Your videos are a big reason for the journey I've been on. I appreciate you taking the time to document your journey.
Bro please please save your self hell and go to t5 lighting with LED strips for pop. If you are gonna keep LEDs I would drop all the whites to less then10% Intensity and run your blues as high as you want. Run light only 8 hours a day including a ramp up if you really need one. I would Fing give you t5s just to prove it to you if I could hahaha
Save himself hell? You’re talking absolute nonsense “bro”. This chap knows what he is doing and is man enough to admit his mistakes. I’ve reported you to the Tang police.
@@NoelG-IRE I'm trying to help someone as I've owned a store for 15 years I think I know a little bit more than the average person and most likely him on stuff like this
@@dancohen8305 that proves nothing. I’ve seen plenty of stores make an absolute mess of reef displays. Adding T5’s will effectively triple his power consumption, not to mention add more maintenance for very little actual benefit, other than maybe some better growth but poorer colouration. Overall I’ve had T5’s, T5 hybrid and just LED’s, and I much prefer just the LED’s for both colour and ease of use, not to mention the ability to stretch my lighting period to allow me to view the tank more regularly. PS, I’m 23 years reefing and have realised after all these years, that absolutely nobody is an expert in reefing. We all have experiences, some more than others, but what works for you or is pleasant to your eyes, might not be the same for others. Just randomly telling a person they must have more equipment to fix a non existent problem is exactly what I expect the owner of an aquarium store to say. All the best now
@@NoelG-IRE I have been telling him this for a long time and I stand by what I say I'm 44 been doing reef since I was 13 it's just that I've owned a store for about 15 years I service thousands of tanks not sure how many you do but I'll tell you one thing Coral growth and health is far superior under t5 lighting especially with LED added as long as it's minimal strips. It definitely costs more for most retail customers but at the amount of wattage he's using with these LEDs it would actually be less costly
Anyone that’s new should go back and watch the build series of this tank. Best ever on RUclips.
Appreciate that, thank you!
@@ParkersReefthanks for update very nice rocks you have👍
@tangbp1 thank you!!
Great update and tank still looking 🔥 despite some of the issues you are facing. Are you planning on doing an update on the reef factory smart tester ? Not seen anyone do a longer term review - wanting to purchase but still waiting for updates. Is there an option to do test once per week yet ie for mag id really only do once / twice per week not daily.
Yeah it still looks great! Can’t get too caught up in the negatives :)
The reef factory smart tester is just back in action, so I’ll give it a couple months and then do a long term review
It’s Mick Taylor eating the hammers. Just listen for that laugh of his
Lol
Cyano clean bacteria :) korallen zucht
KZ products aren’t really available here in australia, but thankfully there are lots of alternatives
I've always struggled with aiptasia in my aquarium-it's such a nuisance. I've been researching ways to get rid of them and discovered that Berghia nudibranchs seem to be the most effective solution. However, it appears they're not available here in Australia, as far as I know. I'm wondering if there might be a similar species native to Australia that could work just as well.
I've come across some information online in old forums, but nothing definitive. Apparently, there are nudibranchs in Australia from the Aeolidiidae family that eat anemones and are closely related to Berghia. Some species like Austraeolis ornata, Spurilla australis, and Spurilla major have shown promise according to reports.
I thought with your connections, you might be able to look into these nudibranchs. Perhaps this could become a breakthrough for Australian reef enthusiasts like us!
There are people on the search for aussie sourced aptasia eating nudibranchs, but as far as I know - no one has struck it lucky yet. I do keep my ear to the ground on the situation, but in the mean time I am happy to say that the aussie stripeys do work a treat :)
So many practical methodologies to tackle everyday reefing challenges. Love that you are keeping it real and sharing the good and the bad. Loved this one. Thanks Sam.
Appreciate that mate, we all go through it!
Maybe I’m a little bit late, but you should look into the rotating Powerheads like the sea swirl. We in germany have ocean motions which are basically the same and I’ve heard only good about them
Yeah I am looking into some new variable flow options :)
Holy coralmoly . I haven't visited your channel in a long while and that tank is insane. Awesome reef tank!!
