ReefWreak finally got an upgrade!

[ReefWreak]

Originally I was told by the LFS guy to do the reeflink because of better support and integration and programming, and so far the software has been pretty neato. But of course I'm now going through all of the threads comparing the WXM to the reeflink and comparing functionality. I guess it really only matters if you have a vectra, which aren't compatible with the WXM yet for whatever reason.

I dunno, I may get a WXM still. It sounds like a lot of people that run into this issue end up buying both and running both concurrently, because there are some features that are better in one or better on the other. For now, no more buying, but it's something I'll keep my eyes out for locally in the used market.

Somewhat related rant, I figured that because I saved a ton of money up, I could get new equipment for this tank, and get it all going at once. I waited like a month before buying anything, waiting for good deals on setups to come up while I researched what size and setup I would want, and nothing came up then. Of course now that everything is in, there are some fantastic tanks coming up for sale complete and used... Oh well, such is life. I could have gone with a used reefoctopus skimmer for $150, or a used last gen apex for $300-400... Always something. But in the end, I'm sure i'll be happy with this setup, and it'll last me for a long time. And warranty on all of the expensive electronic components (doubled through American Express) is a nice bonus too.

 

[JVan82]

Sweet never used reeflink, and had apex so went that route, linked 2 mp10s and xr15 on my bc 32, and when u added an xr15 to my lagoon 25 linked that as well. I'm not that versed in lighting nor do I have a par meter. After having the light on the 32 almost a yr, I have it mirrored on the 25 10% lower due to shallower tank etc.

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[ReefWreak]

Whew I bet that is a lot of light! These Radions are no joke. I haven't played with the light settings yet, other than using Ecotech's "Demo" mode that flips it between every available coloration setting. I threw the lights on "Corallabs AB+" at 30% for the time being, and that should be enough to cause some slight algae bloom during the cycle (if there is any cycle).

I finally have a heater and skimmer in the tank so I'm thinking of moving my three fishes over this week. They're small, so they shouldn't spike the ammonia at all, and now I have an ammonia alert badge in, and I've been adding a little pinch here or there to get processed over the last week so that it won't shock the system. I just have to be careful with the feeding, and I bought eggcrate to put over the tank so they don't jump. I'll be ordering an artfully acrylic lid once I figure out the final placement of the radions. Everyone has me so self-conscious about the shadow gap in the middle of the tank...

 

[JVan82]

My setting ms for the bc32. Heard the AB+ settings were based on gen 3s, so takes a bit more to do on gen 4s cause of the changes in LEDs

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[homer1475]

once I figure out the final placement of the radions. Everyone has me so self-conscious about the shadow gap in the middle of the tank...

I was going to mention that, but apparently others already have. :deadhorse1:

 

[soulpatch]

given how you set up your rockwork I would be worried about shadowing and such with that middle portion. That is prime SPS area and you will likely have some lighting issues there without an additional fixture over it.

 

[homer1475]

As far as mechanical filtration......

Since I'm fishless, I took my socks off. I have a little more particulate in the water column, the increased growth and overall tank health far outweighs it IMO.

My acans always have their feeding tentacles out, as well as my scoly. I have pods by the thousands! It literally looks like bugs crawling all over my tank. Since I'm not catching them in the socks, they are everywhere. My sump over the course of the last month is no different then if I was. I wonder though if my reactor and ATS pumps are sucking it up since they are right under the overflow?


Anyways, I will no longer run any mechanical filtration other then for a few hours after doing weekly maintenance.

 

[ReefWreak]

As far as mechanical filtration......
Anyways, I will no longer run any mechanical filtration other then for a few hours after doing weekly maintenance.

That's how I've traditionally felt, for sure. The only hesitation I have now is that this sump is oh so pretty, and oh so clean, that I don't want to mess it up. I did follow Soul's recommendation and picked up a Home Depot "Bucket Head" vacuum this weekend, so I can use that to clean the sump. I'm also planning on running water changes to and from the basement, so I will always have a gravity assist when siphoning from the bottom of the sump, so may not need the vac too much, but we'll see.

Lots of choices. I do like the idea of no socks though. But ughhh clean sump...

I also still want to convert the red sea ATO reservoir into a drilled refugium growing tumbling chaeto or something. I'd even consider the ghetto media rector conversions, but I can probably do just as well, and have a much cleaner end result with a vinyl-covered ATO reservoir. I've always wanted a refugium!

