Lukinrats 75 gallon tank thread!!!

[lukinrats]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13053698#post13053698 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Glad to see you posting again. It looks like you are having all kinds of fun.

The new Tropic Marin (not Marine, right?) kit sounds a lot like the D & D / Deltec kit I have. It too uses two vials and you look through both to read the colors.

That PAR information was very interesting. Chalk it up to better reflectors. Did you read about my PAR testing?

Yep Melev... having plenty of fun, so far!! Hope I can finally get this tank into some sort of shape that I want... I am still having trouble with the narrowness of it... It makes it really hard to get the rockwork like I want... I think that I am about to decide on the "Less is more theory"... I may fix the rocks like I like them inside the display, and the break the rest up to go all over the sump

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Ya, the Tropic Marin... I really like that kit, and it was only $14... I think I can sacrifice a little accuracy, if any, to save $85

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I did see your PAR testing, but need to look back through it again, now that I have mine... I think my numbers have something to do with the fact that I have 2 bulbs in each reflector... It is causing sort of an interesting phenomenon, where par is not changing drastically with depth... The unit I have above my tank seems to be punching that light deep

 

[melev]

Yep, that is a very narrow tank. Are you going to post more pictures of the sump in action? I want to see how you supported the back still.

If you had different rock, like Tonga branch, that might help. However, narrow and tall is very difficult.

You might try the new magnetic rocks from Aqua-Mags.com:
http://aqua-mags.com/product.php

I have one in the back of my 20g and like it. It is very light and is getting coralline on it now.

 

[lukin]

WOW...nice seats Nate,I got to see the camden shows.Good stuff.I like the "less is more theory" also and your sump would be a great place for that extra rock.Good luck.

 

[lukinrats]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13053837#post13053837 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Yep, that is a very narrow tank. Are you going to post more pictures of the sump in action? I want to see how you supported the back still.

If you had different rock, like Tonga branch, that might help. However, narrow and tall is very difficult.

You might try the new magnetic rocks from Aqua-Mags.com:
http://aqua-mags.com/product.php

I have one in the back of my 20g and like it. It is very light and is getting coralline on it now.

Melev, I will try to get some pictures of that for you... I have to tell you that it is all very tight in, under, and around the tank... I took 1" PVC, and made some legs... I have 3 under each overhang in the back... One on each corner, and 1 right in the middle... I only did it because you recommended it, but I have to tell you that this sump is strong... It seems almost bullet proof... I filled it up with as much water as it would hold, when I still had it outside, and it did not waver... I really don't think the legs would be needed, if it was not for a safety precaution
When I put those legs under it, I expected them to become tighter, under the weight of the over hangs... I have not seen this yet, and I pull the legs out from under there every once in a while if I need to get to something... It is a very well built piece of equipment, and I think I made the wisest decision getting the person I did to build it

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On the rock work, I feel like I am too concerned with having rock in the display... I know now that I just want this particular tank to be filled with corals... So, I am going to do something with a limited amount of the rock staying in the display, and use the rest as filtration in the sump

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Also, I wanted to mention that I just read back over your Par testing... I love the way you document it!!!

It just really surprises me that I am getting more Par than you (in some places)... Especially @ the sandbed!!! I have taken all of these so far, without turning off any pumps, or using a fresh batch of carbon to make sure the water is ideal... I also have not cleaned bulbs or reflectors.

I am using this picture from your results... It is the last one that you had up, I think... Showing Par in your tank, when @ basically ideal conditions (right?)... Those Halides you have in those reflectors are bad ***!

See how my numbers are generally pretty close to those, although I did not have to take as many measurements as you did... I think that you have better numbers in the upper parts of your tank, but what surprises me is that these T5's are punching thru to sandbed, and giving numbers that are the same as what you have... WEIRD

So I plan to do all of that this weekend, and then see what I get... I am blown away by the Par values right now!!!

It gives me hope that one day I will be as good as you at this, and possibly have a tank even close to being as nice as yours

Later,
Nathan

 

[melev]

I'm glad to hear that sump is solid, as it really made me uneasy. I always wanted to see it in action.

Here's what my lights are using (10,000K):

I did test for 12,000K bulbs because I had them, but after the test they went back into the closet. I really don't like so much blue in my tank.

 

[lukinrats]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13056034#post13056034 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
I'm glad to hear that sump is solid, as it really made me uneasy. I always wanted to see it in action.

Here's what my lights are using (10,000K):

I did test for 12,000K bulbs because I had them, but after the test they went back into the closet. I really don't like so much blue in my tank.

LOL!!! Ole Marky Mark... you should have faith in your skills... I think you must have an excellent method for working with that acrylic... If anything, I should have been uneasy because I asked someone to make something.................Shall we say FUBAR'ed!!!
Sorry, could not think of a better word for what I came up with... I really think you should put that sump up on your site... It is rather unique, and you never know how many people have the same problem I had... I always felt like I could not have a sump under that tank, and it took me like 3 years to decide to think outside of the box... Man, I love it though!!!!

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PAR: Ya, you definetly have much more going on in the upper half of that tank... It still gets me how I am not losing more Par, as you go deeper... It seems like (theoretically) that I should not have as much, or more than you at the sandbed... The top of my sandbed, and the top of yours are the same distance... I am assuming you have a 30" tall tank (right?)

