Waterbox 100.3 Orphek Back to SPS Reef Madness

BeardedMcG · Sep 30, 2019

Cool that the acan turned yellow on the side ones.

hart24601 · Oct 5, 2019

Water testing today. Not sure about the phosphate and magnesium numbers. Might add some gfo but not much as I don't know how accurate it is. I won't add magnesium next 2 parti mix up and took ca/mg offline a while after the last test.

Alk 8.1 dkh
12ppb (0.036ppm) phosphate
2.5ppm nitrate
450ppm Ca
1650 ppm Mg

hart24601 · Oct 8, 2019

I like the visual. When mounting lights I always suggest mounting them at least high enough the spread just starts to spill over the edges to maximize the glass reflection. BRS light testing videos confirmed this light reflection with higher numbers around the glass, however when LEDs hit the scene many were mounting low to maximize par and you could see the cone of light just barely cover the sand and dark spots above the edges.

I have a UV flashlight and it really makes florescent coral pop at night but it also really shows small particles in the water (as UV does).

So I took a couple pics showing off the effect of the glass reflection of light.

Keep in mind the light was not on the corals at all, shining only on the side glass but look at the flourescence from only the reflected light. Even the 2nd picture from a more extreme angle further away still lights up coral a good distance from the side.

lbacha · Oct 8, 2019

hart24601 said:
I like the visual. When mounting lights I always suggest mounting them at least high enough the spread just starts to spill over the edges to maximize the glass reflection. BRS light testing videos confirmed this light reflection with higher numbers around the glass, however when LEDs hit the scene many were mounting low to maximize par and you could see the cone of light just barely cover the sand and dark spots above the edges.

I have a UV flashlight and it really makes florescent coral pop at night but it also really shows small particles in the water (as UV does).

So I took a couple pics showing off the effect of the glass reflection of light.

Keep in mind the light was not on the corals at all, shining only on the side glass but look at the flourescence from only the reflected light. Even the 2nd picture from a more extreme angle further away still lights up coral a good distance from the side.

Even more reason to keep your glass clean so you get a good reflection. I have found this to be very valid with my 360x which has a wide angle of dispersion. I actually have a higher par than you would expect at the edges of the tank due to the reflection. My seneye didn’t register it as well since it was very directional when it came to par readings but when I got my apogee it definitely picked up a big increase where you had light coming directly from the fixture and off the glass as well.

hart24601 · Oct 11, 2019

Couldn't help but pick up this goni. My other Divers Den has done well although seems like hit and miss for goni. My favorite "hairy" one been slowly dying back. This one is neat though.

BeardedMcG · Oct 11, 2019

I can't wait to see that thing grow out. Crazy cool looking.

hart24601 · Oct 11, 2019

Some of the goni have been hit and miss.

The ones that really grew well have been Ora red, it needs fragged now.

The green space glitter from UC and below it the rising sun have grown a lot too. iPhone pics not the best.

The rising sun seems to have lost the red centers but it sure growing fast.

Mine:

The rainbow goni from divers den (bought in March) is pretty and doing well but not rapid as the others.

The other goni from UC have not done as well and have died or died back.

hart24601 · Oct 16, 2019

New little goni is looking good, divers den was accurate. Hope they do well.

BeardedMcG · Oct 16, 2019

Love the glitter look it has.

Silver14SS · Oct 16, 2019

Looking really good! What's the ratio of SPS to other corals now?

hart24601 · Oct 16, 2019

Silver14SS said:
Looking really good! What's the ratio of SPS to other corals now?

I just did a quick count not accurate but in the ball park.

75 sps give or take. I’m sure a couple duplicates. Most of those are acros, 8 or so montis and sylos.

13 or so lps, maybe 20 with shrooms and zoa colonies.

So 70-75% sps. 60%+ Acro overall.

hart24601 · Oct 16, 2019

Missed the corals on the back wall. +7 more sps

hart24601 · Oct 30, 2019

Noticed the Maxima in the display not looking good. Thought was odd since they have been growing for a year now. I took it out to examine and possibly toss if it's sick and look what I saw. 11 snails at least. I cut the other clams off and scrubbed them too. Don't know if it's too late for this one but the others still look ok. I will need to scrub them often, not sure how I should handle them attaching. Maybe a bowl of sand, but they might attach to the sides.

lbacha · Oct 30, 2019

hart24601 said:
Noticed the Maxima in the display not looking good. Thought was odd since they have been growing for a year now. I took it out to examine and possibly toss if it's sick and look what I saw. 11 snails at least. I cut the other clams off and scrubbed them too. Don't know if it's too late for this one but the others still look ok. I will need to scrub them often, not sure how I should handle them attaching. Maybe a bowl of sand, but they might attach to the sides.

Bummer hope they pull through

hart24601 · Oct 30, 2019

lbacha said:
Bummer hope they pull through

Thanks! I am pretty sure 2 of the 3 are fine, as is the gigas since they don't have a large opening, that is if my cutting and brushing didn't do them in! The clams in the sump have no snails, so the filter socks keep them from getting down there.