The Looking Glass

[ridetheducati]

Thanks for asking.

 

The system is still on auto pilot; no nuisance algae, pests, or equipment failures.  I do bi-weekly (10%) water changes and try to feed the tank everyday.  The LEDs continue to work without fail.  I plan to add a few more SPS to the collection and maybe a couple more fish. 

[monkiboy]

great to hear no troubles thus far. has the rockscape/aquascape changed at all?  what fish are in QT now or you plan to add soon? the imperator and others still doing well? any coral dietary annoyances?

Edited June 29, 2013 by monkiboy

[ridetheducati]

 

 

[ridetheducati]

 

 

[sachabballi reef]

Looks incredible!!!!!!

[matt]

Wow, corals look great. Pics are crazy pink though...no good way to compensate for photos? I stink so bad at taking photos myself that most of my pics are just cell phone camera shots

[ridetheducati]

Cell phone pics need a lot of post processing to reflect real world conditions.  LEDs are difficult to manage.  One day I will make a color filter.

Edited July 2, 2013 by ridetheducati

[YHSublime]

Looks really good. Know what you're talking about with the LEDs and the pictures. I can only imagine in person!

[surf&turf]

Amazing as always!!

[ridetheducati]

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/gIcregLk_Yc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Edited July 21, 2013 by ridetheducati

[ridetheducati]

Not sure why my link did not work.  Lets try the old fashion way...

 

[smallreef]

Pretty!!!!!!!!

 

Love your sps....

[Coral Hind]

Looking good! How are the large angels getting along with each other? Any picking at corals?

[monkiboy]

awesome job tony!

[ridetheducati]

Looking good! How are the large angels getting along with each other? Any picking at corals?

 

The Blueface and Emperator are coexisting, the Blueface always instigates the aggression.  At times, the Emperator grunts and reestablishes the pecking order.  SPS are occasionally picked, but nothing major because polyp extension is at its maximum.  

 

It really is a shame my camera does not show accurate colors.  All corals are growing and coloring well except the Garf Bonsai and Tyree Bali Tri-color.  The Bonsai is Blue and Brown with Green polyps, but it should be Purple with Green polyps.  The Tri-color is showing accurate colors, but is not growing or growing very slowly.  I plan to move the Garf to an area with 200 PAR; I tried it in areas with 700 and 400 PAR, no change in color.  The Garf is growing, so I probably should not complain too much.

[Coral Hind]

I'm sure the LED's really mess with the camera taking a true picture. My two angels are getting along so far but the Emperor is a good bit larger than the Blueface. Looking at your coral's white tips and growth rate, it doesn't look like they are upsetting the corals at all. Good luck with the GARF, I never could get mine to color up purple. Even in the lower lighted areas of my tank I think it was getting to much light.

[Origami]

Not sure why my link did not work.  Lets try the old fashion way...

 

Just copy over the regular youtube link (not the embedded video syntax). The software recognizes it and embed the video.

[smallreef]

So, just checking in...and wanting to see what your whites and blues are turned to?I was thinking about.doing4 d120s but sSteve said you only have 3...so...I just wanted to see how you like just the 3?

[matt]

Pretty sure he has six d120s on that tank

[ridetheducati]

I have six D120s.  Currently running blues at 100% and whites at 75%.

[steveoutlaw]

Sorry Kim - I meant 3 across.

[Ryan S]

So far are you still happy with the 6 D120s? How is the SPS growth rate and coloration? I am interested to know how much is your excellent chemistry vs intensity of lighting.  Also curious how the coverage and penetration of the 6 D120s are? Would more be an option? maybe 3 6 9 or 4 8 12 ? Way overkill?

[smallreef]

Ahhhhh good to know!

so I will def. do 4+ then as my tank is only 5 ft long...

 

Glad to know all the info! Thanks!

[ridetheducati]

So far are you still happy with the 6 D120s? How is the SPS growth rate and coloration? I am interested to know how much is your excellent chemistry vs intensity of lighting.  Also curious how the coverage and penetration of the 6 D120s are? Would more be an option? maybe 3 6 9 or 4 8 12 ? Way overkill?

 

Everything is doing well.  I previously mentioned that my Garf Bonsai and Bali Tri-color are not growing as fast as the other corals, no change, and not worth worrying about.  Colors are excellent across the board.  I may evict those corals and make room for new candidates.  I have learned how to tweak my colors by manipulating the Rox carbon.  Three cups of Rox and colors are on light side; one cup of Rox renders near perfect colors. 

 

Lighting plays a large role in the overall health of a system, water quality is arguably more important than lighting.  When solicited, I recommend hobbyist to maintain high quality water with stable parameters and then focus on dialing in their lights, especially LEDs.  I keep my lights 10" above the water line and it provides excellent coverage and PAR/PUR penetrates deep into the tank.  I can get 300-400 PAR to the sandbed if I needed it, which I do not.  D120 LEDs do not have deficiencies in the radiation department.  My rule of thumb is one D120 at 10" will provide adequate light for a 20" x 20" area.  For my tank with two braces, eight D120 do not make sense and would be overkill.     

 

 

 

[ridetheducati]

I hate posting pictures because the LEDs do not show well.  The tank is a crisp white with a hint of blue, probably in the range of 12 -14k.  My neighbor says it is more 10k, which I do not agree.

 

Also, for the sake of scale, the Imperator is 7 inches long and the SPS table in the middle has an 8 inch diameter.