Urbanek's 250

[urbaneks]

Love the Oregon Tort! Where do you have it in the tank? What sort of flow and lighting is it getting? I will get an OT frag someday....

Maxxll- The Oregon Tort is mounted high in the tank so it gets lots of light. I would say medium on the flow. If it gets to much flow it will start to shed.

Great pictures! By any chance do you have any top down shots of the JF Red Tort? I did not know there was such a thing...

Thanks for the kind words. No top down of that coral. It's just a nub at this point. It's also mounted low in the tank. Not ideal for this coral but I really didn't have a better place for it.

 

[urbaneks]

Love the build..Is that the ATI light?

Thanks. The light is the 60" ATI Led Powermodule.

 

[reefmutt]

Maxxll- The Oregon Tort is mounted high in the tank so it gets lots of light. I would say medium on the flow. If it gets to much flow it will start to shed.

What do you mean by 'shred'? Flesh coming off?
And I guess my next question would be: what's your definition of 'too much flow'?

 

[urbaneks]

What do you mean by 'shred'? Flesh coming off?
And I guess my next question would be: what's your definition of 'too much flow'?

Correct on the shedding. I had a second piece growing nicely on the end of my aquarium, I increased my MP60 speed from 60% to 90% and the coral began to shed its skin within a couple of days. The coral was about 8" away from the MP60.

On the flow question, I prefer lots of gentle flow from multiple directions. If that makes sense? I prefer to run my MP40s and MP60s in the 50 to 60% range as well as my closed loop for additional flow throughout the tank.

 

[reefmutt]

Thanks.. 8 inches away.. I can sees that with 90%..
I'm with you on the lower intensity but more sources of flow. Creates better randomized flow patterns and more natural growth forms..

 

[urbaneks]

March 21st, 2016 - Maintenance Routine

March 21st, 2016 - Maintenance Routine

March 21st, 2016 - Maintenance Routine

I was asked here recently about my maintenance activities so I thought I would dedicate a journal entry to it.

First off, let me start by saying that I'm firm believer in tracking and documenting my maintenance practices and charting my water parameters. I previously did this in excel until I found Aquaticlog.com This site allows you to setup reminders and track your progress, equipment use, supplies, etc. etc. This website is always open on my phone and I use it daily to remember what needs done on the aquarium. This same maintenance information can be found on aquaticlog.com and searching for my user name (urbaneks) on that site.

It should also be noted that I'm pretty anal when it comes to the cleanliness of the aquarium and the equipment. The tank is in our living room which is a centrally located room in our house. In other words, it needs to be clean. I spend about 30 minutes daily and 2 hours once a week taking care of the aquarium. I spend much more time viewing, tinkering, etc but the real work is done in a short period of time.

I'm happy to answer any questions folks might have. Thanks for looking!

Daily
Dose 7 ml of Bio Gro 123
Dose 5 ml of Fauna Marin Color Elements
Dose 10 ml of Acro Power

Every 2 days
Clean Glass

Every 3 days
Change Filter Socks

Weekly
Clean Skimmer Cup
Measure Alkalinity
Change 30 gal of water while vacuuming 1/3 of the gravel bed

Every 2 weeks
Clean Light Cover
Measure Phosphate
Measure Nitrate
Measure Magnesium
Measure Calcium
Measure Salinity
Replace ROX Carbon

Every 4 weeks
Clean Detritus from Sump
Re-Fill Dosing Containers and Check Dosing Ports

Every 3 months
Clean Sump
Clean Overflow Box
Clean Vortech Pumps
Clean Return Nozzles

Every 6 months
Clean Return Pump
Clean BP Reactor and Pump
Clean Reactor Pump
Clean Skimmer
Clean Skimmer Pump

Every 9 months
Replace Giesemann Actinic Blue
Replace Giesemann Aquablue Azure
Replace Giesemann Super Actinic
Replace Giesemann Super Purple
Replace Giesemann Tropic

 

[reefmutt]

You are one regimented dude!
Very impressed!!

 

[mhucasey]

March 21st, 2016 - Maintenance Routine

I was asked here recently about my maintenance activities so I thought I would dedicate a journal entry to it.

First off, let me start by saying that I'm firm believer in tracking and documenting my maintenance practices and charting my water parameters. I previously did this in excel until I found Aquaticlog.com This site allows you to setup reminders and track your progress, equipment use, supplies, etc. etc. This website is always open on my phone and I use it daily to remember what needs done on the aquarium. This same maintenance information can be found on aquaticlog.com and searching for my user name (urbaneks) on that site.

It should also be noted that I'm pretty anal when it comes to the cleanliness of the aquarium and the equipment. The tank is in our living room which is a centrally located room in our house. In other words, it needs to be clean. I spend about 30 minutes daily and 2 hours once a week taking care of the aquarium. I spend much more time viewing, tinkering, etc but the real work is done in a short period of time.

