Sonny's Rimless Shallow Reef.

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14442075#post14442075 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by map95003
Hey Sunny, you've been running the T5s for a while now, you're still happy with the results? I have a 6x54w T5 fixture on my 75 (3x10k and 3xactinics). My bulbs are ~6 months old and I really don't like the color so I'm considering replacing them, I like the color in your pics, I'm sure it's even better in person. You still running the aquablue+ aquablue special combo? Would you recommend anything different based on your results?

Hello,

its been about 6 months since I stated the tank with T5's and I still love them. The color and growth is great and I have no complaints.

When I replace the bulbs this summer I will go with the same combo but MAY opt for something a little bluer by replacing one of the Aquabule Specials with a Blue+. Still not sure about the extra blue as I love the spectrum I have now. It is the truest to nature(without yellow) as I have seen.

What is wrong with your color?

 

[map95003]

Thanks for the response Sunny. With my current bulb combination the tank it too white, corals are growing but i'm not getting the colors I want. I'm thinking of going more blue.

I bought the fixture used (it was 3 months old) and the guy gave me a new set of bulbs too...they are some generic brand, I don't think they are the greatest. I'll swap them out with some ATIs or Giesemanns.

I don't want to mess up your thread, I'll post some pics in another thread and send you a link so you could see what I'm talking about.

 

[jennmac415]

Sonny... what do you think 4 blue pluses, 2 Aquablues and 1 Fiji Purple would look like???

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14448075#post14448075 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
Sonny... what do you think 4 blue pluses, 2 Aquablues and 1 Fiji Purple would look like???

I would say it would look very similar to the what I had when the Pro Color was running. It looked good and gave the corals a slight purple 'pop'. I would place the Fiji Purple 3rd bulb from the front.

 

[jennmac415]

Thanks, Sonny, I think that is what I am going to try...will let you know what I think.


so place the bulbs in an order similiar to this??

blue plus 1
aquablue 2
fiji purple 3
blue plus 1 numbers indicate which switches are together
blue plus 3
aquablue 2
blue plus 1


or something different??

 

[SunnyX]

No problem. Let me know how it looks and be sure to send some pics my way

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14448188#post14448188 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
Thanks, Sonny, I think that is what I am going to try...will let you know what I think.


so place the bulbs in an order similiar to this??

blue plus 1
aquablue 2
fiji purple 3
blue plus 1 numbers indicate which switches are together
blue plus 3
aquablue 2
blue plus 1


or something different??

That is how I ran mine.

 

[SunnyX]

Just wanted to drop in with another quick update:

I added frags of :
ORA Hawkins Blue
and a nice blue coral called "Blue and Bushy"

 

[SunnyX]

Well, its been a little less then 6 months since my tank was setup so I though I would post some pics. The corals took a while to color back up and get adjusted. You will notice that between December and February the growth and color really took off.

August 08:

December 08:

February 09:

 

[jennmac415]

amazing! Unbelievable that color is only aquablue and blue plus...why in the world does anybody use any other bulbs??

 

[hatfielj]

Looks great, that hippo tang is HUGE!!

 

[SunnyX]

Thanks guys and gals!

Just back from a locals home and picked up a NICE rainbow acan!

Now, I need to throttle back and let everything grow out a bit because I have been buying WAY too many corals lately.

Its a disease

 

[jonrx]

I love the look of you rock work.

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14448716#post14448716 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
amazing! Unbelievable that color is only aquablue and blue plus...why in the world does anybody use any other bulbs??

Well, many of the tanks in Europe only use these two bulbs. Look at IWAN's, he use only this combo.

The best way I can describe the look of the lighting I have is that it looks like an XM 10K without any yellow and the pop of 20K with actinics rolled all together. It is really quite a looker and covers the entire spectrum.

 

[uhuru]

gorgeeeous!!

 

[Oldude]

Well done Sonny, things look great!

 

[SunnyX]

Thanks again guys!

 

[catastrofe]

Sonny,

I'm not the first to say this but, your tank is an inspiration. So much so, that yesterday I ripped out about 80LBs of LR and re-aquascaped along similar lines.

I have a couple of questions. . .

I'm really interested in your nutrient export "philosophy". You mentioned that you were thinking of setting up a chaeto 'fuge. It sounds like currently, your sump is an "equipment bay" and that your nutrient export is skimming, water changes, carbon, and ROWAphos. Is that correct?

Also, please tell me more about your gravel vacum. I've been slowly removing my SSB because it's become a nutrient sink. In my many years of keeping SW, I've never heard of vacuming the sandbed. Freshwater, yes because it's gravel, but never sand.

Thanks again for a great tank!

Bob

 

[MACH5]

Great job SunnyX! Looks wonderful and I do appreciate your simple approach to reefkeeping. Something to be said for that!

Hopefully soon I will have my very own rimless Miracles glass tank. I take it that you're very happy with it??

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14453627#post14453627 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by catastrofe
Sonny,

I'm not the first to say this but, your tank is an inspiration. So much so, that yesterday I ripped out about 80LBs of LR and re-aquascaped along similar lines.

I have a couple of questions. . .

I'm really interested in your nutrient export "philosophy". You mentioned that you were thinking of setting up a chaeto 'fuge. It sounds like currently, your sump is an "equipment bay" and that your nutrient export is skimming, water changes, carbon, and ROWAphos. Is that correct?

Also, please tell me more about your gravel vacum. I've been slowly removing my SSB because it's become a nutrient sink. In my many years of keeping SW, I've never heard of vacuming the sandbed. Freshwater, yes because it's gravel, but never sand.

Thanks again for a great tank!

Bob

Thank you

The "open aquascape" is gaining ground in the world of reefing. The old methods of simply stacking the rocks up with no rhyme or reason is fading fast.

I never went with the cheato as I honestly don't think it could survive in my tank.

As for the filtration I run a large skimmer, carbon in a mesh bag, and Vodka along with Microbak7 bacteria. I recently stopped using ROWAphos as I did not want anything else competing with bacteria for food.

After trying many methods of filtration I can say that this has been the best. I add Vodka everyday, Microbak7 once a week, and my skimmer takes care of the rest.

The bacterial filtration has become so efficient that I now only change my water once a month(30gl) to replace vitamins and minerals. Although, I should just do 10gl changes a week, reducing shock on my system.

Concerning the gravel vac, I did it first time and it pulled out all sorts of crap. The second and third time not so much. I attribute this to the extra bacteria I have been adding. Its been about two months now since I last gravel vac'ed, and everything is still looking good. I may lay off of it until I see some degradation in the sand bed.