Help with a rebuild!

[acrylic51]

Quote:
Originally Posted by rlablan http:///t/392624/help-with-a-rebuild/320#post_3514562
Limpid- In regard to the lighting, I would not trust such an investment to LED. This is just me... You will have to read back to my issues with the LEDs... Long story short, it will be years before I trust any LEDs to run on my reef tank EVER.
I am not even sure if I would run a FOWLR with them. Too much film/nuisance algae for me.
From what I understand, clams are mainly photosynthetic when they reach a certain size... I have heard variance as to what size but I would assume anything over 3-4inches? I think that LEDS are strong enough, if you have big enough LEDs... Put it this way:
I would not have a clam under anything less than 100 watt MH lights or the equivalent - - unless you had a shallow, lagoon style tanks. Something around 14-12 inches deep? If it's anything deeper, like a standard depth tank, you will need strong light to penetrate the water and get the right PAR down to the sandbed, which is where the clam resides.

WOW!!!!! I"ve seen a tank first hand Dr Macs clams grown natural sunlight in 48" deep vats.......Not getting your theory or logic with the statement.....
This is all just my opinion though. I have never had good luck keeping anything under LED and I have had good luck with coral under T5HO but not clams.
MH is the only thing that has worked for me.
I think you might be way off on that statement.....I don't know what LED units you have experience with, but I'd be willing to put money on it, that quite a few of the units out there would blow "the MH" theory out of the air......Heck even a DIY rig with the new 5w would blow MH's out of here.....That is a fact...
You gave a very broad statement and again I'm not sure what LED units you have experimented with, but as we all know there is a tad more to the "picture" than just lighting.....Lighting is just a small part of things....You could argue that you could have 2 identical tanks running....just different lighting setups, and you'd see different results possibly, and the 2 tanks wouldn't be identical.....Honestly you can't argue they are a risk.....Heck there are tons of tanks that are SPS dominant and have no issues, that's why I argue it's not all down to the lighting.....Acclimation is a big key that many of us are still side stepping causing issues......
There's a thread from way back on RC.....a die hard, reefer.....Tank is totally sick for better words....He swapped from MH to LED and had the same thought and opinions as you at the end....Tank went downhill, but if you go back and read through things you couldn't whole heartedly say it was the LED swap.....There are to many variables that changed in a given time, and you can't honestly say things were dead set rock solid when you did make the changes.....No variations or deviating of parameters etc......Acclimation was done correctly........

 

[rlablan]

So here are a lot of pictures. hehe
FTS of the 60
Some shots of the tang...




He is half white on the back due to aggression. He has discovered his own reflection and is busy doing the "this is my tank" dance, up and down the glass. I am hoping that this does not cause him undo stress.
When he thinks the other fish is gone, he is normal colored.
He is eating like a PIG. This, IMO, is a really good sign.

 

[rlablan]

Now some pictures of the 150... We are starting to see a lot of film algae and build up on the sand...
It looks a little lopsided but I think it'll fill out nicely when I finally add all of the rock from the 60... There is a ton in there, so... I think this is a good start. I like all of the rock going upright and leaving a lot of open sandbed for the star fish and various sand dwelling corals that I have. Also, that large clam takes up quite a bit of room.

Look at all this sludge this skimmer is pulling out! It's incredibly dense. I am very impressed by this skimmer and I can't remember exactly how much I paid but I know it was a BARGAIN price. And it's practically brand new! Seriously, a great skimmer.
Shots of the plumbing. Nothing special but I figured I would just post it anyway.
Some of the more mature pieces of rock in the tank.

 

[rlablan]

Acyrlic-
I think that I expressed that these were my opinions.
I know that in my case, the lighting was the issue with the 60.
The LED lights are the whole reason that this thread even exists. The lighting is what led to my having to rebuild my whole tank. I didn't have a crash, I had a GREAT tank, that slowly but surely began to melt and turn all of my corals brown.
I whole heartedly believe it was the lights. Not one single other variable changed in the tank.
I went back to MH and voila, my tank is once again wonderful.
I am not saying that no one can do it.
I said that I would not take the gamble, I don't like them, the way they perform, what they look like, they amount of money that they cost... I truly don't like a thing about them.
Someone asked for my opinion and I gave it.
I don't think I made any statement there that I don't truly believe in.
I make the statements as I do because I lived threw an experience that has formed my opinion.
It's fine to not agree with it but it's still my opinion and anyone who bases a "personal" opinion off of some stranger seems awfully trusting to me.
And that is just my opinion.

 

[mr. limpid]

If you turn on a house light near the tank, (I know it throws off the look of the tank) but it will stop the reflection in the glass for the tang.

 

[kiefers]

your tanks look great! Nice shots.

