57 Deep Blue

[YHSublime]

So I started a 57 Deep Blue build back in February of this year, after owning a BC14 for about 3 months prior to that. I would document the whole process, but I will be shutting it down in 2.5 months and moving everything into my new 150. I thought I would share some pictures from my journey along the way before I start my new tank!









I switched from metal halides (250W) to an evergrow it2080 in late May.



Some recent shots of my tank, and most important, all the goodies on my frag rack:

 

[YHSublime]

 

[YHSublime]

So I'm not the worlds best photographer, but I hope you got a taste of the past 6 months for me. Currently I'm cycling my 150, and letting it go fallow for 3 months, so the 57 is up and running until I move everything over the 1st of September!

 

[terrypercula]

Wrong forum but I used to have this tank and loved it.

 

[YHSublime]

Wrong forum but I used to have this tank and loved it.

Thanks Dave, I'm still torn about letting it go, but 150 will be more than enough for me. Curious as to how this is the wrong forum? I looked at nano reefs, and then large reefs, and they said those were for 180 or bigger. I thought it strange that RC considered 150 nanos, non the less....

 

[Hzuiel]

Nano may mean different things to different people, but there is a sticky post in the nano section that reef central has set the limit of nano at 34 gallons to best serve their users. They do that because nano reefs generally have different needs and the only reason to have a separate category for nano reefs is so people with nano reefs can weed out some of the other spam to get specific advice on their systems. A guy with a 220 gallon aquarium filled to the brim with tangs may give a guy with a nano reef completely wrong advice without knowing any better, because it's what works on his system.

 

[YHSublime]

Nano may mean different things to different people, but there is a sticky post in the nano section that reef central has set the limit of nano at 34 gallons to best serve their users. They do that because nano reefs generally have different needs and the only reason to have a separate category for nano reefs is so people with nano reefs can weed out some of the other spam to get specific advice on their systems. A guy with a 220 gallon aquarium filled to the brim with tangs may give a guy with a nano reef completely wrong advice without knowing any better, because it's what works on his system.

I completely understand that logic, nor am I arguing with it. However, the forum section jumps from nano, to large reef: which is the only section under SIC with a gallon description. To expect somebody to read the stickys in the nano section when they are trying to post for a 150 seems not only unlikely, but illogical. It is also confusing, as where does somebody share their tank when it ranges from 35 to 179 gallons?

I guess I'd like to know where I can ask mods to move this forum, or if there is a section that I completely missed? I would like to share my tank and pictures through the appropriate section!

 

[Gsxr600]

the "normal" tanks section...

thats a joke but seriously i just started a 40 breeder and was going to start a thread soon so not sure where they're expecting us to share our tanks?

how do you like the evergrow so far? the pics seem a little blue color wise but i can still tell the corals look good.. anything bad to say about LEDs? i was going to go for a reefbreeders LED which is about the same price range as this.. ive always done halides on my tank and all the LED threads out there are full of BS so its hard to get feedback from ppl.

 

[YHSublime]

the "normal" tanks section...

thats a joke but seriously i just started a 40 breeder and was going to start a thread soon so not sure where they're expecting us to share our tanks?

how do you like the evergrow so far? the pics seem a little blue color wise but i can still tell the corals look good.. anything bad to say about LEDs? i was going to go for a reefbreeders LED which is about the same price range as this.. ive always done halides on my tank and all the LED threads out there are full of BS so its hard to get feedback from ppl.

I'm vexed! I thought I would have an answer by now!

I love my evergrows. I'm using 2 of the IT2080s on my 150 build. It's just enough spread on a 36" tank. I used the standard layout, and the standard 90 degree optics. When I switched from metal halides, I found two huge advantages. The first was that my place didn't feel like Hades every time I walked in the door, second was my polyp extension was great. I've only had them for about 3 months now, and I have only seen positives in growth, and color. Granted, this could be to the fact that my tank is still very young, and started to mature just at the right time. A lot of people have reported an algae outbreak after putting them up, I did not have that issue. In the past 6 months, my RBTA's have naturally split, and all my SPS colored up, some of it was nearly completely gone. The only thing I changed was my lights. I switched my water change from 5 gallons a week to 10 gallons a week, and switched my old aquaeuro skimmer out with a recirc Avast CS1 and saw even faster growth. Long story short, I'm a believer, no negatives thus far. The tank is a little blue, and I have it running a little blue to be honest, I could definitely make it look a little more white, but I run both my channels the same, at 50%. Here is some par readings I took when I was running at 25%, about a month after putting them above the tank:



Hope that helps some.

 

[Gsxr600]

those numbers as well as your comments on growth and color are reassuring. hows the build quality of the light itself? anything cheaped out on or is it something you feel they took pride in making?

 

[YHSublime]

those numbers as well as your comments on growth and color are reassuring. how is the quality of the fixture? hows the build quality of the light itself? anything cheaped out on or is it something you feel they took pride in making?

Well constructed, well put together, from the fixture to the LEDs, it is quality, IMO. Has the test of time to stand up against, but I have faith it will meet it no problem, knock on wood.

 

[YHSublime]

So... no answers on the most appropriate place for this thread yet?

 

[AJReefs]

I'm pretty sure your in the right spot my friend

 

[terrypercula]

It's in the right forum now. It's kind of goofy how they have it. 34gallons and less it's nano 180 and higher is large reef tanks. So from 35-179 gallons you have no home lol

 

[Benson0219]

The Reef Discussion is the correct forum.

 

[YHSublime]

Thanks all, looks like mods moved it!

I really just wanted to share my tank in its final months before moving up! I hope everyone enjoys it!