scolley's Big Little Nano – yet another build thread

[scolley]

Thanks Kuda! Everyone posts for their own reasons. For me if one were to wonder, "Is he posting this to share, just 'cuz he just want's to talk about his tank? Or is he boasting? Or maybe just trying to help people by sharing the details of both good and bad experiences?"

For me it's definitely all three. But my major emphasis is on the latter - posting learned experiences is an easy way to help other learners.

 

[KafudaFish]

Don't forget the fourth reason: For yourself, so you can see your state of mind and thoughts over time.

It makes you pay better attention to details and may help you when issues will arise.

For example you may start using new bulbs or a product and two months later bam you have an issue. You look back through your build and notice there maybe a connection and if others had similiar experiences that lets you know that is a possible cause.

Keep up the good work.

 

[JasonBJones]

Great updates and I echo Kafudafish's comments, your summaries are excellent.

I would love to see some updated coral pictures.

What are your thoughts on your ATS now? I have read the long thread and you seemed generally very happy with it, curious if you still feel that way. I am considering building one.

 

[kaserpick]

Things are looking awesome. I agree with Kafuda; looking back at my old nTOTM thread made me realize something I wasn't paying attention to. I'm glad I posted details.

Glad to see your Copps are doing well. I just got mine yesterday.

 

[kaserpick]

Things are looking awesome. I agree with Kafuda; looking back at my old nTOTM thread made me realize something I wasn't paying attention to. I'm glad I posted details.

Glad to see your Copps are doing well. I just got mine yesterday.

 

[tpallas]

Good to see you around Steve - how about a FTS??

Very lucky to have Copps in my local aquarium club. I tell you, the red dragon has been one of my hardiest acros!

 

[scolley]

Long post, lots of replies: Sorry!

Long post, lots of replies: Sorry!

Don't forget the fourth reason: For yourself, so you can see your state of mind and thoughts over time.

That is very true! But not for me. I keep a detail log. Since I started reefkeeping 3.5 years ago, I've recorded over 3,000 water parameter measurements, and over 2,000 observations and actions. But for someone not keeping a detail log, posting would be a great tool.

There's a fifth reason too - photo documentation! I do not have that in my log. I don't personally post for that reason, but it is truly nice thing to have.

I would love to see some updated coral pictures.

What are your thoughts on your ATS now? I have read the long thread and you seemed generally very happy with it, curious if you still feel that way. I am considering building one.

Thanks Jason! And I'll have to get some coral pics for you.

As to the ATS, I love that thing. Oh, don't get me wrong, it is a PITA to maintain. I've taken to only cleaning half of it every other week. But I've found I can control my phosphate level by modifying the ATS's photoperiod. Too cool. It makes it really easy to keep just a little bit in the tank. Right now I run it at 16 hours a day. If I crank it up to 18-20 I could pretty much strip all phosphates out of the tank. But my SPS would not like that.

ATS's - IMO - get a bad rap because of all the magical properties ascribed to them. Plus many people use them as their only filtration - and reduce or eliminate water changes. That causes them to get blamed for a lot of woes that are actually the result of the non-standard husbandry. But to use one - as I do - as just "Chaeto on steroids" is great. I'm got a skimmer, run carbon, and change my water at a rate of over 50% a month. Adding an ATS to that is just another nice tool in the arsenal. And FWIW, when I clean it, I rip a surprisingly good sized mat of algae off it. One look and you've got to think "Wow, am I glad those nutrients are not in my water, and that this algae decided to grow here and not somewhere else!".

Glad to see your Copps are doing well. I just got mine yesterday.

Thanks Kasey! Wasn't it you that reccomended Copps to me? If so, boy do I ever owe you pal. When we meet someday, the beer's on me! :thumbsup: As you've seen, I just got my 2nd order from him. Awesome, awesome corals.

Good to see you around Steve - how about a FTS??

Very lucky to have Copps in my local aquarium club. I tell you, the red dragon has been one of my hardiest acros!

Thanks Tom!

And yeah... I should get an FTS. But it's not gonna be pretty. Like I said, I just fragged, so I've got some bare spots. Plus the hurting acans, and the uncovered stung corals from where they were by the Duncan I just removed. I'm not ashamed of any of that... it's all a part of the hobby. I just don't want you to thing the FTS is all going to be spectacular. But I'll do it!

