Pete's 110 build

[psteeleb]

Finally after 6 months I hope to be back with a reef tank. Even though my 29g is technically a reef with LPS and softies it just isn't the same as my old 300. One of these days I plan on setting up another 300+ but decided to with go something smaller for now.

The tank is a used 110 RR peninsula. I plan on giving it a good cleaning, a reseal and plumbing overhaul before I head back to GA on Monday. At first it will be VHO’s with a change out to T5’s and a 250w (or 2 250s) Metal halides. Maybe the light change out will be sooner then later as I already have the MH’s.

The plans are to get it wet by mid January using my existing stock and live rock to minimize severe cycles then start to bring back any surviving livestock that was in the 300 as soon as things appear stable.

More to come

old 300 build log
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1623091

[eidillitih]

Pete:bigeyes: man it's been a while and I've been way, so I just heard of the tank leak today. Man I'm so sorry to hear about that. Your 280 was awesome. I'm glade to see your bouncing back. Hopefully you can jump back up the the 300+. I know 110 is nice but once you had a nice large tank like you had it's hard to scale back.

[psteeleb]

Pete:bigeyes: man it's been a while and I've been way, so I just heard of the tank leak today. Man I'm so sorry to hear about that. Your 280 was awesome. I'm glade to see your bouncing back. Hopefully you can jump back up the the 300+. I know 110 is nice but once you had a nice large tank like you had it's hard to scale back.

Thanks - I fear the 110 will just make me want to jump in with another 300+. I do have plans for one but need the job situation to keep me in Texas more then I am right now.

These pictures don't do my tank justice but they are some of the last ones that show most of the corals before the seam busted
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh283/psteeleb/midtank425.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh283/psteeleb/fishfeed9424.jpg

[psteeleb]

first thing up was a tank reseal

I cut out the old seals and cleaned off the residual silicon. Then masked the corners and applied the new seals. After about 10 minutes I removed the masking tape - if you let it set to long removing the masking tape will peal out the new seals.

masking off corners
http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=39268

new seal
http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=39269

[psteeleb]

here is a picture of the tank - it's visible on 3 sides with a single overflow on the right
http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=39296

[psteeleb]

the tank did come with a sump that I decided to overhaul. I wanted to lower the weirs to provide more surge capacity and increase the skimmer section by an inch. So all the old weirs came out, I then cleaned the tank and glass weirs with a razor blade and scrubbed the surfaces with a Mr Clean Magic Eraser to get rid of residual silicon


old sump
http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=39270

sump cleaned up
http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=39272

the old glass wiers were cut shorter by 3"

masking and sealing in a weir
http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=39275

using 3/4inch pvc pipe for spacers
http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=39276

completed sump overhaul
http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=39284

[Taqpol]

http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=39296
That is a gorgeous stand! Looks like a pretty shallow hood though, is it open on the top? How is your lighting situation going to work?

Also, what are the dimensions of the tank? Speaking of dimensions, is that sump a 40 breeder or something smaller?

[NP_Reef]

hopefully it turns out as good as the old one.

[Maverick2009]

Ive got a 110 also, love the tank but hate getting to the bottom to clean the krud. Nice to see others with that tank. Not many out there.

[Don-Coraleone]

wow that was a sweet tank...

[psteeleb]

That is a gorgeous stand! Looks like a pretty shallow hood though, is it open on the top? How is your lighting situation going to work?

Also, what are the dimensions of the tank? Speaking of dimensions, is that sump a 40 breeder or something smaller?



Lighting - right now it has 4 VHO's on an icecap 660. I will eventually upgrade this to T5's on the 660 and probably leave 2 of the VHOs and put them on a 440 I have. If that isn't enough Ill pull one or two of my 250w MHs from my old 300 and modify the hood so they are mounted on the top.

Sump - I think it's 30 gallon. I want room in the stand for a 7 gallon RO/DI tank (actually planning on using a 7 gallon wastebasket) and want room for a reactor (start with a Kalc and move to a CA)

Tank dimensions 48 x 18 x 30

[psteeleb]

hopefully it turns out as good as the old one.
Thanks - I'm keeping my fingers crossed but I know it wont be the same, for one I wont have as many SPS. I'm thinking only about 4-6 sps with more LPS and a couple softies. My thoughts are having a large live rock build up on the overflow side with space for a purple plate, one very nice mille and a blue tort. Then have a couple birdsnest, my wife and I both like the looks of how they sway in the flow. We may do some softies but on rock islands; for one I'll have my old orange ricordia rocks and if I can find who has it, my old orange zoa rock. Maybe an island of GSP.


Ive got a 110 also, love the tank but hate getting to the bottom to clean the krud. Nice to see others with that tank. Not many out there.

thanks - do you have a build log? At lest this is not as tall as my old tank (36" - that was a pain to deal with)

wow that was a sweet tank...

thanks :)

[Taqpol]

Four overdriven T5's on that 660 with a pair of actinic VHO's on a 440 sounds like an awesome setup for what you're planning! As long as the SPS stays within the top 18-20" I don't think you would have any problems. An RC Member named ReefEnabler has an absolutely amazing 220 gallon tank that uses only T5's and VHOs.

[psteeleb]

Four overdriven T5's on that 660 with a pair of actinic VHO's on a 440 sounds like an awesome setup for what you're planning! As long as the SPS stays within the top 18-20" I don't think you would have any problems. An RC Member named ReefEnabler has an absolutely amazing 220 gallon tank that uses only T5's and VHOs.

thanks Alex - I'll have to go back and check Ryans (ReefEnabler) thread. I use to stay up on his build log but being out a while forgot about his set up - it is a nice one.

[ReefEnabler]

funny timing! just today I was thinking "I wonder how pete's tank is doing" and then I found out the bad news.... ouch! :mad2: Really sad to hear about what happened Pete.

Looking forward to seeing what you do with this one. Are you keeping your old stock at your place in a temporary tank, or did you give stuff to BigJay and marc for safekeeping???

as you can see, I've been away from RC awhile myself. My tank is doing so-so: I am gearing up to fight a black-bug infection :mad: lost a few corals but once I realized and started basting them the surviving ones started to look better... interceptor coming soon, fingers crossed!

[psteeleb]

Hey Ryan - it was a bad day to say the least. it appears the euro brace failed allowing the front glass to separate from the side glass. I am still not sure why but when I finally get around to breaking down the tank I'll check the level of the stand as I suspect the floor may have settled. Most of the livestock was initially saved but over time a lot did not make it in other peoples tanks.

Once I get this new tank up I'll use the live rock from the old tank. I've been keeping the live rock in a stock tank with pumps and a skimmer but no heat or light so most of the critters are now long dead. I will stock the tank initially from the existing live rock & sand and let it go though it’s initial cycle. Then I'll introduce some livestock and some live rock from my 29 gallon tank as it is full of beneficial pods, snails, stars coralmorphs etc.

This tank will likely have more LPS, ricordia, zoa’s, acans with a few select SPS. I’m not sure of the fish population yet, as I love tangs I just don’t think a 100 gallon is enough room for them.

[Taqpol]

It seems like you could have one or two of the smaller tangs. Tomini, Kole, or Chevron?

[psteeleb]

It seems like you could have one or two of the smaller tangs. Tomini, Kole, or Chevron?

thanks Alex - I'l most likely cave in and get a couple smaller ones like you suggest. They are such a personable and active fish, plus the 6 I had in the 290 kept the rocks clean of algea outbreaks :)

[psteeleb]

sump area
http://reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=102592&stc=1&d=1267060762

drain and return lines
http://reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=102593&stc=1&d=1267060994

reactor manifold
http://reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=102594&stc=1&d=1267061008

[PaPa_Johnny]

Sorry for your troubles Pete, I really enjoyed your other build :(. This one looks fun also, thanks for sharing the steps with us.

(Um pics missing above? ;) )

[psteeleb]

Sorry for your troubles Pete, I really enjoyed your other build :(. This one looks fun also, thanks for sharing the steps with us.

(Um pics missing above? ;) )

not sure what happened to the pics - trying again

[psteeleb]

pipe diagram

[drummereef]

Hey Pete, again sorry about the 280g. What a beautiful display. :( I have no doubt the new tank will be even better than the last. :) Can you explain (if you haven't already) the corrugated pipe de-bubbler you've incorporated into the sump?

[crvz]

look forward to seeing this come together!

[psteeleb]

Hey Pete, again sorry about the 280g. What a beautiful display. :( I have no doubt the new tank will be even better than the last. :) Can you explain (if you haven't already) the corrugated pipe de-bubbler you've incorporated into the sump?


With the two sets of weirs, I don't think I'll need it. It was something I worked up on my 280 as the flow was so fast through my weirs the microbubles were getting through.

It's a very simple device made from corrugated drain pipe you find in most hardware stores. Basically there is a 4" innner pipe that forces bubbles up and out as water flows over the top into a 6" pipe that foces water down and out the bottom forcing more air / water seperation. It turned out to be very very effective given the high flow rate I had in my sump (probably around 3,00gph). There are some pictures on my old build log including an early and final version.

The pipe is very inexpensive and the corragation helps seperate the bubbles by providing more surface area then straight pipe, plus I'm pretty sure the corragation helps cut down noise by breaking up larger bubbles

the only draw back I had was you have to buy the pipe in 10' sections.

[psteeleb]

I found the pictures on the debubbler in my 280g (not this build)

here it is as first installed - the inner 4" was taller then the outer 6". My thought was to let the water over flow from the 4" into the 6" but this cleary was not going to work.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh283/psteeleb/rev0.jpg

after cutting the 4" shorter then the 6" allowing the water more room to exit the 4"
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh283/psteeleb/sumpmods012.jpg

[psteeleb]

here is a short video of the bleach rinse in the sump area
http://i994.photobucket.com/albums/af65/lenicedb/petes%20tank%20stuff/th_P1150882.jpg (http://s994.photobucket.com/albums/af65/lenicedb/petes%20tank%20stuff/?action=view&current=P1150882.flv)

[psteeleb]

minor update:
the system has been up and running for about 2 weeks. The refugium has been running for a month or more but the display tank was empty. Here is a picture from about 2 weeks ago, just after I transfered some of the live rock from my holding tank. The live rock was from my 280 and has been in a large tank with skimmer running since the 280 was torn down last August.
http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=43340
After this picture was taken I added about an inch of sand and will add about another inch.

The first livestock is scheduled in this Wed with more on Thu. The new arrivals will be made up mostly of CuC but also include some chromis, zoas, rics, 4 pepermints and a cleaner shrimp.

[drummereef]

Looking awesome Pete! Thanks for the pics of the de-bubbler. How do the pipes work under the water. Do both pipes sit on the bottom of the sump or are they raised up to allow the water to flow out the bottom? I'm assuming that's what the acrylic brace is for?

[psteeleb]

Looking awesome Pete! Thanks for the pics of the de-bubbler. How do the pipes work under the water. Do both pipes sit on the bottom of the sump or are they raised up to allow the water to flow out the bottom? I'm assuming that's what the acrylic brace is for?

the acrylic is the old filter sock support, I decided to leave it in place in the event I wanted to revert back to it.

flow is over the top of the inner 4" pipe, and under the 6". The 6" has 4 notches cut out in the bottom that are about 1 1/2" long by 1" tall each.

The actual drain pipe is also notched and is goes to about 2" from the bottom of the sump.

if you look closely at teh first oicture you can see a notch on the right side of the 4", originally I thought the water would over flow through these notches but as you can see the flow was to turbid due to velocity and the amount of air being released.

[drummereef]

the acrylic is the old filter sock support, I decided to leave it in place in the event I wanted to revert back to it.

flow is over the top of the inner 4" pipe, and under the 6". The 6" has 4 notches cut out in the bottom that are about 1 1/2" long by 1" tall each.

The actual drain pipe is also notched and is goes to about 2" from the bottom of the sump.

if you look closely at teh first oicture you can see a notch on the right side of the 4", originally I thought the water would over flow through these notches but as you can see the flow was to turbid due to velocity and the amount of air being released.


Gotcha, makes perfect sense Pete. Thanks! :)

[psteeleb]

Lighting plans; near term (next weekend) and long term
I like the shimmer effect and would like to see it on the outside of the rock work as well as the bottom of the tank. If I can cram all these lights in the hood I'm considering a couple DIY Cree LED strips on the very front and back angled slightly toward the center of the tank so the shimmer hits the rock work

[psteeleb]

I got the lighting change completed today. I could not fit the center VHO in the design, but it looks like there is be enough room ror the future moon light LED's.

[psteeleb]

I as sit here drinking a cold beer I realized I haven't updated for a while.

