kien's 150g Room Divider Mixed Reef & Stuff

[Rice Reef]

I missed your journal updates.... :neutral:

[kien]

I missed your journal updates.... :neutral:

There really isn't much to update. Tank is still there, doing its thing. The tank has been running for 5 years now so I guess that's a big milestone ! :-)

[Skimmerking]

:pop2:

[lastlight]

There really isn't much to update.

He's still got crabs. I know that much.

[michika]

He's still got crabs. I know that much.

:lol::lol:

[kien]

After 5 years, apparently I need a new skimmer.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/0DDCF939-9C83-4125-AD7C-B3EC5CB8FF66_zpshohfugo2.jpg

That is all, carry on.

[hillegom]

What?
you are not going to crazy glue that?

[kien]

What?
you are not going to crazy glue that?

What makes you think I didn't/hadn't already ?

[hillegom]

What makes you think I didn't/hadn't already ?

lol
:biggrin:

[hillegom]

Did a snail get in there?
Can't see that happening on its own.
Catastrophic failure?

[kien]

Did a snail get in there?
Can't see that happening on its own.
Catastrophic failure?

I did not fish any snails out of it. Just a spontaneous failure of catastrophic proportions. I did ask The Google and apparently they do sell replacements so I'm going to see if I can find a replacement needle wheel before I invest in a new skimmer. I really do like this skimmer. It has served me well. Other than the whole imploding thing.

[Bblinks]

Maybe a new impeller... Lol
:mrgreen:

[kien]

Maybe a new impeller... Lol
:mrgreen:

Well, for about $150 US I can get a replacement impeller from a place in California, or for a bit more I can get a brand new Bubble Magus Curve 9 which is more or less an upgrade/replacement to my current outdated Bubble Magus 220CS. Decided to go with the new skimmer. Just waiting for my LFS (yes that's you guys over at CONCEPT AQUARIUMS) to get their shipment in.

In the meantime, I'm completely skimmerless (going on week 2 without now).

[xenon]

In the meantime, I'm completely skimmerless (going on week 2 without now).
Damn!

Any noticeable change in coral coloration yet?

[Marlin65]

Corals look great. Very nice.

[hillegom]

What pump is that that failed?

[reeferfulton]

Well, for about $150 US I can get a replacement impeller from a place in California, or for a bit more I can get a brand new Bubble Magus Curve 9 which is more or less an upgrade/replacement to my current outdated Bubble Magus 220CS. Decided to go with the new skimmer. Just waiting for my LFS (yes that's you guys over at CONCEPT AQUARIUMS) to get their shipment in.

In the meantime, I'm completely skimmerless (going on week 2 without now).


the curve 9 is the same skimmer I have been eyeing up for some time .. I figured it would be a good upgrade from my omega 150.. I think you made a good choice..

[kien]

Damn!

Any noticeable change in coral coloration yet?

That depends.. would you consider brown a colour?

[kien]

What pump is that that failed?

The pump that came with my Bubble Magus 220CS was an Eheim 1260. Great pump! Served me well for the past 5 years. I would totally get a replacement impeller for it if it wasn't for the $150US price tag and the fact that it would probably take a couple of weeks to get here :cry:

[FishyFishy!]

Ever thought of making a DIY needlewheel mod? I even have a couple things that I bought to mod an old skimmer that I have lying around. We should see if they fit ;-)

The meshwheel mods work well too.

[FishyFishy!]

Just google "DIY needlewheel impeller" and look at the images that come up. Theres so many options for you! I like the bio-ball one.

[kien]

Ever thought of making a DIY needlewheel mod? I even have a couple things that I bought to mod an old skimmer that I have lying around. We should see if they fit ;-)

The meshwheel mods work well too.

Ya, when I was googling for a replacement I also pulled up a bunch of mods involving enkmat(sp?) etc.. I suppose I could go down that route, but at this point I would rather just get a new skimmer. This skimmer also has a clogged air intake. I totally cut the air line and MacGyver'ed a silencer/muffler with a small water bottle. Although I'm pretty sure the water bottle muffler is actually making it noisier. :neutral: If my LFS (Yes, that's you DAVE AT CONCEPT AQUARIUMS) doesn't come through with a new skimmer by the weekend I may give the needle-wheel-Frankenmod the 'ol college try.

[FishyFishy!]

Ya, when I was googling for a replacement I also pulled up a bunch of mods involving enkmat(sp?) etc.. I suppose I could go down that route, but at this point I would rather just get a new skimmer. This skimmer also has a clogged air intake. I totally cut the air line and MacGyver'ed a silencer/muffler with a small water bottle. Although I'm pretty sure the water bottle muffler is actually making it noisier. :neutral: If my LFS (Yes, that's you DAVE AT CONCEPT AQUARIUMS) doesn't come through with a new skimmer by the weekend I may give the needle-wheel-Frankenmod the 'ol college try.

LOL. Well I will always vote new skimmer. But hey...you might as well mod the old one to sell it or keep it as a spare. I totally have enough stuff to make two or three different mods. You're welcome to take them if you feel like trying it out.

[kien]

LOL. Well I will always vote new skimmer. But hey...you might as well mod the old one to sell it or keep it as a spare. I totally have enough stuff to make two or three different mods. You're welcome to take them if you feel like trying it out.

Thanks! I will keep that in mind. That's a great idea about re-selling the old skimmer.

[kien]

Yes, it has arrived ! Or rather it arrived last Friday. And not a moment too soon. I was getting tired of doing 50% water changes..

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_004_zps2fda5d17.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_005_zps048a9aa4.jpg

This is the entire kit.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_006_zpsec4f31ac.jpg

The instructions manual consisted of two printed pages. This diagram and another page with instructions.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_018_zps10a76e60.jpg

It looks like pumps have gotten a lot smaller over the years. This pump (supposedly) pushes the same amount of volume as my busted Eheim 1262 that came with my Bubble Magus 220CS, but only half the footprint ! Amazing.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_007_zps485d888d.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_008_zpsc1a50bca.jpg

I was curious, so I yanked out the needle wheel to have a look.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_016_zps174869f2.jpg

The needles are fairly small compared to what I'm used to (the one that came with my Eheim). It definitely looks like it will slice and dice bubbles real good, but those needles do look fragile. I wonder how long they will last.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_017_zps442f2ee7.jpg

And here she is all assembled.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_020_zps223f6fdb.jpg

So there's this red cap sorta thingy (it's at the bottom of the above picture). I haven't quite figured out where it goes yet. I can't seem to find it on the instructions manual. If I had to guess, I would guess that it covers the hole at the top of the skimmer cups lid. There is a circular groove on the inside of the lid that seems to fit this red cap thingy, except that it is loose. There is no way it will stay in this groove without glue or silicone. Seems odd.

The intake.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_022_zps410ecf0a.jpg

And this right here would be why it is called the "Curve".

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_023_zps38bc0bfc.jpg

This wire holder is a really nice touch. My last skimmer didn't have one.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_014_zps1e6f3ec8.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_013_zps79f76b09.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_015_zpsfdebc111.jpg

Another thing I really like about this new skimmer is the body fasteners. Check out these little doohickies !

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_009_zps82a8aec7.jpg

Swing them open like so..

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_010_zps29315f27.jpg

.. and voila!

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_011_zps07b4c76d.jpg

The skimmer body lifts right off of the base plate! I love that!

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_012_zps18d4d77b.jpg

It's quite a tight fit in my skimmer chamber so having that future means much much much much much easier removal of the skimmer for maintenance. Seriously, I put off skimmer maintenance on my last skimmer because it was such a pain to remove the skimmer.

And here is the new and shiny up against the old and busted.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_021_zpsbb5ff883.jpg

The new one is slightly taller (maybe a couple of inches). Other than that, it's more or less the same skimmer but with a new pump and a few refinements. I actually like the cup lid on my old skimmer better so I decided to use it instead of the stock cap which has a hold in the middle of it. :noidea:

Cruve 9 on the left with BM220CS lid. BM220CS on the right with Curve 9 lid.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_024_zps06b6d8ba.jpg

Time for the vinegar bath.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_025_zps0370f47e.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141107_026_zpsed2cf1a9.jpg

While I was at it, I figured I mind as well clean up my biopellet reactor and top it up as well. Here's my setup out of water.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141108_027_zps312d8f32.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141108_028_zps7d524ccd.jpg

mmmm... pellets..

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141108_029_zps42491baf.jpg

And finally, back on-line and back in action ! The Dynamic Duo!

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141108_030_zps1b4beaef.jpg

MMmmmm... skimmmsss...

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/CURV_20141108_032_zps66442925.jpg

[reeferfulton]

awesome. you got it.
five us a review in a week

[kien]

And here is the tank as it sits today.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/20141109%20FTS/IMG_0043_zpsfb6e7a85.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/20141109%20FTS/IMG_0047_zps2a58cd4c.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/20141109%20FTS/IMG_0050_zps235633fe.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141109%20BM%20Curve%209/20141109%20FTS/IMG_0051_zpse9a7de42.jpg

[jhj0112]

Wow! beautiful tank!!

[lastlight]

enchanting kein.

[Slyguy00]

Lookin damn good

[Tn23]

Wow the tank looks stunning. Great job!

[monza]

Nice skimmer update pics, outstanding looking tank!

[mrhasan]

That red thingy goes at the center of the bottom side of top removable lid :mrgreen: (I had to use all the positions to point it out! Damn)

[kien]

That red thingy goes at the center under the removable top lid :mrgreen:

That's what I though! But how does it stay in place?? It doesn't sit tight enought to stay in place by itself. I would have to glue it in.

[mrhasan]

That's what I though! But how does it stay in place?? It doesn't sit tight enought to stay in place by itself. I would have to glue it in.

Mine came pre-assembled so I am guessing your's might have been separated somehow. I guess you can just glue it. It doesn't play much of a role other than curving out the skimate smoothly.

[kien]

Mine came pre-assembled so I am guessing your's might have been separated somehow. I guess you can just glue it. It doesn't play much of a role other than curving out the skimate smoothly.

Ok cool, thanks! I will just glue it in then. I was wondering why the heck there would even be a hole there, but then figured out that they probably intend to allow people to install skimmer cup cleaners into this hole.

[kien]

Lookin damn good

Wow! beautiful tank!!

enchanting kein.

