Dez' Tank Journal

[Dez]

HOLY CRAP !! You fragged those clams?!?

Haha, a snail went into one of them and got injured. The other one got nipped by my fish. They are healing ;)

[Bblinks]

Just finished. WOW. I love it Dez, I have to say it is amazing how fast the sps grows in your tank. BTW Thanks for the input on the reactor.

[Oxymoron]

Sweet man, I might need you to hook me up with some frags someday soon.
Are your fire gobies schoaling together?

[Kevotron]

Very very nice !!!

[Dez]

Sweet man, I might need you to hook me up with some frags someday soon.
Are your fire gobies schoaling together?

Just PM me anytime :). They seem to be separated into 2 groups now of 5 and five. They've adjusted very well and nobody bothers them. I do have a lot of fish, just over 40.

[Dez]

Very very nice !!!

Thanks so much Kev.

[spawn]

Hi Dez what kind of lights are those above your frag tank? & do you find that they still grow & color-up being that high up? thx Sean

[Dez]

Hi Dez what kind of lights are those above your frag tank? & do you find that they still grow & color-up being that high up? thx Sean

They are Eco Ray Leds. I had them lower when I had my 20 gallon, and they were almost too bright and the corals high up were colouring up well and almost bleaching so I raised them up. Yet the corals just outside the spread zone were browning. They are too directed down so I raised them up as high as I could to get better spread and not burn the corals. Apparently they were designed to be mounted 4' above the tank. Only time will tell. I went LEDs to save on energy. 3 at 60 watts is only 180 watts compared to my several 150 watt and 250 watt halides on my frags before.

My LEDs on my display tank have been running for just under 3 months now and I don't see any loss of colour or decline in growth. So that's good news. Those are the cheap ebay ones that are on my display. I'm happy with them so far.

[Delphinus]

Curious, which ones on ebay are those Dez?

[Dez]

Curious, which ones on ebay are those Dez?

It wasn't this seller, but they are these ones. I can't remember the seller but they were similar in price. Hope this helps.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/120-Watt-Aquarium-Coral-Reef-Tank-LED-Grow-Light-120W-/190530896123?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item2c5c86c0fb#ht_2406wt_1141

[Delphinus]

It wasn't this seller, but they are these ones. I can't remember the seller but they were similar in price. Hope this helps.

Sorry - which ones? I don't understand :redface:

[Dez]

Sorry - which ones? I don't understand :redface:

Oops, I edited my post and added the link. Sorry.

[Parker]

Dez,

Would you hesitate to put one of those fixtures on a 30" deep tank? One of my 400W HQI Ballasts bit it so I'm trying to decide of I should replace it or go a different direction.

[Delphinus]

Oh, cool. Man those look pretty keen! Thanks for the link!

[kien]

wow that looks kick ass. My halides are due for replacement this summer so I'm starting to think about potential alternatives myself :-)

[Dez]

By the fall I should know wether I will sell my halides or not. That'll be the 6 month mark with those LEDs. So far so good though.

[kien]

By the fall I should know wether I will sell my halides or not. That'll be the 6 month mark with those LEDs. So far so good though.

Sorry if you've posted this previously (I'm feeling lazy this morning), but do you run supplemental T5s with these as well?

[Dez]

Sorry if you've posted this previously (I'm feeling lazy this morning), but do you run supplemental T5s with these as well?

Yup, I ran the T5s with the halides as well. So the only variable that's change is I switched out the halides. You can tell when the LEDs aren't on. It's quite a bit dimmer.

[kien]

Yup, I ran the T5s with the halides as well. So the only variable that's change is I switched out the halides. You can tell when the LEDs aren't on. It's quite a bit dimmer.

Awesome. Looks like a worthy candidate for replacing my halides. If it's good enough for Dez it's good enough for Canreef :-D

[Dez]

Awesome. Looks like a worthy candidate for replacing my halides. If it's good enough for Dez it's good enough for Canreef :-D

Remember, wait another 3 months before you do anything. It hasn't gotten the Dez stamp of approval yet ;). 6 months I believe is a fair trial.

They are loud though and that's the thing that bothers me. I have a fairly sealed canopy so that made a huge difference. So the stamp of approval may hinge on the noise factor.

[kien]

Remember, wait another 3 months before you do anything. It hasn't gotten the Dez stamp of approval yet ;). 6 months I believe is a fair trial.

They are loud though and that's the thing that bothers me. I have a fairly sealed canopy so that made a huge difference. So the stamp of approval may hinge on the noise factor.


Oh ya, noise would totally be a deal breaker for me! I can't handle the noise of vortechs and they are not even that noisy LOL.

[spawn]

[quote=Dez;619274]Remember, wait another 3 months before you do anything. It hasn't gotten the Dez stamp of approval yet ;). 6 months I believe is a fair trial.

thanks.

[Skimmerking]

Dez how are the lights working out for you the LED's that is are they worth the money

[Dez]

Dez how are the lights working out for you the LED's that is are they worth the money

Wow Mike, double question run on sentence? :)

I've had them for 3.5 months and like I've said, I'll wait 6 months. So far the colour and growth seem normal for my tank. Some corals are almost touching the water surface and they weren't 3 months ago. My complaint is the fan noise. Build quality seems good. I believe Aquarium Illusions are selling the same units for $600 and I got them for just over $300 shipped. I hope this helps.

[Skimmerking]

Wow Mike, double question run on sentence? :)

I've had them for 3.5 months and lime I've said, I'll wait 6 months. So far the colour and growth seem normal for my tank. Some corals are almost touching the water surface and they weren't 3 months ago. My complaint is the fan noise. Build quality seems good. I believe Aquarium Illusions are selling the same units for $600 and I got them for just over $300 shipped. I hope this helps.



ya ya ya ya ok BOB I:lol: what are you my teacher now lol
so they worth the money? I really feel that all that have both them in the back of there mind they wish they didn't

[Canadian Man]

ya ya ya ya ok BOB I:lol: what are you my teacher now lol
so they worth the money? I really feel that all that have both them in the back of there mind they wish they didn't


HAHA!!!! I don't know if BOB is still around but a few of us old schoolers might be the only ones that get that!:lol:

[Dez]

ya ya ya ya ok BOB I:lol: what are you my teacher now lol
so they worth the money? I really feel that all that have both them in the back of there mind they wish they didn't

I remember Bob....ha ha. Like I said to all others before. I'll give them 6 months first :). If they work out well, I might actually move them to my frag tank and get different ones (not because of colour or growth problems, but because of fan noise). I designed the system to be quiet and the fan noise bothers me even though everyone that comes over doesn't seem to notice it. Hope this helps.

[Dez]

Well things are going a bit downhill now. I've had a 3 branch frag RTN on me and today a 3" colony RTN. I had a power outage today while I was gone and a month ago my wavysea broke down so my flow is not getting to certain areas of the tank. I've ordered a new one but it's been a month. I decided to test my CA - 370, Alk - 7 Mg 1450. I haven't tested these 3 parameters in over a year. Hopefully the RTN doesn't spread. Good thing the 2 items I lost I didn't really care about. I might stick a couple of powerheads in my tank until the new vertex Motions comes in. Also my T5's are over a year old so I'm getting a bit of cyano during the day and it disappears at night. Argh - fish tanks.

[fishytime]

RCC has a brand new wavysea unit......and Laurie should be down this coming w/e:biggrin:......well.......if doing saltwater reef tanks was easy........everyone would be doing it right?:mrgreen:

[lastlight]

Good luck Dez. Toss some fugly powerheads in there asap you gotta forget the pheasant balls and honour the meat and potatoes.

That totally made sense to me. Your mileage may vary (good luck !)

[doch]

Good luck Dez. Toss some fugly powerheads in there asap you gotta forget the pheasant balls and honour the meat and potatoes.

That totally made sense to me. Your mileage may vary (good luck !)

For what it's worth, that one made sense to me! lol.

[Delphinus]

Sorry to hear this man, I dunno, maybe it's a bit of a summer phenomenon.. Anyhow, I hope the powerheads do the trick!

[doch]

On the bright side Dez, they are only a couple that you don't really care about. __it happens. Maybe it's those cheap ebay LEDs? JK. Good luck with everything man.

