Sonny's Rimless Shallow Reef.

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13865363#post13865363 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by roktsintst
Sonny be careful w/ the vodka. i tried it about a month ago and i lost my tubs horrida and it burnt my shawn bennett yellow tort and my purple death Efflo. They are still both recovering.

I followed the directions to the "T" and my alk was only like 8.5

I gaveit up because it was causing more harm than good. Good luck with it and just keep an eye out on the Tips!

Thanks for the words of caution. I will watch my tank carefully for any changes.

 

[SunnyX]

spleify- Thanks!

SHOmuchFUN: Why not try a Fiji purple and an Ati Aquablue Special? I have used white VHO's with Phoenix bulbs in the past and it looks great. Blue+ or aquablue. it will still look very pleasing to the eye.

 

[SunnyX]

Well, I went to the LFS yesterday and got a great deal on some new corals. I ended up getting a Superman Digi, ORA Pink with purple polyp birds nest, and an unidentified red acro.

I will have some pics later on this afternoon.

 

[stunreefer]

Sounds sweet, looking forward to the pics!

Quick T5 question for you Sonny... you've got me very interested in trying all T5 on my new tank, but I'm wondering how many bulbs you'd recommend. My new tank is 36"W (48Lx36Wx24H), and I'm thinking a 10 bulb fixture would be able to cut it; This will be SPS dominant. The only 12 bulb unit out I know of is the Sfiligoi unit, but I dont know if I need 12 bulbs...LMK what you think, TIA!

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13872734#post13872734 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stunreefer
Sounds sweet, looking forward to the pics!

Quick T5 question for you Sonny... you've got me very interested in trying all T5 on my new tank, but I'm wondering how many bulbs you'd recommend. My new tank is 36"W (48Lx36Wx24H), and I'm thinking a 10 bulb fixture would be able to cut it; This will be SPS dominant. The only 12 bulb unit out I know of is the Sfiligoi unit, but I dont know if I need 12 bulbs...LMK what you think, TIA!

Austin,

A 10 bulb unit should be enough on you tank. You just need to place your corals accordingly. My old tank was 60x36x24 and I was only using 2x250W MH for a while until I switched to 2x400W.

 

[drama07]

great lookin tank Sonny! I had plans close to your exact dimensions and from miracle aquariums. Anyways that flopped 'n I stuck by a nano

It looks so sterile, but im sure that sand wont stay super clean for long

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13874354#post13874354 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drama07
great lookin tank Sonny! I had plans close to your exact dimensions and from miracle aquariums. Anyways that flopped 'n I stuck by a nano

It looks so sterile, but im sure that sand wont stay super clean for long

Thanks.

Actually, my sand in my old tank ALWAYS stayed nice, bright, and white.

 

[laredo300c]

hey sonny awesome tank.....i want to do the same setup as yours but not sure yet on rimless....completely worried about hanging the fixture.......anyway i've been dying to know how do you keep the glass on your tank so clean...i mean that thing is spotless...any tricks or is it the skimmer that keeps the water spotless...thanks

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13876135#post13876135 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by laredo300c
hey sonny awesome tank.....i want to do the same setup as yours but not sure yet on rimless....completely worried about hanging the fixture.......anyway i've been dying to know how do you keep the glass on your tank so clean...i mean that thing is spotless...any tricks or is it the skimmer that keeps the water spotless...thanks

Thanks!

Why are you worried about a hanging fixture? I could swing from my fixture, and I'm 6"4 260lbs. :eek1: Lol, seriously after drilling the metal wires into the wood beams in the ceiling I pulled on them really hard.

There really are no tricks to keeping the glass clean. The tank is very clean and I run the magnet over the glass a couple times a week, even if there is nothing on the glass.

Other than the minor issue with the Dino's I am defeating, I don't get algae. I have always been very careful when purchasing corals and such to be sure that I do no import any algae. The live rock I have in my tank has been with me for about 8 years, algae free.

