Myka's 69 SPS Tank 2015

[Myka]

they look awesome!
color sure has improved, especially on that hawkin's.

Thanks Johnny! Yes, the Hawkin's looks more like a Hawkin's now. :bounce3:

Those are some serious color improvements! Well done and congrats!

Thanks Matt, it's coming along! :fish1:

WOW! You have nutrients in the water now don't you, lol.. The colors have improved significantly and show beautiful saturation. Great job Mindy! When you break out the camera next time, would you get us a FTS? Cheers

Thank you Perry! Yes, finally some nutrients in there, so now I've started dosing NP Pro (just 1 drop right now), and I'll get in there and do some manual removal of the hair algae that's in there. Time to get rid of it. I have lots of FTS actually, but I am not good at taking them, so I never post them. My FTS always look flat and dull. I'm not sure what camera settings to use.

I wish I had this coral in my tank. Thanks for sharing.

Regarding the recent latest photos, I agree that colour improvement is very significant. Congratulations. What did you change between 13th May and 28th May?

Cheers

If I could send a frag to you Bülent, I would!

Well, there have been a lot of changes in the tank, here's what has changed in the last 12 weeks:

Mar 14 - Start dosing AcroPower
Mar 22 - Switch to AF Probiotic Salt, add Siporax in preparation for increased nutrients going in
Mar 30 - Cut channel 2 lights to 50% for 4.5 hours (from 80% for 8 hours), channel 1 lights remain at 100% for 12.5 hours
Apr 3 - Stop KNO3 dosing (that was bad bad bad)
Apr 8 - Start ProBioS dosing
Apr 9 & 10 - Two 40% water changes
Apr 18 - Add Coral Snow, Coral E, Coral V, Reef Chili to daily dosing/feeding
Apr 26 - Replace a couple 12 month old bulbs (how'd they get that old?? oops)
May 1 - Start Component 1+2+3+
May 25 - Start NP Pro dosing
May 28 - Replace a couple more 13 month old bulbs



April 26 bulb change replaced one of the Blue+ dusk/dawn 12/5 hour bulbs for an ATI Actinic. This was a significant aesthetic change.

May 1 commencing of Component 1+2+3+ containing macros and micros I'm pretty sure has been the main source of the significant color changes - more so than the dosing of the supplements/foods I think. The supplements/food increased PE, but not color so much. I think. I took all those photos on May 13th because I was already starting to see signs of something significant happening, so I wanted a baseline. Usually it takes about 2-3 weeks to see changes in our reefs.

I'm now ready to start increasing lighting via channel 2 as I no longer have any corals that are pale enough to be compromised from higher light. I'm going to start by increasing the amount of time channel 2 is on until I get to 6 hours, and then I'll start increasing the intensity.

 

[chercm]

Is the acropower better ???


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[Myka]

Is the acropower better ???

Than what? I don't think it makes a lot of difference on it's own. I'm just using it until it is gone, and then I will switch to the Aquaforest Amino Mix.

 

[plyle02]

Than what? I don't think it makes a lot of difference on it's own. I'm just using it until it is gone, and then I will switch to the Aquaforest Amino Mix.

I did the same exact thing, just using Salifert instead of Acropower, for the same reasons. AF is super concentrated, I dose under recommendations myself

 

[Myka]

I did the same exact thing, just using Salifert instead of Acropower, for the same reasons. AF is super concentrated, I dose under recommendations myself

Yes, AF is concentrated. Last week I started dosing 3 drops of Coral E and V, and I'm going to go back to 2 drops starting tonight.

 

[reefmutt]

Holy WOW, Mindy!!
Those shots are truly amazing!
Incredible transformations!!
Really nice.
That microclados is special as well.

 

[Piper27]

Could this be a nasuta? Microlados always be different growth once they grow in captivity for me. But I am not sure how to tell the difference. Microlados seem to get the odd branch shoot coming off the top of the branches and nasuta seem more uniform. I would guess the coralite could tell them apart, anyone here know what to look for? Either way I like this piece too

 

[Myka]

Holy WOW, Mindy!!
Those shots are truly amazing!
Incredible transformations!!
Really nice.
That microclados is special as well.

Thanks Matt! Hopefully the corner has been turned.

