Randy's Tank and Learn Thread

[rishma]

Not until the tank has been running for a while. At that point I may run a tank water test, and an RO only (no DI) test to assess the suitability of skipping the DI in my situation. My assessment of my water supply data (which is quite extensive) suggests that only chloramine and silicate (3 ppm) are a concern. In that setting, RO only may be perfectly adequate. :)

just saving on resin? Or some other downside to DI?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

just saving on resin? Or some other downside to DI?

Saving money, resources, and worry about when to replace it, coupled with what I did previously to dose silicate which may become unnecessary. :)

Not a big deal, more for the knowledge of it and whether to suggest it more strongly to others.

 

[tripdad]

Im on a well and the best tanks I have had were with triple filtration only. I now have RODI and surely dont see any magic happening. Things are fine but not radically improved from before. All my opinion, I have no data to offer.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Lighting

Well, the decision has been made and the lights are ordered. I’m going with

3 X 48” AI Blade freshwater
1 x 48” AI Blade Coral Glow

I should get then next week and will begin mounting them, but I will need to see exactly how they fit in the canopy side to side as it is a very tight fit.

Initial plan is to mount two stainless steel rods front to back in the canopy (easy by drilling two small holes to fit the rods), put eye bolts in the mounting clips, and then the lights can slide along the rods. I show pictures if that works out as I’m sure it isn’t clear.

The big uncertainty is whether I need to drill cord holes in a side panel of the canopy, or if there is enough room to fit the end mounted cords fully in the hood.

These lights were chosen after an extensive thread (link below) where folks helped me pick quiet lights that would be able to give a shallow water spectrum with some uv. Thanks to those who helped. :)

Silent Lights Poll

I'm interested in getting opinions on which types of silent lights are best. To me, that means a fanless light. I know some folks think some lights with fans are very quite, but so often, someone else either hears better, has lower tolerances for irritation by noises, has a quieter...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Miami Reef]

Randy,

I ordered a Biota Yellow Tang because of you. I completely forgot they were an option. I read you were considering them (possibly even a trio.)

Little did I know, Biota is only 30 minutes away from me! I’m going to locally pick up my yellow tang tomorrow and save $$ on shipping.

Lucky me!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy,

I ordered a Biota Yellow Tang because of you. I completely forgot they were an option. I read you were considering them (possibly even a trio.)

Little did I know, Biota is only 30 minutes away from me! I’m going to locally pick up my yellow tang tomorrow and save $$ on shipping.

Lucky me!

Yes, that is lucky! I decided on just one, but I think it will be my first fish. :)

 

[twentyleagues]

Lighting

Well, the decision has been made and the lights are ordered. I’m going with

3 X 48” AI Blade freshwater
1 x 48” AI Blade Coral Glow

I should get then next week and will begin mounting them, but I will need to see exactly how they fit in the canopy side to side as it is a very tight fit.

Initial plan is to mount two stainless steel rods front to back in the canopy (easy by drilling two small holes to fit the rods), put eye bolts in the mounting clips, and then the lights can slide along the rods. I show pictures if that works out as I’m sure it isn’t clear.

The big uncertainty is whether I need to drill cord holes in a side panel of the canopy, or if there is enough room to fit the end mounted cords fully in the hood.

These lights were chosen after an extensive thread (link below) where folks helped me pick quiet lights that would be able to give a shallow water spectrum with some uv. Thanks to those who helped. :)

Silent Lights Poll

I'm interested in getting opinions on which types of silent lights are best. To me, that means a fanless light. I know some folks think some lights with fans are very quite, but so often, someone else either hears better, has lower tolerances for irritation by noises, has a quieter...

www.reef2reef.com

With their design the cord should not be an issue. There is a cord routing slot on the end of the light that take the cord to one side of the light and down. The cord is quite a small diameter and very soft and flexible.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

With their design the cord should not be an issue. There is a cord routing slot on the end of the light that take the cord to one side of the light and down. The cord is quite a small diameter and very soft and flexible.

Thanks. That will make mounting easier!

 

[twentyleagues]

Thanks. That will make mounting easier!