I already changed out a couple of the T5's. I replaced the 2 actinic/whites with 454's to get a little more color in the tank. i still want to add the bright LED's for the shimmer effect but it's not a high priority.

I added the first sps (basic birdsnest) about 2 weeks ago. It's doing well so I bought a frag of a mili this weekend.

So far the tank seems to be doing well. The display tank is fairly pristine where the fuge seems to be flourishing with all sorts of bloom algae, cheto and caulerpa. I did notice some Bryopsis on a zoa frag but the clean up crew and maybe the fox face took care of it before it ever got hold.

Fuge pics
http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=44464

dusters in the bubble trap
http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=44465

[drummereef]

I as sit here drinking a cold beer I realized I haven't updated for a while.

I already changed out a couple of the T5's. I replaced the 2 actinic/whites with 454's to get a little more color in the tank. i still want to add the bright LED's for the shimmer effect but it's not a high priority.

I added the first sps (basic birdsnest) about 2 weeks ago. It's doing well so I bought a frag of a mili this weekend.

So far the tank seems to be doing well. The display tank is fairly pristine where the fuge seems to be flourishing with all sorts of bloom algae, cheto and caulerpa. I did notice some Bryopsis on a zoa frag but the clean up crew and maybe the fox face took care of it before it ever got hold.

The life in that fuge makes me drool Pete! Beautiful. Makes me want to get my fuge set up asap. :)

[psteeleb]

The life in that fuge makes me drool Pete! Beautiful. Makes me want to get my fuge set up asap. :)

I was amazed at just how much stuff survived 8 months in my old fuge with no heater, no skimmer, no water changes etc. the house lost power in the winter for about a day and the temp dropped to in the 50s in the fuge. When I finaly set this tank up there was still some macro algea in with the rock. So I used it in the new set up.

I also saw a couple paly's growing out of some live rock that was in a tub with a skimmer but no lights for the 8 months. I nuked them today with some kalc paste.

I was playing with my new HD vid camera
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[eidillitih]

Pete, man I love those feather dusters. I would love to ge tthose things go grow in my system. anywhere. I've always wanted feather dusters but it seems like in some systems they grow great and in others they won't. Amazing! Love the dendro also, may go get me a few today.

[psteeleb]

Pete, man I love those feather dusters. I would love to ge tthose things go grow in my system. anywhere. I've always wanted feather dusters but it seems like in some systems they grow great and in others they won't. Amazing! Love the dendro also, may go get me a few today.

I see you’re in Euless so we are practically neighbors, let me know if your ever in the area and I’ll bag a couple of those for you. (are you hitillidie, aka Carl, on DFWMAS?)

I picked up the dendro at mid-cities

I have at least 4 varieties of the feather dusters (and several other non duster tube worms)

- The ones in the picture are a soft bodied type that I got with some cheato from BigJay

- There are also thousands of calcerious micro dusters (these seem to be pretty common). I had them all over the place in my overflows on my 300g.

- I also have a larger calcerious variety in my 29 gallon. They are not as prolific but do have a nice duster that is about 1 –1 1/4” across.

- I also got a nice colorful one on a snail. It looks like a Christmas tree worm.

[psteeleb]

here's a video clip of the duster on the snail

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[chrismunn]

wow, i cant believe its been almost a year since the disaster!

its good to see that your working on re-building! how long do you anticipate waiting untill you make the full upgrade back to a biggun?

[psteeleb]

wow, i cant believe its been almost a year since the disaster!

its good to see that your working on re-building! how long do you anticipate waiting untill you make the full upgrade back to a biggun?

jey Chris - good to hear from you.

If I was working in Gallas and knew I was going to be there a while I'd be all over a 400g build. Right now we are just waiting to see what the future has in store for us.

[chrismunn]

so you say you've been in GA for a while now? how much longer do you have there?

[psteeleb]

so you say you've been in GA for a while now? how much longer do you have there?

it's not certain but could be 2 more years

[eidillitih]

I see you’re in Euless so we are practically neighbors, let me know if your ever in the area and I’ll bag a couple of those for you. (are you hitillidie, aka Carl, on DFWMAS?)


Yea, that's me! Yea, I moved to Euless about a year ago. I sure will let you know when I'm in your neighborhood and I'm always there. My kid plays ball over there and his piano lesson are over there.

I also went to mid-cities monday and purchases myself a dendro.:) Beautiful coral!

[chrismunn]

wow, 2 years, at least you've got work! ;)

im sure this tank will hold you over just fine, and it'll probably turn into a master piece just like the last! im looking forwar to watching the development.

[psteeleb]

a couple videos from today

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[drummereef]

Great videos Pete. :)

[Taqpol]

That Mandarin is really cool! I lost my target mandarin in the tank transfer so I plan on getting another pair of captive bred mandarins from ORA here soon.

[psteeleb]

thanks guys

couple items:

I'm slowly removing my sand bed - I'm taking some out with each water change. I'm pretty convinced that wrasses can not tolerate the Southdown pulverized limestone. It may be the sand is to coarse, something chemically, or maybe something else but Iv'e lost too many wrasses that bury themselves at night in the sand for it to be a coincidence. It's the only thing `I can point too as it happened in my 300g and now the 100g. I guess I could have just gotton a bad batch but it's comming out and I'll replace it with a natural coral sand of some kind.

I pulled a sundial snail off some of my zoas today - now I think I know why I lost a small colony a couple weeks ago. Arggg

[drummereef]

Refresh my memory, how deep is the sand bed? That is strange about the wrasses. Maybe there is a negative reaction from the limestone but definitely strange. An inch layer of Special Grade aragonite in your size tank is next to nothing. A 40lb bag would probably cover it.

[psteeleb]

Refresh my memory, how deep is the sand bed? That is strange about the wrasses. Maybe there is a negative reaction from the limestone but definitely strange. An inch layer of Special Grade aragonite in your size tank is next to nothing. A 40lb bag would probably cover it.

In the 300g I had about 3-4", in the 100g I only have about 1 1/2"

[drummereef]

Are you just siphoning it out with a gravel cleaner?

[psteeleb]

Are you just siphoning it out with a gravel cleaner?

I'm using a piece of 1" pvc pipe attached to a hose that I usually use as a siphon. It does a pretty good job until I get a snail or a small piece of rock/coral stuck in it.

I'm in no rush to remove it but in the past 2 water changes I probably got 1/2 of it. I figure once I have most of it out I can probably blow the residual into a corner and get most off it.

[drummereef]

I'm using a piece of 1" pvc pipe attached to a hose that I usually use as a siphon. It does a pretty good job until I get a snail or a small piece of rock/coral stuck in it.

I'm in no rush to remove it but in the past 2 water changes I probably got 1/2 of it. I figure once I have most of it out I can probably blow the residual into a corner and get most off it.

That's a great idea with the pipe and hose. I might have to try that since I also want to take some of my sand out too.

[psteeleb]

That's a great idea with the pipe and hose. I might have to try that since I also want to take some of my sand out too.

At least it's a lot easier then using the flexible tubing by itself. It does a pretty good for getting in corners but next water change I think I'll add a 45 deg ell and a short piec of pipe to see if I can get inside a couple caves and under the rocks.

The good thing about my rock scape is I either cut the rock flat on the bottom or added DIY cement feet to the bottom piecee. That way I don't need to worry the rocks becoming unstable as the sand is removed.

[psteeleb]

a few updates and some new additions

things are going strong, there have been no real issues and the fuge is pumping out all kinds of pods. It's been doing so well idecided to pick up a female mandarin goby for the male and they already seem to be paired up

I picked up some of my table live rock from a LFS today. Robert had a few pieces stuffed in the back of one of his sumps. Surprisingly the sunset monte was still alive in some areas and now it seems like it may even pull through

I have too much live rock and will need to consider how to rework some of the pieces and sell some of it off.

I also picked up a christmas tree rock, a neon green birdsnest, some more zoas and a pipe organ coral. I've wanted a 'live" pipe organ coral ever since I kept a "dead" one in a saltwater tank back in the 70's.

here is a video from tonight with just the atinics on (with the camera somewhat white ballanced)
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[drummereef]

Glad to hear everything is going well. Great vid too Pete. :)

[psteeleb]

the pipe organ coral

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=45413
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=45414

and while the hood was off I took a picture of the lights

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=45368

top to bottom:
VHO super atinic
T5 Aquasun (10k)
T5 454
LED Moon light strip
T5 454
T5 Aquasun (10k)
VHO super atinic

[drummereef]

Pipe Organs are sooo cool. Such a stately coral. :) I know your last reef was mixed but you had a lot of SPS. Are you doing more LPS in this one or doing a mix again?

[psteeleb]

Pipe Organs are sooo cool. Such a stately coral. :) I know your last reef was mixed but you had a lot of SPS. Are you doing more LPS in this one or doing a mix again?

it will still be a mixed but with more LPS and less softies and less SPS then my last tank

the top shelf areas will be for SPS and I'm still working on some ideas but I'm leaning toward an Efflo, one or two mille's a large stage with one of the blue torts. And I'll most likely add in a few smaller but colorful SPS into the mix. The mix will be very dependent on how stable I can keep temperture and PH this is where the small tank will be a challenge while being away as much as I am. For now I do not plan on having a chiller.

The wall space on both sides will be made up with LPS with zoas and ricordia (floridians) in the lower sections. This tank will get fed plenty of frozen meaty food for the LPS and softies. The 300 only got meaty food about 3 times a week this one will get meaty food daily in the form of cyclopseze, mysis, rotofers and I may start some baby brine.

I'm also leaning toward sun corals, a carnation coral, and maybe some sponges in the dark areas

I'll remove selected pieces of live rock as things grow in.

As for added fish I may go with 2 tangs and/or a dwarf angel. I'd also like a small school of anthias but will wait for the corals to grow in first and see how the space looks as they like the open waters to feed and corals to hide but will compete for space with the chromis.

[Taqpol]

Hahaha, I think only you would call a 110g tank "small"

[psteeleb]

Hahaha, I think only you would call a 110g tank "small"

well I have to at least make it sound like a challenge :)
but in reality the bigest chalenge is deciding what not to get as I want it all :)

another big difference will be source of bio load
in the 300g the fish poo fed the SPS corals where in this setup I'll be using meaty foods for the higher concentration of LPS. The big issue will be keeping up with the organic wastes and trates and that's why I have so much live rock and run GFO. I am still considering the use of ozone to help break down the organics but with a DIY ozone reactor instead of a skimmer fed system.

back on a funny note:

I need to get a video of the arrow crab trying to eat cyclopseze. Remember the original movie "Karate kid" where Pat Morita (the trainer) was trying to catch a fly with chop sticks. Now picture the arrow crap frantically swinging his long claws around snaping at the cyclopseze as it floats by, but to no avail :)

[psteeleb]

I checked parameters today (firt time in several months)

Alk and Ca were okay but on the lower side at 7.0 and 400
Mg was low at 1250

the good news is both No3 and Po4 tested at zero or undetectable

I've been adding a little kalc to my top off water and I'll continue to do so but on a higher frequency. I did mix up some 2 part, so while I'm out the next couple weks I'll have my son test again and may start dosing until I hook up the Ca reactor. I was going to hold off on hooking up the Ca reactor but the way things are going I may be installing it in the next couple weeks.

[drummereef]

Haha, that would be a great video Pete. :) If you do hook up the Ca reactor can you do a short tutorial on it...? ya know, for noobs like me. :)

[psteeleb]

Haha, that would be a great video Pete. :) If you do hook up the Ca reactor can you do a short tutorial on it...? ya know, for noobs like me. :)

I'll plan on doing just that
I did add acoupel quick connects to yhe setup last time I had it up and running that I'll have to show in the video

I am waiting to hear back from one of our local club members on a SPS trade for my GEO Kalc reactor so ths may be happening soon

parameters were spot on the other day - and the corals all looked great and have shown good growth so far
Ca 460
Alk 7.7
I'll check them all later this week including the Mg, but it looks like adding the kalk powder to the top off is working for now

[drummereef]

I'll plan on doing just that
I did add acoupel quick connects to yhe setup last time I had it up and running that I'll have to show in the video

I am waiting to hear back from one of our local club members on a SPS trade for my GEO Kalc reactor so ths may be happening soon

parameters were spot on the other day - and the corals all looked great and have shown good growth so far
Ca 460
Alk 7.7
I'll check them all later this week including the Mg, but it looks like adding the kalk powder to the top off is working for now


Sweet! I'd love to have a Ca reactor on my tank once I have enough corals to support it. Never really messed with one before so I'd love to see the in's and out's of a nicely tuned reactor.