And you have Coppolino in your club? Too cool! Good for you! What a great source of reefing knowledge, and not to mention frags! :dance:

And before I forget, I'd like to wish everyone a very, very happy Thanksgiving. Goodness knows I'VE got a lot to be grateful for! I hope you do to.

 

[jmsalt1]

Steve,

Thanks for the update! I saw you post on another thread that I was following and said, "hey, I havent' seen a post on that build in awhile". Always good to hear your experiences, good and not so good sometimes. Your dedication and honesty probably helped keep me from calling it quits at one point, specifically when I blew the glass out of 2 (yes 2) beautiful sumps that I built. Third time is a charm it appears. I posted on it if you want to see my agony. I imagine others have found some level of inspiration from your efforts as well. I felt like the hobby was consuming me a bit and I have finally struck a balance that keeps it intersting but not overwhelming. I think we all go through ups and downs with regards to our level of interest for various reasons, work, family, travel, etc. but it always makes me sad when I see people just selling all their nice gear and moving on or selling thousands of dollars worth of equipment at a fraction of the cost only to buy it all back again a couple years later. Thanks for keeping it real! Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[scolley]

Thanks for keeping it real!

Thank YOU for the very kind post! Posts like that are the reason I keep posting.

I saw your sump thread. That sucked. But I admire your decision to stick with it. That was several months ago so it looks like you fixed it! Looks like a nice sump too! :thumbsup:

If you want to see some "real", take a look at this thread.

A number of years ago no one seemed to know how to build a brainless tank (vendors knew, but hobbyists did not). So I set out to try, as documented in that thread. And boy-oh-boy, it got really, really "real". Might even be good for a chuckle if you find the video I made before I finally succeeded. I find that keeping your sense of humor also helps in those times when the hobby gets a little "too real", as it did in that effort.

 

[kaserpick]

Always glad to pass on great experiences from great people. Copps is definitely a great guy to buy from. He always goes the extra mile and then some. :thumbsup:

The colors on all your corals look great, btw!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[SantaMonica]

If I crank it up to 18-20 I could pretty much strip all phosphates out of the tank. But my SPS would not like that.

Awesome that your nutrients are something of the past

As a side note however, I'm not totally sure you'd starve the corals of P, because when P get that low (0.005 or lower; below test kits) a typical diy scrubber will really slow down. Thus saving the remaining P for the corals.

 

[Forrest3320]

Wow what a great tank. I love that someone did a fts with the room in it so we get a better feel how it looks in the room. fyi looks ggrrreeeaaattt

 

[scolley]

The colors on all your corals look great, btw!

Thanks Kasey!

I'm actually kind of shocked at how nice the corals colors are. Don't get me wrong... I've definitely seen much nicer. And continued improvement is something I'm seeking. But they're really not bad at all IMO. I don't have enough experience to KNOW why the colors are so good. But I SUSPECT that it's from multiple, complementary factors:

1. Low (but not no) nutrients from the improved skimmer, the ATS, and low feeding.
2. Great, healthy corals to start with (mostly Copps and RTMA, a local reef club buddy)
3. Stable water conditions with the key three (Alk, Ca, Mg) kept at appropriate levels
4. Careful selection of my LED bulbs/colors

I'm jonesing for a new LED fixture to add a bit more color, but IMO the right product has not reached the market yet. Though the yet-to-be-released Radium Pro might be it. Or I could build it.

As a side note however, I'm not totally sure you'd starve the corals of P, because when P get that low (0.005 or lower; below test kits) a typical diy scrubber will really slow down. Thus saving the remaining P for the corals.

Thanks for pointing that out. But are you sure? In the freshwater aquatic world I'm pretty sure that it's quite the opposite... when macro nutrient concentrations fall too low (crossing a critical threshold) higher order aquatic plants can no longer photosynthesize. But provided light, algae will continue to photosynthesize until you bottom out one of the four (barely available) macro-nutrients (C, N, P, K). I am surprised to hear that photosynthesis might work any differently in the saltwater world - with higher order photosynthesis (corals) being more opportunistic (still photosynthesizing at low macro concentrations) than lower order organisms (algae).