[Dez]

I was actually quite surprised that my parameters were okay. My target Ca is 380 and I was at 370. My Alk was right on and my Mg was a little on the high side but not completely out to lunch. I haven't changed my T5's cause 60" bulbs are hard to find and I'm contemplating switching those to LEDs as well. Hopefully it was just a freak power outage/less flow thing. I mean, I've been without the wavysea for a month. Oh well, such is life.

[fishoholic]

RCC has a brand new wavysea unit......and Laurie should be down this coming w/e:biggrin:......well.......if doing saltwater reef tanks was easy........everyone would be doing it right?:mrgreen:

Let me know Dez if you want me to pick it up for you.

Here's hoping no more sps rtn.

[reefermadness]

This is strange Dez.....no temp spikes? All other corals look fine? Perhaps it is just a blip on the radar.

Might want to do a water change.....and add some temp flow. Thats all I can think of. Good luck!

[Dez]

My Temp variance is between 78.6 - 80.4 daily and it used to be more when I was running halides. Also, it's not that I have less flow, the wavysea just spreads it everywhere. One thing interesting is that the colony that rtn'd was completely in the shade. The neighboring coral had grown so large that it completely shaded it from almost all light. I have been thinking about a major coral removal due to this overgrowth problem, but this is a daunting task.

[Dez]

Also, I do a weekly 45 gal water change so I don't think it's a water change issue.

[Parker]

I hope you get it figured out and it turns out to be something simple :)

[doch]

Hey, if you need some help with the removal of your corals that have been shaded out due to the 'problems' that you're having with too much growth, let me know. I'll come down to Edmonton and assist... my tank is looking pretty bare now that I have so much extra room!

Realistically, that's likely your problem. After so much time with no light, it's got to take a toll on SPS. To me, I doubt that it's due to your wavysea. You have so much good flow in the tank as is. The closed loop and the wavebox should have you covered.

Why would you be surprised that your parameters are on? You're running a reactor still right? Set it and forget it, no?

[kien]

doh! Sounds like me trying to figure out what caused my SPS event last summer :( As Tony said, could be seasonal disorder.. Hopefully you'll figure it out.

[Dez]

Hey, if you need some help with the removal of your corals that have been shaded out due to the 'problems' that you're having with too much growth, let me know. I'll come down to Edmonton and assist... my tank is looking pretty bare now that I have so much extra room!

Realistically, that's likely your problem. After so much time with no light, it's got to take a toll on SPS. To me, I doubt that it's due to your wavysea. You have so much good flow in the tank as is. The closed loop and the wavebox should have you covered.

Why would you be surprised that your parameters are on? You're running a reactor still right? Set it and forget it, no?

Yup, running a Calcium reactor. I dunno, it just seems that after over a year of not testing that maybe it should have drifted a little more. I am however pleased that it has remained stable.

Johnny, I actually might take you up on that offer sometime. The task just seems so daunting cause whatever I rip out, I need it to have a place to go and even with 9 ft of frag tanks. There isn't enough room/light down there. This summer is really busy for me with vacation, the huge pond project and just family fun, so it'll likely be the fall sometime.

[Skimmerking]

Dez may be something is nipping now at your tank . Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm lets hope not

[Parker]

Yup, running a Calcium reactor. I dunno, it just seems that after over a year of not testing that maybe it should have drifted a little more. I am however pleased that it has remained stable.

Johnny, I actually might take you up on that offer sometime. The task just seems so daunting cause whatever I rip out, I need it to have a place to go and even with 9 ft of frag tanks. There isn't enough room/light down there. This summer is really busy for me with vacation, the huge pond project and just family fun, so it'll likely be the fall sometime.

I have more than enough room in my tank as well.. if you're doing a big trim and want to sell off some larger pieces to avoid making a bunch of frags I'd be more than interested.

[Skimmerking]

I have more than enough room in my tank as well.. if you're doing a big trim and want to sell off some larger pieces to avoid making a bunch of frags I'd be more than interested.
PARKER who is that? you own a tank :biggrin:

[The Grizz]

My frag tank is up and running now Dez so if you want to fill it up i would be down for it :biggrin:

[Parker]

PARKER who is that? you own a tank :biggrin:


Yep, it's been awhile. How many skimmers have you gone through since I've been gone? :mrgreen:

[doch]

Johnny, I actually might take you up on that offer sometime. The task just seems so daunting cause whatever I rip out, I need it to have a place to go and even with 9 ft of frag tanks. There isn't enough room/light down there. This summer is really busy for me with vacation, the huge pond project and just family fun, so it'll likely be the fall sometime.


Let me know pal! I'm on a shutdown starting september, running through to november-ish though. Hopefully we can find a timeline that works for both of us.

[Dez]

Well, I started the hacking of the forest today. Parker came by and wanted a couple of monti cap frags and ended up leaving with 6 large colonies. I wasn't expecting to really get rid of that much but I think I will be continuing the purge over the next bit as time permits. I added a fugly tunze for extra flow while waiting for my wavysea and cleaned my wavebox for the 2nd time in almost 2 years tonight. I also decided to mod it and cut every second guard out of the screen. It worked and there is better wave action now.

I removed the entire saltynuts acro which was probably the size of a regular cantelope. I kept about an 1 1/2" frag that was left on the rock. May it grow again. I started that one when it was about 2".

I also removed a huge stag. Here's a picture. I started this as a 1" frag stuffed in a hole in the rock.
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/photo2.jpg?t=1311137806

It's bigger than my head.
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/photo1.jpg?t=1311138347

Overall, I'm very happy with the colony removals. Now I can place frags that have been in my frag tank for a while due to lack of room in the display and watch those grow.

[lastlight]

Wow you got serious in there!

That's not your abrol is it?

That dang salty nuts just grows in a big 'V' it's hilarious! Fast grower tho.

Looking forward to the new FTS when the hacksaw goes away =)

[Dez]

Wow you got serious in there!

That's not your abrol is it?

That dang salty nuts just grows in a big 'V' it's hilarious! Fast grower tho.

Looking forward to the new FTS when the hacksaw goes away =)

Yup, the saltynuts does grow in a V. It was totally shading my Abrol. The big stag was not the Abrol. I actually don't know what it was.

Here's the sad part, after the removal of those colonies, I didn't have room for a single frag to come up from the basement. I had to to some rescuing of others shaded corals and some moving around and I even had to get rid of two colonies and move them into the frag tank. Looks like I'll have to get rid of quite a bit more.

Another sad thing is that I forgot to take a full tank shot before the major removal. I don't even have a recent FTS :(. That saltynuts was an inch from the water surface.

[The Grizz]

Damn Dez, I knew I should have come up today ( Tuesday ) instead of tomorrow ( Wednesday ) I would have helped clean up that forest, would have even brought up my own coral axe :biggrin:

What are you up to Wednesday? I will be in your area, I mean your rental building.

[The Grizz]

Here's a FTS from your living room side I took when I was there helping you change frag tanks.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx291/GRIZZtheWELDER/422508a8.jpg

[badAZZlars]

Wow am I jealous. Your pulling out full colonies because you are running out of room and all I want my frags to do is grow into small colonies at this point.

Some day....

[Dez]

Grizz, thanks for the FTS. By Wednesday do you mean today? Give me a shout if you still have my number. If it's sunny today I'll be slip n sliding with the kids in the backyard.

Badazz, it gets to the point where the corals all start killing each other by shading, touching. And then you can't move anything cause everything is stuck together. And once you move or unlodge anything, you won't be able to put it back cause it won't balance or stay and no amount of putty will hold it cause it's too big. I had to remove 2 smaller colonies after Parker left cause I couldn't put them back.

[doch]

Hey hey hey... slow down there big fella!! Do I need to come into town this weekend or what?! lol

[Dez]

Hey hey hey... slow down there big fella!! Do I need to come into town this weekend or what?! lol

I did tell Parker that you'd be mad :). Take it up with him ;). Better yet, I'm sure he'd sell you Frags of the colonies he got, ha ha.

All kidding aside, there's lots Johnny. I wasn't quite expecting to harvest thy much last night, but my hands were in there and I was determined to get some corals "unshaded"

[Parker]

I did tell Parker that you'd be mad :). Take it up with him

Good thing no one on this board knows or remembers where I live, he has to find me before he can take it up with me! :lol:

Thanks again Dez!

