47G SPS...Revamp

[sahin]

Thanks I'm glad it works, I've already ordered it. I usually verified my reagent also but this last time I didn't so the last few months I've been chasing a high p04 number that was really 0 and my corals and color really suffered, just glad I caught it before it went to far.

Good to hear the new acros are encrusting and I am a tad bit jealous of the aqua scape and room you have now for nice sticks. The new overflow seems like it's a great option.. Is it quiet? The website was a little difficult to navigate on my phone so I need to look into it further on my computer to see if it will fit my situation and gain me some real estate like you =).. Anxiously awaiting the awesomeness that's in store for your build..

The Elos kit is the PERFECT PO4 test kit IMO. Its a rebadged Merck kit...its the same one D&D used to sell...

The Oceanlife overflow is as quite if not quieter than my old weir. The other option is XAqua. But for your size tank you would need two. Cost will be in the region of $330 for two, going by UK prices.

Congrats on kid #3 :celeb2: and very nice to see you back on the forums again. :celeb1:

I have a question, or two!

Your overflow looks very nice. Its clean and non intrusive. But are you not worried about what would happen if the drain get clogged? I run dual standpipe (herbie) and my primary have been blocked a few times.

Also, noise. Do you throttle the drain or is just free flow? My herbie is completely silent, but i must say that i would not mind to remove the owerflow in my tank. I need to move it anyway soon.

Thanks Ormet.

While custom tanks sold in the UK are now being built with herbie type overflows, it is only a very recent thing. Most tanks are built with a standard Durso's. Also, 99% of the midsize tanks are made and sold by TMC have a similar single drain and overflow design. Never heard of a blockage/flood issue. These TMC Signature tanks are VERY popular and 100's of these sold in the UK.

The Oceanlife has a FRONT GRILL with slits for the water to pass...BUT also has additional slits on the side, so even if something or a bunch or snails blocked the front grill, there are slits around the side that will allow water to pass through.

With regards to a blockage in the drain pipe, something big has to go in there...not sure how it would get past the slits...but the drain is the same as the single weir I had, so no additional risk there.

Yes, the drain is completely free flow. I'd never add valve or anything to throttle the drain which is the only drain on a tank. Noise wise the drain is better than the weir.

Glad to hear the test frag is doing well mate

I don't test for phos or nitrates nowdays but it sure sounds like the Elos High Resolution Phosphate kit is a better option than Hanna. Is the test procedure straight forward like most test kits Sahin or a pain in the arse like the Hanna.

Dont worry Biggles, if you cant carry out the test as reefmutt details below, Kevin will get it done in 10 seconds.

The test is very simple. Just add drops and powder to a 20 ml vial of tank water, gently mix for 3 minutes and compare colors. Color rendition is quite accurate in relation the the comparison chart. And it shows pretty small changes in po4 levels.

Yup, its that simple and colour rendition is very accurate.

I'm going to try that Elos test kit, thanks for mentioning it. I have the Hannah and in my opinion it's completely worthless. My Phosphate is somewhere between 0.0 and 1.8. :mad2:

I used to love my Hanna ULR Phosphorus meter until the reagent packs which gave different readings ****ed me off enough to stash the Hanna in the cupboard and look for something else.

 

[cugly]

Looks great bud like the frag plug idea I did same thing..like how everything looks clean..

 

[jrpdriver]

The new set-up looks great! Nice and clean

 

[this is me]

Nice looking set up! Sorry if I missed it somewhere but how you like the LED/T5 combo? Do you run them together? What are the T5 bulbs combo?

 

[sahin]

Looks great bud like the frag plug idea I did same thing..like how everything looks clean..

The new set-up looks great! Nice and clean

Thanks guys.

Nice looking set up! Sorry if I missed it somewhere but how you like the LED/T5 combo? Do you run them together? What are the T5 bulbs combo?

Thanks, I am using the following for a "complete" spectrum:

Front
ATI Blue+
ATI Actinic
ATI AquaBlueSpecial
ATI Coral+
---LED's---
ATI Blue+
ATI AquaBlueSpecial
ATI Actinic
ATI Blue+

LED's @ peak time = Royal Blue: 100%, Blue: 15%, White:60% Red: 5%

With LED and T5 combo used, all combined provides a "14K" look. Currently, I prefer a whiter look.

