Pictures of Bomber's barebottom SPS tank and related equipment

[musicsmaker]

Those are some nice pics back on page 14. A couple of them show obvious growth. I wish I could see a BB tank in person.

 

[jfloydr]

I know that you recomment 3 ceriths to 1 astrea, but how many do I need in a starboard 90 gallon? Will 50 cerith and 17 astreas be too much?

Also KeysCritters lists turbosand astreas together. Are they the same thing or just same price?

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[jfloydr]

I know that you recomment 3 ceriths to 1 astrea, but how many do I need in a starboard 90 gallon? Will 50 cerith and 17 astreas be too much?

Also KeysCritters lists turbos and astreas together. Are they the same thing or just same price?

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[Bomber]

HicCup! the famous double post. LOL

In Florida and the Caribbean everyone calls them turbos, astrea, astraea, starsnails, etc. They are the same thing, a tropical snail that eats a lot of algae.

In my 450 I have about 300 astrea and 4-500 ceriths, I had a lot more when I first set it up because you can get more algae at first. Now the tank has "aged" and mine mostly just sit around.

 

[jfloydr]

So 100 cerith and 30 astreas? Sounds like a lot. Better more than not enough.

 

[susieQ]

Hey Bomber!
I converted to starboard 5-6 months ago but am still having problems. I only had time to skim this thread so I hope I'm not asking an already answered question. My rock is still spitting like crazy. I now have some macros (maybe 4 different types) growing. I never had this before. Is this a sign that I might be nearing the end of the nuisance algae war?
I really can't take much more. 2 fish in a 63g, 4 powerheads on the bottom still not giving me the right flow, green where purple should be, etc. Uggggghhhhhh! This isn't a hobby right now and hasn't been for the last year. I just want my pretty tank back.

Thanks for any info!

 

[melev]

Hey Susie, I recommend a nice DSB.


















Okay, sorry... I know that is off topic in this thread. :lol:

I'm sure Bomber will be able to help you get things back on track. If he doesn't, contact me.

 

[tankslave]

Bomber, couple of quick questions:

-Have you replaced your MH bulbs yet? or are they 3 years old now...
-Also, what brand MH bulbs do you use?
-I know this has been overly discussed, but im just curioius if you knew what PAR values your corals are getting. After switching to BB, I've finally beat off the hair algae, but my corals are still growing brown.

Lastly, anyone know where to get the URI bulbs?

 

[NuclearReefs]

You mean this thread finally split? :lol2:

Man Jerel , your gonna have to hurry up and catch marc...

TankSlave,
What Kinda skimmer is that you have? Is it a beckett,downdraft? etc..... Looking at your equipment list looks like you all in the right ball park, but if your water is to high in nutrients your going to have browns.thats why im questioning the skimmer.....I dont mind brown acros personally as long as they grow...

Nathan

 

[Bomber]

LOL Marc is a glutton.

ts, I still haven't changed the bulbs, Ushio 250 10ks, have no idea about Par, and I get the URI's from Ken at Marine Depot.

 

[Bomber]

Susie, that's why so many of us "cook" the rocks first. Keeping them in the dark lets them become bacterial driven, then you clean that bacterial detritus out until it stops.
You're lighting yours so they are algae driven.

It will stop though.

 

[susieQ]

Thanks for more info Bomber! Does the presence of new, good macro algae signal a shift in the tank?

Melev-Wow! Your website and tanks are impressive. I had a dsb for about 4 years and when the HA started and didn't stop, I decided to remove it. Actually, the dsb didn't appear to be in bad shape. I didn't have the stench everyone talked about. Also, the majority of the sand under the top layer looked new. The dsb did, however, keep a lot of detritus collected. Every time I moved a piece of LR, I saw all the crap caught up in that area. (p.s. thanks for the offer to help. I may just be contacting you soon )

I think one of my problems is flow. I don't have a sump and rely on ph to get things mixed up. Which I don't think is working too well...

Susie

 

[Cluckr7]

Hey, awesome tank btw.

This is kinda a noob question, but what kind of water conditions are ideal for LPS? Do they thrive in nutrient rich water or low-nutrient conditions?

 

[raddogz]

fwiw - I kept one LPS in my nano at work (not bare-bottom), and the tissue started to recede on the frogspawn's head. I decided to take it home and with better lighting, water, and flow and it is now coming back.

The only thing that does not grow like a weed is gsp in my tank at home but grows reasonably well in my nutrient rich water - nano tank.

 

[Chip Douglas]

Bomber -

How do you like the icecap digital timers? I just went to look for them on their site and it says they've been discontinued since 10-28-2003 ?? It says they are in the process of developing a new one. Is there anything else you would trust to use in their place for placing metal halides on a timer?

 

[tankslave]

You mean this thread finally split? :lol2:

Man Jerel , your gonna have to hurry up and catch marc...

TankSlave,
What Kinda skimmer is that you have? Is it a beckett,downdraft? etc..... Looking at your equipment list looks like you all in the right ball park, but if your water is to high in nutrients your going to have browns.thats why im questioning the skimmer.....I dont mind brown acros personally as long as they grow...

Nathan

Its a counter current venturi driven custom DIY job. It takes out a lot of crap every day, but you never know how much is still left...
Yea, the acros grow, but all brown. LPS do pretty well, and keep good colors. hmmm...
No sign of algae anymore, however. That's all gone. Maybe the acros just need some time.

 

[Bomber]

Thanks for more info Bomber! Does the presence of new, good macro algae signal a shift in the tank?

I don't have a clue Susie. It depends on exactly what macro algae.

 

[Bomber]

Bomber -

How do you like the icecap digital timers? I just went to look for them on their site and it says they've been discontinued since 10-28-2003 ?? It says they are in the process of developing a new one. Is there anything else you would trust to use in their place for placing metal halides on a timer?

I've never had a real problem with them at all. One loses about 5 min a month and I just re-set it.
Try something from Radio Shack, they should have some sort of timers that would work.

 

[Bomber]

Yea, the acros grow, but all brown.

Depends on what acrops you're buying. Some of them you have to really blast with light to get them to color.

 

[Cluckr7]

So do LPSs prefer a lower nutrient environment?