[doch]

Good thing no one on this board knows or remembers where I live, he has to find me before he can take it up with me! :lol:

Thanks again Dez!

I know people who know people! lol. Unfortunately, most of those people are just people... so I wouldn't worry too much!

Dez however... I know where you live. MUAHAHAHAHAH!

I'll likely be in town in the next 2-3 weeks...

[The Grizz]

Grizz, thanks for the FTS. By Wednesday do you mean today? Give me a shout if you still have my number. If it's sunny today I'll be slip n sliding with the kids in the backyard.

Yep I ment today as in today :biggrin: I haven't left yet but will be around noon and I have your digits. See you later today.

Glad I didn't scrap that pic, it was not the best as not all your lights were on but it gave you an idea of what it looked like.

[Boomboy]

too bad i dont have my tank running, i would of love to get some frags also. man what a gorgeous tank, im definantly am jealous.

[Dez]

too bad i dont have my tank running, i would of love to get some frags also. man what a gorgeous tank, im definantly am jealous.

Whenever your tank is running, I always have frags. Just send me a PM when you're ready.

[Dez]

Tonight the Grizz came by and took a couple more large colonies off me. I took out a bucket sized blue german digi tonight. I grew this from a frag

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/dig2.jpg?t=1311216098

And a comparison to the size of my head
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/dig.jpg?t=1311216210

Grizz also took a monti confusa? colony that was being shaded. My blue digi was being shaded like crazy so only 1/3 of it had good colour. Anyway, I will keep updating as I remove colonies.

[Boomboy]

well back on track..... HOLY CRAP that is huge. keep the pictures coming, i want to see the rest of your stuff that comes out of that tank.

[waynemah]

Dez, I'm sure the tank will look amazing once your done. I'm surprised your not doing this for a living, you obviously have the talent for growing corals.

[lastlight]

My frag of the same stuff from Kien has grown massive too. The branches are so thick too. A real shade-maker!

[Dez]

Dez, I'm sure the tank will look amazing once your done. I'm surprised your not doing this for a living, you obviously have the talent for growing corals.

If I did it for a living then I'd lose passion for the hobby cause I'd have to do it day in and day out. Now I do it when I feel like it :wink:

[Dez]

My frag of the same stuff from Kien has grown massive too. The branches are so thick too. A real shade-maker!

Mine was right by the wavemaker so it sort of grew around the wavemaker outlet which made it kind of neat. My red A. convexa was shading the digi. It's a super nice blue when it's got enough light though. But I removed it for the sake of the coral or else it would be shaded out and die.

[Parker]

Wow, another big clean out event, I bet the tank still looks full though!

[Dez]

My fish are starting to hate me as I'm taking their homes away as I remove large colonies. It is interesting to see the personality change as they swim around looking for their previous home.

[Bblinks]

Some times I really wish I lived in Calgary. I would love to be able to stop by and check out your tank in person. Dez, your tank is amazing. I put mine tank together the same time as yours but only with half of the growth compare to what you got. I was running pellets but now considering swtiching over to zeo. Do you think if you ran it without zeo, it wouldn't have gave you such a good results? I would love to hear your input.

[Doug]

Sheez. None of my tanks have had as much total growth as one of those corals. Amazing sps keeping skills Dez.

[Dez]

Some times I really wish I lived in Calgary. I would love to be able to stop by and check out your tank in person. Dez, your tank is amazing. I put mine tank together the same time as yours but only with half of the growth compare to what you got. I was running pellets but now considering swtiching over to zeo. Do you think if you ran it without zeo, it wouldn't have gave you such a good results? I would love to hear your input.

Thanks for the compliments. If you are ever in Edmonton, feel free to come take a look. I think there are many ways to run aquariums. I simply chose zeo and am happy with it. I've actually stopped Dosing everything except for the basic Bak, food and start - this is the basis for the low nutrient system (introduce bacteria, feed the bacteria and use a carbon source). I hope you find a method that suits you :)

[Dez]

Sheez. None of my tanks have had as much total growth as one of those corals. Amazing sps keeping skills Dez.

Thanks Doug. The tricky part is trying to figure out how to avoid the growth patterns to shade the corals I like and to prevent them from touching :)

[Dez]

Well I figure anyone following this journal is curious to see the full tank shots. Here's a quick cell phone picture, the colours are way off, but it's just to give you an idea of what's changed since in the last 2 nights there has been 8 large colonies that have been removed. There is someone coming over tonight again to get some colonies. Anyway, here it is. You can see some of the cyano that I'm battling too.

Living room side:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/fts1.jpg?t=1311297325

Office side:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/fts2.jpg?t=1311297375

[doch]

I don't know about you... but it still looks very full and very good to me! You gonna save some stuff for your buddy Johnny or what??? Or do I have to save a throat punch for ya!!?? lol

[Dez]

I don't know about you... but it still looks very full and very good to me! You gonna save some stuff for your buddy Johnny or what??? Or do I have to save a throat punch for ya!!?? lol

You know I always have stuff :) And you're the only one who gets the specials...ha ha. Just let me know when you're in town next.

[lorenz0]

lol you removed colonies, doesn't look like it. still looks killer!

[lastlight]

YAnd you're the only one who gets the specials...ha ha. Just let me know when you're in town next.

What's the secret there that's totally lame! I can throat-punch too is that what buddies do these days?

That's still one lush-as-chaetoBalls forest of fun there man. Looks great.

[Dez]

What's the secret there that's totally lame! I can throat-punch too is that what buddies do these days?

That's still one lush-as-chaetoBalls forest of fun there man. Looks great.

Well if you ever visited then we can talk specials, meanwhile I'll take a raincheck on the throat punch.

Can you see my fugly powerhead in the pic?....it pains me Brett. PAIN! Hopefully after tonight I'll remove more colonies so that it will open up my intended see through valley from the beginning stages of planning. It was open, and then the dang corals decided to close up the valley by growing into it.

[doch]

You know I always have stuff :) And you're the only one who gets the specials...ha ha. Just let me know when you're in town next.

SWEET!! And all it took was a fake threat of violence!! Muahahaha!!! We'll likely be in town in the next couple of weeks... Vanessa is likely to have an appointment with a midwife... if you catch my drift!!! (hence her not feeling well the other weekend) Hopefully we'll actually have a chance to meet up this time!

[Dez]

SWEET!! And all it took was a fake threat of violence!! Muahahaha!!! We'll likely be in town in the next couple of weeks... Vanessa is likely to have an appointment with a midwife... if you catch my drift!!! (hence her not feeling well the other weekend) Hopefully we'll actually have a chance to meet up this time!

Congrats man! Siblings.....yay! If we don't meet up, it'll be your loss. Just sayin.....:wink:

[doch]

I KNOW! It's already been my loss! Every post I see... I almost cry!! OK... maybe not cry, but to myself I thin "DAMNIT!"

Thanks for the congrats buddy!! We're super stoked! Well, I am. V is super sick... and will be stoked soon.

[fishoholic]

The tank still looks great and full. Hard to imagine where those other colonies were.

[Lampshade]

Looks much better now IMO, I can';t belive you've pulled out so many colonies adn your tank still looks like an SPS forest. Looks great.

[Boomboy]

i think you forgot to remove the colonies, the tank is a bit full still. :)

that tank looks great. how long have you had the tank running for? how long did it take to get it to look like that?

[Dez]

i think you forgot to remove the colonies, the tank is a bit full still. :)

that tank looks great. how long have you had the tank running for? how long did it take to get it to look like that?

Yeah, it's super full still. I just took another colony out last night. I got water in it Aug of 09. So it's just under 2 years old and all started mostly from Frags.

[The Grizz]

Old wives tale says if you talk to you house plants they will grow happy & healthy. Is that your secret Dez, you sit in your office whispering sweet nothing to your corals :lol: I can see it know.

Well all I can say is you sure are doing something very right, your tank amazes me every time I see it. The colonies & frags I picked up are doing well & will be in there permeant home this week. Thank again my friend, still need a few more frags of a couple different things so when you have something sweet let me know.

[Dez]

Old wives tale says if you talk to you house plants they will grow happy & healthy. Is that your secret Dez, you sit in your office whispering sweet nothing to your corals :lol: I can see it know.

