The Polyp Tank

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13333199#post13333199 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kigs
Bill, have you noticed any dramatic changes ever since separating them from SPS and LPS?



Yes there is a huge difference. All of my polyps without exception have gotten larger, and getting better by the day.

So it has been very much successful so far as that was the main reason for dedicating this tank to polyps.

However, this has nothing to do with the fact that there arent sps in the system, it has everything to do with the fact that I am feeding it more crap than I would ever feed my sps tank. for my sps tank I just feed the fish all they can eat, I dont add anything else besides aminos. Im keeping this polyps tank at .08-.1 measurable phosphates. I keep my sps tank at .03 or so. Ive has similar issues as far as less than adequate coral health with my sps before when I had the phosphates down to .01.

for those of you who know me, you know I typically will put up at least one nice polyp frag pack ever month or so. If you notice my frag packs have been MIA for many months now. The reason for this is with a few exceptions, none of my polyps were sellable. sure they were healthy and had great color, but the size of the polyps was not up to par for anything I would feel good about selling, so I simply stepped back from selling/trading and tried to fix the problem. :)
 
Hi Flyyyguy, how it going with your zoanthids this week in your new tank?
Your zoas and other corals are mind blowing.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13388519#post13388519 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IridescentLily
Hi Flyyyguy, how it going with your zoanthids this week in your new tank?
Your zoas and other corals are mind blowing.

Thanks Lily. :)

No complaints. :) well...one complaint. My kid played hot wheels on the side for a couple minutes the other day before I caught him. Glad it wasnt the front, and glad the car was one that still had the wheels on. lol The scratches are fixable.

My trigger follows him and my kid loves it and plays with him pretty often. He knows better than driving cars on the tank....but its hard to reasonsometimes with a 2.5 year old.
 
and glad the car was one that still had the wheels on
lol.


Im keeping this polyps tank at .08-.1 measurable phosphates. I keep my sps tank at .03 or so. Ive has similar issues as far as less than adequate coral health with my sps before when I had the phosphates down to .01.
When you need to raise or lower your phosphates, how do you do it?

Have I seen a pic of your trigger? Do you have a picture of it?
 
feed more or less and or run the skimmer wetter or dryer depending on what I am trying to do

Playing with the measurable P level is new to me for the polyps. Polyps have always been secondary to the sps they shared the tank with.

So Im still just totally experimenting with it. :)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13393569#post13393569 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IridescentLily


Have I seen a pic of your trigger? Do you have a picture of it?

trig1.jpg
 
I was just curious if any of the polyps are palys.? They use sand to build their bases and was curious if they would grow and spread without it?
And yes awesome tank. I love polyps too.
 
palys use lots of things to build their structure...not just sand :)

Its a good question though. Even when I had them in a tank with sand I kept most of them up int he rocks and they had no rpoblem growing them without them uptaking sand

There are a handful or so of different protopalys in there. More than half the tank is what most commonly refer to as "palys", including myself...lol. but they of course are just large zoanthids and not palys at all.
 
Flyyyguy that Niger trigger's coloring is stunning. He's so cool. I love triggers.
Those 12k reeflux seem to be awesome for your zoas.
Do you have a closed loop system? I'm very new to the workings of a closed loop so I can't tell.

These Zoas are my favorite (well, all of your zoas are my favorite, but this one more than the others):
temp3.jpg
 
Alrighty then. I think I've proven I'm a dork. :p
It was in this thread all along.
lol
Going to read every bit of it to make up for that one....
 
Love the open rock work look.
I am redoing my rockwork with acrylic rods and will be using your design as a template.
Nice job.... Beautiful zoos....
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13203447#post13203447 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flyyyguy
8way-90.jpg
[/B]

Is that a fish tank or a rocket engine? :eek2: Jeeze! That plumbing is CRAZY!

Amazing corals too.
 
