New Tank

[tom obrecht]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10155411#post10155411 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by huskerreef
Hey Tom I just read an article about raising your ph to 8.5-8.6 for an extended time kills off briopsis algaes also raised mg to 1500. Do it over a couple days and skim heavily is what they said. Give it a try it may work on this as well. the article is on MD's forum

Thanks Husker. I have a couple more tricks up my sleeve before going that route but I will keep that in mind.

I'm giving an update on my water mov't from a "hint" from another thread...lvpd are you there??

I installed a Vortec about 3 weeks ago. To say the least very cool pumps. I thought I would give a pro/con report (my opinion only) on Vortec vs Tunze Stream pumps.

Vortec
pros:
nice wide gentle water mov't
low profile look inside the tank
low energy consumption
ability to move anywhere in the tank with the magnetic attchment
low heat added to the tank
speed controller is included

Cons
even though the water mov't is very wide it doesn't push water very far down the tank like a Tunze
Some mention that misaligning the prop and motor can cause vibration although I have not had this happen to me and I have moved the unit numerous times.

Tunze
pros
Moves water further down the tank.
larger models are available for larger tanks to move more than 3000 gph

cons
very large size to mount in the tank (as you all know a pet peave of mine)
heat added (although a small amount)
wires hanging in the tank

So you may ask what have I decided? Well I'm going to do both Vortec and Tunze in my tank. I am going to run 2 Vortecs and a couple Tunzes. I just ordered another Vortec and another Tunze. I'm going to place the Vortecs on the back wall and place the Tunze's to blow down the length of the tank. So far I roughly figure that I will have 16k gph of water mov't in the tank or about 38 times per hour. In time I hope to increase that even more as I get some coral growth if needed.

Hope this helps.

 

[lvpd186]

Thanks for the review Tom. So if I read it right the vortec would be about perfect for my 120 (48" long).

 

[tom obrecht]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10202176#post10202176 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lvpd186
Thanks for the review Tom. So if I read it right the vortec would be about perfect for my 120 (48" long).

yes, I think it would be great on a 120

 

[tom obrecht]

In my quest to rid the tank of this nasty algae I opted for a larger skimmer. I decided on a Euro Reef RC 750. It just arrived today so I thought I would share I few pics. I need to hit Lowes for some plubing parts before I show it running but here it is.

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The Coke can is for a size reference.

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[lvpd186]

Wow, that looks like one beast of a skimmer. You almost need a full power strip to run it! Can't wait to see it in action.

 

[zenn]

now THATS a skimmer.....

Be careful to not get sucked in when you turn it on

 

[tom obrecht]

Time for an update. The biggest change is that I'm NOT keeping the new ER. After setting it up and adjusting it the skimmer continued to overflow the cup and flood the floor. In fact after talking to ER directly and fine tuning things it flooded the floor 5 times in a 4 day time frame. The last time draining the sump and leaving quite the mess on the floor. I can't live with something that doesn't operate like this. I am sending it back to the vendore. For the time being the Deltec is back on line and I've made some decisions.

Nextl I am going to move back to soft corals. They are more forgiving and add more mov't in the tank. I feel they will pull more nutrients out of the water and the water quality doesn't have to be quite so pristine as with sps. For what ever reason I'm convinced the water on my property isn't condusive for long term sps growth in the way I want it to be. Also I can load the tank up with more fish as well and after visiting Huskerreefs tank last weekend I can say his tank looked as nice as any I have seen in awhile! I have already started adding some soft stuff and will continue to do so once the summer rolls through and we start seeing more corals show up in the lfs.

I also changed my lights around. I have gone to all halides. I added a fourth light and am took the vho's off. I am now running 4-400 watt Coralvue Reeflux 12K bulbs. They offer a bit more blue than I had and I bring out the colors better.

As time goes on I hope to start back with my anthias addiction. I LOVE these fish and hope to have some of the same species as I had last go around.

I hope to load some new pics soon.

 

[huskerreef]

i have seen real nice anthias on liveaquaria that I haven't seen much of. my ER shipped on friday...keeping fingers crossed I don't haver the same issues

 

[tom obrecht]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10535526#post10535526 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by huskerreef
i have seen real nice anthias on liveaquaria that I haven't seen much of. my ER shipped on friday...keeping fingers crossed I don't haver the same issues

I check LA often just for that reason! I hope you don't have the same issues as I did either! I would recommend to start off by keeping the water level very low in the cylinder to avoid a mess. Are you still planning to set the skimmer on the floor by the lagoon? Perhaps you could put it in the lagoon where the GS was to see what happens. Just a thought.