Well all I can say is you sure are doing something very right, your tank amazes me every time I see it. The colonies & frags I picked up are doing well & will be in there permeant home this week. Thank again my friend, still need a few more frags of a couple different things so when you have something sweet let me know.

No I don't whisper to my corals. I actually just fragged some sweet stuff. I have a few frags of smooth skinned light blue acro frags - never fragged. I also made a few Frags of bright green stag with blue tips-only fragged once.

[lastlight]

These are horrible pics from when I got these and because neither grew at all until recently I don't have better shots...

Dez you don't mean this smooth blue you fragged for me? Terrible pic and amazingly enough many months later this things is sprouting like mad after I moved it to the sandbed.

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/97/dez1.jpg

And this green with blue tips?

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/97/dez16.jpg

[Dez]

Brett. Yes, those 2. I didn't think I ever fragged smooth blue. You probably have the only ones I've fragged then. Sweet that you still have em.

[lastlight]

The blue is really awesome in the growth tips. I never had any until recently! And yeah I was oogling the coral and you just reached in and popped a piece off for me =)

I found a newer shot but still from before it started growing:

http://www.fishbrains.net/images/97/easter32.jpg

It was attached to the long green 'stache' coral from Kien that never branched. I unmounted their shared rock from my scape, sheared the rock in half to isolate them and both are exploding in growth now on the sandbed?!

[The Grizz]

I definitly would like a frag of each of them dez, very shinny:biggrin:

[doch]

Save me some cool stuff please!!! I bagged up some negative space for you... I'll bring it down in trade! HAHAHA!!

We'll be coming through Edmonton on the way to vacation land next weekend, and then back through on the 20th... Hopefully that will work for you and we can swing in for a stop off!

[Dez]

Save me some cool stuff please!!! I bagged up some negative space for you... I'll bring it down in trade! HAHAHA!!

We'll be coming through Edmonton on the way to vacation land next weekend, and then back through on the 20th... Hopefully that will work for you and we can swing in for a stop off!

There are lots to go around Johnny :). Hopefully I'll be around on the 20th. My yard work is keeping me in town these days. See you soon.

[Dez]

Just a picture of my skimmer goo.....yuck. When I empty my remote skimmer waste collector in the basement, my wife can smell it upstairs. Although in a twisted kind of way, I find it quite satisfying scooping that skimmer poo with my bare hands.

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/skimmer.jpg?t=1312086155

[Parker]

I'm been forbidden from cleaning the skimmer while my wife is home!

[Dez]

I'm been forbidden from cleaning the skimmer while my wife is home!

When I take the collection cup off, I get to clean it in the kitchen sink and I garburate the stuff :biggrin:

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

Just add a little bit of diced smoked ham to this simmering split pea and VOILA green slit pea and smoked ham soup YUM:biggrin:

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/skimmer.jpg?t=1312086155[/QUOTE]

[Boomboy]

that looks finger lickin' good :)

[Mandosh]

I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.

[fishytime]

thats disgusting Dez...........but I like it!!!:mrgreen:

[bignose]

Although in a twisted kind of way, I find it quite satisfying scooping that skimmer poo with my bare hands.


Thats alot of poo. Gross. LOL.

[The Grizz]

I'm been forbidden from cleaning the skimmer while my wife is home!


Same here, did both of my skimmers today when the wife went to the store.


When I take the collection cup off, I get to clean it in the kitchen sink and I garburate the stuff :biggrin:

Again only when the boss is gone & have to make sure the sink is spotless when she returns.

[lastlight]

That has to be one of the nastiest nogShots I've ever seen. That's obviously a compliment =)

[kien]

looks like the guacamole I made last night.

[Dez]

looks like the guacamole I made last night.

I'll trade you any day Kien.

[Reefie]

I finally read each and every update since day 1 of Dez's build, and I was left speechless. It only took about a week and a half to catch up to the present time, and I feel like Marty McFly (Back to the Future). This has been an amazing journey from the get-go, I am very envious of your tank Dez! I am only allowed to keep a BC29, as I live in a condo in Vancouver. Although I convinced my wife to let me get a Skimz Ibox for my 3 year old daughter, like most people, it all started with Finding Nemo, haha! My wife said something very aspiring yesterday at the Vancouver Aquarium, she said I could have a bigger tank if we had a house, the first thing that came to mind was YOUR tank! I am trying to follow in your footsteps with the Zeo dosing, I've learned a LOT from reading this whole build! However, I'm on a tiny tiny scale compared to your tank, haha! I only dream of growth like you've experienced! I have a LONG way to go before my little nano BC29 see's any major growth. I switched to LED's about 2 months after getting the BC29, and have been experimenting with SPS, so far I'm experiencing good growth with a blue tipped acro, pink birdsnest, green birdsnest. I've been on a clam obsession lately though, 2 crocea's, 2 derasa's, and now 1 ultra blue maxima (bought 3, however only 1 made it). Anyways, back to your tank, please keep updating, and I'll keep aspiring to follow in your footsteps!

[lorenz0]

im actually kind of jealous... wish i got skim like that

reminds me of a night of hard drinking

[Zoaelite]

im actually kind of jealous... wish i got skim like that

reminds me of a night of hard drinking

The skimmer didn't fall 8 feet onto concrete though :razz:.

Your skimmate photo certainly didn't help my hang over this morning Dez... Tanks looking amazing as usual!

[Dez]

I finally read each and every update since day 1 of Dez's build, and I was left speechless. It only took about a week and a half to catch up to the present time, and I feel like Marty McFly (Back to the Future). This has been an amazing journey from the get-go, I am very envious of your tank Dez! I am only allowed to keep a BC29, as I live in a condo in Vancouver. Although I convinced my wife to let me get a Skimz Ibox for my 3 year old daughter, like most people, it all started with Finding Nemo, haha! My wife said something very aspiring yesterday at the Vancouver Aquarium, she said I could have a bigger tank if we had a house, the first thing that came to mind was YOUR tank! I am trying to follow in your footsteps with the Zeo dosing, I've learned a LOT from reading this whole build! However, I'm on a tiny tiny scale compared to your tank, haha! I only dream of growth like you've experienced! I have a LONG way to go before my little nano BC29 see's any major growth. I switched to LED's about 2 months after getting the BC29, and have been experimenting with SPS, so far I'm experiencing good growth with a blue tipped acro, pink birdsnest, green birdsnest. I've been on a clam obsession lately though, 2 crocea's, 2 derasa's, and now 1 ultra blue maxima (bought 3, however only 1 made it). Anyways, back to your tank, please keep updating, and I'll keep aspiring to follow in your footsteps!

Thanks for the encouraging comments. It was through other people's tank journals that I've learned. Key thing is to be patient in this hobby. I am experiencing problems now because of my lack of patience at the beginning and getting too many frags. Now I have to remove large colonies and it's quite difficult at times. Find a system that suits your lifestyle and stick with it, only change it if it isn't working. It took me 4-5 years to plan this tank before I even started building it....be patient and start planning your big tank now :).

[doch]

Hey Dez... I (and I'm sure many others) are curious as to what's going on with your tank buddy. How's it going? You get everything all figured out?

[Dez]

Yeah, I'm still here. I've been fighting cyan0 for a while now. I had it really bad , plus all summer I was working on my backyard and neglecting the tank. I have over the last 6 months or so have been selling off colonies. It was too much of a forest in there and the stuff underneath the forest wasn't getting light and losing colour. My flow was definitely impeded probably triggering the cyano. Out of the dozen colonies that I sold off, most of them barely fit into a 5 gallon pail. It was hard for me to sell them off and bring them to the lfs, but it was needed for my tank to have a future. Up until a couple of months ago, there were a few colonies that were about an 1" or 2" away from the surface of the water. I have since lowered them and rearranged so that they have room to grow. The corals are continuing to colour up again now that they can see the light and for some reasons my monti's are growing like mad compared to the other corals. Here's a FTS from 5 mins ago, you can see that ugly cyano, but it was way worse before. I've also had to sell of 3 clams as they were touching the glass and corals were growing into them.

