FarmerTy's 215-gallon SPS Tank

[BigJohnny]

Tank updates:
1) The tank equivalent of leg day at the gym... Swapped out old bulbs.

2) Added a Avast Marine Spyglass reactor XL and run both ROX carbon and GFO in it together. It's nice being able to ditch two terrible reactors for one good one that can run both media. For those curious, ideally you don't want carbon to tumble due to it releasing dust but if you use ROX carbon which is super hard and mix if with GFO in a true fluidized reactor like the Spyglass, it's perfect and I haven't had any issues with dust so far. Highly recommend it. Its easy to swap media too... Just pull the top portion off, leave the pump running, dump the old media out, rinse, add new media, put back on reactor body, put on rinse cap, rinse GFO into a bucket, and swap back to the normal cap and you're done. No lid to unscrew or thumbscrews either... No tubing to mess with too!

3) Still waiting for time to swap out to external skimmer, new larger return pump, rebuild manifold, and add the larger CaRX with peristaltic pump.

4) Oh, I'll be 38 lbs heavier by next week.

5) Went ahead and ordered the new gyres. My old ones were a bit noiser than I like for the display and just a tad less power than I want as well. Went with the new XF350s... Supposedly quieter, just a hair more power, and hopefully the cover on top helps prevent algae growth too. I'll move the two XF250s to the two frag tanks and use them in there instead for much better flow in the frag tanks.

6) High pH still going strong with 8.1 low and 8.5 highs. Not sure if I see faster growth yet but its only been 1-2 weeks.

Do you swap all bulbs out at once? I've always staggered. If so do you reduce photoperiod temporarily to compensate or anything?

 

[FarmerTy]

Do you swap all bulbs out at once? I've always staggered. If so do you reduce photoperiod temporarily to compensate or anything?

I replace all at once. My fixture is on an adjustable height hanger... So I just pull it up a few inches and then slowly raise it back down over time.

 

[FarmerTy]

My poor angels are going to get a good workout! Time to ditch the winter fat! Its almost bathing suit season!

 

[sawdonkey]

My poor angels are going to get a good workout! Time to ditch the winter fat! Its almost bathing suit season!

That top cover on those is nice. The thing I hate about my gyre is how it sometimes sucks air from the surface. I assume those covers prevent that?

 

[FarmerTy]

That top cover on those is nice. The thing I hate about my gyre is how it sometimes sucks air from the surface. I assume those covers prevent that?

I'm hoping so. I got them because they are supposed to be quieter, have the top cover to prevent sucking in air, and also that top cover well hopefully prevent as much algae from growing on the tops.

 

[Highgrade]

I'm hoping so. I got them because they are supposed to be quieter, have the top cover to prevent sucking in air, and also that top cover well hopefully prevent as much algae from growing on the tops.

Definitely quieter, Still seems to suck air depending on placement and mode/intensity. The cover is mainly for preventing algae and directing the flow. The new XF350's can get some serious flow going. I had to pull mine out of my new build. It was too much flow even at 30%.

 

[Giddyup]

What brand are those Gyre? My 280 has Maxspect on box, don’t see that with yours?

 

[Highgrade]

What brand are those Gyre? My 280 has Maxspect on box, don’t see that with yours?

They're Maxspect, it's on the side of the box.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Do you have a picture under whites
;Hilarious;Hilarious;Hilarious

 

[FarmerTy]

Do you have a picture under whites
;Hilarious;Hilarious;Hilarious

It is I swear! I just have blue carpet in the fish room. It's true to what I see in person!

 

[Jimbo662]

It is I swear! I just have blue carpet in the fish room. It's true to what I see in person!

That fish room is a kaleidoscope of colors...just depends on what direction you're looking in!

 

[FarmerTy]

Nem party!

3 colors commonly seen in Colorado Sunburst anemones

Mak Corals Inferno

Colorado Sunburst close-up of red tentacles

 

[Jimbo662]

I'm still seeing red on mine too.

 

[FarmerTy]

I'm still seeing red on mine too.

Bring it over... See how it looks under my lights.

 

[Jimbo662]

Bring it over... See how it looks under my lights.

What???? A nem play date????

Nah, I don't think so. He's looking too fat and happy just where he is. I think he's actually at least doubled in size.

 

[gig 'em]

I'm still seeing red on mine too.

SURPRISE! He actually sold you a regular rose and just promised it was a CSB.

 

[Jimbo662]

SURPRISE! He actually sold you a regular rose and just promised it was a CSB.

 

[FarmerTy]

A quick video update.

 

[FarmerTy]

Happy Friday!

Unnamed (previously misidentified Rainbow Blossum)

Vivid Aquariums Rainbow - classic piece and classic coloring under full spectrum

Strawberry shortcake (microclados) - its much brighter in person but I struggle to take good pics of it as it is pretty low in the tank.

 

[Giddyup]

Tank looks great and room for new big colonies[emoji106]. Is it just a thin layer of large grain reef sand? So even, does it stay that way with Gyre power?