Wow the tank looks stunning. Great job!

Nice skimmer update pics, outstanding looking tank!

Thanks guys! :-)

[Bblinks]

Kien....after looking at your tank pictures I told myself I can't let you take all the glory, so I promptly ordered myself another tank. Hopefully I will get it going before Christmas....:mrgreen:

[Delphinus]

My guess is the hole is so you can retrofit a neck wiper, and thus the red cap is something you put on if you don't have that. If it were me, I would silicone it in place rather than weld-on so that it's easy enough to pull off in the future if you get an auto cleaner.

[Rice Reef]

Yay! New pics and updates in one of my favorite tank build journals on Canreef! :biggrin:

[kien]

Kien....after looking at your tank pictures I told myself I can't let you take all the glory, so I promptly ordered myself another tank. Hopefully I will get it going before Christmas....:mrgreen:

OOOoooo! The plot thickens !! :-) And also, pics or it didn't happen ! :biggrin:

My guess is the hole is so you can retrofit a neck wiper, and thus the red cap is something you put on if you don't have that. If it were me, I would silicone it in place rather than weld-on so that it's easy enough to pull off in the future if you get an auto cleaner.

Ya, that makes sense. Great idea about the silicone!

[Dearth]

As usual Kien leaves us wanting more pictures of everything to do with his tank. Jealously and admiration are the name of the game.

One of these times when I am back in Calgary I will have to whine and whimper to see your tank in person I have been told it is a sight to behold in itself

[kien]

As usual Kien leaves us wanting more pictures of everything to do with his tank. Jealously and admiration are the name of the game.

One of these times when I am back in Calgary I will have to whine and whimper to see your tank in person I have been told it is a sight to behold in itself

Thanks! You are welcome over anytime. Drop me a PM next time you're in town !

[kien]

For the past 5 years I have been using (or rather trying to use), a couple of Tunze 6105s as my primary water mover. They worked great, when they worked. I even had them jacked into my GHL profilux controller which allowed me to adjust their flowrate programatically. However, the problem with my Tunzes, is that they were ridonkulously unreliable. I have a salt bucket full of dead Tunzes *sadface*. I returned a couple of them for warranty but some of them ended up out of warranty. I wish someone had let me know that they were meant to be disposable like q-tips.

Anyway, sometime this past spring yet another one failed *sad face*. I ran with just one Tunze 6105 all spring, summer and fall. I really didn't have time to do anything about it. I also didn't want to just run out and buy yet another Tunze. A Vortec perhaps? I'm not really a fan of those either because every time I'm at someone's house that has a Vortec on their tank I can hear the whirr-verp whirr-verp of the external motor. I realize that they don't bother people but they bother me.

Last week when I finally had time to do something about replacing my dead Tunze I decided that I would try out one of them Vortunzes. Wait, crap, that's not right, hang on.. .. sorry, Jebaos.

While I was at the store Denny mentioned the "New Thing" that was all the rage with the cool kids these days, the Jebao RW! Since I'm still running metal halides, I figured this was my one shot at maybe getting to sit at the cool kids lunch/wings table again. So anyway, he showed me the Jebao RW-8, a wireless(ish) version of the Jebaos! I like wireless(ish). He convinced me to grab a couple of the RW-8s that they had in stock. I wasn't immediately convinced that the RW-8s would be enough flow, but sadly they didn't have the next size up, the RW-15s. Well, what the heck, for under $100 a pop, why not.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141111%20Jebao%20RW-8/IMG_0054_zps15016bc6.jpg

So I brought home a pair, hooked them up, and started to tinker. After poking around the control panel I quickly figured out how to sync them up. It was actually pretty easy considering I hadn't even read the manual yet. Set one as the Master and the second one as the Slave. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. I sat back and watched both of them happily pushing water in unison. Cool.

My first impression was one of amazement by how much water these little suckers pushed! They appeared to push as much water as my Tunze 6105s. This despite the fact that the 6105 is *supposed* to push roughly 3000(ish) gph whereas the Jebao RW-8 is *supposed* to push only 2000(ish) gph. At any rate, I was satisfied with their flow rate and quite amazed by their compact size! My Tunzes took up a heck of a lot of room while the Jebaos are almost HALF their size! AMAZBALLS!

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141111%20Jebao%20RW-8/IMG_0052_zpscb2cbe9d.jpg

So then I decided to play around again with the settings. Next up was trying the different modes and power levels. What I instantly fell in love with was their wave making ability. I've always wanted a wave in my tank but I have no room for a wave maker and I could never for the life of me get my tunzes to sync up properly to generate a wave. I have no idea why (user error I'm sure). At any rate, with the Jebaos, after setting them to Master/Slave and dialing in the wave (mode 1), both powerheads pulsed in unison and generated a nice little wave for me. I could adjust the frequency of the wave with a speed dial. I was yet again amazed! I had a wave going in my tank with two little powerheads the size of the little Korellia that I use in my salt mixing container, and all at a cost of $180 ! Truly AMAZBALLS!

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141111%20Jebao%20RW-8/IMG_0209_zpsaf287084.jpg

I am totally expecting one of these to fail within a year, but at their cost compared to the Tunzes, I'll still be ahead of the game! :lol: In the meantime, I am totally enjoying the gentle swoosh-swoosh, sway-sway of the new wave in my tank.

[WarDog]

Next time I'm in town I'll bring over my surfboard. :wink:

But seriously, keep us posted on these amazballs things, considering a couple for supplemental flow on my fishies crib.

[Madreefer]

Hmmm interesting. I went from Vortechs to Tunzes cuz I coudnt put the vortechs on the back of the tank and didn't want anything on the sides. I have 5 Tunzes in mine and they stick out like a Karadashian ass. :lol:How much smaller than the Tunzes are they? It's either 2 of those or 2 Maxspect for me.

[kien]

Hmmm interesting. I went from Vortechs to Tunzes cuz I coudnt put the vortechs on the back of the tank and didn't want anything on the sides. I have 5 Tunzes in mine and they stick out like a Karadashian ass. :lol:How much smaller than the Tunzes are they? It's either 2 of those or 2 Maxspect for me.

Tomorrow I will mount of my 6105s right under the Jebao RW8 and snap a pic for comparison sake. THe RW8s are nearly half as small as the 6105s !

I recently learned about the Maxspect Gyre's as well (if that's what you're referring to) and saw a demo, those are AMAZBALLS too! I am considering putting one right under my overflow weir and using it as a surge for supplemental upper water column flow. Alternately I thought about mounting a couple of them vertically where my powerheads are at the back wall (in place of the tunzes/jebaos). At the end of the day, it is a great time to be a reefer as some AMAZBALLS technologies are coming out.

[kien]

*** DISCLAIMER: There may be blue clove polyps in some of these photos. Viewer discretion is advised ******

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0056_zps667cd1bf.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0066_zps7e99d2b2.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0067_zps7f04426b.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0059_zps06913e38.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0069_zps7f96cb14.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0071_zps119968ed.jpg

[kien]

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0083_zpsf18a8788.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0158_zps3b3fd332.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0087_zps63517ff0.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0088_zpse1beeccf.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0089_zps4b973390.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0090_zps7e9ceb80.jpg

[Dearth]

😱 man Kien I am so envious of your pictures 😱

[kien]

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0092_zpse0dcbf0f.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0097_zps502657e1.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0098_zps02a63703.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0100_zps890be906.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0103_zps4a2507c2.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0106_zps8da766f2.jpg

[gqlmao]

I'll trade you some frags if you let me on your secret on how to talk those kind of pictures. It is the pictures skills or is it the corals that make the pictures look good? Could it be both :mrgreen:

[Doug]

:jaw: Wow those are great pics. And beautiful corals.

I have a pair of the 8,s in my 50g. Needless to say they are not turned up to high but great pumps as you say.

[duncangweller]

I've never seen a meteor shower look so good.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Coralgurl]

So full of awesomeness!!

[Bblinks]

Kiener, are you still running metal halide on your tank?

[kien]

Kiener, are you still running metal halide on your tank?

Yes. 3x250 watt 14K pheonix.

How much smaller than the Tunzes are they? It's either 2 of those or 2 Maxspect for me.

Here ya go!

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/574EA88E-B028-407F-B194-4841CC2F3E2E_zps0qde11my.jpg

Tunze 6105 on the top, Jebao RW-8 on the bottom. Nearly double !

[kien]

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0111_zps6183906b.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0116_zps02e9d11c.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0117_zps2515bda9.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0119_zps95474774.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0121_zps0b8b6c31.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0123_zps9677f685.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0125_zps64d32f84.jpg

[newbie2]

Amazing as always! those blue clove polyps are growing on me :smile:

[kien]

Amazing as always! those blue clove polyps are growing on me :smile:

Be careful ! They will never UNGROW on you. Trust me, I know. :lol:

[lockrookie]

Amazing as always when I get grown up I hope my corals can look as good.

[Rice Reef]

So nice......:jaw::jaw::jaw: Really missed your pics but better late than never. 😉

[lastlight]

man Kien I am so envious of your pictures

his polyp's nothing to scoff at either.

[kien]

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0130_zpsb3231032.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0128_zpsdcaeb1cb.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0131_zps37e5d9c4.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0133_zpsd8c62a02.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0136_zps1da828c1.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0139_zpsdf5a78a6.jpg

[kien]

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0141_zpsdfe1aae2.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0144_zps907a228d.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0145_zps8bae80d1.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0152_zps1f9430dc.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0149_zpsf9521ed1.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0147_zpsd65f2dcc.jpg

[duncangweller]

Now you're just showing off!

[kien]

Now you're just showing off!

ya, probably :-)

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0153_zps5bb31ada.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0164_zps111578f4.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0166_zpsda9837c8.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0168_zps6661fc7f.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0177_zps24be7e1a.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0180_zps833a8617.jpg

[Proteus]

Ohhh. Dirty!!!

[Coralgurl]

Now you're just showing off!

x2!!!! Gotta admit, its a sexy tank Kien!!!!

[Madreefer]

Wow great pics. Where's the pic comparing those powerheads?:wink:

[kien]

Wow great pics. Where's the pic comparing those powerheads?:wink:

you mean this (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=921337&postcount=1807)?