Haha welcome back, lots to catch up on!!
You're going to think I'm making this up - but I assure you I'm not.... I swear that your Dream tank and my (First) reef tank are somehow connected...
I think I started my tank at pretty much exactly the same time as yours - max a couple of days difference...
And between your last video and this one I've had (a) Significant issues with my favourite Hammer receding.... (b) Loss of one of my clowns - first fish in the system and (c) STN on one of my - up until this point - most successful SPS pieces...
If you could arrange for some amazingly good things happening in your tank in the coming weeks I'd more than appreciate it 😀
Hahahaha that’s scary and amazing all in one. Fingers crossed for both of our sakes that we can get through it!
These ups and downs and slowly and carefully steering things back on track and keeping it there as long as we can IS the hobby. Well done showing the truth of it!
Thoughts on tossing a large acclimation box or acrylic tank/box with holes in it over the hammers while you tackle issues to prevent the angel from picking until the hammers have stabilize again?
Yeah that’s it, no use pretending they don’t exist - we all face challenges like this in reef keeping.
It’s possible to do so, although I’m happy enough to leave them exposed as bait for lack of better words to track down who is to blame :)
Good to see transparency and some realism. Most folks deal with aiptasia, bubble algae and even bristleworms - theres plenty of worse things out there that you can have in your tank for sure.
Yeah absolutely is worse out there. Thankfully they’re the worst I’ve had in this tank though 😅
Hi love your videos. I used some of your build ideas for my current build. Do you have a link to the fans you are using attached to the lights? I'm trying to find one but wondering how you attached yours.
So glad to hear it! I’m just using standard desk fans that I mounted upside down to my light frame :)
i reached about 17 mins of video. but did you mention or have you tried carbon dosing? i seem to see some discussions about carbon dosing once tanks have fully matured especially in tanks that have coral growth issues after many years. i think there’s some sense into it that the bacteria population may be depleted. another option they’ve discussed on reef bum is ammonia dosing. it was a discussion with mike peletta
I'm not carbon dosing, but I am following the talks about it (especially as it is a reef moonshiner recommendation).
The Ammonia dosing is another I am following, I am not doing it yet (I don't like to make my personal reef a test site) but I like the theory to it and am keen to see the long term results :)
Don’t mess with the Angel. He’s more than likely going after dead and dying tissue.
Angel won’t be going anywhere, the tank is his :)
Man your tank is just magic, I sure do get some great ideas for when I win the lotto 😂
Glad you enjoyed it!
Still looks fantastic even if in your opinion it's 65%, great video
Yeah and it is looking better already!
Despite all those problems, the tank is looking good and if anyone can pass this hurdle, its you buddy! Great content, it helps all us to understand some of our problems.
Thanks mate, always appreciate your support!
Great update Sam. You mentioned that your aiptasia has exploded. I had the same issue in my display so I picked up an aiptasia eating file fish and one Copperband butterfly. The file fish was rehomed because he decided that my LPS was a better meal but my CBB absolutely decimated the aiptasia and he’s been with me for two years now. 👍 your corals have really grown & very healthy since the last update. Hang in there with the ups & downs as your tank still looks remarkable.
thanks mate! I have tried a CBB before without much luck, my tangs ensured its eating difficulties saw it out which was a shame. We are lucky here to have access to Australian stripeys very easily and they are incredible at eating aptasia and have worked a treat :)
@@ParkersReef That’s great about being able to have access to the Stripeys. I now have 13 Tangs so I know what you mean with the CBB getting his share of food.
Missing your fragtank! do you still have it?
I sure do! I am actually currently in the process of moving it to DeerPark Aquarium so I can stock it with frags there :)
What’s the yellow fish with black stripes?
They’re Australian stripey. Awesome fish, I mention the trio of them I added in this video :)
Amazing, It’s looking fantastic
Thank you! Cheers!
Hey mate, where did you get that fish lid from
that was from the fine folk at NVS aquariums. Check them out, they make amazing stuff. Follow video on the lid is here:
ruclips.net/video/LD8O7fVzvg4/видео.htmlsi=J5M91-8PAjv-C8HE
The large blue tang is a bit skinny sir.
