Jonny's Elos System 70
- Thread starter jonnybravo22
- Start date
jonnybravo22
New member
tank parameters:
NH4: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 0
P04: 0
Alk: 9 - 9.5
CA: 450
MG: 1250 - 1300
Elos test kits
NH4: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 0
P04: 0
Alk: 9 - 9.5
CA: 450
MG: 1250 - 1300
Elos test kits
jonnybravo22
New member
Just got in my new Apogee MQ-200 PAR meter. My measurements were pretty variable with any movement at all, but i kept water movement as it is normally to see what the corals would get in reality. Numbers are an approximation of where the meter settled or approximate midpoint of oscillating values.
I did see very high PAR under 100% scenarios. In the last week or so I have turned down the intensity to 40% W 60% B and reduced my light cycle. I have seen some improvement in color in the last week so I'm going to continue with the lowering and monitoring.
100% W / 100% B
40% W / 60% B
So the bottom picture is the way i've had the tank for about a week now. i'll keep monitoring, but the corals seem to be responding to this setup. It's only been a week though, so hard to say just yet.
I did see very high PAR under 100% scenarios. In the last week or so I have turned down the intensity to 40% W 60% B and reduced my light cycle. I have seen some improvement in color in the last week so I'm going to continue with the lowering and monitoring.
100% W / 100% B
40% W / 60% B
So the bottom picture is the way i've had the tank for about a week now. i'll keep monitoring, but the corals seem to be responding to this setup. It's only been a week though, so hard to say just yet.
Last edited:
firebirdude
User and Abuser
OMG! I'm almost scared to see what my PAR numbers are. Im running twice the numbers of LEDs at about 12" closer. That meter have a 5-digit display?? 
jonnybravo22
New member
just a few updates
In this first pic, check out how the anemone sticks to the glass to keep itself outstretched during the day. interesting. i think the purple "bumps" or verrucae are actually the sticky parts, but haven't confirmed.seems like it sticks at tiny points though, i've noticed this on several occasions.
I fed the anemone and took a pic of her eating. (think i have identified it as a female)
In this first pic, check out how the anemone sticks to the glass to keep itself outstretched during the day. interesting. i think the purple "bumps" or verrucae are actually the sticky parts, but haven't confirmed.seems like it sticks at tiny points though, i've noticed this on several occasions.
I fed the anemone and took a pic of her eating. (think i have identified it as a female)
Last edited:
jonnybravo22
New member
hello all. so curious thing happened. my plum crazy coral is kind of turning green in some places. anyone ever seen hybridization of pigment from other corals that are not even close to touching??
the only thing i've added is a green monti w/ red polyps.
also have a borealis (which has green tissue but a deeper green than the new growth on the plum crazy) and a joe the coral that has a similarly florescent green. but the joe and the borealis have been in there since the beginning w/ the plum crazy so dont think those two are causing this.
the green is appearing only in the new growth areas on the plum crazy -- around the rim where it is expanding and some on the tips where the coral is expanding. i think what's happening is that the monti, which is also growing / expanding after fragging, is somehow able to attach it's issue through the water column, on any new growth area of coral tissue....???
may be hard to tell but can you see what i mean?
the only thing i've added is a green monti w/ red polyps.
also have a borealis (which has green tissue but a deeper green than the new growth on the plum crazy) and a joe the coral that has a similarly florescent green. but the joe and the borealis have been in there since the beginning w/ the plum crazy so dont think those two are causing this.
the green is appearing only in the new growth areas on the plum crazy -- around the rim where it is expanding and some on the tips where the coral is expanding. i think what's happening is that the monti, which is also growing / expanding after fragging, is somehow able to attach it's issue through the water column, on any new growth area of coral tissue....???
may be hard to tell but can you see what i mean?
jonnybravo22
New member
sps coral update under LEDs
sps coral update under LEDs
It's been about 3 1/2 months that my corals have been under the LEDs and about 2 months since i got my PAR meter and lowered the intensity of the LEDs.
Progress has been overall pretty good, actually. The corals are all coloring back up, with the momentary exception of the Red Planet. It initially regained a good amount of color but i think has lost a bit recently due to some tank neglect. The RP has encrusted a lot, however, and the base did have a lot of green in it until a few days ago.
i currently don't dose anything or feed the corals, but will be getting some coral food and amino acids to test out shortly.