[psteeleb]

my wife calls tonight asking if I lowered the water level in the sump
I said no and started to ask questions

apparently the aqualifter pump clogged or went bad as it iappears to be running but not pumping the top off water

I tokd my my wife I needed to order a new pump and asked her to unplug the old one and remove the tubing so it would not siphon water from the tank or top off reservoir, It looks like we are in manual mode for a few days without kalkwasser

after doing a little research on the pump I find out they make a pre fillter for dosing things like kalkwasser - duh :hmm2:

oh well - at least I learned something new today and ordered the pump, a pre fillter and a set of replacement diaphrams. I also ordered a new Ph probe for the Ca reactor as the old one has been dry for over a year

[psteeleb]

the tank continues to do very well - the corals are all thriving and showing noticable growth so I think Ill hook up the Ca reactor this weekend but may not actualy start dosing with it until next weekend when I'm home for 4 days to keep an eye on it


the sunset monte is making a great comeback - the orange isn't quite there but looks like it's on the way to a full recovery

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=45877

just 2 weeks ago
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=45878

[drummereef]

The sunset is looking great Pete. :thumbsup: Can't wait to see the ca reactor go online. :)

[psteeleb]

The sunset is looking great Pete. :thumbsup: Can't wait to see the ca reactor go online. :)

thanks Brett
- bad news is I kind of got sidetracked on hooking up the Ca reactor
- good news is I picked up a nice Japan version of a Rose BTA today :)

here it is drip acclimating
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=45881

and a close up - I can't wait to see it open under some good lights
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=45882

[psteeleb]

the new nem
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=45886

[vegasr]

Nice looking nem. Where did you get that from?

I saw his reef first hand last month when I picked up some cheato. It's by far is the nicest looking setup I've seen.

[psteeleb]

Nice looking nem. Where did you get that from?

I saw his reef first hand last month when I picked up some cheato. It's by far is the nicest looking setup I've seen.

thanks vegasr :)

I got it from Rodney at
http://www.myexoticfishandcorals.com/

he's just getting started with an online store

[psteeleb]

a few more pics from today

pipe organ
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=45888

duncan
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=45889

the lyng se and a couple birds nest
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=45890

the sunset under normal lights
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=45892

hammer
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=45893

some pink zoas
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=45894

frogspawn
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=45895

mille
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=45896

and the dendro
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=45897

[Taqpol]

Dang, that is a bubbly bubble tip!

[psteeleb]

Dang, that is a bubbly bubble tip!

easy to see how they get their name, but I don't think they stay that way. I once read there was speculation the bubbles formed when irritated

and now to the ugly side and a weeks worth of skim mate
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=45902

[drummereef]

Whoa, awesome nem and corals ya got there Pete! That dendro is amazing looking. I agree with Alex, the bubble tip is Bubblicious. :D What skimmer is that? Looks like it's pulling some nasty gunk.

[psteeleb]

Whoa, awesome nem and corals ya got there Pete! That dendro is amazing looking. I agree with Alex, the bubble tip is Bubblicious. :D What skimmer is that? Looks like it's pulling some nasty gunk.

thanks Brett
the skimmer is an Aqua Medit T-1000 with the upgraded pump. I'd say its a middle of the road skimmer for a 100g tank. The guy I bought the tank, stand and sump tossed in the skimmer and a Mag 9.5 as part of the deal. Initially I figured I'd eventually change out the skimmer but so far it's doing a good job. Thats actually about 4 days worth of skimming (maybe less if my son cleaned it but I'm not sure. It will get a good inch plus of dark skim mate in 24 hrs.

[psteeleb]

the nems new home
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=45932

a shelf rock for showing off SPS (not much to show off right now)
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=45933

[drummereef]

Looks great Pete. :) How did you attach the frag plugs on the shelf rock, epoxy?

[psteeleb]

Looks great Pete. :) How did you attach the frag plugs on the shelf rock, epoxy?

sorry - I should have specified I drilled a bunch of holes in the shelf rock to hold frags on plugs

[drummereef]

sorry - I should have specified I drilled a bunch of holes in the shelf rock to hold frags on plugs

Oh, I see it now. :lol: I was going to say that's the cleanest epoxy job I've ever seen. I glob that stuff everywhere when I use it. Haha. Pays to think ahead. ;)

[psteeleb]

the nem moved into the space at the right between the 2 rocks and seems to be perfectly content for now

I'm looking for advice on suplimental LEDs

I'm now considering 12 XR-Es (blue) on a dimmer and want to get an early morning late night effect with them turned down low but I also want them to be strong enough when fully turned up to be able to provide a shimmer with my T5s on

or should I go with 12 XP-G's for the shimmer and forget about the early morning / late night dimmed lighting effect

[Taqpol]

Being able to see an LED's shimmer effect with T5s on the system really depends on the number of T5s, if I remember correctly. T5s are a very bright light source themselves, so while the color would shine through and mix easily subtleties of the LED, like shimmer, might get lost of you are running a small number of LEDs to a high number of T5s. That being said:

XP-G's do not come in blue colors, and even the cool white is extremely yellow to most reefer's tastes. XR-E's are great LEDs and they come in most colors including the Royal Blue. The Royal Blue still doesn't look like a normal actinic bulb but more like a blacklight in the way it makes fluorescent corals glow in what looks extremely unnatural to me. I am a big fan of LEDs and the colors you can get when they're mixed together, but separately I find both colors lacking.

I hope this helps at all...

[psteeleb]

thanks Alex - that does help
I may not know exaclty what I want to do with the LEDs but I'm learning more about what I can or can't do

[psteeleb]

I just got back from trading my GEO 6x 24 kalc reactor for a bunch of frags

I picked up:
meteor shower
500 efflo
ORA pearlberry
Chips acro
Rainbow stylo
Powder Blue Turaki
Strawberry Tabling Acro
Tyree Pink Lemonade Acro
undata

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46031

[drummereef]

Sick! Can't wait to see them on the rock. :)

[psteeleb]

Sick! Can't wait to see them on the rock. :)

not the best pictures but here they are
Meteor Shower
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46051
Tyree Pink Lemonade
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46052
Undata
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46053
ORA Pearlberry
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46055
Powder Blue Turaki
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46056
500$ Efflo
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46057
Rainbow Stylophora
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46060
Strawberry Tabling Acro
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46061
Chips
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46062

[drummereef]

Great looking frags Pete. :thumbsup: A FTS is definitely needed. :D

[psteeleb]

I'll see if I can get a decent FTS shot later today when the lights come on

here is a videp of the sps under atinic lights

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[Taqpol]

Thats a really cool video, what camera are you using again? Does it have an option for manual white balancing?

[psteeleb]

Thats a really cool video, what camera are you using again? Does it have an option for manual white balancing?

the camera is a Sony HDR-XR150
it has a "one touch" white ballance (with several other options)
the "one touch" is probably the closest to a manual mode but it's a point and set
I'm still palying with the settings

here is the Meteor Shower
I had intended to include it in the prior clip
<object width="873" height="525"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6U0dyp6i7JQ?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1&amp;border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6U0dyp6i7JQ?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1&amp;border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="873" height="525"></embed></object>

[psteeleb]

minor update

the new corals have been looking great - with no visable issues

the anemone has decided to move around a bit and seems to like hanging out under the upper shelf rock tha I plan on keeping my SPS on.

all the fish and other inhabitants have been doing well, no visable signs of stress and the communal fish (fire fish and grreen chromis) appear to be very comfortable with their surroundings - I'm a firm believer that providing proper fish habitat is essential for a low stress, healty life.

I started dosing 2 part a couple weeks ago, currently I am dosing about 1 oz every other day

The mandarins are both fat and have noticable growth since I bought them. I was a little concerned about the female as she was pretty scrawny whenI got her but she has fattened up and as grown about 1/4 her original lenght. I noticed the male eat frozen mysis the other day. The pod population remains healthy but it's always a good thing to see madarins eat something other then live pods

I bought a GEO 4x18 Ca reactor from a fellow RCer last night. It will need a little work but I think it will suit my set up better then the 6x24" one I was using on the heavy SPS populated 300g. I hope to get it in late this week so I can set it up while I'm home over the weekend.

I'm still doing research on LED's.

[psteeleb]

October 1 coral pics

sunset monte
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46373

duncan
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46374

Tyree Pink Lemonade
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46375

Leng Sy
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46379

Rainbow Stylo
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46380

Chips
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46381

[psteeleb]

some zoas
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46382

nem
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46383

green birdsnest
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46384

Strawberry tabling acro
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46385

ORA Pearlberry
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46386

Turaki
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46387

500$ Efflo
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46388

Mille
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46389

[psteeleb]

I picked up an older model 418 GEO Calcium reactor from a guy on RC.
The orginal design did not have a Ph port or built in bubble counter.

The guy I bought it from indicated it was leaking at the pump and at a DIY Ph port and the union on the top was broken but glued

I removed all the old pipe and drilled out the return elbow that was factory glued to the top of the reactor. I also cleaned up an bunch of old silicone and other glue from the top piece. It looked like the top leak was created at the Ph port as the rubber gasket was overlapping the glue joint on the return pipe, creating a bad seal. I also noticed there was a glue globs underneath that overlapped the main chamber seal. After removing everyting from the reactor cover plate, I clean off all the old glue using a razor blade, then sanded and polished it back to a nice clear finish

I also built in a DIY self filling bubble counter on the return line like the ones GEO (and others) now install, and after replacing the MJ pump I gave the unit a leak test. After circulating water through it for about 4 hours all was dry, so I proceeded with a bleach and then an acid wash. After a final rinse it should be good to go.

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46396

With the installation of the bubble counter on the pump return line and this being a downflow Ca reactor I suspect I'll get a lot of Co2 bubbles on the top of the reactor. With the normal effluent line coming from the top it wil most likely vent more Co2 then I'd like, so I'm considering using the top connection as a vent and return it to the connection just upstream of the pump suction. I will then need to figure out a good place to install the effluent out connection.

[drummereef]

You are the man Pete, nice job DIY'ing that reactor. :thumbsup: What's your thoughts about having a second, "passive" reactor with just media in it to suck up the excess Co2? I've seen some people do this and they claim the media will dissolve, albeit slower than the "active" reactor - so they claim it helps absorb that extra leaky Co2. Thoughts?

[psteeleb]

You are the man Pete, nice job DIY'ing that reactor. :thumbsup: What's your thoughts about having a second, "passive" reactor with just media in it to suck up the excess Co2? I've seen some people do this and they claim the media will dissolve, albeit slower than the "active" reactor - so they claim it helps absorb that extra leaky Co2. Thoughts?

thanks Brett

and I do like the idea of a second reactor to help bring the Ph up closer to normal tank levels. I may come up with an open flow approach with media to help release Co2 / and allow for o2 exchange or just use a spare TLF reactor to do the job.

After a little more study into the design of the older down flow and newer upflow reactors I will definitly do something more to help circulate undisolved Co2 inside the main reactor. Right now I'm looking at one of two pretty simple mods ideas

Option 1) KEEP AS A DOWNFLOW - remove the bubble counter "T" on the pump return stand pipe and replace with a cross to include the bubble counter and a new tank water inlet (or feed). Then use the old effluent out that's in the top as a Co2 recirc vent that will feed back to the oringinal Co2 inlet just upstream of the pump. This will allow for the pump to churn up the vented Co2 in it's gasous stage to help it be absorbed by the tank water hense lowering the Ph. With this option the tank return (or effluent out) will be as far away from the high Ph zones as posible or at the port upstream of the Co2 recirc at the bottom of the reactor (botom right port in picture)

option 2) CHANGE TO AN UPFLOW REACTOR - still replace the "T" with a cross for the tank water inlet and bubble counter. Flip around the MJ pump so it's now pulling in new tank water, new Co2 and any excess Co2 gas from the top of the reactor into the pump suction, churn it up, and return the mixture to the bottom of the reactor. Effluent out can be from the top port / lowest Ph zone or it can be from the extra port at the bottom right if there is to much undisolved Co2 in the top of the reactor.

option 2) is how most new reactors are plumbed

[psteeleb]

my wife reported that my mandarins have been doing a dance together after lights out :)
apparently they will swim together vertically for a few seconds or minutes after ligths out with only the moon lights on

[crvz]

my wife reported that my mandarins have been doing a dance together after lights out :)
apparently they will swim together vertically for a few seconds or minutes after ligths out with only the moon lights on

yikes. I know what that means. ;)

Tank is looking great, Pete!

[drummereef]

Very interested to see what you come up with in regards to the reactor Pete. Both of those ideas seem like solid solutions.

