Lightsluvr's 340G Upgrade

[Lightsluvr]

APEX speaketh...

APEX speaketh...

The Apex graphing mode only displays 24 hour periods at this time. An upgrade will allow graphing over selected periods of time, as in the ACIII. Here is how my graphs looked today and what they mean to me as a reefkeeper...

The graph (in blue) displays tank temperature over a 22 hour period. It got cool last night and I left the fishroom door ajar to allow fresh air to enter. It also chilled the fish room down the 72 degrees. The tank dipped to 76.5F...

The top graph below clearly displays the impact of lighting on a tank's pH. You can almost tell when the T5s come on and go off by the curve. This represents a low pH or 8.1 and a high of 8.35 -
The lower graph is the pH in the effluent of the CA reactor. When the pH falls is when CO2 is being dosed to the effluent. When it reaches 6.41, the CO2 is cut off until the pH rises back to 6.8. I am told by smarter people that this is the optimum range for a good by-product from the reactor.

Finally, here is a comparison of the "Energy Bar" plugs connected to the Apex controller. The top graph includes the (2) Barracuda Gold pumps. You can see when the closed loop comes on around 1130 hours. The lower graph shows the devices connected to the frag tank - the lights are on in the early morning hours on this tank.

The deep "dips" in the readout are when I turned off pumps to change filter socks and feeding time when pumps were automatically turned off by the controller.

If anyone has any questions, jump on in... if I don't know the answers, I'll make something up... :rollface:


LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

A-coraling we will go...

A-coraling we will go...

Here are some of my favorite old-timers. Most have been in my tanks for over two years...and growing.

A survivor...

Blastomussa...

A hungry dendrophyllia (sp?)

Australian Duncans - can't seem to kill them - they just keep popping out babies... :eek2:

A Foxglove...

And our favorite colony - the forgiving krypto candy canes...

I have an acrylic camera box for surface shots but have to figure a way to get photos with the light rack rolled back partially. I will add some of those pics over the weekend...

LL

 

[Lytehouse]

Wow, corals look crisp on the new board.

 

[Lightsluvr]

The new board...

The new board...

Wow, corals look crisp on the new board.

They really do look better, don't they?

Different smilies, too... :celeb1:

LL

 

[Lytehouse]

field trip

field trip

LL took pity on a guy with no tank and I hussled my camera over to his big ole' tank today and took pictures. Now descent person would wait till he posted pictures, but I couldn't wait with a couple::spin1:

This colony of Zoanthids caught my eye when I walked in, (well right after Charlie):

And one with the macro. The markings and colors are awesome-- Aren't we fat and happy!!

 

[Lytehouse]

field trip

field trip

One head of who knows how many:

Beautiful Torch----

Sorry George....

How about this, take the same pics and clean them up differently.

Tank and fish room are incredable. Great job.

 

[Lightsluvr]

Thnaks, Lynn

Thnaks, Lynn

I want to thank Lytehouse for coming by yesterday and taking some great macro shots of some of the corals in the tank...

Here are the (2) sun corals in the tank...

Here is the slap-daddy lone ranger who lives happily in the shade of a live rock outcropping:

...and here is proof that sun corals (dendrophyllia) can be happy in bright light, if situated lower in a tank. They were not fully extended when Lynn snapped this shot, as we had turned off all pumps for some earlier pictures. When the pumps go off, the sun coral recede completely and look like so much orange "stone". When this colony was purchased 2 years ago from Zoanuts.com, it had two heads...It has transferred through three upgrades and continues to pop out new heads...

I target feed both sun corals PE mysis shrimp every other day...

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

More eye candy

More eye candy

Here is a shot of an old Favia colony I have had forever. It looks really happy in the new tank. In the foreground is a couple layers of a Tyree diamond Monti I purchased from Steve when he was at the CRASE in 2007. I thought the frag was lost (and dead) behind some LR in my previous 120G. But when I moved the LR to transfer it to the 350G, I found one layer encrusting on the back of this rock. I turned it around so I could admire it, and it has sprouted the additional layers. Excellent new growth!