Update photos from tonight:
ORA Joe the Coral:
ORA Red Planet
ORA Borealis
ORA Plum Crazy
sps coral update under LEDs
It's been about 3 1/2 months that my corals have been under the LEDs and about 2 months since i got my PAR meter and lowered the intensity of the LEDs.
Progress has been overall pretty good, actually. The corals are all coloring back up, with the momentary exception of the Red Planet. It initially regained a good amount of color but i think has lost a bit recently due to some tank neglect. The RP has encrusted a lot, however, and the base did have a lot of green in it until a few days ago.
i currently don't dose anything or feed the corals, but will be getting some coral food and amino acids to test out shortly.
Update photos from tonight:
ORA Joe the Coral:
ORA Red Planet
ORA Borealis
ORA Plum Crazy
Fishfish0001
New member
Lovely tank! So are the LEDS turning out better now? Love the Nem.
firebirdude
User and Abuser
So it seems as though you're having better color and growth with the LEDs on LOWER intensity?
You know.... just a thought.... you know how the tips of many SPS turn white during periods of rapid growth? (Birdsnest is a perfect example) Maybe the LEDs are so intense, the entire coral is responding this way?
You know.... just a thought.... you know how the tips of many SPS turn white during periods of rapid growth? (Birdsnest is a perfect example) Maybe the LEDs are so intense, the entire coral is responding this way?
jonnybravo22
New member
Thanks! yeah the nem is great. check out the improvement over when i originally purchased it: http://web1.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1809346
yeah, i think the LEDs are turning out much better now. partially a result of the corals having more time to adjust to the light but mostly recovering from the punishment they were getting from being blasted right away by 4x the amount of light they were used to.
hey man. good to see your post, glad you're following this thread too. interesting theory. well i think it's just never ideal to have it blasted with too much light, so i'm looking forward to watching it over the next months and improving my water environment (aminos, food, etc). yes i have LOWERED the intensity of the lights considerably (check page 1) and that helped a lot. will keep the thread updated as i go!
agsansoo
Premium Member
Subscribed to this thread today. I'm very interested in the AI LED's you're using. I really want to switch to LEDs in the future. I noticed you're having problems with your red planet. This is not uncommon. Many people with LEDs complain about red corals not coloring up or losing color, myself included. I ran one PAR38 LED light above my frag tank for about 6 months. It was not very successful. All corals got excellent color (with the exception of my red planet). Though my corals colors improved, I also had zero growth. Once I moved the red planet back into my DT it colored up and started to grow again. IMO a dimmable LED fixture is a must, due to the light intensity that LED's produce.
Glad to see your having better luck with the AI lights. I will be following this thread closely.
Glad to see your having better luck with the AI lights. I will be following this thread closely.
buffalo123
New member
Would that be less intensity or more intensity?
Are you sure its from the intensity of the LEDs or simple a case of acclimating corals to the light. If you are changing from MH to LEDs acclimating would be necessary just like changing from old MH bs to new MH bulbs.
Corals are pretty resilent sometimes but they tend not to take sudden light changes very well as it seem acclimation is always a little slow; even to the point of experiencing some die off sometimes.
agsansoo
Premium Member
I my case, using PAR38 bulbs (spotlights), they were more intense in a smaller area.
My results:
Started with a few brown sps's. After a month of adjusting the the height of the bulb (high to lower), corals started to get their color back. After the forth month corals started to fade. After six months of played with optics 80, 60 and 40's. Still didn't get any growth, and colors never looked good. I really need a PAR meter !
My results:
Started with a few brown sps's. After a month of adjusting the the height of the bulb (high to lower), corals started to get their color back. After the forth month corals started to fade. After six months of played with optics 80, 60 and 40's. Still didn't get any growth, and colors never looked good. I really need a PAR meter !
Braincoral73
New member
What a beautiful tank! Thank you very much for posting this. After having a 65-gallon reef tank for just under 4 years now, I've decided to jump in and really begin learning.
I have learned quite a bit about the LEDs that I just purchased from this thread and am happy to hear things are going better for your corals.
Question: Those clowns are absolutely stunning! On page 1 you mentioned that they are spawning. Were you kidding? Or, is that your intention? It kind of made me want to do that very thing!
Subscribed for future reference! :thumbsup:
I have learned quite a bit about the LEDs that I just purchased from this thread and am happy to hear things are going better for your corals.