[psteeleb]

yikes. I know what that means. ;)

yeah - he thinks he is going to get lucky :lol:

[psteeleb]

Very interested to see what you come up with in regards to the reactor Pete. Both of those ideas seem like solid solutions.

thanks Brett - I think I'm going to reverse the flow as that seems to be the recent industry apprach to dealing with the Co2 bubbles

as for the low PH: I'm considering using the extra media a you suggested but I also considering aerating it to increase the O2 and hence Ph of the effluent - it's such a simple approach I'm surprized I haven't read about it elsewhere

[psteeleb]

Sunday 10/2 parameters

Salinity 1.026
Temp 79.8 --> 81.5 over 24 hrs
Ph 8.27 --> 8.10 over 24 hrs (with some spikes in the 8.3s)

Ca = 560
Alk = 7.6 dkh
Mg =1400
Po4 = undetectable

Other items
the meteor shower base color has faded, I suspect from too much light, so I moved it lower in the tank. We have noticed at least 7 new polyps forming

Installed the heater - for redunancy it is set up with dual controls

the pipe organ coral has hundreds of new polyps that form on plates the older polyps grow our horizontally. the plates also proved lateral stability and strength the coral colony

I remounted the "chips acro", the "strawberry tabling acro", and the "$500 efflo" on "drilled & pegged" rocks. These 3 corals have also been repositioned horizontally to grow out in a table shape

[Highlandjedi]

looks great man

[psteeleb]

looks great man

thanks :)


I just placed an order for some more clean up crew and 15 ricordia of different colors. I ordered from a new place (at least new to me) so I hope all works out okay. I should get the new items in Friday so I'll post my thoughts about them next weekend.

[psteeleb]

here is a list of the ricordia I ordered:
Light Pink
Rainbow
Tangerine Orange
Orange & Blue
Blue with orange dots
Pink & aqua geeen
Purple
True Blue
Yellow
Orange
Lavender Purple with Deep Purple
Pink

and I got talked into a couple of St Thomas mushrooms or coralmorphs, one they said their diver has never seen in the 35 years diving and I'll be the first to get one

red with yellow <-- this is the rare or new one, can't wait to see it
and a sky blue

[psteeleb]

needed to build a lil box for the new rics
some black eggcrate, gutter guard and some rubble does the trick nicely
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46889

the new rics - just about all of them came in with more then one mouth some with 3+
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46890

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46891

[drummereef]

Beautiful Rics Pete! Is the box to try and get them to attach to the rubble and/or so they don't float off and you lose one?

[psteeleb]

thanks Brett

I ened up putting a gutter guard cover on it as they were still floating around a bit
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46911

these new rics look great - I only got a couple decent pictures

yellow rics to the left and in the lower right is a lime yellow with teal trim
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46909

this orange with deep blue center and teal trim is also very nice and it realy glows under the actinics
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46910

I also picked up a couple St Thomas mushrooms (coralmorphs). I attempted rubberbanding them to rocks but they both escaped. I found the red/yellow one but the blue one is still in hiding - I'll have to make another container to hold them until they fasten themselves to some rock rubble

While searching I found a live clam in my system. It's not the best picture but you can also see a black limpet to the lower right of the clam (it looks like it's in a shadow of the rock) and a couple of orange ball nems to the upper left. The rock is lace lava base rockl from my old 300g system.

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46912

[psteeleb]

I finished the mods to the Ca reactor today

it is now an upflow reactor - like the new designs it should help minimize excess Co2 bubbles be recirculating the water from the top pulling in any undisolved Co2

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=46929

[psteeleb]

I am pleased with wll the rics, but this one may end up being my favorite
(this or the yellows, or the amybe the blue ones with orange dots :) )

<object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mXNup7ZW6Uw?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mXNup7ZW6Uw?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object>

I picked up these zoas a couple weeks ago. They actualy have yellow skirts but under just the actinics they look lime green

<object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JENBxDwRUJE?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JENBxDwRUJE?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object>

[drummereef]

Wow it's looking great Pete. The rics are awesome! Can't wait to see the Ca reactor go online. Pics please. :D

[psteeleb]

thanks Brett - it may be a couple weeks before I hook up the Ca reactor as there just isn't that much Ca/Alk demand right now. Also, I want to make sure I'm home for a few days to make sure I get it dialed in right.

here are two other rics and the St Thomas shrooms I mounted yesterday

first up is a orange with blue ric (actually there are about 5 mouths in this ric cluster)

the same video scans over to a blue ric with orange dots and at the end you will see the St Thomas mushrooms (sorry the view isn't the best as the rock was under my center brace making it hard to get a good picture)

<object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/t-swNubFc58?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/t-swNubFc58?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object>

[drummereef]

Looking great! I'll be waiting patiently for the Ca reactor progress. :) Video is awesome. I'm digging the smooth jams on this one. :D Can't remember if I asked this before but what camera do you use for the videos? I'm looking into getting something soon that will do HD as well.

[psteeleb]

Looking great! I'll be waiting patiently for the Ca reactor progress. :) Video is awesome. I'm digging the smooth jams on this one. :D Can't remember if I asked this before but what camera do you use for the videos? I'm looking into getting something soon that will do HD as well.



the camera is a Sony HDR-XR150, I did a lot of research and ended up with it for features and price (and that surprized me being a Sony)

I wanted:
- a fairly large built in hard drive - no more tapes or cards
- good optics
- full HD
- had to be fast when turning on
- semi pocket size

and it has a bunch of nice features I wasn't looking for but have come in real handy like: face recoginition for locking in focus and a smile recognition feature that takes pictures automatically without shuting down the video

only gripe so far but it was a price savings is not having a view finder (only the screen), oh and it dropped a hundred bucks a month after I bought it

[psteeleb]

I may be able to set up the Ca reactor this weekend. If we get back in town on Sunday early enough I'll give it another bleach rinse & leak test to check the latest modifications.

I'm also considering bleaching my reactor media but need to look at it and give it a sniff test as it came out of my large Ca reactor several months ago. It should be okay as I let it air dry before putting it up in a closed bucket, but may have some fungus or bacteria growth that I would rather not introduce to the new tank.

if everything checks out, and time permitting, I'll go ahead and hook it up to the tank and start the water flowing through the media and get the effluent flow rate set. Then, the next time I'm home I will need to:
- calibrate the new Ph probe to the Milwaukee controller
- hook up the controller to the Co2 solenoid valve
- adjust the Co2 needle valve to a very slow (low demand) bubble count
- monitor tank Ph, Ca, and Alk for several days and adjust flows accordingly

I just don't want to start the Co2 until I'm home for a few days where I can keep an eye out for it as it get's dialed in proper. With a low demand tank the last thing I want is to over dose and have Ph drop too much. If it was a high demand tank it's okay to under shoot the demand and just supplement 2 part as your dialing in the reactor to your specific needs.

[drummereef]

the camera is a Sony HDR-XR150, I did a lot of research and ended up with it for features and price (and that surprized me being a Sony)

I wanted:
- a fairly large built in hard drive - no more tapes or cards
- good optics
- full HD
- had to be fast when turning on
- semi pocket size

and it has a bunch of nice features I wasn't looking for but have come in real handy like: face recoginition for locking in focus and a smile recognition feature that takes pictures automatically without shuting down the video

only gripe so far but it was a price savings is not having a view finder (only the screen), oh and it dropped a hundred bucks a month after I bought it

That's a nice camera. Might be a little pricey for my budget still but nice indeed. No wonder why your videos always look so clean. :D

[psteeleb]

That's a nice camera. Might be a little pricey for my budget still but nice indeed. No wonder why your videos always look so clean. :D

yeah - I think it still runs a tad over $500

The Ca reactor passed it's latest leak test and the media is clean so no need to bleach it. Time permitting, I'll get it hooked up for water flow today (but no Co2)

I was able to mount a few of the new ricordia last night - if I get some time I'll see if I can get a video of things prior to catching a plane later this after noon. I plan on making a LFS run to pick up a couple shrimp and my son wants me to go to Fry's with him to pick up some computer stuff

here is another actinic video showing the ricordia that were mounted last night.

<object width="1280" height="745"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/z7KoYLZsfP8?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/z7KoYLZsfP8?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="1280" height="745"></embed></object>

[psteeleb]

I'm repeating myself but I'g ready to place an order for my supliment LED's .Currently I am running 4T5's and 2 VHO's but want to introduce the additional LEDs for the following reasons:

1) shimmer
2) illuminate the sides of my rock wall where I will have numerous Ricordia, Zoas and Acans
3) more blue

I am ready to place an order for 24 CREE XR-E's with this kit using a dimmable driver

https://www.reefledlights.com/produc...-e-q5-led-kit/


the diagram below should give you an idea of what I'm after
the 24 LED's will be wired in parallel 12 each side and fused
I'm planning on mounting the LED's to individual heatsinks that will be mounted to a piece of aluminum angle that will be hinged to allow an adjustable angle to maximize light to the side structure of the rock face. The Angle will we oriented so that one leg acts as a splash shield with the optics placed in drilled holes through the spash sheild face

the LED's will be 4" on center using 60deg optics as I have a narrow space between the glass and rocks

heat sinks
http://www.satisled.com/high-power-l...m15m_p169.html

I will eventually have a dimmer controlelr that will bring the royal blue LEDs on at a low setting that intensify through the morning before the other lights kick in

any input or suggestions will be appreciated


thanks

[psteeleb]

sorry forgot the light diagram

and there is an end view of the tank in this video with all light on at about 1:05
<object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/si_xKTi1MPc?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/si_xKTi1MPc?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object>

[psteeleb]

I should have a busy weekend coming up as I plan to hook up the Ca reactor and I just bought a bunch of parts to install the 24 Cree XR-E Royal Blue LEDs as suplimental lighting to provide; shimer, more light on the side of the rock faces and more coral color pop.

Plus I'm suipose to get with a guy to pick up some stuff from my old 300g

the LED's will be installed on a dimmable controler that I hope to hook up to a RKE or other controler upgrade in the future

parts ordered (they better all show up before this weekend)
24) Cree XR-E LED's
24) 60 deg optic lens
1) Meanwell ELN 68-40D dimable driver
24) 1.5" x 1.5" x 0.5" heatsinks
themal epoxy

parts I still need to pick up this weekend local
1.5" x 1.5" aluminum angle for strip light frames
2) 1amp fuses
misc mounting hadware

it will be my first time using LED's so it should be a fun build

[Taqpol]

Looking forward to seeing how it turns out! Make sure you put up a diagram or picture of how you parallel the LEDs.

[psteeleb]

Looking forward to seeing how it turns out! Make sure you put up a diagram or picture of how you parallel the LEDs.

here is a sketch of the intended LED mounting to a 46" long piece of alumium angle - I may still add a side splash guard.
http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47306

and here is the wiring diagram, only difference is I'll add fuses to the power leads to the LED's
http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47316

[psteeleb]

I got home late tonight and was happy to see all the LED parts came in
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47396

heatsink
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47397


led with optic and heat sink
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47399


as you can see the heat sink comes with a white thermal tape but I don't think I'll use it. I'll be using the themal epoxy instead

I'll need to run to the hardware store to pick up the aluminim stock angle iron, 18 gage wire, solder etc. I'll still need to get some final dimentions before starting to cut the aluminum mounts and start the assembly

[Taqpol]

What amperage are you going to run the LEDs at? Assuming that you can adjust that Meanwell if you pop it open.

[psteeleb]

What amperage are you going to run the LEDs at? Assuming that you can adjust that Meanwell if you pop it open.

If I'm reading everything right 1 amp is max for each string of 12

The meanwell 1s maxx 1.3 amps and is adjustable by a pot inside that is fairly easy to get to. When setting LED strings it is recomended to lower the output by adjusting the pot full down and bring it up to an optimal setting using a volt ohms meter. This is a required step when you have a driver that exceeds the maximum.

By splitting I should only get max of 650mA per string and according to the place I bought them from that's very close to the optimal setting for 12 of the XRE's, so technically I could skip the step, but, I'll still test it at the lower setting and bring them up to confirm everything.

[Taqpol]

Thats one thing I was going to suggest, if you run both stings at 500mA (1000mA total on the driver) then even if one LED shorted and shunted all the power into one string you would still be right at the maximum for the XR-Es.

[psteeleb]

Thats one thing I was going to suggest, if you run both stings at 500mA (1000mA total on the driver) then even if one LED shorted and shunted all the power into one string you would still be right at the maximum for the XR-Es.

