My 65 Gallon Mixed Reef

[AD87]

Thank you for keeping up with all the questions on the thread. You are doing a great job, I can't wait to see your feeding regiment.

 

[sahin]

Also got the carbon and the crab trap. It has these little swingy door bits that are supposed to let the crab in like a one way door but i fail to see any deadly aspects to the device............. i'm presently nutting out a mod so the crab goes in, stands on the metal plate and when he reaches up for the food attached to the other metal probe - WHAMMO !

Obviously it's a work a progress but i think my version craps all over the 'boring' crab trap, the water/electricity aspect is presenting a few problems but i'm sure i'll get around that somehow............

OK, so I spent the whole day copying your contraption above...BUT everytime I try to place it in the water I kept on getting shocked...Can you help me please? :wildone:

In other news...after the Biggles's crab catching device fiasco...I decided to treat myself to an acro frag...I mean I deserved it after all those shocks...

So I went along to the LFS...they got this large colony of a RED Acropora abrotanoides...only it is largely brown...but I know exactly what it is and what it is capable of looking like in terms of colour. They put it in a new display tank. I asked them last time I was there to frag me a piece...they were like "No. We are not touching any corals in this tank..." So...this time I knew I had to get a little clever...So before I left home, I snapped off a pieces of my Rose Millepora and ForestFire Digitata (they have neither of these pieces :lol: )

They still tried to play a hard game...but eventually let me have a pretty large frag of the Abro for a decent sum.

Me very happy now.

Biggles, how to you rate these WP25's? I want to get rid of my MP10's next year if possible and get either a couple of Tunze 6095's or WP25's...I am tired of replacing the bearings on my MP10's...:angryfire:

 

[Fail_sh3d]

Thanks very much for the kind words guys, i'm going to bore everyone to death with info on all the stuff we take for granted but newer reefers must scratch their heads over not being 100% sure what is being described so bare with me lol. Lots of pics of algae on pumps and videos of feedings and the amounts will follow soon. Descriptions such as 'a pinch' are not good enough because foods such as reef roids etc are very potent so i want everyone have a real indicator of how much i use so overdoing things is less likely.

Received the 6095 controller today and it's already ramping the pump up and down so the water flow is looking a bit better but won't be good until i get the 2nd WP-25 going. Also got the carbon and the crab trap. It has these little swingy door bits that are supposed to let the crab in like a one way door but i fail to see any deadly aspects to the device............. i'm presently nutting out a mod so the crab goes in, stands on the metal plate and when he reaches up for the food attached to the other metal probe - WHAMMO !

Obviously it's a work a progress but i think my version craps all over the 'boring' crab trap, the water/electricity aspect is presenting a few problems but i'm sure i'll get around that somehow............

Lmao

 

[Bello]

I'm disappointed, biggles . I was so sure you were gonna find a way to set it on fire!! :lol:.. Can't you mod it with a Flamethrower instead?

 

[sahin]

I'm disappointed, biggles . I was so sure you were gonna find a way to set it on fire!! :lol:.. Can't you mod it with a Flamethrower instead?

Mmmmm flame grilled crab! :lol:

 

[martinphillip03]

Maybe Biggles can builds a laser? This thread should give him an idea.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2101768

Marty

 

[FastUno]

All i do in a nutshell is feed the tank heavily with foods that i have personally tested to ensure they are consumed by my acros. I have the skimmer off for an hour and then everything is basically stripped from the water quickly by using an oversized skimmer so as not to allow too much waste getting into the system. I've run becketts which are brutal at quickly removing fresh waste from water but too noisy for a living room. The Deltec skimmer is rated for a heavy stocked 180gal which is about double my tank when you take off 1/3 the manufacturers rating to allow for bullsh*t advertising.
I always use hand selected pieces of fresh live rock which are light due to being porous. I have about 5 lbs of LR in the sump some of which i keep in a compartment which basically operates with water flow across the top like a DSB. Below half way it's anaerobic as nothing goes down there, not the pods or the mysis or any sponges etc. I figure this allows the entire rock inside and out to be populated with nitrogen processing bacteria rather than just the inner areas. No idea if it really works but something eats my nitrates so i always do it. Can show you a few sump pics if you want to see what i'm talking about.
Your tank has a severe flubber infestation mate - there's your problem right there lol. If things are washed out and browning and your tank and rock are as sterile looking as the pic shows i'd say your feeding is low at a guess. Your lights are fine so that just leaves the water really, it's that simple tbh. I don't use carbon but i would if i had that much LPS in the tank. I don't mean to be rude btw i just figure you want a hand so no point beating around the bush - first thing is get a big thick black garbage bag that's big enough to hold those flubbers securely. They'll be ok at the start but will fight once they know what's happening - don't ever turn your back on a flubber tank.

