The Eagle Has Landed - My 48 x 28 x 30 Tank

[gedsta]

So.... nearly a month in from the Radions being added, and I have to say really really happy with them.

They are now running at 75%

The devil coral (pavola) is looking great and finally got its colour back and has now more or less covered the milliput it was stuck down with, and has got all the hairy bits back on it.

My frogspawn is probably twice the size it was a month ago as well.

Not lost any more frags either so it was obviously the reduced light that saw those off initially.

One of the biggest comparisons is this one.

11/11/2013

Today

 

[gedsta]

A few piccies from today

 

[gedsta]

And some more

 

[meshwheel]

gedsta,
Looking very nice! seems they have got the led's dialed in well. I love mine, and they put out a massive amount of par. Still running mine at 50% blue channel and 40% white violet red channel.
Your corals colors look very nice as well. Cannot wait to watch them grow. I am going all frags as well in my tank. It's fun to watch em develop and color up.
Are you using the RedSea "Colors" additives as well?

 

[tdb320reef]

Great growth!

 

[gedsta]

gedsta,
Looking very nice! seems they have got the led's dialed in well. I love mine, and they put out a massive amount of par. Still running mine at 50% blue channel and 40% white violet red channel.

I lost a couple of frags when running the Radions on acclimatisation, I was too cautious I guess. I had them on acclimatisation on 40% lol so they were running about 20% brightness. I had an ATI 8x54w unit before so I should have just stuck them straight on at 45% I suppose.

Stick a FTS on this thread mate?

Your corals colors look very nice as well. Cannot wait to watch them grow. I am going all frags as well in my tank. It's fun to watch em develop and color up.
Are you using the RedSea "Colors" additives as well?

99.9% were out of mates tanks as frags, some believe it or not from one with over 100 Nitrates and 1.44 Phosphates (salifert and hanna) I won't buy colonies unless they are nearly dead or out of another reefers tank, as I think we harvest enough out of the sea. A bit hypocritical I know, as I get fish, but at least I haven't depleted the sea of coral lol

I also prefer to use frags as if they die, its no real damage as well. Plus I have got patience as well.

I dose Colours A B C D but only at 2ml per day, not even sure if they go in or not, as I didn't have any check valves on the tubing, but I do as from yesterday, so should definitely be 2ml going in now. The only reason I am dosing those is that they came with the dosers, I don't think I would buy them tbh

I have also just started to do some water changes, I set this tank up in July 2013 and refrained from doing them for a few months, and am now just finishing off half a bucket of TMC Pro Reef salt, by doing 31.5litre water changes every 10 days or so.

Once this salt has gone, I am going to try the Aquavitro Salinity for a bucket at least.

 

[gedsta]

Great growth!

Thanks mate, I hadn't even noticed how much it had, until compared photos etc

The LEDs have only been on a higher than 45% profile for about 10 days or so, and so far the corals appear to be loving it.

 

[nycoral1]

Amazing tank I used to live in the uk for several years.

Where abouts are you located.

 

[gedsta]

Amazing tank I used to live in the uk for several years.

Where abouts are you located.

Near Warrington, if you have ever heard of it lol

Thanks for the compliment. :beer:

 

[meshwheel]

gedsta,
My tank is 36x18x24 acrylic tank. I built the stand and installed a granite counter top all around 3 sides. I have high bar stools that site around the bar.
The bottom of the tank is actually 46 inches tall! Top is about 65 inches tall. I dont like hunching down anymore looking at my tanks! You walk in, it's eye level. You sit down at the bar for a drink, your staring right at it!
So far I love it. Rock and new gravel just add. Water balancing out. Nirates 0.25 and Phosphates 0.16. I need that nopox!!! LOL.
its coming along nicely. I added 3 corals LPS and three fish that I have had for about 5-7 years. Here's a few pics. Kinda plain but getting there. Tunze Wavebox and Vortech MP20 plus 2 returns from down below.
240 watts of ReefBreeders led lights. Love em so far!

