Randy's Tank and Learn Thread

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I changed the overflow in the main refugium back to one with holes instead of just an open downspout. Recall that I went to open spout because some pest (dinos?) were covering the water surface with the hole version.

That pest seems gone for now, so I went back to one with holes to hold back the ulva better since if it goes over the spout, it might plug the return pump openings.

It might just get clogged, but this is what the overflow looks like now:

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Fish all seem happy today. I got a fresh cherrystone clam from Whole Foods, smashed it open, cut it into small bits, and tried to feed them. I thought the chromis might especially like it, but apparently not. The small chromis ate a good sized piece, but none of the other fish ate any.

A piece landed by the LTA, and since the fish weren’t going to eat it, I moved it to the anemone which grabbed it and seemed to eat it. There are too many tentacles to see the mouth, but it closed over the clam bit.

The Duncan was relocated to a less prominent location at the side of the tank, leaving the center mostly open again.

Before Duncan move

After Duncan move

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Current Parameters

pH 8.0
Alk 8.75 dKH

Alk has drifted down by 0.35 dKH in the last 3 days, and with the Duncan added it might accelerate some, so I’m going to boost the AFR by about 0.15 dKH per day. I estimate that’s about another 22 mL per day, or 20 min on the BRS doser.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It’s a consequence of my lighting choice, but the Duncan is not nearly as green in my tank as the sellers. Something I need to keep in mind for future purchases. :)

Seller:

My tank:

 

[rishma]

It’s a consequence of my lighting choice, but the Duncan is not nearly as green in my tank as the sellers. Something I need to keep in mind for future purchases. :)

Seller:

My tank:

Yep, my Duncan had some amazing name, colors, and spectacular pictures, but it’s mostly brown in my tank. I still like it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yep, my Duncan had some amazing name, colors, and spectacular pictures, but it’s mostly brown in my tank. I still like it.

It moves with the currents, which also makes it nice. :)

 

[Miami Reef]

Most of the fluorescent pigments and proteins are stimulated from 400-500 nm. The eyes are more sensitive to greens and yellows, too. Not only are you under-stimulating the pigments, but you’re also washing them out to your eyes.

Are your AI hydras set to a specific kelvin? How “white” are they?

I’m interesting in seeing if there is a balance in making a tank look white and sunny, but also allowing some fluorescence to poke through. Maybe consider gently nudging the blues. I promise your fish will still look awesome. No windex. lol

 

[Miami Reef]

I love the color temp your seller uses. That looks very nice. It has a crisp, white look. That’s my vision.

 

[jonelder68]

I love the color temp your seller uses. That looks very nice. It has a crisp, white look. That’s my vision.

Ya that’s stunning. When you find that spectrum mixture send to me

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Most of the fluorescent pigments and proteins are stimulated from 400-500 nm. The eyes are more sensitive to greens and yellows, too. Not only are you under-stimulating the pigments, but you’re also washing them out to your eyes.

Are your AI hydras set to a specific kelvin? How “white” are they?

I’m interesting in seeing if there is a balance in making a tank look white and sunny, but also allowing some fluorescence to poke through. Maybe consider gently nudging the blues. I promise your fish will still look awesome. No windex. lol

I do not see any way to indicate or adjust by kelvin rating on the my AI app. Just color sliders.

I’ve not messed with adjusting them independently yet.

 

[Garf]

I do not see any way to indicate or adjust by kelvin rating on the my AI app. Just color sliders.

I’ve not messed with adjusting them independently yet.

Dunno if it works the same as mine but if you click "Edit" then press the circular icon on the top right, that gives you K options.

 

[Miami Reef]

Dunno if it works the same as mine but if you click "Edit" then press the circular icon on the top right, that gives you K options.

Exactly. This.

 

[skey44]

Thanks for the Duncan comments, folks. I pulled the trigger, misjudged Boston Friday rush hour traffic, spent hours in it, but now have it.

Here are the seller pics, and one of
mine 30 seconds after adding to my tank:

That’s a nice Duncan! Score

 

[rishma]

I love the color temp your seller uses. That looks very nice. It has a crisp, white look. That’s my vision.

Agree this color is great. White but shows colors too.

My light has a lot of blues, I started with AB+ and turned down the UV and up the whites. I have not messed with it in a loooong time. I like the color to my eyes but my corals don’t all look as good. It’s a 14k look I think. Perhaps I’ll play with the spectrum. I can probably do better. I have never gotten the strong fluorescence without being too blue to my eyes.

 

[skey44]

Funny, I actually adjusted my lights to be more white with enough blue today. Trying to find the sweet spot. I’m still running “Evening blues” after running “balanced white” at peak intensity for 6hrs.
I was running very daylight to very blue but am now staying pretty consistent in color through the peak hours.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Exactly. This.

I’ll check it out tomorrow to see if I can see such settings. I don’t remember them, but since the tank is full dark now I don’t want to suddenly blast light. :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Agree this color is great. White but shows colors too.

My light has a lot of blues, I started with AB+ and turned down the UV and up the whites. I have not messed with it in a loooong time. I like the color to my eyes but my corals don’t all look as good. It’s a 14k look I think. Perhaps I’ll play with the spectrum. I can probably do better. I have never gotten the strong fluorescence without being too blue to my eyes.

The Duncan clearly looked green by eye in person, but the tank seemed fairly blue. Perhaps I’m misremembering, but maybe the picture used a filter. He had a lot of zooanthids that really popped, again maybe the light.

 

[rishma]

Agree this color is great. White but shows colors too.

My light has a lot of blues, I started with AB+ and turned down the UV and up the whites. I have not messed with it in a loooong time. I like the color to my eyes but my corals don’t all look as good. It’s a 14k look I think. Perhaps I’ll play with the spectrum. I can probably do better. I have never gotten the strong fluorescence without being too blue to my eyes.

The Duncan clearly looked green by eye in person, but the tank seemed fairly blue. Perhaps I’m misremembering, but maybe the picture used a filter. He had a lot of zooanthids that really popped, again maybe the light.

I think I’m disappointed but not surprised 80% of the time I buy corals. Everybody uses more blue and it makes the corals pop. I just don’t like to look at a blue tank. Strains my eyes.

 

[Garf]

Are you lot shunning blue? Going white?

 

[jonelder68]

I love white especially fish coloring. But let’s be real…the ocean at even 35’ is pretty blue.

Latest dive in key west, FL