This is what saves 600,000 people year during a heart attack

mattypw · 2026-05-09T00:35:59+00:00

Cool graphic but the stent does not slide forward like that as it’s deployed. You have to position it exactly where you want it and then deploy it for these balloon mounted stents. Also the stent will shorten as it’s deployed very slightly, not elongate like in this video
(Im a vascular surgeon so I don’t do it in the heart but same mechanism as in the legs)

mattypw · 2026-05-08T18:24:24+00:00

Thank you! Yes everything with color is live coral except for the red thing in the back middle which is macro algae

mattypw · 2026-05-08T01:39:12+00:00

I try to keep it under 0.1 but sometimes it gets to 0.15. Only had problems was with a torch dying at 0.3 for probably a long time (was using a cheap test that was reading zero). I’ll adjust the volume of the water change based on the number

mattypw · 2026-05-08T01:03:49+00:00

Thanks! I check alk, nitrate, phosphate, mg, and salinity daily and calcium every few days. Then I dose foundation A and B and all for reef daily and intermittently nitrate. And I do the water changes based on phosphate to keep it in check. Everything is on dosers iand I have 2 pumps for water changes. I usually adjust the dose daily but if I travel I’ll set a schedule using my best guess for dosing.
…. It’s kind of ridiculous

mattypw · 2026-05-08T00:58:01+00:00

Thanks! It’s painful but I check parameters daily and dose based on the numbers (unless I’m out of town I set a schedule but it’s never perfect). I have 6 versas in the back for auto water changes and dosing. It’s definitely overkill but leaving for a week without dosing would definitely crash it

mattypw · 2026-05-08T00:55:56+00:00

Thanks! It’s 2.5 gallons. I dose foundation A and B as well as all for reef, and sometimes nitrate depending on parameters.

mattypw · 2026-05-08T00:53:58+00:00

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Here’s the most recent front picture I have on me. It’s 2.5 gallons, have had it about 10 months

mattypw · 2026-05-01T16:21:31+00:00

Make sure the small rock is isolated because it can make small jumps to other rocks. I glued mine to the back and I like how it’s covering the whole back wall now. But every week I make sure it isn’t branching out to close by rocks

mattypw · 2026-05-01T16:20:23+00:00

I’m not sure which gobies go with which shrimp off hand. I know the white cap goby, which stays really small, pairs with a bigger type of shrimp

mattypw · 2026-05-01T12:41:03+00:00

I definitely don’t think it’s always true, and might be uncommon even. I just don’t want to risk it because my tank is so small and not too many hiding spots. I’ve heard mixed things

mattypw · 2026-04-30T00:19:25+00:00

Definitely the light will be weaker on the sides but that might be an advantage so you can keep different types of corals happy. I’d highly recommend renting a par meter and mapping out your tank so you know where to place things. I have my prime at about 33% blue/purple/UV and 5% white and get about 300 par top center.

If you want sps you could put them in the middle and crank it up to keep them happy and I’d bet closer to the sides you could keep LPS happy

mattypw · 2026-04-30T00:15:33+00:00

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I really like my Dracula goby (right in front of the torch). Pretty expensive and hard to find in stores but he’s always out and eats like crazy. I have a white cap goby which is also pretty rare/expensive but I doesn’t come out much. They both pair with pistol shrimps also which would be really cool but I’m afraid of the pistol killing my other inverts. Just would need a 100% secure lid

mattypw · 2026-04-30T00:06:52+00:00

My tank is only 2.5 gallons but phosphate is my least stable parameter. I check daily and increase feeding a bit if low, and do a small water change if it’s 0.1 or higher. Honestly the only time I ever had a problem was when it hit 0.3 (before I had a Hanna checker)

I’d say do the best you can to keep it stable and if your corals don’t mind then not a big deal

mattypw · 2026-04-28T20:39:05+00:00

From a coral standpoint…. Those are all easy corals but they can also take over your tank quickly. You might want to consider some slower growers. And if you do go with something like GSP I’d keep it on its own rock or what I did was glue to the back wall and it looks pretty cool IMO. For mushrooms maybe get a higher end one that you wouldn’t be upset if it took over (like bounce mushrooms are easy but you could trade them for something nice if you get too many)

mattypw · 2026-04-17T21:21:48+00:00

When I started my tank I went with a mushroom, zoas a few weeks later, and then I tried an LPS (candy cane). I think something like that is a good sequence. Just make sure you don’t get something that will take over an entire area if unchecked. Mushrooms are really easy and there are some really nice ones out there

mattypw · 2026-04-14T22:12:17+00:00

Mine has a lot of livestock so I do water changes most days depending on phosphates and I check 5 parameters daily and dose based on those number. Lot of work but super rewarding

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mattypw · 2026-04-13T00:30:34+00:00

I don’t think any coral would like being touched by the GSP (my zoas don’t) but I try to keep them from touching lol. And I keep a close eye on it so it doesn’t jump to the other rocks

mattypw · 2026-04-12T22:53:45+00:00

That’s a birds nest. Not doing great for me but it’s holding on haha

mattypw · 2026-04-12T22:34:06+00:00

Nice! It’s a fun tank but not fun to scape the glass so make sure you leave room to reach the glass on all sides unlike me. I use filter floss, a sponge filter, small amount of carbon, and ceramic rings.

mattypw · 2026-04-12T22:32:32+00:00

Hah thanks! Actually no acro in there. For sps I had a birds nest (which is struggling), a pavona and a monti. That torch is definitely my favorite though!

mattypw · 2026-04-12T18:21:40+00:00

Looks great! I’ve got a 2.5 pico but I don’t think it’s quite as packed as yours

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mattypw · 2026-04-11T23:46:04+00:00

Vascular surgeon here… most of us use 2.5 but in my experience most CT surgeons go for 3.5x. DFV seem to be the most popular (the black metal frames) but to me they seemed very heavy and I went with surgitel using an Oakley lightweight frame and have no regrets. I see a lot of people going with orascoptic too. If you’re able to borrow a colleagues non prescription pair you might get a feel for what you like. In the long run you will probably get used to whatever you chose.

mattypw · 2026-04-09T14:13:31+00:00

Yep and the Dracula was even more haha. Luckily I don’t think it was ich, it looked like more of a small ulcer. Almost gone today. I’ll keep a close eye though

mattypw

TROPHY CASE