Help me make my tank "Better"

[bagedtaco]

ok.

here goes.

tank: 156rr with 65g sump/fug
lighting: 2-250 mh 6500, 1-400 mh 6500 on for 4.5 hr

4-54wtt t5 d/d pure 03's on for 14hrs

return pump blueline hd40 split to skimmer (150-200gph)
close loop (will be upgraded this weekend to Dart) blueline hd55
shallow sand Bed 3" (i'm guessing it's a ssb)
200-250lb live rock
Ca reactor
mangroves and mac-algae
50 or so diff snails
50 or so blue leg hermits
1 yellow tang
1 bi-color psydocromis
4-small damsels
mated pair of true percs.
1 bangai cardnal
2 red fire fish
1 shrimp goby( very rare fella)
1 pistal shrimp
1 crocea clam

20 or so diff. sps frags all growing and doing well. ( i have a blue frag of something that is starting to brown a little)

1 large hammer
1 frogspawn with about 7 heads
and a couple of zoo rocks.
some xenia's

Ca is about 470
Mg is 1400
Iodine ( haven't tested in a while)
nitrate/nitrite are 0


what can i do to make system better?

pic was before the change to t5's last week

 

[examiner]

What do you run your alk at? That's crucial in my opinion.

You don't mention a skimmer, what do you have there?

Higher K bulbs for your MH's would be more in line with the vast majority of folks these days. I realize your t-5 actinics aren't running in the above photo.....how much do they offset the yellow?

What kind of rockwork do you have going on in front of your overflows? Interesting! Why is one corraline purple, and the other one bare?

If you really covet a SPS tank, I'd get as much of the GSP out of there now while you can.

Are you experiencing specific problems, or just trying to improve? How old is the tank?

 

[Cody Ray]

Very interesting aquascaping! You could always increase your flow as long as it doesn't disturb your sandbed or become laminer.

 

[Orochimaru]

that's awsome aquascaping...very natural.

 

[bagedtaco]

the right side of the tank had a 10k bulb at the time of the pic. it's now a 6.5k

the reason i run 6.5k is for growth. sps show the most growth under 6.5k but not great color.

i'm not having any problems. just want to make it better.

i'm running a diy skimmer that works great.

(haven't been able to get the overflowing foam issue fixed yet)

the corals actualy have nice color. ( i'll take a pic later and post) also post pic with just the t5's on.

i just want to see if there's anything i can do to make the system better. i'm in the process of culturing phyto to feed the tank. and the GSP are undercontroll at the moment. i cut them back all the time and give them away.

just looking for idea's that may help

as far as the rock... it's concret over eggcrate that was soaked in saltwater to get any leacking out.

i'm also using pavestone sand from H-D