Flip's Reef

Diesel · Jan 13, 2013

That's .............SWEET and COOL looking at the same time.
Question though. yes I know it's a stupid question...but how the heck you cleaning out your skimmer or skimmer neck in the sump?
I see you have a nice pm collection cup but still.
Other than that the ref will finish your system up nicely.

Flipside · Jan 13, 2013

Yeah, that is trivial upon first glance; but it really is pretty easy to yank it out of there and clean it. Being that everything is outside, if I spill a little on the garage floor, it doesn't really matter. I am probably going to get a neck clean like d2mini just recently acquired (that video on MARSH is a major seller for me). That, or a new skimmer that will support one.

Diesel · Jan 13, 2013

I second that.
I have a brand new BM for my 202 and I DON'T like it.
Will order a Vertex with neck cleaner.
As I build everything myself besides the tank (Planet Aquariums) I have major funds left over.
Oh, Leo for your R2R fans here are a few pics of my tank. (copy right @ Tektike)

Flipside · Jan 13, 2013

Ahhhhh.... It looks phenomenal, bro! Cat takes amazing pictures, too.

Diesel · Jan 14, 2013

Hey are you in softies at all?

In the 4th pic you see a colonie of the JF rainbow pollys.
I have a frag for you if you like, it has about 6 or 8 pollys.
Just cause I'm a strong believer of spreading my corals out.
In the event something happends to my system than I can ask a frag back from you.

Flipside · Jan 14, 2013

I appreciate the offer!! Very kind of you, bro! I'll have to pass though because I'm just not into softies. I doubt I'll even do zoas in this tank. That one is a beauty, though!

Flipside · Jan 14, 2013

Still, not dSLR pics, but you get the gist with those shots. I'm going to let it get nasty in this one. The wrasse did make an appearance when I fed last night, so hopefully it starts coming out more...

I forgot how clear acrylic tanks were. :)

zibba · Jan 14, 2013

Fun to come back to check out this update! You had a busy weekend, looks great! How's everything looking in the main display?

Flipside · Jan 14, 2013

Hey zibba! Hope you had a blast, bro! Everything's looking pretty good in the DT. I still need to get some better pics of everything. I'll be receiving my canopy tomorrow night, so I'll update pics then. Hopefully I can get that canopy to cooperate. My buddy (that built it) is saying that it turned out a bit heavy.

zibba · Jan 14, 2013

I did, indeed! Sweet news about the canopy, I'm sure you'll figure out a way to hang it securely. I forgot to ask, what's the red-macro in the fuge?

Flipside · Jan 14, 2013

You ready for this scientific name? :D It's called Red Macroalgae. LOL! That's how it was sold to me, and it supposedly a slow grower. There's 2-3 pieces of it in my fuge. I also have that feather caulerpa in there, and some fine-type cheatomorpha. I do want to get more types in there, but I heard that some macros actually consume calcium. There's a local on my home board that sells some beauties locally. I'm hoping to hook up with her one of these days... She's like our resident macro guru. :)

zibba · Jan 14, 2013

Haha, awesome! Are you running the light 24/7, on a reverse photoperiod or what? Sorry, I really should be asking these questions in a single post ... I'm sure I'll come up with another question in a few hours ;)

Flipside · Jan 14, 2013

It's all good man! There's only a handful of y'all really reading this anyway. :D I keep the light on 24/7 right now. I will go to a reverse cycle once I get a better light over the tank and once I get my controller out in the garage. I need the canopy on there before I do that.

LILBUDDHA · Jan 15, 2013

Flipside said:
Still, not dSLR pics, but you get the gist with those shots. I'm going to let it get nasty in this one. The wrasse did make an appearance when I fed last night, so hopefully it starts coming out more...

I forgot how clear acrylic tanks were. :)

Boy that 1300 gph chinese ph is moving some water .
It does look pretty clear in there . Too bad you are going to let it get all dirty but I understand why .

Flipside · Jan 15, 2013

Yeah, the powerhead that's in there is way too much. I want to put something that's 750gph or less on both sides and call it done. Yeah... it's gunna git ugly! :D

MarvinsReef · Jan 15, 2013

Flipside said:
Oh, btw, this puts my system volume at just over 300g. I'm guesstimating that I have over 220g running right now. If no sand or rock was in the system, I'd be running 283g's of water. Haha!

1smile1

zibba · Jan 16, 2013

New question: What are your thoughts on the ReefFlakes? I've been kicking myself for not going with ReefFlakes in my bigger tank. Seriously considering removing all the sand and starting over with reefflakes because I'm having issues with flow-patterns and sand dunes.

Flipside · Jan 16, 2013

zibba said:
New question: What are your thoughts on the ReefFlakes? I've been kicking myself for not going with ReefFlakes in my bigger tank. Seriously considering removing all the sand and starting over with reefflakes because I'm having issues with flow-patterns and sand dunes.

Honestly, by far the coolest substrate I've ever used. I'm considering taking out the stuff in my DT, and replacing it with reef flakes, too. I didn't even rinse it! I literally cut the bags open, dumped it in there, then transferred the water over. It was an experiment gone good! :)

If I scrape it with my hands (like taking the sandbed), it doesn't kick up a sandstorm. It's incredibly clean stuff.

I wish I followed my gut to begin with. Darn hindsight! LOL! At least I have some in the fuge, I suppose.

My buddy that came over to help plumb in the tank asked me the same thing. He saw me rake it with my finger and there was virtually no cloud. Needless to say, he's going to cover his Oolite (sugar sand) with this stuff too. LOL! It's kind of pricy, but well worth it.

Ace product man! 2 thumbs up!