 

[gedsta]

That looks pretty cool dude.

Those lights definitely look more than capable as well.

Your Nitrates and Phosphates are about the levels I had when I set this tank up, less than a week for NoPox to sort for me lol

I did a water change today, and not sure if the tank looks any better for it or not though. I don't even bother testing for Nitrates or Phosphates at the moment anyway, last time I tested was 3/11/2013

I can just tell when they have risen as I get an algae film on the glass, which I had to clean about 3 times a day prior to getting the levels where I wanted them. Now I do it about 3 times a week tops.

The one thing you will notice with NoPox is a white film if your dosage is too high, on the glass, I just halve the dosage when I spot that, as the bacteria is multiplying too quickly.

 

[meshwheel]

gedsta
Thanks! Yea, half dead rock and half live rock. I may change around my rock too or add to the center. Not sure yet. I am starting to get some algae.
I hate snails, so I will start adding the nopox as soon as it arrives tomorrow. I ordered a liter of it. Along with Reef Energy parts A&B as I have heard rave reviews about it as well. I will follow their directions. Being part Jewish I love RedSea products...................LOL. Gota support my hommie...............lol
Their regular salt is my favorite, with consistent spot on levels always! I still prefer Salifert test kits, but I know getting used to the RedSea would be key. I have their test kits as well. I also ordered all their trace solutions too.
It should last me quite a while.
My lights are awesome! And 499.00 plus FREE SHIPPING and no sales tax was awesome! They only have 2 channels, but I can live with it. Coming from metal halides it's like nothing I have ever had before as far as lighting adjustability.
I can also adjust each channel at each 1/2 hour intervals(or 1 hour) so its great! I am at 50 blue 40 red white and UV. With the unit 9 inches off the water I am getting PAR readings around 400 at 14 inches below the water. The spread it EXCELLENT TOO! No spotting or anything I can complain about. Plus 2 year full warrantee.
I gota love it for the price!

 

[gedsta]

gedsta
Thanks! Yea, half dead rock and half live rock. I may change around my rock too or add to the center. Not sure yet. I am starting to get some algae.
I hate snails, so I will start adding the nopox as soon as it arrives tomorrow. I ordered a liter of it. Along with Reef Energy parts A&B as I have heard rave reviews about it as well. I will follow their directions. Being part Jewish I love RedSea products...................LOL. Gota support my hommie...............lol

I used 65kg of dead rock mate, then removed 8kg and added back 8kg of live rock to seed it. Everyone said to soak it in RO for weeks with GFO and I just went ahead and threw it in.

I have about 60 different snails in mine mate, I had loads of green algae as well initially but within 2 weeks of NoPox it disappeared, will dig you some comparisons out in a bit so you can see.

I have Red Sea wise

NoPox
Reef Energy A and B
Colours ABCD
Foundation ABC
Algae control test kit
KH/Calc/Mg test kit
Aiptasia X (doesn't work imo though)
And I filled the tank with RSCP salt

The Reef Energy has been dosed since 29/08/13 and I started with 20ml of each, tried dropping it and then went back to the 20ml which is what I still dose today.

Their regular salt is my favorite, with consistent spot on levels always! I still prefer Salifert test kits, but I know getting used to the RedSea would be key. I have their test kits as well. I also ordered all their trace solutions too.

You cannot go wrong if you follow the instructions, I have used RSCP salt for about 4 years and think its great. However I am changing to Aquavitro Salinity very soon, as we are getting some samples from work to give it a go with. I don't normally do water changes but I had half a bucket of TMC Pro salt that someone gave me so I am just finishing that off before I try the Salinity.

As for test kits I use

Calcium - Salifert
Phosphate - Hanna or RedSea
KH - Salifert
Magnesium - Salifert
Nitrates - Salifert or RedSea

And thats about all I test for when I can be bothered. After the water change today, I tested KH - 12 and Calcium - 450 - Nearly always the same whenever I do test stuff.