[Dearth]

Show off(noun)

to behave in an ostentatiously skilled and assured way with the intention of impressing others


Not only does Kien "show off" but he impresses too while doing it he is the SW aquariust version of Austin Powers :mrgreen:

[duncangweller]

I'm glad he shows off, this thread is where I find new corals I want to buy.

[kien]

..he is the SW aquariust version of Austin Powers :mrgreen:

So, "Goldmember" or "The Aquarist Who Shagged Me" ? Er.. nevermind, don't answer that.

[kien]

A weeks worth of skimming with the new Bubble Magus Curve 9 !

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/E50604F2-684A-488C-B8F4-94B2BF429F84_zpsnnyg1gy9.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/BDD3949D-ADBF-44CD-BE64-50996244B8FD_zpsbuf6jdis.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/919B9785-2E31-4370-B26A-555B276662B0_zpspyujette.jpg

It took my last skimmer almost a year to really get broken in. The new Curve 9 seems to be doing just fine after just a couple of weeks of use. Thumbs up ! Still a ways to go before long term viability can be assessed. I'm still expecting the needle wheel to crap out at any moment :lol:

[WarDog]

Eww, that's gross. I just ate my dinner.

Stock up now on a couple extra needle wheels so this beast will last for forever, and ever, and ever!

[kien]

Eww, that's gross. I just ate my dinner.

Stock up now on a couple extra needle wheels so this beast will last for forever, and ever, and ever!

Ya, I was thinking just that! Get the bad boys now while they are plentiful and cheap 'cuz in a year form now they will likely triple in cost!

[reeferfulton]

how is the noise and vibration of the skimmer. I hear it is louder then the curve 7. what's your thoughts?

[kien]

how is the noise and vibration of the skimmer. I hear it is louder then the curve 7. what's your thoughts?

Seems pretty quiet to me. I don't notice it at all. My last skimmer with the eheim pump I think was noiser! Maybe the curve 9 needs to be broken in a bit more then the noise will kick in ? :noidea: My stand is skinned with some pretty thick Ikea cabinet doors though, so maybe that helps to muffle it? At any rate, compared the the last two skimmers that I had (Bubble Magus 220CS and Hydor), this one is a lot quieter. I have no other frame of reference to compare to.

[Doug]

Do you get a bad smell from all the air holes in the top. I found my 7 is bad for that. Needs a carbon filter on or in it.

[reeferfulton]

awesome kien.
hope it turns out to be an great skimmer for you

[christyf5]

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20141112%20Corals/IMG_0133_zpsd8c62a02.jpg





What is that??? :love:

[kien]

Do you get a bad smell from all the air holes in the top. I found my 7 is bad for that. Needs a carbon filter on or in it.

We must be used to it because my last skimmer had the same holes and we never thought it smelled that bad. It's only when the skimmer cup overflows that I can smell it.

[kien]

What is that??? :love:

It's a large polyp stony coral.

[Slyguy00]

What is that??? :love:



Looks like a type of goniopora to me.

[kien]

Looks like a type of goniopora to me.

To be honest I have no clue what they are. You're right that they do look like goni and in fact I've seen stores sell them as "goni" but I have a couple of gonis right now that don't look like these ones. These ones don't extend their polyps very far at all. They are more like leptastrea this way.

[reefmandan]

I apologize if this was addressed in the thread already and I just missed it, but who built your tank?

Thanks!

[christyf5]

ok I just saw your 2015 pic in the other thread :crazyeye: Have we discussed that giant clam before? If not we need to. Details and closeups please :)

[kien]

I apologize if this was addressed in the thread already and I just missed it, but who built your tank?

Thanks!

An awesome local tank builder by the name of Jay. He used to build tanks for a now defunct store called Elite Aquatics in Calgary. That's where I got the tank built.

[kien]

ok I just saw your 2015 pic in the other thread :crazyeye: Have we discussed that giant clam before? If not we need to. Details and closeups please :)

I believe we have, considering I've had that clam for like 5 years I think :-)

It's just your run of the mill derasa.

[christyf5]

I believe we have, considering I've had that clam for like 5 years I think :-)

It's just your run of the mill derasa.

lol thats a long time for my brain to have to go back :razz: So how big was it when you got it? It looks huge! I'm hoping I can keep my squamosa going to that size

[lastlight]

It's just your run of the mill derasa.

it's a clam tho. which these days means it's prob worth 2k at that size...

[kien]

lol thats a long time for my brain to have to go back :razz: So how big was it when you got it? It looks huge!

Ya no kidding! :-) Here is a pic of it from back in August 2009.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3496/3871426453_88e6eeed38_o.jpg

I guess you can't really get a sense of scale here but I believe it was like 3 or 4 inches. Its shell alone is twice that size now. In that early pic it doesn't have a lot of growth scutes. Its shell is quite smooth there. In newer pics it has quite a few scutes with blue clove polyps living in them :lol:

When it really fans out its mantles it is quite impressive.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3527/3872210482_9528487a34_o.jpg

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2905/13898690377_0c75d4c187_o.jpg

In 5 years I have only ever seen it spawn once. I've had to move it quite a bit over the years. Where it lives now I had to remove a large piece of live rock structure as well, to accommodate it. It seems to have stopped or slowed down growing, thank goodness. I love it but unlike mostly all my other corals, I can't prune back the clam :sad: I also have this issue with my red goniopora on the other side of the tank that's trying to bust out of the tank. I'm running out of spots to move it to. :cry:

[kien]

The end of the year holiday season usually signals a change in bulbs for me. This year I'm a little bit late, but close enough :-) This year I ordered another set of Phoenix 14K halides on boxing day. I had hopped to get a fresh set of T5s that weekend as well but unfortunately everyone was out of stock on the bulbs that I was looking for. I guess that contributed to my delay in swapping out the bulbs. At any rate, with all the bulbs in hand, it was finally time for the swap out!

The Magnificent Seven.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/B048BF53-6855-4CF3-BC2A-E7E2D1D5107A_zpsr1d0bu50.jpg

Here are the old halides. I've noticed that the longer they are run, the more of a dark dirty haze they get on them.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/489F08D6-2689-4061-B4EE-A7CB86CCE85C_zpso1uskmjf.jpg

Ahh, new halide goodness.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/55A6A0D8-2A9F-46EE-AB21-6BC3E0360E7A_zpsojkdmtca.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/C0BBF284-0158-4AAE-86EB-04B94CA9A463_zpso6f6rftj.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/EF48A590-ED43-4D8E-A4AF-A3A6E74ED670_zpskoawwixe.jpg

Sadly this may be the last time I ever install my beloved Phoenix halides into this fixture :cry:

And also, OMG I feel like such a geezer talking about my halide fixture.. :lol:

[Dearth]

It will be interesting to see your tank with new lighting

As to the old geezer part no comment because I'm probably way older than you :mrgreen:

[kien]

It will be interesting to see your tank with new lighting

As to the old geezer part no comment because I'm probably way older than you :mrgreen:

The tank is a lot brighter bluer with new lights. Go figure :lol:

You might be surprised to find out how old I am :-)

[Dearth]

The tank is a lot brighter bluer with new lights. Go figure :lol:

You might be surprised to find out how old I am :-)


Your lights are singing the bright blues....

[FishyFishy!]

So have we confirmed that the Phoenix 14K bulbs are discontinued? I lost track of that other thread.

[kien]

So have we confirmed that the Phoenix 14K bulbs are discontinued? I lost track of that other thread.

Actually that's a good question! So far, all the vendors that I've spoken to has said that they are discontinued. However, that could just mean they are no longer ordering them. They could still be manufactured maybe. I don't really know.

[lastlight]

I had heard they were discontinued but now that i'm looking for evidence of this i find absolutely none. I think it was Greg (Snappy) whom i first heard this from maybe he can confirm where he heard it?

[kien]

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/IMG_4730_zpsi9we34tt.jpg~original

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/IMG_4732_zpsihbuqfkr.jpg~original

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/IMG_4735_zps80iyhvqa.jpg

[Dearth]

:jaw: :jaw: :jaw:

[lastlight]

That's one sexy spread! That blasto colony is really hot man.

[Snappy]

Very nice Kien.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

I love your red flowerpot. OMG that's beautiful and so is the rest of your tank.

[Doug]

" awesome "

[andestang]

Still one of my favorite set-ups !

[Doug]

Sadly this may be the last time I ever install my beloved Phoenix halides into this fixture :cry:

And also, OMG I feel like such a geezer talking about my halide fixture.. :lol:

What are you thinking of switching to.

[freezetyle]

What are you thinking of switching to.

radium 250w bulbs! or aqua connect 14,000k. just a suggestion for when the phoenix bulb supply dies up

[kien]

radium 250w bulbs! or aqua connect 14,000k. just a suggestion for when the phoenix bulb supply dies up

I don't think Radium does Duel Ended. Only mogul :(

I have no idea what I'll try. Who knows, maybe I will be lucky and find a supplier next Christmas. If not I may have to try another vendor. Seems odd talking about changing out (halide) bulbs in this day and age :lol: Seriously Keener, it's 2015, get with the times!

[Myka]

Hailde or bust! :p

[Aquattro]

I don't think Radium does Duel Ended. Only mogul :(



They have 150w at J&L, maybe they make 250w

[kien]

They have 150w at J&L, maybe they make 250w

This is starting to sound very familiar :-) Pretty sure I've been down this road before. The last time I checked which was about a year go and the year before that, they didn't have DE 250 watt bulbs. Maybe that's changed, I'll have to look. If they do, then ya, that's a no brainer! I love Radiums (that I've seen on other tanks).

[Aquattro]

Sorry, no go

http://premiumaquatics.com/articles/radium

[WarDog]

kien, have you tried to contact Phoenix directly? Their site however is only in Japanese. Got any Japanese friends?

[kien]

Sorry, no go

http://premiumaquatics.com/articles/radium

Cool, I hadn't read that article before. Let's try to remember it the next time I'm hunting for halides, because this quesiton comes up often :-)

kien, have you tried to contact Phoenix directly? Their site however is only in Japanese. Got any Japanese friends?

No I have not. I don't need to worry about this until December(ish). It is a long ways from now so a lot of things can change. For example, maybe I will have joined the cool kids and gotten myself updated with an LED fixture by then. Of course, by that time all the cool kids will have moved onto the next big thing like plasma lights, or something.