I love the ATI Hybrid...the tank is bathed with light everywhere and I still get the glitter lines/shimmer as well as the pop from the Blue LED's.

T5's are proven to colour up SPS as good as MH, but I wanted the pros of LED's, so this is what I am currently staying with.

If finance was not an issue, I would build a custom MH/T5/LED fixture, so this fixture is the next best thing for me.

 

[shih87]

Thanks guys.



Thanks, I am using the following for a "complete" spectrum:

Front
ATI Blue+
ATI Actinic
ATI AquaBlueSpecial
ATI Coral+
---LED's---
ATI Blue+
ATI AquaBlueSpecial
ATI Actinic
ATI Blue+

LED's @ peak time = Royal Blue: 100%, Blue: 15%, White:60% Red: 5%

With LED and T5 combo used, all combined provides a "14K" look. Currently, I prefer a whiter look.

I love the ATI Hybrid...the tank is bathed with light everywhere and I still get the glitter lines/shimmer as well as the pop from the Blue LED's.

T5's are proven to colour up SPS as good as MH, but I wanted the pros of LED's, so this is what I am currently staying with.

If finance was not an issue, I would build a custom MH/T5/LED fixture, so this fixture is the next best thing for me.

Very cool. I just ordered ATI Hybrid 54W x 8 two days ago, and hope it can give me same good experience like yours ;-)....

 

[fatboy40]

def looking good ..... im tagging along for the ride

 

[Fishy 1]

Hey mate could you explain what maintenance you are now doing. Stuff like dosing feeding, light schedule, cleaning, water changes etc etc that would be great

 

[Reef or Die]

Looks great! Really like the idea of pre drilling your rock work so you can peg corals where you want them. Been thinking of doing that myself for a while but haven't gotten around to it. Keep up the good work. Can't wait to see the end result. I loved your last tank. Good luck

 

[Benar]

You starting from frags or mini's/colonies? Sorry if I've missed it. I just drilled ~50 holes in my rock to start growing out frags, in the hope they'd grow out more naturally.

 

[Bello]

Hmmm, Sahin, yes I know I've not been around, and have no right to really ask, but since we all know that I'm shameless ............... More pics please!!!!

Sorry to hear that you had to pull down the old system, but it looks like a great restart :thumbsup:

I'm taking a similar approach as you in filtration as well, just the basics, skimmer, bio media (siporax since I have very little live rock), GFO and carbon (which is changed every summer solstice at exactly 14:38 hours, because that's how you're supposed to do it ). I've some biopellets as well, but I'm convinced that all they're doing is hopping around and doing nothing. I probably need a better reactor, but I've spent way too much on this hobby already, so no!

 

[biggles]

I'm taking a similar approach as you in filtration as well, just the basics, skimmer, bio media (siporax since I have very little live rock), GFO and carbon. I've some biopellets as well, but I'm convinced that all they're doing is hopping around and doing nothing. I probably need a better reactor, but I've spent way too much on this hobby already, so no!

Just the basics........... siporax sounds like something you take for the runs and here we go with the bloody jelly beans again.... i bet your sump looks like Willy Wonka's chocolate factory Bello.

I've missed you mate

 

[Bello]

Lol just lol, I've forgotten how many laughs I've had with you guys .

Missed you too biggles and the lot of you

 

[cthedaytrader]

looking great, I love clean set ups.

 

[stevedola]

nice reboot sahin. Im sure you will have amazing corals and colors in no time at all. Good luck

 

[fatboy40]

great looking system i will b tagging along

 

[sahin]

Very cool. I just ordered ATI Hybrid 54W x 8 two days ago, and hope it can give me same good experience like yours ....

I highly rate the ATI Hybrid. IMO it is the BEST fixture out there thats not 100% LED. And a great all round light fixture too.

Hey mate could you explain what maintenance you are now doing. Stuff like dosing feeding, light schedule, cleaning, water changes etc etc that would be great

Basics mate:

1. Weekly water changes @ 10%
2. Weekly GFO and GAC Changes. Most likely will become a monthly thing once the nutrients settle down.
3. Dosing: not dosing anything other than bacteria.
4. Glass cleaning weekly. Skimmer clean 3-4 days. I think the skimmer, GAC+GFO, bacteria etc are doing a good job keeping nutrients low.
5. Feeding the fish twice daily with frozen Mysis and a variety of flake foods or NewLifeSpectrum Pellets.
6. Lights: Peak daylight hours going up each week...currently at 4.5 hours, whilst the Royal Blue LED's ramp up and down over 9 hours.