Flyyyguy,
Can you explain to me what the value of a closed loop system is vs. having a sump, etc?. Pretend you're explaning it to your small son, lol.
That's one thing I just cannot get no matter how many times I read it on various threads. Even by looking at Melev's closed loop design on his website, I'm still not clear on the "why" part, meaning I could possible do it if I go by his instructions, but I guess i'm looking for what the advantages are to a closed loop system. Is it because of no powerheads perhaps? Or are there more than one reason why you wanted to have it plumbed this way. I've wanted to ask someone but was too embarassed.
It's fantastic what you did with it by the way. Wow. :eek1:
I know you are pushing the envelope with this new tank, and I wondered if you went bare bottom, and closed loop because it is a polyp tank?
Thanks again.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13406498#post13406498 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IridescentLily
Flyyyguy,
Can you explain to me what the value of a closed loop system is vs. having a sump, etc?. Pretend you're explaning it to your small son lol, seriously.
That's one thing I just cannot get no matter how many times I read it on various threads. Even by looking at Melev's closed loop design on his website, I'm still not clear on the "why" part, meaning I could possible do it if I go by his instructions, but I guess i'm looking for what the advantages are to a closed loop system. Is it because of no powerheads perhaps? Or are there more than one reason why you wanted to have it plumbed this way. I've wanted to ask someone but was too embarassed.
It's fantastic what you did with it by the way. Wow. :eek1:
I know you are pushing the envelope with this new tank, and I wondered if you went bare bottom, and closed loop because it is a polyp tank?
Thanks again.

sump and closed loopps have absolutely nothing to do with each other.

a sumps numero uno purpose is a place to house the skimmer. there are lots of other things that can go on there, but the skimmer is first and foremost and all water schematics should be built around this notion. If they arent, then you arent allowing your skimmer to perform as efficiently as it could. I could go on and on about this, but i will spare you for now. thats the nuts and bolts of it : )

A closed loop is simply put, a means of achieving water flow in the tank, by taking the water out of the tank, into a pump and right back into the tank making it a "closed loop". The main benefits of it IMO is that on a small tank such as this 90 I have posted here, one pump outside of the tank can be used for the sole means of flow in the tank without having to look at powerheads. Another benefit is when you use a Oceans Motions 8-way such as I do, the random flow patterns are endless and coming from 8 differnet directions and varying in both velocity and direction multiple times a minute. It would take 8 powerheads each on wavemakers in different parts of the tank to get that kind of random flow that I am getting with this Hammerhead powered CLS.

There are certainly downsides to a closed loop as well. 1. You ahve to plumb it. it can be much simpler of course than what I have set up here, but still....the tank needs drille d and plumbed. 2. If you are using any kind of a worthwhile pump, they add a lot of heat to the water that powerheads do not do. Like several degrees in my case witha hammerhead on this fairly small tank. 3. electricity consumption. The Om unit and the hammerhead together are pulling over 400 watts 24/7. Not cheap to operate.

High end powerheads on controllers can do a incredible job as well

So simply put....cls are not for everyone. I LOVE om 8-ways and wouldnt consider setting up a tank without them at this point until something else comes out thats better. I use a OM 8 way and hammerhead on my 240 as well. I would liket o use three or fouor of them to get the flow i want, but it is kind of unrealistic. i waste enough juice as it is. the single 8 way does the random flow I need and i supplememtn it with 2 vortechs and 2 tunze 6100's in that tank.

Why barebottom?? Becasue sand sucks :D I like full control fo the water column and what I want to do with the flow. With sand, you dont get true 100% control of either.

I *think* i got your questions. if I missed any...let me know :)
 
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13406561#post13406561 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IridescentLily
Oh right on Flyyyguy, I get it now, thank you.
What is your current flow rate?

Thanks again.

turnover rate is a poor way to measure flow IMO. A well thought out system with 40x can be much more effective than a tank with 100x that was thrown together just trying to achieve some number you can tell everybody you have ;)

just the same.. to answer your question......I have a bunch :)
 
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