SaltwaterNoob17
Reefing newb
Thanks everyone for your condolences. With everything dying the ammonia looked like it was rising a bit again, so I just finished changing out another 6 gallons...
Samantha's 50 Gallon Reef Aquarium
- Thread starter SaltwaterNoob17
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SaltwaterNoob17
Reefing newb
I just bought a new CUC to replace the snails, crabs, shrimp, etc. that died. Some of the corals are starting to look a little better. A few of the zoas are opening slightly, and a few of the acros and other corals have extended a few of their polyps. Keeping my fingers crossed...
CurtisL
Reefing newb
good luck!! i hope everything pops back to life for you!
SaltwaterNoob17
Reefing newb
It’s been 3 weeks since my ammonia spiked, and you were right, Biff. Pretty much all of the corals are coming back! I am really surprised and grateful. The frogspawns seem to have taken the ammonia spike the worse. One completely died, and the other one doesn’t look so hot right now. While many of the corals looked completely bleached and had turned a ghostly shade of white, most of them are getting their colors back now and are extending their polyps again. :sfish:
Here are some pics of the corals during the week or so after the ammonia spike (The BAD pictures):
Pic of my “green” monti a few days after the spike. (This week it is finally now expanding its polyps and getting some color back...)
Pic of my birdsnest a few days after the spike (It’s polyps are expanding now and it’s gotten most of its color back. However, a few branches did bleach):
Pic of some of the acros a few days after the spike (they now are almost looking back to normal! :) They have recovered nicely):
The bi-color frogspawn (not looking so good...may not make it...):
This frogspawn died since this picture was taken:
My pissed off leather coral after the spike (it now is perky and happy again :mrgreen:):
The other “green” monti a few days after the spike (it now is starting to turn green again! YAY!):
A pitiful galaxea (it’s still not looking so good, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed...):
Some of the zoas/palys after the spike:
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SaltwaterNoob17
Reefing newb
How the corals/inverts are looking now (The Resurrection of the Reef):
Devil’s Armor:
Candy Coral:
Feather Duster:
Chalice:
Pocilloporas:
Acros:
Zoas:
A Random Pod:
New Additions to the CUC (5 olives and 2 conchs):
My new starfish Chad:
Devil’s Armor:
Candy Coral:
Feather Duster:
Chalice:
Pocilloporas:
Acros:
Zoas:
A Random Pod:
New Additions to the CUC (5 olives and 2 conchs):
My new starfish Chad:
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SaltwaterNoob17
Reefing newb
Interestingly, a few of the corals are coming back with different color hues. Is this common after an ammonia spike? Will they eventually go back to the colors that they were before the ammonia spike? Two of my zoa frags look almost like different species altogether now. And, some of my corals have come back with intenser hues.
Pictures of the zoas that have color-morphed:
Zoas:
Before-
After-
Zoas that I think I’m now gonna call “Samantha’s Radioactive Raspberries” ;):
Before-
After-
Pictures of the zoas that have color-morphed:
Zoas:
Before-
After-
Zoas that I think I’m now gonna call “Samantha’s Radioactive Raspberries” ;):
Before-
After-
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ErinCahir
Sausage Wrangler
I'm glad everything is coming back for you Samantha!
Aquatic
Reefing newb
Hope they all regain their colors again. I wish you the best of luck! By the looks of it, it seems like the tank is starting to make a comeback! Let's hope it fully recovers!
Wow! what a thread. I just read the thread for the 1 st time and I am blown away at your tank! Its just awesome and then something as simple as moving a plastic breeder can do that to a 50 gal .tank? Scary to me because I am a newbie with a 28 bio cube. I could just imagine how easy it could happen in smaller tank! So sorry for your set back but i am glad it is coming back and I'm sure you will have it breath taking once again.
SaltwaterNoob17
Reefing newb
Thank you! And, it is scary that something that seems so trivial like removing a fish breeder from the tank could cause such a disaster. And, for all I know, maybe it wasn't even the fish breeder that was the culprit. Since the ammonia spike, I now am EXTRA cautious about everything. I moved the salt bucket that I use from the laundry room to the pantry (since the laundry room is so humid), I bought separate measuring cups and towels for aquarium maintenance, I test my water more regularly, I've made my WC process more efficient, etc. It's better to be safe than sorry. Luckily things seem to be coming back, though.
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Bifferwine
I am a girl
Samantha, things looked grim! But I'm so glad to see they are turning around and coming back. I'm happy that your tank is recovering. It will be better than ever!
Aquatic
Reefing newb
Let's put all of our positive energy into Samantha's tank!
SaltwaterNoob17
Reefing newb
Here are some current tank shots taken this weekend:
FTS:
Left Side:
Right Side:
Plus, a new sticker that I stuck on my sump (but it applies to the whole set-up!) I couldn't resist! :razz:
I also moved my riccordeas from the top of my tank to the middle. I think they were getting too much light. They still don't seem big and happy and swollen, though. Where is the best spot to place them??
FTS:
Left Side:
Right Side:
Plus, a new sticker that I stuck on my sump (but it applies to the whole set-up!) I couldn't resist! :razz:
I also moved my riccordeas from the top of my tank to the middle. I think they were getting too much light. They still don't seem big and happy and swollen, though. Where is the best spot to place them??
Aquatic
Reefing newb
Beautiful FTS shot, Samantha. As far as the ricoderas go, check and see if they do better being at the middle. If they seem to do fine than keep them there by all means. If not, just try situating them a bit lower in the tank. I really would love to see your corals bounce back after the mishap that happpened. You have a beautiful aquascape!
Nice sticker by the way :)
Nice sticker by the way :)
ErinCahir
Sausage Wrangler
Mine are happiest on the bottom. But I have MH... I can't remember if you do, too.
SaltwaterNoob17
Reefing newb
Thanks Aquatic and Erin for the ricc placement suggestions. I'm not running MH; I'm running six 39-watt T5s (234watts total). I guess I'll wait a couple of weeks and see if they become happier at the middle of the tank, and then if not I'll move them to the bottom...
Aquatic
Reefing newb
Sounds good. Don't forget to give us the update later on and tell us how they're doing. I love rics so I really hope yours thrive.
troybuckle
Reefing newb
Hope it all works out for you, seems like it’s coming around. I’ve been following this thread for a while, you have the same tank and lights that I do!
SaltwaterNoob17
Reefing newb
Thanks! Will do! :sfish:
Dana42078
Dana
lol where did u get that sticker!!!!??? Beautiful tank ;) Your new lights will really make everything change. and then u will be even more addicted lol