Warning - CRAPPY CELL PHONE PICS

Office side (That Green Stag on the left was at the water surface 2 weeks ago, I got rid of some coral to make room and lower/trimmed it a bit)
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/IMG_3088.jpg

Living room side
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/IMG_3087.jpg

[Madreefer]

Hey Dez your corals still look great! Are you still running those LEDs? Since I put up mine I too have been getting some algae on the sandbed. I think it's due to the lights. But after reading what you posted about the flow that might also be a factor. Alot of my corals have grown alot and I dont really seem to get the undertow anymore on the sandbed. Is this hijacking? Sorry if it is.

[Dez]

Hey Dez your corals still look great! Are you still running those LEDs? Since I put up mine I too have been getting some algae on the sandbed. I think it's due to the lights. But after reading what you posted about the flow that might also be a factor. Alot of my corals have grown alot and I dont really seem to get the undertow anymore on the sandbed. Is this hijacking? Sorry if it is.

I couldn't stand the fan noise of those LEDs so I sold them and DIY'ed some of my own and am running 3 AI sols. Have been running the Sols since July. Found a couple used ones and bought one new one. I've been slowly doing weekly siphons and it seems to help. I shouldn't have ignored the cyano that long, but had to get outside work done while it was warm outside.

[Dez]

Here's a couple of shots from 5 mins ago. Man, this is the first time I've tried to take top down pics with LEDs and it is darn near impossible. It fools the camera into thinking everything is blue, so these are all with flash.

Snappy's Super grape Mili grown from a 3/4" frag. To the left of it is my Saltynuts acro. I sold the entire colony which barely fit in a 5 gal pail and it's growing back now. I snapped it off at the base when I sold the colony, it was almost at the water's surface.
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/PB140021.jpg

Pink Pocci and Green Mili
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/PB140022.jpg

Frost polyps acro (originally from Lobsterboy), that purple one was a tiny brown frag, and the teal one is a grow back of a colony that I sold as well.
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/PB140024.jpg

Montipora Spongides from Snappy (grown from a 1.5" frag)
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/PB140026.jpg

One of my original corals - humilus (slow grower)
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/PB140028.jpg

[Delphinus]

I wish my tank would look half as nice as your tank when it's "crappy" like this! :p

Very jealous man. Nice colonies and great colours and good overall health of the corals themselves. I'm sure in time things will bounce back up too, esp. now that it's winter and we'll all (presumably) spending more time indoors and stuff..

[MarkoD]

I've been battling with a cyano problem with a month now and have finally found a way to get rid of it. Put a filter sock on the drain and scrub everything while having all power heads on full. And cleaning sock every 30 min.
Also used a power head to blow off all buildup on rocks.

No cyano for 3 days now

[lastlight]

supergrape looks awesome man. I mounted all my corals so close together and unfortunately the supergrape I got from you has been light-starved for ages. Just has to survive a little longer and then I'll be happy to colour it up half that nice.

Besides the fans... did you feel the 1w LEDs were cutting it?

I've been battling with a cyano problem with a month now and have finally found a way to get rid of it. Put a filter sock on the drain and scrub everything while having all power heads on full. And cleaning sock every 30 min.
Also used a power head to blow off all buildup on rocks.

No cyano for 3 days now

You're describing my current rock-curing regimen to a T =) I am using a very fine mesh bag and it requires a cleaning several times a day but it's paying off. I also use a long hose with an mj1200 on the end of it... stuffed right into the sock so you can calmly vacuum as long as you want. Be good for cyano removal too.

[BlueTang<3]

I couldn't stand the fan noise of those LEDs so I sold them and DIY'ed some of my own and am running 3 AI sols.

So how many leds would u say u are running equivalent to 5 ai sol fixtures? What spectrum are you running the leds on?

[doch]

She still looks really good Dez!! Must be nice to have a green thumb with this stuff!!

[Dez]

She still looks really good Dez!! Must be nice to have a green thumb with this stuff!!

Thanks Johnny, it definitely isn't the same as it's "glory" days. Soon the cyano will be gone and I'll like it again. Now that winter is here, I'll probably look at it more - meaning I'll take better care of it.

[Dez]

So how many leds would u say u are running equivalent to 5 ai sol fixtures? What spectrum are you running the leds on?

I have 360 watts total now (I used to run 1178 watts - when I was running halides/T5s). I basically got rid of my T5's and diy-ed 5ft leds. I have no idea what spectrum I'm running them at. I personally find the SOLs way too blue, so I think my whites are at 65% and the blues are at 35%. And on my Diys I have a 1:1 ratio of cool whites/royal blue (no reflectors).

[BlueTang<3]

I have 360 watts total now (I used to run 1178 watts - when I was running halides/T5s). I basically got rid of my T5's and diy-ed 5ft leds. I have no idea what spectrum I'm running them at. I personally find the SOLs way too blue, so I think my whites are at 65% and the blues are at 35%. And on my Diys I have a 1:1 ratio of cool whites/royal blue (no reflectors).

So you bought the ai sol super blues then, I have been on the fence on switching over. Was thinking 3 blues and 2 white modules. Finally got around to ordering a par meter so i am going to be doing some of my own tests on a few fixtures.

[Dez]

Yeah found 2 of them used and bought one new (before the price drop *"!%$^). I've been on LEDs since March 1, so not quite a year but everything is still growing. My frag tank is lit with LEDs as well and frags still encrust and get new growth tips so LEDs will definitely do the trick. Now I just have to figure out how to cut down my 1.5 hp of pumps on my pond....ha ha. I save on the aquarium but then double or triple or quadruple the power to run my pond. Oh well, that's what hobbies are for though, throwing your money at it.

[doch]

Thanks Johnny, it definitely isn't the same as it's "glory" days. Soon the cyano will be gone and I'll like it again. Now that winter is here, I'll probably look at it more - meaning I'll take better care of it.

What's your plan for the Cyano Dez? Chemi clean? Or some less effective, non-cheating route?

I too ordered up Sol Blues... going to be running 4 on my tank, and I can't wait. I sure wish that I would have made the choice before I JUST bought my t5s. lol... oh well, money grows on trees, right??? I just need to find that damn tree!

[Dez]

What's your plan for the Cyano Dez? Chemi clean? Or some less effective, non-cheating route?

I too ordered up Sol Blues... going to be running 4 on my tank, and I can't wait. I sure wish that I would have made the choice before I JUST bought my t5s. lol... oh well, money grows on trees, right??? I just need to find that damn tree!

It's been better lately, last 2 water changes I've been plain old siphoning it out. So if I keep that up it should go away. I replaced my RO/DI filters too. I tried GFO - won't ever do that again. Bleached all the tips of my coral (1/2 lb in a mesh bag in the sump passively).

[doch]

Wow... I run gfo actively all the time. Have been since way back when when my corals were all brown and wouldn't grow. I've never had burnt or bleached corals. I actually just started using more last month and no bad effects... And that's with full zeo. It's good to hear that things are looking up for you. I half expected your next update to be all softies from the way that you were selling colonies.

[BlueTang<3]

It's been better lately, last 2 water changes I've been plain old siphoning it out. So if I keep that up it should go away. I replaced my RO/DI filters too. I tried GFO - won't ever do that again. Bleached all the tips of my coral (1/2 lb in a mesh bag in the sump passively).

Still running zeo? Running gfo with zeovit is one of the worst things you can do. I wonder if the leds have anything to do i have heard from a few people with the leds that they are getting cayno.

[MarkoD]

Still running zeo? Running gfo with zeovit is one of the worst things you can do. I wonder if the leds have anything to do i have heard from a few people with the leds that they are getting cayno.

steve runs gfo with zeo

[BlueTang<3]

steve runs gfo with zeo


Really that's like the number 1 not to do according to zeovit.com fourms

[MarkoD]

Really that's like the number 1 not to do according to zeovit.com fourms

That's what I originally thought. But I guess zeo does nothing fort phosphates, so that's why the Gfo is there

[Dez]

Still running zeo? Running gfo with zeovit is one of the worst things you can do. I wonder if the leds have anything to do i have heard from a few people with the leds that they are getting cayno.

