Floridiot's 157 Nano build
- Thread starter Floridiot
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Floridiot
Member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13573982#post13573982 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by illal
well everyone is entitled to there own opinion and it is your tank lol but again nice job! i guess i just feel the way i do because i set my first tank up by cycling with damsels and they got big and ugly and wer impossible to catch until i broke the tank down! than and there i decided never again will i own a damsel
The parasema damsel is different than almost all others. They rarely get over 1.5" long and are comparable to chromis in nature. I have seen the other damsels (dominos, twinspots, etc...) get very aggressive and grow quite large, but not these. I've never seen them get anywhere near as large as chromis do. If you ever need to get them out, use a trap. They're one of the easier ones to trap. If buying or catching these, make sure you're getting the parasema, because there is another type of yellowtail blue damsel out there. The good ones are the taller rounder fish. The bad ones are the longer more oval shaped fish.
From past experience, you can add a group (any amount) of tank raised percs into a system. You must add however many you want all at once, and it is preferable to get juveniles. If I put 6 in, and decide to add more later, I can't. If two die over the next 2 years and I want to replace them, I can't. The only way to do so would be to remove the remaining percs, and start with a whole new batch. Because of this, I'm even considering adding 7 or 8 initially.
I've also found the percs to be not aggressive to other fish if you keep them in groups. If you keep just one perc, they can become little bastards. If you keep a group, they are too busy trying to keep their own heirarchy that they don't bother other inhabitants (except some LPS and sarcophytons). I've kept them in multiples twice before, and never had any problems until I tried adding more. These guys are the toughest fish to trap. These little bastards are smart.
I'm actually not 100% sure I'll be getting percs. I may substitute them with red sea squamipinnis anthias. I was thinking four females and a male. The anthias would definitley add much more to the bioload especially with their eating habits, but I guess that's why I spent so much on the BK.
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Floridiot
Member
I just got back from rnegret268's house with a few easier to keep frags. All I gotta say is Wow! This was the first time I've ever seen a solaris LED lighting setup. I've never seen colors pop like this! He turned off his halides, and it looks like someone turned on a blacklight against a 1970's poster. The corals glow so much it hurts to look at them.
He's also got some of the sickest chalices ever! I'll definitely be buying more frags from him in a few months once my tank gets more established. For now I'm keeping it simple with montis, zoas, rics, and one fluorescent green sarcophyton.
I sort-of mounted most of the stuff tonight, but I'm sure my mexican turbos will knock over half the stuff before I wake up in the morning. I need to pickup some more superglue gel. Once everything is mounted permanently, I'll take some pics.
He's also got some of the sickest chalices ever! I'll definitely be buying more frags from him in a few months once my tank gets more established. For now I'm keeping it simple with montis, zoas, rics, and one fluorescent green sarcophyton.
I sort-of mounted most of the stuff tonight, but I'm sure my mexican turbos will knock over half the stuff before I wake up in the morning. I need to pickup some more superglue gel. Once everything is mounted permanently, I'll take some pics.
His whole setup is absolutely amazing. He is also a great guy. Once I get my tank flowing with water, I am going to go back to him. How did you like his scoly's? By the way, You have an amazing tank. I would love to see it one day in person.
You were saying that the Yellow Tailed Damsels aren't aggressive? Where did you get yours to know whether or not they are going to be the right ones?
You were saying that the Yellow Tailed Damsels aren't aggressive? Where did you get yours to know whether or not they are going to be the right ones?
Floridiot
Member
You are right about his entire system being amazing.
I will join along a tank hop sometime late next year when I have a fully stocked tank and some good coral growth so everyone can stop by and see it.
I picked my damsels up at the Barrier reef in Boca. They are very common and are normally found at the lower end shops. I've never seen them aggressive with other species. I've kept these in every tank I've owned since the mid 1980s and never had a problem.
Floridiot
Member
He's got so much stuff in his frag tanks :eek2:, I could've had $5,000 cash in my pocket and not been able to buy all his frags. You don't have anything to worry about Manny.