Currently I have yet to see any green algae film in my tank.

 

[SunnyX]

Update:

1. Since I have the Dino's under control I have decided to destroy them once and for all! I have had the lights off for about 36 hours now along with dripping Kalk to drive up the Ph. A couple more days of darkness and high Ph should do the trick. Hopefully my SPS don't hate me for it.

2. Looks like I have a ton of bacteria on my sandbed. It is really clumping up. Looks like the bacteria is binding to the carbonate. I may end up replacing the sandbed for a new one, possibly this weekend.

3. I picked up a few new frags the other day from a local reefer. Ended up getting an Idaho grape monti, green slimmer, and orange digi. They are bland corals to many people but I love them.

4. I am still dosing the vodka method but may stop dosing it. I have noticed increased red cyano bacteria since starting dosage. I am probably going to be adding a cheto refugium this weekend and ditching the vodka. Im gonna monitor the red cyano carefully and continue vodka dosage for another week.

5. I rearranged the entire right side of the aquarium. I moved some rocks around and created a nice set of caves for my fish to live in. Plus I now get better flow between the rock work.

Well, that's all for now. Hopefully I will have some pics of the new aquascape today.

 

[stunreefer]

Are you turning your lights on at all in between, or going for a proonged "total darkness" period? IME certain SPS will get mighty mad after 72 hours of darkness, and all SPS after 96. Great job getting those godforsaken things under control though... they're such a PITA!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13906017#post13906017 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SunnyX
3. I picked up a few new frags the other day from a local reefer....... green slimmer

DUDE! I just fragged you one the other day! :lol: No worries, I'll get rid of it at the MMMC swap. My car is in the shop until tomorrow, but Ill get ahold of you after that to check this out first hand

Can't wait for pics! :thumbsup:

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13906123#post13906123 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stunreefer
Are you turning your lights on at all in between, or going for a proonged "total darkness" period? IME certain SPS will get mighty mad after 72 hours of darkness, and all SPS after 96. Great job getting those godforsaken things under control though... they're such a PITA!


DUDE! I just fragged you one the other day! :lol: No worries, I'll get rid of it at the MMMC swap. My car is in the shop until tomorrow, but Ill get ahold of you after that to check this out first hand

Can't wait for pics! :thumbsup:

Hey, I still want that slimmer!!!! The one I got is really small!

Yeah, Dino's are a BIG PITA. I had them about 6 years ago and it nearly wiped me out. High Ph along with no light is the best solution I have found.

I am running the tank with no light whats over. The fish wont be fed for a couple days but they will be ok.

Just shoot me a PM anytime so I can give you directions to my home.

 

[Dejavu]

The tank looks great! Dino's can be a PITA, I just got over them. I was a little worried about losing corals by turning the lights off and raising the pH. I used a HOT Mag, turkey baster and large weekly water changes. Three weeks later they were gone.

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13907107#post13907107 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dejavu
The tank looks great! Dino's can be a PITA, I just got over them. I was a little worried about losing corals by turning the lights off and raising the pH. I used a HOT Mag, turkey baster and large weekly water changes. Three weeks later they were gone.

Thanks

I am gonna toss some filter socks on and get some 1 micron filters to catch the free floating dino's.

 

[mcliffy2]

Can't wait to see the pics of the new scape...

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13907657#post13907657 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mcliffy2
Can't wait to see the pics of the new scape...

Well its not like it was a "major" redo. But it will be noticeable.

 

[SunnyX]

Ok, as promised here are some new pictures:

These first two are with 3 blue+ and 1 Aquablue Special on

The rest of these are with the full lighting

 

[SunnyX]

 

[SHOmuchFUN]

Is that with an ATI Procolor or with a Fiji Purple?
I thought I remember you saying you were getting or had received a KZ Fiji bulb?

Regardless, the tank looks amazing. Awesome job!

 

[stunreefer]

:eek1: Looks awesome man!!! :thumbsup:

That acan with the green centers is outlandish!