Thanks Alex - I'll work it toward that goal
I should have al the soldering done tonight and I'll work on the assembly tomorrow and should be ready to test and set the amperage but will need to read up on the proper technique first

[psteeleb]

here is some progress

after measurements the front LED strip can't be longer then 42" due to hood opening clearance
So the math for the front side works like this
- 12 LED's = 11 spaces @ 3 5/8" on center = 39 7/8"
- add in the 1 1/2" width of a heatsink and I'm at 41 3/8"
- this leaves me with 5/8" clearance and for a mounting clip

the back side can be 46" and will be spaced at 4"
- 12 LED's = 11 spaces @ 4" = 44"
- plus heatsink = 45 1/2"

After measurements I needed to tin the heatsinks - basically this is adding some lead free solder to the contact area on the LED
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47415

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47416

[psteeleb]

I’ve been working on the LED's on and off through the day but should probably rough out how much time this build takes so people can gauge if it’s worth it for them to undertake.

At this point the usual approach would be to mount the LED's to a large heat sink or what ever is used for the final mounting. Since my LED's will be mounted to a piece of aluminum angle to act as a splash shield it makes it very difficult to solder the wires on as they would be partially concealed. I decided to use the heat sink tape as a temporary mount and located the LED’s and heat sinks on the aluminum angle at the proper spacing and proceeded to cut the wires to the appropriate length and soldered them in place.

Next step will be to repeat the process for the back 46” strip and then start on the Aluminum angle drilling and assembly.

here I'm cutting the wires to lenght
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47428

wires soldered in place for the front 42" light strip
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47429

close up of LED solder
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47430

[psteeleb]

After setting the driver POT to it’s lowest setting and making the last few connections for the plug, hooking up the driver, placing a volt ohms meter in line and hooking up the DC dimmer control (without the DC control the unit is off) I proceeded to test the lights. At first nothing but I knew I was tanking a 50/50 chance on the DC control polarity, once reversed, presto nice blue lights.

Then I smelt something burning, like melted solder. At first thought it was a connection, I made, then the lights dimmed and I thought oh nooo, there goes the driver or the lights. The I saw smoke coming from my 30+ year old volt ohms meter that only measured up to 250mA DC, so much for that old piece of equipment I should have known better as the amperage I was wanting to set was around 500mA. Thinking with the Pot at the lowest setting I figured it could handle it. Max setting with the parallel sets of 12 (24 total) should be 650. So I removed the volt ohms meter and the lights were bright again.

I proceeded to dial up the POT to maximum setting at 650mA, with maximum the LED’s are rated for being is 1A (1,000mA) and all LED lit I figured that without the volt ohms meter I had enough safety margin. I dialed back (counter clockwise on the POT) the LED’s to see where they started to dim then turned it back up just a tad as visually it appeared to be optimal (light to voltage ratio). Next I did a quick check of the dimmer by resetting the DC transformer to a lower voltage and all worked fine. Next step is cutting and drilling the aluminum and mounting the LED’s

Driver POT ohms adjustment
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47438

lights with Pot at lowest setting
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47439

POT at about 75% (visually just as bright as 100%)
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47440

[Taqpol]

IS this with both strings running or just one string? Also, did you bin your LEDs for their Vf's? I ask because even LEDs among the same brand/color have different Vf's and ifone string happened to get a combination that had a total voltage drop higher then the other string it would suck more amperage to that string. It should be really easy to test if your two strings are running within 10% of each others amperage, but you would definitely need a multimeter that goes up to 10A ;) .

[psteeleb]

IS this with both strings running or just one string? Also, did you bin your LEDs for their Vf's? I ask because even LEDs among the same brand/color have different Vf's and if one string happened to get a combination that had a total voltage drop higher then the other string it would suck more amperage to that string. It should be really easy to test if your two strings are running within 10% of each others amperage, but you would definitely need a multimeter that goes up to 10A ;) .

both strings were running durring the test

they are all the same Bin #D316

I'll probably make a run to FRY's later today to pick up another multimeter along with a couple other things

[Taqpol]

I should have clarified what I meant by binning. The factory bins all of their LEDs so that they are producing a certain range of wavelengths (i.e. 450nm +/- 10nm). What they don't do is bin the forward voltage (Vf) needed to run the LED. The Vf depends on your current and is normally around 3.5V, I think, but each individual LED of the same manufacturers Bin might change a little. Say, 3.4-3.6V. Since Voltage in series is additive a 0.1V increase on a single LED can add up to a big change in total voltage between strings ran in parallel, causing the string with the higher cumulative forward voltage to suck more of the amperage produced by the constant current power supply.

Fixing this is very simple though. First, using a volt meter check the voltage drop across the ENTIRE 1st string and compare it to the entire second string. If they are within 10% of each other you are probably good to go. If not, then check the individual Vf's of each LED in your array by measuring voltage drop from the + pad to the - pad on a single star. Then take your highest Vf LED from your highest voltage string and swap it with the lowest Vf LED on your lower voltage string. This should fix the problem.

None of this is life threatening (LED threatening?), but if you don't do this there is a chance one of your strings will run at a higher amperage, run hotter, and produce more light then the other string, which might or might not matter in your overall setup.

[psteeleb]

excelent point Brett, I would have never thought about that. Is there a way to check the strings with everything online?

I have everything mounted - now I just need a hand getting the canopy back on
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47475

[psteeleb]

this dendro has always been great looking but always just orange, now with the royal blue LED's it shows a little lavender
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47482

[psteeleb]

some zoas under the new royal blues
<object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/y23xU96BINE?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/y23xU96BINE?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object>

[erics3000]

Wow Pete looking good. Sorry about your old tank. I have been wondering what happen with your thread. Traveling a lot lately myself. Can't wait to see your progress ...Thoes LED's are sweet

[psteeleb]

Wow Pete looking good. Sorry about your old tank. I have been wondering what happen with your thread. Traveling a lot lately myself. Can't wait to see your progress ...Thoes LED's are sweet

thanks Eric

here is a vid showning most of the corals
<object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NiX0Ll39jMg?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NiX0Ll39jMg?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object>

[Taqpol]

Thats quite a zoa collection! It looks like you got the shimmer you wanted, but how are you liking the color? LEDs make it notoriously hard to photograph because they don't just alter the white balance, they alter the 'tint' as well.

[psteeleb]

Thats quite a zoa collection! It looks like you got the shimmer you wanted, but how are you liking the color? LEDs make it notoriously hard to photograph because they don't just alter the white balance, they alter the 'tint' as well.

I do like the colors but may try replacing my VHO Super actinics with some other T5's next time I buy bulbs. Maybe something in the purple/red spectrum

I did get the shimmer I wanted, not a lot but I don't have much surface aggitation. Water circulation may be something I upgrade next starting with changing my MAG 9 out with something a little more powerful

As for photographing with LED's, my experiance to date is one picture, the Dendro I posted last night. :)

[drummereef]

Pete, how exactly did you mount the LEDs to the heatsinks/aluminum shield?

[psteeleb]

Pete, how exactly did you mount the LEDs to the heatsinks/aluminum shield?

Brett I'll have to see if I can describe it
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47531


1) the LED's are attached to the heatsink using the thermal tape provided with the heatsink
http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47430


2) the optics snap in place and are then sandwiched between the heatsink and aluminum angle to keep them from being knocked off.
http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47399


3) the heat sink and angle are then drilled and connected together using pop rivets, repeat step 1-3 for all LED's creating the light bar
http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47444


4) a 1" wide section of what was scrap 90deg aluminum angle is bent to 75%
(15% degree from perpendicular) to make a mounting bracket

5) the bent mounting bracket is screwed to the hood sides using stainless screws

6) a 1/4" dia by 1/2" long bolt is attached to the mounting bracket and held in place with a nut with the threaded end sticking out to form a stud (repeat 4, 5 and 6 to create 2 mounting brackets for each light bar)

7) the light bar is then attached to the mounting bracket studs using wing nuts for easy removal.

http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47541

[damcnutt]

psteeleb have you noticed any high temperatures from the heatsink using small 1.5" pucks instead of a larger 5-8" heatsink? Where did you find those small heatsinks at ive been looking for weeks.

[psteeleb]

psteeleb have you noticed any high temperatures from the heatsink using small 1.5" pucks instead of a larger 5-8" heatsink? Where did you find those small heatsinks at ive been looking for weeks.

At first I tested them for about 30 -45 minutes outside of the canopy, no heat issues, only warm as I could hold them with no problem

I then ran them for several hours installed in the canopy, put my hands on the heatsinks and still they were only warm, not hot to the touch. The warmth may have even come from the other lights as the T5's were hot

I found them on ebay, then looked up the model numbers on line just to confirm size etc - I'll see if I can find the seller

[psteeleb]

here is the link to what I bought
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270655163993&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.com%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp5197.m570.l1313%26_nkw%3D2706551639 93%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1


I didn't find any others listed with this seller but look around there are others that sell them

[Rickyrooz1]

Following along

[psteeleb]

hey Ricky - thanks for tagging along

Brett
here is a diagram I did for the led light bar mounting

http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47546

[drummereef]

Awesome Pete, thanks for the great description, pics, and schematics. :thumbsup: Is the mounting bracket bent to 75% so the LED's/optics are pointed where you want? I.E. towards more center in the tank?

[psteeleb]

Awesome Pete, thanks for the great description, pics, and schematics. :thumbsup: Is the mounting bracket bent to 75% so the LED's/optics are pointed where you want? I.E. towards more center in the tank?



Exactly – I had first wanted to make an adjustable mounting bracket but ran short on time. And as this build is more a set once design the bent approach works just fine. If someone wants to use this design and have an adjustable bracket it would be pretty easy to cut out 2 pieces of the angle and bolt them together with a star lock washer and wing nut.

[psteeleb]

I just ordered 5 Acans a favia and a pink Chalice on ebay

[psteeleb]

here are the other 2

[psteeleb]

The new corals came in today and everything looks great - I'll post more picturs later but here are a couple I took this morning after they were in the tank for an hour or so

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47817

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47816

here is duncan I got from a freind that rescued it from a tank crash
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47813

and a blasto
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47812

I picked up this candy apple zoa as a single polyp 5 months ago (it's in a video earlier in the thread)
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47815

[psteeleb]

here are a few more coral shots from yesterday

here is a SPS that a freind gave me - kind looks like a chips acro but the color is a little different
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47827

the Sunset Monte may take over the entire tank at the rate it's growing
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47828

the Rainbow Stylo is doing well - it started out as two smaller frags on this plug but now they have grown together
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47829

this is still one of my favorite rics - pink with aqua skirt
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47830

the pink birdsnet that has always been more a tanish color with purple polyps is now turning pink on pink, not sure why but may have to do with the light intensity from the new LED's
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47831

the Dedro continues to look great and continues to grow
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47832

the Montepora Undata has just about completly grown over the mounting plug
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47833

another nice ricordia
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47834

the meteor shower has grown a bunch of new polyps, got it's blue shade back and has completly encrusted it's mount (picture under actinics only)
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47835

[Taqpol]

Amazing coral shots! I love all the SPS. My pink birdsnest has also never been pink, even with the LEDs.

[psteeleb]

thanks Alex

here are a few more pictures taken with my video camera as it seems to have the better optics

Blasto
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47911

Turaki
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47912

ORA Pearlberry
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47913

Candy Apple Red Zoas
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47914

One of the new Acans
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47916

And just for picture comparison, here is the pink birdsnest again but from the vid cam
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47915

[drummereef]

Geez Pete, the pics get better and better. I agree the vid camera definitely takes great macro shots. Love them! :)

[crvz]

great new additions, Pete.

[psteeleb]

thanks guys
here are a few more from today

the new favia
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47984

undata
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47983

$500 Efflo
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47980

Tyree Pink Lemonaide
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47985

rainbow stylo
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47987

pink ric
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47988

pnik birdsnest
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47989

chips
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47992

some more zoas
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47993

[drummereef]

Wow! That zoa pic is intense! :thumbsup:

[psteeleb]

Wow! That zoa pic is intense! :thumbsup:

thanks Brett

I got home today and noticed a couple of my new Acans didn't look happy. After some research it sounds like they may like moderate light. I had them in an intense light with my SPS so I'll be moving them lower in the tank

[drummereef]

thanks Brett

I got home today and noticed a couple of my new Acans didn't look happy. After some research it sounds like they may like moderate light. I had them in an intense light with my SPS so I'll be moving them lower in the tank

How are the Acans looking now Pete?

[Bigjoe2531]

Really nice collection of corals, following along....

[psteeleb]

How are the Acans looking now Pete?

the ones I moved are doing / looking much better

One was originally in semi shade and has always been full

The one that looked the worse was moved to the bottom of the tank and my wife says it looks the best of all of them now

I moved two others that were semi pulled in (not bad) to the semi shaded area and they also perked up

the 5th ACANs looked fine in the direct and intense light but it has 2 types of ACANs on it: a red/pink and a blue/green. The blue/green ACANs are pulling in so I asked my wife to move it. I need to get an update on it.

the real good news is I'm now convinced they will do just fine on the sides of my rock work where they will get a mixture of direct and semi direct lighting about 18" down

[psteeleb]

Really nice collection of corals, following along....

thanks :)

[Christian_S]

some more zoas
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47993

what's the name of this zoa ??

looks amazing :eek1::eek1::eek1::eek1:

[psteeleb]

what's the name of this zoa ??

looks amazing :eek1::eek1::eek1::eek1:

thanks - the guy I bought them from just called them orange with yellow skirts
I bought them to replace a large rock of some others that looked just like them but lost in my 300g tank failure.

