TDB's 320 SPS Rebuild

[Remmers]

Tom

How high do you have the lights above the water?

Im trying to lay out my light right now on my 180 and Im doing something similar with the t-5 lay out.

Thanks

Rich

 

[CoralReefBoffin]

Tom. That last post I had to comment on ...

Nice to see you are continuing Reefkeeping perseverance, my friend, and that the fragment/propagation system is dialed in ... Also, it's excellent how you've generously/responsibly made it available to save some ailing specimens for other hobbyists in the area. It's important we all do everything we can to minimize ANY loss of ANY specimens, during the times our natural reefs/environments are under stress ... I respect that immensely man : )

Therefore, I would like to take the time to provide my advice, regarding the custom lighting system, for your consideration ... First, I would highly suggest going with 120* optics for the RB/B LEDs, no optics on the moonlights, as this will greatly enhance spread decreasing too intense spotlighting/PAR #s ... Especially given you are now switching out the Radiums for XM10s, which are already PAR monsters within themselves, and will ultimately provide the ideal balance in the lighting scheme you are attempting to achieve. HTH

 

[tdb320reef]

Tom

How high do you have the lights above the water?

Im trying to lay out my light right now on my 180 and Im doing something similar with the t-5 lay out.

Thanks

Rich

Hi Rich, The t5's are about 8" and the MH and LED are about 10" from the water. The light fixture has been solid and has proven to color up the most difficult of SPS.

 

[tdb320reef]

Tom. That last post I had to comment on ...

Nice to see you are continuing Reefkeeping perseverance, my friend, and that the fragment/propagation system is dialed in ... Also, it's excellent how you've generously/responsibly made it available to save some ailing specimens for other hobbyists in the area. It's important we all do everything we can to minimize ANY loss of ANY specimens, during the times our natural reefs/environments are under stress ... I respect that immensely man : )

Therefore, I would like to take the time to provide my advice, regarding the custom lighting system, for your consideration ... First, I would highly suggest going with 120* optics for the RB/B LEDs, no optics on the moonlights, as this will greatly enhance spread decreasing too intense spotlighting/PAR #s ... Especially given you are now switching out the Radiums for XM10s, which are already PAR monsters within themselves, and will ultimately provide the ideal balance in the lighting scheme you are attempting to achieve. HTH

Hey thanks for the nice words. Yeah the new light fixture has been expensive in experimenting. So far I tested 10K XM, 14K AquaConnect and 20K Radium, Coral Plus, Actinic and Blue Plus T5's and 60 and 80 degree optics on the leds.

With all of the testing I ended up with 20K Radium, Blue Plus T5's and 80 degree optics on the LEDS. Its a lot of blue but my corals have never looked healthier!

 

[russeko8]

skimmer

skimmer

I went with the 300 ext and it is constanly puking gunk must be from the tank not having enough load for the neck. Maybe you might want to use a smaller skimmer for a little while in the beginning. So far I have been happy with mine not sure it out performs my Orca 250 pro that I was using as far as skimmate but it does well and only draws .3 amps on my apex compared to 1.9 on the orca and the skimmate is much darker alomost black. Tank is looking great seems we are all off to a restart. lol

The SRO XP SSS5000 on the Tub is rocking but I am not sure what is up with the New SRO 300 Regal. It is not pulling skimmate like I am use to but the tank's parameters are perfect. I am not sure if it is because it has no sand and too new of a tank but defiantly not performing how I expected considering it has a 12" diameter body. I think the tank needs to mature and age to see if the skimmer is what they say it can do which is 800 Gallons.

The below video is skimmate for a week, change every Sunday. It is on a slight angle because the skimmer bracket holding the shelf silicone to the glass broke off so the shelf is sitting on the Hotwater loop.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lekGdYN9R2c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[banthonyb71]

hello, do you belong to any local clubs?

 

[tdb320reef]

I went with the 300 ext and it is constanly puking gunk must be from the tank not having enough load for the neck. Maybe you might want to use a smaller skimmer for a little while in the beginning. So far I have been happy with mine not sure it out performs my Orca 250 pro that I was using as far as skimmate but it does well and only draws .3 amps on my apex compared to 1.9 on the orca and the skimmate is much darker alomost black. Tank is looking great seems we are all off to a restart. lol

Hey Russ.

Yeah, I found three things out about this skimmer.

1. It is much more stable than my old meaning I can run it much higher in the Cup without overflow.

2. Yeah my tank was much too clean. Now that it is somewhat aged the skimmer is working as expected.

3. It is very efficient and quiet.

 

[tdb320reef]

hello, do you belong to any local clubs?

No there are not many here in SE but I do attend the swaps.

 

[stancfii]

I may have missed it, but what amperage are you running those LEDs?

 

[tdb320reef]

I may have missed it, but what amperage are you running those LEDs?

10 Strings of 12 running at 700MA each.

 

[tdb320reef]

May 2015 UP -- I am already out of room.

 

[mhucasey]

Its like the Golden Gate Bridge, a continuous process. Now you need to begin the planning process for building a bigger tank!

 

[cugly]

Reefers, The 320 is maturing and the Frag tank is getting packed. I ended up switching the T5's with 4 Aqua Blue Special and 4 ATI True Actinics. I Run LED Royal blue for the blues. The Results are incredible. Over the next couple months I will be moving the larger colonies to the big tank! I am also swapping out my Radium Bulbs for XM10K's for a similar look. The below video is all natural without white balance on my Note 4.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aOhOYEPlPFs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Looks great Tom colors are amazing. Hey i seen you post on frag swap group on fb you gonna be posting some of them goodies?

 

[cFloor]

I can't see the pic in post #91 Looking forward to seeing your tank stocked

 

[tdb320reef]

I can't see the pic in post #91 Looking forward to seeing your tank stocked

Yeah that link got messed up.

Here are some for my March Update! The colors are really popping. Running Radiums with all blue plus leaves the picture a bit blue on my Note 4 but I will break out the big camera in a few months when it all fills in.

Enjoy!

 

[mhucasey]

The corals are looking fantastic! So lush, great color and such polyp extension! What is your plan for thinning them when they reach each other? Bonsai trimming or removal of select colonies?

 

[sahin]

Great colours. Future TOTM I predict.

 

[tdb320reef]

The corals are looking fantastic! So lush, great color and such polyp extension! What is your plan for thinning them when they reach each other? Bonsai trimming or removal of select colonies?

I have a pretty large frag system, I usually trim and place in that system for aquaculture then distribute. Tank pays for itself in the end.

 

[tdb320reef]

Great colours. Future TOTM I predict.

Thanks!

 

[tdb320reef]

Yeah that link got messed up.

Here are some for my March Update! The colors are really popping. Running Radiums with all blue plus leaves the picture a bit blue on my Note 4 but I will break out the big camera in a few months when it all fills in.

Enjoy!

LOL I said March update--- I meant May. I guess old age is setting in.