Thanks for your help matie. No worries, as I am looking to learn, even if it is just hear on an opinion and not necessarily agree with it. But it looks like you know what you are doing, so it is good to learn from ya.

Man they should do a TOTM on you & we can all learn.

1) When you say flubber, do you mean the rubber/soft corals? When you say fight, do you mean for space or fight via chemical warfare? I tried to do a mixed reef & I love some of the stuff that I have. I can't even let go of the GSP for some reason.

2) What model of Deltec skimmer do you have? I have the AP600 on 75g + 15g (90g total).

3)" and your tank and rock are as sterile looking as the pic shows" I had bought live rock that looked brown/green & definitely covered with live stuff. Other smaller rocks with corals were covered with songes & feather dusters & all sorts of critters. I also added some dead base rock to fill in. Most of the live rock is the base & is covered by rock or the corals..

4)" i'd say your feeding is low at a guess." I feed small quantities multiple times a day & since adding fish I have overfed to get them to eat properly. I get the brown algae on the glass every 2-3 days & have to scrape it off.

 

[biggles]

Look what arrived on Xmas eve, high tech gizmo's (for me) and a bottle of Polyp-Booster from Polyp Lab to 'speriment' with.......... I'll install the WP-25 but the other stuff will need to mature on the carpet for a few weeks before i even contemplate figuring out how to use it - installing equipment is like bloody work except no one pays you to do it which i find rather annoying. :smokin:

Time to talk food and water once i get my coffee, it's 3pm Xmas eve here so i'll see Santa before any of you and i'm going to ask him what you guys are getting and PM you to ruin the surprise............ that's how i roll

 

[Fail_sh3d]

Merry Christmas, Biggles. Grants on the new equipment! Let me know how that doser works out. I'm planning one for the big build but really have no clue how to work out the dosing. I'm happy for you, buddy!

 

[troubadour11]

Woohoo! Put in a good word for me with the big guy. ;-)

So far you have quite the hall for 3pm on Christmas eve. Enjoy thecoffee. I look forward to hearing about the food & water.

:thumbsup:

 

[sh0ck]

No detail of Xmas tree?
BTW this china doser stuff - why only 3 channels? On MC site was also 3ch extender for symbolic money when compared to delivery $$ (missing on FS site).
GL with them, I am in testing phase of 6ch piece.
Jebao WP-25 user too, but I am more LPS/anemone focused.

 

[sahin]

Look what arrived on Xmas eve, high tech gizmo's (for me) and a bottle of Polyp-Booster from Polyp Lab to 'speriment' with.......... I'll install the WP-25 but the other stuff will need to mature on the carpet for a few weeks before i even contemplate figuring out how to use it - installing equipment is like bloody work except no one pays you to do it which i find rather annoying. :smokin:

Time to talk food and water once i get my coffee, it's 3pm Xmas eve here so i'll see Santa before any of you and i'm going to ask him what you guys are getting and PM you to ruin the surprise............ that's how i roll

Nice toys. Is that the Bubble Magus doser? I setup one for my LFS a year ago, its a decent unit and pretty easy enough to setup.

I need to pick up one of those Jebo pumps and have a play with it. See what the fuss is about.

What is that other thing with the black tubing?

 

[Bello]

Glad to see you got your goodies.....without any surprises from Customs :lol:

 

[sahin]

Glad to see you got your goodies.....without any surprises from Customs :lol:

Silly Bello, Santa delivered them! Santa bypasses customs! :lolspin:

 

[biggles]

Merry Christmas, Biggles. Grants on the new equipment! Let me know how that doser works out. I'm planning one for the big build but really have no clue how to work out the dosing. I'm happy for you, buddy!