A colony of PPE (Purple People Eaters)

Another shot of our Kryptonite Candy Canes - the entire colony:

and a macro of the heads... also target fed with marine cuisine and a weekly shower of Coral Frenzy:

Well it's time for an updated FTS - later today.

If you're reading this, thanks for stopping by the build thread. Please leave a note to say "hi" when you're here...

If you're not reading this, are you hearing voices in your head? :spin1:

LL

 

[aquainas]

Great shots of the specimens LL, Lynn did a good job capturing those macro shots. I just love that Kryptonite

 

[aquainas]

Oh and yes we are due for a FTS!! (sound of a cracking whip) :lol:

 

[strout]

Cracking whip LOL Have to get my wife one of those Macro Lens Nice pics.

 

[cody6766]

Very nice shots! I really want a good macro lens. it's almost a must have in this hobby

 

[Lytehouse]

Thanks again,

Thanks again,

George,

Thanks again for letting me come over and dust off the camera and knock off a little rust. Your tank and fish room are truly awesome:

 

[Lightsluvr]

Thanks Aquainas, Strout, Cody and Lytehouse.

I have been very busy the past few days, but plan to take some updated FTS shots today.

Latest tests:

ALK - 11.0 dkh
CA - 450
MG - 1400
Nitrates - 0
PO4 - .25

All tests now being done with Salifert kits. I obtained new Salifert ALK and MG kits and cross-checked them with ELOS kits. I am reasonably confident in the accuracy of these numbers.

The CA reactor is definitely working. ALK and CA have been steady as a rock.

My previous Mag levels were between 990 and 1100, so I have been supplementing Magnesium in the past week and all paramaters are at ideal levels.
Here is the method I use for MG dosing: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php#14

I am now testing MG to determine how much I need to continue to supplement (in addition to 12% weekly water change) to maintain Mag at the target 1350.

FTS later today.

LL

 

[waynem]

Looking good as always. PO4 seems right on the limit, is it creeping up? I didnt think it was that hight last time I read your thread.

 

[Lightsluvr]

Looking good as always. PO4 seems right on the limit, is it creeping up? I didnt think it was that hight last time I read your thread.

I'm using a different test kit for PO4. The latest PO4 test was made with a Hagen test kit (not Salifert as I stated in the previous post). There is barely any visible color in the sample...just the slightest tinge of blue. However, the color chart jumps from zero to .25. The result just happens to be closer to the .25 on color chart, but it's completely clear.

I'm not concerned at this point...as I'm seeing cynao and HA quickly disappear from the tank.

I wish someone could recommend a PO4 kit that has more gradations than jumps by .25.

LL

 

[Goodwin9]

I'm using a different test kit for PO4. The latest PO4 test was made with a Hagen test kit (not Salifert as I stated in the previous post). There is barely any visible color in the sample...just the slightest tinge of blue. However, the color chart jumps from zero to .25. The result just happens to be closer to the .25 on color chart, but it's completely clear.

I'm not concerned at this point...as I'm seeing cynao and HA quickly disappear from the tank.

I wish someone could recommend a PO4 kit that has more gradations than jumps by .25.

LL

Frustrated with the same problem in getting accurate readings, I bought the Hanna Phosphate Photometer and really like it. Money well spent.

 

[Lightsluvr]

Frustrated with the same problem in getting accurate readings, I bought the Hanna Phosphate Photometer and really like it. Money well spent.

I looked at the Hanna meter. I'll have to keep that in mind for a future budget item...thanks for the tip.

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

Full Tank Shots

Full Tank Shots

Here is the promised full tank shot:

And a few closer ups:
Our new Vlamingi Tang, "Charley"

Right side island:

Right island showing the open sand bed for swimming and chasing:

Center island:

Left side island:

There's still a little cyano on the sand and some live rock, but much improved over a few weeks ago. Lots of cynao floating free and being removed in the filter socks.

LL

 

[edandsandy]

That fish is BIG! :fish2:

Tank is looking good, well except for the cayno :wave:
we are still battling it too.