Coral Maternity in Portugal

[H.a.Z]

Thank you :-)

[Pedro Conceição]

Hello.

After verifying that the link I put to be just a form of publishing the pictures, I decided to put directly here the pisctures. I will put some pictures a day, because I cannot put a lot of pictures in only one post.
Here's the firsts:

One picture from my mobile phone:


And some from my Canon:








In this post I just put the pictures of the aquariums.
The next ones will be the most detailed, of the corals and fish.
Tomorrow I put one more pictures.

Best regards from Portugal,
Pedro Conceição.

[Ibhar]

hey machado!

the ATI lights are a miracle!!!! if any one out there as doubts yet don't they mimic MH exactly excluding the shimmer lines.....they are a godsend compared to daylight and atinic t5 bulbs- i had colors appear that i would never thought possible in my every single coral!
i'm using a 50/50 ratio with 4x54w on a 75g and i had a question of how its possible that you set up your ratios as 40/60 (for growth vs color ...vise-versa)with the bulbs you have? im asuming they are the 80w bulbs.

my apoplogies if this is a repeat question ive only read 3/4 of the thread and havent yet seen this question.

thanks logan

[louie07]

wow! that is amazing, bravo! keep up the good work!

[Ncastro1981]

all i can say is i want...

[FFrankie]

Thanks for posting! It is good to see you keeping up on it all so well.

[Pedro Conceição]

Hello.

Here they are more 10 pictures of the system of Machado de Sousa.












I will put more pictures in the next days.

Best regards from Portugal,
Pedro Conceição.

[kmacartney]

WOW!

[devicore16]

buzz..

[Kellsindell]

!!!

[nguyentxd]

WOW! astounding

[Crustman]

Thanks Machado, I am so happy now I went with ATI bulbs even before seeing your thread. The coral babies are beautiful and amazing.

[Crustman]

Pedro, your photos are amazing.

[MileHighFish]

What happened to the OP?? Im missing reading all the wonderful post.. Come visit us soon!!

[Johnny C]

WOWWWW... this is one of the most amazing setups I've EVER seen!

Thanks for the inspiration, and go portugal!

[Machado deSousa]

Hello again to all,

First of all, I should like to apologize for my tardiness in posting. Unfortunately, there just does not seem to be enough hours available in each day to meet all substantial ongoing demands on my time and to make time available for interest based matters such as this.
Thanks to all of you for your very kind and generous comments even when I’m not posting. I’m pleasantly surprised by the attention that this thread continues to receive.
Thanks to my friend Pedro Conceição for his good shots. One day I’ll get pics like him. It was for me a nice surprise because I didn’t know that he would post them here.
I certainly intend to return periodically and continue to answer any of your queries.



In the last months I have made some upgrades: one more tank was placed on the stand, the sump was expanded 3 times, tank water outlets and tubing were substantially altered and A/C installed.

The main implemented upgrades throughout last six months are:

1 -The Eco-cooler existing over the sump compartment (1) was moved to the WC and mounted close the floor (as I posted about this some months ago);
2 – The first sump expansion was done to adapt a sediment retainer;
3 – The second sump expansion was done to create a new compartment for skimmers (one of two existing Deltec AP703 and to the new H&S type 400-3xF5000);
4 - The third sump expansion (and the last because the sump is just close the door…) to create a new tank destined to quarantine / frags on cradles.

First sump expansion was done to adapt a sediment retainer
Some water coming from the tanks fallen down directly in the mangue compartment was disturbing their roots and now, with the modifications that I have done, the water coming back from the tanks is conducted to the beginning of all filtration system, far from the mangue. To have the water circulation with minimum restriction it was drilled some holes in the zones (A) and (B) in the existing tank (1), see the first scheme.




Scheme of the sump before the 1st expansion








Keeping the tanks and sump functioning while drilling (to avoid disturb the system) I fixed a piece of glass with epoxy as shown below, to create a dried column inside de sump for drilling works







Scheme of the sump after the 1st expansion

[Machado deSousa]

The sump one year ago (as it began)




Sequential shots:


Recent sump before expansion




Empty compartment and view of reinforcements on the panes (for drilling)



The Eco-cooler

[Machado deSousa]

Close up of the existing hole sealed internally with epoxy to keep this compartment dried. Also visible the pane reinforcement with a piece of glass glued with silicon, to avoid breaking the pane when drilling



Drilling…








Rui and Alfredo are boring the other pane. Rui is drilling and he is the man who made all the tanks and sump in my prop. Alfredo is helping, is the owner of the Vidromoldura enterprise. I thank them.