 

[rlablan]

thanks limpid! thats a great idea!!!
Thanks kiefers... I have to say I'l not proud of these but... they are decent lol. In my defense, I was not trying very hard hehe
I will be bummed to take down the 60... it does look nice.

 

[kiefers]

It does look nice. But in retrospect, the 150 will look great too!
I was just sitting here looking at mine thinking to myself, "self" I thought. I am bored with the way my system looks, time to rearrange the cage a bit. and...... my trigger is stressed i think. He seems to be out growing the 56. time to think of what to do with him. Between him and the elegance, those are my personal fav's. *Big sigh*

 

[novahobbies]

Here's a thought:
TWO tanks.

Only twice as hard to care for than one tank!
Seriously, I know the feeling. Breaking down a tank...even if the stock is staying with you....is depressing. And it IS hard to keep multiple tanks. Two is my limit. Two tanks plus the QT tank is pushing it, and as I learned to my dismay....more than that is just impossible for me.

 

[rlablan]

almost forgot!
clam shots!
mantle macro
under the mantle

its in the 60 and it is learly running out of room... here the tang and foxface were swimming over it, therefore it is not fully extended but you can get an idea of the size...

 

[kiefers]

Quote:
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///t/392624/help-with-a-rebuild/340#post_3514639
Here's a thought:
TWO tanks.

Only twice as hard to care for than one tank!
Seriously, I know the feeling. Breaking down a tank...even if the stock is staying with you....is depressing. And it IS hard to keep multiple tanks. Two is my limit. Two tanks plus the QT tank is pushing it, and as I learned to my dismay....more than that is just impossible for me.
Okay seriously..... do you know me? lol......
We have FOUR tanks and working now on a pico (5gallon). Lol....
a 125 gallon, the 56 reef, 30 gallon coral QT, and a 35 gallon fish QT/HT, and soon a 5 gallon pico for the night stand.

 

[rlablan]

Several rounds of Erythro later and the tank and tang seem to be doing well.
Didn't do my water change like I planned but I will be doing it shortly.
Speaking of water changes- I gave the 150 a "shave" last night and it looks SOOO much better.
The sand is beginning to collect a TON of detritus and I am starting to see buildup on the rocks as well.
I am going to test the water and hopefully if everything looks good, I will be ordering some snails and crabs to get this things started. FINALLY!!! I'm starting to see a little hair algae...need some snails, STAT!
And the results of the water test are: (drum roll)
Ammo- 0
Trites- 0
Trates- 5.0
YAY!!!!

FINALLY!!!

 

[acrylic51]

Quote:
Originally Posted by rlablan http:///t/392624/help-with-a-rebuild/340#post_3514589
Acyrlic-
I think that I expressed that these were my opinions.
I know that in my case, the lighting was the issue with the 60.
The LED lights are the whole reason that this thread even exists. The lighting is what led to my having to rebuild my whole tank. I didn't have a crash, I had a GREAT tank, that slowly but surely began to melt and turn all of my corals brown.
I whole heartedly believe it was the lights. Not one single other variable changed in the tank.
I went back to MH and voila, my tank is once again wonderful.
I am not saying that no one can do it.
I said that I would not take the gamble, I don't like them, the way they perform, what they look like, they amount of money that they cost... I truly don't like a thing about them.
Someone asked for my opinion and I gave it.
I don't think I made any statement there that I don't truly believe in.
I make the statements as I do because I lived threw an experience that has formed my opinion.
It's fine to not agree with it but it's still my opinion and anyone who bases a "personal" opinion off of some stranger seems awfully trusting to me.
And that is just my opinion.
That what you described is a "classic" scenario of either improper acclimation or to much light......

 

[novahobbies]

Quote:
Originally Posted by rlablan http:///t/392624/help-with-a-rebuild/340#post_3515004
Several rounds of Erythro later and the tank and tang seem to be doing well.
Didn't do my water change like I planned but I will be doing it shortly.
Speaking of water changes- I gave the 150 a "shave" last night and it looks SOOO much better.
The sand is beginning to collect a TON of detritus and I am starting to see buildup on the rocks as well.
I am going to test the water and hopefully if everything looks good, I will be ordering some snails and crabs to get this things started. FINALLY!!! I'm starting to see a little hair algae...need some snails, STAT!
And the results of the water test are: (drum roll)
Ammo- 0
Trites- 0
Trates- 5.0
YAY!!!!

FINALLY!!!

Good news on the chemistry levels! Are you going to start moving life from the 60 into the big one soon?
Just curious...what'cha going to do with the 60?

 

[kiefers]

I'm going to go pick it up, eat some danishes, bring it home and turn it into a refugium.
glad to read that the chemistry is coming along. Takes a few minutes for it to cook and cure huh?
As for the 60, I'm going to Arizona to pick up the 60, eat some danish, then bring it home and turn it into a refugium.
Why not turn it into a species only tank? I'm thinking maybe a Mantis shrimp!