Could this be a nasuta? Microlados always be different growth once they grow in captivity for me. But I am not sure how to tell the difference. Microlados seem to get the odd branch shoot coming off the top of the branches and nasuta seem more uniform. I would guess the coralite could tell them apart, anyone here know what to look for? Either way I like this piece too ��

It could be one of many different species. I don't think any one of us here is trained in Acropora identification. I just call it Microclados because it looks a lot like wild-collected Microclados colonies. If it helps at all, most of what you see in growth form of the coral pictured is how it grew in the wild. It is a wild Aussie piece. The new growth tips (with the blue) are coming in as much thinner branches than the part of it grown in the wild. It will be interesting to see how it grows.

It does look a lot like this supposed A. nasuta colony that was Aussie collected. I have no idea who ID'ed it. It is Reef Corner's photo. Nasuta could explain the blue tips.

 

[markalot]

Colors are really looking fantastic. I'm relieved that the Hawkins now looks like a Hawkins. :lolspin:

 

[Piper27]

Thanks Matt! Hopefully the corner has been turned.



It could be one of many different species. I don't think any one of us here is trained in Acropora identification. I just call it Microclados because it looks a lot like wild-collected Microclados colonies. If it helps at all, most of what you see in growth form of the coral pictured is how it grew in the wild. It is a wild Aussie piece. The new growth tips (with the blue) are coming in as much thinner branches than the part of it grown in the wild. It will be interesting to see how it grows.

It does look a lot like this supposed A. nasuta colony that was Aussie collected. I have no idea who ID'ed it. It is Reef Corner's photo. Nasuta could explain the blue tips.

Right the blue tips are what led me to think it could be a nasuta along with the newer growth. Hopefully we can see what it looks like in a year or so, looks like it will be a good one for sure. Keep the updates coming!

 

[lynchmob3000]

There was a big color spike in the corals when I switched out one of the Blue+ bulbs for an Actinic (dusk/dawn position). I actually think this improved coral color more than the switch to AF did. [emoji38] I don't just mean aesthetically either, the corals are more colorful with the white lights

I too noticed this when I switched over to blue plus bulbs. I was running 2 actinic with 3 blue plus and 3 coral plus and switched out the actinic for blue plus and my par levels plummeted causing a brown out. Switched back and boom just like yours I had colors again.

 

[Myka]

I too noticed this when I switched over to blue plus bulbs. I was running 2 actinic with 3 blue plus and 3 coral plus and switched out the actinic for blue plus and my par levels plummeted causing a brown out. Switched back and boom just like yours I had colors again.

The actinic bulb has a lot less PAR than the Blue+ bulb - so that's not the reason. I think it is spectrum more than anything. It's been a long time since I've run actinic bulbs - not since UVL Super Actinic was easily available. I forgot what I was missing!

 

[DiscusHeckel]

There is certainly some PAR difference between ATI blue+ and ATI actinic, but not as much as many may think (especially after 100 hours of burning time has passed) [1].

If I have a choice between blue+ and actinic, and coral growth is a priority, then I choose blue+ [2]. Otherwise, actinic tubes fill a spectrum gap that is only partially filled by blue+. There is of course an added benefit of getting better fluorescent colours out of acros with actinic tubes.

I use a single actinic tube in my 8-tube configuration. If I had a 10-tube unit, I would probably use two actinic tubes.

References:

1. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2501350

2. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2096816&page=204

 

[Myka]

There is certainly some PAR difference between ATI blue+ and ATI actinic, but not as much as many may think (especially after 100 hours of burning time has passed) [1].

Yes, absolutely. PUR of actinic bulbs is significant, so even though actinic bulbs may lack PAR they can still pack a punch. The UVL Super Actinic was a very strong example of this, and I miss that bulb dearly. I'm quite pleased with the ATI Actinic though - it is a much nicer bulb than the Giesemann and KZ Actinic bulbs that I've tried years ago. Thanks for those references too - it's been awhile since I've read through those threads. Honestly though, I listen to the tank more than I listen to numbers on a meter or a page - as shown in those references, the meters don't always read properly anyway. I can sure say the actinic bulb on my tank now is a WORLD of difference.

For Canadians though, I do see that www.MOPS.ca has the UVL Super Actinic bulbs. I haven't found anywhere to buy them in at least 2 years. I'm not sure if MOPS is a reliable source or not, but I'm thinking I'm going to order a few and have some years' worth at the ready.

