We have all had moments in our lives where an event or series of events take over your life and everything else does not matter. If you are lucky, you go back to what you loved before. If you are dramatically changed to the core, you chose a different path. I have been refocusing on what is important to me now and shedding away the distortions not helping me get to my core inner value.

Distortions or distractions started with a major reorganization in our company, out with the old and in with the new. I was not concerned as I was always a top performer and like change as I grew up with it. I made the cut for first round but did not see the storm brewing where everyone was out for themselves and I would be on the receiving end of someone taking advantage of the corporate upheaval to retaliate against me as I had in the past had to report misconduct as part of responsibilities of the job.

This process put me in a tail spin which I was not sure I was going to pull out of it. I had no control, no one to turn to for guidance, and everyone was fighting to survive in the new regime. I did the best thing at the time, took a step back to reassess what just happened as confusion existed as four months early I was recognized as one of the best in the company and now being forced out. What to do next? I knew I loved my job before the turmoil took over and now know stepping back specifically that I love to help people be better. Down and out but now with a plan.. get back to what I was doing but in another company. So the search continues in a tough market to fit my values to a company where I can add value. Step one is clear and in process.

Next is to reassess what is important in personal life: family and personal time with hobbies. Spend more time doing family functions and adding value and focusing on hobbies which add value to my well being and get rid of the rest.

One hobby which was impacted was my reef tanks and the companion blog. Both now in steps of resurrection. The tank has been nuked with only the pair of clown fish and a red leg crab surviving the neglect over the last year of me trying to get my focus back in line.

Today took first steps with the reef tank by complete cleaning it, removing rocks to kill off nuisance items, remove equipment not contributing to health of tank with focus on minimizing approaches and making husbandry easier. Once these are mastered and I have earned the right to restock, start the next phase which will be a slow and tactical process.

Reached a crossroads in a decision for my reef tank and never thought it would be about salt as it should instead be for some type of equipment as I have read people having great success with Tropic Marine Pro salt mix. I had been using Tropic Marine Pro but determined it was reason for my phosphate issue I had been chasing for awhile. Each batch I make tests around 0.14 ppm when the RO/DI source water tested at 0 ppm. This was adding up over time with each water change.

I thought the issue may be a problem with one batch of Tropic Marine Pro so I bought another box and it tested at same levels 0.14 ppm after addition to RO/DI source water tested at 0 ppm. This leads me to believe it is a Tropic Marine Pro which is adding excessive phosphates to my tank and not just from food.

I switched to Reef Crystals per discussions I had researched on Reef Central and based on target levels I wanted to keep for my SPS. After some time, I was able to get all parameters near targets and able to maintain over several months through only water changes and Kalk top off.

Still conducting my ZEOvit experiment seeing minimal results three weeks into it. May be related to skimmer not performing up to par so I adjusted it to skim a little more wet. As part of my ZEOvit experiment, I will be adding an additional reactor with the ZEOvit to see if that part of the ZEOvit system has any impact. There are arguments it has minimal impact in a marine environment and I want to test those arguments.

Reduced Vodka dosing from 2.5 ml/day to 2.0 ml/day as part of transition to ZEOvit supplements. Was seeing bacteria bloom on the glass so knew time to decrease again.

Conducted a 4 gallon water change. Did not need to change GFO but need to ensure it is not caking or I see numbers increase. Changed GAC as part of the monthly routine. Notice the skimmer was not skimming because the pump was plugged. Cleaned skimmer.

The air pump for my air stones stopped working and need to replace. Disappointing as it is only a few months old. Using it as part of solution to combat low pH due to high level of CO2 levels in house. Air pump was located on outside of house to import external air to tank. Will need to replace. Looking at a higher end pump but will replace with cheap brand until I want to invest in more expensive model.

Placed the LiterMeter III which is dosing Kalk top off on a RKE timer so it is only dosing during dark phase of the photo period to stabilize the pH swings. Will need to adjust the liters per day to compensate for the change. It was set at 3.40.

My orange hammer is seeing STN now it has been retracted since bumping it with the teal acro a couple months ago. I am afraid I am going to lose it. Acros are showing good polyp extension with some color returning after the Flatworm Exit treatment. Adjusted photo period from eight hours of daylight to six hours as before treatment was seeing washed out colors from the NEP T5s. Still hoping the other light bulb companies jump on board by October to make the 18w size bulbs for my 20 inch fixture as I am looking at replacing them by then or upgrade to a 24w fixture. I want to utilize better bulbs than those provided by Current. I really like my NEP T5 fixture and do not want to replace it. Looking at the ATI 24 inch 6 bulb fixture.

Running into an issue with my RKE as the timers not working properly. My RKE with the latest firmware version 1.11 not recognizing the DoW (day of week) settings. This is impacting my new settings for separate timers for weekend photo period.

Replaced Granular Ferric Oxide (1 cup GFO) and preformed partial water change (1.5 gal). Observe Hammer Coral still retracted and other Acropora corals have browned. Attribute Acropora browning to high nutrients. Still have an issue with flatworms but waiting for additional treatment with Flatworm Exit.

Completed a water change by vacuuming the chamber holding the closed loop pump, cleaned the closed loop pump, and installed a Micro Jet 320 to stir the chamber the Kalk drips into from the ATO.

Performed water change and some maintenance. Cleaned the Skimmer and pump. Realized airline supplying external air to skimmer pump was disconnected when working on tank last weekend. This is suspect to have influenced the lower than normal pH this week.

Changed 3 gallons of water today, blew off LR, sucked out some hair algae, and replaced the MJ 600 powerhead used for the carbon reactor which is making the rattling noise with a MJ 900 powerhead.

In addition, moved the Green Bird’s Nest Acro to the bottom of tank to help it with having too much light near the top, and glued the ORA Oregon Blue Tort Acro and ORA Roscoe’s Blue Acro to their new homes on the LR. The Green Bush Acro does not look like it is going to survive for some reason.

Tank Shot 2009-03-01

Tank Shots 2009-03-01

Tank Shot as of 2-13-2009

Tank Shot as of 2-13-2009

Doing a water change trying to get salinity up to 1.026 instead of 1.024. I thought it was an anomaly last time with the Tropic Marine Pro reading Mg at 1500 ppm but found same reading again this batch of salt water. It is a new patch of Tropic Marine Pro and new Salifert Mg test kit so not sure what to blame.