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🐠Andrew🌎CA

@drewslagoon

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Today I wanted to share a NEGATIVE reef experience,🌱..to which I eventually overcame👀
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I hope this story can encourage those of you who feel as if their reef is not up to par these days. Remember, Your reef is almost always recoverable! 🙏🧠
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⏰ ⏳
...6 months back, I started to realize that my tanks were not doing as well as they once did.
For a while there, Reefing became a chore to me.. even after 9 yrs.
Long story short, I found myself & I absolutely love the hobby again😘
after that...
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👉I had an ongoing problem tho, my nutrients were out of wack, my algea from my rear (refugium) had just disappeared one day.. almost looked like it had melted..I was then thinking..okay, it’s uhm, gone now?😅
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Eventually it just re-sprouted up in every rock I had in the lagoon 😳☠️ .
“Caulerpa” 🌱
I’ve used this algea for nutrient export since 2012 lol 🥺
My BEST advice to you.. (DONT USE/buy Caulerpa)😂
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#1 it’s illegal here in CA (very invasive) just use chaeto or other algea that doesn’t have the ability to crash your ecosystem😂
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#2 Caulerpa will outgrow and shadow/kill your corals.
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#3 Caulerpa has a nasty side... it has its ability to “go sexual”. (No, it’s not about to hit on you)😜
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👉What I’ve learned📝
When Caulerpa goes sexual, it turns white, dissolves, and releases spores/nutrients it had previously absorbed back into the system. .
These excess nutrients can cause a massive tank crash!! Which happened to me!👀
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I did aggressive W/C each week💦 (still no luck) the algea was still on the move👎🏻 .
All of this, after I moved my original blue tang to my larger system.
(Great timing!)
🙃😭
-My blue tang was basically my backup lawnmower lol✂️
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I eventually came across a product (REEF FLUX) made by @bluelifeusa
my buddy Jesse, aka @reef_kingz ‘s recommendation.
I went and tried it, I even did a x2 dosage (as others suggested via forums)
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I found that this product breaks down algae cell walls, while still leaving your corals/fish alone☮️ .
👉👉MY RESULTS!👈👈
ALL of the Caulerpa algae was melted away. I did a larger water change after seeing that it had dissolved away.
Haven’t seen it since!!
👍🏻🔥😜
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Happy reefing!!🤙🤓
#beach
#nature
#ocean by @drewslagoon

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6 years ago

🔥GUESS WHAT!.. I spent my whole morning making this video for you guys!!😁 I hope you guys enjoy it🙏
I had a lot of fun making it! 🎥
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Personally, my favorite way to enjoy my reef tanks are with music!! 🎶 😍
This video is my take as to how I see my reef..
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From the corals to the way the fish behave, I love to imagine this underwater world full of excitement and music🔥💙
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Often times I just sit there, right in front of my reef tank 👀
I’ll skip songs over and over until one matches the feeling I got from the reef that day 🐠 🌱 ⛩
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👇👇👇👇👇👇
Today’s video inspiration came from my new pet fish!
Have you seen her😍?
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A beautiful 1” baby blue hippo tang. .
I couldn’t help but notice how much personality this fish has....ALREADY!🤩🧠 .
It’s taken a while to find one that I trusted to buy🤯..(in terms of Overall visible health / color/size)👍🏻 .
Although I was hesitant,
I felt much better after my advisor David (aka @reefclubdesign ) gave me the official Nano-Tang pass 🎫🐠💯😎
SO, (we’re GOOD, To all tang policemen out there👮🚁🚓🚨🐠)
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And YES, dory here will be moved to a bigger tank in the future. Just as the last dory did🤓 aka blue hippo tang.
(more about that tba) - 👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
So back to my story,
I made a 3 hour drive this last weekend to
My new favorite store @reefloungeusa in Anaheim CA
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Jason there from reef lounge, was kind enough to tell me which baby blue tang he believed to be most healthy as well🔥
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A beautiful, small and healthy 👉DORY THE SECOND👈😉🐠🐠🤷 (not her actual name okayyy, I still have to make a vote poll lol so YOU guys can pick her name) 🙌📊
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Anyhow, I couldn’t be happier how things have been going lately. In terms of my life and my all of my reefs! I am finally starting to get rid of that hair algae and I’m getting excited all over again to head home each day to see what’s new in the lagoon! 🌱 .
‼️Oh and one more thing‼️
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“SEND ME YOUR BEST DORY NAMES!”
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Let’s name this baby gurl!!! 🍼 🐠 .
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Happy reefing friends!

