d2mini's "Essential Focus" Mixed Reef Build

[morpheas]

I am using a G2 radion and I'm having the exact same problem (white on the bottom) with the exact same coral (a purple, a pink and a green stylo, i know a love stylos). Believe it or not before i had the Mars aqua and i didn't have the problem! Although the light spread to the corners was awful that's what made me change. I think my light has the TIR lenses (can't tell, bought it second hand, is there a way you can tell btw?) are there any new lenses i can strap on there that would make the spread better?

 

[Lninwa]

Beautiful anthias. What tang is this?

 

[d2mini]

I am using a G2 radion and I'm having the exact same problem (white on the bottom) with the exact same coral (a purple, a pink and a green stylo, i know a love stylos). Believe it or not before i had the Mars aqua and i didn't have the problem! Although the light spread to the corners was awful that's what made me change. I think my light has the TIR lenses (can't tell, bought it second hand, is there a way you can tell btw?) are there any new lenses i can strap on there that would make the spread better?

Yep, those were G2's that were over my tank at the time. I tried the wide angle lenses and they help a little, but not enough to overcome the fact that I just didn't have enough lights.
You're dealing with a puck and a sharp cone of light. The new G4's chop off that top pointy part of the cone, if that makes sense.
If you want to continue with the G2's you can A) add more, and/or B) raise them up higher. Raising them helps spread the light more evenly.
Mine are 17" above the water, and they are about 13-14" apart from each other.
The lights in the Coral Lab article that Ecotech published were mounted 24" above the water.

Beautiful anthias. What tang is this?

Thanks. :)
The pics are labeled. It's a Square Tail Bristle Tooth Tang. Looks very much like a Yellow Eye Kole Tang with different markings.

 

[morpheas]

Thanks for the reply! I was at 15". Moved my hanging pole higher bringing it to 19" which is pretty much maximum i can go so we will see how that goes. Btw, is there a way you can tell what kind of lenses are mounted? Thanks again for the response!

 

[d2mini]

Thanks for the reply! I was at 15". Moved my hanging pole higher bringing it to 19" which is pretty much maximum i can go so we will see how that goes. Btw, is there a way you can tell what kind of lenses are mounted? Thanks again for the response!

Cool.
You should be able to find some pics if you do a google image search. I can't remember the small differences in appearance.
But I think the wide angles say "wide angle lens" around the perimeter.

 

[d2mini]

I have an update on the cheato.
It's seems as though it had reached it's peak around the time of that video I made or a little after.
It has since been breaking down and sending my skimmer in to a bit of a frenzy.
The tank looks good, nitrates are still low at around 2 ppm.
But my latest (2nd) ICP test showed that p04 has sky rocketed, which makes sense.

Not sure what to make of it, so just observing for now.
Best case, the cheato rebounds at some point and starts growing again.
Worst case, I take out the remaining and start with a fresh ball.
It's been several weeks already.

If I do decide to remove the remaining cheato I'll go ahead and add the divider to the sump to separate cheato from other macros and begin trimming as it grows too big.

 

[JustinFromAL]

But my latest (2nd) ICP test showed that p04 has sky rocketed, which makes sense.

What have been the negative effects (if any) from the PO4 spike? Is the "nuisance" algae still only present in the sump/fuge?

 

[d2mini]

What have been the negative effects (if any) from the PO4 spike? Is the "nuisance" algae still only present in the sump/fuge?

I haven't seen much of any nuisance algae. But my tang and urchins help keep the rock clean.

 

[Scottsquatch]

Dennis, just caught up on the build. It turned out fabulous! I love that TBS rock. Incredible cycle time with a nice mature look to the tank. Keep us posted with the ecotech results.

 

[d2mini]

Dennis, just caught up on the build. It turned out fabulous! I love that TBS rock. Incredible cycle time with a nice mature look to the tank. Keep us posted with the ecotech results.

Thanks! :)

So I said screw it and I'm cleaning out the fuge today.
Holy detritus, batman! The bottom has like a half inch thick mud bed. Who needs miracle mud? LOL! :D

The plan is to make some kind of egg crate divider today.
ONE of the red macros survived. The Bryothamnion. I don't see any evidence of any of the others.

 

[bubbaque]

Are you going to add cheato again?

 

[d2mini]

Are you going to add cheato again?

Yeah, i kept a small ball. But that's why i'm going to add a divider. Cheato on one side, other macros on the other.
Gotta pick up some egg crate.

 

[ShinerMaginer]

Yeah, i kept a small ball. But that's why i'm going to add a divider. Cheato on one side, other macros on the other.
Gotta pick up some egg crate.

Is the divider because the Cheato was out-competing the other macro algae? I've only ever had cheato in my refugium, but would like to try some variety.

 

[d2mini]

Is the divider because the Cheato was out-competing the other macro algae? I've only ever had cheato in my refugium, but would like to try some variety.

Yes.

So I finished this up.
All clean and got the egg crate in.
All I did was cut one support to run along the right wall and then zip tied the top of the divider to one of the overflow teeth.
Seems to be holding good for now.
I have a bit more space for the chaeto in back than I do for the other macros in front.

 

[ShinerMaginer]

I've always had a sand bed in my refugiums, but see you are run a bare bottom. Do you have experience/findings comparing both?

 

[TonapahNorth]

ok, I'm working on a water changing station. I'm trying to find the tall rectangular tanks like you have. All I can seem to find are rounds. Not that it matters but I think the rectangular tanks look better. Can you direct me to a place that sells these tanks?

Thanks
Tona

 

[d2mini]

ok, I'm working on a water changing station. I'm trying to find the tall rectangular tanks like you have. All I can seem to find are rounds. Not that it matters but I think the rectangular tanks look better. Can you direct me to a place that sells these tanks?

Thanks
Tona

I got mine from Tank Depot.
We have a location just outside of town.

 

[TonapahNorth]

Thanks D2 ... I would be remiss if I didn't say how inspiring your tank is. I love the clean and meticulous work.

I started a new thread to get some opinions on a tank I found.

Keep up the great work.
Tona

 

[d2mini]

I've always had a sand bed in my refugiums, but see you are run a bare bottom. Do you have experience/findings comparing both?

Sorry bud, missed this earlier.
I don't like substrates in the fuge. Or rock for that matter. Traps detritus, makes a mess, hard to clean.
But my fuge is strictly for nutrient reduction. Some people like them to house critters they can't have in the display.
If I was going to do a DSB, i'd probably do a remote dark DSB in a bucket or something that could easily be taken off-line.

 

[ShinerMaginer]

Sorry bud, missed this earlier.
I don't like substrates in the fuge. Or rock for that matter. Traps detritus, makes a mess, hard to clean.
But my fuge is strictly for nutrient reduction. Some people like them to house critters they can't have in the display.
If I was going to do a DSB, i'd probably do a remote dark DSB in a bucket or something that could easily be taken off-line.

No sweat! You have jeeps to drive, salty art to attend to! I've recently wondered if my previous fuge trapped too much detritus for those exact reasons and became a bit of a nutrient sink that the chaeto couldn't keep up with. Kinda the anti-fuge, I guess.