I must say that I'll most certainly be switching to the LEDs in a couple of years from now when they become affordable and more reliable. I still can't get over the 'pop' factor those lights give. To this point, I'd never seen a light that could beat the URI VHO Actinics as far 'pop' factor, but these things beat them hands down! The freakin green star polyps even look amazing under those lights. They almost turn fluorescent yellow.
Do any of the LFS have these on their display tanks yet? I don't get around to them too much, so I have no idea, but they could sell corals up the wazoo if they displayed them under these lights.
.::Jun77::.
Member
hi,
i sent you a pm
thanks
jun
i sent you a pm
thanks
jun
bawla47
Premium Member
really nice looking tank, cant wait to see it stocked full!
i also have had NO problems with my yellowtail damsel in my tank. im downgrading and am going to keep him, because he was with me from the very begining,from tank to tank, going on prob 5 years now. grown attached to the little guy.
i also have had NO problems with my yellowtail damsel in my tank. im downgrading and am going to keep him, because he was with me from the very begining,from tank to tank, going on prob 5 years now. grown attached to the little guy.
gasman059
The OG mad scientist
LOL yes Richard gave u the actinic light show LOL. Well I dunno what to make of them yet I mean those lights obviously he keeps a tank with them but not w/o doubts after a while plus that tank has two MH(250 on each side)
As far as a mixed tank I think they would work 4 sure. Not sure quite yet if they would support an sps predominant tank. We've burned many critters with them lights.
HTH
Floridiot
Member
Up until yesterday, I haven't been overly enthused about the amount of gunk my BK mini has been pulling out. I mentioned this to Rogger the other night, and he mentioned that I probably don't have enough water going through my sump. I thought about what he said, and decided to modify my plumbing a bit.
Since I'm using the Herbie overflow method, I get no bubbles in my sump from the drain line. I then decided to modify my main Herbie drain so that the end has a tee on it, and I set it up so that the skimmer pump suction is taking the water directly from the tee. The other end of the tee is open, so it doesn't restrict the skimmer intake at all. Here's a crappy pic showing my design:
I now am getting much much better performance out of the BK. It has a steady foam head and is removing about as much gunk as I'd expect. I will eventually modify this design so that I can place some filter medium in place before the water enters the skimmer, but for now I'll just have to clean the needle wheel if it gets debris stuck in it.
Since I'm using the Herbie overflow method, I get no bubbles in my sump from the drain line. I then decided to modify my main Herbie drain so that the end has a tee on it, and I set it up so that the skimmer pump suction is taking the water directly from the tee. The other end of the tee is open, so it doesn't restrict the skimmer intake at all. Here's a crappy pic showing my design:
I now am getting much much better performance out of the BK. It has a steady foam head and is removing about as much gunk as I'd expect. I will eventually modify this design so that I can place some filter medium in place before the water enters the skimmer, but for now I'll just have to clean the needle wheel if it gets debris stuck in it.
Floridiot
Member
Update time.
The BK is now working very well. I will be trying a larger return pump in order to get more flow through the sump to see if I can get even more production from the BK. I think it can do better, because I still need to clean the glass every other day due to the light film of algae that grows. This tells me there is more nutrients in my water than I want. My goal is to get the nutrients down to where I only have to clean the glass every third or fourth day. If the larger pump helps the BK perform, I will most likely replace the larger pump with a pair of the Iwaki 20RLXTs. This will require me removing the sump and drilling another hole for a bulkhead for the second pump.
I now have about 12 SPS frags (special thanks to Rogger & jnb), a few zoanthid colonies, a green polyp sarcophyton, and about a dozen ricordeas in my tank. All the corals are doing well, and I plan on posting pictures soon, as soon as I can supplement with some actinic lighting.
I was really hoping the Iwasaki 175 would give me enough color pop, but it is falling short. I am getting growth from some of the SPS, and they are keeping their colors, so I do have complete faith in the bulb's ability to produce adequate light for SPS health. I'm just not getting the visual stimulation that comes from the 420 - 450nm light, especially on the zoas and the sarcophyton. I do believe I have a solution to this, and I will be posting more on this later in the week.
