YHSublime May 23, 2014 May 23, 2014 Well, I have been keeping parameters rock solid in this tank with very very little wiggle room. However, some of the acro's are just not achieving the colors (or growth) I would like to see. For that reason I am going to change over to a 250w Radium bulb in place of LED. I only run lights for 5.5 hours a day and my tank is in a below grade basement. I think if I hang it 18" there won't be any significant amount of heat transferred to cause issues. I gave the LED's 6+ months, and they just keep making me wonder if something else would be better. If in 6 more months tank still has slow growth and lacking colors, I will accept that I just am not that good at the hobby and stick to golf. I honestly don't know if 6 months + was enough time. I think it wasn't till around 8 months for me that I started to notice. Either way, I hope the switch brings the results you hope to see!
BowieReefer84 May 23, 2014 Author May 23, 2014 I honestly don't know if 6 months + was enough time. I think it wasn't till around 8 months for me that I started to notice. Either way, I hope the switch brings the results you hope to see! I honestly don't know how I've gone 6 months! I don't see how the switch could hurt anything. I only see potential upsides.
BowieReefer84 July 15, 2014 Author July 15, 2014 Tank is fighting hair algae, the blenny passed when he decided to camp out in the vortech during a waterchange, bleached corals during an accidental 30 hour photoperiod. BUT, the sunset has hit the frag plug edge. So here is a pic of that: 20140317_210703 by mteske1, on Flickr 20140714_212653 by mteske1, on Flickr
YHSublime July 16, 2014 July 16, 2014 Here's what I found with my sunset. Once it hits the edge of the plug, it won't catch to anything to keep growing. Cut it in half, and you will probably find it spreads quicker onto your rock.
BowieReefer84 July 16, 2014 Author July 16, 2014 Here's what I found with my sunset. Once it hits the edge of the plug, it won't catch to anything to keep growing. Cut it in half, and you will probably find it spreads quicker onto your rock. I'm going to glue it down soon so it will be able to spread over the glue. I should have done so before it grew down the edge, but o well.
BowieReefer84 September 19, 2014 Author September 19, 2014 Added chemipure elite and purigen last night. Will leave that for 4 months, then swap it out for more. Still battling the hair algae. I am debating attempting to acclimate some black mollies to full salt, but haven't done that yet. Focusing on water changes, siphoning sump, skimmer cleaning, and scrubbing the rock. Have had swapped lights to a 150w 14k phoenix in a Hamilton bimini pendant on an M81 HQI ballast for a couple months now, and absolutely love it. Tank stays right around 80-81. Some corals are doing well, and some not so much. However, I still really like the tank.
Ryan S September 19, 2014 September 19, 2014 Good move on LEDs ---> MH. You'll be very happy you did that, your corals will also be very happy. Once they are acclimated to the MH, expect better coloration and growth rate for sure. Have you tried lights out for 3 days? That worked very well for me when I had hair algae. Day 1: rip out as much HA as you can, and do a large water change sucking out as much as you can. turn lights off for 3 days. Day 2: lights off Day 3: lights off. Day 4: rip out remaining HA, do another big water change, turn lights back on.
BowieReefer84 September 19, 2014 Author September 19, 2014 I keep meaning to do lights out, but haven't done so yet. Maybe within the next week or so I will def do that. Ideally I would do that then add a couple turbo snails and a molly. That should help for sure. I got rid of my bangaii cardinal so I only have 3 fish. It's not overstocked now or anything.
YHSublime September 19, 2014 September 19, 2014 What are your phosphates at? Lights out has always been a band aid fix IME.
BowieReefer84 September 19, 2014 Author September 19, 2014 Phosphates read like 13ppb on my ultra low checker within the past couple weeks. So they are detectable but very low. Nitrates are around 2-5. It's funny in a way. I was fighting bubble algae for a while (it wasn't that bad), and now it is COMPLETELY gone. You can't find even a single bubble, yet hair algae is now taking it's place. Just a phase.
Wrench September 21, 2014 September 21, 2014 Good to see the tank is doing better. Stinks to see the LED's wouldn't work out although I'd place the blame on fixture selection as opposed to the technology itself. I know a handful of folks who have had poor results with the Razor fixture. I've seen waaaaaay too many successful stony tanks under other fixtures to say that LED's aren't viable.
brad908 September 22, 2014 September 22, 2014 It was definitely the razor. They seem to be pretty much extinct these days.
BowieReefer84 September 22, 2014 Author September 22, 2014 I don't blame LED's or the Razor, but hearing you guys say that makes me feel good. I have seen some stellar LED tanks in person. In all reality it's likely a small volume of water and the instability associated with a small volume of water that's my main issue. I just need to kick this hair algae.
TrueTricia September 23, 2014 September 23, 2014 Here's what I found with my sunset. Once it hits the edge of the plug, it won't catch to anything to keep growing. Cut it in half, and you will probably find it spreads quicker onto your rock. Isaac, what do you mean? I'm braindead today, so forgive me. That sunset you gave me hit the edge. So you're saying I should cut it in half? ?
BowieReefer84 September 23, 2014 Author September 23, 2014 Glue it down, so it has an edge to grow over and onto your rocks.
TrueTricia September 23, 2014 September 23, 2014 SAME CORAL NOW 20140220_214030 by mteske1, on Flickr Some other montipora I cut to grow out some: Oh wow! This looks great Mike! I love the colors on it.
BowieReefer84 September 23, 2014 Author September 23, 2014 (edited) It's dead now. Check Pizzaguy build. He has the same coral. Came in looking like junk, and he really turned his around. Edited September 23, 2014 by BowieReefer84
TrueTricia September 23, 2014 September 23, 2014 Glue it down, so it has an edge to grow over and onto your rocks. Aww. Gotcha.
TrueTricia September 23, 2014 September 23, 2014 It's dead now. Check Pizzaguy build. He has the same coral. Came in looking like junk, and he really turned his around. Oh no :( I'm sorry to hear that you lost it.
YHSublime September 23, 2014 September 23, 2014 It's looking sweet in my tank. Once it hit the end of the plug it stopped growing. I cut it and it spread like wildfire.
TrueTricia September 23, 2014 September 23, 2014 It's looking sweet in my tank. Once it hit the end of the plug it stopped growing. I cut it and it spread like wildfire. Huh. Good to know. IYO, does this apply to all montis? Basic questions, but what did you use to cut it? I know you were an apt dweller like me, so I guess I'm assuming you didnt' have a saw handy....
BowieReefer84 September 23, 2014 Author September 23, 2014 (edited) Look at post #157 in this thread. I glue my encrusting monti so they can grow onto rock. I will post a progression shot tonight of my mystic. That is one of my better corals right now. A dremel with a cutting diamond bit wheel cuts frags nicely. That's what I have. Edited September 23, 2014 by BowieReefer84
YHSublime September 23, 2014 September 23, 2014 A dremel with a cutting diamond bit wheel cuts frags nicely. That's what I have. This
TrueTricia September 23, 2014 September 23, 2014 This Look at post #157 in this thread. I glue my encrusting monti so they can grow onto rock. I will post a progression shot tonight of my mystic. That is one of my better corals right now. A dremel with a cutting diamond bit wheel cuts frags nicely. That's what I have. Added to the Christmas List.....
TrueTricia September 23, 2014 September 23, 2014 Mystic was my first frag added on 9.20.13 Below is growth comparison: 9.20.13 9.20.13 mystic by mteske1, on Flickr 2.13.14 2.13.14 mystic by mteske1, on Flickr Can't wait for that deepwater to grow some as well. I love these things....
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