A little, but 100% better than he was previously
You need to keep that fish as well fed as you can with other foods.. because it’s got an all you can eat buffet 24/7 … so keep its tummy full.
If you’ve seen how far she is, there is no shortage of food going in 😅
@@ParkersReef hahaha ok!!! Is she really eating it faster than it grows?
@@adambgunn SPS no, but hammers don't like being eaten too much...
@@ParkersReef understood.. that's a major bummer! yeah any of those fleshy LPS probably die.. I too want a large angel for my new 300G and was told no elegances with that fish... gah!! I really want an elegance.. idk.. the only thing I can think of is again keep them super well fed.. the world needs a fish therapy business "turning your fish into model citizens!" hahah
Thanks for keeping it real Parker. I definitely get extra lazy when the reef problems won't stop. You made me step it up a bit. I was skimming through reef hobbyist magazine and was like what a sump! Had to go back and read the article after realizing it was yours in this video. Great job.
Thanks mate! Glad I could inspire, thanks for your kind words :)
@@ParkersReef no problem. Your tank is looking great.
Hi Tom everyone 👋
Hey Tony, thanks for joining!
Man, I have the exact same problem. Not with my hammers (yet!) but my torches, torch heads, and also with SPS slowly dying off... I test my major perimeters they are all in check, except for calcium which is really high, then minor trace elements seem in check. My fish doing great, I have two angels (coral beauty and flame angel dwarf). I have not yet found a solution to my problems, I was thinking the 2 little angels bite the SPS and then they get messed up. But I don't know.... Lights I use Aqua Medic Spectrus Twins x2.
Yeah two dwarf angels equals twice the damage 😅
I’m 100% certain my hammer issue was my dwarf angel now, so I’d keep a close eye on your two
Love this Sam, bravo for showcasing the good and the bad of such an awesome reef tank - and I still want those hammers haha. Definitely looking forward to your thoughts on the QiJian!
Do you find the Stripeys put the LPS on the menu once they clear Aiptasia? My LFS in the UK recently obtained some (though they are crazy expensive in relative terms for what they are)
Much appreciated! Yes the quijan looks a fantastic bit of kit, very excited to test it out.
I haven’t had issues with stripeys doing that yet, but it certainly is a common theme that they can so you need to watch them
This might be a left of field idea, but what about setting up a small LPS tank and removing the Hammers? You could do a Goni garden as a replacement.
I've had a little bit of die off of my Montis lately and know how your feeling at the moment. Of course it was my expensive Montis to die off first.
Good luck getting on top of your struggles.
Many thanks! No I don’t want to setup another tank, if I have to move on my hammers I will - but Prius will stay, it’s his tank 😅
That is an absolutely unreal coral to water ratio. Holy S word !! 😍
Lots more room for coral yet!!!
What are those little stripped fish?
Australian stripey. They’re mentioned in the video as the solution to aptasia problems
@ParkersReef ah I thought you had got rid of that and those were different
This video was perfectly timed for me as i am battling high phosphates and a torch that has lost a head . But i will push on im enjoying it too much
Im installing a phosbane reactor this week so hopefully that in combination with less feeding will sort me out.
By the way Sam your tank still looks absolutely amazing 🙏
Appreciate that mate. It’s a journey, not the end result or the hobby would be very short lived.
I’m sure with those steps you’re taking, your phosphate will be back on track real soon and you’ll be set :)
Hey Parker,
What kind of clip is used to affix your cabinetry panels to your 80/20 stand?
Just used some standard t nuts to mount some timber strips to the desk and then usual fittings from there.
More info here:
ruclips.net/video/IE34b_KfhSw/видео.htmlsi=zMDpjGSB9P8ITQs8
With your fish that is harrassing/nibbling the hammer, instead of removing or isolating the fish, try putting a cage around the hammer. Maybe the fish will lose interest.