I don't think the blue ring showed up in the tank that they came from so they may have slightly morphed or I just have differnt lighting. More a lighting issue I'm sure but I've had several zoa's morph over time and most to the good. So I'll often buy cheap and hope for the best.

I think you will find these under the comon name of "Dragon Eyes"

thanks for asking :)

[chrismunn]

:inlove:

very nice pete!

[syedjilani]

beautiful...;)

[psteeleb]

:inlove:

very nice pete!

thanks Chris - hows that new build of yours coming?



beautiful...;)

thanks Syed - that picture of the gorgonian in your avatar is stunning, any idea on the care for it as I would like to get a red or orange gorg that has reasonable polyp extension durring daylight

[psteeleb]

a 3 month sps coral growth update - all 9 of these sps I got from a local DFWMAS club member on 9/17. Videos taken 12/11

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[Chrisrush]

Looking great Pete. I'll have to stop over next time I'm in Dallas. I especially like the $500 efflo.

[syedjilani]

thanks Syed - that picture of the gorgonian in your avatar is stunning, any idea on the care for it as I would like to get a red or orange gorg that has reasonable polyp extension durring daylight


Yes this Grogonian was in my 120 gallon. I lost it when I was building my 300G in March until July. Lack of taking care of my 120 g mixed reef I lost my bird nest as well. Planning to take another in 300G. Want to share my tank with you http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1849903&page=26

Any suggestion from you is most welcome. I like your super actinic lights. planning to do something like what you have done.

BTW comparison SPS growth video is great....

Well done... keep it up..... I enjoyed a lot to see your update video...;)

[drummereef]

That's the best filming yet. :) Absolutely beautiful Pete. :thumbsup:

[psteeleb]

Looking great Pete. I'll have to stop over next time I'm in Dallas. I especially like the $500 efflo.

Thanks Chris - and just let me know when you ar in the area, if I'm home you're more then welcome to stop by


Yes this Grogonian was in my 120 gallon. I lost it when I was building my 300G in March until July. Lack of taking care of my 120 g mixed reef I lost my bird nest as well. Planning to take another in 300G. Want to share my tank with you http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1849903&page=26

Any suggestion from you is most welcome. I like your super actinic lights. planning to do something like what you have done.

BTW comparison SPS growth video is great....

Well done... keep it up..... I enjoyed a lot to see your update video...;)

thanks Syed - and I'll check out your build log


That's the best filming yet. :) Absolutely beautiful Pete. :thumbsup:

Thanks Brett - I upgraded my wifes PC operating system to Windows 7 and did the HD video editing in microsoft movie maker. The old version of movie maker for the Win XP did not handle the HD video so this was the first time I actually edited the HD clips

[syedjilani]

thanks Syed - that picture of the gorgonian in your avatar is stunning, any idea on the care for it as I would like to get a red or orange gorg that has reasonable polyp extension durring daylight

Sorry pste, i did not reply your question. I m not to much expert about grogonian. I think it's not PS. it require good planktonic food two, three times a day. What I obseved strong light is not good for it. I keep under rock shades. not require too much flow.

[drummereef]

Thanks Brett - I upgraded my wifes PC operating system to Windows 7 and did the HD video editing in microsoft movie maker. The old version of movie maker for the Win XP did not handle the HD video so this was the first time I actually edited the HD clips


Gotcha, thanks for letting me know. I'm having a tough time getting my renders to look like the original video for some reason. I'm using Sony Vegas but can't get the uploads to render properly. Hmmm. I've uploaded a couple vids straight from my the PMB software and those look good, but unfortunately there's no editing software in that program. I'm still on XP dangit...

[psteeleb]

Gotcha, thanks for letting me know. I'm having a tough time getting my renders to look like the original video for some reason. I'm using Sony Vegas but can't get the uploads to render properly. Hmmm. I've uploaded a couple vids straight from my the PMB software and those look good, but unfortunately there's no editing software in that program. I'm still on XP dangit...


That's the same issue I was having with freeware video editing software (and I tried a couple different ones that were highly rated). The end result just wasn't the same quality as the original. All previous downloads are the raw videos; from the camera using the PMB software, to the PC, to YouTube with no editing.

I just happened to be doing a hardware upgrade to the wife’s PC and while at Fry’s saw a Windows 7 family pack. I had heard that Windows 7 was pretty good and had worked out the bugs but I hadn't intended upgrading for another year or longer. The family pack is for 3 PC's for $129 (or $43 a PC. Not a bad deal considering we have at least 3 PC’s at the house running XP.

[Fishingpcola]

Pete, tank is looking great. What bulbs are you running?

[psteeleb]

Pete, tank is looking great. What bulbs are you running?

thanks

the lights are
12 Royal Blue Cree XRE LED's - DIY LED strip
UV - VHO Super Actinic (built in reflector)
UV - Actinic White 12k T5 w/ reflector
UV - 454n T5 w/ reflector
moonlight LED
UV - 454n T5 w/ reflector
UV- Actinic White 12k T5 w/ reflector
UV - VHO Super Actinic (built in reflector)
12 Royal Blue Cree XRE
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=47475

on my next bulb change out I may change out the VHO's to a white LED strip or move the Actinc whites to where the VHOs are and add in some purples

[vthondaboi]

Hey Pete, this is Dien over at Mid-Cities. Nice build log you have going on here. When its time to replace bulbs check out the Indigo Sun instead of Actinic White if you don't switch them to LEDs.

[psteeleb]

Hey Pete, this is Dien over at Mid-Cities. Nice build log you have going on here. When its time to replace bulbs check out the Indigo Sun instead of Actinic White if you don't switch them to LEDs.

thanks Dien

and I'll have to check out those bulbs, do they help bring out the rdd colors? - thanks for the info

[psteeleb]

I just ordered a TLF inexpensive Kalc reactor
I am evaporating/dosing too much with my ATO. My Ph is hitting 8.6 at times and my ACANs are suffering for it. I'm going to set up something like I did with my 300 where I limit the dosing amout (probably to 2 gallons a day) and time the dosing to where it runs mainly at night. The ATO will supliment any more water I need for evaopration replacement durring the day light hours.

[drummereef]

I just ordered a TLF inexpensive Kalc reactor
I am evaporating/dosing too much with my ATO. My Ph is hitting 8.6 at times and my ACANs are suffering for it. I'm going to set up something like I did with my 300 where I limit the dosing amout (probably to 2 gallons a day) and time the dosing to where it runs mainly at night. The ATO will supliment any more water I need for evaopration replacement durring the day light hours.

Sounds like a good plan to me. :) Still not enough demand for the Ca Reactor?

[psteeleb]

Sounds like a good plan to me. :) Still not enough demand for the Ca Reactor?


There is probably enough of a demand now, it’s just I haven’t been home long enough to set it up and tune it in. It's a challenge running much less setting up reef tank when you’re only home every other weekend.

I’ll be off the whole week after Christmas so I will have time to get it running and to tweak it. I’m seriously considering only running it during the lights on cycle to see if it will keep up with the demands of the tank. My thought is to keep the tank feed on and to keep it circulating and tie in the low Ph off solenoid to a timer. This way I keep the Ca reactor running, but by cutting off the CO2 feed, Ph rises to tank norm and stops dosing the low Ph effluent while in the tank is in it’s night cycle.

So:

Lights on = natural tank cycle increases Ph ---> I’ll dose effluent from the CA reactor with a low Ph

Lights off = natural tank cycle to decrease Ph --->I’ll dose Kalcwasser with a high Ph.

Time for a controller upgrade

[drummereef]

There is probably enough of a demand now, it’s just I haven’t been home long enough to set it up and tune it in. It's a challenge running much less setting up reef tank when you’re only home every other weekend.

I’ll be off the whole week after Christmas so I will have time to get it running and to tweak it. I’m seriously considering only running it during the lights on cycle to see if it will keep up with the demands of the tank. My thought is to keep the tank feed on and to keep it circulating and tie in the low Ph off solenoid to a timer. This way I keep the Ca reactor running, but by cutting off the CO2 feed, Ph rises to tank norm and stops dosing the low Ph effluent while in the tank is in it’s night cycle.

So:

Lights on = natural tank cycle increases Ph ---> I’ll dose effluent from the CA reactor with a low Ph

Lights off = natural tank cycle to decrease Ph --->I’ll dose Kalcwasser with a high Ph.

Time for a controller upgrade


If that works it will be freakin' genius and basically fully automated, besides replacing media or mixing more kalk. Nice!!

[PurpleMonster]

Amazing! i cant belive how incredibly clear the water is... colors are so great! awesome work buddy :)

[psteeleb]

If that works it will be freakin' genius and basically fully automated, besides replacing media or mixing more kalk. Nice!!

Thanks Brett - I like the concept of using the alternate dosing methods to off set Ph swings and don't see why it wont work. I'll keep you posted on the progress but I wont get to it till after the holidays.

Parameters

No3 - undetectable
Po4 - undetectable

Ca - 480
Alk - 8.2 Dkh
Mg - 1350

I top off 2-3g of kalcwasser a day and dose 3/4 oz of 2 part and the readings have been dead on the past 3 weeks, so demand is still fairly low (compared to my 300g before I went to a Ca reactor, I was toping off with Kalc and dosing 16oz a day of 2 part)



I'm getting some algae blooms and with the heavy feeding I do for the LPS and zoas and thought I may get some trate buildup, so it's good to see that the natural filter feeders and bacteria levels are keeping up (so far). I'm going to bring my Mg levels up some and see if that helps with the algae’s, but I also think I need to add to me clean up crew.

I also just about convinced myself I want to add a wave box to help with water movement to keep the rock clean in all the hidden places.

I'm ready to update controllers and so far I'm leaning heavy to the Apex. I may even order one tonight so that it gets hear next week.

Happy holidays everyone


Amazing! i cant belive how incredibly clear the water is... colors are so great! awesome work buddy :)

thanks :)

[psteeleb]

I bit the bullet and bought the Apex today, hope it comes this week so I can get it set up before new years

The TLF Kalc reactor came in so I'll be testing it out for flow rates to determine timing and run cycles to dose Kalc only at night. I'll also be hooking up the Ca reactor and start it running this weekend so there will be several updates and pictures coming

[wireefman]

updated fts???? loving the progress so far

[psteeleb]

updated fts???? loving the progress so far

how about a FTV! (ful tank video) :) the tank could use a a cleaning but I'm working on installing the Kalc and Ca reactor today.

As you can see, things are still small but everything is very healthy (except my ACANs). Eventually I hope to have the face of the rock wall covered in LPS, ricordia and zoanithids with SPS on the top

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[psteeleb]

Here is a video of me flow testing the new TLF Kalcwasser reactor.
I had a concern as they recommend a 200-300gph pump and was thinking there is no way I want that much flow. But as part of the design the flow is significantly reduced to operate a small rotating sprinkler like device to stir up the Kalc powder and deliver about 5.5 gph of saturated kalcwasser

I'm running a 150 gph small pond pump and I'm getting about one gallon every 12 minutes or 5 gph. I have a timer that can program 8 on/offs a day in one-minute intervals so I'll run 8 dosings at 3 minutes each. This should give me right at 2 gallons of Kalcwasser a day and I'll let the ATO handle the balance of the 3-4 gallons I evaporate each day. I will probably start with some one and two-minute dosings and keep an eye out on my Ph to make sure I don't get to much Ph swing

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[wireefman]

wonderful videos, not being able sit and chat, the play by play comes in handy.. tank is looking good, everything seems very happy!!

[drummereef]

Great vids again Pete. The commentary is awesome. :thumbsup: I'll be watching closely how the Kalk reactor scheme pans out for you. Looks great.

[psteeleb]

wonderful videos, not being able sit and chat, the play by play comes in handy.. tank is looking good, everything seems very happy!!

thanks

Great vids again Pete. The commentary is awesome. :thumbsup: I'll be watching closely how the Kalk reactor scheme pans out for you. Looks great.

Thanks Brett

I got the Ca reactor up and running and found a very small leak in the bottom around the Uniseal. It was hardly worth dealing with but being away most of the time, I wanted nothing to chance, so I took it apart. I thought it might have been this small crack that I filled with superglue so I brought the whole unit to Marc's (Melev) place to have him take a look at it. I was planning on visiting Marc anyway as I wanted to see his new tank and fish room.

