My Very Shallow Reef Tank Re Do

[kevlow]

What the heck is in the back right corner of the sump? That is one big coral

It was a rock. And then I placed a small piece of Green Star Polyp. Now it is just a big ball of GSP. It got on the glass bottom before. I pealed a huge sheet of it off and gave it away.

 

[kevlow]

I am having a difficult time with this cell phone camera. I brought up the brightness and the sharpness because this just takes dark blurred pics.

This is a piece of Perry's Planet. Kindof a backside top down shot instead of front or side. Very difficult because the Leds reflect right at the camera. This is my favorite piece in the tank. The top has strawberry skin with cherry colored polyps. The base has some light lime skin. Reasonable PE.. I am diggin this and can't wait to see it mature. Again, I apologize for the pic.

<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/Facebook/Reef%20Tank/14212624_1321116991246764_2469656258000478194_n.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/Facebook/Reef%20Tank/14212624_1321116991246764_2469656258000478194_n.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 14212624_1321116991246764_2469656258000478194_n.jpg"/></a>

 

[kevlow]

Top down of a 1 1/2 inch high Orange Milli frag. Sat for three months or so slowly encrusting. Did not do much. Now it has turn a fiery orange with rose tints. The top has split into four new branches just protruding. Pretty happy with the way this is beginning to change after sitting for so long. The second pic is a side shot showing its PE.
<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/Facebook/Reef%20Tank/14238210_1321116877913442_1691129704109558669_n.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/Facebook/Reef%20Tank/14238210_1321116877913442_1691129704109558669_n.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 14238210_1321116877913442_1691129704109558669_n.jpg"/></a>
You can see the pink lip on top of the new growth.
<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/Facebook/Reef%20Tank/14264952_1321117024580094_7615835306355511674_n.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/Facebook/Reef%20Tank/14264952_1321117024580094_7615835306355511674_n.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 14264952_1321117024580094_7615835306355511674_n.jpg"/></a>

Last photo is a green I don't know what. The store thought it was "Appleberry" They said acro but I think branching monti.It is not pretty but was fragged several times and has taken off growing under the AF Comp123.

<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/Facebook/Reef%20Tank/14290011_1321141601244303_2015744336533299969_o.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/Facebook/Reef%20Tank/14290011_1321141601244303_2015744336533299969_o.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 14290011_1321141601244303_2015744336533299969_o.jpg"/></a>

 

[kevlow]

I have had some self induced problems and I did not have access to a good camera so it has been a while since I last posted. I dropped one radion into the water while working on the hanging bracket. So I am down on light which slowed growth. This lowered my consumption alk so I had to adjust my dosing. It also lowered consumption of available food so my nitrates went up. Colors are actually pretty good. I am guessing nitrates at about 20 on the Salifert test. I would rather be 5-10 but my only negative is some bubble algae.

I am waiting for another light to come but I have decided to abandon the Radions on the display. Going another LED direction.

A couple of raw unedited pics to try the new cell phone camera out.

Blue Stag
<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/14963344_1397770300248099_822153406276031721_n.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/14963344_1397770300248099_822153406276031721_n.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 14963344_1397770300248099_822153406276031721_n.jpg"/></a>

Blue Tort but the change in lighting and cell phone make the tips more bright purple rather then dark blue/lavender
<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/14993557_1397746143583848_1052780992405739725_n.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/14993557_1397746143583848_1052780992405739725_n.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 14993557_1397746143583848_1052780992405739725_n.jpg"/></a>

Green Dragon starting to branch out nicely

<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/15032173_1397745246917271_4206450710844377107_n.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/15032173_1397745246917271_4206450710844377107_n.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 15032173_1397745246917271_4206450710844377107_n.jpg"/></a>

I believe that this is a Chips. It is longer then it looks because it is growing away from the camera angle. White skin, mauve polyps, purple tips.
<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/15036407_1397728086918987_8295363446678578722_n.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/15036407_1397728086918987_8295363446678578722_n.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 15036407_1397728086918987_8295363446678578722_n.jpg"/></a>

 

[kevlow]

Center tank shot

<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/15032817_1397867560238373_7876629488136824553_n.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/15032817_1397867560238373_7876629488136824553_n.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 15032817_1397867560238373_7876629488136824553_n.jpg"/></a>

Perry's Planet growing up top and branching from the bottom. A little lime green at the base but mostly strawberry skin and cherry polyps.

