The Poor Man's "Elos" SPS Build. :)

[pdash]

Your tank is my all time favorite; it will look amazing grown in. Your colors are just astonishing. The trick is keeping em like that, good luck. Nice photography skills as well. Also, could you get some shots next time you take a batch that aren't macro shots but not fts either, if you know what i mean.

[Ty1e]

Great looking tank Chris.

[AD87]

Glad everything is not that serious. I sent you a pm what brand and kind of substrate are you using.
Thanks.

[Zoom]

Originally posted by melev
Got any fish in there? Feed the tank a bit more heavily before you leave. I'd keep the skimmer running, but skim dry for now.

And stop dosing anything. Whenever my tank seems to be in a lurch, I get back to basics immediately.

Very good advice...... I do this every time my tank is in trouble.

[143gadgets]

Robbie - Tanks bro! I'm good for now, but I'll let you know if I need anything.

Melev - I'm gonna pick up some fish as soon as I get back from vacation. I have stopped dosing and gone back to basics like you said. we'll see what happens.

Sunny - I'm pretty sure the corals are starving. i think it's a matter of too much light. I raised the lights and took the carbon offline. I think this is going to solve the problem.

poknsnok - Not BB any longer. I have sand, but too much light seems to be the issue.

Victor - Thanks for the advice. See u soon!

Luis - Thanks! I think I have found the problem. You just might be using too much carbon depending on the type. Hopefully things start to get back on track before I head out.

Pdash - Thanks for the compliments! I'll be sure to get some of those shots next time.

Tyson - Thanks! I appreciate the compliment!

Speed - I completely forgot to reply to your pm. I'm using the carib-Sea reef sand. That's what it says on the bag.

Steve - I'm gonna do just that.

[melev]

I bet the sand it reflecting the light, which makes it even more intense, both from above as well as from below. You may just need to shorten the photo period even more.

[143gadgets]

Marc- that's a good point. I thought about taking out the sand, but it has grown on me and I don't want to get rid of it. I only run my lights for 6 hrs normally, but I guess I can reduce it to 5.

[melev]

Well, it is a shallow tank after all. I wouldn't remove the sand - ever. I really love sand. But perhaps reduce the amount of bulbs to create a more day-like environment with a peak period that has all the bulbs lit.

[Todd March]

Chris, do you dose trace elements? I have been dosing EcoSystems Calcium Part B (over 70 elements and minerals) for a few weeks, at like 10 drops 2 x a week (very conservative). In the last week I noticed my Sand Dollar Monti's base going a little greeny beige from blue, and my Purple Monster was a little more navy blue based purple, rather than its vibrant deep magenta based purple. I have upped the trace element dosing to more like 10 drops (0.5 ml) a night, and it worked, the Monti is more blue, and the Purple Monster is moving back to magenta with metallic blue shimmers.

I have heard good things too about the Tropic Marine two part trace elements (divided by postitive and negative ionic elements). Might try that soon...

[Rickyrooz1]

Originally posted by Todd March
Chris, do you dose trace elements? I have been dosing EcoSystems Calcium Part B (over 70 elements and minerals) for a few weeks, at like 10 drops 2 x a week (very conservative).

I think we all dose the 70 trace elements, even the ones that use the DIY three part method because no calcium chloride product is 100% pure. This means that even if it is 99.9% pure, that 0.01% impurity will contain all the other elements on the periodic table. That is why companies can market their product by saying they contain all 70 trace elements. Sure they do but not in concentrated values.

[kc350twin]

Man, my photo period is way too long.. 10 hrs....



KC3

[LuisC]

Originally posted by 143gadgets
Marc- that's a good point. I thought about taking out the sand, but it has grown on me and I don't want to get rid of it. I only run my lights for 6 hrs normally, but I guess I can reduce it to 5.

Wow only 6 hours. I run my tank 8-10 hours.... ouch for me.

[GSMguy]

Honestly chris i dont think its too much light, you have reduced feeding try using twice as much reef booster.

i run my halides 11 hours.

some of your frags i have are inches from my 250W bulbs getting 600 par and darkening up, everything i got from you has darkened.

[melev]

Guys, each person has to look at their particular set up, from what kind of lighting to what kind of reflectors to what kind of livestock they have. That also includes distance of the bulbs to the water...

When I had my 29g running with PCs, I think I had the lights on 11 hours a day. The 55g had VHOs and MHs and it was probably 10 to 11 hours a day. And now that I have Lumenbright Reflectors, the VHOs are on 11 hours a day, but the MH are on 6 hours a day. It has been like that since April and my reef has grown beautifully with the increased PAR at a lesser photo period.

[GSMguy]

Marc I've seen his tank, I saw a tank that was sterile no algae at all besides the brown plating stuff. The colors were lightening then, but I have not seen it since then, I do know he is feeding less because he told me, I really think its nutrients not light, his photoperiod at 6 hours is already short enough.

[Zoom]

I don't think is the duration of light period .
Look like he needs a tangs in there you know they are great P**ers

[GSMguy]

he had tangs then removed them then the corals got light

[derekman]

how do you define "poor man"?

[ROBZ]

Originally posted by derekman
how do you define "poor man"?

LOL single (no wife no kids)

[brandon7491]

i define tht as a lucky man lol

[Lowredranger]

Tank looks awesome you have some crazy looking corals. I just got through all the pages and wanted to subscribe so i do not miss any more of this thread.

Jason

[fatcat777]

wow. absolutely amazing colors. I'm planning my rimless tank now, debating on glass cages or aquarium obsessed.

[kc350twin]

Chris, Sorry I just could not make it out Friday my work schedule changed and I gotta make it before spend it. I will have to wait till after the Holidays.



Hope all is well
Kc3

[143gadgets]

Sorry everyone for not replying sooner. I'm getting ready to leave town and need to prep everything. I'll post replies as soon as I touch down in Florida!!!!


WORLD WIDE CORALS here I come!!!!!!!

[Hargitai]

Could we get a FTS?