Marc put some acrylic glue on it but he thought it might be the Uniseal was wore out as the rubber was very tough and had some ridges in it where it needed to hold a seal. Anyway, after spending a couple hours talking about his new set up I headed home and remembered someone posting about refreshing rubber seals by heating them in the microwave in a glass of water, so I nuked it a couple times and sure enough it became more supple and is now holding (keeping fingers crossed)

Almost forgot; I also picked up a couple Maxima clams from a favorite local fish store in Marc's neck of the woods.

The Apex is schedule for a Wednesday delivery :)

[wireefman]

ya see ya go and tell us about purchases but then dont show pics......

[psteeleb]

ya see ya go and tell us about purchases but then dont show pics......

can't I catch a break here - they were aclimating durring my last post lol :)

here you go, they are just starting to open
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[syedjilani]

I love pulse xenia in your tank.....very beautiful.....

[Korrine]

Awesome tank! You made me fall in love with the sunset montipora! I'll have to read about those :)

Fantastic job :)

[psteeleb]

I love pulse xenia in your tank.....very beautiful.....
thanks Syed :)

Awesome tank! You made me fall in love with the sunset montipora! I'll have to read about those :)

Fantastic job :)

Thanks Korrine, all I can say about the sunset monte is it must be a pretty tough coral to go through what it did and make such a nice comeback

Quick status on APEX, TLF Kalc rator and Ca reactor setups

I've been reading, programing and reading more on how the APEC works and how to program it. So far I'm very impressed with it and my mind keeps coming up with new things I'd like to do with it. I see another EB8 in the near future and one of tha data modules shortly there after. I pretty much programed the thing directly connected to my router but needed to go wireless for the tank install. I picked up a Netgear WNCE2001 Internet Adapter and after some fuss over the settings on my Verizon router I got everything working on the home network. That is, I can now access the APEX wirelessly :) If time permits I'll change out the RK2 in the morning.

I still need to figure out how to work the LED meanwell dimmer with the APEX. I made a cable (or should I say I cut up an existing CAT5) and tested it to no avail, more on this later.

Next up I need to read up on how to access the APEX when I'm away from home. I'll need to do some more reading of the Unofficial APEX users guide on the subject and this thread on how to work the port connections etc using Verizon
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1760163
at least that's the plan for Saturday.

I am still playing with the new Kalc reactor and I'm just about to lock in on a program that will dose for 15 seconds every 15 minutes at night and when the pH is below 8.3 (I'm good with the program just want to take a few more physical reading of dose amounts and pH swing while dosing)

The Ca reactor appears to be dialed in but I'll check Alk levels again in the morning. It will end up being set on a timer and low pH shut off to where it only runs at daylight hours helping to minimize pH swings.

Happy New Year everyone!!

[psteeleb]

TLF Kalc reactor running
currently programed to dose 15 seconds every 30 minutes if pH is less then 8.2. In total this will be less then 1/2 gallon a day but I want to monitor the pH before increasing the dose durations

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[psteeleb]

Busy weekend

2 new clams and a new SPS
APEX is hooked up and running with Internet access
CA reactor installed and tuned in (video later)
Kalc reactor installed but still tweaking

The LED lights are now programmed using the APEX dimmer control. I witnessed them dimming off tonight and they appeared to be fairly consistent with the 0-10vdc power levels, or at 5 vdc they were about 50% intensity. They turned completely off about ~5-10 minutes before dim @ 0%, or probably around 5% of the controller power level.

[psteeleb]

a few picture updates

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=48950

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=48949

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=48948

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=48953

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=48952

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=48951

[psteeleb]

a few more

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=48956

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=48955

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=48954

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=48959

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=48957

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=48960

[psteeleb]

a few actinic pics

http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=48965

http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=48964

http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=48963

http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=48968

http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=48967

http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=48972

http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=48970

http://dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=48973

[drummereef]

Once again, awesome pics and video Pete. :thumbsup: How are you liking the Apex so far?

[syedjilani]

Wow.......Grrrr8 mannnnnn.....;)

[syedjilani]

Looking very healty and very beautiful...

[crvz]

great shots, Pete. You're not helping my patience though... I've been itching to get new inhabitants for a tank that's not yet ready for them. ;)

[psteeleb]

Murphy - I hate the guy because he is always right

not that anything terrible has happend but for some reason I can't access the APEX from here in GA
I had my son try internally and no problem, then I had him try externally from my home PC, but he gets the same error I get in GA

So, something changed from the other day, so back to the books (or on-line help and forums) :reading:

good news is that with all the new gadgetry, the tank appears to be farily stable and healthy

[psteeleb]

Once again, awesome pics and video Pete. :thumbsup: How are you liking the Apex so far?

Thanks Brett and I am very pleased with the APEX, it's straight forward yet very powerful. I'm already wanting more attachemnts :)

Wow.......Grrrr8 mannnnnn.....;)
Looking very healty and very beautiful...

thanks SJ

great shots, Pete. You're not helping my patience though... I've been itching to get new inhabitants for a tank that's not yet ready for them. ;)

I hated not having a reef tank, so I feel your pain :fish1:

[drummereef]

Murphy - I hate the guy because he is always right

not that anything terrible has happend but for some reason I can't access the APEX from here in GA
I had my son try internally and no problem, then I had him try externally from my home PC, but he gets the same error I get in GA

So, something changed from the other day, so back to the books (or on-line help and forums) :reading:

good news is that with all the new gadgetry, the tank appears to be farily stable and healthy

Glad to hear you are liking it. There's not much to dislike. :D I ran into this same issue and it was resolved with a couple steps. May or may not work in your situation but worth a try I suppose.

1. The Apex likes to have a unique HTTP port number. Sometimes there can be conflict with the default Port 80. So try changing that to another value. I believe it's limited to 4 numeric values but any number will work up to 9999, I think. You'll have to then access the Apex via the web server with this unique ID. Such as http://apex:"unique http value". Where "unique http value" is the new HTTP port you are assigning.

2. The Apex also likes to have a unique IP Address to access the Aquacontroller from the web. By default, it will probably assign a common value very similar or close to the value set by your router. For instance your router might be 192.168.1.1 (default gateway) and the Apex would be 192.168.1.2. Sometimes the values are too close and the Apex can become "confused" as to which IP it should be assigned to. Therefore Neptune Sys suggests assigning a unique IP such as 192.168.1.50 to ensure a clean connection, no conflicts.

All of the above can be done through the Apex web server, or on the physical display module. You'll also have to go into your router settings and adjust the Port Forwarding values (start/end) and IP value (i.e. .50)to match the new Port # you assigned in step 1 and 2. As long as those match, your DNS server is working properly, and the Apex knows what IP it is assigned there shouldn't be any issue. Hope this helps. :)

**Side note... Also make sure your DNS server settings are also have the same unique Port # identification you assigned in step 1. You'll have to access those settings on the DNS server website. ;)

[psteeleb]

thanks for the information Brett, I'll try some of those settings when I get home next weekend

[psteeleb]

Busy day

I got the Apex working from the Internet. I just needed to flip the IP address back to what David and I set it to, re-entered it as a path forward rule and went to another screen to make the IP address static. Thanks everyone that helped

My son told me I was getting some odd pH spikes, after some research I believe it has to do with the Triac outlet. Apparently if the device is very low wattage it may not fully shut off. This caused the timer to stay on longer the 15 seconds as programmed, thus causing the spike. It was also over filling my sump by about a gallon a day more then the system evaporated. I was fortunate that the amount of Kalc I used was just enough for two weeks so the excess water was not very kalc saturated. For now the Kalc system is turned off.

I calibrated my refractometer today, it was one thousandth off. No big deal but it has been a couple years since the last calibration.

Between the mild kalcwasser over dose and the refractometer being off a little my tank salinity was low (1.023), so I’ve been slowly bringing it back up.

I also changed out the main return pump from a Mag 9.5 to a Mag 12, I just wasn’t getting enough flow on the far end of the tank. It made a significant difference and with the couple hundred more gallons per hour flow through the sump, it kicked up some major detritus.

I’m getting some significant algae outbreaks in the main display so I started to raise the magnesium level. I know I need to add to the clean up crew, so I’ll probably be placing an order in the next week or so

Started doing my 15% - 20% bi-weekly water change

Traded some Leng Sy plate to a local club member for a frag of the Hollywood stunner chalice

[wireefman]

when are you going to learn, new pics mean new fts....

[psteeleb]

when are you going to learn, new pics mean new fts....

ha - no new FTS at the moment, I had the tank pretty stired up from the new pump and moving some corals around but did get a couple vids

$500 efflo was moved to a more visible location and continues to fill out nicely
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the strawberry tabling acro is picking ups some nice teal coloration
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the always beautiful chips
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the new hyacinth - it still needs to be remounted and moved
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at the end of this is as close as I got to a FTS
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[drummereef]

drool... again. :D I'd love to see a FTS too.

[psteeleb]

drool... again. :D I'd love to see a FTS too.

I tried to take one today but there was too much glare form the front door

here are a couple other LPS

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[psteeleb]

some night shots

mille
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=49336

turaki
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=49338

strawberrry tabling
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=49339

500 efflo
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=49340

ORA Pearlberry
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=49341

and a video with the LED lights at about 50%
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[psteeleb]

and a few from eariler

mille
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=49342

500 efflo
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=49343

strawberry tabling
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=49344

chips
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=49345

hyacinth
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=49346

ORA Pearlberry
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=49348

[drummereef]

Seriously, people should take note of what's going on here. Your thread is chocked full of such great content Pete. Great pics, videos, and tutorials. Awesome thread!

[psteeleb]

Seriously, people should take note of what's going on here. Your thread is chocked full of such great content Pete. Great pics, videos, and tutorials. Awesome thread!

thanks Brett

and I do wish more people would check in to ask questions, or make suggestions, comments, etc as sometimes it seems like I use this thread more as a picturr & video repository to view when I'm away from home :wavehand:

it's probably because I don't have a cool looking fish room that's cleaner then most hospitals :)

[Taqpol]

As far as fish rooms that look like hospitals go, I don't think ANYONE would want to have surgery in my fish room...

It's hard to give you suggestions when your husbandry and planning are so top notch! I gave you some of my knowledge/opinion on the LEDs, but I'm pretty sure you ended up going with basically the original plan and it has turned out great! Its such a simple system, but everything has worked out great and your corals really seem to be thriving. Looking at your pictures makes me think back to my 120, which I have not been able to recreate in any way since I made the move/upgrade....

[drummereef]

thanks Brett

and I do wish more people would check in to ask questions, or make suggestions, comments, etc as sometimes it seems like I use this thread more as a picturr & video repository to view when I'm away from home :wavehand:

it's probably because I don't have a cool looking fish room that's cleaner then most hospitals :)

:lol: I don't think I'm stealing any "business" over here with all the amazing pics ^^^! Don't feel that way at all! There's so many people that just like to browse but getting feedback is nice too. Like Alex said, it's hard to add to a thread that is so meticulously put together like this one. :)

[PaPa_Johnny]

Don't think we aren't looking Pete :). I'm steadily taking notes now. I have a 240 in the works, I already have the apex, skimmer, reactor etc etc. I love your attention to detail and your willingness to share. I absolutely can't wait now to get my lil big tank going! All of your ideas and step by steps will be put to good use, thanks again.

[psteeleb]

As far as fish rooms that look like hospitals go, I don't think ANYONE would want to have surgery in my fish room...

It's hard to give you suggestions when your husbandry and planning are so top notch! I gave you some of my knowledge/opinion on the LEDs, but I'm pretty sure you ended up going with basically the original plan and it has turned out great! Its such a simple system, but everything has worked out great and your corals really seem to be thriving. Looking at your pictures makes me think back to my 120, which I have not been able to recreate in any way since I made the move/upgrade....

:lmao: Thanks Alex, I did get a lot of valuable information from your build and from what you posted. I wish I knew more about testing the individual LED's for current before I strung them together as your suggestion sure made sense. i just got ahead of myself on the build. As always, thanks for your input

:lol: I don't think I'm stealing any "business" over here with all the amazing pics ^^^! Don't feel that way at all! There's so many people that just like to browse but getting feedback is nice too. Like Alex said, it's hard to add to a thread that is so meticulously put together like this one. :)

I don't know about that, you currently are the build thread of the year IMO. Your build thread with your step by step, picture supported, thought process to your build is clearly a tremendous asset to the hobby. My approach has been; do a bunch of stuff and then document, hence missing a bunch of the up front steps.