[Proteus]

I tried out the xm20k bulb and I really like it, quite blue

[kien]

Well, it's official.. my beloved light fixture has given up the ghost. Last year it was a blown ballast which I easily replaced (thanks to some grow-op suppliers on Amazon), but now one of my light fixtures is blowing out bulbs :cry: At at first I thought it was just a dead bulb so I ordered a new one (they're $78 now). As soon as I plugged it in, POOF. $78 up in a proverbial puff of smoke. It's not the ballast this time because I've done the ballast musical chairs thing to test them all out and they all work fine. There must be a circuit inside the fixture that's shorted or something. I'm not an electrician and I don't really want to spend the time to crack it open to debug it further so I am officially on the hunt for a new light fixture now.

Sadly, I may have no choice but to go LED. If I can I'd like to go hybrid LED/T5. Actually, if I can, I'd like to get a whole new Halide/T5 fixture! I think Giessmman still makes them?

[Reef Pilot]

Haha, Radions on the way... And you can tweek the spectrum to make the corals any color you want. Blue and black to some, and white and gold to others...:razz:

[xenon]

if I can, I'd like to get a whole new Halide/T5 fixture! I think Giessmman still makes them?

Yep!

Have a look at the Giessmman spectra.

That is the fixture I decided to go with on our new cube display.

[WarDog]

What about a Hamilton Tech halide/T5?

[Bblinks]

I thought this day would never come....I vote ATI hybrid all the way, LED has its place in the hobby but it does need supplementation and with the hybrid module its the perfect combination. If you don't want to spend that kind of money I would also look into T5 fixtures but if all fails, we can always go back to the trust worthy MH with T5s.

[lockrookie]

How long is your tank? I can sell us my old halide t5 if interested just have to figure out how to package it

[sphelps]

If it's not the ballast the wiring inside the fixture is incredibly simple. I would consider replacing the socket and wire, otherwise you're totally using this as an excuse to get what you've always wanted anyway :wink:

[FishingGoalie]

Well, it's official.. my beloved light fixture has given up the ghost. Last year it was a blown ballast which I easily replaced (thanks to some grow-op suppliers on Amazon), but now one of my light fixtures is blowing out bulbs :cry: At at first I thought it was just a dead bulb so I ordered a new one (they're $78 now). As soon as I plugged it in, POOF. $78 up in a proverbial puff of smoke. It's not the ballast this time because I've done the ballast musical chairs thing to test them all out and they all work fine. There must be a circuit inside the fixture that's shorted or something. I'm not an electrician and I don't really want to spend the time to crack it open to debug it further so I am officially on the hunt for a new light fixture now.

Sadly, I may have no choice but to go LED. If I can I'd like to go hybrid LED/T5. Actually, if I can, I'd like to get a whole new Halide/T5 fixture! I think Giessmman still makes them?

I Still am loving my ATI Hybrid T5 Powermodule problem is you tank is so long so it may get expensive. :(

[kien]

How long is your tank? I can sell us my old halide t5 if interested just have to figure out how to package it

It's a six footer!

If it's not the ballast the wiring inside the fixture is incredibly simple. I would consider replacing the socket and wire, otherwise you're totally using this as an excuse to get what you've always wanted anyway :wink:

I'm going to play around with the ballast some more. You may be right.. Although I swear I swapped them around but maybe I didn't plug them in right (they are quite aways from my tank). At any rate, you got any LEDs for sale? :wink::wink::wink: :mrgreen:

I Still am loving my ATI Hybrid T5 Powermodule problem is you tank is so long so it may get expensive. :(

Ya, now that I'm in the market for new lights again (again), I'm looking at all my options. I do like those hybrid powermodules. The longest ones they make are 60" which I think would be fine on my tank. Sure they are prices but no matter what I end up with it's going to cost me a good chunk of change I suspect. Maybe I'll get lucky and find someone who has shut down their reef tank to convert it into a swamp tank and no longer has a need for their 4 Mitras..

[sphelps]

Sorry swamps need mitras too :mrgreen:

[kien]

Well, looks like it was a false alarm, again ! I was sure this time that the light fixture itself was toast, but after proper testing I discovered that it was just a bad ballast once again. Like last time, I scoured the web (retailers) for another replacement (Galaxy Ballast) but could no longer find any! Again, I was certain that I would finally have to give up on my halide fixture and get a new light, possibly LED.

Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it), after a routine visit with the boys at Concept Aquariums I discovered that they had a supplier that had ballasts that would work with my Sunlight Supply Maristar fixture! So of course I ordered two (one as a backup).

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/IMG_2526_zpsvm6pfp22.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/IMG_2528_zpsec0ggkfy.jpg?t=1427687346

One of these is not like the others..

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/87e43e1c-e968-4109-83bb-9b5e17d0cdc6_zpsbhwhzqlf.jpg?t=1427687582

Now I'm kicking myself for not ordering 3 of them so that they all matched, and using the existing Galaxy Ballasts as spares/backups. :doh:

[kien]

Also..

I recently discovered this little gem!

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_065_zpsfyxzrqqn.jpg

OH EM GEE! This is one of the best purchases I have ever made! It's essentially a kent scraper with a magnet! So much easier to clean the glass now that it only takes one pass and not 10 like it did with my old magfloat/shark.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_064_zpssvxt4jej.jpg

And as an added bonus I can now scrape down BELOW my sand line without worrying about scratching the glass (not that it really matters now that my tank is already scratched up all to hell; DAMN YOU MAGFLOAT!)

So much awesome!

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_063_zpscizi0age.jpg

[rishu_pepper]

Do you know what's the difference between the "Long" and "Strong" version of the care magnet?

I recently purchased a Shark, while its cleaning abilities are great, I'm always scared to clean the area near the sandbed in fears of scratching the tank, and moving the shark magnet requires a lot of force and makes daily cleaning too much of a chore (or I'm just a wuss with tiny Asian arms :redface:).

[kien]

Do you know what's the difference between the "Long" and "Strong" version of the care magnet?

I recently purchased a Shark, while its cleaning abilities are great, I'm always scared to clean the area near the sandbed in fears of scratching the tank, and moving the shark magnet requires a lot of force and makes daily cleaning too much of a chore (or I'm just a wuss with tiny Asian arms :redface:).

You know, I have no idea what the difference is.

I too have tiny Asian arms so I share your pain! Well, I did up until I got the new tuzne cleaner! I wish I had one 5 years ago. Would have saved my tank 5 years worth of scratches from the magfloat/shark (DAMN YOU MAGFLOAT/SHARK!). I thought I was pretty careful whenever near the sand but no matter how careful I am, sand surely got under the magnet of those types of cleaners. That or possibly calcareous tube worms.

Still, I hate to bring bad news but even with the new cleaning scraper it's STILL a chore LOL.

[rishu_pepper]

You know, I have no idea what the difference is.

I too have tiny Asian arms so I share your pain! Well, I did up until I got the new tuzne cleaner! I wish I had one 5 years ago. Would have saved my tank 5 years worth of scratches from the magfloat/shark (DAMN YOU MAGFLOAT/SHARK!). I thought I was pretty careful whenever near the sand but no matter how careful I am, sand surely got under the magnet of those types of cleaners. That or possibly calcareous tube worms.

Still, I hate to bring bad news but even with the new cleaning scraper it's STILL a chore LOL.

Thank you my Asian friend. :lol:

I will go purchase one of these soon. Cleaning with the shark is getting real tired real quick.

[jason604]

Can't sand still get between this n glass n scratch Ur tank? If it's not possible at all I will deff get 1 as well. I stopped using mag float in fear of scratching my new tank but having an in wall now it's hard using the Kent scraper cleaning from the top due to reflection n I keep have to go to the front to check for missing spots.

[kien]

Can't sand still get between this n glass n scratch Ur tank?

actually, I did notice that if you are REALLY aggressive with it that you can manage to wedge sand between the glass and that plastic blue bit that holds the metal scraping blade in place. Still, it's not easy to do. Certainly not as easy to wedge sand in there as with a magfloat/shark. Think about a Kent scraper that you run along the inside of your tank. That's what this thing is like. Mostly just a thin blade on the inside.

[jason604]

Even witha Kent scraper I'm scared to clean the near sand bed part. I always just push it down n lift scraper off instead of scraping up. Mybe I'm too cautious?

[kien]

Even witha Kent scraper I'm scared to clean the near sand bed part. I always just push it down n lift scraper off instead of scraping up. Mybe I'm too cautious?

You can never be too cautious :-) I jam this thing right into my sandbed now though.
Could never do that with the magfloat/shark before!

[jason604]

Oh man I think I rly need this lol. How thick us ur glass I see ur using the strong version. Mine half inch. Wonder if I can get away with the reg long version.

[kien]

Oh man I think I rly need this lol. How thick us ur glass I see ur using the strong version. Mine half inch. Wonder if I can get away with the reg long version.

Everyone needs one of these! My glass is 1/2".

[kien]

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_001_zpsbeglfqth.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_002_zpslq1q2njv.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_003_zpsixiyfhei.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_004_zpsypl7ufxj.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_005_zpsi6xdlv6p.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_006_zpsx776dw4s.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_007_zpsmwxtaur8.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_008_zpsby1f5luf.jpg

[FishyFishy!]

Looking good Kiener!

[gregzz4]

Care Magnet nano
(0220.010)
Glass thickness from 6mm (1/4") to max. 10mm (3/8").

Care Magnet long
(0220.015)
Glass thickness from 10mm (3/8") to max. 15mm (1/2").

Care Magnet strong
(0220.020)
Glass thickness from 15mm (1/2") to max. 20mm (3/4").

[kien]

Care Magnet nano
(0220.010)
Glass thickness from 6mm (1/4") to max. 10mm (3/8").

Care Magnet long
(0220.015)
Glass thickness from 10mm (3/8") to max. 15mm (1/2").

Care Magnet strong
(0220.020)
Glass thickness from 15mm (1/2") to max. 20mm (3/4").

