obrien.david.j

Keep these updates coming. I'd REALLY like some automated Phosphate and Nitrate testing. Manually, I just don't do it often enough. But right now is about getting the new display tank up and running. Then I can go back to better automation.

Nice looking tank, and I'm enjoying your fish mix. Looks like; Blue tang, Kole tang, and a gorgeous fox face trigger two fairy wrasses two gorgeous clowns two damsels and is that a striped blenny in the upper right corner? No cardinals, no sand gobies?

All Hail the King!

I have the 200-INT on my system, and will say I Love This Skimmer. For those that need a 150-INT tank capacity skimmer, this is a heck of a good deal. When someone asks, what brand of skimmer do I recommend - It's Reef Octopus, and specifically this line of skimmers they make. Just my opinion.

Tank is now In The House! Move crew converged on our house and we got it done last night. Joined two furniture dollies together, with foam underneath and it was much easier than getting the tank to the house. Roll out of garage, around side of house, lift onto deck, ramp into house, and then lift, manipulate, rotate onto a plastic base plate covered with a yoga mat. Then lift the base, mat, and tank in one motion and slide it onto the stand. Much easier than trying to precisely set the tank on the mat&stand, in the corner of the room. Glass tanks are heavy. Finished Results: (with temporary cardboard "skin" for visual effect) Final alignment and lift crew Garage Storage, onto the furniture dollies

And the end and back are Black. Vinyl wrap arrived yesterday and spent the evening applying it. Next step, Get Tank Into the House! Before After:

Anyone an early backer for MOAI? Their August update pointed to ship around October, their October 30th update says they're switching cameras. Curious if anyone has received a unit from the first camera selection. by MOAI Aug 19, 2020 • 12:15AM Sorry for the delayed update. We optimized electronic design by using new low power consumption camera SoC to reduce heat buildup in MOAI, we modified embedded software and mobile app to make it work with the new hardware platform. Judging from our current manufacturing progress and the amount of assembly work that needs to be done, we estimate we will be able to start sending out first batch product to Kickstarter backers around October, Indiegogo shipping will start in the third batch. by MOAI Oct 30, 2020 • 10:43PM We are focused on the electronic production recently. There is a serious shortage of HiSilicon chips due to the trade war, we sourced alternative camera SoC for MOAI production. We made a few sample boards for testing. The change does not affect camera performance, we will spend extra time on embedded software for video streaming. Please understand this supply chain challenge is unpredictable. We are still working hard to get MOAI on your aquarium.

And The Stand is in the house. Fan is there just in case carpet still has dampness. On to measurements and new holes. I've chosen to black out the back and the end with black vinyl car wrap. I've done a small test wrap, it was EASY. Full size sheet arrives next week. Last tank, I painted the back black. Over time the salt creep eroded some and the outside MP40 motor vibrated some off. So this time it's Vinyl Wrap!

Thanks for the offer, I’m holding off on frp inside the house. Dry wall has held up well “enough” and will eventually get all replaced if when we ever move. and yup on switch

Old tank was 4’ long, 2’ deep. New tank is ~6’ long and 3’ deep. Yup, perpendicular. That’s why the old holes & drywall had to be fixed, and the stain on the carpet needs to be cleaned. This is going to be great!

Remember the light support rack, It's In! I cut slots in the drywall so the 8020 horizontal support bars are mounted directly to the studs. And everything went smoothly from there. I cant bring the stand in, until the stain on the front left corner of the carpet is cleaned. That's the visible spot that wont be under the new stand. Thursday... Thursday.

I'm in the low teen's in the winter/spring. and the low 20's in the summer/fall. From April:

Clean Slate, Ready for new tank install to begin. (okay, still need the carpet to be cleaned) Tank plumbing goes through the wall, into the garage fishroom. That means a few holes through the wall, and ~20 years of saltwater corrosion on the dry wall. Honestly, dry wall held up impressively, only mild blistering - except where the holes were. New tank, needs new hole locations. Took the tank and stand out Friday night, final coat of paint is now dry (Sunday ~noon). Let the Next Phase of install begin. READY TO GO! (except carpet cleaning)

Ahh, double digit days. I agree, I find them with the lights out. First thing in the morning, I'd have 6-10 visible on the glass. easy pickings. then go hunting with a flash light on the rocks At one point, I was able to pull 30-50 out Per Day - for a week straight. That's when I got the shrimp. Very effective at hunting the stars. Returned them in about 30 days so they wouldn't starve. Stayed Star Free for about 6-8 months. And then... Population started growing again. Guess I should have kept the shrimp, and been manually feeding them so they didn't starve.

HEADS UP - BRS has them Right Now!

Nice Job. I really appreciate the before, during, and after photos.

Kill it, Kill it quick. Although many people say they have these and they don't bother anything in your tank... I too was in that boat, until they DID start bothering corals. I recently emptied my tank in prep for an upgrade (moved everything to the new fish room frag tanks) and found these starfish on corals in concerning locations.

love my reef octopus

Drat! I was at Jeff's twice in the past 7 days, and simply forgot. Good thing I've got another visit coming up. Thanks for the reminder, I'll pick it up.

Great article. Thanks for posting.

And it's over, Tank is empty. Last rocks had cemented with the sand, and I need to slowly/carefully snip it apart, to just get the rocks out of the tank. Chipping Sand/Concrete. A milky tank from sand dust. And the morning after, it's clear...

If you want something nicer than 4x4's sticking out, checkout making a strong light rack using 8020 parts. (8020.net, it's what I built mine out of) Checkout this video for the basic idea:

thought is I may be able to chase the wrasse, a shrimp, the royal gramma, etc into one. and then cap ends and pull them out. Think of me chasing stuff around the tank tonight with the net. trying to offer someplace for them to go/hide, that can make it easier for me to catch. Tonight, Everything comes out.

Day 5 (last night) tear down continued. Basically, all corals are out of the tank, fragged or scrapped. Ready for last rock and fish removal tomorrow. FREE: Small Fist size rock with basic Zoa's available. It's not coming to the new setup. PM me if you want it and willing to pick up tonight or tomorrow. Last picture, before tank gets emptied tonight.

Easily outsmarted, yup. Look to the right, you'll notice a gray PVC pipe - next attempt at outsmarting some tank residence.