STN is still rampant in the tank, so far it seems to be limited to certain pieces and no new pieces have been affected. I'm still pretty unhappy as I haven't been able to pinpoint what exactly the problem is. Last weekend the tank held steady at about 9.0 dkh, but STN still progresses. Not much more and I suppose it will be the last of a few things I tried to save by fragging and supergluing a couple weekends ago. I've become resigned to my fate.
The CO2 tank ran out (or was pretty close to it) last weekend right at the last possible minute. Lucky the refill place was still open so we raced down to get it refilled. I haven't managed to get the CO2 bubble rate set so that it will maintain itself though. Pain in the arse this thing is!!
I did end up getting an aquatronica controller which I can't really say I'm all that impressed with. First off it has no setting for those thing you need to have on 24/7. It wants everything to be programmed on timers. I suppose I could program them from 12am to 11:59 pm or something. Kind of a pain in the arse. Anyway, apparently there is a software update to deal with that but you have to hook it up to your computer. Of course I don't have the serial port plug for that so I had to wait another week to find an adapter for it, I got it all hooked up today, installed the software etc. I couldnt' get the controller to connect to the computer though so I downloaded the software update and then updated the system. It needed a firmware update and crapped out about 40% into it. At this point I noticed that the screen on my controller was off. Its been off ever since. The computer can't connect to the controller and the controller isn't controlling anything on the powerbar. It functions as a great paperweight although not very stylish. For the price of this thing I had hoped to get a little more bang for my buck. Or at least a bang as it died instead of a quiet death. Anyway, I'm waiting to hear what to do next from the place I bought it from. I would imagine I'll have to send the controller back and get a new one. Yay more waiting. In the meanwhile I'll just sit here and watch things die because my CO2 bubble rate can't be controlled by anything but the patient hand of a human at this point. Makes me wish I was at home more often. I'm sure this tank automation stuff has its perks but I sure ain't seeing any at this point. :(
On the other hand, I've decided to look at my fish today and ignore the crappy corals. My powder blue tang is flourishing in the tank and I'm so very pleased that this is the case. I think he might have even grown some. He constantly has a fat little belly and loves to have "ass wars" with the regal tang. Haha I guess technically its not ass wars but that cracks me up. They both sort of position themselves like a \/ with each side being a fish. Then they sort of aim their butts at one another. They're trying to sideswipe each other with the tangs on their caudal fins but it makes me laugh nonetheless. Most of it is just posturing and I haven't seen any damage to either fish. For the most part they all seem to hang out together but every once in awhile one tries to keep the other in line.
My new wrasse is settling in well, no more pacing, although he does cruise the tank much more than my old one who was constantly hunting amongst the rocks for something to eat. One thing they both have in common is their fat gut. I don't see how any pods could possibly escape his sharp eyes yet he still manages to find some.
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