I'm happy to answer any questions folks might have. Thanks for looking!

Daily
Dose 7 ml of Bio Gro 123
Dose 5 ml of Fauna Marin Color Elements
Dose 10 ml of Acro Power

Every 2 days
Clean Glass

Every 3 days
Change Filter Socks

Weekly
Clean Skimmer Cup
Measure Alkalinity
Change 30 gal of water while vacuuming 1/3 of the gravel bed

Every 2 weeks
Clean Light Cover
Measure Phosphate
Measure Nitrate
Measure Magnesium
Measure Calcium
Measure Salinity
Replace ROX Carbon

Every 4 weeks
Clean Detritus from Sump
Re-Fill Dosing Containers and Check Dosing Ports

Every 3 months
Clean Sump
Clean Overflow Box
Clean Vortech Pumps
Clean Return Nozzles

Every 6 months
Clean Return Pump
Clean BP Reactor and Pump
Clean Reactor Pump
Clean Skimmer
Clean Skimmer Pump

Every 9 months
Replace Giesemann Actinic Blue
Replace Giesemann Aquablue Azure
Replace Giesemann Super Actinic
Replace Giesemann Super Purple
Replace Giesemann Tropic

Very interesting, I used a very similar approach up until last December, using the AIO pellets, BioGro 123, and FM color elements. One thing I found that finally got me to try a different filtration approach is that the AIO pellets need to be replaced, at least partially when they get smaller. With regular pellets you can just top off but that doesn't work with AIO.

The carbon portion of the pellet dwindles away to nothing and they become less effective and start shedding a lot of iron dust into the tank. I had several SPS STN on me before I found out what the problem was. I started using a sieve to remove the bits and retain the larger pieces. Something to look out for.

I'm surprised you run with Alk above 8 and even 9 as well. Its strange how something works in one tank but doesn't work in another.

Thanks very much for sharing what you do, your methodical record keeping is a good collection of data that will be useful for the community!

 

[urbaneks]

You are one regimented dude!
Very impressed!!

Reef mutt - Regimented is one word for it. Anal is another. In all seriousness, I've found over the long haul how often things need to get done and I adjust my frequency to keep things like new. It may seem like a lot of things but it really doesn't take much time. It's easier to clean a pump and put it back on then have one fail and find out hours later.

Very interesting, I used a very similar approach up until last December, using the AIO pellets, BioGro 123, and FM color elements. One thing I found that finally got me to try a different filtration approach is that the AIO pellets need to be replaced, at least partially when they get smaller. With regular pellets you can just top off but that doesn't work with AIO.



The carbon portion of the pellet dwindles away to nothing and they become less effective and start shedding a lot of iron dust into the tank. I had several SPS STN on me before I found out what the problem was. I started using a sieve to remove the bits and retain the larger pieces. Something to look out for.



I'm surprised you run with Alk above 8 and even 9 as well. Its strange how something works in one tank but doesn't work in another.



Thanks very much for sharing what you do, your methodical record keeping is a good collection of data that will be useful for the community!

Mhucasey - it is interesting how different things work for different people. I've always said that there is no right and wrong in this hobby, just right and wrong for some people.

I just looked back and I've been running the AIO pellets for 15 months. I've never replaced any pellets but I've topped them off 3 times in 15 months. They do shed which is the biggest drawback but I've always ran them into a filter sock to mitigate that. I will say that I tumble them much gentler than most of the videos I see online. As long as I can see a small movement in the pellets I'm good to go. I just want the pellets getting turned over and not sitting stagnate. Seems most like a rumble instead of a tumble.

One thing that I've found is that daily dosing of bio gro has been a great improvement over weekly. Which is what I did for the first year I ran them.

As for alk, I like to stay between 8-9 with 8.5 being my target. I got caught up in the Hanna recall which caused me to retarget alk above 9. I was fortunate to not lose anything during that. I've slowly been working the alk back down to the mid 8 range.

I certainly appreciate the heads up in the pellets. That is something I will watch out for.

 

[mhucasey]

Reef mutt - Regimented is one word for it. Anal is another. In all seriousness, I've found over the long haul how often things need to get done and I adjust my frequency to keep things like new. It may seem like a lot of things but it really doesn't take much time. It's easier to clean a pump and put it back on then have one fail and find out hours later.




Mhucasey - it is interesting how different things work for different people. I've always said that there is no right and wrong in this hobby, just right and wrong for some people.

I just looked back and I've been running the AIO pellets for 15 months. I've never replaced any pellets but I've topped them off 3 times in 15 months. They do shed which is the biggest drawback but I've always ran them into a filter sock to mitigate that. I will say that I tumble them much gentler than most of the videos I see online. As long as I can see a small movement in the pellets I'm good to go. I just want the pellets getting turned over and not sitting stagnate. Seems most like a rumble instead of a tumble.

