Sonny's Rimless Shallow Reef.

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14585666#post14585666 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jennmac415
thanks, I know it is iodine, but what does it do for the tank?

I feel it gives me better blue's in my corals because of the Potassium component of Lugols.

I have been dosing it weekly for many years now with good results so I dont see a reason to stop.
 
thanks Sonny! If it helps make your tank as beautiful as it is then it is worth looking into...
 
Sonny, first off love your tank, it has been a great source of insperation and info for me.

i am in the slow process of setting up a new system (i want to do it right from the start this time!) i too will be going t5
(ati PM 8x54...)

anyway how do you like the Aqua science blue 22k? would you recomend this bulb, if so would you recomend this bulb inaddion to or instead of ati blue+? well while you are at it what bulb config would you recomend in the 8x54?

tank size 48x24x20 hope to be sps dominant & less is more aquascape forsure:)

ps, you will love the vortecs i know i do!
 
Well, I went to the LFS to look for a frag tank and I picked up a SWEET ORA Borialis. :D

I also put in an order for the ATI 24" 4x24W SunPower T5 High-Output Fixture for use on a new 2x2x1 frag tank.
5f567c576ee8ead92077e312236e50de.jpg


Believe it or not, in all my 14 years of reefing I have never had a frag tank. :o
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14587865#post14587865 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by boodlefish
Sonny, first off love your tank, it has been a great source of insperation and info for me.

i am in the slow process of setting up a new system (i want to do it right from the start this time!) i too will be going t5
(ati PM 8x54...)

anyway how do you like the Aqua science blue 22k? would you recomend this bulb, if so would you recomend this bulb inaddion to or instead of ati blue+? well while you are at it what bulb config would you recomend in the 8x54?

tank size 48x24x20 hope to be sps dominant & less is more aquascape forsure:)

ps, you will love the vortecs i know i do!

Thanks! :D

Concerning the Aquascience 22k I am really liking it. It looks exactly like the Blue+ except it gives off a nice actinic "pop" to my corals. The Blue+ is cheaper and almost the same bulb so i would go with that.

5 Ati Blue+'s and 3 ATi Aquablue Specials would look great in the fixture.

Something like this:

FRONT
Ati Aquablue Special
Ati Blue+
Ati Blue+
Ati Aquablue Special
Ati Blue+
Ati Blue+
Ati Aquablue Special
Ati Blue+
 
I think you'll enjoy having a frag tank. I recommend running it inline with your display to a common sump if possible. Far less stress on the frags.
Glad to see things are going so well for you.
I might have to try the vodka dosing myself, I did Polyp labs "reef-resh" for 2 years but that option is now too costly with my new tank.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14591220#post14591220 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Oldude
I think you'll enjoy having a frag tank. I recommend running it inline with your display to a common sump if possible. Far less stress on the frags.
Glad to see things are going so well for you.
I might have to try the vodka dosing myself, I did Polyp labs "reef-resh" for 2 years but that option is now too costly with my new tank.

My skimmer is oversized so the plan will be to incorporate the frag system somehow.

The vodka method works great and VERY cost effective. Just find a good bacteria supplement to go with the Vodka and you will be set. :thumbsup:
 
thanks for the advice Sonny,

thats pretty close to what i was thinking but i might have to throw a Aquasciece blue 22k in there too. :)

thanks again
 
Hey Sonny, from where did you order the Sunpower? I'm thinking about using one on my future frag tank as well.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14593567#post14593567 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dudester
Hey Sonny, from where did you order the Sunpower? I'm thinking about using one on my future frag tank as well.

Email gmorgan@reefgeek.com and tell him you would like to pre-order for the next round of ATI's coming in. I believe the next shipment is coming in two weeks.

Just copy and paste one of these along with your email:

ATI 24" 4x24W SunPower T5 High-Output Fixture -- $349.00 w/ Bulbs -- $409.00

ATI 24" 6x24W SunPower T5 High-Output Fixture -- $419.00 w/ Bulbs -- $519.00

ATI 36" 4x39W SunPower T5 High-Output Fixture -- $389.00 w/ Bulbs -- $449.00

ATI 36" 6x39W SunPower T5 High-Output Fixture -- $479.00 w/ Bulbs -- $579.00

ATI 48" 4x54W SunPower T5 High-Output Fixture -- $419.00 w/ Bulbs -- $479.00

ATI 48" 6x54W SunPower T5 High-Output Fixture -- $519.00 w/ Bulbs -- $619.00

ATI 60" 4x80W SunPower T5 High-Output Fixture -- $469.00 w/ Bulbs -- $539.00

ATI 60" 6x80W SunPower T5 High-Output Fixture -- $619.00 w/ Bulbs -- $729.00
 
Sunny, here's a combo for you to try, for when some bulbs are turned off (i.e. sunrise or sunset):