<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/15078653_1397865080238621_6031533224859705806_n.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/15078653_1397865080238621_6031533224859705806_n.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 15078653_1397865080238621_6031533224859705806_n.jpg"/></a>

 

[kevlow]

My new lights arrived and I am very satisfied. While waiting for my new 32 inch SB Reef Light to arrive, I hung the 16 inch basic model that I had been using over my sump. After one week I was seeing improvement in colors and a little new growth on some previously stuck pieces. The new light is up and has far better coverage and possible better spectrum then my pair of Radions. The SPS has certainly responded well There are 121 three watt emitters spread 32" length and 9" wide.

The photos are a little better quality then with the old lights and are much easier on the eye.

<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/7883a755-64ca-4483-8731-ae484ad80393.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/7883a755-64ca-4483-8731-ae484ad80393.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 7883a755-64ca-4483-8731-ae484ad80393.jpg"/></a>

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We will see as time goes by if the change in lighting is as good as it first appears. After one week on the smaller SB Reef Light I have already saw improvement.

 

[kevlow]

Just got the par reading on the new light, an SB ReefLight 32".I am very happy with the first week of running the light and with the results on the par meter.

Basically getting 420-450 par through most of my light zone. 580 dead center at the top of my Red Planet. The far left and right sides of the center line are 380. Outside the light zone on the very edges of the tank, it is still getting 180-200 par. The light is 17 inches off the surface. Blue/Purple channel set on 100% and White/Red on 60%.

Contrast this to my previous twin Radion 30s Gen 3 with two additional Par 38 bulbs for additional help. My par was 320 at the highest but most of the coverage was at 200-250 par. I had to have the units mounted high [16"], with wide angle lens to get the coverage needed. The power was at 100% blues and 90% white, greens and reds. Overall power was set at 100%.

The corals have responded very well so far. I think they have been needing the additional light all this time. Colors have been good but growth on many pieces has been slow. We will see in the coming weeks.

This has created a new issue for me. I had been regularly dosing 200ml of AF Comp123 daily before my lighting problem and fix. I dose 100ml at 4am and 100ml at 5pm. Yesterday at 6pm my alk was 7.3 right where I like it to top out at. Today at 4am I checked before I dosed and It had dropped all the way down to 6.1. A serious drop. I think consumption is way up with the new lighting. I will test again this afternoon before dosing again. I added 100ml this morning.

 

[kevlow]

Unknow Aussie acro trying to color up.
<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/IMG_4917.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/IMG_4917.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_4917.jpg"/></a>

 

[kevlow]

Appleberry up close. Not an acro but still a nice polyp pic.

<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/IMG_4909.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/IMG_4909.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_4909.jpg"/></a>

A good show of contrasting colors. Blue Stag in the center.

<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/IMG_4938.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/IMG_4938.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_4938.jpg"/></a>

Chips, I think.. Hard to photo getting the light right and to show a good angle in the tank.

<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/IMG_4900.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/IMG_4900.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_4900.jpg"/></a>

 

[kevlow]

Well it is time to raise the dosing. This am was back down to 6.1 dkh. Dosed 100ml at 6:30am. At 3:30pm it was already back down to 6.4dkh. Nitrates at holding right around 5. Phosphates .03

 

[kevlow]

Green Dragon looking well and liking the new light.
<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/IMG_4908.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/IMG_4908.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_4908.jpg"/></a>

The green smooth skin is responding well but off to the side in about 200 par.

<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/IMG_4914.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/IMG_4914.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_4914.jpg"/></a>

 

[kevlow]

I moved my slow growing Lokani to a higher light spot, upfront in the tank.It has been there about two weeks and is visibly doing better. It isnow sitting in about 350 par as opposed to before in about 200. I was confused because I had always been taught that this was a deep water piece.
I then saw Mark's Lakoni was in 400 par. It is probably the most beautiful, complete looking Lokani that I have seen on RC. Obviously this explains the improvement I am seeing. I can probably increase it even more in the future.
Thanks for posting, Mark. It is a big help.

<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/IMG_49781.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/IMG_49781.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_49781.jpg"/></a>

 

[kevlow]

Green Dragon enjoying a growth spurt. Easily over 400 par.