Cool, thanks! I wonder why it's called "long" considering the scraper is the same size length wise :-)

[kien]

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_061_zpsy6jxt0ts.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_060_zps6gmcgljz.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_059_zpsfsnszrfi.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_058_zps14q7fb48.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_056_zpsq1ky3spx.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_055_zps58uobj8n.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_054_zpsvtowrubj.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_051_zps4ty0yrpd.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_050_zpsfbeopzla.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_049_zpspvd16iet.jpg

[gregzz4]

Ooooo, love that last coral

Cool, thanks! I wonder why it's called "long" considering the scraper is the same size length wise :-)
I think they are referring to it being longer than the Nano
Kinda like your T-Rex arms compared to my arms :mrgreen:

Nano is Width 45mm (1.77 in.), length 78mm (3 in.).
Long is Width 86mm (3.4 in.), length 140mm (5.5 in.).
Strong is Width 86mm (3.4 in.), length 140mm (5.5 in.).

[Wretch]

I love the last coral as well. What is it?

[kien]

That last one is a Red Plant.

*I can neither confirm nor deny that it is or is not ORA.

[daplatapus]

That baby is sweet :)

[Wretch]

That last one is a Red Plant.

*I can neither confirm nor deny that it is or is not ORA.

I read that at proper depth and light green will come out on red planet just havent seen it. Very nice.

[Roskoreef]

absolutly amazing photos.. how and what camera set up do you use?

[lorenz0]

*I can neither confirm nor deny that it is or is not ORA.

This debate is still on going???

[RMC]

absolutly amazing photos.. how and what camera set up do you use?

Totally agree... Keep those amazing shots coming!

[kien]

This debate is still on going???

OH EM G-O-S-H !! I wrote that comment just for you ! :lol: I miss those debates. Good times!

absolutly amazing photos.. how and what camera set up do you use?

Thanks! Canon 6D with 24-105mm lens or Canon 40D with 28-75mm lens depending on my mood.

[Snappy]

Sweet photos

[Myka]

Thanks! Canon 6D with 24-105mm lens or Canon 40D with 28-75mm lens depending on my mood.

Big price difference between these two - for the average reef photographer, do you prefer one over the other? I'm looking at upgrading from my old G9. Or do you think it's more about the lens than the body?

[kien]

Big price difference between these two - for the average reef photographer, do you prefer one over the other? I'm looking at upgrading from my old G9. Or do you think it's more about the lens than the body?

You're right, there is a pretty big difference in price between the two. To be honest, it's not the camera that makes the picture (even though technically speaking the camera body does make the picture :lol:). I'm sure you and many people have heard this many times before, but what makes a bigger difference in photo taking is the quality of the lens. That's where you want to spend your money.

I actually have no preference between the two camera bodies (for reef photography). In fact, a few years ago I had an even older, cheaper, smaller Canon Rebel (entry level Digital SLR) that I used to take photos with. If I still had it today I would use that camera with one of my prized lenses and still produce the same images.

If someone asked me for my recommendation I would say get the whatever camera body you want. For general photography (including reef photo taking, etc), they are all virtually the same. A $300 DSLR vs a $3000 SLR. Then get a really good lens. My 24-104 mm and 28-75 mm lenses are both very good lenses. If I put either of those lenses on a $300 entry level DSL or a $3000 high end DSLR they can/will take the exact same picture.

[rishu_pepper]

You're right, there is a pretty big difference in price between the two. To be honest, it's not the camera that makes the picture (even though technically speaking the camera body does make the picture :lol:). I'm sure you and many people have heard this many times before, but what makes a bigger difference in photo taking is the quality of the lens. That's where you want to spend your money.

I actually have no preference between the two camera bodies (for reef photography). In fact, a few years ago I had an even older, cheaper, smaller Canon Rebel (entry level Digital SLR) that I used to take photos with. If I still had it today I would use that camera with one of my prized lenses and still produce the same images.

If someone asked me for my recommendation I would say get the whatever camera body you want. For general photography (including reef photo taking, etc), they are all virtually the same. A $300 DSLR vs a $3000 SLR. Then get a really good lens. My 24-104 mm and 28-75 mm lenses are both very good lenses. If I put either of those lenses on a $300 entry level DSL or a $3000 high end DSLR they can/will take the exact same picture.

Sorry but I must disagree on this point. Let's say you put your 24-105, an L (professional grade) lens onto a Rebel (few hundred bucks), compared to a current gen full frame camera like a 5DMkIII ($3000), there will be a marked difference in the image produced, whether it's a picture of a person's face, landscape, or a fish and coral.

The differences in image quality such as resolution, dynamic range, noise reduction, etc. can be easily distinguished by any person. Not that I don't agree with your point in investing in lenses, that's definitely the right way to go, but with today's technology you cannot discount the camera body's importance as well.

I speak of these things with experience as I've gone through many camera bodies and lenses in the past 5 years. Currently due to work I just use a 5D2 and 1D3, with the 24-105 and 70-200 f/2.8 IS mkII. I don't have much of a preference for these lenses, they do weddings well, but if I had money to burn I'd buy all my prime lenses back. Prime >>>>>> zoom lens. :wink:

[kien]

Sorry but I must disagree on this point. Let's say you put your 24-105, an L (professional grade) lens onto a Rebel (few hundred bucks), compared to a current gen full frame camera like a 5DMkIII ($3000), there will be a marked difference in the image produced, whether it's a picture of a person's face, landscape, or a fish and coral.

The differences in image quality such as resolution, dynamic range, noise reduction, etc. can be easily distinguished by any person. Not that I don't agree with your point in investing in lenses, that's definitely the right way to go, but with today's technology you cannot discount the camera body's importance as well.

I speak of these things with experience as I've gone through many camera bodies and lenses in the past 5 years. Currently due to work I just use a 5D2 and 1D3, with the 24-105 and 70-200 f/2.8 IS mkII. I don't have much of a preference for these lenses, they do weddings well, but if I had money to burn I'd buy all my prime lenses back. Prime >>>>>> zoom lens. :wink:

Yes, you're right in that there are major difference among the camera bodies. There is absolutely a reason why a camera is $3000 vs $300. What I was trying to do was simplify the discussion and put it in the contexts of taking reef pictures. You don't need 1D to take reef tank pictures that are identical to what I photographed. You can achieve the same results with a Rebel. I know because I have.

For example, taking a picture of a particular coral (say my Frogspawn or that Red Planet that everyone liked) at F4, IS0200 and 160 shutter speed will look virtually the same on any DSLR today.

I didn't intend to discount the camera bodies entirely. I am aware of the differences because I have owned quite a few myself being a former portrait and wedding photographer. It's just that I get asked ALL the time, "what camera are you using?" or "what camera should I get?" and I try to answer that question in a more relateable manner without going into the nuances of photography like dynamic range, noise reduction, etc :-)

[Wretch]

Yes, you're right in that there are major difference among the camera bodies. There is absolutely a reason why a camera is $3000 vs $300. What I was trying to do was simplify the discussion and put it in the contexts of taking reef pictures. You don't need 1D to take reef tank pictures that are identical to what I photographed. You can achieve the same results with a Rebel. I know because I have.

For example, taking a picture of a particular coral (say my Frogspawn or that Red Planet that everyone liked) at F4, IS0200 and 160 shutter speed will look virtually the same on any DSLR today.

I didn't intend to discount the camera bodies entirely. I am aware of the differences because I have owned quite a few myself being a former portrait and wedding photographer. It's just that I get asked ALL the time, "what camera are you using?" or "what camera should I get?" and I try to answer that question in a more relateable manner without going into the nuances of photography like dynamic range, noise reduction, etc :-)

Well that settles it then. It doesn't matter what camera you get. So then what lens should we get.....? :lol:

[kien]

Well that settles it then. It doesn't matter what camera you get. So then what lens should we get.....? :lol:

The one that takes awesome pictures. Serious, didn't you read ANYTHING that I wrote?

[kien]

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_048_zpsigmdikqo.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_046_zps4y5cujom.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_045_zps341nfkat.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_044_zpswdh3t4hk.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_043_zpsechrke6j.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_042_zpszpvl8ndu.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_041_zpssnmh9qiu.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_040_zpsxfcctpbn.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_039_zpsfbw4jwkz.jpg

[rishu_pepper]

The one that takes awesome pictures. Serious, didn't you read ANYTHING that I wrote?

LOL this ^

If one is really hardcore about reef pictures, probably the Canon 100mm f/2.8 L macro lens would do wonders.

For wider shots like FTS, something like a 24mm/35mm prime lens would be great.

Currently if I were on the market for a camera body, Canon 6D would probably be my choice. Full frame >>> crop. Or a used 5D2 is still a great camera.

Last couple years I've really enjoyed using the Fuji X100s as a non-work camera. Beautiful image quality and affordable price, with a small body/footprint that you just can't get with a DSLR.

[kien]

LOL this ^

If one is really hardcore about reef pictures, probably the Canon 100mm f/2.8 L macro lens would do wonders.

For wider shots like FTS, something like a 24mm/35mm prime lens would be great.

Currently if I were on the market for a camera body, Canon 6D would probably be my choice. Full frame >>> crop. Or a used 5D2 is still a great camera.

Last couple years I've really enjoyed using the Fuji X100s as a non-work camera. Beautiful image quality and affordable price, with a small body/footprint that you just can't get with a DSLR.

Yes, I do love the 100mm macro lens as well! Awesome lens that I used to use a lot to take reef photos.

A lot of photography is dependant on your particular needs. Everyone has different needs. I owned a Canon 5D Mark II for a couple of years while I used it as my primary camera. With it I owned and used the very nice but expensive 24-70mm L F2.8 and Canon 70-200mm F2.8 IS L lens. Although that particular kit took AWESOME photos I did not enjoy using it. I am an asian with small t-rex arms so for me lugging around that kit was HEAVY. I rarely ever took it out during family outings, instead favouring my smaller 40D with a lighter 17-50mm Tamron lens. When the new 6D came out I immediately sold my arguably better 5D Mark II in favour of the 6D simply for the fact that it was easier to use. Getting a 6D over the 5D mark II wasn't an upgrade. Most people would probably consider it a downgrade. Still, I often favoured my 40D. In addition I have since sold both my 24-70 F2.8L and 70-200mm F2.8L IS lens and got the F4 version of it instead. Again, another downgrade but I use it more now because it is much lighter and easier for me to carry around to say, the zoo with my wife and kids.

Currently I am in the market for a new camera and am actually looking for an even smaller and lighter body while not sacrificing some of my favoured workflow features on my existing camera bodies.