The other thing I did was the Tunze mod. I forgot who came up with this idea, but I thank them very much. I can't see paying $110 for a pair of 6200 shrouds to increase the flow, when I can just mod the covers that came with mine in 10 minutes with a dremel tool. This mod easily increases their flow by 30% or more. I now cannot keep the sand on the bottom no matter how much I try to reposition them. I will probably have to turn them down a bit now on the 7094 until I get some good coral growth to start blocking some of the flow.
The BK is now working very well. I will be trying a larger return pump in order to get more flow through the sump to see if I can get even more production from the BK. I think it can do better, because I still need to clean the glass every other day due to the light film of algae that grows. This tells me there is more nutrients in my water than I want. My goal is to get the nutrients down to where I only have to clean the glass every third or fourth day. If the larger pump helps the BK perform, I will most likely replace the larger pump with a pair of the Iwaki 20RLXTs. This will require me removing the sump and drilling another hole for a bulkhead for the second pump.
I now have about 12 SPS frags (special thanks to Rogger & jnb), a few zoanthid colonies, a green polyp sarcophyton, and about a dozen ricordeas in my tank. All the corals are doing well, and I plan on posting pictures soon, as soon as I can supplement with some actinic lighting.
I was really hoping the Iwasaki 175 would give me enough color pop, but it is falling short. I am getting growth from some of the SPS, and they are keeping their colors, so I do have complete faith in the bulb's ability to produce adequate light for SPS health. I'm just not getting the visual stimulation that comes from the 420 - 450nm light, especially on the zoas and the sarcophyton. I do believe I have a solution to this, and I will be posting more on this later in the week.
The other thing I did was the Tunze mod. I forgot who came up with this idea, but I thank them very much. I can't see paying $110 for a pair of 6200 shrouds to increase the flow, when I can just mod the covers that came with mine in 10 minutes with a dremel tool. This mod easily increases their flow by 30% or more. I now cannot keep the sand on the bottom no matter how much I try to reposition them. I will probably have to turn them down a bit now on the 7094 until I get some good coral growth to start blocking some of the flow.
jnb
Premium Member
lets see now - where is that neat little picture gif that says, "this thread is useless without pics" oh yes!
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13727845#post13727845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Floridiot
Update time.
The BK is now working very well. I will be trying a larger return pump in order to get more flow through the sump to see if I can get even more production from the BK. I think it can do better, because I still need to clean the glass every other day due to the light film of algae that grows. This tells me there is more nutrients in my water than I want. My goal is to get the nutrients down to where I only have to clean the glass every third or fourth day. If the larger pump helps the BK perform, I will most likely replace the larger pump with a pair of the Iwaki 20RLXTs. This will require me removing the sump and drilling another hole for a bulkhead for the second pump.
I now have about 12 SPS frags (special thanks to Rogger & jnb), a few zoanthid colonies, a green polyp sarcophyton, and about a dozen ricordeas in my tank. All the corals are doing well, and I plan on posting pictures soon, as soon as I can supplement with some actinic lighting.
I was really hoping the Iwasaki 175 would give me enough color pop, but it is falling short. I am getting growth from some of the SPS, and they are keeping their colors, so I do have complete faith in the bulb's ability to produce adequate light for SPS health. I'm just not getting the visual stimulation that comes from the 420 - 450nm light, especially on the zoas and the sarcophyton. I do believe I have a solution to this, and I will be posting more on this later in the week.
The other thing I did was the Tunze mod. I forgot who came up with this idea, but I thank them very much. I can't see paying $110 for a pair of 6200 shrouds to increase the flow, when I can just mod the covers that came with mine in 10 minutes with a dremel tool. This mod easily increases their flow by 30% or more. I now cannot keep the sand on the bottom no matter how much I try to reposition them. I will probably have to turn them down a bit now on the 7094 until I get some good coral growth to start blocking some of the flow.
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Floridiot
Member
Doesn't matter anyways. All my equipment except for the BK and lighting was purchased 'used'.
I may trim off half of the front of one of the Tunze covers to shorten it up a bit more like the 6200 shroud. This would create even more flow, but it would also be less directional flow, and may help to keep the sand where it belongs.
