Returning to what I love - My new 180 Rimless

[jbanks]

Thanks Sonny! The Fiji Purple is a really nice bulb. I love the way it looks with a Blue Plus for dusk/dawn effect.

 

[jbanks]

Bored at 2:30AM :lol:

New acan colony from LFS on bottom left of 1st pic. Expensive buggers!

 

[tas5tas]

How far off the water are your bulbs?? Are they still at 8" or have you lowered them??

 

[jbanks]

I have lowered them.. My lamps are about 4 inches off the surface of the water now. However, I can't tell if I improved thing by doing this... There are no visible signs. My clam was wide open with mantle fully extended when the lamps sat 8 inches above the water.

 

[jbanks]

I have lowered them.. My lamps are about 4 inches off the surface of the water now. However, I can't tell if I improved conditions by doing this... There are no visible signs. My clam was wide open with mantle fully extended when the lamps sat 8 inches above the water.

 

[jbanks]

Just added bunch of SPS Frags from RC's MGNY last night including a pink lemonade, purple monster, leng sy Cap, setosa, Red Robin Acro, Chips Acro, blue tipped stag, bonsai acro, etc. I want them to settle in for about two weeks and I will take some pictures... Until then, here are some recent shots taken right before the new sticks arrived..

 

[mcliffy2]

Some updated pics..

All 10 bulbs on

dusk/dawn 2 bulbs - Fiji Purple and Blue Plus

Love the look of the fiji purple/blue plus combo as dusk/dawn. Try adding a super actinic into that mix to get the greens/oranges to pop even more. I think you'll like it :beachbum: (although not sure if the PM has 4 bulbs for dusk/dawn or 2?)

 

[jbanks]

Those two bulbs are a nice combinitation. I had and antinic in the mix, but decided to remove it due to the low PAR value. Only having the ability to use two bulbs for Dusk/Dawn is the biggest limitation of the PM>.. How is Dusk/Dawn configured on the Sfiligio?

 

[mcliffy2]

Those two bulbs are a nice combinitation. I had and antinic in the mix, but decided to remove it due to the low PAR value. Only having the ability to use two bulbs for Dusk/Dawn is the biggest limitation of the PM>.. How is Dusk/Dawn configured on the Sfiligio?

The Sfiligoi has 3 banks of 4 bulbs each, so I have it come on and off in 3 stages. I do like that about it a lot...but it uses crappy fans (or at least the 2nd gen ones did, not sure about the 3rd) that seem to have died quickly for everyone, including me...so now I've got a fan blowing accross it ghetto style.

 

[jbanks]

That is a nice feature. I guess they all have their pros and cons. Ghetto practices come in handy with this hobby every now and again :lol:

 

[jbanks]

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!! Here are some updated shots. The tank is doing really well and is stocked with Frags and mini colonies.. It's time to just sit back and let things grow out at this point. I guess I can use this time to work on my ground effects with LPS. Always something to do :lol:

Tricolor Monti

Red Robin Frag

Wild light blue Acro

 

[Faisal1976us]

How did you connect your ozone ? did you run it with your skimmer ?

 

[jbanks]

I connected tye air inlet of my skimmer using a tee and a heavy duty John guest fitting. I can take a picture of it if you need it.

 

[Faisal1976us]

I connected tye air inlet of my skimmer using a tee and a heavy duty John guest fitting. I can take a picture of it if you need it.

with air pump or without it ?

 

[jbanks]

Definitely with an air pump...

 

[sedor]

I've been interested in running ozone on my tank as well, but i'm at a loss. Would you mind explaining what equipment you use and how you set it up etc?

