drummereef
Team RC
Looking great Alex! Corals and fish are looking very happy in their new home. Love the angel. 
Taqpol's 220 gallon custom Miracles tank!
- Thread starter Taqpol
- Start date
leslie hempel
Member
wow pretty awsome..
Taqpol
New member
The angelfish has such a cool personality!Looking great Alex! Corals and fish are looking very happy in their new home. Love the angel.
Thanks!
I haven't noticed a difference (I also haven't had time to test nitrates recently...), but it has only been in five days, and it is only half the recommended volume. The big problem I'm running in to is that the TLF 150 reactor is just not big enough to hold 1 L of flowing pellets. I am thinking of just dropping the extra money and getting the very nice pellet reactor that drummereef has (the NextReef SMR1), but now I'm also wondering if a TLF Phosban 550 would work. The 550 is about $40 cheaper then the NextReef, but I can't find any actual dimensions on the 550...
110galreef
New member
Is 1L the recommended amount on this size tank? I am setting up a 225g and will do the biopellets as well. Which reactor you planning. the nextreef SMR1 or SMR1 XL?
I will be fresh buy so will get one of these two!
Taqpol
New member
I actually ended up going with a different companies media reactor I found by reading Glass Reef's website, www.glassreef.com . If you haven't looked at this RC members setup, this website is a great way to see his AMAZING setup.
Anyways, I just ordered an Avast Marine Works MR-8:
http://www.avastmarine.com/ssc/do/product/mediareactors/MR-5-18
This company is really cool and they make a universal automatic skimmer cleaner for 'only' $100. They seem pretty DIY quality, and they even have kits to build your own reactor with their CNCed parts if you have the acrylic glue, but thats all I really need in a media reactor. It even came stock with mesh for running biopellets so I was sold.
The rule of thumb for biopellets is to run 250 mL per 50 gallons of system volume. Therefore 1 liter is supposed to be good for only 200 gallons, but I decided to start a little bit low. Since my reactor can run 8 cups of media (~2 liters) I can always up my number of pellets to 1.25 Liters in the future to more accurately match my system volume.
110galreef
New member
Thanks, I have seen their swabbie before..... Forgot about those!
How much flow you running thru your biopellets?
How much flow you running thru your biopellets?
carlosec83
New member
Seriously that angel is super sick.... i showed my wife the pic of it and she loved it too.... hope he does well in your very nice tank
Taqpol
New member
Today was the third time I've had to pay for a photobucket pro account, thanks to my probably oversize pictures and the great support of viewers like you.
As much as this can be taken as a compliment, I haven't wanted to dish out the full $24 for a yearly account as I've always assumed that the same amount of money would probably buy my own domain as well as some general purpose internet storage. This is something I've always wanted to get into but I don't really know how. My inspirations are:
www.rimlessreef.com
www.glassreef.com
www.leonardosreef.com
I would really like to set up a blog like webspace that had enough space and bandwidth to its name so that I could host all of my RC linked pictures on it as well. Does anybody following this know of a good provider?
As much as this can be taken as a compliment, I haven't wanted to dish out the full $24 for a yearly account as I've always assumed that the same amount of money would probably buy my own domain as well as some general purpose internet storage. This is something I've always wanted to get into but I don't really know how. My inspirations are:
www.rimlessreef.com
www.glassreef.com
www.leonardosreef.com
I would really like to set up a blog like webspace that had enough space and bandwidth to its name so that I could host all of my RC linked pictures on it as well. Does anybody following this know of a good provider?
Taqpol
New member
Its hard to say since I am running them off of my return pump manifold, but its enough to have the pellets tumbling pretty good.
I think one of the truest measures of success in this hobby is to impress skeptical wives.
Thanks!
Alex, love this one! How do you like your Canon T1i? i have been thinking about getting the Canon T2i.