Thats about it.

Looks great! Really like the idea of pre drilling your rock work so you can peg corals where you want them. Been thinking of doing that myself for a while but haven't gotten around to it. Keep up the good work. Can't wait to see the end result. I loved your last tank. Good luck

Thanks. I am glad I drilled those holes. I can easily move corals around.

You starting from frags or mini's/colonies? Sorry if I've missed it. I just drilled ~50 holes in my rock to start growing out frags, in the hope they'd grow out more naturally.

The two frags were only bought as tester frags to see how stable the system was and whether the system can support SPS corals and to test whether the STN issues have gone.

I'm happy to report that the 1st SPS frag that went into the tank I think 2 weeks ago, has already grown a base and is looking like it wants to colour up...I can see hints of colour.

The 2nd SPS frag is a brown Millepora frag which my LFS cut from a wild colony. It looks very happy in the tank with great polyp extension. Its been in the tank if I recall correctly about a week...and looks like growth is starting to take place around the putty.

Hmmm, Sahin, yes I know I've not been around, and have no right to really ask, but since we all know that I'm shameless ............... More pics please!!!!

Sorry to hear that you had to pull down the old system, but it looks like a great restart :thumbsup:

I'm taking a similar approach as you in filtration as well, just the basics, skimmer, bio media (siporax since I have very little live rock), GFO and carbon (which is changed every summer solstice at exactly 14:38 hours, because that's how you're supposed to do it ). I've some biopellets as well, but I'm convinced that all they're doing is hopping around and doing nothing. I probably need a better reactor, but I've spent way too much on this hobby already, so no!

Will post a short video clip later mate. But there isnt much going on in the tank this week.

As far as filtration goes...yup basics...though Jelly Beans...Biggles is right...you need to stop feeding your tank those Jelly Bean things.

Just the basics........... siporax sounds like something you take for the runs and here we go with the bloody jelly beans again.... i bet your sump looks like Willy Wonka's chocolate factory Bello.

I've missed you mate

Bello has been missed. And it looks like along with his return, TANK WARS are back. :hammer:

Lol just lol, I've forgotten how many laughs I've had with you guys .

Missed you too biggles and the lot of you

All this talk of missing each other...:lol:

looking great, I love clean set ups.

Thanks man.

nice reboot sahin. Im sure you will have amazing corals and colors in no time at all. Good luck

Thanks for the compliment. I hope so. I've always admired your tanks. Shame you pulled down the 60G...was looking great and had VERY nice SPS colours...

great looking system i will b tagging along

Thanks. Hopefully we will see some nice results in the coming months.

 

[sahin]

OK...so in the above post I mentioned that I am dosing bacteria.

This is what I am dosing:
On the left is a years supply of Bioptim and on the right BioDigest (Carbon/food source for bacteria and corals and the latter being Bacteria).

In the past I've used Prodibio products with good results. I've noticed that whenever I've used these products, my tanks cycled and matured faster than expected. Algae cycles were kept to a minimum too.

Since I am using mostly dead rock, I thought I would dose the Prodibio products for a year at least...I'm assuming by which time the tank would hopefully be in a stable nutrient state.

I've also been impressed with the results Richard (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2357196) is having with his tank and is another Prodibio user. Of course I dont attribute all of that success to the Prodobio but I'm sure it helps some.

Here is the latest appearance of my tank:


The rocks have coloured up...getting lots of green coralline algae looking stuff and even some purple/pink specks of Coralline algae growing. #

There is a slight Diatom bloom going on still on the rocks, but it is getting better. The sandbed has started to get a light brown dusting too this week...hopefully it will be over in a few weeks.

Will update early next week...just placed an order for sme flubber as Biggles calls them. I cant travel at the moment for tank stuff due to being busy with new baby etc, so a couple of my buddies are driving 50 mile round trip to an LFS to pick up the flubber. - I have a few awesome reef buddies!

 

[fatboy40]

how do u dose that ?as far as together or 1 one day and 1 the next day ? and does one get added first before the other ?

 

[sahin]

how do u dose that ?as far as together or 1 one day and 1 the next day ? and does one get added first before the other ?

Dose same day one after another, every two weeks. Very easy to do and even a non reefer can dose on my behalf if required.