I gotta test Ca & Alk today - there is a serious growth spurt going on in the tank (finally!). I'll try to take some comparison photos today - you guys will actually be able to see growth from the May 28th photos. The Garf Bonsai in particular is going nuts.

 

[scrapz]

I can attest to the strength of the actinic bulbs, buddy pretty much cooked all his corals from switching from b+ to pure actinics.

 

[lynchmob3000]

The actinic bulb has a lot less PAR than the Blue+ bulb - so that's not the reason. I think it is spectrum more than anything. It's been a long time since I've run actinic bulbs - not since UVL Super Actinic was easily available. I forgot what I was missing!

I mean look at the par numbers after 100 hours. The number is 50 less and considering the bulbs actual par output is 90% due to the violet spectrum that's a lot of added par to the 420-430 nm. I'm running an 8 bulb t5 over a coral flat with 4 blue+ 3 coral+ and a purple so spectrum should be an issue for sps. Either way your corals look amazing and I'm actually a little jealous of your growth rates.

 

[milsaltnewbie07]

So wait im I reading/comprehending this correctly? Having an actinic bulb might actually be better or beneficial for coral color. If this is the case I have a ATI actinic 03, that has about 100hrs on it. I might have to swap out a Blue + for this. Although I must say, with my current bulb combo I having great growth and color, however even better wouldn't hurt.
currently using F to B
KZSB
C+
KZSB
ABS
KZSB
C+

 

[A.G]

Amazing tank!
How long is your photoperiod if I may ask and what bulb combo did you settle with?

Thanks

 

[mystikal]

Nice video! Did you use a GoPro?

 

[Myka]

I can attest to the strength of the actinic bulbs, buddy pretty much cooked all his corals from switching from b+ to pure actinics.

Yeah, it's not so much that one bulb is stronger than the other, it's that each bulb is strong in a different spectrum.

I mean look at the par numbers after 100 hours. The number is 50 less and considering the bulbs actual par output is 90% due to the violet spectrum that's a lot of added par to the 420-430 nm. I'm running an 8 bulb t5 over a coral flat with 4 blue+ 3 coral+ and a purple so spectrum should be an issue for sps. Either way your corals look amazing and I'm actually a little jealous of your growth rates.

Oh don't be jealous of the growth rates! The tank has pretty much been stagnant for 9 months. It's just starting to grow now. :facepalm:

So wait im I reading/comprehending this correctly? Having an actinic bulb might actually be better or beneficial for coral color. If this is the case I have a ATI actinic 03, that has about 100hrs on it. I might have to swap out a Blue + for this. Although I must say, with my current bulb combo I having great growth and color, however even better wouldn't hurt.
currently using F to B
KZSB
C+
KZSB
ABS
KZSB
C+

That's what I did - I was running two Blue+ for dusk/dawn which ran for 12(ish) hours per day. I swapped out one of the Blue+ for an Actinic.

Amazing tank!
How long is your photoperiod if I may ask and what bulb combo did you settle with?

Thanks

Thank you! It's really not that amazing yet. It's just starting to show signs of good things to come, but certainly not amazing yet.

CH1
Position 2: ATI Actinic (<1 month old)
Position 5: ATI Blue+ (13 months old, 12 hours per day)

0830 ON
0900 60%
0930 100%
2100 100%
2130 OFF

CH2
Position 1: ATI Blue+ (1 week old)
Position 3: KZ Coral Light 10,000K (1 month old)
Position 4: Coral+ (1 week old)
Position 6: Coral+ (13 months old, 8 hours per day for first 9 months)

1500 ON
1530 50%
1930 50%
2000 OFF

In early April I cut CH2 from 8 hours per day at 80% to 4 hours per day at 50% because the corals were so pale. Today, I just increased CH2 from 50% to 60% remaining at 4 hours per day. I think I'm going to shift CH2 to run as late as possible in the photoperiod too so that I have more chance to view to corals under all bulbs.

Nice video! Did you use a GoPro?

The dive video? That was shot by a hired professional. I'm not sure what equipment he's using, but it is certainly not a GoPro. www.facebook.com/Calypso-Multimedia I took some video and photos with a borrowed GoPro and was sorely disappointed. I'm glad I did not buy a GoPro myself.