Yep, still running zeo. Needless to say I didn't do my research. The LFS suggested it running 1/2 lb passively and within a day or 2 30% of my SPS had burnt tips. They are still recovering with dead tips....argh. The cyano started when I had 12 little fire fish disappear on me while I was away, and my T5's were pushing 1.5 years old but I didn't want to buy new bulbs cause I new I was going to DIY my less to replace the T5s. But I had huge problem with my DIY supplier and it took over 2 months to finally get all my parts in, and I probably waited a month before getting around to building the lights. That's what I attribute the cyano to. I'm just happy it's getting better daily....woo hoo. Wes, your tank must be full to the brim now.

[Dez]

Wow... I run gfo actively all the time. Have been since way back when when my corals were all brown and wouldn't grow. I've never had burnt or bleached corals. I actually just started using more last month and no bad effects... And that's with full zeo. It's good to hear that things are looking up for you. I half expected your next update to be all softies from the way that you were selling colonies.

New Full tank shot (about 5 mins ago). I am not kidding.
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/IMG_3090.jpg

[BlueTang<3]

Yeah my tank was there until I also had a run of bad luck. The auto feeder fell in while we were away and the food and electronics didn't do wonders. Then the hydrant leaked in the front yard so they dug up my whole front yard, next water change I watched 17 colonies melt :(

[Dez]

Ugh, I hate bad luck. Hope that your tank recovery is going well. Winter is here, so it's time to spend, I mean "throw" money at our tanks anyway :)

[doch]

Really that's like the number 1 not to do according to zeovit.com fourms

I don't remember them saying specifically DO NOT run GFO, but I know that they said it is pointless. I disagree with them, and I know that lots of people still run gfo with zeo. I'll be reducing the amount that I use once I get around to swapping my Zeoliths.

[doch]

[QUOTE=Dez;650629]New Full tank shot (about 5 mins ago). I am not kidding.QUOTE]

OMG!!! Dez... you've gone soft!

[Dez]

Want any mushroom frags? I have lots :)

[doch]

No thanks... I have one small group of mushrooms that I bought for Vanessa in my tank ... I regularly envision zapping them with an aiptasia zapper.

[The Grizz]

Want any mushroom frags? I have lots :)

I'll take them but I will not help you B & E who ever's tank that is :lol: because I know it not yours Dez.

[Dez]

I'll take them but I will not help you B & E who ever's tank that is :lol: because I know it not yours Dez.

I can't believe you don't recognize the tank. You are the one who helped me install this tank after all. It is definitely my tank. You'll have to B & E into my house to get to it.

[lastlight]

which tank is that? Neither the frag or display...

[The Grizz]

I can't believe you don't recognize the tank. You are the one who helped me install this tank after all. It is definitely my tank. You'll have to B & E into my house to get to it.

OH CRAP!!! I had to take a closer look at the pic and that does look like the frag tank we replaced but still no 100% convinced, take a pic from as far back as you can to show more and I will be a believer. :lol:

[sully08]

Yeah, I'm still here. I've been fighting cyan0 for a while now. I had it really bad , plus all summer I was working on my backyard and neglecting the tank. I have over the last 6 months or so have been selling off colonies. It was too much of a forest in there and the stuff underneath the forest wasn't getting light and losing colour. My flow was definitely impeded probably triggering the cyano. Out of the dozen colonies that I sold off, most of them barely fit into a 5 gallon pail. It was hard for me to sell them off and bring them to the lfs, but it was needed for my tank to have a future. Up until a couple of months ago, there were a few colonies that were about an 1" or 2" away from the surface of the water. I have since lowered them and rearranged so that they have room to grow. The corals are continuing to colour up again now that they can see the light and for some reasons my monti's are growing like mad compared to the other corals. Here's a FTS from 5 mins ago, you can see that ugly cyano, but it was way worse before. I've also had to sell of 3 clams as they were touching the glass and corals were growing into them.

Warning - CRAPPY CELL PHONE PICS

Office side (That Green Stag on the left was at the water surface 2 weeks ago, I got rid of some coral to make room and lower/trimmed it a bit)
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/IMG_3088.jpg

Living room side
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/IMG_3087.jpg

Is that a Majestic Angel I see in there, I would like to get one but I'm worried that he might nip at corals, do you have any problems

[Dez]

Is that a Majestic Angel I see in there, I would like to get one but I'm worried that he might nip at corals, do you have any problems

Yes it's a Majestic. When I first got it a couple of years ago I put him in my frag tank for 2 weeks to see if he nipped. Then I put a clam in my frag tank with him. After being satisfied with his behaviour, he went up into my display tank. No problems ever. But you have to know that they are hit and miss.

[Dez]

which tank is that? Neither the frag or display...

It is my 4' frag tank. I have another 5' frag tank where it's all decked out in egg-crate racking. Although, Greg still doesn't believe me, it's true :wink:

[sully08]

Yes it's a Majestic. When I first got it a couple of years ago I put him in my frag tank for 2 weeks to see if he nipped. Then I put a clam in my frag tank with him. After being satisfied with his behaviour, he went up into my display tank. No problems ever. But you have to know that they are hit and miss.

Thanks for the feedback, I think that I might take the chance and get a small one, might be better than starting with a larger one

[Dez]

Well, I came home from work a couple of days ago and while still in my coveralls, went to clean the glass with my custom made 1/4" magnet. I was going rather fast and all of the sudden I nick my frost polyps acro and BOOM, everything on that side of the tank came a tumbling. Argh, 2 hours later I managed to fit everything back in with many accidental frags. I found out that the culprit of my rock slide was a little piece of cement chipped off of my custom made closed loop intake rock - Dang. I like the look of the tank a bit better now, or maybe I just like change.

Anyway, here it is. Office Side - crappy phone pic (Sorry :reface:):

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/IMG_3187-1.jpg

Living room side
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/IMG_3185.jpg

As you can see, there's still a bit of cyano, but it is getting less and less daily.

[lastlight]

Still looking awesome =)

Dare I say I see an actual open swim-through there? I must be seeing things!

[Reefie]

I did a whole lot of reading on zeo and cyano, and they suggest zeobak mixed in with coral snow every 2 days until all the cyano disappears.

I tried it and it worked like a charm! 1 drop zeobak mixed with 1 ml of coral snow / 25 gallons.

Haha! Please don't be offended with advice from a noob :wink:

It's been better lately, last 2 water changes I've been plain old siphoning it out. So if I keep that up it should go away. I replaced my RO/DI filters too. I tried GFO - won't ever do that again. Bleached all the tips of my coral (1/2 lb in a mesh bag in the sump passively).

[Dez]

I have received many PM's asking about my LED lighting so I thought I'd post a couple of pics to show you. I have been using LEDs now for a tiny bit over a year. I have 3 Aqua Illumination SOL pendants plus 4 rows of 1" x 5' DIY LEDs from rapidled.com. 2 rows of 12 x 3watt cool whites and 2 rows of 12 x 3 watt royal blues. This is how they are mounted in the following pictures taken today. Hope this answers many questions. Sorry I haven't updated this journal in a long time.

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/photo-16.jpg

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/photo1-5.jpg

BTW if any moderators/staff are reading this, since the edit feature got taken away from this forum, I'm wondering if you could edit the actual Title of this thread to "Dez' Tank Journal" and take out that rock slide part as that is old and doesn't reflect the topic of the entire thread. Please and Thank you :)

[Aquattro]

Dez, title updated.

[Dez]

Dez, title updated.

Thanks so much :)

[mark]

hey Dez, for the lights, the Whites or Blues, how high above the water and what percentages you running them?

[Dez]

hey Dez, for the lights, the Whites or Blues, how high above the water and what percentages you running them?

Blues and I think highest percentage is about 60%, but it leans more toward the white color. I think the blue portion is only about 35%. They are about 6-7" above the water I think.

[lastlight]

Might be tough to do but if you recall what the tank once looked like in terms of colour etc... which look do you prefer having had LED now for a year?