 

[homer1475]

Is it large enough to be effective as a refugium?

I could never get chaeto to grow no matter what I used for light, whether it tumbled or sat there. My ATS on the other hand kicks a*s! it grows quite nicely. The only thing I've noticed with the ATS, for a few days after I clean the screen I get some small brown furry algae. It's only on my glass and pumps, and dies out a few days later once the ATS starts growing again, but something worth noting that I've noticed. That compartment is the perfect size for pump fed waterfall ATS.....

 

[ReefWreak]

Yeah, I was thinking of doing either refugium or ATS. Not sure which yet and not sure if the fuge would be effective in the smaller space. I have one working LED light that could power it currently, but I guess it isn't expensive to get more.

The brown algae is probably just the stuff that would take over the day your ATS is turned off. Like how my nano is now just a beautiful field of green bryopsis, blowing in the breeze.

I think the one coral that survived I'll keep, and dip in peroxide first. I don't think there is any algae on it (somehow). Everything else died though. Favias are pretty hardy!

 

[Rakie]

Hey, you got a thing !

Also, if you're dead set on a fuge or ATS, I vote Fuge as it's less maintenance. Especially as time is a luxury you haven't had.

 

[homer1475]

Hey, you got a thing !

Also, if you're dead set on a fuge or ATS, I vote Fuge as it's less maintenance. Especially as time is a luxury you haven't had.

Really you think so?

My experience, refugium not large enough to be effective, constantly turning the ball of chaeto, GHA out competed the chaeto, and no matter what light I used I could never get chaeto to grow where it was actually effective.

ATS on the other hand is setup and forget. Takes me 5 minutes during tank maintenance to clean the screen. Simply scrape off with an old credit card and put back in. Simple, and effective means of combating nutrients. Also an ATS takes up much less space to be effective compared to a refugium that needs to be large to be effective.

While a refugium can be used as other things(a place to banish unwanted livestock, bully livestock, etc), an ATS is much smaller and more effective at nutrient export.

Yes I'm a firm believer in using an ATS as a means of effective nutrient export.

 

[homer1475]

On an unrelated topic.....

Deleted, figured it out.

 

[soulpatch]

Really you think so?

My experience, refugium not large enough to be effective, constantly turning the ball of chaeto, GHA out competed the chaeto, and no matter what light I used I could never get chaeto to grow where it was actually effective.

ATS on the other hand is setup and forget. Takes me 5 minutes during tank maintenance to clean the screen. Simply scrape off with an old credit card and put back in. Simple, and effective means of combating nutrients. Also an ATS takes up much less space to be effective compared to a refugium that needs to be large to be effective.

While a refugium can be used as other things(a place to banish unwanted livestock, bully livestock, etc), an ATS is much smaller and more effective at nutrient export.

Yes I'm a firm believer in using an ATS as a means of effective nutrient export.

You limited your fuge to chateo so not completly a fair comp. Other macro grows way faster and will quickly outcompete the GHA you have on the ATS. Not to mention the other side benefits. If one has the space I would typically always recomend a fuge over an ATS though an ATS is great for those short on space.

I dont agree that the fuge needs to be large to be effective either. It all depends on the stuff you have in it. I for instance have a mixture of ulva (which I feed to my tangs), culpera, some GHA, and some other macro that is reddish but not dragons breath. I pull it out by the handfuls every other week. I probably pulled 2 gallon bags worth this past weekend.

Then you have the side benefits of the pod population, detrious trapping, CUC breeding, and more all happening in there.

 

[homer1475]

You limited your fuge to chateo so not completly a fair comp. Other macro grows way faster and will quickly outcompete the GHA you have on the ATS. Not to mention the other side benefits. If one has the space I would typically always recomend a fuge over an ATS though an ATS is great for those short on space.

I dont agree that the fuge needs to be large to be effective either. It all depends on the stuff you have in it. I for instance have a mixture of ulva (which I feed to my tangs), culpera, some GHA, and some other macro that is reddish but not dragons breath. I pull it out by the handfuls every other week. I probably pulled 2 gallon bags worth this past weekend.

Then you have the side benefits of the pod population, detrious trapping, CUC breeding, and more all happening in there.