Don't think we aren't looking Pete :). I'm steadily taking notes now. I have a 240 in the works, I already have the apex, skimmer, reactor etc etc. I love your attention to detail and your willingness to share. I absolutely can't wait now to get my lil big tank going! All of your ideas and step by steps will be put to good use, thanks again.

Thanks PaPa_Johnny, looking forward to seeing your build

[Fishingpcola]

We're not worthy! We're not worthy!

[psteeleb]

We're not worthy! We're not worthy!


hehe :rollface:

[psteeleb]

My wife noticed the skimmer wasn't pulling much the past couple days so calls me. We walk thought a few things checking the pumps and ended up finding the air line was all gunked up. She took it apart, cleaned it and put it back together, a sign or a true reefer (even if she wont admit to it) :)

the real good news is; even for not having the skimmer work for a few days the tank seems to be fine.

Alk has slowly climbed to over 13 so we will be dailing back the Ca reactor

I'll also be placing an order for some more clean up crew. I'll probably get a few more scarlet hermits, and some turban, cernith and nerite snails. I may get a few more blue legs, even though they kill each other for their shells they are good detritus and algea consumers.

Coming up in 9 months

a little history:
5/8/10 - Fuge running (nothing in main, not even wet)
5/21/10 - tank wet with live rock from 100g but minimal bio diversity
6/11/10 - first critters introduced to tank; some chromis and a clean up crew
7/18/10 - first sps (birdsnest)
8/14/10 - added a couple corals from a local frag swap
8/28/10 - more of my old live rock that was at a LFS but with a bunch more biodiversity
8/28/10 - sunset monte added with live rock, and bought the pipe organ, GBN and Christmas Tree rock
9/17/10 - 9 sps collection from a local club member - started dosing 2 part
10/15/10 - more CuC and 15 Ricordia added
11/7/10 - added 24 royal blue Cree XR-E LEDs
12/28/10 - changes out RK2 with APEX controller, started Ca reactor, started Kalc reactor, stopped 2 part, added 2 Maxima clams

[Chrisrush]

Hey Pete. What was the reason you switched to a ca rx?

[psteeleb]

Hey Pete. What was the reason you switched to a ca rx?

That's a good question that I gave a lot of thought to.

Several considerations went into the decision but it came down to my past experiance using a Ca reactor just gives me better results then 2 part.

In my own experiance with all 3:
Kalcwasser - great stuff , but can't keep up with much demand
2 part - easy to use - excelent method for medium demand tanks
Ca reactor - best for large demand systems

I think 2 part is an excelent way to add ca/alk and is probably by far the most controlable method as long as you use peristaltic pumps. I do have some reservations with long term build up of impurities but if your demand is not large this concern is minimal and fixed with water changes. The impurity build up may be why I was getting better results with a Ca reactor in my 300gallon system, as demand was rather large (over 2 cups of 2 part a day)

For my 100 gallon 2 part was fine but due to the inconsistant timing of dosing (with me being away), my pH swings were over 0.4 in a 24 hour period. Being away from home I needed to automate the system and even thought 2 part is easier to control I went with what I felt was better for the corals.

[Chrisrush]

Interesting Pete. I'm hoping my new 150g will be fine with 2 part since I've never been comfortable with a ca rx. I guess time will tell though.

[Fishingpcola]

Pete, I also have been using two part and have thought of switching to a CA reactor. I have a Lifereef in the garage. Do you believe in adding a second chamber to up the PH? I would not have mine connected to a controller like you do. I was going to added mine once the coralline really takes off.

[psteeleb]

Interesting Pete. I'm hoping my new 150g will be fine with 2 part since I've never been comfortable with a ca rx. I guess time will tell though.

My experience and knowledge base may be outdated as I was using the old Dowflake (77-80%). By old I mean the batches prior to about 3 years ago. I don't know if people are using the new Dowflake (still 77-80%, I believe) or going with another product like you can get from BRS. If in fact the newer products are 99% the concern may no longer be valid.

I started another thread in the Reef Chemistry forum on the subject

Pete, I also have been using two part and have thought of switching to a CA reactor. I have a Lifereef in the garage. Do you believe in adding a second chamber to up the PH? I would not have mine connected to a controller like you do. I was going to added mine once the coralline really takes off.

For a large demand system I can see it being an issue and the second chamber should help. On smaller demand systems where you use a lot less effluent I doubt it will make enough difference to justify the cost.

When I get home this weekend I should be able to chart the effects the Ca reactor effluent has on the 24 hour pH cycle.

[Fishingpcola]

My second chamber will be home made but I will wait until the demand is there.

[psteeleb]

My second chamber will be home made but I will wait until the demand is there.

good thinking

a home made verision can just be using an inexpesive TLF reactor, or a piece of PVC pipe staning up with a flow in the top and out the botom

another thought is using a piece of 3" pvc pipe split down the center and making a trough with weep holes in the bottom and filled with extra reactor media or maybe dolomite. I'd need to check into the dolomite chemical decomposition but it may proved a less expensive alternate to a buffering step in the process. Also by exposing the effluent to an open air trough will increase the release of Co2 hense raising the pH. The key is I would't think you want to bring the pH up too much or you could precipitate the effluent

[Fishingpcola]

good thinking

a home made verision can just be using an inexpesive TLF reactor, or a piece of PVC pipe staning up with a flow in the top and out the botom

another thought is using a piece of 3" pvc pipe split down the center and making a trough with weep holes in the bottom and filled with extra reactor media or maybe dolomite. I'd need to check into the dolomite chemical decomposition but it may proved a less expensive alternate to a buffering step in the process. Also by exposing the effluent to an open air trough will increase the release of Co2 hense raising the pH. The key is I would't think you want to bring the pH up too much or you could precipitate the effluent

Interesing. You have any drawings or pictures? I have seen the pvc chambers and considered it. I also have a couple of 6" acrylic tubes that I might use one of them. I make kalk reactors and sell them on EB** and actually make a few bucks is why I have tubes.

[psteeleb]

Interesing. You have any drawings or pictures? I have seen the pvc chambers and considered it. I also have a couple of 6" acrylic tubes that I might use one of them. I make kalk reactors and sell them on EB** and actually make a few bucks is why I have tubes.


I don't have any drawings or pictures but will put a sketch together on the trough. I have found several of the PVC DIY reactors on Google and here on Reef Central over the past couple years.

A simple carbon reactor can be built from nothing more then a piece of 3" pvc pipe, plug the bottom with a test plug and drill a hole for the water to drip out of. The inlet is nothing more then a piece of tubing from your return pump or drain line that sticks down in the carbon inside the 3" pipe.

A more complex one can be made with a removable top made from a threaded coupling and plug with some holes drilled and tapped for tubing fittings.

But for Ca reactor effluent, due to the very very slow flow rates an open air simple drip system should work just fine, and has some benefits over a closed system.

[psteeleb]

Interesting Pete. I'm hoping my new 150g will be fine with 2 part since I've never been comfortable with a ca rx. I guess time will tell though.

I did more research on my impurities concern and with the availability of pharmecuedical grade calcium chloride the concern is now almost non existent.

If you use a comercial or food grade product there should still be some concerns about long term build ups of impurities.

As for the pharmecuedical grade the only concern I would have is the alowables for heavy metals being less thenn 10 ppm. This includes Copper that even in smaller amounts in the parts per billion range (ppb) can be toxic to inverts. Not that the allowble heavy metals are made up of copper but they can be and are therefore not reported. From what I learned these small trace amounts can be easily bound to organic compounds and then skimmed off or consumed by macro algea.

Bottom line is I'd still test the system every once and a while.

more here

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1965327

[psteeleb]

I'll be back home after two weeks away later tonight. Friday I expect to be adding to the tank:
another Yellow Ricordia
another pink&aqua Ricordia
5 Scarlet herimts
50 Blue leg hermits
20 Mex Turban snails
25 Nerite snails
1 Atlantic gray cowrie
1 pencil urchin
another Harlequin Serpent starfish (the first one I got was so small he is lost int the rock work)

3-5 lytail anthias (all female)
1 bristle tooth tang (kole or tomini)

I also need to recalibrate the Ca reactor, I cut it back to 6 hours but it the Alk was still increasing, so for now it's turned off, I may just need to raise the effluent pH from 6.5 to 7ish

My main goal is to figure out why my house router isn't working with the path forwarding. I thought i was all good to go as it works fine from inside the house using the external host name, but from outside the house, I get nothing.

almost forgot, that I may trade a frag ot the ORA pearlberry for a watermellon chalice

[justin_g]

Wow!

[psteeleb]

Wow!

thanks Justin

[psteeleb]

got in late tonight and the actinics were already about 50% but I got a few videos
sorry the tank was dark so the camera was having a hard time keeping focus

the ORA pearberry - looks like the polyps are multi color
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Favia
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sunset monte - you can see a couple of those net casting worms on it
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here are a couple of ball nems - they get a nice multi color glow at night
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the $500 efflo
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[psteeleb]

here are my first set of results as I'm dialing both reactors in and trying to maintain the overall Ca/ALk demands.

Below is a graph showing the affects of using timed and pH constrained use of Ca and Kalcwasser to narrow the 24 hour pH swing

The Ca reactor is run when the lights are on to help off set the highs or upward swing and the Kalcwasser is run when pH is bellow 8.15, I'm not showing it on this graph for clarity. You can see where the Kalc cuts off by the change in the up slope of the line, the increase slows when it hits 8.15 (or off)

http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/download/file.php?id=49686

My Alk was getting way to high so I cut the reactor back from the original 9 hours, to 8 hours, to 6, then off . Kalc in the reactor was spent (or used up) as of yesterday so you can see the affect not using the Kalc has on the lower end of the pH graph on the last day (last night)

[frankpayne32]

Great build and your old 300 gal was amazing as well!

[drummereef]

Nice graph Pete. :thumbsup: Other than the Alk getting too high seems like the plan is spot on to me. Where do you like to keep your Alk (if you had to choose a number)?

[psteeleb]

Great build and your old 300 gal was amazing as well!

thanks Frank


Nice graph Pete. :thumbsup: Other than the Alk getting too high seems like the plan is spot on to me. Where do you like to keep your Alk (if you had to choose a number)?

thanks Brett - I like to keep the Alk around 9 to 10
and I think I'm going to be happy with the approach once everything gets dialed in. I think the high Alk may be due to my pH probe being off by about 0.2 making the reactor more like 6.3 instead of 6.5. I'll recalibrate it in the morning.

some more vids from the past 24 hrs

early morning full PE on the pearlberry
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the $500 efflo was going nuts today, is this a feeding response or defensive response? - there's a lot of controversy on this one. I use to get the same reactions to cyclopseze on my blue tort. In this case I did some things different that may have stimulated this response.
first off about 30 minutes earlier I finished using some superglue in the tank
secondly I fed mysis before the cyclopeze when I usually feed the cyclopeze first.
Take a look, it's a long video but there are some pretty long streamers on this little coral
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next up; with adding a bunch of blue leg hermits there are always some casulties. My wife and I watched as what was left of a hermit float by, and watched a couple fish nipped at it. Then as it went to the bottom of the tank the male mandarin decided to have some fresh crab meat. I grabed the camera as I thought he was choking on it, but as it turns out he was just trying to bite off a chunk. As you can see in the video, they are not built for this kind of eating. Sorry the glass is such a mess, that's what I get for being out for 2 weeks.
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[psteeleb]

not 5 minutes after his crab feast, the male madarin was showing off
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the new Kole tang
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and the new symposium coral - not much to look at yet
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in between all the other things going on I captured one of the cleaner shrimp fanning its eggs
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[psteeleb]

I'll be back home after two weeks away later tonight. Friday I expect to be adding to the tank:
another Yellow Ricordia
another pink&aqua Ricordia
5 Scarlet herimts
50 Blue leg hermits
20 Mex Turban snails
25 Nerite snails
1 Atlantic gray cowrie
1 pencil urchin
another Harlequin Serpent starfish (the first one I got was so small he is lost int the rock work)

3-5 lytail anthias (all female)
1 bristle tooth tang (kole or tomini)

I also need to recalibrate the Ca reactor, I cut it back to 6 hours but it the Alk was still increasing, so for now it's turned off, I may just need to raise the effluent pH from 6.5 to 7ish

My main goal is to figure out why my house router isn't working with the path forwarding. I thought i was all good to go as it works fine from inside the house using the external host name, but from outside the house, I get nothing.

almost forgot, that I may trade a frag ot the ORA pearlberry for a watermellon chalice


All new additions are in the tank and doing great with exception that I did not get the anthias and there was at least one casualty (a blue leg hermit)

I reset the Ca reactor with a higher pH setting

And the best news of the day is I got the APEX running from the internet. Turns out I needed to restart the APEX for the router to properly find and establish the IP address for port forwarding. :)