Is certainly an option to consider, thank you
Is it only the front section of your hammer garden that hasn't done well? They might be getting too much flow. I found with my garden they were in abit of flow they stayed happy for abit of time but eventually got over it. I've shifted all my hammers to much lower flow and never had a problem since. Uncle Lam at Fish are friends runs little to no flow on his hammers and they are the most puffiest hammers i've seen ( he gave me the low flow advice ). Try that, i think you will succeed with the hammers.
Also, once my hammers did retract and not be so happy is when my pyramid angels would go to town on them. If they were fully extended they would never go at them. Might be the same issue with your angel, although i got rid of my pyramids because of this, but seems like you wouldn't do the same haha.
Na it is random locations. I don’t normally have the flow up that high but have wound it up recently to help with the cyano and detritus. The hammers that are healthy seem to love it 😅
Did you get the stripeys from that shop in Canberra?
Love the tank - even while not at its best. Still one of the absolute best on RUclips. Love that its getting better again and bubble and aiptasia are improving vastly.
Is it possible, that if you take out 25% of the fish, the corals might be perfect again. It does seem like a lot of fish, especially if adding more fish to distract Prius.
My local fish shop once had a 50 litre tank, no equipment associated with reef tank was required (no skimmer, UV or sump) because there were zero fish and the corals were perfect, never seen any die off. Had the tank for years. Maybe they added organics as well as feeding corals lightly. But very little nutrients, nitrates.
Will a gigantic UV affect aiptasia populations ? The aiptasia cells need to get in the water column to spread right? What am I saying, you probably already have one.
Might also be possible that some coral are being lost to coral warfare. The larger the spread of corals, the greater the chance of coral warfare.
Not trying to sound like I know much Tom, your reef knowledge far and away exceeds mine by a country mile. But sometimes it helps to brain storm with others.
I’m just an everyday reefer like you too! I got the stripey from my local, deer park aquarium.
I don’t think uv will affect aptasia all that much.
Coral warfare is absolutely real, although interestingly most of the coral issues I’ve had have been on isolated pieces?
End of the day, you still have a very very beautiful tank. With regards to aiptasia, I noticed in my LFS that they had a display full of LPS corals and 0 aiptasia was observed. When I inspected the overflow, I saw that there were tons of aiptasia. My guess is that the aggressiveness of LPS corals chased away aiptasia and the aiptasia knows that. They retreated to a safe place (overflow) for refuge. So indeed, one of your corals kept those aiptasia in check.
Appreciate that, thank you! That is interesting, were there any fish in the system? I suspect the fish were pestering them more than the LPs, but you never know!!
@@ParkersReef I cant remember but I think there are fishes though not many. It's those kind of shallow display tank filled with coral frags and colonies for display. It was very mesmerising to me as I felt that the aiptasia knew what was going on and did their best for survival hence they migrated to the overflow for safety. Incredible how these animals are just following their survival instincts. I use to keep a torch and a hammer and never noticed aiptasia near them especially where their tentacles could reach. Only noticed aiptasia hiding between zoas and GSP probably because zoas and GSP dont sting. This led me to a conclusion that buying random zoas/gsp especially in colonies from stores may lead to a higher chance of introducing pest such as aiptasia and
pest clove polpys. I've eliminated bubble algae through vibrant reef NOT virant Saltwater and am dealing with aiptasia but (pest clove polyps is the worst thing anyone can deal with. Tiny brown/blue flower like appearance that spread like crazy by physical touch. May be spotted on zoa frag plugs. They can literally live in toilet bowl water conditions. I once took out a rock filled with them, burned it with a blowtorch "not the best idea" and placed it back. They just came back with greater vengeance awhile later) and the only way to kill them is the use of fenbendazole a dog dewormer. proceed with ultra caution and check out maxdracole's write up.
whereas buying LPS would have a lower chance of incurring such pest. That's my personal conclusion... haha.
It's nice watching a video that doesn't make successful hobbiest seem perfect or incredibly lucky.