My lights are awesome! And 499.00 plus FREE SHIPPING and no sales tax was awesome! They only have 2 channels, but I can live with it. Coming from metal halides it's like nothing I have ever had before as far as lighting adjustability.
I can also adjust each channel at each 1/2 hour intervals(or 1 hour) so its great! I am at 50 blue 40 red white and UV. With the unit 9 inches off the water I am getting PAR readings around 400 at 14 inches below the water. The spread it EXCELLENT TOO! No spotting or anything I can complain about. Plus 2 year full warrantee.
I gota love it for the price!

Where are they from, China?

They look similar to a few units that some guys I know have bought and are well pleased with, do they have an SD card for programming etc?

The Radions need highering on mine, as you can see the rays of light where they cross over, which isn't apparent on your pictures, so either my lights are too low or the LEDs that you have have better lenses perhaps?

 

[gedsta]

I just checked my notes mate.

I started dosing 20ml of NoPox on 25/08/2013

Heres a piccie from 23/08/2013

Clearly shows the algae growing etc

Here's the same coral on 02/09/2013

I started dosing Reef Energy A and B 29/08/2013

Same coral as at today

 

[meshwheel]

Gedsta ,
Finally got the rest of the wiring ran. Looking much cleaner now! Here's a pic with the door off. I may the stand so the door comes off and is out of my way completely. This way I can get in there easily! Let me know what you guys think.

i like it because its my little wave station. I dont have to go under the tank to turn off the feeder timers! I can do it all right here and make adjustments accordingly

Here's a plate coral that was the size of a quarter when I got it from RAP about 2-3 years ago It's now 5 inches in diameter. Needs a little less light. then the colors will really look fantastic!
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Here's the Galaxia. He's coming back strong, and these LPS seem to love the led's!
[URL=http://s182.photobucket.com/user/65bug_01/media/Wiringdone005_zps73dacc0f.jpg.html]
Here's a Acan I got from a friend on a rock. I found things I did not like on the rock, so i cut the Acan off with a hacksaw! In a few days he will be mounted. Trying to determine his lighting needs as well. This guy has spectacular genetics!!!

Tank looking good. My phosphate shot back up to 0.23.........:uzi::uzi:
Lights are China lights, but very very well built! The company building these lights knows what they are doing. I have 90 degree lenses on mine, thats a huge PAR booster. They do bleed out a little lights through the sides though. Alloy coated would be a crazy amount of light!!!
Basic timer, but i like it!

 

[gedsta]

That looks great mate, all corals look ace.

I have a soft spot for the fungia / plate coral - I have 3 now lol

I struggle with acans tbh always have done. They fluff up for a few days then go to nothing special thereafter.

A few lads I know have very similar lights to yours if they are the same, one keeps a predominately LPS tank, and the other predominately SPS - Both are having great success so I have no doubt yours are up to the job. They definitely look like it.

I used to use Reef Beams 4 years ago, they were the most basic you could get but were £400 each and I needed 2 and they kept going bang all the time.

YOur tank looks so clean, how often are you cleaning glass etc?

 

[meshwheel]

gedsta,
The tank is acrylic mate. I am very partial to acrylic. I service tanks, and it seems like anything over about 80 gallons here in the states always ends up leaking at some point. In California the ground moves around alot! With acrylic, its never a issue.
Acrylic is so much more clear then glass. Unless you get the extra clear glass(low iron) then the glass scratches easily.
I got my nopox today and dosed my 5 mls today verrrrrrrry sloooooooowly...lol. this stuff smells like bloody finger nail polish remover!!!!
I also purchased the Reef Energy A&B and all the 4 elements as well. I thought i would try the Brightwells carbon-X. I will use a little in a bag in my sump.
I think about a week and I should be able to add my first set of SPS. I am looking for ORA corals.
So how is your tank doing?

 

[gedsta]

gedsta,
The tank is acrylic mate. I am very partial to acrylic. I service tanks, and it seems like anything over about 80 gallons here in the states always ends up leaking at some point. In California the ground moves around alot! With acrylic, its never a issue.

