JBB1217's 10 gallon

[JBB1217]

I just recently joined BAR, and I figured that I should start a tank journal. Currently I have a generic 10 gallon tank, with mostly zoas and a little bit of lps. However I am looking into setting up a 25 gallon cube when I move, in a few months due to a remodel. I recently had some pretty bad algae issues because of high nutrient levels but I seem to be getting past that now. I have tried sps and they have done well until every summer when for whatever reason I seem to have a seasonal die off. Euphylia also has had this problem in my tank. So I mostly just stay in the realm of zoas and lps, but once I move I am looking to seriously increase the diversity in my tank with more types of lps and soft corals, like mushrooms (ricordea more specifically), xenia, chalices, scolymia, heliofungia, goniopora, of course more zoas, maybe pectina (although I have heard that they have some pretty serious sweepers) and maybe a bta.

Equipment:

Aqua Clear 70
Tunze Skimmer
2 hydor koralia powerheads- only one of which I am running currently
Kessil a-160
I need to fix my ato (its a tunze one, but hasn't been the most reliable)
And a heater I can't remember the name of

Livestock:

Black ocelaris clownfish
Pistol Shrimp
Shortspine Urchin
Serpent Star
Various other CUC, crabs, snails etc...


Coral (non zoas):

Monti Cap
Lobophylia
Lots and lots of kenya tree
A strange toadstool that hasn't really grown much but hasn't died
Teal Candy Cane
Dragon Soul Favia

Zoas:

Blondies
Blue hornets
Sunny D's
Fruit Loops
Rastas
Dragon eyes
Eagle eyes
Utter Chaos

Water changes- 3 gallons-ish, once a week to once every 2 weeks, ideally once a week.

*Also just as a disclaimer my spelling is horrible*

 

[JBB1217]

Here are some pictures

 

[max_nano]

Nice looking tank. The zoas are bright.

I wonder if your seasonal sps issues are related to either temp, or pH. If the temp is going up cause of summer that can stress them and cause issues. Or if your opening windows more often in the summer it could be raising pH, which then increases alk consumption and could cause a swing that stresses them out?

 

[JBB1217]

I don't think it is just the temp its self that is stressing the corals out. The tank is going from around 76 degrees to 78-80ish during the summer. Do you think that would be enough to raise the pH? And if so how should I manage the temp, should I get a small chiller?

 

[JBB1217]

I figured it was time to update this. Not much has happened recently other than finally getting my ato working again. All of the monti cap frags seem to be doing well and the blondies zoas have been doing well and are starting to put out a few babies.