Love, Andrew 🤙
... #fish
#ocean
#beach
#color
#melody
#nature
#water
#art
#coralreef
#reef by @drewslagoon

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6 years ago

🔍This first photo you’re looking at, is probably the best macro photo I have ever taken, imo. 📸💚❤️ Montipora digitata, also known as an SPS coral🌱 .
The one on the left was hobby nicknamed “Green Hulk Digitata” while the red one on the right hand side nicknamed, “Superman Digitata”
Something about these two corals being captured so close together puts a smile on my face☺️📸 #enjoy
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🧐In case you were curious on how I took the photo, I used this Chinese macro lens I got from eBay years back (no longer in stock although I’m sure you can find a nice 32mm macro) paired it with my (x2 zoom feature) on my iPhone 11pro max. I then paired it with my 15k/20k lenses from @polyplab and with a little effort, was able to get some cool shots with minimal glare (this is a top down photo btw) 🔎😁👍🏻
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Happy reefing! 🐠🌊 .
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#macro#underwaterphotography#ocean#alien#colors#aquariums#beach#fish#colors#beach#reef#scuba#nationalgeographic by @drewslagoon

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6 years ago

Say WHAAAAAT, I’m posting again??🤓🤟
I want to apologize for being absent for this past year without notice.
I miss you all🙏
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I also want to thank everyone who has messaged me to check up on me from time to time.
I couldn’t believe how much support I’ve gotten, even while away from ig🙏💙
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And btw yes!!, I’m still reefing behind the scenes 🧪🐠🌊 Although I had been away, I would Still creep on you guys time to time...😉
(so proud of your reefs that have taken off!)🤯 seriously🔥
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Also, I will be replying to everyone I missed in my 📨 😁
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🤝I am also still taking care of all my tanks!
Man the lagoon 25 has been through a lot!😅
Mostly small colonies fighting with each other these days 🤭... months later the tank is now looking fantastic! Also most importantly, the tank is now free of Monti eating nudis 😜
(Hitch-hiker pest)
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🚧My 130g shallow reef just got wet the other day! Looking forward to that build. Thankfully I will have some assistance with that reef, since it’s actually not located in my own home. 🚧My long awaited 75g isn’t exactly where I want it to be...
I just haven’t had much funds to fill that canvas with color as quickly as I intended. Nor the level of attention and care I wished to show it.
I lost more than half of my footage from that build, Soo much work just gone... really added to the ongoing discouraging feeling of making a come back l at all...
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Until recently, when I discovered a good friend of mine he passed away from cancer.
RIP Mikey Uclaray,
Leaving behind two beautiful daughters and wife.
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This is someone who seemed to know everything about reefing... such a humble example of what I strive to be, one of my reef mentors to be exact.
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👉If you wanna know more about Mikey & how much he meant to others, especially within the local reef community..view my story!! I’ll be posting it there in a few min ⏰...
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Also, if you would like to help Mikes family, there is a go fund me in my bio.
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Talk to you guys soon!
Happy reefing fam😎🤙
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#coral#ocean#beach#fish#coralreef#underwaterphotography#animals#color#art by @drewslagoon

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6 years ago

🎬Little remix I made for you guys☺️
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🎨Artist @shalloumusic
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🎧song name -Begin (feat. Wales)
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. 📲 Filmed with an iPhone 7+
*Using a combination of Polyplab 15k/20k lenses & my own 37mm macro lens from eBay. (No longer available btw) I’ve tried looking for a link sry😓
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#melodic
#fish
#beach
#ocean
#aquarium
#reef
#tropical
#nature
#drewslagoon by @drewslagoon

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7 years ago

👀Take me back to the good ole days without MONTIPORA EATING NUDIBRANCHs 😖
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The lagoon as well as other projects have been on a steady standby due to LIFE🤯😂 all is well though for those asking!(:
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Btw, The lagoon is currently FREE of ANY SPS that are prone to M.e.n. Attacks😎👍. After months of waiting... ⌛️
It’s safe to say I can buy some digitadas/Montipora for the lagoon again. WOHHOOOO🔥🤓
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Stay tuned friends! Got lots of reef related news/content to share w y’all 👋🤠
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#ocean
#fish
#art
#beach
#aquarium
#reef by @drewslagoon

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7 years ago

👈⏳Swipe left to see my Lagoon 2 years ago!!
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So much has changed! .
I’m ready for more sps again!
#KILLALLMONTIPORAEATINGNUIBRANCHES 💀
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#reef
#color
#coral
#ocean
#beach
#fish
#nature
#art by @drewslagoon

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7 years ago

I spy👀a little guy, hiding in my zoa garden🔎🌱 .
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#fishes
#reef
#ocean
#beach
#art
#color
#nature by @drewslagoon

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7 years ago

☮️🌊Ahhh that sound, never gets old😍
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#nature
#ocean
#beach
#fish
#art
#reef
#scuba by @drewslagoon

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7 years ago

The neon green goniopora flowerpot coral is only 1” away from the aggressive green mushroom patch🤯
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I think I may have to move him💔
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Orrrrr...move those green mushrooms and replace them with something else? ...💡 #nanoproblems 😂
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#ocean
#fish
#color
#art
#colors
#beach
#reef
#aquarium
#reef
#nanoreef by @drewslagoon

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7 years ago

🤷‍♀️📸Seems like bingo the clownfish is the only one in the mood for photos today!😂
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#ocean
#art
#color
#colors
#reef
#nature
#aquarium
#beach
#water by @drewslagoon

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36

7 years ago

The front of the lagoon is looking wild today!🔥😍
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#ocean
#color
#art
#corals
#aquascape
#fish by @drewslagoon

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7 years ago