While I don't disagree with you on the benefits of a refugium(I still use mine, just not to grow macro for nutrient export), as far as a means of nutrient export, ATS wins all day every day. If you do any reading up on ATS's, you'll find quite a few people start out with macro in a refugium while starting an ATS. More often then not, the macro dies out as the ATS ramps up, telling me that an ATS is much more efficient at nutrient export.

You can also feed back what grows on the ATS, just like you do with whats growing in your refugium.

Plus Reef is limited on space in that setup where he wants to put the refugium. That tiny(2G I think) space would serve a better purpose as an ATS. IMO

Different strokes for different folk. Both get the job done. :thumbsup:

 

[soulpatch]

Read many Homer and a lot of people switch back to standard fuge like d2mini and even my friend up the street who has 302 scrubber. They all had issues with the levels on the tank rising and not staying as low as when the fuge was operating.

An ATS will be better then chateo but once you start adding in or replacing chateo with other macros that grow faster and export more I do not agree an ATS is better.

 

[homer1475]

And some people have switched back to under gravel filters lol. Like I said, different strokes for different folks.

I think this is one we will agree to disagree on.:bounce3:

 

[ReefWreak]

Hey, you got a thing !

Also, if you're dead set on a fuge or ATS, I vote Fuge as it's less maintenance. Especially as time is a luxury you haven't had.

I did get a thing! I'm very excited to get this tank going. Nervous about cycling and whatnot, algae, etc, but at least this is a nice big upgrade, and I can have tangs, and think maintenance will generally be easier, unless I get AEFW. Then it will be harder. :headwallblue:

I think this is one we will agree to disagree on.:bounce3:

Honestly I think you're both right, and I think either solution can and does work well. I agree with homer on the grounds that when I had GHA growing in my cube in the middle chamber, I credit that with a lot of the success I had in the early stages of my nano, and it was also still filled with pods and other interesting lifeforms. I agree with soul in that a fully working fuge has the benefits of an ATS plus potential additional benefits like temporary livestock holding. I think both systems fill up with pods and are breeding grounds for pods and some CUC.

Speaking of which, at some point I have to get on with a clean up crew. I'm actually looking forward to getting some algae in the big tank though. I hesitate to put the angel in because he'll be going from a tank filled with big green algae (he is having a field day, and is the fattest I've ever seen him. he looks huge, because he just picks at the green algae all day) to an empty tank.

I think I should probably ghost feed a little more until I start seeing some ammonia and ultimately algae. I have fed two or three times, I think I saw the seachem ammonia badge change color indicating a wave of ammonia, but it was gone quickly, and even with the lights on and high flow, I haven't seen any indication of algae anywhere.

I'm also kind of annoyed that despite doing two acid washes, watching the rock bubble, rinsing out tons of brown slime from the containers, I'm still seeing some "crap" on the rocks that are in the tank. Some of the little... dendrites of detritus (that's what they look like, I know they're not dendrites) are still on some parts of the rock, and the greenish skeletons of some thick fuzzy (and stiff/bristley) algae are on the rocks as well. I hope it doesn't grow in, but I thought the acid would definitely dissolve all of these. I didn't bleach in addition, since I thought the acid would be sufficient.

We'll just have to see how the tank fills in!

 

[soulpatch]

why not just grab some ammonia at ace hardware and dose the tank up to the level of 2ppm ammonia. You will have it cycled and no need to guess on the amount of ghost feeding needed to get your ammonia up. Nothing is in the tank so cycle it right and your fish can go in within the next week most likely as the cycle is fairly fast.

 

[ReefWreak]

Not a bad idea.

Honestly, I was going to ghost feed a little (which I've done), watch ammonia (which I've done and seen), and then move the fishes over. I'm pretty sure the small angel and 2 clowns won't spike the ammonia much if at all, even in a completely uncycled tank. This tank has had both Dr. Tims one and only (meh) and the bagged wet livesand to start it, as well as 2 marinepure blocks, and a skimmer. So I think realistically the tank should be good to go for those 3 small fishes.

When I had to emergency move them to a half-filled 5g bucket, ammonia was a concern. I imagine that with ~110 gallons of water volume plus all of the filtration steps, there shouldn't be much concern about ammonia as long as I don't go too crazy about feeding them right away.

The ammonia isn't a bad idea though, just to test the system fully.