 

[jbanks]

Sure. I use a Read Sea Ozonizer, which is outfitted with a controller ( the controller will allow you to set your target ORP and shut the ozonizer off when it reaches that mark). Make sure that you buy a unit with a controller. If not, make sure that you have an aquarium controller that can monitor ORP and act as a controller and shut your ozonizer down once ORP reaches the targeted value. I also purchased an air pump, air dryer and some 1/4" ozone proof tubing.. I connect the the air pump to the air drier. Then out from the other side of the air dryer to the inlet on the Ozonizer. Then, using ozone safe tubing , I connect the outlet of the ozonizer to the air inlet on my skimmer using a lee's T from Petland stuffed into a 1/2 inch (length) piece of 1/4" ozone proof tubing. I stuff that into a 1/4" john guest fitting and that connects to the air inlet on the skimmer..

The john guest valve is used to control the air input in to my Deltec Skimmer. The Tee is used simply because you don't know for sure if the air pump is delivering enough air to the skimmer in order for it to operate properly. After all, it has to push air through the dryer and ozonizer... who knows without an air meter how much air is actually getting to the skimmer at this point? So, the open end on the tee ensures that the skimmer is getting enough air along with creating a vacuum for the the ozone as well.

Dry air is very important for Ozone efficiency. If the air in the room is damp, it is beneficial to use an air dryer. The air dryer is stuffed with silica beads, which can be emptied into an oven-safe pan and literally baked in order to re-charge them (Dry them out). They turn pink when the are saturated and turn Blue/Purple when the are dry. If the air is very dry in the room, then an air dryer may be unnecessary. I don't use one in the summer because the window in my tank room is left open. However, as the winter approaches, I have to close the window and use the air dryer because the dampness increases.

I know this looks like a lot, but it's actually very simple. Depending on your skimmer, you may have to jerry-rig your connection a little different.

Once all connected, set you ozonizer at a mg/hr rate that is acceptable for your skimmer, set the target ORP and sit back and watch how clear your water will get.

 

[jbanks]

Hey Everyone, As of yesterday, I'm now a card carrying member of the "Rimless Reef With a lovely Screen Top Club" Uggg!!! I'm almost ashamed to admit how many clownfish have gone suicidal on me since I started this tank in June.. I just couldn't bear coming down to the basement in the morning to find another beautiful clown as crispy as a potato chip in front of my Tank.. I've had a screen kit for a few months now, but I held off as long as I could to give the fish a chance to settle in.. All were fine, with the exception of the clowns and 1 wrasse.. For the screen, I used some standard netting from Lowes.. I would like to change over to 1/2" netting as soon as I can find it for more protection... Here are some pics:

 

[jbanks]

Here is my current inhabitant list:

SPS
ORA Pearlberry
ORA Bellina
ORA Chips
ORA Red planet
Candelight Acro
Purple Millepora
Blue Millepora
Ponappe Birdsnest
Bird of Paradise
Blue Cali Tort
Oregon Tort
Leng-Sy Cap
Yellow Cap with Purple polyps
Blue Stag
Hot pink Thick Bran Birdsnest
Steve Tyree Birdsnest
Light Pink thick branch birdsnest
Pink Birdsnest with purple polyps
Green birdsnest
Thick Branched Peach Birdsnest with lime green tips
PurpleMonster
Pink Lemonade
Red Robin Stag
Garf Bonsai
Green Poccillipora
Tricolor Valida
Tricolor encursting montepora
Montepora Setosa
Wild flourescent green table
Wild ice-blue Acro
Bali Green Slimer
Purple Tipped Stag
Hydnophora
Green Stylophora
Orange Digi
Green Digi

LPS
Green Meat Coral
Acan Enchinata Green/Orange
Acan Lord- Rainbow
Acan Lord- Green Orange/Green/Red
Green Trumpet Coral
Green Chalice with orange eyes
Frogspawn

Clams
1 Ultra Crocea
2 Ultra Maximas

Wanted list
Green Aussie Scoly($$$ouch)
Red Aussie Scoly($$$ouch)
Lots more Acan Lords
More Chalice
500$ Efflo
Assorted Millepora
Zoos

 

[snaza]

Any updates? My ATI finally arrived but still haven't setup the new tank. I have ALL my equipment now ready to go. would like some new pics

thanks

Aaron