 

[novahobbies]

LOL Keith you're a trip.
A 60g mantis tank? I don't think I'd want to see the size of that mantis. Those things give me the willies. Colorful effin' cockroaches, that's what those are....

 

[rlablan]

Acrylic-
I am not really arguing here. You can call it what you want.
This light fixture I had was made for this tank specifically, so if it as indeed too much light, then it's on the manufacturer.
I cut down my light and did actually start from no light, and slowly brought the light up over the course of 3 weeks when I first got it. I would call that acclimation... I don't have to acclimate MH. It works, period. I like it, period.
I cut the lights down significantly for a good month or two before deciding to scrap the LEDs. It did NOTHING. After all of the research that I did, I found out that the LEDs fixture I had was causing a LOT of people very similar issues.
I'm not getting LEDs right now. It's not going to happen. I would appreciate it if you would stop bringing it up, as it's not really relevant at this point.
One person asked me what happened and what I thought... They didn't ask you. I responded to their question and for some reason, you don't like what I said. I don't care... I don't like LEDs and you bringing it up is making me like them less and less.
Please, drop it.

 

[rlablan]

Why would you turn the 60 solana into a refugium. LOL... It's such a pretty tank... Why hide it? I saw a NON-Photosynthetic tank yesterday at the LFS. It's the smaller version of the solana. I think it's about 30 gallons... maybe 40 total volume. It always catches my eye. They guy is running bio pellets for nitrates/phos. Says he goes through a ton of it. He also skims heavily and does 40 gallons worth of water change a week. He says he feeds mysis/cyclopeez(sp?) EVERY 3 HOURS!! It is my opinion that he feeds a little much. I am sure that something in there needs that much food but he keeps a yellow cucumber, coco worms, tub nems, sea apples, and sun corals. I have all of those except the sea apple and I don't feed them that much at all. lol I am sure that something in there needs that but I feel like it's a waste of water AND food. Either way, the tank is magnificent looking.
I am really thinking I would love one of those.
I am also thinking species only. The LFS with the NPS tank had a frondosa rhinopias. There was that super cool stone fish at a different LFS, also... Whatever I do... I want something different. I don't want anything traditional... Was also thinking pipe fish? I don't know... I am really conflicted.
I am not sure when I will start moving livestock into the tank, I put 4 snails in yesterday and they seem to still be alive today.
I also tossed a frag of zoas in there and I shall see how they react.
The lighting schedule has changed around, so I am going to see how that little experiment works out.
Living in AZ, we get hot. Being that both tanks are in my main living space and that room is on the sun blasted side of the house, when it's 116 out for nearly 3 months, it can get really toasty in here. Luckily, it's a LARGE room.
Our electricity company (SRP) does something called "Time of Use Plan". They charge more in "peak" hours and charge less in what they call "Off Peak" hours.
So here is the new lighting schedule in an effort to help my bills and also to keep the tank, and room, cooler.
7AM: Actinics/T5HO come on
8AM: MH turn on
8:45AM: We wake up, have coffee, watch news, enjoy tank.
Noon: MH turn off, T5s and actinic stay on through out the day (usually, no one is home, if I am, I am not sitting, I am running around doing stuff, not enjoying the tank.)
8PM: MH turn back on. Sun has set, it is roughly 2 degrees cooler outside, it is "Off Peak time", we are both home, enjoying tank/TV/dinner/spending time in main area.
Midnight: Both tanks go to sleep, as do we. Our house is controlled by X10. For those who don't understand it (I sure don't), they are fancy switched that are controlled by other fancy switches. My BF can controll lights, A/C and other stuff remotely. And when you go to bed, you don't need to turn the lights out. Simply walk to bed, and push one button and the house powers down. When we live the house, we push another button that turns the AC up a little, turns on/off fans and the like. The tanks are also controlled by X10. So- long story short- If we choose to go to bed at 9pm, the tanks also go to bed at 9pm.
I am not sure if the T5HOs (only 2) will be enough to keep things looking good and "open" through out the day. The tank is still getting a total of 8 hours, so I think it'll be fine. We'll see.
In the winter, it will just run a normal 10-12 hours straight cause it's cheap and the tank lights are our source of heat in the main area. We don't use the heater. I'm cheap

 

[rlablan]

Here are some pictures of a few things I snapped last night. Nothing special, I just added some pods to the fuge, and some "reef stew". I dunno what these weird little buggers are but BOY, are they hard to get in focus. Out of 102 pictures, this was the best I could do! Want a challenge... try this!

 

[rlablan]

While I was challenging myself, I managed to spy 2 of these little guys... It moves like an incredibly fast snail, and yet it's nothing like I've seen before. It's very see-through and has a weird yellow "blob" where it's stomach ought to be?
Is it a snail without a shell?