Awesome that your nutrients are something of the past

It's funny you should say that... this past week I started growing thread algae on my glass! And the hairy polyps on my Milipora started receding. I was a week overdue cleaning my ATS, but I didn't think that would cause it. But when I went into the stand to do my weekly maintenance a couple of days ago, I found that the silence on my skimmer had fallen into the water, essentially shutting my skimmer down. Assuming I did it when I last cleaned the cup, it's been that way for 1/2 a week.

Thankfully an easy fix! And coral happiness to return soon...

 

[JasonBJones]

As to the ATS, I love that thing. Oh, don't get me wrong, it is a PITA to maintain. I've taken to only cleaning half of it every other week. But I've found I can control my phosphate level by modifying the ATS's photoperiod. Too cool. It makes it really easy to keep just a little bit in the tank. Right now I run it at 16 hours a day. If I crank it up to 18-20 I could pretty much strip all phosphates out of the tank. But my SPS would not like that.

ATS's - IMO - get a bad rap because of all the magical properties ascribed to them. Plus many people use them as their only filtration - and reduce or eliminate water changes. That causes them to get blamed for a lot of woes that are actually the result of the non-standard husbandry. But to use one - as I do - as just "Chaeto on steroids" is great. I'm got a skimmer, run carbon, and change my water at a rate of over 50% a month. Adding an ATS to that is just another nice tool in the arsenal. And FWIW, when I clean it, I rip a surprisingly good sized mat of algae off it. One look and you've got to think "Wow, am I glad those nutrients are not in my water, and that this algae decided to grow here and not somewhere else!".

I think we share exact sentiments. I do not think an ATS is the end-all, be-all of filtration methods. However, I do think it can very effectively reduce N and P without the problems associated with chemical media.

If I decide to incorporate one on my tank, I will use it in the same method as you- a compliment to the existing filtration systems. I want to create a low nurtient environment, not an UNLS, while being able to feed heavily. I find this to be the best approach to SPS keeping. I think an ATS is a very powerful tool in such a system.

 

[scolley]

Jason - if you are comfortable with DIY, and follow instructions found on ATS threads here, I'm sure you'll be successful. Good luck!

 

[SantaMonica]

Thanks for pointing that out. But are you sure

Yes because you are just replicating the natural world of a reef, with really really low nutrients. FW plant natural environments, however, are not always low nutrient.

 

[scolley]

FW plant natural environments, however, are not always low nutrient.

Point well made, thank you! In fact in the FW world, nutrients are RARELY low, relegating algae to the role of bottom feeders... Eating what us not good enough for everyone else.

Thanks.

 

[iwishtofish]

Always happy when you post. Your tank is looking great, and it must be a lot of fun. Hopefully my next one will be similar. I have a lot of $$ to save first.

I love the Red Hot Chili Pepper!

 

[scolley]

Thanks! That Red Hot Chilli Pepper was being shadowed by my growing Pink Stylo. But when I fragged the the Stylo recently, I moved it a bit to give the Chilli Pepper some light. And it's taking off now.

The money's a sore subject! I remember about 10 years ago when I first started thinking about a reef tank, and the LFS told me to estimate $100 per gallon. I thought they were nuts! Little did I know...

That rule of thumb (without an inflation adjustment) does not account for the declining cost per gallon as tanks get larger. Using that rule, my tank should have cost $3,300. I wish!

People starting out try to tally up the total cost... skimmer $X, return pump $Y, and tank $Z. But that completely overlooks all the livestock (including coral) that you either inadvertently kill, or give away. And it ignores the money wasted because you spent $X on a skimmer (or whatever) trying to save money, only to realize that you really needed to spend more for a suitable one. And then there's electricity, and salt, and 2-part, and the expensive magic drops you had to buy get rid of your algae-du-jour... The list goes on.

Whenever I run into true newbies I try to tell them this. But they rarely want to hear it. They've added it all up, and aren't going to change the number now. IMO it's one of the contributing factors to why so many people give this hobby a try, and drop out within a couple of years. If they weren't willing to pay the true cost of the hobby, then they'd have been better off financially to just never start.

 

[iwishtofish]

I agree that the hobby is ridiculously expensive over time, but then again, so are others: sailboat racing, flying, world travel, gold collecting... Every time I decide I want to quit completely, I simply cannot.