I am interested in seeing how this set up looks. I picked up a freshwater 20" for my fuge along with the grow it should be more than enough for a 24x18 fuge.

 

[LiverockRocks Verified Sponsor]

I've missed why folks are using freshwater blades? What's the short story?

 

[Miami Reef]

I've missed why folks are using freshwater blades? What's the short story?

It has more whites which some want for aesthetic reasons.

 

[twentyleagues]

I've missed why folks are using freshwater blades? What's the short story?

In my case I have always had better luck growing multiple types of ornamental algaes under white light than the blurple fuge lights and it looks better. In Randys case he wants a more natural looking shallow reef tank.

 

[Faurek]

Lighting

Well, the decision has been made and the lights are ordered. I’m going with

3 X 48” AI Blade freshwater
1 x 48” AI Blade Coral Glow

I should get then next week and will begin mounting them, but I will need to see exactly how they fit in the canopy side to side as it is a very tight fit.

Initial plan is to mount two stainless steel rods front to back in the canopy (easy by drilling two small holes to fit the rods), put eye bolts in the mounting clips, and then the lights can slide along the rods. I show pictures if that works out as I’m sure it isn’t clear.

The big uncertainty is whether I need to drill cord holes in a side panel of the canopy, or if there is enough room to fit the end mounted cords fully in the hood.

These lights were chosen after an extensive thread (link below) where folks helped me pick quiet lights that would be able to give a shallow water spectrum with some uv. Thanks to those who helped. :)

Silent Lights Poll

I'm interested in getting opinions on which types of silent lights are best. To me, that means a fanless light. I know some folks think some lights with fans are very quite, but so often, someone else either hears better, has lower tolerances for irritation by noises, has a quieter...

www.reef2reef.com

Why not 2 fresh 2 glow since violet does help with chlorophyll absorption?
And then if you want more white, get someone to chain some inexpensive floodlights for you.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I've missed why folks are using freshwater blades? What's the short story?

Expanding in what others have said, my goal is a shallow water spectrum, which is much less blue than most use, but also has uv. I think that is best obtained by combining the freshwater and glow ai blades. :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Why not 2 fresh 2 glow since violet does help with chlorophyll absorption?
And then if you want more white, get someone to chain some inexpensive floodlights for you.

Might be ok, but 4 ai blades will fill a lot of my canopy, leaving no room for more. I think 2 glow will add too much blue. :)

 

[atoll]

Maybe am barking up the wrong tree here. However, when people say they want less blue and more a natural shallow reef light (as in more white daylight) isn't the same amount of blue light still present at the surface? The blue isn't less so at the surface it's just there is more of the daylight spectrum colours at the surface to mix with it. Whites reds greens etc are simply filtered out the deeper the reef leaving blue. What I am saying/asking is thst the same if not more blue is present at the surface than at deeper levels why should there be less blue light at the surface?

 

[Faurek]

I've missed why folks are using freshwater blades? What's the short story?

When you want a white look it seems very benefic since the way you have royal blue is through the cool white LED's, warm whites are amazing for some reason on coral, this gives a more natural shallow tide pool like look.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Maybe am barking up the wrong tree here. However, when people say they want less blue and more a natural shallow reef light (as in more white daylight) isn't the same amount of blue light still present at the surface? The blue isn't less so at the surface it's just there is more of the daylight spectrum colours at the surface to mix with it. Whites reds greens etc are simply filtered out the deeper the reef leaving blue. What I am saying/asking is thst the same if not more blue is present at the surface than at deeper levels why should there be less blue light at the surface?

Yes, that’s true. It’s why I think a very blue, very intense light may look pleasing to some, but it seems artificial.

To be clear, however, even the AI Blade freshwater has more blue as a fraction of the total than does sunlight at 0-5 feet, and I expect to turn down both the blue (especially with added blue from the glow) and turn down the red bump.

 

[atoll]

I agree with you about daylight looking more natural. I don't like the saturated blue look either.

 

[atoll]

Back in the day we used warm white of around 4300k then later white of around 6000k. Later when I used warm white I added actinic a 160w 03 5' tube