Returning to what I love - My new 180 Rimless

[jbanks]

Hey Brett, thank you very much. I went back and forth on what dimensions to get. I decided to compromise with the 4ft length with 3 feet from front to back because the depth gives a lot of options for aquascaping. Originally, I wanted to go with a 6 foot tank, but didn't want the tank to be too much to handle. I really love this tank just how it is. However, if I could do it all over again, I would have had it built at 5 ft long x 36. I could have used the same light and loaded up with LPS on the sides.

As for Pics, I will try to put some together later this evening and post by tomorrow.. Thanks again!

 

[jbanks]

New Pics... The end of next month will mark a year of the first corals going in.. I've gotten a little lazy with my special blend treatments and Cyano is starting to creep back.. I'm gonna start hitting it again this weekend.. Other than that, the tank is coming along nicely..

 

[jbanks]

More pics

 

[tbone28]

pm on achilles :lol:

 

[IRISSERVICE]

Nice progress
Where in Queens are you?
I'm in Beechhurst...
I have to see this tank one day

 

[jbanks]

pm on achilles :lol:

LMAO!! We're gonna' have to find you one of these guys Terry.. However, before you drop any money... know that Achilles will give you a freakin' coronary worrying about them. I pray that this one makes it.. I don't know if I would attempt it again. LOL!

Nice progress
Where in Queens are you?
I'm in Beechhurst...
I have to see this tank one day

Thank you.. I'm in Laurelton, which is just a few miles down the Belt from JFK. You're more than welcome to come see her some time.

 

[aquaph8]

Beautiful color. Very inspirational.

 

[jbanks]

Thanks Brett!

 

[cthedaytrader]

I thought I would move my question out of the rimless thread. Tank does look great, and the new camera is working great.

Do you think the power of the ATI is a problem? I was thinking about getting the new dimmable 8x36 for my new tank which is 40x24x18, still on the fence, but I would love to control the fixture.

but I am still trying to decide on that or building my own hanging hood with MH and t5 or VHO, choices choices lol Are you happy with the coral colors?

 

[jbanks]

Thanks again Chris! I was skeptical about T5s at first, but now I absolutley love them especially running in the PM. I love the flexibility of mixing and matching bulbs to come up with the perfect tint to your eyes. I like my MHs as well, but the heat was too much for me. I love the fact that my basement is comfortable with all 10 T5s running. I do feel that you get better growth from MH, but its not bad at all under T5s. However, for me, my colors have never as good as they are under MH as they are now. I think the trick with T5s is making sure your doing a good job exporting nutrients. I think MH tanks using single ended unshielded bulbs are more forgiving with tanks that are not as low in nutrients as others. I would have loved to have a dimming version. I think you'll love it. Good luck with whatever you decide

 

[cthedaytrader]

Thanks for the input Jonathan,

Its funny you should say that the t5 fixture are less forgiving, it seems that way when I look at a lot of the t5 tanks, and the better ones seem really immaculate with large skimmers. Something else I noticed is the tank of the month ones also seems to always auto dose two part. I have a Geo 612 and Kalk reactor and have been debating on whether to just run the reacotr and auto dose some alk if necessary.

I wonder why the tanks would be less forgiving with t5s though.

Do you dose two part with the profilux? and use the reacor?

Do you think the 8bulb fixture would be too much on my tank 40x24x18?

Thanks again for the help.

 

[jbanks]

Your Welcome Chris.. I personally think that the unshielded Single-ended MH bulbs put out a large amount of UV light, which helps with coloration and intensity. I think this is where MH tanks are more tolerable of higher nutrients. T5s are intense, but in a different way.. the light is more evenly spread but the corals get the light from every angle.. The higher up they are the more intense the light is... For a more specific analysis, the lighting experts would need to chime in.. My take on this is simply from my own experience and what I've seen in other tanks..

I don't does two part , but the whole concept is very intriguing to me.. I like the fact that going that route mean less impurities that are being added to your system vi the aragonite.. It also seams like fairly simple maintenance once you have things locked in. Right now, I dose strontium, vodka/vinegar/Magnesium with my Profilux.

I think the 8 bulb is perfect for a tank that size.. Especially if you have a eurobrace. If it's rimless, you will experience way to much slight spill-over if you go with a 10 bulb. No need to waste your money or electricity..

 

[cthedaytrader]

THanks for the info, I think I have finally decided to go with the ati dimmable, and control it with the apex. I think I might try and dose two part and see how it is, and I will keep my Geo and Kalk recotr for now in case I want to set it up in the future.
Happy 4th!!!

 

[jbanks]

Good Luck Dude! Great choices! Let me know how it all works out.. Happy 4th to you and Everyone!!!!

 

[jbanks]

Sad news to report…. My Achilles is gone. It has been extremely hot and humid here in New York over the last few weeks and I have been having a very difficult time keeping a high concentration of dissolved oxygen in my tank. I've kept up with water changes every other week and water parameters are all in check, but my ORP has dropped and fluctuating between 230 and 250. Prior to the heat and humidity, it was up between 350 and 400 and the AT was doing well. Once the ORP dropped, the first thing I noticed was very rapid breathing particularly with the Achilles. Ich set in and the Achilles, my juvi Kole and juvi bluethroat all fell. My AT outlasted the others, which shocked me.

I've never had a QT tank, but unfortunately, I failed these guys and I'm going to what I have to going forward to try to prevent this from occurring in the future. Any helpful QT ideas/advice would be appreciated (Tank size, medication suggestions, whether or not to keep it up and running constantly with a few small fish, etc).

The tank looks really good in terms of growth and color of the corals, but I'm done with trying to keep difficult to maintain fish without QT first. It's too heartbreaking to see them deteriorate. What's funny is that with the rise in temperature, the corals have shown some serious growth. I will wait a few weeks and post some picture updates.

 

[Anemone0524]

can't wait for the pictures. Sorry to hear about the AT. Those are beautiful fish.

says you have an Ozone generator in your sig- doesn't that help manage ORP? Guess it couldn't keep up with the oppressive heat around NY....

 

[jbanks]

Hey Aaron, Thank you.. Yeah.. you hit it on right the head. The effectiveness of my ozonizer, which is typically my saving grace in these situations has been neutralized with the intense humidity.. At this point, I think I could probably generate more ozone by clapping my hands together...

 

[aquaph8]

I have the same problem. Its not so humid in Tucson but AC running 24/7 and a sealed up house kills oxygen levels especially with carbon dosing. I try to open the window by the tank once in a while but its hard to do when its 107 outside. As far as QT goes I prefer to keep mine running all the time cause Im kinda an impulse shopper. Most fish get a copper treatment cause I refuse to deal with ick ever again. After that I just monitor the fish for a couple weeks and watch for any sign of problems. IMO it makes it easier to get them healthy and give them a chance to fatten up before they go into the DT where they have to compete for food. I run a 20 long, I would go bigger if I had the space though. Now im in the process of a coral QT do to the amount of red bugs (which I have right now) and AEFW going around. Its always a challenge with this hobby. I swear its something new to deal with all the time. Sorry about your fish loss.

 

[jbanks]

Hey Brett,

Thanks Man.. That's some serious heat you're dealing with. Thank God for the low humidity out there. I will probably do the same and just keep the QT up and running. I will try to get everyone out when I get back from vacation for treatment.. I'm done with ich outbreaks as well.. DONE!!!

 

[Padrino]

Oh man that's terrible news Jon. That is my favorite fish so i feel your pain, There are currently a lot of chillers for sale these days especially around me. Now might be a good time to pick one up. Let me know if you need a hand sourcing one.