Newbie Stocking / aquascaping questions

[rvamarcel]

I dont have a BC-I have an all in one cube, custom made.
Its a rimless but I had my LFS build me an acrilic cover to cover only the display portion. I got the mount for the prime HD: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/ai-prime-tank-mount-black.html?gclid=CP3r_crB5dACFdRMDQodQ8oKdA
and put it on the back of the sump portion of the tank. When I get home, Ill send you a few pics.
My other piece of advice is dont just buy anything you see. Shop around. I bought some all red acans for my tank, glued them in then realized how much I loved rainbow acans lol and I cant get it off my rock :(

I've thought about the acrylic top, but doesn't it get stained easily with the evaporation / condensation? sorry for the million questions :|

 

[Frop]

If I keep the stock lights I'll def look into changing that daylight for another actinic (I always have to double check the spelling on that one). Wouldn't it look too blue, though? I've read that the stock lights are good for most corals, but I've also read that getting LEDs make a huge difference... all the retrofit options are above $200, so I'm debating between making the investment on a AI Prime HD and somehow fitting it under the hood or keeping the stock lights, changing the day light for actinic and maybe adding the Coralife LED White LED Bar (which is like $20 or something)...

So many options... so much $$$ required... lol

I think on small tanks all actinic looks very blue but on bigger tanks all actinic looks really nice.

I have a Hydra 26 HD hovering over my 10 gallon by a really cheap wooden stand I made. Complete overkill. I bought it knowing it was too much and with the intention of upgrading. I'm about to make the switch to a 55gallon so I'm hoping the one light maxed out would do well. Currently I run the 26 at about 30-33 watts. So it's definitely turned down. What's nice on the LED is you can customize the color settings. Also you don't have to replace the bulbs yearly. It uses power way more effiently and it is cooler (so it heats the house less which means my AC runs less). Some times adding the whites look nicer but I'm trying to prevent algae too since I tend to get it. I think I am probably feeding my fish too much. Like I said I'm still new (6months into this).

 

[ahiggins]

You gave me an excuse to clean the lid hahaha
Before:

After:

And this is how I have the ai mounted:

And full tank shot:

 

[ahiggins]

I've thought about the acrylic top, but doesn't it get stained easily with the evaporation / condensation? sorry for the million questions :|

The evaporation leaves water on the underside but I would rather have it drip back into the tank than evaporate 100%.
Also, it just gets a little salt creep on the top. I clean it with a spare filter pad once a month

 

[rvamarcel]

The evaporation leaves water on the underside but I would rather have it drip back into the tank than evaporate 100%.
Also, it just gets a little salt creep on the top. I clean it with a spare filter pad once a month

I'm seriously considering going that route. It is either an acrylic lid or this:

I haven't been able to find out what's the minimum height the AI Prime can be from the water

 

[rvamarcel]

You gave me an excuse to clean the lid hahaha
Before:

After:

And this is how I have the ai mounted:

And full tank shot:

It looks awesome! Good job cleaning[emoji39][emoji3]

 

[rvamarcel]

I think on small tanks all actinic looks very blue but on bigger tanks all actinic looks really nice.

I have a Hydra 26 HD hovering over my 10 gallon by a really cheap wooden stand I made. Complete overkill. I bought it knowing it was too much and with the intention of upgrading. I'm about to make the switch to a 55gallon so I'm hoping the one light maxed out would do well. Currently I run the 26 at about 30-33 watts. So it's definitely turned down. What's nice on the LED is you can customize the color settings. Also you don't have to replace the bulbs yearly. It uses power way more effiently and it is cooler (so it heats the house less which means my AC runs less). Some times adding the whites look nicer but I'm trying to prevent algae too since I tend to get it. I think I am probably feeding my fish too much. Like I said I'm still new (6months into this).

How high is your hydra from the water?

After you mentioned replacing the daylight with actinic I read about 50/50 bulbs... so many options! I think I want the Prime HD, I just need a way to mount it in the hood of the tank

 

[Frop]

How high is your hydra from the water?

After you mentioned replacing the daylight with actinic I read about 50/50 bulbs... so many options! I think I want the Prime HD, I just need a way to mount it in the hood of the tank

I just met someone who I've been talking to for about a month for the first time today. He said on his earlier tank he had some non actinic run then a timer to turn actinics on.


My light? It's probably about a foot off the water line. Id have to measure it. The tank is 13" tall. It's high enough so it doesn't get any water on it. I had it up higher mainly for the spread to look nice. Too close and it doesn't spread so well (keep in mind my tank is just 13" tall so less chance to spread).

 

[ahiggins]

I'm seriously considering going that route. It is either an acrylic lid or this:

I haven't been able to find out what's the minimum height the AI Prime can be from the water

I wouldnt worry about it being too close to the water-I would worry about getting the correct spread of light to your corals.

 

[rvamarcel]

I wouldnt worry about it being too close to the water-I would worry about getting the correct spread of light to your corals.

So, yesterday I got a small fragplug with zoas and a plate with about ten tubes of Pipe Organ.

It all went good last night. Today they were nice and open, but the colors were a bit dull, so "genius" here (me) decided to move them. Because the plate where the Pipe Organ was glued was too big, I decided to cut it so I could move it from the sand bed to a little bit higher on the rock... well, bad, bad, BAD idea. Turns out that the tubes are the most fragile thing I've ever dealt with :( multiple tubes broke, there was glue everywhere, I could almost hear the coral scream. It was awful. I think I am guilty of a pipe organ massacre and I should never be allowed to have them ever again... right now they are in tank, we'll see if they ever open again but those minutes will forever be burned in my memory [emoji55][emoji85]

Also, I think I'm starting to have a bit of an algae problem...

