i agree with 100%. better safe than sorry is my motto. Hope everything works as planned :thumbsup:
A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build
- Thread starter Dustin1300
- Start date
i agree with 100%. better safe than sorry is my motto. Hope everything works as planned :thumbsup:
Dustin1300
Reefaholic
FRAG SWAP DAY! Picked up the mag chloride last night (think I have enough of that for years...) and got my mag, alk, and calcium in check since I now actually care where those numbers are. I won't be picking up anything special today as I'm just looking for hardier corals but it's a milestone for me since I've not had any coral for close to a year now. I've got the itch, I'm a reefaholic:beer:
david00061
New member
about time you get a coral.
Dustin1300
Reefaholic
You're telling me. Tank has been cycled for weeks now but had just been waiting for this day to come and nitrates to get to a tolerable number. I'll probably test trates tonight but last week they were measuring 2.5 and I've done a 40 gallon water change since then.
david00061
New member
wish you were closer. I would cut you a few.
Dustin1300
Reefaholic
I wish this too
You have some amazing coral....I want to delay the dt for a bit so I can grow coral out as it will look really bare with small frags everywhere.Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
drummereef
Team RC
Looking good Dustin! Can't wait for updates and see the display come together. 
Dustin1300
Reefaholic
Looking good Dustin! Can't wait for updates and see the display come together.
I can't wait either. Talking to vendors at the SWAP just make me doubt going LED even more
Fixtures such as the Radion might be the leader today, but are overpriced and maybe I have some much better options when I hope to bring display online first thing next year.
Dustin1300
Reefaholic
Frag Swap
Frag Swap
I ended up picking up quite a few frags yesterday at the swap. I'm going to try to get better shots of everything in the next few days but until I have some spare cash to buy a macro lens, I'm not expecting stellar results.
I ended up picking up 25 ~frags and got anything from euphyllias, hardier SPS (green slimer, digita, caps), to zoanthids. Torch I did not pass up as I picked up for $40 and think I counted ~17 heads on it. If it never makes it to DT, it'll at least be fragged to sell in future. Please excuse the photo skills, I've still got A LOT to learn. Actually planning to watch vids/read some today on the subject...If you have any recommendations please share!
***All these pictures were about 2 hours after Bayer Insecticide/Coral RX dipping.
Frag Tank:
AOG Zoas:
Blue Tubs Zoas:
Oreo's Zoas:
Couple varieties of frogspawn:
Torch:
Pavona:
Yuma with some amazing colors (Picture does not do justice):
Frag Swap
I ended up picking up quite a few frags yesterday at the swap. I'm going to try to get better shots of everything in the next few days but until I have some spare cash to buy a macro lens, I'm not expecting stellar results.
I ended up picking up 25 ~frags and got anything from euphyllias, hardier SPS (green slimer, digita, caps), to zoanthids. Torch I did not pass up as I picked up for $40 and think I counted ~17 heads on it. If it never makes it to DT, it'll at least be fragged to sell in future. Please excuse the photo skills, I've still got A LOT to learn. Actually planning to watch vids/read some today on the subject...If you have any recommendations please share!
***All these pictures were about 2 hours after Bayer Insecticide/Coral RX dipping.
Frag Tank:
AOG Zoas:
Blue Tubs Zoas:
Oreo's Zoas:
Couple varieties of frogspawn:
Torch:
Pavona:
Yuma with some amazing colors (Picture does not do justice):
drummereef
Team RC
I can't wait either. Talking to vendors at the SWAP just make me doubt going LED even more
New frags look great! I tend to agree on the LED issue. For smaller systems they are ideal as the cost to payback is realistic. But on larger systems where multiple fixtures are needed the cost far exceeds the payback, depending on the longevity of the system. There's always DIY but the results can be underwhelming a lot of the time unless you really know what you're doing IMO. Wait another year and all the current fixtures will be obsolete anyway with the advent of multi-chip LEDs. That's where the technology is going. One chip fixtures, smaller form factor and more power.