It's a tough game for us all! No use just showing when the tank is looking great, we all have challenges in this hobby and it is what binds us :)
Sam, greetings from Phoenix, AZ! As you know, angels (depending on the type), will pick at your corals. Fish deserve the same respect that we give cats and dogs. With that being said for now you have him and he's a fish you love. Just know, he likes hammers, try to distract him with something else. If that dosent work you may have to move your hammers to another system. Great video as always. Thank you for your time and keep up the amazing work. We all are very lucky to be able to learn from you
Yeah always a risk! Just frustrating when he hasn’t touched them for 10 years and now decides it’s a good use 😅
That’s ok, we’ll work a way through it
You probably also have AEFW in a tank like that
What brings you to that conclusion?
@ParkersReef the random stn. When you have a tank with lots of Acropora they are pretty hard to avoid. They seem to pick and choose which Acropora they go for. They completely destroyed my tank. No way to best them that works.
@andycx2 yeah, you usually expect to see bite marks from them first though?
@ParkersReef yeah on the underside of the Acropora not always obvious. Keep an eye out 👍
Always!
I say mate, that was quite the update. I really appreciate the amount of information, knowledge, insight and time that you put into these videos which potentially help fellow reefers throughout the world. Showing the good and bad in this beautiful reef tank is an testament to the respect you have for your viewers and clearly demonstrates the character and integrity that you possess. Finally, what we plan and envision our reef tanks will look like, will evolve and take on a life and shape of its choosing, and then we realize we are simply along for the ride as nature has her on plans, all taking place in the comfort of our homes. Pretty cool hobby. Cheers, and reef on brother.
Thanks so much for the kind words, it really means a lot. And I completely agree with you about the reef choosing its own path!!
Loved the honest update Sam! In the scheme of things, the tank is still crushing it and looks incredible despite those hurdles. So good to hear you’ve found some success with blowing off the detritus in the DT - crazy how much junk comes flying off when you really get in there, and it’s somewhat satisfying in a weird way 😂 are you using a turkey baster or a small powerhead? I might have missed what method you said you were using. I imagine on a tank your size you could use a pretty decent sized powerhead!
I have used both, the pumps are great for the bulk of it, but the turkey master works so well in tight spaces.
Appreciate your tips with this, has made a big difference with my tank!
@@ParkersReef nice! One thing you could also try if the turkey baster is a bit too slow/manual, is (depending on the powerhead nozzle you’re using) is you can attach a few inches of RODI tubing so it creates a really narrow jet to get into tight spaces. The small sicce pumps work a treat for this!
I’m in the middle of that downward spiral now, been a rough couple months reefing here 🤦🏽♂️
We’re all here to help get you through it!
That hammer garden, I'd probably cry if I was you, yet you smile and charge on! Respect!
Hahaha I considered it!!! But it’s all good, reefing throws curveballs at you - just got to keep on moving :)
You could set up a Wyze camera and keep an eye on that fish when it thinks no one is watching. Thanks for another informative video Sam
I’m 99.9% sure it’s the angel, I don’t need to spy on him as he doesn’t straight in front of me :p
Sounds like a fucking nightmare! Kiss!
Haha na it’s not too bad, just enough to keep me on my toes!
Beautiful tank!!!!! Have you tried any tenuis. Its super hard to keep
Certainly have, I actually have some Walt Disney in there now :)
Give Prius his own tank and have a separate fish only system for any others that may cause issues in the future.
I’ll make some adjustments so Prius can enjoy this tank I think :)
What are the yellow and black striped fish? They are cool!!😎😎
Never mind you answered my question later in the video.
Haha all good mate!
All I can say is…. WOW! Beautiful.
Thank you! Cheers!
Gotta sua every time i see that beautiful tank i get more inspired and jealous than ever
Hahaha thank you thank you
The tank is looking awesome mate. So much growth.
Much appreciated! It could certainly look better, but we’ll get it there
Dude,,, Clown died,, time to get a test by aquabiomics. How did she die, what were the symptoms? Sorry for your loss.
I think it was aggression from Chromis.
Aquabiomics not available here in Aus sadly :/
@@ParkersReefdang, I don’t have any of them or experience. Glad it doesn’t look like a pathogen. Keep Prius :)
@Fish_Ventura haha yeah, I can’t remove him 😅
Looking forward to the review on the Qijian, currently what I'm looking at for my upcoming tank
Yeah it’s a pretty funky little device, I’m keen to play with it too!!