As for Full Frame vs Crop, again, this is highly dependant on your particular needs. For me, even though my 6D is full frame, after it has left Lightroom I crop it down to a 10 megapixel image anyway because quite frankly, I find them (10 mega pixels) good enough for 99.9% of my needs. It's good enough for the web and good enough to print photos with. I have only ever once generated a full frame (24 mega pixel) image out of my 6D and that was for a client who wanted to make a poster once. 24 megapixel images are massive and while I understand the need for them and the benefits of them, I don't think everyone needs 24 mega pixels. They take up a lot of space and take a long time to process. All of my clients received 10 megapixel files for their use and they were more than happy with them. Don't get me wrong. I'm not disagreeing with you. In many respects full frame is better than cropped. It's just that I don't think everyone *needs* it :-)

At the end of the day, I could and did afford some high end equipment but learned that I didn't necessarily need them. My needs were different. A 5D mark II with a 24-70 F2.8L lens (while totally AWESOME), did me no good if it frequently sat on my desk while I took pictures of my kids at the park with my iPhone. I guess that was part of my point earlier about when people ask me for my recommendation or what camera I use. When I tell them I use my 6D or 40D they go researching and discover that those can be fairly expensive cameras so many people think that's what they need (those expensive cameras) to achieve similar results to what I've posted in my thread. Well, that's not correct. They don't need to buy an expensive full frame 6D or even a 40/50/60D to achieve similar results. If they want to photograph fast paced sporting events or model shows or make billboards, then yes, they will probably need to buy those more expensive cameras, but those have not typically been the people asking me for my recommendations :-)

[rishu_pepper]

Well put. The reason I favour full frame over cropped is two-fold: shallower depth of field and better ISO performance. For me, that's worth the price difference.

With the emergence of the Fuji X100T, the X100S can be had for a relatively low price on the used market. The Fuji gave me what I wanted: a compact, discrete camera that rivals, if not betters DSLR image quality. I took the Fuji on our honeymoon last year and I did not feel crippled in any way, and took some fantastic photos while not being encumbered by a heavy DSLR.

Macro-wise, it is acceptable. The shutter lag of course is the one disadvantage but it really isn't that bad once you get used to it.

Another good camera I have had experience with is the Olympus OM. More flexibility than the Fuji but a bit more bulky and I daresay the Fuji has better IQ.

Another thing people often miss is the importance of a good tripod. Instead of spending all the budget on body/lenses/etc., a nice tripod can do so much more for photography. Definitely a worthwhile investment and the technology never goes out of place, unlike cameras and to a lesser extent, lenses.

[daplatapus]

Interesting discussion, I took notes :D

Kein, in that last set of pics you posted, are all those shot Raw then tweeked?

[kien]

Interesting discussion, I took notes :D

Kein, in that last set of pics you posted, are all those shot Raw then tweeked?

Yes. Actually *all* of my photos are shot in RAW. I prefer to control the output of my photos so I use Adobe Lightroom to generate JPG, PNG, or TIFF files (depending on my needs). I definitely do tweak the photos prior to outputting them. I have a macro/preset in Lightroom for various applications (Portraits, Landscape, Reef, etc). For photos in my tank my macro/preset typically does the following:

1. Reduce black level (reduces shadows due to harsh halides)
2. Adjust white balance to 15K to balance out the Halides and T5 lights. The camera often has a tough time with white balance when photographing reef tanks.
3. Crop/resize image from 20.2 Mega pixels down to 10 Megapixels (yes, I literally THROW AWAY half the pixels that my camera used to generate the image :lol:).
4. Output file to JPG.

[kien]

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_038_zpsl3c0lbl0.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_037_zpsiyipoh6z.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_036_zpspzngx5tp.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_035_zpsjy1ftcep.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_034_zpsizi6chla.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_033_zpsshgtuw9g.jpg

[kien]

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_032_zpsdot1qfrn.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_031_zpsf6stoyyz.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_030_zpsr3zn1on7.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_028_zpsqsesjn4e.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_027_zpsl6bl0ccp.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_026_zpsx5xfeumk.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_025_zps6dkmoc40.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_024_zpszvlgyhe6.jpg

[hillegom]

awesome

[kien]

awesome

Thanks :-)

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_022_zpsq5229spa.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_021_zpslhishqdw.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_020_zpsdxpwgh32.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_019_zpsosoctpkc.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_018_zpsrmlhf2ej.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_016_zpsunn6rbox.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_015_zpsqmea3siv.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_013_zpsozgdocof.jpg

[Reef Pilot]

Now that you are staff, are you still eligible for TOTM!!?...

[lastlight]

lovely photos good sir =)

[kien]

Now that you are staff, are you still eligible for TOTM!!?...

Good question :-)

lovely photos good sir =)

Did you notice that I increased the resolution for you?

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_012_zps6tk9ok2b.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_011_zps1ag8kiae.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_010_zpsr2kugdbb.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_009_zpsynymw1g8.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_008_zpsby1f5luf.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_007_zpsmwxtaur8.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_006_zpsx776dw4s.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_005_zpsi6xdlv6p.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_004_zpsypl7ufxj.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_003_zpsixiyfhei.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_002_zpslq1q2njv.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20150330%20Tank/TANK_20150330_001_zpsbeglfqth.jpg

[Roskoreef]

what is the second picture down? blue with pink one..

[kien]

what is the second picture down? blue with pink one..

Meteor Shower Cyphastrea.

[daplatapus]

Crazy cool, man, crazy cool.

[Myka]

I totally forgot all about the camera discussion, so I just read it all now! I'm still trying to decide which camera I want to buy. I'm still quite lost. All I really know is that it will be a Canon for sure (I always knew that!). For me, I use my camera about 95% for reef photos. I have a G9 that I can use for light-weight options. Interestingly, I just got a scenery photo printed on canvas that I took with my G9 that's blown up to 48 x 12" and it looks quite good! I'm not impressed with the reef photos I take with this camera though. I still don't understand the difference between a 6D and a 60D - I see there are differences in specs, but I don't know what it means! Which specs matter to me???? :frusty:

Nice photo dump though Kien! Lookin good!

[Doug]

:jaw:

[smokinreefer]

Wow, great thread!
Awesomely documented.

thanks for sharing your tank& experiences with us!

[brotherd]

Kien,might that be your tank featured in Reef hobbyist mag?

[Myka]

Kien,might that be your tank featured in Reef hobbyist mag?
It is! I made a congrats thread for him in the Lounge I think I put it.

[intarsiabox]

I totally forgot all about the camera discussion, so I just read it all now! I'm still trying to decide which camera I want to buy. I'm still quite lost. All I really know is that it will be a Canon for sure (I always knew that!). For me, I use my camera about 95% for reef photos. I have a G9 that I can use for light-weight options. Interestingly, I just got a scenery photo printed on canvas that I took with my G9 that's blown up to 48 x 12" and it looks quite good! I'm not impressed with the reef photos I take with this camera though. I still don't understand the difference between a 6D and a 60D - I see there are differences in specs, but I don't know what it means! Which specs matter to me???? :frusty:

Nice photo dump though Kien! Lookin good!

Biggest difference is the 6D is a full frame camera and the 60D is an APS-C sensor camera. Full frame means the sensor is about the same size as a film camera giving you larger pixels and no magnification factor on the lenses. A 200mm lens is a 200mm lens. Larger pixels pick up more color and detail and this is where the difference is between a 20MP full frame pro camera vs. a 20MP phone camera. The 60D has a smaller sensor so smaller pixel size. It also gives you a magnification factor so a 200mm lens will give you around the equivalent field of view of a 320mm lens. Which type of camera also determines the type of lenses to buy. You can use full frame lenses on APS-C cameras but not the other way around. Full frame lenses usually cost more. Basically a full frame camera will give you better pictures but you probably wouldn't notice the difference unless you are tightly cropping or blowing up your images to a fairly large size. If your imaging for a book or art gallery full frame is the way to go.

[kien]

I totally forgot all about the camera discussion, so I just read it all now! I'm still trying to decide which camera I want to buy. I'm still quite lost. All I really know is that it will be a Canon for sure (I always knew that!). For me, I use my camera about 95% for reef photos. I have a G9 that I can use for light-weight options. Interestingly, I just got a scenery photo printed on canvas that I took with my G9 that's blown up to 48 x 12" and it looks quite good! I'm not impressed with the reef photos I take with this camera though. I still don't understand the difference between a 6D and a 60D - I see there are differences in specs, but I don't know what it means! Which specs matter to me???? :frusty:

Nice photo dump though Kien! Lookin good!

The G series is actually quote a good compact camera. In fact, I plan to buy the new G17 when it comes out. Honestly I wouldn't get bogged down by specs. People (consumers) get way too hung up on specs. Full frame vs cropped, etc. At the end of the day they will both take similar pictures. Granted the 6D will give you more pixels but most consumers really don't need all that many pixels. As I mentioned before, I have a 6d which has tonnes of pixels because it's full frame (something like 24 mega pixels I think?), but by the time I'm done processing the photo I reduce the final image down to about 10 mega pixels virtually throwing away half the available pixels. You probably can't tell that in any of the photos that I've posted. Most of my former clients couldn't tell either. :-) If you really want a full frame camera, I recommend knowing exactly why you want it and what you intend to use all those pixels for. If you don't need all the pixels a full frame camera provides, then get a cropped camera (eg 60D) and use the money you saved to get a nicer lens.

[kien]

Wow, great thread!
Awesomely documented.

thanks for sharing your tank& experiences with us!

Thanks ! :-)

Kien,might that be your tank featured in Reef hobbyist mag?

what she said ----v :biggrin:

It is! I made a congrats thread for him in the Lounge I think I put it.

[Myka]

Biggest difference is the 6D is a full frame camera and the 60D is an APS-C sensor camera.

If you really want a full frame camera, I recommend knowing exactly why you want it and what you intend to use all those pixels for. If you don't need all the pixels a full frame camera provides, then get a cropped camera (eg 60D) and use the money you saved to get a nicer lens.

Thanks guys! I think I made up my mind. I'm going to get a cropper camera, and buy full frame lenses. Then if I decide I want to upgrade to a full frame I can do it. I found a local company that will let you try out a camera or lens or multiple cameras and lenses for 30 days and decide which one you want. I think I'm going to take advantage of this. :)

Sorry for cluttering up your thread Kien.