Thnaks again for letting us stop by to see the tank! It was good seing you again and your tank looked great!!

 

[ScubaTC]

Just got through reading the enitre thread. Nice setup and pics! How's the algae problem? Any progress?

Thanks for the detailed pics on the light setup. I am getting rid of my canopy top and going for a suspended lighting system for my MHs...if I ever figure out how to design a good setup for them.

 

[tom obrecht]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10648274#post10648274 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ScubaTC
Just got through reading the enitre thread. Nice setup and pics! How's the algae problem? Any progress?

Thanks for the kind words.

Actually things have finally taken a turn for the better. The algae has almost completely disappeared. Just a few small patches that seem to be getting smaller by the day. Only problem is that with the ever increasing real estate the algae is leaving behind the tank is really looking bare. I have added some coral frags and colonies but I need more coral to really get things kick started. I hope to get more pieces from the area local reefers here and lfs. I also have more fish that should be in withing the next day or so. Once they start to venture out into the open I'll take some more pics and post them...perhaps by the end of the week.

I ended up going back to my old faithful Deltec skimmer after returning the large ER. Just didn't perform to my loking...sorry to bring that up Huskerreef!!

Stay tuned...more to come shortly!

 

[huskerreef]

Mine is looking quite nice in the garage need to build a shelf and get it online and hopefully brag about no issues glad to hear about the algae.

 

[lvpd186]

That is some good news Tom, I look forward to seeing some new photos.

 

[garvin90]

Sounds like everything is coming back together for you! Maybe if your still looking for calcium suckers, you could add a few clams instead of the sps.

I figure out the light issue, it was just the bulb. I think it was damaged in the drive because it was rattling but i couldnt find what was loose at first. I think the heat from running it did it in with that rattle as i finally found what look like glass in it.

 

[tom obrecht]

Ray Glad to hear it was nothing too serious.

I hope to get the glass wiped down and take a few updated pics this weekend.

 

[garvin90]

Since your sticking with softies this time, i have a really nice white and purple scleranepthia(sp??) that just loves the halides. If your interested maybe i can frag some for you. I can only imagine the color it would have under 14ks as opposed to 10ks. I should also be recieving some ice blue speckled mushrooms this week as well if your interested.

 

[tom obrecht]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10692206#post10692206 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by garvin90
Since your sticking with softies this time, i have a really nice white and purple scleranepthia(sp??) that just loves the halides.

Can you believe it, I'm switching back to sps!! Just call me Sybll!! I was totally set on going back to softies and then I took a lfs trip to a few stores in Chicago. The display at one of the stores I have on an earlier page in this thread has really changed and to the better. I can not believe how this tank has matured and the colors are just unreal!! Wish I had my camera with me that day. I have NEVER seen a tank like this and it just threw me back to having the sps bug again. So instead of collecting more softie stuff I will be selling what few softies I have and focus on sps frags and larger sps colonies. I did pick up a few nice colonies that day but in my bare tank it hardly made a dent. Thanks anyway Ray!

 

[tom obrecht]

Here are the updated pics I promised. Now remember I'm no great photographer and I have no idea how to set the correct settings so the pics all appear bluer than the tank really looks. These pics are taken under the new 12K Reflux bulbs I recently refitted the tank with.

Few photos of the new anthias (Squamapinnis, Bartletts and dispars) along with 3 pyramid butterflies. Still have a yellow tang, naso tang and foxface rabbitfish. I would like to catch the last 3 fish and get rid of them for they were added to the tank for algae removal and that battle seems to be over.

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I do have a small group of Pictilis anthias arriving this week. More pics to come.

 

[lvpd186]

Tom the tank is looking great. I really like the pyramid butterflies. Never really seen them in the lfs here. Now that you are increasing your bio-load is your deltec able to keep up? If not you should check out the Reefflo skimmer here . I've been reading a few threads and reviews and it sounds like a perfect fit for your system.

 

[tom obrecht]

So far the tank seems to be stable with the Deltec. Of course I started my heavier feeding schedule for the fish so things could change in time. I hope to increase my coral buying and decrease my fish buying until the tank fills in more with coral. I did look at the Reeflos at one time and they seem to be getting good reviews. Thanks for the heads up.

This week I hope to get a calcium reactor ordered along with the possibility of ozone. I think both of these would be a big help in the long term health of the tank.

Yeah, the Pyramids are awesome fish IMO. They are nice for they do fine alone or in groups and have a cool color pattern that you don't see all the time. Very nice reef fish.