1 UVL Actinic, 1-2 Blue Plus, 1 Fiji Purple

I had been running 2 Blue Plus and 2 Actinic for my sunrise/sunset, but I swapped out one of the actinics over my birdsnest for a fiji purple to try and bring out more pink in it, and the result was just really really cool...a different coloration than I've ever seen before.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14593864#post14593864 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mcliffy2
Sunny, here's a combo for you to try, for when some bulbs are turned off (i.e. sunrise or sunset):

1 UVL Actinic, 1-2 Blue Plus, 1 Fiji Purple

I had been running 2 Blue Plus and 2 Actinic for my sunrise/sunset, but I swapped out one of the actinics over my birdsnest for a fiji purple to try and bring out more pink in it, and the result was just really really cool...a different coloration than I've ever seen before.


I did something like that with a Pro color, Blue+, and Aquablue Special. The color was weird but looked really cool.

I have tried red bulbs in the past and never cared for them. I really like the color my current combo gives off.

As for the actinics I only have 7 bulbs so it may not be feasible. If I had a 10 bulb fixture I would give it a shot. With the limited amount of bulbs I have I would to keep the PAR as high as I can. I may give the Fiji Purple a shot the next go around if its not too red.

I plan on using 2xBLUE+ and 2XAquablue Special on my frag tank. This ratio has always yielded great growth and coloration.
 
I really don't like the ATI procolor, I felt like it had yellow and orange overtones I just don' t like. I've tried it twice and just got rid of it a second time.

The fiji purple is a different animal than the procolor and far superior IMO for a couple reasons. First while it will bring out some pinks, it isn't so much red, but white, with overtones of purple pink and maroon (no ugly yellow overtone) And the Fiji is PAR monster - compare the PAR on it of 330 to the PAR on the pro color of 215, which is about the same as the UVL Actinic (210). (Source for PAR: http://tfivetesting.googlepages.com/par)
 
Also, if you think about the grand scheme of your PAR numbers, an Actinic is not totally useless - it only drops PAR on one of your seven bulbs by about 33%.

So if your combo is:

Blue plus - 311
Aqua blue -336
Blue plus - 311
Aqua blue - 336
Blue plus - 311
Aqua blue - 336
AS 22k - 302

You are looking at a total PAR output (obviously not what is experienced in any one place) of 2263 (if the math in my head is right). Replacing one blue plus with an actinic, and one AS special with a fiji (I tend to think of the fiji as interchangeable with a white bulb), that would drop your total PAR output to 2159 (again in my head), so not too big of a difference. but again, thats the great thing about T5s is its a matter of personal preference and you can adjust the color to your liking :)
 
HI Sunny,
Bravo, Beautiful tank.
You tank reminds me of Iwans.
Whats th secret to those great colors?
Do you think the reefbooster has brought out those colors?
Oh, I read that at one time you used a slime remover, can you tell me what kind?
Thank you,
Frank
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14594362#post14594362 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mcliffy2
Also, if you think about the grand scheme of your PAR numbers, an Actinic is not totally useless - it only drops PAR on one of your seven bulbs by about 33%.

So if your combo is:

Blue plus - 311
Aqua blue -336
Blue plus - 311
Aqua blue - 336
Blue plus - 311
Aqua blue - 336
AS 22k - 302

You are looking at a total PAR output (obviously not what is experienced in any one place) of 2263 (if the math in my head is right). Replacing one blue plus with an actinic, and one AS special with a fiji (I tend to think of the fiji as interchangeable with a white bulb), that would drop your total PAR output to 2159 (again in my head), so not too big of a difference. but again, thats the great thing about T5s is its a matter of personal preference and you can adjust the color to your liking :)

Very good point.

I guess it not so much the PAR that worries me. It's the "dimness" I see when actinics are on. That is why I prefer the blue+ over an actinic.

Now that you mention the total PAR numbers I may give an actinic a shot the next round of lamps.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14594480#post14594480 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tatoofr
HI Sunny,
Bravo, Beautiful tank.
You tank reminds me of Iwans.
Whats th secret to those great colors?
Do you think the reefbooster has brought out those colors?
Oh, I read that at one time you used a slime remover, can you tell me what kind?
Thank you,
Frank

I would say the difference has been the combination of bacteria, Vodka, and Amino Acids.

These pics are before and after Vodka, less than 2 months apart:

December 08
DSC_0061.jpg


February 09
225.jpg


I feel the Vodka cleared my water up allowing more light in along with helping bind PO4 for exportation via the skimmer.

Oh, and I used Red slimer remover to handle the slime after an overdose of vodka.
 
Thanks, Sunny.
When you say aminos, do you mean the reef booster or do you use a different amino. Question for a friend if you dont mind. Can you use vodka with a plemum.
Did the red slime remover do any harm to the tank.
Thank you ,
Frank
 
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