[kien]

Finally! This weekend marks the official completion of our kitchen. YAY!

So to recap, back in May/June our kitchen flooded due to the water line in the fridge. For a couple of weeks while the clean up crew were in, my kitchen looked something like this.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/2015%20Kitchen%20renos/IMG_2707_zpslie9w9it.jpg

It was pretty dicey for the tank the first couple of weeks because the clean up crew would shut off the breakers while they were checking the electrical in various places and they would forget to turn it back on. This included the tank.

We ended up having to gut the kitchen and pretty much start from scratch. I'll tell you, that wasn't fun. We ended up having to camp out in various rooms in our house while our kitchen got ripped out.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/2015%20Kitchen%20renos/IMG_2916_zpspxclrpqb.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/2015%20Kitchen%20renos/IMG_2718_zpsi6z8cec1.jpg

I know this is a First World problem, but man it really sucks not having a kitchen. Thankfully it was summer so we made good use of our BBQ and ate outside a lot. Still, it was a royal pain to prepare kids lunches, breakfast, etc.

After the kitchen was gutted and everything cleaned up, we were faced with the decision of how to put it all back together again. I spent a good three weeks just talking to various contractors and kitchen renovation specialty companies. The experience ranged from getting insane quotes of over $70,000 to redo my kitchen to not even receiving a quote from half the contractors that I contacted. One of the contractors even took some money as a retention fee to go off and work on my kitchen plans. 3 weeks and that guy never even produced anything for me. Thankfully he gave me a refund.

Kitchen and part of the house sitting in the garage:
http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/2015%20Kitchen%20renos/IMG_3069_zpsakcb7gzl.jpg

Well that whole experience sucked so I ultimately decided to just take matters into my own hands and be my own contractor. This saved me a lot of money but was ultimately a massive time suck. Lots of running around sourcing materials, labourers, doing some of the labour myself, etc. And of course, with any renovation there was a bit of scope creep. We ended up ripping up all the flooring in our house and replacing it all. With a massive 150g tank sitting in the middle of the house that proved to be quite a challenge as well!

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/2015%20Kitchen%20renos/IMG_2930_zpsxkkvdjje.jpg

In the end we are pretty happy with the results but I never want to go through that again, ever.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/2015%20Kitchen%20renos/IMG_3059_zpsdipdj1nu.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/2015%20Kitchen%20renos/IMG_3055_zpslutr959j.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/2015%20Kitchen%20renos/IMG_3038_zps0mi1vhdw.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/2015%20Kitchen%20renos/IMG_3064_zpszyczinlu.jpg

And to keep this reef related here's a Full Tank Shot of the tank during the floor install.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/2015%20Kitchen%20renos/IMG_3120_zpsaefryx9v.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/2015%20Kitchen%20renos/IMG_3127_zpsskj0ad2a.jpg

A couple of days ago the finishing touches were put on. Mainly the kitchen back splash. That marks the official completion of our kitchen and a return to normalcy for us. Just in time to host a Thanksgiving dinner this evening.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

[Myka]

Holy crap Kien! I'm glad you made it through your summer - and your tank too! I was wondering what was keeping you so busy. I love the color of your kitchen walls - very nice!

[kien]

Ya, never mind the tank, I wasn't sure if I was going to make it through summer :lol: Then school started (for the rugrats) in sept and we were in a mad dash to the finish line for completing our renos. A whole bunch of things were coming together all at once. It was epic. But yes, the tank miraculously came out unscathed!! Hooray! And all of that is behind us now so more time for hobbies and such, again.

[hillegom]

That sure was a lot of hair pulling! Glad for you its finally over.
Kitchen looks good.
So you were the main contractor? Helping out and co-ordinating the trades.
Good work, I'm sure you saved some money doing it that way.

[Delphinus]

The end result looks fantastic! I don't doubt that was a long and arduous process.

What exactly happened with the water line? Was it kinked or something, or just rotten luck that it sprung a leak?

[kien]

The end result looks fantastic! I don't doubt that was a long and arduous process.

What exactly happened with the water line? Was it kinked or something, or just rotten luck that it sprung a leak?

It wasn't kinked. Just rotten luck I guess. The water line developed a pin prick rupture that fizzed water into the kitchen all day long while we were away. Floor was soaked right through down to the room in the basement below (which also had to be gutted). Some of our lower cabinets were ruined as well.

This actually wasn't the first time this exact failure happened. It failed in this manner a couple of years ago but that last time we were home and were able to shut off the water. We had an authorized service centre come in and replace that line. So it wasn't user (DIY) error either (I don't think). Needless to say, I won't be fooled a third time. The water line won't be hooked up again unless we buy a new fridge. Even then I'm leary.. Although, a few weeks ago I ordered some water sensors with a remote monitoring kit so at least if it happens again I'll have 10-15m to drive home and shut off the supply. Ya, I'm paranoid now. I've done a lot of renos before but by far, a kitchen Reno is the worst. Especially when you have a full on family in tow.

[kien]

This week marks the official completion of our post flood reconstruction renovations. Last month we finished up the kitchen which was a huge milestone, but we were not quite done yet. The flooded kitchen also ended up flooding the room beneath it in our basement which was our spare room/exercise room. We lost the entire room, exercise equipment (treadmill, spinning bike, weights, electronics, etc) *sadface*

Well, this week we finished up reconstructing that room and had our new treadmill delivered. This means we are officially back to pre-flood "normal". This is a huge relief and means I have a whole lot more time on my hands now. YAY!

For anyone interested that cares, this is how our kitchen ended up.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20151010%20New%20Kitchen/KITCH_20151014_004_zps15fv7wzl.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20151010%20New%20Kitchen/KITCH_20151014_014_zpssi3mvyzz.jpg

Now, you may think that this isn't exactly reef/tank related, but actually it kinda is. In the background here you can see the tank. :biggrin:

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20151010%20New%20Kitchen/KITCH_20151014_003_zpsee11mwj2.jpg

Reflecting back on the past year I am reminded of how throughout this entire ordeal, the tank has remained a focal point of not only our house, but our lives. Everything that we did had to somewhat revolve around the tank. For example, the cleanup contractors had to make sure to turn on the breaker for the tank if they had turned it off. When we had to redo the entire floor we simply laied flooring around the tank instead of disturbing it in any way. :lol: I'm sure the fish enjoyed the two days of nail gunning. :neutral:

Remarkably, the tank has come out somewhat unscathed. So we've been hit by two floods now, neither of which was the actual tank itself. The first one was the great Calgary flood of 2013 (was it?), and the great kitchen flood of 2015. Clearly my prayer reactor is doing its thing! I highly recommend that everyone invest in one.

[kien]

This past year also marks the 6th year for this tank. Time sure flies when you're having fun. Marching onward and upward. Or, just keep swimming, just keep swimming :biggrin:

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20151201%20FTS/FTS_20151201_001_zps3tc5x2ww.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20151201%20FTS/FTS_20151201_002_zpsqvfqvb8b.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20151201%20FTS/FTS_20151201_003_zpsw5zhgm6p.jpg

[gregzz4]

Wow, your Kitchen is, for lack of a better word, spectacular, or beautiful, or whatever.
Happy for you that it's all back together now and your tank looks like it's recovering very nicely.
Now I need to go back through your thread and see all the kitchen/tank pics that I missed :surprise:

[FishyFishy!]

Gorgeous as always big guy!

[RMC]

Very Nice Kitchen, the tank is really something else

[Coralgurl]

Always nice to pop in here and see something like this! Your kitchen is amazing, well done.

Now your tank, that first pic shows just how worthy your tank is of "Tank of the month, year....acknowledgement of some kind. Stunning!!

[Bugger]

Really amazing nice job wish I had this tank

[Delphinus]

I can't imagine going for as long as you folks did without a functional kitchen and eating area ...... mad props to your guy's patience (even if you didn't feel that you were being "patient" at times, I'm sure!!!).

Must say though the end result is super nice!

And the tank, geeze man, your tank simply disgusts me. :lol: No seriously, it's looking very sweet. Nicely done.

[kien]

Thanks guys! And gal! Sheena!! Nice to see you still lurking about here :-D. Reminds me of the good old days when we went for wings. We should do that again, just cuz.

[Coralgurl]

Thanks guys! And gal! Sheena!! Nice to see you still lurking about here :-D. Reminds me of the good old days when we went for wings. We should do that again, just cuz.

I'm in for wings!

I'll keep lurking, thinking of starting up again next year, smaller so who knows!!

[riceboy]

I'm in for wings as well!!!!

[Bblinks]

Congrats on the kitchen reno, it looks great!

Tank looks stunning as well!

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Kien,

Your tank is truly spectacular and worthy of Tank of the Month honours every month. It blows any tank I've ever owned or set up right out of the water. I love your new kitchen too. Looks great. Amazing job and hopefully things don't come in THREES:wink:

Anthony

[Wretch]

Beautiful. Something to aspire to. Nice tank as well :lol:

[Madreefer]

That tank is awesome!!!

Same as the light over your table. Nice kitchen

[kien]

Thanks guys! :biggrin:

Congrats on the kitchen reno, it looks great!

Tank looks stunning as well!

Kien,

Your tank is truly spectacular and worthy of Tank of the Month honours every month. It blows any tank I've ever owned or set up right out of the water. I love your new kitchen too. Looks great. Amazing job and hopefully things don't come in THREES:wink:

Anthony

Thanks :-) Miss hanging out with you guys on the west coast. I really need to schedule another Vancouver trip!

[mikepclo]

One of my favorite tanks of all time.... Love it!!!

[Roskoreef]

hey you have a regal angel! how long have you had him? has he eaten any lps? does he eat with the wrasse and tangs?? Your tank has definetly inspired mine alot, i hope mine is still running as long as yours!

[kien]

hey you have a regal angel! how long have you had him? has he eaten any lps? does he eat with the wrasse and tangs?? Your tank has definetly inspired mine alot, i hope mine is still running as long as yours!

Ya, I just saw your new addition! Love the regals :lol:

I've had mine for 4 years now I think. In general I have found them to be a challenge. This isn't the first angel that I've ever tried to keep. I've found that they can be fickle eaters. And yes, like many medium (to large) angels they can tend to develop a taste for LPS and/or clams and/or SPS. Having said that, here's the history with mine..

