Christmas eyecandy

[jimsflies]

Thanks guys. A lot of reading and learning from fellow reefers here on RC have helped me to get the tank to look as good as it does now.

 

[Nikon_Guy]

Show Off!

Spectacular.

 

[drummereef]

Your colors are sick! Nice.

 

[uC]

very nice

 

[raider77]

All I can say is "SWEET"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where did you get most of your collection from? This is one the most beautiful and creative tanks I have ever seen.

 

[jimsflies]

I have obtained most of my collection through trades with other "local" reefers, primarily met through michiganreefers.com. I also get quite a few from my LFS in Lansing, MI...Preuss Pets. And, a few pieces have come from Phishybusiness and Atlantis Aquarium online orders.

Since my tank is relatively small I have had to come up with a few new ideas to maximize area for corals and minimize the amount of equipment visible around the tank.

 

[Siapin]

amazing colors...i've had the same idea for my 29g for a long time, and never have had that much success...i guess success in this hobby takes patience.

Where did you come up with that photoperiod?

 

[jimsflies]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8888944#post8888944 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Siapin
Where did you come up with that photoperiod?

Thanks. I came up with the photoperiod based on a talk I heard given by Adam Cesnales, part of which discussed saturation and photo inhibition in corals. Basically, he indicated that by late morning corals had received enough light for their daily energy requirements and essentially shut down photosynthetically for during the afternoon sun. If you do a search here on RC you will find some related threads.

I haven't been too scientific about it, but decided there were several factors that made it worthwhile to try a split photoperiod:

1. It helps with heat issues with the halide off during the day.
2. Maximizing growth...if I can trick the corals into resting and then giving them another full photo period, I may be able to get slightly better growth.
3. I'm not around to look at the tank during the day, might as well save the energy if its not being utilized by the corals anyway.

I have been running the split for almost a year. I think I started it last February and briefly switched back to compare growth and general coral health with a normal photoperiod in September. I decided to go back to the split and stick with it. My growth is above average, and coral color has also been pretty good.

 

[Siapin]

Would you say that your above average growth is attributed to the split photoperiods?

Did that growth increase begin last Feb sequentially with your photoperiod splitt beginning? Or could it have been equipment upgrades, better maintenance?

That is a very interesting theory; I'd love to try it out one day...it seems so practical (save electricity), but if beneficial for growth?!, then amazing!

 

[jimsflies]

Honestly its hard to say if the growth is only due to lighting. There is vey little that is completely constant in these systems. My experience is far from scientific. Maybe its safe to say, the split hasn't hurt anything.

One of the biggest reasons my growth is good, I believe, also has to do with flow. I am cranking 2300 gph through a 45 gallon tank (with closed loop on OM, power head, and return)...so its turning over 50 times per hour.

 

[ReeferKeith]

Beautiful reef! Well done!