Jesse's 20L+20L fuge...

[reefman23]

A single one can *ALMOST* handle the entire 650 gph or so. If I opened up the hole in the "T", it could propably handle the whole flow. They say a 1" bulkhead is good for 600 gph.

As far as the coraline goes, i think there is too much light for it. There is a ton of coraline growing in the plumbing, the sump, etc.... areas of lower lighting. I really dont like my LR being so barren of coraline. Maybe I can grow it again with the T5HO's. Look what this SAME LR *used* to look like in my 16g...

Thanks for the comments guys!

Jesse

 

[TimSchmidt]

That a RBTA? I heard they are the easiest to deal with in a nano, that they actually like PC light.

 

[Anonymous]

nice as always
yea the coraline grows much better under my flouresent lighting then under MH - it still grows but much slower, under 20K i think it would do better. T5's should grow it well for you.

 

[reefman23]

That a RBTA? I heard they are the easiest to deal with in a nano, that they actually like PC light.

Yeah, that is my old 16g bow. I had that RBTA for 2 years under 80 watts of pc. it had planted it's foot in a deep crevice and never moved. I wouldnt do it under pc's again though. I had to feed it several times a week to make up for the lack of lighting.

I sold that rock with the clown and anemone to a friend with an 80g reef. The stress of the move caused the anemone to split the day after the move. Lucky friend got 2 for 1!

Jesse

BTW... here is my fav pics of the two lovers...

 

[drty811]

great pics i loved my GBTA, until it split acouple of times. no i have a BTA but there is no coloring, cloudy with really bright neon green. will try to have pics of him soon.

 

[mikeguerrero]

Jesse,

I think the new plumbing, the idea to go with black instead of the white is much better. The white piping took away from your display.

Now this new look looks professional to me, good choice.

As for your live rocks looking too white and lacking coraline. I feel it's a matter of the kelvin bulb you are using and the digital camera snapping the picture.

What you see on camera is not what comes out in the end. Just visit any reefer and compare his tank to the pics of his reef; you will see a big diference.

My rocks turned purple with time but mainly got their boost from my Calcium reactor.

Having my tank down for 1 month without additives took it's toll on everything including my live rock.

I'm hopin time will purple up these rocks; I do use 20,000k bulbs and love the look. But it also makes my live rock look more purple than it really is.

MG

 

[reefman23]

Thanks, i am very satisfied with the new plumbing too. I have had the loc-line laying around for about 4 months, just never incorporated it into the system.

All the purple that used to be on the rock has bleached out. The small areas that didnt totally bleach out look more like a brownish color now. My Ca and Alk are fine, it is just the stand-alone MH that is just not doin it for the coraline. Like I mentioned earlier, i know this tank can grow coraline like crazy... it is all over in the outlets of the plumbing, the old overflows, in the sump, etc, just none on the rock or glass.

Oh well...

Jesse

 

[mikeguerrero]

What is your conclusion? Why are you getting coraline on just the outlets of the plumbing and not the rocks?

Something doesn't make any sense....

Why is your rock bleaching, why is the coraline dying, when your CA and ALK are good?

 

[reefman23]

I think the MH is too intense. It seems to me that the coraline is growing in areas of less intense light. there are small areas behind the LR where the light is also less intense are there are spots of coraline.

Jesse

 

[mikeguerrero]

Ahh,

I clearly see your point Jesse and will have to agree with you. I too have read that if the MH is too intense it will bleach out coraline...

Do you think you have too much lighting? Will you downgrade the bulb?

MG

p.s
while I have you on subject; should I purchase the coralife 36 watt or the current usa 36 watt?

 

[reefman23]

I dont think it is too much lighting, especially because I have the two croceas on the sand bed. I do, however, have two offers right now for trading the MH for T5HO fixtures... im not sure which route to go right now with those. One is a practically new 24" 4x24 watt Tek fixture, the other is a 4x24 watt retro with icecap reflectors and waterproof endcaps.

Ill let you all know when I make my decision.

Jesse

 

[EDGRAY]

i dont know alot of light but the 4x24 sounds like a better deal & more light :mrgreen:

 

[reefman23]

i dont know alot of light but the 4x24 sounds like a better deal & more light :mrgreen:

Sorry, that was a typo... they are BOTH 4x24 watters ;-)

Jesse

 

[drty811]

i have great coraline growth in my tank and i was running 120w over a ten, now its still growing fast and i have 70w MH and 80w PC. i thought i had to much light.

 

[EDGRAY]

i dont know alot of light but the 4x24 sounds like a better deal & more light :mrgreen:

Sorry, that was a typo... they are BOTH 4x24 watters ;-)

Jesse

Ohhh i see then my vote is for the waterprof end caps... :mrgreen:..

 

[EDGRAY]

i have great coraline growth in my tank and i was running 120w over a ten, now its still growing fast and i have 70w MH and 80w PC. i thought i had to much light.

I guess there is always i point were we think that we have alot of light too... we never happy ....always high or low but never what we want :lol:

Same here even that im running a low par 20k(70w) i feel is too bright now but looks ok and no bleach at all (eventhough i wish i have some bleaching in my brown zoas :lol: at least they dont look brown now they look purple :mrgreen and about coraline growth mine is growing like crazy with having the PC actinics with the MH...

 

[Anonymous]

it's just one of those things: coraline under bright white light like that of a 10 or even 14K MH bulb will grow slower and be more pink. the coraline under heavy actinic or 20K will be faster growing and purple even some reds. it's a bit of a trade off...... thats just another reason THEME first then lights.
and i think the icecap is a better quality more flexable system but also a bit more spendy

 

[reefman23]

it's just one of those things: coraline under bright white light like that of a 10 or even 14K MH bulb will grow slower and be more pink. the coraline under heavy actinic or 20K will be faster growing and purple even some reds. it's a bit of a trade off...... thats just another reason THEME first then lights.
and i think the icecap is a better quality more flexable system but also a bit more spendy

I have ZERO growth on my LR though.

And setup with the IC reflectors is actually a gutted finnex that the guy (actually Perpetual98 over at n-r.com) retro'ed into a canopy and added waterproof endcaps that IC reflectors. I am assuming he has the stock finnex lamps as well.

The first option is a stock Tek with two Giesemann Aquablues, a Giesemann Blue+, and an ATI Pure Actinic.

So there is sort of a difference between the two. I am waiting for details from Perpetual98 as he has been out of the country for a few weeks, but it looks like i may go with the Tek at this point.

Jesse

 

[Anonymous]

yea your right if it doesn't have the ice cap ballast then the tec with those quality bulbs is probably a better choice - those tec units are very nice and clean looking - and flouresent lights will definitly grow purple rocks!
and yea lighting is that way - my tank before all the lighting changes last year was shroom heaven, couldn't give all the babies away i had so many - now i'm lucky to get any new babies at all, but the zoas, SPS and everything else grows nice?? uggg! can't have it all unless you set up more tanks i guess
good luck with your choice

 

[reefman23]

Well it's pretty much official.... it looks like I am the PROUD new owner (soon-to-be) of a 1 week old Sunlight Supply Tek 4x24 watt 24" fixture complete with two Giesemann Aquablues, a Giesemann Blue+, and an ATI Pure Actinic. If all things go as they should, I should see this thing around Thurs. or Fri of this week.

Now I have to figure out a way to keep my clams happy until I receive it. I will probably just use my 65 watt fuge light along with my old 30 watt fuge light.

I am REALLY looking forward to this!

Jesse