@@ParkersReef keen to get a dissolved oxygen sensor and to play around with skimmers and wave makers to see what effect they have
@scottrousseau8441 yeah will be fun!
The angel is not going to stop nipping at your hammers. Make a aquarium that is dedicated to your angel along with a couple wrasses maybe and other small fish
I’ll just remove the hammers. This tank is dedicated to that angel :)
@@ParkersReef i suppose you could always make another tank dedicated to the hammers and maybe a couple of other LPS that you couldn’t keep with the angel
I could, but I’d rather keep my focus on the one tank. If the hammers need to go, I can find new homes for them easily enough
🔥🔥
Thanks! It’s still looking great, but we can get it looking better :)
I think it’s a good idea to add those Nero 7
Agreed
Great video, Sam! You've definitely achieved legendary status in the game now.
I especially loved the detritus part of the video; I'm a stickler for it! Filter rollers and sump maintenance are really crucial for this.
"Blowing off my corals," haha, yes, hawk tuah those corals, Sam! 😅🤣🤣
Hahahaha I did cringe a little when I phrased that 😅😂😅🫣
@@ParkersReef made me all hot a sweaty
That is one gorgeous setup.
thank you, I put a lot of work into it!
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you!
Carbon removes iodine lmao 🤣
I don’t believe it does, or if it does, not in any big way.
@@ParkersReef it reduces it to zero lmao watch a color changing video.
what colour changing video?
Nice update Sam
Thanks!
never seen such yellow stripeys
also the open hood is really distracting from the focal point and a 2ft cube is definitely not in the nano category..I think nano is under 25g / 100L isn't it?
That’s the question, there is no “legal” definition of a nano :)
The hood closes, sorry to hear it distracted your eyes
Just got my 500 litre from a 52 litre. Your videos are a big reason for the journey I've been on. I appreciate you taking the time to document your journey.
So glad to hear that! Thanks for tanning tome to watch and enjoy the videos :)
Always love the videos! And the transparency showing the up’s and downs of the hobby
Thank you!!
Great honest update. So many reefers hide issues but great that you share your issues openly which lets face it everyone has at some stage.
We definitely all face them! Appreciate your support as I work through these ones :)
The tank still looks amazing
Thanks so much :)
Bro please please save your self hell and go to t5 lighting with LED strips for pop. If you are gonna keep LEDs I would drop all the whites to less then10% Intensity and run your blues as high as you want. Run light only 8 hours a day including a ramp up if you really need one. I would Fing give you t5s just to prove it to you if I could hahaha
Na I’m good, not a t5 fan
Save himself hell? You’re talking absolute nonsense “bro”. This chap knows what he is doing and is man enough to admit his mistakes. I’ve reported you to the Tang police.
@@NoelG-IRE I'm trying to help someone as I've owned a store for 15 years I think I know a little bit more than the average person and most likely him on stuff like this
@@dancohen8305 that proves nothing. I’ve seen plenty of stores make an absolute mess of reef displays. Adding T5’s will effectively triple his power consumption, not to mention add more maintenance for very little actual benefit, other than maybe some better growth but poorer colouration. Overall I’ve had T5’s, T5 hybrid and just LED’s, and I much prefer just the LED’s for both colour and ease of use, not to mention the ability to stretch my lighting period to allow me to view the tank more regularly.
PS, I’m 23 years reefing and have realised after all these years, that absolutely nobody is an expert in reefing. We all have experiences, some more than others, but what works for you or is pleasant to your eyes, might not be the same for others.
Just randomly telling a person they must have more equipment to fix a non existent problem is exactly what I expect the owner of an aquarium store to say.
All the best now
@@NoelG-IRE I have been telling him this for a long time and I stand by what I say I'm 44 been doing reef since I was 13 it's just that I've owned a store for about 15 years I service thousands of tanks not sure how many you do but I'll tell you one thing Coral growth and health is far superior under t5 lighting especially with LED added as long as it's minimal strips. It definitely costs more for most retail customers but at the amount of wattage he's using with these LEDs it would actually be less costly