Later,
Nathan

 

[melev]

The last thing I want to encourage is for anyone to make a sump like yours. :lol:

The tank is 30" but the surface to the substrate is roughly 24" as you see in the picture. The DSB beneath and the top with euro-bracing lowers the water level somewhat.

 

[lukinrats]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13057498#post13057498 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
The last thing I want to encourage is for anyone to make a sump like yours. :lol:

The tank is 30" but the surface to the substrate is roughly 24" as you see in the picture. The DSB beneath and the top with euro-bracing lowers the water level somewhat.

Oh come on now!!!:lol:

Right! Yep, that is exactly what I have, with the DSB taking some depth away... Bout 24"

 

[lukinrats]

Got some Frags

Got some Frags

Well, I decided to get a few frags... I could not pass these up!













Can't Wait

 

[melev]

Those ain't frags!!

 

[lukinrats]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13057713#post13057713 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Those ain't frags!!

Oh ya!!! I forgot to word that right... Let me try again

"I am getting some new frags from these colonies"

Thanks Melev,
Nathan

 

[lukinrats]

I decided that I would give aquascaping 1 more try... I have really hated every one that I have ever done, and was hoping to get it as close to perfect as my tank would allow... I think I have it now, and plan to leave it this way now
I know it is hard to see but there is even a small valley of sorts just under the vortech
Let me hear some opinions... I think I like it though

Later,
Nathan

 

[lukinrats]

Well fellow reefers... I learned my first lesson in Mag Drive pumps today... Jessica and I found a baby sitter, and went to see The Dark Knight... We left the house and everything was just fine... We picked up Abby, and headed home, and when I got here....................................HOLY *$@# Batman the return pump quick working

Thankfully, I had done some 3 days worth of trial runs, in the garage, before I set up the tank inside... No problems with overflow, but boy what a pain in the ***... I now have a note to clean the mag drive every month... I assume that it was precipitate, but it really did not seem to have too much in it... I cleaned it out, and checked it out... It ran fine, so I installed it back in it's place... Everything is back to normal now

I do have an extra mag handy, so it would not have been a problem either way, but it just goes to show you... BE SURE THAT YHOU PAY ATTENTION, when people on RC tell you about OVERLOW prevention

I just want to thank all the poeple that help us by lending experience

Later,
Nathan

 

[The Grim Reefer]

PAR number at the sandbed is way good.

What mix of lamps are you running now?

Once you settle in to a mix of lamps trake you par or lux monthly to see how will the lamps hold up doubled up in the reflectors like that.

 

[lukinrats]

Currently have this mix:

Front:
B+
Sup. Act.
B+
ATI P.Color
Ushio 10000k
A.science duo
B+
B+

 

[lukinrats]

I got my frags today!!! These are the real deal Melev:lol: ... I hope that these do ok on the sandbed... I am getting about 250 Par down there with all my lights on... I have reduced my photoperiod from all the bulbs being on for 10 hours per day, to 6 bulbs burning for 10-11 hours, and the other 2 + the six are on for 5-6 hours... I hope this will help these no bleach... Although the others I had bleached, are coloring up... It sucked to have to worry about them though

I got my hanna PO4 meter today as well, and PO4 was .04ppm before the 20 gallon water change I did, and my nitrates are below 10 mg/l

Bright green spumosa

Bright pink table

Solid blue tenuis

Vesuvius monti

here is a piece of the vesuvius that broke off

 

[lukinrats]

These last 3 I am not sure about... one of them is supposed to be Emerald green pocillopora, but I ain't sure which... Also I was sent 2 frags as freebies, and I forgot to record what they were... I remember one of them was supposed to be a monti with yellow porites... Maybe Copps can chime in on these last 3 I would like to know which one is supposed to be the pocillopora

Later,
Nathan

 

[melev]

Let's see how they do for the next couple of weeks. Congrats on your new frags. Lots of potential there.

 

[copps]

Hey Nathan! Glad you received your frags well!

To start, this one below is the green pocillopora, not the M. spumosa...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13111741#post13111741 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lukinrats
These last 3 I am not sure about... one of them is supposed to be Emerald green pocillopora, but I ain't sure which... Also I was sent 2 frags as freebies, and I forgot to record what they were... I remember one of them was supposed to be a monti with yellow porites... Maybe Copps can chime in on these last 3 I would like to know which one is supposed to be the pocillopora

Later,
Nathan

In order from top to bottom on these three are...

1. Montipora spumosa
2. highlighter green plating monti (freebie)
3. encrusting bright yellow porites (freebie)

Thanks again bud!

Copps

 

[lukinrats]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13113126#post13113126 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by copps
Hey Nathan! Glad you received your frags well!

To start, this one below is the green pocillopora, not the M. spumosa...

In order from top to bottom on these three are...

1. Montipora spumosa
2. highlighter green plating monti (freebie)
3. encrusting bright yellow porites (freebie)

Thanks again bud!

Copps

Wow!!! That surprises me... That coral looks nothing like the picture that was in your thread... I can't even believe that it will change that much... That is pretty cool, and I am glad that I am clear on that

The one that you list as the M. Spumosa also looks nothing like the colony that is pictured in your thread... It is just amazing how much these things can change

No matter what I have, I love them... They are some great looking frags, and I can't wait for them grow out

Later,
Nathan