230 Ohio reef tank

Ok just threading along. Nothing real big to update, systems been running now for about 8 weeks as my tank is still going through the cycle. (Little diatom blooms here and there) Just added a orange shoulder tang about a week ago and seems to like his new home.

Been debating the future of what type of lighting I want to go with when I change mine out. Im really flipping back and forths

E.g. Here's the options I have been debating with.
Halide option - 400 Watt MH - Reef brite Hybrid set up (Includes reefbrite XHO leds)?
LED options - AI Sol blue, Vega's, Radion?

So much to choose from and would love to hear other's thoughts.

Also here's my new friend.

IMAG1069.jpg
 
Been a while since I provided an update. Traveling and been pretty busy lately. The tank seems to be taking off well. Been slowly adding new fish and just added a Red Choris Wrasse, Powder Blue and Fox Face. The rocks are finally starting to show signs of coraline growth and will be adding some corals soon once my lights have been replaced by LED's. I have been leaning very much towards the Orphek Atlantic fixtures or the Kessil A350's tuna blues combined with a Reef Brite LED strip. Should be replacing them somtime in the next month or so and cant wait. Here's the latest video. Enjoy.

 
Would go led for cost reasons on replacement bulbs and electrical. I purchased some Chinese led fixtures and don't hate them but don't really love them either. I have a Radion on the way that will be here Thursday. Also am going to buy a rapid led onyx fixture and put them all on my 220g and see after a yr or so the growth and color of the corals under the 3 different lights and choose what to buy from there. The AI colors are really nice lights but expensive and you must buy a controller to run the lights. Rapid led on the other hand is priced very reasonable at 279$ and I have seen one in person and really liked it
 
Dmorty217 said:
Would go led for cost reasons on replacement bulbs and electrical. I purchased some Chinese led fixtures and don't hate them but don't really love them either. I have a Radion on the way that will be here Thursday. Also am going to buy a rapid led onyx fixture and put them all on my 220g and see after a yr or so the growth and color of the corals under the 3 different lights and choose what to buy from there. The AI colors are really nice lights but expensive and you must buy a controller to run the lights. Rapid led on the other hand is priced very reasonable at 279$ and I have seen one in person and really liked it
Click to expand...

Sounds like a great experiment and would like to see the results. Are you going to post a tread on RC?

I think Im really leaning torwards these Orphex Atlantics. I've been in contact with the U.S. distributor who will also be at the WORC frag swap here in March. Orphek also recently provided a post on one of their first reciepents of the Atlantics and he has been showing some great results. I believe he was a TOM for ultimateef.net as well where you can see his full thread. Here's the link for SA.

http://orphek.com/our-first-atlantik-owner-shows-off-his-new-atlantiks/

http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=390408&page=78
 
On your dosing question my tank consumes about 1ml per gal of each two part solution in 24 hrs. Alk at 8-9 and Ca at 390-420, pH 8.2-8.3. I dose Kalkwasser as well about 5 gallons in daily top off.

Using LEDs with 10 AI sol blues. Neptune controller. Lights 18 inches off the water line with w40%, RB 65%, and B 65%. Actually too much power to spare. So far pleased. Certainly many other options are out there. Good luck.
 
Congrads on your progress. Great job. Im curious about the electrical you ran for your tank. What kind of wire, amps, ect? I'm in the planning stages for a tank upgrade and trying to get as much info as I can. Also curious about your closed loops plumbing. I might have missed the pics on that~ thnx
 
Electrical and close loop

Electrical and close loop

MileHiReefR said:
Congrads on your progress. Great job. Im curious about the electrical you ran for your tank. What kind of wire, amps, ect? I'm in the planning stages for a tank upgrade and trying to get as much info as I can. Also curious about your closed loops plumbing. I might have missed the pics on that~ thnx
Click to expand...

Thanks,
I went a bit overboard on the electrical but it definately has paid off. (Almost got shocked when a water line busted open after I kicked it on accident) I used 12-2 electrical line and have a dedicated GFI-circut breaker that supports the whole tank. (Lighting, pumps etc) All the components are easy to access and are labled. I will post some pictures later today for you on the electrical and the close loop system.
 
tjsailosullivan said:
Thanks,
I went a bit overboard on the electrical but it definately has paid off. (Almost got shocked when a water line busted open after I kicked it on accident) I used 12-2 electrical line and have a dedicated GFI-circut breaker that supports the whole tank. (Lighting, pumps etc) All the components are easy to access and are labled. I will post some pictures later today for you on the electrical and the close loop system.

IMAG1191_zps3c49117a.jpg



Here's the close loop. Has 1 intake and 2 1/2 return lines that split inside the tank with 1/2 to 3/4 flex loc line.

IMAG1192_zps47504363.jpg


Return lock line inside the tank. One on each side of the tank.
IMAG1194_zpse672730b.jpg


Intake on the right side of the tank.
IMAG1201_zps4697f4dd.jpg
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Here the view from the front with the new bulbs and lighting. Camera doesn't really capture it As good as i wanted. Now finally ready to get some SPS. My Small starter monti has shown some good growth and color and the reefbrite Xho LED has really added some nice pop.

IMAG1126_zps8354331b.jpg
 
Idk if you decided to go with BRS but I have used Preston's for a couple years as my calcium supplement. No issues. I used the BRS calcium before switching to Preston's driveway heat and noticed zero differences in the health of my coral after the switch. The baking soda and Epsom salt will work fine too. Since they are both FDA tested they will be equally safe for your tank (I have used both of these as well after previously using the BRS versions of mag and alk).
 
Spartanman22 said:
Idk if you decided to go with BRS but I have used Preston's for a couple years as my calcium supplement. No issues. I used the BRS calcium before switching to Preston's driveway heat and noticed zero differences in the health of my coral after the switch. The baking soda and Epsom salt will work fine too. Since they are both FDA tested they will be equally safe for your tank (I have used both of these as well after previously using the BRS versions of mag and alk).
Click to expand...

Thanks, good to know it does work. A good friend of mine is a PHD chemist from rutgers and said the same about the Epsom and baking soda. However, I did end up going with BRS for the simplicity of it. Still just a little too nervous to test out and try to get the right mixing proportions.
 
Here's the new reefbrite added to the main MH fixture. Also, I modified my ability to move the entire fixture fwd and backwards with the new pipes added above. Could of bought the barn rails and wheel fixtures but this option was much cheaper. However might change it out at a later date for a more professional look.

IMAG1239_zps3907f1d0.jpg


IMAG1214_zps11776f49.jpg


IMAG1261_zpsc7c55c42.jpg
 
Went to the local Frag Swap and finally picked up a few nice corals. Still not what Im looking to achieve but did get some nice corals and a clam. Unfortunately the Clam was a little bigger than I expected.

IMAG1273_zps2324d216.jpg
 
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