Reboot

[Charley Diesing]

Well, now that we're past my own immature silliness and trolling out of sheer procrastination in the blue thread, the reality is, very shallow reef does not necessarily look any more blue than this. In fact, it can often look even more yellow. Or green. Let's try a thought experiment.

One reality of the Iwasaki bulb is that it has a color rendering index as high as 96 at 6500k, with midday sun giving a perfect 100 at a 5500K color temperature. If your tank water and reef water are equally clear for a certain surface area and depth (for example, a very shallow reef flat, the range of depths of which all commercial aquaria fall within), then well, I'll let common sense be your guide. You're walking around on a reef flat a foot or so deep, abundant Acropora coverage, or you are snorkeling over a reef flat a few feet deep, again abundant Acropora coverage, what bulb would look most like what you see in those scenarios?

This does seem more interesting, as you point it out. it'll be interesting to see how this tank does longterm.

I mean I'm not really a fan of the super blue either. But I like more of a white(around 12k-14k)

But I guess its really not supposed to look beautiful its supposed to be an experiment. I can def. appreciate/accept that.

 

[sirreal63]

For those who did not see the original thread...
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2117619

 

[NeilFox]

I've used those Iwasakis in the past. They were cutting edge at the time and still a superb lamp. Corals can utilize a pretty wide spectrum to grow in. All the best in your endeavour Galleon. The latest thread you started was admittedly entertaining!

 

[galleon]

For those who did not see the original thread...
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2117619

Yeah, it makes my eyes misty. Everything was going so well after some bumpy starts.

 

[franklypre]

I figured it was worth a try and since you are a local Texan I'd extend the offer which still stands. I know it's hard to get out of what you "know" but as a recent convert to the LEDs I find myself non-old school and less stubborn to the idea of change. I can remember being a kid and using those old PCs and HO t8 bulbs as well ( I still have a 75 w/10k PCs for softies) but honestly it's time to consider the economic and ecological benefits of new Tech IMO. All that and I do look forward to updates on your thread, I really like the video's and have to admit I searched for updates a few times while you were gone. If you ever make it through Texarkana PM me and I'll cut some stuff up for ya.

 

[galleon]

I appreciate it, I'm actually moving to Bryan at the end of June, so I'll be a bit closer. Never know.

 

[galleon]

Now that I know the system is stable, maintaining and growing Acropora again, there will be some aesthetic changes on the way.

 

[reefsurfing]

Can't wait...

 

[galleon]

The "washed up" reefer comments got me thinking, let's see if this old dog can still hunt when it comes to an SPS display reef.

Nothing is changing methodologically, the lighting is still 6500 K 400 watt Iwasaki, no supplementation/adjustment/cheating, nothing. So we'll see.

 

[galleon]

Two weeks after the deep clean, the Porites rocks are still shedding HEAVILY, feeding popups of Bryopsis on the bottom glass, despite "perfect" water params. I am still having to routinely baste them despite an MP10 at 100% on either standing wave or reef crest. Let this be a lesson on keeping rocks clean.

 

[galleon]

And also keep in mind, with the exception of one coral, all of these corals thus far were bought as browned out and/or receding/dying, so whatever color they do or do not gain comes from my husbandry. This thread has documented that.

 

[tmantaylor18]

what can brown do for you?

 

[galleon]

 

[galleon]

Tank is still a bit hazy from cleaning, but you get the idea.

 

[franklypre]

I think with the bare tank style a good idea is loading the sides and bottom up with SPS so they can totally encrust and fill this tank. Bryopsis won't grow on top of healthy SPS, not to mention it would get full use out of all that heat, I mean light.

 

[sahin]

I've been following your threads since the "High energy...something" thread. I like your style of reefkeeping! :thumbsup: Honestly, I like the look of your tank.

I have a bare bottom tank myself, so I am very used to "un-natural look". It doesnt bother me at all.

One thing though, and I may have missed it somewhere on the thread; do you get any film algae at all?

I can see the various macro type algaes on the various rocks, but cannot see any of the film type algae that typically grows on the glass and other surfaces.

Is your tank water that pristine? - Or do you carefully wipe/clean the tank?

I can imagine it would be very clean and pristine; next to nothing in terms of liverock, no sand etc etc.

In my tank only in the past few weeks has the growth of film algae REALLY diminished...this is after nearly 9 months of the tank being setup...to get it this clean - lots of water changes and GFO usage has finally made a significant dent.

Interesting thread indeed. Makes for a refreshing change - and I've been on RC for more than a decade!

 

[galleon]

I've been following your threads since the "High energy...something" thread. I like your style of reefkeeping! :thumbsup: Honestly, I like the look of your tank.

Thank you, sahin

I have a bare bottom tank myself, so I am very used to "un-natural look". It doesnt bother me at all.

Sand doesn't necessarily look more natural. Many reef areas, especially shallow flats, can be completely hardbottom.

One thing though, and I may have missed it somewhere on the thread; do you get any film algae at all?

I can see the various macro type algaes on the various rocks, but cannot see any of the film type algae that typically grows on the glass and other surfaces.

Is your tank water that pristine? - Or do you carefully wipe/clean the tank?

Hah, I wish, I had been having terrible hair algae issues on the glass. The Porites rocks were/still are shedding detritus that built up during the regrettable neglect phase. All it takes a little bit of that, a tuft of hair algae, and you have a self sustaining algae farm.

Once that was under control, a few swipes with a mag float takes care of everything. Very small surface area. I used to scrub algae at a public aquarium, so it's hardwired/brainwashed into me to do it routinely.

 

[galleon]

As you might be able to tell, the only nice looking piece I bought, the little pink colony with blue tips, RTN'd out of the blue about a week ago. NATURALLY, Murphy decided it would be the only one I spent a nice bit of money on that would kick. All the frags I saved from that colony are very slowly, day by day, one at a time, going the same route (trust me, I've tried all the "magic" RTN bullets save for chloramphenicol, which I can't get my hands on). Once they all kick, it truly will be a tank of "ugly ducklings".

I also gave the damsel a new home with someone else. I'll probably put an orchid dottyback or blue firefish in there instead.

All other Acropora (the ugly brown/dying "rescues") in the tank look great and are beginning to encrust in the case of the frags I made from them. The first acro I added continues to turn bright yellowish green, and went from having STN at the base when I first got it, to re-encrusting its mariculture mount.

 

[galleon]

 

[galleon]

Two days ago I went to town with superglue and GAC on the remaining frags from that colony, as of today, no new recession, so while I'm not optimistic, it's a good sign.

One of the rescued A. samoensis colonies is still brown (you can see it on the left), but PE is excellent and it has grown completely over where I broke off the tips that had recession at the LFS.