Doh! My bad.

Acrylic is so much more clear then glass. Unless you get the extra clear glass(low iron) then the glass scratches easily.
I got my nopox today and dosed my 5 mls today verrrrrrrry sloooooooowly...lol. this stuff smells like bloody finger nail polish remover!!!!

Yup stinks, and everytime I opened the sump initially it smelt worse lol

I just used to pour it in the last compartment mate, never worried about being slow with it. Keep an eye on the skimmer, once the bacteria kicks in it will produce a wet skim and in my case overflowed a few times.

I also purchased the Reef Energy A&B and all the 4 elements as well. I thought i would try the Brightwells carbon-X. I will use a little in a bag in my sump.
I think about a week and I should be able to add my first set of SPS. I am looking for ORA corals.
So how is your tank doing?

I don't run carbon so have no advice for you on if it is any good or not mate.

RE A and B defo worked well for me. My Aquavitro Fuel arrives next Tuesday so I will be using that for a bit, I ordered a 1 litre bottle from work.

I added my first SPS within a week of setting this tank up.

Tanks doing well, back at work yesterday so the usual neglect has kicked in for 5 days lol

Will take some piccies over the weekend.

Give me a shout if you need any help with the RedSea stuff.

 

[meshwheel]

Thank you gedsta!
I added the Reef A&B and it's flourescent green in the tank! HA!!! looked really cool! I know I added way to much. 5 mls! Once my phosphates get where I want them I will start adding again. Maybe 1 ml daily until I get some SPS in the tank!
How are your corals looking? Dont neglect it too much! SPS do not play nice if you dont give them attention!
I will more then likely wait another week or two before getting SPS. I want everything dialed in perfectly.
I AM GETTING BROWN MICRO ALGAE NOW!!!! I added 5 snails today and a Jeweled blenny. I hate fricken snails!!!! Oh well, only 5! I am hoping the Blennie can handle the rest. Added a nice Acan and some green dragon polyps. this is all bottom of the tank stuff. I should be good to go for quite a while.
Get some more pics of your tank on here. Love to look at them frags mate!
Thanks!

 

[gedsta]

Thank you gedsta!
I added the Reef A&B and it's flourescent green in the tank! HA!!! looked really cool! I know I added way to much. 5 mls! Once my phosphates get where I want them I will start adding again. Maybe 1 ml daily until I get some SPS in the tank!

Forgot that part lol - Yeh its a funky colour.

How are your corals looking? Dont neglect it too much! SPS do not play nice if you dont give them attention!
I will more then likely wait another week or two before getting SPS. I want everything dialed in perfectly.

tbh mate, I don't do a lot as most of it is automated. I feed the fish twice a night when I am at work, once when I get in, and once about 9:15pm - I also add a pea sized blob of DD Reef Paste, a few DD Reef Sticks and New Era flake.

Levels wise, are always the same, and now I have the Radions sorted, the lights etc are spot on.

When I say neglect, I mean like scraping the glass, etc - I still check the RO topup and that the Calcium Reactor is dripping etc - I just don't have the time whilst at work to do what I normally would.

If I am 100% honest, I don't do anything special SPS wise, they just grow and develop. I have learnt over the years to look after the water and then everything else will fall into place.

I use Calliendrum and some red plate as my tester frags, if they grow then everything is normally fine.

I AM GETTING BROWN MICRO ALGAE NOW!!!! I added 5 snails today and a Jeweled blenny. I hate fricken snails!!!! Oh well, only 5! I am hoping the Blennie can handle the rest. Added a nice Acan and some green dragon polyps. this is all bottom of the tank stuff. I should be good to go for quite a while.
Get some more pics of your tank on here. Love to look at them frags mate!
Thanks!

Snails are good for the tank mate, get over the phobia lol

Brown algae wise, I had that for a few weeks, but mainly on the sand.

Would love to be able to keep acans, but I guess they are not for me.Polyps sound nice.

Will upload some shortly.