Next upgrade: Lights vs Pumps poll

[VTek]

Hey what's up reefers?!

Hope everyone's been good and tanks are thriving!

I wanted to take a poll to see what y'all think my next upgrade should be (creating post from cell phone. I've seen actual 'poll' on here before but can't figure out how to from the app so here goes nothing!)

What do you think I should upgrade next for mixed reef 90g system?

Radion G3/G4's or MP40QD's?

Currently have (2) XR15w Pro for lighting and (2) Hydor koralia 1500 gph. Trying to keep to a shorter post so here are some pictures of the display. Any other questions are certainly welcome!

Thanks in advance for participating!

 

[nervousmonkey]

MP40's hands down

 

[TheEngineer]

I'd say lights.

 

[dragon99]

Split decision? Add a XR15 G4 (between the current lights) and one MP40QD!

 

[VTek]

Split decision? Add a XR15 G4 (between the current lights) and one MP40QD!

I don't think another 15 would be ideal as I have the separater for covers.

 

[hart24601]

3,000gph for 90 gallon tank, I easily vote for more flow!

 

[VTek]

Here are some more pictures with more whites.

 

[VTek]

3,000gph for 90 gallon tank, I easily vote for more flow!

I guess I also have 2000 gph return if you wanna count that as well.

 

[TheEngineer]

You have almost all LPS and softies, you don't need more flow IMO

 

[VTek]

You have almost all LPS and softies, you don't need more flow IMO

Wanna get in the stick game now!! [emoji51]

 

[skim]

What's wrong with the lighting? Better yet why do you think you need to upgrade?

 

[VTek]

What's wrong with the lighting? Better yet why do you think you need to upgrade?

I don't think anything is 'wrong' with my current lighting. Just know that sps require a lot of light and not sure if these will get it done. Most people with radions on a 90g have 2 3Gs. Currently running ecotechs AB+ at 85% with wide angles.

 

[skim]

Well you seem to have 2 SPS in the Tank now, they look very happy. Have ever tried running without the Glass top? You may be surprised at the Corals response as Glass does block some UV light. You may even have to back off on some of the Blue. Water movement, I would be a little worried increasing it much more as you have Sugar sand and it may start to blow around. Do you have some type of timer on the power heads?
I think your system looks very good. I would just add a couple more SPS Corals and see how it goes. You may need to do something with Flow as the SPS grow and alter the currents but that would not be for awhile.

 

[VTek]

Well you seem to have 2 SPS in the Tank now, they look very happy. Have ever tried running without the Glass top? You may be surprised at the Corals response as Glass does block some UV light. You may even have to back off on some of the Blue. Water movement, I would be a little worried increasing it much more as you have Sugar sand and it may start to blow around. Do you have some type of timer on the power heads?
I think your system looks very good. I would just add a couple more SPS Corals and see how it goes. You may need to do something with Flow as the SPS grow and alter the currents but that would not be for awhile.

I've had those sps going on 6 months. Really haven't grown one bit, other than crusting around the base a little. The one on the right has gone from blue/purple to more of a green color. Although it could be caused by water quality,that's a different story.

I have thought about removing the covers and did remove them for a short time. Evap almost triples without them. Not to mention how dusty they get over a weeks time between cleaning, couldn't imagine that would be good for the system. So I decided to keep them.

The sand, yes, I agree and completely regret my choice. I have though about siphoning out and replacing with crushed coral. Sounded like a lot of work at this point!

I do not have the powerheads on a timer.

 

[mcarroll]

@skim thank you for beating me to the punch! I would have said everything you said. :) :)

@VTek get a light meter so you can find out how much light is over your tank right now.

It's a little bit of misinformation that "SPS = high light" anyway....but it's still important to know about your own lights. :)

(if you want to get down to it, SPS isn't even a meaningful term aside from describing "looks"....its not a real biological grouping of corals, or an environment, or anything)

In general corals don't need much light. It's more like they will use what they can get to supplement all other nutrient sources.

If you can put between 10,000 lux and 50,000 lux over the tank, then you shouldn't have trouble with corals. (Anywhere in that range – more is not better.) Clams would like to have more......greater than 30,000 lux.

If you don't have a light meter, start with a free lux meter app for your smartphone – there are bunches of them available. Report back some results here.

I would also recommend eventually getting a handheld lux meter like the "lx-1010b" that I use.....they cost less than $15, delivered, give you better results than an app and are safer to use over your tank than your phone!!! :)

 

[mcarroll]

Lack of growth could be nutrients, BTW......

Getting off-topic from your poll, but what are the numbers for your water parameters currently/recently? (stable or variable?)

 

[skim]

The other thing I forgot to mention about the glass top is it will reflect some of your light away from the surface so you in away doubled you reflection away from the surface ( first glass then Water surface ) that will drop your PAR also. As for evaporation rate it may be a good thing, pick up a Two Little Fishies Kalk Reactor and a Cobalt 1200 pump and set up ATO. Hew ya, up the PH Added Cal. and Alk threw Kal dosing those Corals will start sprouting. Frags tend not to grow a lot, little by little and then one day they will just poof and have these very large growth rates.

 

[Lonny]

+1 on the above posts. But to way in on your poll is go flow first[emoji6]

 

[john.m.cole3]

I like the above suggestion about removing the glass top and adding a kalk supplement. If you absolutely have to, maybe 1x MP40. Have you considered the Tunze pump line up? Very good options there. @mcarroll convinced me that will be the next kind of powerhead I purchase. Best of wishes.