Building My 375gal Glass Reef

[GlassReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15330910#post15330910 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EnglishRebel
Do you mean the profilux automatically staggers the run times because I've not seen anything in the programming ...

It's been a while since I looked at the user's guide, but I remember you have to "manually" program it to perform staggered doses. It can definitely handle it.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15330910#post15330910 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EnglishRebel ... In that second photo I can see a large funnel that you presumably use for dumping salt through the neck of the mix tank. Where did you get that because I couldn't find one with those dimensions?

Aaahhh yes! My funnel. I looked for days trying to find a "normal funnel" large enough to dump salt through - no luck. Then one day I was in Lowes and saw a plastic plant box on a pedestal - ugly as all get out, but the pedestal was perfect for my purpose. Cheap too!

 

[Robb in Austin]

How about a FTS?

 

[erics3000]

I 2nd a FTS>>>Nice to see you back ..

 

[GlassReef]

Robb in Austin, erics3000) - the tank is 8ft wide and I haven't been able to get a pic that shows anything yet. I'm currently looking for a "panorama stitcher" that doesn't cost an arm and a leg so I can put together something decent. If anyone has any tips about a good piece of software, I'd be beholden.

BTW: there's not really much to see in the tank, as far as corals go. I've been off doing other things (unfortunately) for a while. Really cramps you're style when it comes to getting a tank going.

erics3000 - thanks Eric! Good to see you're still around. Always enjoyed your posts.

 

[reefrubble]

" A little about automated water changes "
Tom , I love the idea of automated water changes as we talked about earlier today , it makes things more stable . a lot less shock to the system . I hate doing water changes , and this makes it a lot less work as well .

 

[reefrubble]

Tom , This build thread is the best . I can not begin to tell you how much you have helped me , with this thread . I have made some major changes to my set up ( all for the better ) , and I am planing to do more , with all the information I have received from this thread . Next I will be setting up the automated water change system . I will let you know how it goes .

Ted

 

[scaryperson27]

Wow. It's been a long time since I have been sucked into a thread enough to read through it. I may have missed this because I am the answers are documented. What salts are you using and what er you feeding your corals?

 

[EnglishRebel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15331170#post15331170 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GlassReef
It's been a while since I looked at the user's guide, but I remember you have to "manually" program it to perform staggered doses. It can definitely handle it.

Aaahhh yes! My funnel. I looked for days trying to find a "normal funnel" large enough to dump salt through - no luck. Then one day I was in Lowes and saw a plastic plant box on a pedestal - ugly as all get out, but the pedestal was perfect for my purpose. Cheap too!

Thanks Tom I will have to look next time I'm in Lowes. I'll try an experiment with the automatic cycle to see if all three pumps dose at the same time. If they do then I'll go to the manual program.

 

[GlassReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15333018#post15333018 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefrubble
... I love the idea of automated water changes as we talked about earlier today , it makes things more stable . a lot less shock to the system . I hate doing water changes , and this makes it a lot less work as well .

Glad I could help, Ted. You'll definitely love the automated daily water change system. It's so much easier than large systems.

 

[GlassReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15334354#post15334354 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scaryperson27
... It's been a long time since I have been sucked into a thread enough to read through it. ... What salts are you using and what er you feeding your corals?

Thanks, glad you found it interesting. I use Tropic Marin Pro. I find that it has very consistent quality, mixes up to exactly the params I'm looking for, and when mixed is very clear and leaves no residue.

I really haven't been feeding my corals. As I mentioned a couple of posts up, I've been a little distracted from my tank lately, so I haven't been doing all I should. I have been feeding the tank, in general, fairly heavily with Rod's Food. It contains nourishment for the whole tank - but I will definitely have to start looking into specific solutions for the corals.

 

[scaryperson27]

That has to be the reason for the corals looking pale. isn't rod's food too big for the small polyps on your SPS to consume? That could be why they aren't getting the nutrition they need. You think?

 

[GlassReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15339335#post15339335 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scaryperson27
That has to be the reason for the corals looking pale. isn't rod's food too big for the small polyps on your SPS to consume? That could be why they aren't getting the nutrition they need. You think?

You may, very well, be right. "They" say, though, that the Oyster Eggs/Golden Pearls, etc. in Rod's serves a good coral food. Anyone have any thoughts on that?

 

[mflamb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15343035#post15343035 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GlassReef
You may, very well, be right. "They" say, though, that the Oyster Eggs/Golden Pearls, etc. in Rod's serves a good coral food. Anyone have any thoughts on that?

The only "coral only" additive I use it Zeo Amino Acids, and I only use that because I dose Vodka. I feed my fish (all 29 of them) multiple times per day and also use lots of Rod's Food, as well as Mysis, PE Mysis, flakes and pellets. I just really don't feel that the food is the problem.

 

[squin]

I agree that food may not be the problem. I feed my fish a combination of Rod's, frozen misis, and flake food. I don't specifically target the coral's. Having followed your phenomenal build and attention to detail I would bet water quality is spot on as well.

I run 2-250 Reeflux 12k's and 2-110 actinics over my 4' 90 gal tank and the corals are thriving. What kind of PAR do you get? My tank runs about 700 just below the surface with new bulbs. I'm down to about 600 to 650 with 9 month old bulbs. Will be replacing those soon.

 

[GlassReef]

mflamb, squin - thanks for the input guys. I was at the SRC in Orlando yesterday and explained the situation to a couple of folks. One person thought it might be a UV problem. Evidently ReefLux has had, on occasion a problem with glass casings being too thin. Sounds reasonable. From the beginning I have had the feeling that my corals were getting too much light, but PAR readings show, though showing high numbers, aren't excessive. I get about 400 at the bottom of the tank and 700 in the middle. My problem seems to be occurring no mater where the corals are placed. So maybe its not too much light, per se, but too much UV.

 

[reefrubble]

Tom , That makes sense to me . BTW how was the SRC ?

Ted

 

[GlassReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15344688#post15344688 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefrubble Tom , That makes sense to me . BTW how was the SRC ?

Real good. Quite a few folks made it out (to the Southern Reef Conference for non-Floridians ).The talks were good, I especially enjoyed Borneman speaking on creating the ideal reef aquarium. Fellman and Fenner both gave good talks. John and Chris were in the vendor's section with a display of the i-Tech skimmers. Definitely worth the trip, especially since Doug (Doug864) did the driving.

 

[mpoletti]

Tom- In regards to the coral vue's; I totally agree. Since their quailty control is very poor, it is also hard for them to replicate standards for different batches of bulbs and ballasts. Having 4 lights myslef, I could never get more that two to look the same hue to the naked eye.

How long are you running your lights?

 

[GlassReef]

Morning Mark. I've got them down to 5-1/2 hours a day. Doesn't seem to make a difference.

I've been holding off buying any more corals because of the problem. Corals don't look sick. I have decent growth. Just that, any coral I put in the tank fades in color. Funny thing though, blues/purples seem to fair a little better than other colors. Anyone know if they are less UV sensitive that other colors?

I'm trying to decide whether I should try some UV filters or whether it's time to bite the bullet and get different bulbs.

 

[mpoletti]

Good morning Tom.

That is definitely a tough one. I personally would try two other bulbs to see what kind of response you would get. I do know that some of my corals when they were recieving too much light they would lose their coloration and begin to become pale.