Merry Xmas to you to mate. i'll go over dosing in a bit of detail as it's a bit tricky when you're not used to the initial setting up and working out of how much your reef is drawing.

Woohoo! Put in a good word for me with the big guy. ;-)

So far you have quite the hall for 3pm on Christmas eve. Enjoy thecoffee. I look forward to hearing about the food & water.

Hey Troub, i did treat myself to a few goodies this year but i don't work on the holidays and that pile of stuff looks like bloody hard work to set up so...... i just can't be stuffed atm lol.

No detail of Xmas tree?
BTW this china doser stuff - why only 3 channels? On MC site was also 3ch extender for symbolic money when compared to delivery $$ (missing on FS site).
GL with them, I am in testing phase of 6ch piece.
Jebao WP-25 user too, but I am more LPS/anemone focused.

Hi mate, i have a thread on the Xmas tree here if you want some more details.
SPS Xmas Tree

Nice toys. Is that the Bubble Magus doser? I setup one for my LFS a year ago, its a decent unit and pretty easy enough to setup.

I need to pick up one of those Jebo pumps and have a play with it. See what the fuss is about.

What is that other thing with the black tubing?

The doser and the other thing which is the ATO unit are both cheapo no name units from the same place i get the WP-25's (FS). You really should grab a 25 and have a play with it mate, i think most people are pleasantly surprised when they first fire one up. :thumbsup:
The Tunze pumps are still my favorites as they don't require as much cleaning to keep running at max output.

Glad to see you got your goodies.....without any surprises from Customs :lol:

Thanks mate, i had the shipper mark the box ' NOT A BOMB ' and it seems to have done the trick............

Silly Bello, Santa delivered them ! Santa bypasses customs! :lolspin:

Lol bloody good point that Sahin - i wouldn't mind cutting some frags off his reindeer's antlers but that'd probably get me into trouble with the big guy.......:blown:

My sump clowns.

They sleep in the red algae at night and yes i am so lazy i just stick frags in the sand lol.

Can you spot Lefty, his Xmas present is not being stabbed in the head with something sharp......... he's stopped being naughty and just munches on algae again lately. Talk a bout a thorn amongst the roses lol.......

These two guys have a wall about 1/4" high now in their continuing battle for encrusting rights lol. Neither ever stings the other, little things like this are a big part of what i find fascinating about SPS keeping.

 

[troubadour11]

^^ That last picture of the 2 SPS encrusting up against each other was awesome to see. Thanks for sharing that! :thumbsup:

Did you ever attempt wiring all your new goodies? I had big plans to get lots done, but only got to a small amount. Still progress though. But I know how you feel. It's lots of bits and pieces and technical stuff to get straightened out. I'm sure it's all worth it once you work through it and get to the end though.

I know I'm looking forward to seeing/hearing how it's all put to use once it's set up. If you feel like rambling on about it then anyway

Now I'm off to read in some more detail about your Xmas tree. :beer:

 

[Bello]

Silly Bello, Santa delivered them! Santa bypasses customs! :lolspin:

Thanks mate, i had the shipper mark the box ' NOT A BOMB ' and it seems to have done the trick............

Lol :lol: hahahaha

Good stuff biggles :thumbsup:

I like the contrast of the clown colors against the macro in that shot, very nice. The christmas tree is looking spiffy as well.... AND let's not even talk about your damn coral colors :furious:

Any chance you got the equipment up and running?

 

[martinphillip03]

By my calculations you are 14 hours ahead of me. I am little late but Happy New Year. Good luck with everything thiis year.

Marty

 

[sahin]

Happy New Year to you Biggles! Its just 5.40pm here in the UK, we are preparing meals and drinks etc for guests :celeb1: ...I'm preparing a nice mixture of food for my corals and fishes :lol: I can treat the fishes to a drop of Vodka...:beer: :lol:

 

[Bello]

Happy New Year!!! May the New year provide you with many awesome frags......which I will steal later