[Dez]

I like the LEDs better in terms of look, but prefer the halide shimmer. The halide shimmer is more natural. That being said though, I'd never go back to halides even if I was a millionaire. I went from about 1200 watts on my display to under 400 watts without sacrifice in growth. My dehumidistat hardly kicks the bathroom fan on in my sump room anymore and I've discontinued use of my canopy vent to the basement that used to be on 24/7. My evap rate has dropped dramatically and even during the hottest days of the summer the temp fluctuation was almost not noticible. I like the ramp up time/ramp down time that you can never receive with halides. I ramp up the intensities over 4 hours, which means my peak time at my full intensity is less, hence using less power. I like the idea of not having to plan bulb changes (even though I was using $15 halide bulbs before the switch). In terms of coral colors, most of the corals have remained similar colors. They are still bright and nice, some colors pop more while others don't. It's hard to say cause I haven't been dosing all the zeo stuff like te first year and a half, I've regressed to the basic zeo system without all of the other additives. Also, in the last year I have not tested anything but salinity and temp, so I can't say that the LEDs are the sole reason. However, I am super pleased with the coral coloration this past year. But, the halide shimmer will always look more like the sun to me.

[Delphinus]

Wow, pretty solid endorsement. Reduction of shimmer seems a pretty small sacrifice compared to all the rest of that..

Are your DIY LED's in on this 4 hour ramping, if so, what controller did you use for that? (Apologies if you answered this already.)

[Dez]

The DIYs are on a straight on off. They were added to replace my T5s and also to hide the spotlight effect since my SOLs are only 6" above the water. They come on after the ramp time.

[Dez]

Just a quick picture snapped with my phone tonight on the living room side.

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/photo-17.jpg

[The Grizz]

Still impressive :biggrin:

[Nano]

Holy crow that's hot. :lol:

[fishytime]

Oh my gorsh....he does still post here!:surprise:.....looking sweet as ever Dez!:biggrin:

[rhody605]

Complete beauty.

[Aquattro]

I see some pieces I NEED in there! :)

I'm gonna have to come out that way one day with my cooler...

[fishytime]

I see some pieces I NEED in there! :)

I'm gonna have to come out that way one day with my cooler...

If ya time it right I might be in Etown too:wink::razz:

[wmcinnes]

no kidding! if you ever give your tank a haircut, id love to take some frags to stock my young new reef!

Gorgeous!

[MarkoD]

does your RBTA sting any of your corals? arent you afraid that it might split or move and totally destroy everything

[Dez]

does your RBTA sting any of your corals? arent you afraid that it might split or move and totally destroy everything

I got slightly bored of my sps tank a little over 1/2 a year ago so I took the risk. The rbta hid for a couple of months and made it's appearance after we came back from vacation. I guess I'm willing to take the risk since I've always wanted an rbta. I'm glad that I got it, but wish that my clowns would host in it. They prefer hosting in the frogspawn. Can't win everything right?

[christyf5]

Gorgeous Dez!! Now get around to the other side and take another photo :biggrin:

Um, please? :wink:

[lastlight]

you just missed the photo content with that pic... would have been a winner! tank still looks sweet bro keep it up =)

[mseepman]

Wow...an amazing tank you've put together there. "Bored with my SPS tank" seems unbelievable when you see that picture.

[Dez]

Gorgeous Dez!! Now get around to the other side and take another photo :biggrin:

Um, please? :wink:

Here you go Christy. Taken 5 mins ago. Colours are very washed, but hey, it's just a cell phone pic. I can't get the blues and the pinks right. That colony dead centre is actually Snappy's super grape milli grown from a 1" frag. It is super bluey purple, quite a nice center piece actually.

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/photo-18.jpg

[gregzz4]

Fantastic lookin tank. Might look a lot nicer though if you were to get some SPS :rolleyes:

[Dez]

The bi-yearly skimmer clean....ha ha.
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/photo-19.jpg

[reefermadness]

did you have to put it in a white bowl like a meal? Oh man.......you gonna wash that down with a pepsi? :)

[Reeferized]

OMG, I think a new poll for the most disgusting skimmer clean out is in order.

:redface:

[Dez]

Couple of cell phone pics.....
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/photo3-6.jpg?t=1354233049
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/photo1-9.jpg?t=1354233040

[rhody605]

In the second pic. Is that a maxima clam?


Mike

[BlueTang<3]

Looks good and it looks like a squamousa clam

[Dez]

Yup it's a squamy. It's close to a foot and still growing. Have had it for 3 years. Actually most of the coral in my tank is 3 years old.

[rhody605]

It all looks great.


Mike

[Dez]

Haven't updated in a while. Tank is still alive. Snapped a quick cell phone pic tonight as the sun was shining into the house.

Living room side
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/photo2-10_zps46c31f3a.jpg

Den side
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt88/des_sublime/photo3-7_zps1c42540a.jpg

[kien]

Nice ! Those shelves are new? And did you paint that wall an accent colour? I may need you to pan out a bit for a full room shot LOL.

[reefermadness]

Looks awesome like that.....nice big colonies.

[fishoholic]

Beautiful as always :biggrin: nice to see its still going strong :thumb:

[mseepman]

Wow! No surprise that its looking so good. Awesome clam there.

[Dez]

Nice ! Those shelves are new? And did you paint that wall an accent colour? I may need you to pan out a bit for a full room shot LOL.

Haha, yes the shelves are new"ish". I probably put them up a year ago. I came home and my wife had painted that accent colour, so then I got off my butt and added the shelves for her. I'll take a pic sometime during the day as night time cell phone pics suck.

[lastlight]

i really love the nice big colonies and the negative space as well. it's nice to be able to see all the way through the tank!

[asylumdown]

Siiiiiigh. Your tank reminds me of why I do this.


Your tank is like porn. Reef porn.

[Sebae again]

What size is that clam? Any top down pics of it ? Love the size of those corals!

[Dez]

i really love the nice big colonies and the negative space as well. it's nice to be able to see all the way through the tank!

Thanks Brett, I went crazy quite a few months back and gave away a ton of colonies and just got sick of the top heavy look and the corals shading corals below....etc.. And I remembered that I planned to have a valley in the middle but corals just grew to cover the valley, so I got rid of that too. I've been liking the negative space too.

[asylumdown]

It actually looks like you've swam out to a reef in the pacific somewhere, dropped a glass box on top of a section of it, and brought that home. Larger but fewer corals looks more natural somehow. I feel like the dozens of small colonies that younger tanks are made up of (including mine) is akin to reef bonsai, as though you're looking at the reef from 40 feet away in miniature.

I love this look.

[waynemah]

This tank is even more epic in person. It's astonishing to see the size of the colonies, clams and rose bubble tip. As Asylumdown says, "reef porn".

[Dez]

What size is that clam? Any top down pics of it ? Love the size of those corals!

It's probably about a foot. I got it when it was only about 4". I'm scared of top down pics now because 2 weeks ago my phone lost the battle with salt water.....but if you flip a few pages back in this thread, there is a top down pic of the clam taken quite a few months back. It is a bit blurry though.

[Dez]

This tank is even more epic in person. It's astonishing to see the size of the colonies, clams and rose bubble tip. As Asylumdown says, "reef porn".

I'm sad to say that up close it is even less epic as I've had cyano in think tank for about 2 years. I gave up on the cyano after my last scuba dive trip to Cozumel and saw red cyano covering the bottom of the ocean floor but the corals still thriving. Lets just say I'm going for the "natural" look. Haha.

[Dez]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/07/11/nevahu2a.jpg

Just a pic of a frag I mounted on the glass a few years ago. This is Snappy's deep purple valida.

[daplatapus]

That looks cool. How'd you get it to stick to the glass?

[craigwmiller]

Very nice! I'm sooooo itchin' to get going on my build, and hopefully I will get growth so good :D

[Dez]

That looks cool. How'd you get it to stick to the glass?

I mounted the original frag onto a little magnet. So the magnet is still in there somewhere. After it had encrusted, I took the magnet off of the other side of the glass.

[lastlight]

I hope my greg valida looks as nice one day. So far not even close.

[Dez]

I hope my greg valida looks as nice one day. So far not even close.

Mine looked like junk for the first 2 years. I didn't see how it was purple. Just the tips were purple. But then it slowly got more and more purple.

[Dez]

These 2 photos are a 4 year update I guess. I got water in the tank 4 years ago on August 16. The rose anemone split a few weeks back. That's about all for the update. Enjoy and thanks for looking.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/20/ubyzazad.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/20/2u6equ8y.jpg

[Bblinks]

Looking great Dez!

[mseepman]

Wow, that is looking awesome! No surprise there. Amazing clam!

[Dez]

Wow, that is looking awesome! No surprise there. Amazing clam!

