mnml's rimless

[mixer911]

Looks awesome with those LEDs Tran. Really interested in long term growth outcome you get with them.

I have a new addition on the way also in March. Congrats with the Baby, I will be in the same boat in a few weeks

 

[mnml]

Really nice. I just ordered 3 for my 48x18x24 90gal. It looks like 3 will kick it on my tank. I read your whole thread you really have the bug and have gone through all the crazy stuff life and this addiction throws at you and when the dust settles you get back into it by getting new lights...lol...
* So tell me do you feel the coverage is good?
* Do you like the Apex better than the AI controller?
* Optics stock? or did you go all 70's??
* Any bleaching?

Thanks jmchzn123. I think 3 modules is perfect for the size of my tank. I thought about going 2 modules with 70 degree optics mounted length wise but I think there would of been too much shadowing in the back corners. Right now I'm using the AI controller instead of my Apex to control the modules. The AI controller makes it really easy to configure each individual light and I like the fact you can initiate thunderstorm simulation at will. BTW, the thunderstorms are pretty neat to see. The LEDs actually dim as though clouds are rolling in and then lightening kicks it. I didn't expect the lightening to be so bright, I thought the LEDs had shorted when it first occurred :fun4:

I'm running stock optics right now and may consider getting the 70 degrees later depending on how the corals react. I've only had the lights for a few days so there isn't any bleaching. The lights are at 40% during the peak hours for 3 hours long. I will increase 1% a day and see how the corals react.

I'll try and get some pics of the corals this week and will share them.

Looks awesome with those LEDs Tran. Really interested in long term growth outcome you get with them.

I have a new addition on the way also in March. Congrats with the Baby, I will be in the same boat in a few weeks

Thanks Rick. I'm hoping these lights will work out. It'll be interesting to see how much my electricity bill goes down.

March is just right around the corner. How exciting! :dance:

 

[ryanjiang]

Wow Tran your tank look great under those AIs. Any close-up shots of corals ?

 

[mnml]

Thanks a bunch Ryan. I will post some coral pics this week. I really need to learn how to take better pictures. I can't seem to get the colors to show up correctly. :\

 

[mnml]

Here's a couple of pics from this afternoon. My SPS don't look that great so I won't share them but my LPS/softies seems to be happy

Lights are at 30%white, 35%blue, 35%royal blue. I need to find a free program to correct the white balance. It doesn't look that white in person.

 

[mnml]

 

[mike810]

looks good with the 3rd module Tran. I might have to stop by and check that out one day when we're both free!!!!!!!

 

[biocube386]

Nice tank man! Loved all your lights you went threw! Who makes the hanging bars for your light? They have a online site?

 

[mnml]

looks good with the 3rd module Tran. I might have to stop by and check that out one day when we're both free!!!!!!!

Thanks man, cruise by any time if you're ever in the area.

Nice tank man! Loved all your lights you went threw! Who makes the hanging bars for your light? They have a online site?

Thanks biocube386. My light hanger were made by my LFS. They're made of 1" square aluminum tubing which I had welded and powder coated. Total cost is about $150.

 

[Rotknee]

Tran, I like the upgrade and congrats on the AI lighting. My tank is also 48" and I'm using 4 Sol Blues 9" above the water. I'm also using all 70 degree optics. When using the 70/40 mix I saw some "spot lighting". I think you will really enjoy the lights even more when you hook your controller up to them.

On another note...I just picked up a pair of Naked Percs and I'm looking for a small red BT anemone like the one pictured below. Where did you get yours from? Nice pic too!:thumbsup:

Rodney

 

[mnml]

Hi Rodney,

Thanks for the nice feedback. I do plan to get the 70* optics once they are made available. AI says about 2-3 weeks. I'm hoping the 70* optics will lower the par a bit so I can go higher on the intensity without bleaching my corals. I really had a hard time w/ too much light with my PowerModule. I currently have the lights hooked up to the AI controller. I thought about using my Apex but I really like the ease of use the AI controller offered. Plus the blue LED screen looks super cool next to my Apex display.

As for the RBTA, I got it at Fish Collection in Placentia. They have a ton of them to choose from.

BTW, would you mind sharing your LED settings?

 

[mrsmithers]

Tran,
Great Looking tank!
How do you like the atb 840 on that size tank?

 

[Rotknee]

per your request...

per your request...

AI has yet to release the new three part firmware to third party controllers as of yet so I am controlling both my blue and royal blues at the same intensity.

Blues

Whites

Combination

When I get home in the evening I really like seeing the colors fade into what I would describe as a smooth electric blue that LED's are know for. It's kinda cool to watch how everything just "Pops".

Thanks for the Fish Collection tip. I'll be in Downey next week and will check them out.

 

[mnml]

Tran,
Great Looking tank!
How do you like the atb 840 on that size tank?

The 840 has been performing really well. I'm running the stock pin wheel instead of the purple one. I had a few start up issues with the purple.

AI has yet to release the new three part firmware to third party controllers as of yet so I am controlling both my blue and royal blues at the same intensity.

When I get home in the evening I really like seeing the colors fade into what I would describe as a smooth electric blue that LED's are know for. It's kinda cool to watch how everything just "Pops".

Thanks for the Fish Collection tip. I'll be in Downey next week and will check them out.

Thanks Rodney for the detailed graphs. How long did it take you to ramp up to that intensity. I read that someone suggested 1% a day but am curious if you went a different route. I have to agree with you on the electric blue look. I have a 30 min period where everything just glows :bigeyes:

 

[Rotknee]

Thanks Rodney for the detailed graphs. How long did it take you to ramp up to that intensity. I read that someone suggested 1% a day but am curious if you went a different route. I have to agree with you on the electric blue look. I have a 30 min period where everything just glows :bigeyes:

For the first three weeks with the Sol Blue's I had my controller set up such that the tank would only get the max intensity (83% on the blue's and whites) for less than an two hours a day. From there I slowly ramped up to the where it is now using less simulated "cloud cover and rainy days".

Overall it took me around six weeks to adjust the intensity to where it is now. Using some of the tricks that allow you make some very detailed adjustments with my controller I was able to expose the tank to the max intensity right away. I just limited that exposure and s-l-o-w-l-y ramped it up. Even now, my tank will only adjust to max settings 89% of the time.

I have a Tyree pink lemonade that has shown very fast growth since I got it in December. It was a 1" frag (if that) when I got it and now it has fully encrusted the frag plug and starting to make contact with the surrounding rock all in a few short weeks. My next purchase is going to be a nice camera so I can take some before and after shots as I would like to document the growth over the next 90 days.

 

[mnml]

Good advice, thanks! I really need to get a nice camera as well. My pictures don't look nearly as good as the ones I see others post.

Do you have a build thread?

 

[Rotknee]

I would be extremely happy if my pics looked half as good as yours. I've been told I need to adjust the white balance on my current camera and everything will come out much better.

I don't have a build thread but I am working on some cool stuff that I would like to share. When I get the new camera I may just start blogging here.

 

[mnml]

I heard that Adobe Lightroom can adjust WB so I may give it a try. Cool let me know once you get some pics going, sounds like you have a very nice set up.

 

[ryanjiang]

Coral look great Tran! Just give more time to sps, after all tank has gone through so many changes.
What method are u using for nutrient management? I remember you were getting out of bio-pallets.

 

[mnml]

Thanks Ryan. I went back to basics. 20g/week water change, GAC every 2 weeks, HC GFO every month. I hope that what ever SPS I have left will start to recovery. For now, I'm only buying LPS since they seem to be doing okay in my tank.