d2mini's "Essential Focus" Mixed Reef Build

[d2mini]

How do you like Bigger Leaner Stronger? I did stronglifts until I plateaued and then switched to mad cow for the last 6 months and every time I hit a brick wall at week 9 (deloaded twice. Same result). Thinking about trying something different


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Well as a newbie I like it a lot.
I started right off with the five day split. I've completed 7 weeks so far.
After week 8 I have a deload week and then start phase 2.

 

[Bpb]

Well as a newbie I like it a lot.

I started right off with the five day split. I've completed 7 weeks so far.

After week 8 I have a deload week and then start phase 2.

Can the program be done with a rack and barbell alone or do you need other gym equipment like leg presses and cable machines?


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[d2mini]

Can the program be done with a rack and barbell alone or do you need other gym equipment like leg presses and cable machines?


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I do leg presses with landmine. Or barbell shoved in a towel in the corner.
I do standing calf raises in the rack.
I have the cable pulley from GetRxd that attaches to the rack for face pulls and lat pulldowns.
And you'll need dumbbells. I use powerblocks.

 

[droog]

So it apparently my GHL conductivity calibration fluid was old/bad

Dennis,

From what I've read online about salinity probes, they tend not to be very reliable long-term. I got the Hanna digital refractometer a year into the hobby and to this day think it was the best purchase I ever made. See for example here. Very fast and easy.

-droog

 

[RCS82]

Hello Dennis, have a question regarding your previous 200 gallon if you don't mind. What a great build thread that was too.
Why didn't you run a drain line from the 200 gallon straight to the frag tank right behind it? Did you want to have water going to your frag tank straight from the sump? Seems to me the easiest would be having water go from display to frag tank to sump and back to display. Although you did have a 2nd tank also plumbed for mangroves to complicate things lol.
Thanks in advance.

 

[d2mini]

Dennis,

From what I've read online about salinity probes, they tend not to be very reliable long-term. I got the Hanna digital refractometer a year into the hobby and to this day think it was the best purchase I ever made. See for example here. Very fast and easy.

-droog

My first probe lasted like 5 years.
This one was just months old. It was a problem with the calibration fluid, not the probe.
That hanna has been on my list for yearrrrs. Just never pulled the trigger.

Hello Dennis, have a question regarding your previous 200 gallon if you don't mind. What a great build thread that was too.
Why didn't you run a drain line from the 200 gallon straight to the frag tank right behind it? Did you want to have water going to your frag tank straight from the sump? Seems to me the easiest would be having water go from display to frag tank to sump and back to display. Although you did have a 2nd tank also plumbed for mangroves to complicate things lol.
Thanks in advance.

I felt like I had more control over it that way.
I could change the flow to it or completely take it offline without affecting the drain flow from the display. Once the bean animal overflow setup was set up and cruising, I wouldn't want to mess with it.

 

[RCS82]

Thanks for getting back on that one.

 

[ddrueckh]

Beautiful tank! Sorry if I missed this, could you tell me how many lbs of TBS rock and sand you purchased? Their recommendations look very high. I am wondering if you went with their recommendation or with a smaller package. Thank you.

 

[Fraq]

nice setup!

 

[mlb75]

Thinking about downsizing from 300 display to a 90g cube (30x30x24) in a corner. Would a single XR30 G4 Pro be enough for that in your opinion? Would have overflow in the back corner with it parallel to the overflow in the middle if that makes sense. Looking to do SPS on and around a center island with some lps or other softies on the bottom around the outsides of the tank.

I know they say 24x24 but I'm not far from that (probably less) in area that needs higher light or is 24x24 pushing it?

TIA

 

[d2mini]

Beautiful tank! Sorry if I missed this, could you tell me how many lbs of TBS rock and sand you purchased? Their recommendations look very high. I am wondering if you went with their recommendation or with a smaller package. Thank you.

I usually go with about 75% of the recommended amount of rock.
Good to have a little extra so you can pick and choose pieces. Leftover can go in the sump, get broken up for frags, sold locally, etc.

nice setup!

Thank you.

Thinking about downsizing from 300 display to a 90g cube (30x30x24) in a corner. Would a single XR30 G4 Pro be enough for that in your opinion? Would have overflow in the back corner with it parallel to the overflow in the middle if that makes sense. Looking to do SPS on and around a center island with some lps or other softies on the bottom around the outsides of the tank.

I know they say 24x24 but I'm not far from that (probably less) in area that needs higher light or is 24x24 pushing it?

TIA

Hang it HIGH and depending on what you keep in it and position of coral, you may be fine. Ideally I'd say get two, which would give you a perfect square of coverage, since the lights are rectangular shaped. But start with one and see how it goes. With it set up like you say, you will probably be ok.

 

[mlb75]

Thanks, when you say high, how high are you thinking? My concern is it then bleeding into the room really bad.

Sorry for the hijack just figured you'd have an honest informed opinion.

 

[d2mini]

Thanks, when you say high, how high are you thinking? My concern is it then bleeding into the room really bad.

Sorry for the hijack just figured you'd have an honest informed opinion.

Not hijacking.
Mine are 17" off the water.

 

[kaxt]

Thanks, when you say high, how high are you thinking? My concern is it then bleeding into the room really bad.

Sorry for the hijack just figured you'd have an honest informed opinion.

I have the same cube you are talking about with a XR30 G3 Pro. I think it's 12" off the water and I'm not having any trouble growing SPS in the top third of the tank. Feel free to PM me with questions.

 

[d2mini]

Playing around/learning a new camera system. Snapped this one tonite.
This thing still amazes.

 

[Misled]

Wut chu talkin bout?

 

[d2mini]

Wut chu talkin bout?

dem bubbles! :thumbsup:

 

[Misled]

Playing around/learning a new camera system.

that

 

[d2mini]

that

Picked up a little Fuji X-E3 with a couple lenses.
Borrowed a 60mm 1:2 macro (that bounce shot) but not very impressed with it. Not a true macro and it focus hunts like crazy. Going to rent the newer 80mm 1:1 so I can try it out.

 

[Misled]

Cool