[Machado deSousa]

The holes are just done (pay attention to the old tubing)








Docking de sediment retainer


The sump ready to refill

[Machado deSousa]

Slow refilling through the older hole




Detritus retainer is ready to receive the debubller




The debubller

[Machado deSousa]

New tubing




Debubler in place




top view




Running water, coming from the tanks




Final aspect of the sump with new tubing




Very nice work, isn’t it? But there was a little problem: It didn’t work as I expected. When water flows in full power!!! The water flows in a laminar regime (turbulence free) but the water velocity didn’t allow the sediments to settle down on the bottom and a lot of detritus are gone with the current. It would work perfectly if it was 1 ft longer or ½ foot larger, so the water velocity would reduce significantly. But everything is not lost. This new compartment gonna have other functionality…

I’ll post about the second sump expansion, very soon...

Thanks for your patience. .

Cheers,

[glenn907s]

I started reading this thresd today and could not stop reading it untill it was finished. All I can say is WOW!!!!! I was wanting to know if your testing for the a b c you are adding or just adding and see how it reacts. I also wanted to see what you think on this , I'm running 2 250 watt mogel halides w/ compacts 2 10k and 2 anti @ 96 watts . Aftersome reading here I'm starting to think of some t5 instead of compacts . What do think I would have to run to make it sweet. I'm running xm 20k bulbs but I think I might go to 14k when bulbs are do, not sure . My tank is 62" long 24" and 29" deep and not knowing any better when I bought the tank used it has a glass brace on top 1/2" thick.It's a light killer. I'm going to be mixed reef but starting to like the sps alot . Also your photo time your running 8hrs ? I was running 9hrs and dropped to 6hrs have you played w/ photo times and are do you meter your light w/ a lux meter or something ? But your set up is WOW you have if down thats for sure very nice . I wish my fish stores were that set up , but it's for the better if I was buying for a place like yours I would have to pull a second on my house or get three more jobs to pay for all the stuff . I look forward to seeing more and reading more info on what you have to say.

[H.a.Z]

Quite interesting.

Do you have links to other working detritus retainers like this?

[Machado deSousa]

Originally posted by glenn907s
I started reading this thresd today and could not stop reading it untill it was finished. All I can say is WOW!!!!! I was wanting to know if your testing for the a b c you are adding or just adding and see how it reacts. I also wanted to see what you think on this , I'm running 2 250 watt mogel halides w/ compacts 2 10k and 2 anti @ 96 watts . Aftersome reading here I'm starting to think of some t5 instead of compacts . What do think I would have to run to make it sweet. I'm running xm 20k bulbs but I think I might go to 14k when bulbs are do, not sure . My tank is 62" long 24" and 29" deep and not knowing any better when I bought the tank used it has a glass brace on top 1/2" thick.It's a light killer. I'm going to be mixed reef but starting to like the sps alot . Also your photo time your running 8hrs ? I was running 9hrs and dropped to 6hrs have you played w/ photo times and are do you meter your light w/ a lux meter or something ? But your set up is WOW you have if down thats for sure very nice . I wish my fish stores were that set up , but it's for the better if I was buying for a place like yours I would have to pull a second on my house or get three more jobs to pay for all the stuff . I look forward to seeing more and reading more info on what you have to say.

Hi glenn907s!
I used for long time ABC with good results but I don't use it anymore because the costs. Actually I use the Complete Balling Method and it does the same. With ABC or Balling method I use to see how it reacts. About light 2x250w is good for mix but if you go to SPS only, I’d suggest 3x250w 10k bulbs but yellow on their own but with 1/3 (in wattage) t5 20k blue tubes distributed on the front and at the back side to bring out the colors in the corals and fish. BLV 10k with ATI Blue Plus (20k I think) it will look nice. About photo period in time I do 12h but 8h in full power.
Thanks for your words,

Cheers,

[Machado deSousa]

Originally posted by H.a.Z
Quite interesting.

Do you have links to other working detritus retainers like this?

Hello H.a.Z, I don´t know any links to systems like this may be someone help us. The system I used was inspired in The Reef Aquarium, Vol 1, Charles Delbeek and Julian Sprung book. If I had no more than 3,000g/h running through the detritus retainer it would work perfectly but I have more than 5,000g/h passing there. The filter sockets are the only sediments retainers I Know. My DIY detritus retainer is a good alternative vs filter sockets because retains detritus but not plankton and not less important: it doesn't clog.
Cheers,