450 Hurricane Harvey Redemption build

[backbayreef]

Knock knock! Looks like you’re slacking here? :)

 

[Dmax]

Knock knock! Looks like you’re slacking here? :)

I know I know. Time is speeding by these days. I'll load some pictures and elaborate on some changes made.

 

[backbayreef]

I know I know. Time is speeding by these days. I'll load some pictures and elaborate on some changes made.

All good - I know the feeling! Time is so scarce for me as well balancing between work, family, travel, and everything in between.

 

[Dmax]

Made a few changes since I've posted last. Ended up making a temporary cabinet to keep the twin girls out of the sump and allowing barbies to take swims. Lol Ended up turning out better than I thought and now not sure if I will change it. Panels have counter sunk magnets to hold them in place. Works great but the front 7' panel is a little heavy at times. Wife would have a difficult time removing it. Which is what I wanted so the kids couldn't pull them off.

 

[Dmax]

Added a frag tank to the back of this setup tied into the main system. I have some corals that I like but don't want to keep them in the main tank. Currently have some shrooms and zoas. More of a lower flow and light tank. See what happens as time goes on. Everything is so blue in the pictures I apologize

 

[Dmax]

Still one day I'm going to clean up the electrical nightmare. One day. lol

 

[Dmax]

Made some changes below the scenes. I put the UV sterilizer back online. Dealing with cyano or some other bacteria or algae. Switched the protein skimmer out for the SRO 6000EXT which I believe I've already covered in a previous post. Love this skimmer.

 

[backbayreef]

Still one day I'm going to clean up the electrical nightmare. One day. lol

I’ve used Monoprice Velcro straps and some of these on AMZN to tidy up cables. It’s very time consuming but therapeutic. Be sure to take pics before and after? lol

https://a.co/d/8HaCueI

 

[Dmax]

Also pulled the 3 radions out of the center of the tank and replaced them with one of my 400-watt halides. The main reason I did this was an experiment my wife mentioned one day in my frustration with battling this problem. She mentioned that she didn't feel like I had this issue when I ran my old lights. I thought about this for a couple of days thinking if there's something to this in the form of UV. If a UV sterilizer is beneficial to kill free floating spores etc. Then maybe the UV from the halides can benefit the tank as well. Not sure if there's anything there but I do enjoy the halide shimmer and the way it makes the fish pop.

 

[Dmax]

Before middle Halide

 

[Dmax]

After

 

[Dmax]

I will take another photo with the reefbrites turned off. This picture has them on and the blue is pretty significant with all 4 on. The radions are off for this picture.

 

[Dmax]

Frag tank beauties

 

[Dmax]

Clam seems to enjoy the Halide.

 

[backbayreef]

Also pulled the 3 radions out of the center of the tank and replaced them with one of my 400-watt halides. The main reason I did this was an experiment my wife mentioned one day in my frustration with battling this problem. She mentioned that she didn't feel like I had this issue when I ran my old lights. I thought about this for a couple of days thinking if there's something to this in the form of UV. If a UV sterilizer is beneficial to kill free floating spores etc. Then maybe the UV from the halides can benefit the tank as well. Not sure if there's anything there but I do enjoy the halide shimmer and the way it makes the fish pop.

I have all Orphek OR3s but might consider to upgrade to Radions in the future. IMO corals popped more under Radions than Orpheks.

Be interested to see how your halides go — I can’t use them due to utility cost and heat!

 

[Dmax]

 

[Dmax]

I have all Orphek OR3s but might consider to upgrade to Radions in the future. IMO corals popped more under Radions than Orpheks.

Be interested to see how your halides go — I can’t use them due to utility cost and heat!

Radions do tend to provide the Pop. I enjoy them but also like the look of the halide penetrating the water column. With the reefbrites running the length of the tank I have very little shadows between different light sources. Tends to blend them all together. If electricity and heat wasn't a factor, I'd have all three 400-watt halides back on it with a radion on the front and back side of each halide fixture and most likely remove the reefbrites.

 

[backbayreef]

Radions do tend to provide the Pop. I enjoy them but also like the look of the halide penetrating the water column. With the reefbrites running the length of the tank I have very little shadows between different light sources. Tends to blend them all together. If electricity and heat wasn't a factor, I'd have all three 400-watt halides back on it with a radion on the front and back side of each halide fixture and most likely remove the reefbrites.

I have 2xOR3 UV/Violet in the back and 2xOR4 UV/Violet in front of my 8ft tank. My end-state is your lighting setup before swapping out for halides! ;)

Agreed, I do love the shimmering effect during my halides days; however, the chiller kept running non-stop hence I switched to LEDs. Good luck getting bulbs though...

 

[Dmax]

I have 2xOR3 UV/Violet in the back and 2xOR4 UV/Violet in front of my 8ft tank. My end-state is your lighting setup before swapping out for halides! ;)

Agreed, I do love the shimmering effect during my halides days; however, the chiller kept running non-stop hence I switched to LEDs. Good luck getting bulbs though...

Yeah the bulbs will be the issue with time I'm sure. I have a few left, but after that??? Haven't had to try and locate them in a year.

 

[Dmax]

Think I've found the cyano or bacteria issue. Now the

question is whats the next step?