Dustin1300
Reefaholic
Thanks for comments on the frags guys
I actually checked out some Orphek fixtures and can say I was most impressed with them from what else I saw. They have some multi-chip LED fixtures (Dif 50 and Dif 100) that was impressive. I really need to talk the wife into agreeing that MACNA is a good idea!
I actually checked out some Orphek fixtures and can say I was most impressed with them from what else I saw. They have some multi-chip LED fixtures (Dif 50 and Dif 100) that was impressive. I really need to talk the wife into agreeing that MACNA is a good idea!
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drummereef
Team RC
Thanks for comments on the frags guys
I actually checked out some Orphek fixtures and can say I was most impressed with them from what else I saw. They have some multi-chip LED fixtures (Dif 50 and Dif 100) that was impressive. I really need to talk the wife into agreeing that MACNA is a good idea!
Those pendants looks cool. I'm also eyeing the new Kessil A350W. Low profile pendant that covers a wider area at 24" depth.
david00061
New member
nice zoa's.
My torch doesn't light all my light. I extended under the 150 MH. Now it never extends.
My torch doesn't light all my light. I extended under the 150 MH. Now it never extends.
Dustin1300
Reefaholic
I must have skipped over that on RB the other day when it was reviewed. That's an interesting option and VERY reasonably priced for a multi-chip fixure. I'd think with a 30" tank you could use a combination of the A350/A350Ws so you get good coverage and appropriate PAR at depths you need.
Dustin1300
Reefaholic
Maybe it'll adjust after quite some time but your saying it does not open up at all? I've kept many corals but Euphyllias are one of the beginner corals I'm always drawn to. I love the movement they add to an aquarium and don't like all stick gardens
drummereef
Team RC
Indeed. As long as they don't have to be hung super high to cover a 2x2 area with good PAR at 24-30" depth, they might be worth the extra $$$. I also read a controllable version may be coming out very soon, so you can use it with any 3rd party controller like the Apex etc...
Dustin1300
Reefaholic
I also read a controllable version may be coming out very soon, so you can use it with any 3rd party controller like the Apex etc...
That's great to hear as I don't want to have to manually adjust 8+ of these
I've spent some time reading through this thread since my interests have peaked on multi-chip LEDs.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2128756
I'd have to agree with you that multi-chip LEDs are the future for sure. When I was considering the 3 Watt LED DIYs for a tank my size, I could not even fathom the amount of soldering that would have to take place....But with using 20, 50, and 100 watt multi-chip LEDs that becomes much easier to achieve and a little thermal adhesive to heatsinks designed for CPUs/GPUs.
drummereef
Team RC
That's great to hear as I don't want to have to manually adjust 8+ of these
I've spent some time reading through this thread since my interests have peaked on multi-chip LEDs.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2128756
I'd have to agree with you that multi-chip LEDs are the future for sure. When I was considering the 3 Watt LED DIYs for a tank my size, I could not even fathom the amount of soldering that would have to take place....But with using 20, 50, and 100 watt multi-chip LEDs that becomes much easier to achieve and a little thermal adhesive to heatsinks designed for CPUs/GPUs.
That's a great thread. :thumbsup: His DIY tutorial video in there is excellent. I agree, some of the DIY 3 watt LED needed to be so large just to accommodate the amount of LEDs needed for coverage that they became more bulky than a MH reflector. The idea of multi-led fixtures is the best of both worlds IMO. More power in a smaller footprint - at least, that's what I expect from LED technology. It's still too expensive for big systems IMO but the technology is finally on the right path from what I've seen.
zigzag1
New member
Thanks for comments on the frags guys
I actually checked out some Orphek fixtures and can say I was most impressed with them from what else I saw. They have some multi-chip LED fixtures (Dif 50 and Dif 100) that was impressive. I really need to talk the wife into agreeing that MACNA is a good idea!
I really like the DIF-30 that I won at the INDMAS swap. I really like the Orphek's output and color. It's really amazing for only 30 Watts. It's currently mounted over my 40 gallon tank.