One thing that I've found is that daily dosing of bio gro has been a great improvement over weekly. Which is what I did for the first year I ran them.

As for alk, I like to stay between 8-9 with 8.5 being my target. I got caught up in the Hanna recall which caused me to retarget alk above 9. I was fortunate to not lose anything during that. I've slowly been working the alk back down to the mid 8 range.

I certainly appreciate the heads up in the pellets. That is something I will watch out for.

It was just over a year and a half of continuous use without flat out replacing a portion when I had issues, so keep an eye out for sure. The pellets work fantastically well otherwise.

I got bit by the inaccurate Hanna tester and chucked it in the trash. It used to be one of my favorite tests to run before that. I use the Salifert kit now, it always comes out perfect when I check against the standard.

 

[urbaneks]

March 24th, 2016 - Photo Update

March 24th, 2016 - Photo Update

March 24th, 2016 - Photo Update



Goby/Shrimp Combo - This was taken as the lights were going out. It made for a difficult shot to be both in focus with the low light and wide aperture.


ORA Ice Tort


Blueberry Acro


Misc Wild Acro

 

[tonyreef]

The lighting is superb! The quality of this Reef system speaks for its self! Inspired
Thanks for sharing!

 

[mhucasey]

The goby and shrimp are very cool...little creatures like them were what first hooked me on reef tanks. I love the blueberry Acro too!

 

[vitodog]

Your tank and photography are amazing. Urbaneks, when you change out your bulbs, do you replace them all at the same time and do adjust the lights in any way when you do this?

 

[urbaneks]

March 26th, 2016 - Response to Feedback

March 26th, 2016 - Response to Feedback

March 26th, 2016 - Response to Feedback

The lighting is superb! The quality of this Reef system speaks for its self! Inspired
Thanks for sharing!

tonyreef - Thanks for the kind words. I'm happy to hear that my work here has inspired someone.

The goby and shrimp are very cool...little creatures like them were what first hooked me on reef tanks. I love the blueberry Acro too!

mhucasey - Agree 100%.

Your tank and photography are amazing. Urbaneks, when you change out your bulbs, do you replace them all at the same time and do adjust the lights in any way when you do this?

vitodog - Thanks for the kind words. I've always changed all 8 bulbs at the same time. I then raise the light 3-4 inches and slowly drop it back down over a 3-4 week period. Going forward, I plan to replace my 4 inner bulbs at 9 months and the 4 outer bulbs at 11 months. I run my inner bulbs 2 hours longer per day so I figure they need to replaced more often. Also, saves me a little money on the outer lamps.

 

[dalston]

Stunning, Brad.

So many incredible tanks around the valley.

 

[vitodog]

Thanks for the response urbaneks. Sounds like a good method of changing out T-5 bulbs. I asked because I switched back to T-5's about 7 months ago, and I am coming up to the time I need to replace the 8 bulbs in my ATI fixture. Thanks again.

 

[urbaneks]

May 28th, 2016 - Photo Update

May 28th, 2016 - Photo Update

May 28th, 2016 - Photo Update

Time for a few new photos. Thanks for looking! Views and comments are always appreciated.

For those of you that have been following along and reading my updates, you know that I have a dozen chromis that actively lay eggs. When they are laying eggs they get very aggressive towards anything that gets near their eggs. In addition, they stop shoaling and end up in pairs around the tank. After 3-4 days of protecting the eggs, something eats the eggs and they return to their shoal for a week or so before the cycle starts again. There is peace in the tank at the moment and the shoal is intact.


Chromis Shoal

Here is a shot of my Lime in the Sky Acropora. As you can see the coral is green with light blue growth tips, hence the name lime in the sky. This is one of many stags that I have in the aquarium. I mounted this one low in the aquarium hoping to get a nice vertical upward growth from the bottom of the tank up to the top. Since originally posting this back in January, it's put on about 1" of growth. At this rate, I'll have my desired effect in about 2 years. Patience is a virtue.


Lime in the Sky Acropora

Here is a photo of one of my chalice corals. I'm not sure of the name/identity of this coral. If anyone knows, feel free to send me the name of the coral. I really like the coloration and detail of the yes on this coral. As mentioned before, I'm pretty new to keeping chalices and only recently started adding them to the lower less lit areas of my tank.


Unknown Chalice

 

[choss]

Stunning pictures as usual! I always look forward to your updates.

 

[urbaneks]

April 1st, 2016 - 90 Days of Reefing

April 1st, 2016 - 90 Days of Reefing

April 1st, 2016 - 90 Days of Reefing

As I've mentioned prior, I've been doing a Project 365 on another forum where I take and upload a photo of my reef each day. I just finished the first 3 months and this is the recap of those 90 days.