d2mini's "Essential Focus" Mixed Reef Build

[DamonG]

So Dennis, now that you've had a little bit of chance to see it in action, what do you think about the Mars fuge light compared to the hps?

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[d2mini]

So Dennis, now that you've had a little bit of chance to see it in action, what do you think about the Mars fuge light compared to the hps?

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Hey Damon, being such a new tank it's a little hard to compare. When I started using the HPS light I had a mature tank full of fish, coral, etc. That said, the Mars Hydro has been running for a solid week or more now and the little baseball sized ball of chaeto i put in there has at least doubled in size. And bonus for the light running A LOT cooler. I'm currently running it from 10pm to 6am. My prediction based on the little I've seen so far is that the Mars will perform AT LEAST as good as the HPS did.

 

[Cloudburst2000]

New FTS below.

Also, note that fat gorgonian on the left next to my huge Turbinaria Cup Coral.
The tallest branch towards the left appears to have a missing chunk. It lost some flesh after the trip from TBS and transition into my tank. That 1" section was a bare branch/skeleton a few days ago. It's now fully covered in flesh again. Pretty cool! Watching to see if another branch is recovering as well. Been dosing Phyto daily.

That's awesome! I had no luck keeping any of the sponges, gorgs, etc that TBS sent me alive. I did try to feed them, but all those extras still died after a while. It'll be interesting to see if you can keep the stuff alive long-term. If so, I may copy what you do LOL And is the phyto dosing causing any problems with tank cleanliness? I was always worried about dosing phyto in my nanos along with the regular feedings for fish/corals.

 

[rosterv]

Really like the Reds , adding another orange coral or two would be cool I think.

 

[d2mini]

That's awesome! I had no luck keeping any of the sponges, gorgs, etc that TBS sent me alive. I did try to feed them, but all those extras still died after a while. It'll be interesting to see if you can keep the stuff alive long-term. If so, I may copy what you do LOL And is the phyto dosing causing any problems with tank cleanliness? I was always worried about dosing phyto in my nanos along with the regular feedings for fish/corals.

The gorgs are photosynthetic and almost always do well for me, phyto or not.
It's the sponges and tunicates that tend to whither over time, which is why I'm trying to be diligent about feeding this time. Trying to see if I can improve their longevity. No issues so far.

Really like the Reds , adding another orange coral or two would be cool I think.

There's three red and three orange sponges visible and one orange sponge out of view behind the rock and red sponge in the center.
And most of the coral i have are in the orange/yellow/red color family.

 

[motocrf450176]

I enjoy your posts, attention to detail and photos. It makes me go home and give my tank a little more attention that it needs. Nowhere near as nice as yours, but not bad for us normal folks and it makes me happy......most of the time.....

 

[brett559]

Do you only have one fish?

Beautiful tank by the way. Been following this one for a while. Love it!

 

[drummerboyevil]

Oh, I forgot to mention. If you're looking for a replacement Wyoming white, check out cultivated reef. Love their fish and corals.


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[DamonG]

Hey Damon, being such a new tank it's a little hard to compare. When I started using the HPS light I had a mature tank full of fish, coral, etc. That said, the Mars Hydro has been running for a solid week or more now and the little baseball sized ball of chaeto i put in there has at least doubled in size. And bonus for the light running A LOT cooler. I'm currently running it from 10pm to 6am. My prediction based on the little I've seen so far is that the Mars will perform AT LEAST as good as the HPS did.

That sounds great.. And the thing I noticed is that, when switching from the hps, it takes a week or two for it to really get used to the student light spectrum and increased intensity.. After that, watch out! Trust me.. I'm actually debating setting if my vispara unit will perform even crazier than the Mars.. The vispara has optics on it, and made my little hydro garden grow like I've never seen before, compared to the hps. So I'm interested if it's even possible that it can make the cheato grow faster..

But yes, for sure it's going to outperform the hps.. I actually gave mine away.. But give it maybe another week or two and then you'll see what I mean..

But your system is looking awesome!

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[d2mini]

I enjoy your posts, attention to detail and photos. It makes me go home and give my tank a little more attention that it needs. Nowhere near as nice as yours, but not bad for us normal folks and it makes me happy......most of the time.....

Thank you very much!

Do you only have one fish?

Beautiful tank by the way. Been following this one for a while. Love it!

Thanks! The powder brown I just got this week. Then I have the one baby Wyoming White Clown, a Royal Gramma that is always hiding, and a Seaweed Blenny.

Oh, I forgot to mention. If you're looking for a replacement Wyoming white, check out cultivated reef. Love their fish and corals.

Thanks for the lead, but I really try not to order fish online. We have so many stores here it doesn't make sense to order.
The same guy is holding another baby Wyoming for me and I may pick up another designer clown from one of our LFS.

That sounds great.. And the thing I noticed is that, when switching from the hps, it takes a week or two for it to really get used to the student light spectrum and increased intensity.. After that, watch out! Trust me.. I'm actually debating setting if my vispara unit will perform even crazier than the Mars.. The vispara has optics on it, and made my little hydro garden grow like I've never seen before, compared to the hps. So I'm interested if it's even possible that it can make the cheato grow faster..

But yes, for sure it's going to outperform the hps.. I actually gave mine away.. But give it maybe another week or two and then you'll see what I mean..

But your system is looking awesome!

Thanks, good to know!
I need to get in an order of other macros soon.

 

[dreadnaught92]

How hard do find keeping it clean with all those filter feeders?

 

[SPS_77493]

Tank looks full no need for more corals

 

[d2mini]

How hard do find keeping it clean with all those filter feeders?

Keeping what clean?

Tank looks full no need for more corals

heh heh.


Mr. Seaweed Blenny came out to play...

And I got the Triton Elements mixed up and in their dispensing containers. 10 Liters each.
Container 3A is empty because that's the magnesium and my mag in the tank is testing at 1700 from an elevated bucket of salt.
So that needs to come down before I can start dosing 3A.
I'll calibrate the dosing pumps tonite and then get that going.

 

[Chibils]

Keeping what clean?

I assume he means the water/the tank since you're heavily feeding phyto/particulate foods.

I'd also recommend dosing small amounts of sodium silicate for the sponges since you're working to keep them. They use a lot of silica.

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[d2mini]

I assume he means the water/the tank since you're heavily feeding phyto/particulate foods.

I'd also recommend dosing small amounts of sodium silicate for the sponges since you're working to keep them. They use a lot of silica.

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Ah, well everything i'm trying to keep alive helps filter the water.
No problems so far.
If I start seeing an excess of algae or something I'll tweak the amount.

 

[KnightMetro]

Man, I get more excited to hear of a new d2mini build than the release of the next Game of Thrones book.

Takes about as long too.

I've been following you for years. Not going to stop now. Keep them coming.

 

[Chibils]

Man, I get more excited to hear of a new d2mini build than the release of the next Game of Thrones book.

Takes about as long too.

I've been following you for years. Not going to stop now. Keep them coming.

No way, there will be like...

At least 2 more fish in here by the time TWOW comes out. [emoji23] Maybe a few corals if GRRM is extra slow...

 

[saf1]

Mr. Seaweed Blenny is a nice looking fish actually. I must say, very nice fish.

 

[asp762]

Gorgeous tank. Well done.

 

[rholguin]

Wow!!! Excellent build. Just read finished reading through the whole thread. I really like the attention to details and a very beautiful reef. Great photography as well.