16/05/07

Sorry there have been no updates for a month - everything is now back on track after the incident in April. We have just added a chiller to the system which is doing a great job keeping the temperature down. We have also installed a small ozonizer - which even running at full output will not raise our ORP over 450mV. The ozonizer has made a huge difference to the clarity of the water and there also seems to have been a large improvement in the health of our fish - and no signs of any ich!! We have replaced some of our stock and will be loading some new photos soon.

16/04/07

We have now lost 2 Lyretail Anthias and a Majestic Angelfish as well. None of these showed any signs of Ich. We are continuing to do regular water changes but there is still a significant smell of Tea Tree in the water and the skimmer is still going ten to the dozen.

15/04/07

*WARNING*

We had a bit of an outbreak of Marine Ich (White Spot) in the tank. We were advised and had checked several website which all suggested using  combination of Melafix and Pimafix. BIG MISTAKE! We dosed the first lot on 11/04/07 and immediately all the corals shrank right down, I was hesitant at this but when the started to come back out a few hours later I figured they were just irritated by the presence of the chemicals in the water. The following day we dosed a second round this time dosing slowly over a few hours. Again all our corals shrank right down and the fish seemed very lathargic. We then lost our Achilles Tang possibley due to the Whitespot but he had been fine a few minutes before. When checking all the levels in the tank to find out what was going on we found that moments after adding the Melafix and Pimafix the ORP had dropped from 380 to 170mV and effectively our fish were all suffocating. Luckily we turned all our equipment back on and started some immediate water changes. At present most of the tank appears to have recovered but only just. Our Anemones have been suffering and deflating regularly (the Malu had never defalted prior to this) and we have a colt coral that has not recovered. It also now appears that our 3 Lyretail Anthias may be starting to die and these had no sign of white spot at all. We have added some large airstones to the tank to raise the Oxygen levels back up. I would dread to think what would have happened had we continued to dose. We went to a new aquatics store this morning and were informed that adding Melafix to a reef tank was about equivalent to adding battery acid or copper. I would not recommend this product to anyone and will be taking this up with the manufacturer and the store who sold it to us claiming it is completely reef safe.

29/03/07

Well, some new photos are finally here (more to come over the weekend). We have now started to dose Iodine and Strontium. So far we have put in 250ml of each over the last few days and the levels are only just starting to register on the tests - going to need larger bottles!

26/03/07

Sorry, weve been too busy looking after the tank to keep up to date. We have loads of new stock and photos which we will be posting over the next few days.

06/03/07

Been a little while since the last update. Levels are all still at zero, and everything is looking very healthy. We added an algae blennie the other day and it was great to watch it start eating immediately and over about 30minutes change from white to a dark green/brown colour. Our torch,pearl and anchor corals are now readily eating krill. Will be posting some updated tank shots over the next few days.

28/02/07

SUCCESS..... the Goniopora is now much happier. And the Blue Linkia is on display for the first time since putting it in the tank.

26/02/07

The Goniopora has not really extended its polyps since we put it in the tank on Saturday, so we have moved it much lower down and into a more sheltered spot. By lights-out it was looking much happier. Nitrite and Nitrate now at zero! Boris seems to be taking a real liking to the cockles. The comet assessor is refusing to come out in the open to feed at the minute and is staying under the reef-racks, but holding some krill on a feeding stick at the edge of the racking gets a violent attack as she feeds! Our urchins are doing a grand job cleaning up the algae from the rocks, hopefully we will upload some fresh pictures of the whole tank tomorrow.

24/02/07

Picked up a few more corals today, dont seem to be making much of a dent in the space we have available in the tank!!

23/02/07

Boris the eel hand fed on krill and cockle today, seems to be getting his bearings and moving around the tank in daylight now. Phosphate level checked and found to be zero.

21/02/07

Oh dear, it happened again. We went to pick up 4 Chromis to complete our shoal and we ended up coming back with - 4 Green Chromis, Yellow Tang, Regal Tang, Flame Angel, Comet Assesor and a Zebra Moray Eel who is so cute. Pics are on the Photos page.

20/02/07

Went to Lynchford to pick up some more livestock.Tank now looks very colourful. We have added:

• 2 x Flame Scallops
• Marble Sea Star
• Blue Linka Sea Star
• 10 x Electric Blue Hermit Crabs
• Red/Purple Sea Squirt
• Orange Fan Sponge
• Orange Pussey Coral
• Pussey Coral
• 2 x Cleaner Shrimp
• 4 x Green Chromis (4 more to come)

All are in tip top condition and seem very happy in their new home. Sam did get bitten by one of the Flame Scallops but other than that we are injury free.

18/02/07

Today we went to order some more livestock from Lynchford and ended up bringing half of it home with us. We now have added a Hammer (Anchor) Coral, Torch Coral, Finger Leather Coral, Pincushion Urchin (nicknamed Speedy), 2 Sandsifting Starfish and 2 Cleaner Shrimp. The tank still looks very empty but its now far more interesting. All seem to have taken to the tank very well.

17/02/07

First livestock went in today. We went to look round some fish shops and the temptation was too strong. Came home with a Black Spiney Urchin (nicknamed Spike), Orange Flower Tree Coral and a Coral Beauty Angelfish (nicknamed Tinkerbell). So far all are doing well.

14/02/07

OH DEAR...........................

We have added on the Rowaphos Reactor and some Activated Carbon to try to combat this. Water parameters have leveled out but aren't coming down yet.

12/02/07

Major Brown Algae blooms over the weekend. Water parameters were still on the rise last night following 2 partial water changes.

10/02/07

Water parameters have gone up.

09/02/07

First signs of life on the live rock today. See the photos page.... (check back over the next few days for more photos and an update on the levels). First water change tomorrow.

08/02/07

176Kg of Live Rock has been added and levels are going through the roof. No signs of any life on the rock yet.

05/02/07

Live sand has been added.

Tomorrow we put in the live rock. Check back soon for more updates.