Thanks. This is one of my favourite corals in the tank lately. I got it off Bignose. He gave it to me as a purple acro. It was 1" fresh cut and I mounted it on a golf tee. The golf tee is still in there surrounded by the coral.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/31/7ahyhedu.jpg

[lastlight]

ooh that's a sexy table. ever since i got that frag from you on a golf tee i wondered why others don't do the same. so easy to put it into the rock and it's virtually hidden. encrusts over quickly too.

[Dez]

Some cell phone pics I took tonight.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/28/ybaqedun.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/28/ragyzebe.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/28/epy8e2an.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/28/epa4uvun.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/28/ajahuqyq.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/28/du2etyzu.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/28/y5eguzyb.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/28/u9u7esu2.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/28/epuvere9.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/28/vasy9y5y.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/28/5e7aqy5e.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/28/y7ymaqah.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/28/yhyvaqy9.jpg

[Delphinus]

Wow ...

[kien]

Dez, didn't nobody tell you that you can't have this nice a tank with LEDs?!?! Guess you missed that memo.

Also, very nice! Carry on :-)

[Dez]

Don't think that' I'll be able to get the full clam from top down unless I had a wide angle lens. The phone was all the way at the top of the water suface and I only captured 3/4 of the clam.

[hillegom]

tank is looking awesome.

[asylumdown]

Droooool

[Dez]

Here's a quick video of clips we took of the tank last week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAx2BhNSvzo&feature=c4-overview&list=UUhc25EzEzNiOXZaMO-Grjkg

[kien]

Loved that video! Love your family vacation vids too btw! #CreepersGonnaCreep

[Dez]

Loved that video! Love your family vacation vids too btw! #CreepersGonnaCreep

Thanks Kien. The vid was all taken and edited from my phone. Youtube is an easy way to store videos :). Judging by the # of views of my family vacations, I'd say it is mostly family members that are sharing our vacations.....and the creepers. Ha ha.

[hillegom]

I enjoyed the video of your tank.
Thanks

[lastlight]

Your tank has more plates than my cupboard. Love it!

[lastlight]

Or more shelves than a closet. More tables than a spreadsheet...

[H2o2]

The best of all is it is a family tank and a beautiful one by the way

[Ram3500]

I can't wait to go through all 98 pages of your journal tomorrow when I'am busy at work :)

[Dez]

Shoebox in front if my clam for size reference.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/11/28/ytebugyh.jpg

[kien]

Are you ever tempted to BBQ that bad boy?

[Dez]

Are you ever tempted to BBQ that bad boy?

Yummy ;)

[Dez]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/23/yja4yhus.jpg
New addition last week. It's eating flake food already.

[asylumdown]

Amazeballs!

Be prepared, those little guys turn in to giant food vacuuming machines! 50% of the food that goes in my tank is specifically for my cowfish, and he's still always hungry. If I don't give him his morning clams (yes, plural) on time, he'll take it out on me by munching on the tips of my favourite acro colony.

They also LOVE nori once they figure out they can eat it.

best advice I can give you, they bigger they get, the bigger they seem to prefer their food. Mine absolutely loves Ocean Nutrition's formula one gel cubes. He's the only fish in the tank that will eat it, so when he was small I used to cut a single cube in half when I fed frozen in the evening, but now that he's over 10 inches from horn to tail he'll eat an entire cube of it in 2 slurps.

[craigwmiller]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/23/yja4yhus.jpg
New addition last week. It's eating flake food already.

Nadine wants you to take him out of your tank and bring it over here :D

[Dez]

Amazeballs!

Be prepared, those little guys turn in to giant food vacuuming machines! 50% of the food that goes in my tank is specifically for my cowfish, and he's still always hungry. If I don't give him his morning clams (yes, plural) on time, he'll take it out on me by munching on the tips of my favourite acro colony.

They also LOVE nori once they figure out they can eat it.

best advice I can give you, they bigger they get, the bigger they seem to prefer their food. Mine absolutely loves Ocean Nutrition's formula one gel cubes. He's the only fish in the tank that will eat it, so when he was small I used to cut a single cube in half when I fed frozen in the evening, but now that he's over 10 inches from horn to tail he'll eat an entire cube of it in 2 slurps.

Good to know. Thanks for all of the tips and tricks. I bought it pretty much as soon as he landed. It didn't eat for a couple of days but learned quickly. Already he's super curious. That's how I got the picture. I had my phone out and he came snooping so I snapped a picture of him with my phone. I don't ever do much with my tank so this guy is kind of exciting. I'm too scared of diseases to add any corals or fish to my tank. Knock on wood I think this guy was a perfect addition.

[asylumdown]

Yah just be careful with them. They don't seem like they are very agile, but when spooked they can bolt with a surprising amount of speed. Mine ended up inside my overflow box once, which would have required getting his entire body a full inch out of the water. He lost 2/3 of his tail in the process and it's still growing back.

Also, they're very easy to train to eat out of your hand. However, they can and will draw blood if they mistake your fingers for something delicious, like mine just did a few minutes ago when I was feeding it krill. Their lips are outrageously soft, and then they bite down. Ouch.

[Dez]

Yah just be careful with them. They don't seem like they are very agile, but when spooked they can bolt with a surprising amount of speed. Mine ended up inside my overflow box once, which would have required getting his entire body a full inch out of the water. He lost 2/3 of his tail in the process and it's still growing back.

Also, they're very easy to train to eat out of your hand. However, they can and will draw blood if they mistake your fingers for something delicious, like mine just did a few minutes ago when I was feeding it krill. Their lips are outrageously soft, and then they bite down. Ouch.

I remember reading your thread about him in your overflow. That's what kind of inspired me to order the fish in, cause I saw your FTS and thought to myself "wow, a cowfish long term in an sps tank- brilliant!" Thanks for the inspiration!

[Dez]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/30/uqehe8ag.jpg
Was enjoying the tank tonight and thought I should take a pic.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/30/ge6azusa.jpg
One of my favourite corals. This table is HUGE. I grew it from a 1/2" frag. It has NEVER been fragged even though numerous people have begged me. It hasn't even been accidentally fragged. I'm one proud papa. Although, it will be growing into the glass soon

[zephyr50]

Stunning.

[FishingGoalie]

How big is that thing i looks massive

[Dez]

It's about the size of a large dinner plate.

[straightrazorguy]

Exactly what kind of acro is this table coral Dez? Sorry if it's in the thread, I haven't read the whole thing.

Awesome tank, btw!

[Dez]

Exactly what kind of acro is this table coral Dez? Sorry if it's in the thread, I haven't read the whole thing.

Awesome tank, btw!


I have no idea. It was traded to me as a purple acro. I have never seen any growth pattern like this is anyone's tank in the many years I've been the hobby.

[e46er]

That tank is just stupid nice.

[Dez]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/01/ge7yzapy.jpg

[craigwmiller]

I have no idea. It was traded to me as a purple acro. I have never seen any growth pattern like this is anyone's tank in the many years I've been the hobby.

Looks to me like the growth pattern of a Milli! I have a few that are small, and a very large one (10" across) on my mantle that didn't do so well ;)

[craigwmiller]

OH, and give me that cow fish!

[Dez]

Tank is 5 years old today. These pics were taken a couple of days ago.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/17/du5ede9a.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/17/hetezyhe.jpg

[hillegom]

nice
That clam is sure getting big

[Dez]

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/21/13f2ba10f6ccf72d6cd81f75ca98b376.jpg
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/21/bd0d90e51d9994fc70bee44e3eabad01.jpg

These are recent cell phone shots. The stag in the middle is just over 19" in diameter. It's almost touching both viewing panes.

[Aquattro]

Dez, thanks for posting that moments after I post a near empty tank shot :)

Looks amazing!

[Reef Pilot]

Beautiful!... Tank looking as good as ever.

[Doug]

:thumb:

[Dez]

Thanks guys. Funny think is that my TDS on the water coming out of my RO has been above 80 for the past year (I haven't changed anything on it in 5 years) and also my water changes are stretching to the 6 week marks now.

[Snappy]

Nothing like a tank with large colonies - looking good Dez!

[Dez]

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/21/b592fb49417f0dc95b35c1246d0d722a.jpg

These are the cowfish eggs on the claim. If you zoom in you can see the baby eyes in the eggs.