Bif's SPS Reef

[bif24701]

 

[bif24701]

My chaeto refugium has been so productive and effective that I’ve not used GFO in 3-4 months and haven’t needed a water change in 2 months. When I upgraded to this current light I could see in one week a huge improvement. However the real improvement cane when I doubled flow through the chaeto refugium. I assume the chaeto was nutrient or CO2 limited by this new light and required more flow to really unlock its potential. Anyway, a refugium based SPS system are real possibilities now with these high power grow lights.

 

[justingraham]

What light did u get kinda looks like mine that kicks my Cheetos butt as well

 

[bif24701]

Viparspectra, and does ok but the fan stopped working recently. I placed this small clip on fan to the top of it. I found it just in time before burning up the LEDs so it still works. Will be switching over to the Kessil soon. After opening the light up its cleaner they are not built for quality exactly. Do work well, but I assume not significantly long. SB Reef Lights also makes a fuge light with better quality parts, may look at that too if it’s powerful.

Here’s a link, it’s the “350watt” model. Actual draw though is only 120 or so. Definitely not 350.
VIPARSPECTRA Reflector-Series 300W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum for Indoor Plants Veg and Flower https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B4GQ6MO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_1fiQAbW2CJPCB

The really key though was the flow. Because my refugium is remotely located and fed by a line off my return flow at the beginning was ~500-700gph maybe even less. I changed the plumbing from a 3/4” flex hose to hard PVC 1” all the way. That doubled the flow and then upgraded to the Varios-8 return pump and now my bi-weekly harvests won’t all fit in a 5g bucket. It’s unreal!

 

[bif24701]

Decided I wanted to cut half of this monti to allow more light down to my two GBA. Well if cane off the overflow so I could reglue it but moved it to the back wall. It’s much bigger than I thought, almost 10” diameter.

Before

After

New location

 

[justingraham]

Viparspectra, and does ok but the fan stopped working recently. I placed this small clip on fan to the top of it. I found it just in time before burning up the LEDs so it still works. Will be switching over to the Kessil soon. After opening the light up its cleaner they are not built for quality exactly. Do work well, but I assume not significantly long. SB Reef Lights also makes a fuge light with better quality parts, may look at that too if it’s powerful.

Here’s a link, it’s the “350watt” model. Actual draw though is only 120 or so. Definitely not 350.
VIPARSPECTRA Reflector-Series 300W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum for Indoor Plants Veg and Flower https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B4GQ6MO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_1fiQAbW2CJPCB

The really key though was the flow. Because my refugium is remotely located and fed by a line off my return flow at the beginning was ~500-700gph maybe even less. I changed the plumbing from a 3/4” flex hose to hard PVC 1” all the way. That doubled the flow and then upgraded to the Varios-8 return pump and now my bi-weekly harvests won’t all fit in a 5g bucket. It’s unreal!

I got the same exact one and yes I found it weird the draw is only 180 as well mine came with a five year warranty u should check into that
I mean I would love to get a kessil but for the price I can’t justify it esp if a 70 dollar one does the trick

 

[I luv coralz]

Hey can we see a fts

 

[bif24701]

I got the same exact one and yes I found it weird the draw is only 180 as well mine came with a five year warranty u should check into that
I mean I would love to get a kessil but for the price I can’t justify it esp if a 70 dollar one does the trick

Yea, after verifying the correct spectrum with the price and great reviews I also thought that it would be great to try. No complaints for growth.

 

[bif24701]

Hey can we see a fts

Sure!

I’m not the kind of person to only show what looks good or not when it doesn’t look so well.

 

[bif24701]

Things looking well today

 

[bif24701]

Just a little harvest from my chaeto refugium.

 

[bif24701]

 

[Reefer40b]

My LFS will give me store credit for chaeto... maybe yours will too.. just saying

 

[bif24701]

My LFS will give me store credit for chaeto... maybe yours will too.. just saying

I might try that, maybe get a pack of frozen food or something. I’ll have another harvest like that one in about 2-3 weeks.

 

[Reefer40b]

I couldnt believe how much i got for mine, and big tanks can grow so much of it... im sure i will saturate my area with all the cheato anyone will ever need lol

 

[bif24701]

You know that’s true. I should advertise, I could sell it by the pound. There is at least one or two folks each month looking to get some on my local club page. I’m lucky to have all this extra space and large fuge. Wonder what my NO3/PO4 would be if not for it and this grow light. When I upgraded the fuge plumbing from 3/4” hose to 1” PVC all the way it doubled the flow into it. That launched the chaeto growth into a whole new dimension. I think at certain point chaeto get CO2 limited. I’ve seen some that put an air stone in the fuge for more CO2.

 

[happyhourhero]

Tank is looking good! Still have those nems?

 

[bif24701]

Tank is looking good! Still have those nems?

Thank you
Oh yea, sure do. I started noticing they were not getting light so I tried trimming a large monti to let light through. It came off of course and decided it’s too big anyway so moved it to the back. Nems are very happy though, getting direct light again.

 

[bif24701]

I have been having trouble keeping Nitrates in my system in fact. So just yesterday I finally got it up too ~15ppm with potassium nitrate. Instead of the 2-5ppm I was keeping I’m going to try 10-15 and see if I can push some more color. Light is strong, hitting min 275PAR in the bottom corners, so I want to see what this can do as I’ve seen some really great system that hover at about 15 and I think with my high flow and high light can push the corals a little more. Some have been a little pale and others just need that final little push to get the bright colors out.

Have you noticed (anyone) that corals seem to grow in spurts sometimes. I do, would like to know what the cause is or if it’s just their natural thing. If I could finger the cause maybe I can extend these spurts. When weather is good we open windows so that keeps ph higher. I’ve also cut way back on all organic carbon dosing, add Aqua Forest Components Strong to my 2part, and additional Iodine. Whatever it is, it’s been working for me and I don’t plan on changing it. My weakness is tweaking and tinkering.

 

[happyhourhero]

I always move in and out of the zone with my tank. If things look bad, I tweak and turn everything around and then find the sweet spot but I usually blow right past it. Wish I could afford to just do a Triton test when everything is doing great so I can aim to stay there. I also have some difficulty keeping every single acro happy. I now just shoot to keep most happy and try not to sweat if one starts acting up.