 

[ahiggins]

Grats on the coral!

Hahahahahaha hahahahahaha we all have those moments. I accidentally dropped a light into the aquarium once. Without thinking I grabbed it out. I couldn't believe I was so stupid! I've killed a few corals in my life too :) you live, you learn lol
Plus, the pipe organs are such fast growers! In my opinion, they're the weeds of the coral world. Keep them separated from your main rockwork because they will take over your tank.
Do you know about light acclimation for corals? I don't want to go into a tangent if you already know
Everyone battles algae at one point or another, right now I have dinos in my frag tank that I've been brainstorming the best way to get rid of them.
So where are you from-if you're close I can give you a few collonista snails. They're itty bitty snails that just show up at night lol

 

[ahiggins]

Oh and why is there not pics of your new corals!? I need pics! Lol
I bought some playboy bunnies today (silly name I know)

 

[rvamarcel]

Oh and why is there not pics of your new corals!? I need pics! Lol
I bought some playboy bunnies today (silly name I know)

----

That looks amazing!!!! And yes, funny name, specially if the phrase was taken out of context lol

I was waiting for them to brighten up before taking pictures, but then I turned into the Butcher of Richmond and went crazy and broke them. I'm in Richmond, VA. You?

 

[rvamarcel]

Grats on the coral!

Hahahahahaha hahahahahaha we all have those moments. I accidentally dropped a light into the aquarium once. Without thinking I grabbed it out. I couldn't believe I was so stupid! I've killed a few corals in my life too :) you live, you learn lol
Plus, the pipe organs are such fast growers! In my opinion, they're the weeds of the coral world. Keep them separated from your main rockwork because they will take over your tank.
Do you know about light acclimation for corals? I don't want to go into a tangent if you already know
Everyone battles algae at one point or another, right now I have dinos in my frag tank that I've been brainstorming the best way to get rid of them.
So where are you from-if you're close I can give you a few collonista snails. They're itty bitty snails that just show up at night lol

--

I've read a bit about light acclimation for corals and I was specifically told to put the pipes and the zoas on the sand bed for a few days for them to get used to my lights. Of course, I had the patience of a three year old and decided they would be happier and more comfortable a bit higher up... then I thought that since I was moving them, why not cut a bit of the disc they were glued to... and then...

 

[ahiggins]

----

That looks amazing!!!! And yes, funny name, specially if the phrase was taken out of context lol

I was waiting for them to brighten up before taking pictures, but then I turned into the Butcher of Richmond and went crazy and broke them. I'm in Richmond, VA. You?

Haha you should trademark that! Cleveland Ohio here :) let me know if you're in my neck of the woods...ever haha I have a friend that lives over in Virginia Beach

 

[ahiggins]

--

I've read a bit about light acclimation for corals and I was specifically told to put the pipes and the zoas on the sand bed for a few days for them to get used to my lights. Of course, I had the patience of a three year old and decided they would be happier and more comfortable a bit higher up... then I thought that since I was moving them, why not cut a bit of the disc they were glued to... and then...

And then...and then...lol it's ok :) they will usually tell you if they're not happy. Staying closed, doing an umbrella move-they invert so they look like an umbrella.
I usually go through Richmond on the way to the outer banks every year.

 

[Frop]

So, yesterday I got a small fragplug with zoas and a plate with about ten tubes of Pipe Organ.

It all went good last night. Today they were nice and open, but the colors were a bit dull, so "genius" here (me) decided to move them. Because the plate where the Pipe Organ was glued was too big, I decided to cut it so I could move it from the sand bed to a little bit higher on the rock... well, bad, bad, BAD idea. Turns out that the tubes are the most fragile thing I've ever dealt with :( multiple tubes broke, there was glue everywhere, I could almost hear the coral scream. It was awful. I think I am guilty of a pipe organ massacre and I should never be allowed to have them ever again... right now they are in tank, we'll see if they ever open again but those minutes will forever be burned in my memory [emoji55][emoji85]

Also, I think I'm starting to have a bit of an algae problem...

Haha. Bummer. Ya half stuff I put in my tank ends up having some form of issue. I lost a $60 coral soon after I got it. I blame the crabs.. It'll get easier for us. I've been trying to do business with other people for cheaper prices. A friend just gave me some free corals and a small colony .He has a 30 gallon but is about to start up a 240. His nano is an insanely clean tank... unreal.. I have light algae issues too. You can set up a refugium if you don't have one already. Put something like chaeto in there and it is suppose to use up the nutrients the algae in the display tank would use to prevent it.

 

[ahiggins]

I've heard about using chaeto but it never works for me. I have near 0 nitrates, no phosphates yet my frag tank always has algae I'm actually thinking about using vibrant. I'm still not sold on the miracle cure but if it works, maybe I can use it as a small maintenance thing.

 

[Frop]

I've heard about using chaeto but it never works for me. I have near 0 nitrates, no phosphates yet my frag tank always has algae I'm actually thinking about using vibrant. I'm still not sold on the miracle cure but if it works, maybe I can use it as a small maintenance thing.

My friend has a very very clean tank. He says he uses chemipure elite and purigen. I was going to try it on my new tank.

 

[ahiggins]

I used to use chemipure as well but my corals started to look affected. I took it out and they improved.