<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/IMG_49891.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/IMG_49891.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_49891.jpg"/></a>

 

[kevlow]

7 dkh
1-2 nitrate
.08 phos


Dosing Daily:
AF Comp 1,2,3 200ml
NP Pro 2.5 ml
Pro Bio S 3 drops

Feeding:
Mysis 1 cube
Larry's Reef food frozen
Spirulina flakes several pinches
New Life Spectrum pellets 1 pinch
Coral Smoothie 1 quick squirt
Reef Roids 1 very small pinch

I might added some Neo Nitro to try to raise the Nitrate a little. Maybe that will help drop my Phos. I would like it around .03-.05 and Nitrate around 5.

Unless someone has a better method. I would like to lower P while raising N just a little. I am currently reading other threads to see what others are doing. I am open to suggestions, though I do try to keep things simple.

 

[kevlow]

I believe that this is a Cousin It frag in front. It was sold as a light blue millie to me. It since has gotten very furry with dark long hairs, reddish colors and a blue edge.
Behind is an Orange Millie. Has some bright red tint to new growth

<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/IMG_49871.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/IMG_49871.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_49871.jpg"/></a>

 

[reefmutt]

Hey Kevin, your pe is awesome. And all the corals are looking really nice and healthy.
I'm not sure that raising nitrate will lower your phos considering you are already getting solid n readings.. if you previously had 0 n, then maybe it would help..
I don't really see any problem with p at .08 unless you are having trouble with algea.
Did you ever start adding neo nitro?
Which phone are you using for photos, now?

 

[kevlow]

Hey Kevin, your pe is awesome. And all the corals are looking really nice and healthy.
I'm not sure that raising nitrate will lower your phos considering you are already getting solid n readings.. if you previously had 0 n, then maybe it would help..
I don't really see any problem with p at .08 unless you are having trouble with algea.
Did you ever start adding neo nitro?
Which phone are you using for photos, now?

I added 10ml of Neo Nitrate twice this week. [The only change to my routine.] Nitrate rose from 1-2 to a solid 5. Phosphate did drop to .02 . I went to two LFS to test and each gave me the same numbers. But I remember one other factor that may have made a difference but I don't know for sure. Last week I ran low on RODI water for top off. I used water from a bottle of drinking water that I brought home from my office water cooler. It is RODI but I do not know if it is to the standard for reef keeping.. That may have push the P up. Or, it may have always been .08. I don't know since I do not test at home for P. I have not seen effects either way in the tank.

I do have bubble algae mostly in my sump. Happened when I put a light down there and moved some LPS corals there. In the display I have Burgandy Turf Algae on some rocks. It doesn't look bad because it is short. But, it's presence limits the encrusting of the acros where they touch.

I have got my wife's ipad to open again and have used it. But I have missed a great opportunity. Since it is Christmas, I should have purchased a nice camera for my wife as a Christmas present. Then I would have killed two birds with one stone. lol.

I will say that the PE has reduced on some pcs from what it used to be. I think this happened when I stopped dosing KC and Lugol's, and Aminos. I have only been dosing AF Comp 123, NP Pro, and Pro Bio S. Colors are good. Some growth. But PE is reduced on some and gone on others.

Thank you for stopping by and have a Merry Christmas May your New Year be a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous one to you and your family.

 

[kevlow]

A little bit of growth and better color on the Lokani.

.<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/IMG_50221.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/IMG_50221.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_50221.jpg"/></a>

Perry's Planet looking happy and awesome. Great color, PE, and starting some good growth.
<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/IMG_50211.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/IMG_50211.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_50211.jpg"/></a>

The blue is really coming in on this Chips or whatever the heck it is.
<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/IMG_50201.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/IMG_50201.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_50201.jpg"/></a>

The orange milli is turning pink and rose.
<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/IMG_50311.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/IMG_50311.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_50311.jpg"/></a>

 

[reefmutt]

Nice furry forest!
Looking good.

 

[kevlow]

Nice furry forest!
Looking good.

Thank you, Sir. I feel that I am trying to play a game of catch up to reef keepers such as yourself who have been here on RC for years documenting sps husbandry techniques.

It seems that the best way to learn this hobby/science is to read all of the journals of those blazing a trail; and to stare for countless hours on end at your own reef. lol.

All of the little bit that I know has come from reading SPS Keepers on RC.

For what it is worth, I added aminos back into the diet on a very small portion. The effect has been a little bit more PE and a general appearance that is more healthy, happy, and fluffy.