mnml's rimless

[mnml]

Just 1" below the top edge, no problem with vortechs?

Only if I put both on 100% pulse mode :fun5:

MNMI do you have central air in your home?

I do but I only run the AC if I'm at home. We leave the windows open but the ambient temperature can get up to high 80s. I've read that some people keep their tanks above 80 degrees but I like to keep mine at 77-79.

 

[afernandez]

extreamly nice.. noe i want a rimless...i need to invest lol ( im calling miracles tommorow)
im very interested in the plumming and the return of your tank seems very very interesting can i see a close up if you dont mind.

 

[mnml]

Thanks for the nice compliment.

Here you go. It's pretty simple but it works...

Here's a clear picture of the overflow, it's pretty much covered with coraline/algae now. I also raised the standpipe so it's only ~1" below the overflow teeth. I was getting too much of a splashing noise with what's pictured here.

 

[brianbigoats]

Chiller looks good unboxed

 

[mnml]

Thanks Brian. You did a great job with the packaging, much appreciated!

 

[ryanjiang]

Tran how do you like NP pallet so far? Any recent N an P reading?

 

[mnml]

I actually stopped using them last week. It was fine up until about 3 weeks ago. I started getting big patches of deep green cyano and a lot other bacteria blooms. Water wasn't as clear as before. I think what's happening is a lot of the bacteria is not being skimmed and is entering the display. I decided to take a break from it while I get my lights set up. For now, I'm back to just carbon/gfo and water changes. I tested P this past weekend with a Hanna and it was zero. I haven't tested for N yet though...

 

[Anemone0524]

how are you storing the biopellets while you have them on hiatus?

For the three weeks, did you notice a decrease in N or P?

I'm bringing mine online tomorrow but disappointed they weren't working very well for you. Maybe you need to make a more concerted effort to get the output of the reactor directly in the skimmer. I've seen on RC some people plumbing it directly to the skimmer, but that seems a little much.

 

[mnml]

I'm going to give them to a fellow reefer to see if he has any luck with it. My N/P were low to begin with but I did notice the glass stayed much cleaner and the water was crystal clear. I had a small cyano bloom at week 4 but it went away. However, now I have two huge patches of dark green cyano and some other weird bacteria growth that's annoying me. Currently I have a t-connector hooked to the input of the skimmer pump and the output of the pellets going into the T. Plumbing the output directly into the skimmer would help but I'm nervous drilling a hole into my skimmer. With my luck I'll probably screw something up.

 

[mnml]

We have shimmer! Here's the new fixture installed and lit. So far I'm very happy with the bulb combo, which is EVC 20K + 3 blue+/1 fiji purple. It's not as blue as I thought it was going to be but let's see how it looks once the bulbs burn in.

T5s only

MH+T5

Chiller online

I'm going to test par readings hopefully tomorrow...time for some R&R now..

 

[afernandez]

Very nice .. You should do a par comparison.

 

[ryanjiang]

Looking good Tran! My impression was right, EVC 20K is not over blue, hope it will provide good PAR.

Looking forward for PAR numbers.

 

[beex215]

the rock work was looking good without the corals. when it was added it just made things alot better

 

[mavjoy]

Tank looks great with the new lights...soo sleak and clean!

 

[rutz81]

Hey Tran,

I wish you hadn't stopped the pellets and changed lights at the same time. If your corals darken/deepen, you should also keep that in mind, not just attributing it to the lgihts alone.

 

[mistacheese]

mixer911 Have you had the pleasure of enjoying a "The End of History"? Crazy Scots...

 

[mnml]

Very nice .. You should do a par comparison.

Thanks. I finally got around to getting some par measurements. See below.

Looking good Tran! My impression was right, EVC 20K is not over blue, hope it will provide good PAR.

Looking forward for PAR numbers.

You were right Ryan, it doesn't look too blue at all. I also placed an order for the AB 10K bulbs but I'm not sure when I'll get them installed. It was a pain in the butt to get the lights mounted. I'm dreading the idea of unmounting it, take it apart to switch out the bulbs and remounting it again. Switching the bulbs is much harder compared to the powermodule. I'd also like to get your opinion on my par comparison.

the rock work was looking good without the corals. when it was added it just made things alot better

Thanks for the nice compliment.

Tank looks great with the new lights...soo sleak and clean!

So far I'm digging the new lights. I hope the corals feel the same.

Hey Tran,

I wish you hadn't stopped the pellets and changed lights at the same time. If your corals darken/deepen, you should also keep that in mind, not just attributing it to the lgihts alone.

You're right about that. I'm keeping my fingers crossed I made the right decision on making such a big change on my tank. :hmm5:

So I had a chance to get some par measurements on the PM vs MH. These are numbers were taken with the powerheads running because I wanted to get a feel for what the corals experience on any given day.

PowerModule 10" above the water line

At 1" below the waterline: 680-720

At middle of the tank: 480-525

On sand: 275-310

Giesemann 10" above the line

At 1" below the waterline: 580-630

At middle of the tank: 370-420

On sand: 185-220

The Powermodule provided way better light coverage and more par compared to the Giesemann. I'm not sure if I should lower my MH fixture but right now it's giving very nice coverage and I'm not getting too much light spillage compared to the PM at the same height.

Any suggestions? I think those par values should keep the SPS happy?

 

[afernandez]

Hunmm was debating btw the pm and the mh t5 but I think I'm going with the pm . For sure lol. Thank you for all the info .. If u want more blue u should try phoenix 14k. Thy have a real nice blue.

 

[ryanjiang]

Don't think phoenix is bluer than EVC though, but certainly will put more PAR.

It is no suprise to see the numbers, PM should beat most of 250W 20K, with execption of Radium, but that is Radium running at about 330W on Mag. ballast and have look of almost 14K.

IMO, the light certainly enough for SPS but don't expect super fast growth though, esp your landscape is mimic style frags can not reach high.

I bet the 10K AB will put 1000 to 1200 at surface, if you can live with the color with 4X blue plus as supplemental, I bet some SPS will grow like weed and fill up the tank quickly. But I doubt if you can live with 10K after seeing your strong preference for blue look.

 

[rutz81]

IMO, I think you're light colors were more due to the pellets and not the lighting. But, I hope you end up liking your decisino in the end, you certainly have a lot of $$ invested in lighting