Question: Those clowns are absolutely stunning! On page 1 you mentioned that they are spawning. Were you kidding? Or, is that your intention? It kind of made me want to do that very thing!
Subscribed for future reference! :thumbsup:
jonnybravo22
New member
What a beautiful tank! Thank you very much for posting this. After having a 65-gallon reef tank for just under 4 years now, I've decided to jump in and really begin learning.
I have learned quite a bit about the LEDs that I just purchased from this thread and am happy to hear things are going better for your corals.
Question: Those clowns are absolutely stunning! On page 1 you mentioned that they are spawning. Were you kidding? Or, is that your intention? It kind of made me want to do that very thing!
Subscribed for future reference! :thumbsup:
Thanks. yes the clowns are spawning. if you look closely at the picture on page 1 you'll see the orange eggs they were laying. they spawn all the time, at least every 2 weeks. i don't have time to raise the fry right now but will try to do that some day.
made a few changes / additions
i'll post updated pics soon
jonnybravo22
New member
My Burgess and Mitratus
jonnybravo22
New member
What should I upgrade?
In my continuing quest to achieve a great reef, I'm considering what my next 'missing piece' might be. I've kept corals a live for about 6 months now, but have struggled with color and have never had the kind of polyp extension that makes them look so amazing in other tanks. I've also been dealing with some STN lately. My gigantea anemone is doing great.
i just ordered a GFO reactor which i'll start running when it gets here, hopefully that will help with corals and take care of the slight algae coating i've been tolerating on my rocks (only 1 snail at the moment).
so in terms of equipment, what should i do next to get the best water and coral environment i can??
to recap my current equipment:
Tank:
Elos System 70
ReefOctopus Sump (small)
Circulation:
Eheim 1260 Return pump
Ecotech Mp-40
Filtration:
25 micron filter sock (which i replace about once per week)
Vertex In-80 skimmer
I run a small carbon media bag constantly (replace about once per month)
[GFO reactor on the way]
Lighting:
2x AquaIllumination SOL LED
Automation:
Profilux plus II ex controller (temp, ATO, Lighting)
Dosing:
None
I'm considering the following upgrades:
1. New skimmer? (BK mini, ATB cone?)
2. Calc / ALK reactor?
3. Doser (should I start a regimen of Zeo or Balling? -- I know nothing about these systems)
what would you suggest?
In my continuing quest to achieve a great reef, I'm considering what my next 'missing piece' might be. I've kept corals a live for about 6 months now, but have struggled with color and have never had the kind of polyp extension that makes them look so amazing in other tanks. I've also been dealing with some STN lately. My gigantea anemone is doing great.
i just ordered a GFO reactor which i'll start running when it gets here, hopefully that will help with corals and take care of the slight algae coating i've been tolerating on my rocks (only 1 snail at the moment).
so in terms of equipment, what should i do next to get the best water and coral environment i can??
to recap my current equipment:
Tank:
Elos System 70
ReefOctopus Sump (small)
Circulation:
Eheim 1260 Return pump
Ecotech Mp-40
Filtration:
25 micron filter sock (which i replace about once per week)
Vertex In-80 skimmer
I run a small carbon media bag constantly (replace about once per month)
[GFO reactor on the way]
Lighting:
2x AquaIllumination SOL LED
Automation:
Profilux plus II ex controller (temp, ATO, Lighting)
Dosing:
None
I'm considering the following upgrades:
1. New skimmer? (BK mini, ATB cone?)
2. Calc / ALK reactor?
3. Doser (should I start a regimen of Zeo or Balling? -- I know nothing about these systems)
what would you suggest?
firebirdude
User and Abuser
Nothing IMO. You've got a ton of great stuff and the tank is still young. Give it time to grow. Maybe add a new coral or two though.
jonnybravo22
New member
well thanks. i dunno. i'm interested in getting the best water possible. the only limitation i have really is space (apartment living) so trying to think about what might improve the water.if anyone has suggestions please offer them
jonnybravo22
New member
Oh! forgot to add a video i took of my anemone a few weeks ago. i moved it to its own island so it could get better color at the parts that were being shaded too much by the rock it was under. now it's directly under one of the LEDs. this video was just a day or so after i moved it, flow was very high:
<object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=18521956&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=18521956&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object>
<object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=18521956&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=18521956&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object>