Taqpol
New member
I absolutely love my T1i. My photographer cousin and I were talking about them just the other day, actually, and we both agree that there isn't a better camera out there for the money. While the T2i has the really fancy 17 megapixel sensor from the Canon 7D, the 15 megapixel sensor on the T1i/50D is already so powerful that it is getting to the point of being able to resolve small imperfections in lower quality lenses glass. Since high quality glass is so important for taking really good pictures, I would buy the cheaper T1i over the more expensive T2i and use the savings towards a really nice lens, like the Canon 100mm Macro.
You can and will upgrade cameras in the future, lenses are something thats supposed to last a lifetime.
You can and will upgrade cameras in the future, lenses are something thats supposed to last a lifetime.
v1...rotate
A Reef In The Sky
The biggest difference IMO between the two models is that the Ti2 has HD video recording in 720p & 1080p formats. A big bonus if you want to film your aquarium as well as taking pictures.
I agree with Alex that although the mega pixels are more on the T2i model, I also feel it is irrelevant... 15M is more than enough. However, the video recording function is what drew my attention to T2i camera in the first place and since it's been out around 6 months now, the prices will continue to drop plus it's the newest model in that range.
HTH's
Taqpol
New member
Wow Andrew, I am honored that you would post in my thread! I have been following your build in the SPS forum from close to the beginning and its always been inspirational. I hope my setup in the future has as many colors as yours does right now!
As far as cameras, I completely forgot about the video taking feature. A lot of hardcore SLR fans have made fun of the TXi series for having built in video feature (If you truly cared about HD video you would buy a much cheaper camera designed just for HD video that would have much better functionality), and while I can see where they are coming from it can be quite a nifty little feature and I have taken videos of my old reef with it. My biggest beef with my T1i video compared to a normal video camera is that the auto focus feature does not work at all, instead it has to go through a slow, clunky progression of all the intermediate focus points before it finds the right one.
I was not aware that the T2i could shoot full 1080p, but that is a nifty bonus. The T1i can shoot up to 720p, but it can to 1080i (interlaced). If I recall this also has half the framerate of the T1i's 720p. So many decisions, but if you are thinking Canon I think you're on the right track!
Taqpol
New member
Bump for the new page!
I have a 90mm macro and with the Canon i have the liberty of using an assortment of lens my dad has.
The HD video is one reason the I was thinking of getting the T
i over the T1i, but it nice to know that beside the HD there isn't much of a difference.
v1...rotate
A Reef In The Sky
Wow Andrew, I am honored that you would post in my thread! I have been following your build in the SPS forum from close to the beginning and its always been inspirational. I hope my setup in the future has as many colors as yours does right now!
As far as cameras, I completely forgot about the video taking feature. A lot of hardcore SLR fans have made fun of the TXi series for having built in video feature (If you truly cared about HD video you would buy a much cheaper camera designed just for HD video that would have much better functionality), and while I can see where they are coming from it can be quite a nifty little feature and I have taken videos of my old reef with it. My biggest beef with my T1i video compared to a normal video camera is that the auto focus feature does not work at all, instead it has to go through a slow, clunky progression of all the intermediate focus points before it finds the right one.
I was not aware that the T2i could shoot full 1080p, but that is a nifty bonus. The T1i can shoot up to 720p, but it can to 1080i (interlaced). If I recall this also has half the framerate of the T1i's 720p. So many decisions, but if you are thinking Canon I think you're on the right track!
Thanks for the words Alex... Canon is the way to go for sure!
I have followed your progress for a long time. From your fantastic previous tank, super photography skills, your tank moving disaster to your wedding, great honeymoon location 'Bora Bora' and now your new tank build.
Great to read it is all coming together and your current tank looking great and is developing really well.
Blitzburggirl
Member
My top recommendations would be Fish Room in North Raleigh off of 540, and then Carolina Reef Growers in Carthage. It's a bit of a ride, but you will be happy you did it
And it's a pretty ride!Edited to add... I'm late to the party here LOL You probably already have found these places on your own, especially if you went to ReefSmart!! You've got pm LOL
Last edited:
