Today my reef turns 23 months old. I've still got plenty to do: Install the NYOS protein skimmer, plumb in the Vectra L1 return pump, and get a new frag system built. Here's a picture of the two tanks side by side.
More images and discussion about today is here on ReefAddicts.com: http://www.reefaddicts.com/entry.php/29287-Month-23-Day-690
Due to popular request, I'm posting a video that shows the aquariums for a few minutes.
The reef continues to do well. I mentioned on the first what I'd done for the reef. I treated the tank with Phosphate Rx to knock down PO4, and have pretty much only kept up with wiping the glass down every couple of days. The CO2 tank ran dry so last Friday I refilled it at the liquor store, which maintains the lower pH in the calcium reactor around the clock. I'm keeping that level at 7.0 to dissolve the media gradually.
Over the last couple of months, I've been busy with work and physical therapy to strengthen muscles in my back that are meant to work with my neck. The surgery corrected one area, but lots of exercises and frequent walks are helping improve and loosen up my neck and upper back muscles. I'm constantly having to remind myself about my posture, most importantly at my computer. (Don't slouch, you'll regret it later!)
My reef is now four months old, and everything is growing steadily.
Here's the entry that goes into more detail and has a bunch more images included:
http://www.reefaddicts.com/entry.php/1687-Day-120-My-reef-turns-four-mon...
Seven days ago, I discovered my carpet was wet where you enter my home. Immediately I checked the angled tank and the plumbing in the closet. Everything was dry. Feeling the carpet as I backed up, I discovered that it was wet all the way back to my reef tank. I opened the left wooden column of the woodwork only to see soaked wood and my tank dripping from the upper left corner. I thought I'd try to save it.
1825 days later, my 280g turns five. :D
The 280g page has been updated with the latest equipment and livestock in use. Some of the coral's have been linked to older images, which I plan to update to newer ones since they've grown in size.
Feeding has been updated, cleaning tools listed, as well as other equipment linked.
I'm heading out to Southern California for the rest of this week. If you need to reach me, you can email me and I'll try to reply when possible. I'll be visiting some local fish stores, some wholesalers, a number of hobbyists' reef tanks, and then Saturday & Sunday I'll be at the Marine Aquarium Expo in Orange County Fairgrounds. If you are in SoCal, I hope to see you there!
Here is a picture of the 280g reef as of yesterday.
The new tank is maintaining well. Temperatures range between 79 and 81F from day to day. pH tends to run rather low, around 7.9 to 8.1 but I recently started dripping Kalkwasser to see if that will elevate the levels to 8.3.
I added additional locline to the existing returns, to the point that I could flex them upward like the hump of a camel's back. I drilled several anti-siphon holes in the underside of the hump, and no longer is there a risk of the sump overflowing.