I got my regal originally to put into a "FOWLR" that I once had many moons ago. That "FOWLR" happened to have some corals in it and she did nip on most of them when I first introduced her. She was in there with a bunch of other angels (Queen and King). Most of the corals that I put into my "FOWLR" I didn't really care about so I let them have at it. Interestingly enough over time they started to lose their interest in the corals and nipped on them less. They much preferred my homemade fish food mush that I make. Eventually I shut down that "FOWLR" and sold most of the fish in there save for my regal. The regal I put into my main 150g display. I kept an eye on her and sure enough, she didn't bother any corals, luckily. Just luck and maybe some conditioning from the previous tank that she was in, maybe.

She does enjoy eating zoa frags though. I can not keep any zoas in my tank. *sadface* Aside from that, I have acans, chalice, a clam, and all manner of LPS that she doesn't touch.

For good measure I do keep a special prayer in the prayer reactor for her. I'm not sure what I'd do if she started to decimate my coral collection in the 150g. That would be a tough decision.

[Zoaelite]

Looks great Kiener!

Out of curiosity what made you choose the chimney over a shroud on your hoodfan? Kitchen looks sweet after the fix!

[kien]

Looks great Kiener!

Out of curiosity what made you choose the chimney over a shroud on your hoodfan? Kitchen looks sweet after the fix!

Thanks Levi! The reason is because i got the hood fan for free from my sister :lol: She renovated her kitchen last year and decided to use a different hood fan after purchasing that one and she didn't get around to returning it to the store. It was sitting in her garage collecting dust so I dusted it off and installed it. I'm not a huge fan of it (see what I did there?) but it gets the job done and was free. I might look into getting a new one next year.

By the way, I am currently in the market for a new refrigerator. Just thought I'd put that out there. *wink*wink*nudge*nudge*

[Zoaelite]

Thanks Levi! The reason is because i got the hood fan for free from my sister :lol: She renovated her kitchen last year and decided to use a different hood fan after purchasing that one and she didn't get around to returning it to the store. It was sitting in her garage collecting dust so I dusted it off and installed it. I'm not a huge fan of it (see what I did there?) but it gets the job done and was free. I might look into getting a new one next year.

By the way, I am currently in the market for a new refrigerator. Just thought I'd put that out there. *wink*wink*nudge*nudge*

You have PM :).

[kien]

Merry Christmas and Happy Boxing Day everyone !

Hand's up who likes coming home from vacation to find a dead controller unit ?? Anyone? Anyone? FRAK.

On another note, does anyone know where I can find a new Profilux 3 quick? I've tried all my LFS and apparently GHL now sells direct to customers, which means they are shipping out of Germany ? I don't know if I can wait that long. Maybe Michael has some in stock still. I should PM him.

[mrhasan]

Merry Christmas and Happy Boxing Day everyone !

Hand's up who likes coming home from vacation to find a dead controller unit ?? Anyone? Anyone? FRAK.

On another note, does anyone know where I can find a new Profilux 3 quick? I've tried all my LFS and apparently GHL now sells direct to customers, which means they are shipping out of Germany ? I don't know if I can wait that long. Maybe Michael has some in stock still. I should PM him.

I have dealt with GHL directly before and the shipment was considerably quick. Probably a week or something.

[kien]

I have dealt with GHL directly before and the shipment was considerably quick. Probably a week or something.

Not sure I can wait a week considering my tank has been without control (lights) for about a week now. And without my head unit I'm relying on the heaters built in thermostats directly which is kinda scary too. I think one (out of 3) of them might be busted (stuck on) but thankfully it's only 250watts so probably (maybe, hopeful; yay prayer reactor!) won't nuke my tank?

[mrhasan]

Not sure I can wait a week considering my tank has been without control (lights) for about a week now. And without my head unit I'm relying on the heaters built in thermostats directly which is kinda scary too. I think one (out of 3) of them might be busted (stuck on) but thankfully it's only 250watts so probably (maybe, hopeful; yay prayer reactor!) won't nuke my tank?

1st world problem :lol:

[kien]

1st world problem :lol:

No doubt. A problem I could do without at the moment. Now I'm facing the possibility of yanking out my entire GHL infrastructure and either switching to Apex or ditching the controller all together and going old-skool with a programable power bar for my lights and a Ranco for my heater. Know where I can find a Ranco ?? :biggrin:

[mrhasan]

No doubt. A problem I could do without at the moment. Now I'm facing the possibility of yanking out my entire GHL infrastructure and either switching to Apex or ditching the controller all together and going old-skool with a programable power bar for my lights and a Ranco for my heater. Know where I can find a Ranco ?? :biggrin:

Zoro Canada :biggrin: A single stage non-prewired runs around $70 and $30 for shipping (in CAD). They ship from USA, hence the hefty shipping cost.

If you are in, I can chip in to share the shipping cost with you. I need one too but the shipping cost is keeping me away from buying it.

[kien]

You wanna hear more First World Problems? I lost every single frag that I ordered from Fragbox a couple of weeks ago thanks to this controller crapping out. No tank heat for 3 days. *sad face* That's what Scrooge brought me for Christmas. Bah Humbug !

[kien]

Zoro Canada :biggrin: A single stage non-prewired runs around $70 and $30 for shipping (in CAD). They ship from USA, hence the hefty shipping cost.

If you are in, I can chip in to share the shipping cost with you. I need one too but the shipping cost is keeping me away from buying it.

We should talk to Dave to get him to order some in for us and his shop!

[mrhasan]

You wanna hear more First World Problems? I lost every single frag that I ordered from Fragbox a couple of weeks ago thanks to this controller crapping out. No tank heat for 3 days. *sad face* That's what Scrooge brought me for Christmas. Bah Humbug !

Sucks :( Sorry to hear that. You need to start tumbling that prayer reactor. That can probably help:idea:

[mrhasan]

We should talk to Dave to get him to order some in for us and his shop!

Ranco group buy! I am in. All of my new equipment are being shipping in by Dave; should have thought about bringing in the Ranco too. But ranco from anywhere other than zoro is expensive (almost double).

[kien]

Sucks :( Sorry to hear that. You need to start tumbling that prayer reactor. That can probably help:idea:

I forgot to top up the prayer reactor before going on vacation :lol:

[mrhasan]

I forgot to top up the prayer reactor before going on vacation :lol:

Well that solves the problem. No job for Sherlock over here :razz:

[The Codfather]

On another note, does anyone know where I can find a new Profilux 3 quick?

Prayer heard....pm incoming...

[Delphinus]

FWIW the last time I bought Ranco and some accessories I did so direct from www.etcsupply.com. Shipping was not too prohibitive however in think I did have to put in my postal code to get the correct estimate. If you just leave the address as Canada on the estimation step it shows way more than it actually will be.

[kien]

FWIW the last time I bought Ranco and some accessories I did so direct from www.etcsupply.com. Shipping was not too prohibitive however in think I did have to put in my postal code to get the correct estimate. If you just leave the address as Canada on the estimation step it shows way more than it actually will be.

Thanks Tony. How long did it take you to get it shipped ? I'll have to talk to Dave, I think he was going to bring in some Rancos. In addition to the Ranco, I'm seriously considering just getting some programmable outlets for my lights and keeping it old-skool. I don't really use my controller for much other than to turn the lights on and off and to control the heat/fan.

[FishyFishy!]

Sorry to hear that kiener!

Thats the way im running right now, and I dont mind it at all. Having something controlling everything fail as opposed to just one system scares me.

If you need one quick, there's a Ranco for sale in calgary right now. He is on canreef and kijiji. http://m.kijiji.ca/pet-accessories/calgary/ranco-electronic-temp-controller/v?adId=1127875384&ck=CK&from=Search&ts=1451227074403

Other option is going to buy a finnex or true temp with their own controllers.

That being said, id be down for a ranco group order too!

If you need any help let me know.

[kien]

Sorry to hear that kiener!

Thats the way im running right now, and I dont mind it at all. Having something controlling everything fail as opposed to just one system scares me.

If you need one quick, there's a Ranco for sale in calgary right now. He is on canreef and kijiji. http://m.kijiji.ca/pet-accessories/calgary/ranco-electronic-temp-controller/v?adId=1127875384&ck=CK&from=Search&ts=1451227074403

Other option is going to buy a finnex or true temp with their own controllers.

That being said, id be down for a ranco group order too!

If you need any help let me know.

Thanks mike! I sent an enquery into the ad seeing if it's a single or dual stage. I'd like to get a two stage so I can run a cooling fan off it too.

Ya having one thing control everything is a bit scary but in the end I don't think the dead Profilux is what did me in, in this case. It was a power outage that tripped an important breaker. Tank was cold for 24 at least. :-(. When the power came back on the surge or something is what fried the Profilux. Oddly, the Profilux isn't completely dead. It turns on and runs for about 1-5 mins then locks up and shuts down then reboots again. I've done all the diagnosis of unplugging stuff from it to find a fault in a component but it does this with nothing plugged in so it is somewhat hosed. I thought about flashing it's firmware but it won't stay on long enough. It's too bad really because for the 6 years that this tank has been running it as been the most stable piece of equipment in my entire set up, which makes me consider replacing it for another

Amazingly I don't think I lost any fish but the corals that did survive have either lost most of their colour or are RTNing.

What do you use to control your lights? I'm going to see if I can find something reasonable as a light controller. That and temp are really the only things I need to control. I'm on vacation for another week so I can manually plug and unplug my lights while I look around :lol:

[FishyFishy!]

Good old woods digital timers on all lights in my system. Some are pushing 7 years with no issues.

Let me know if you want some frags when its all settled. Id be more than happy to return the favor.

[Reef Pilot]

Wow, very sorry to read this... I know you've had some close calls in the past (floods, power outages, etc), and your tanks survived. But this one sounds worse. You had a very beautiful tank, and hope you get it back to its former glory (and better) before too long.

Power outages when I am away (sometimes for a couple weeks or more) are always my worst fear. I check my Apex parameters/status and web camera often (and the weather reports from back home), and so far no disasters (touch wood). And so far my Apex has not crapped out either (that would be really bad for me, too).

[kien]

It has been worse actually. I once lost 100% of my corals. This time I'll probably lose maybe half my corals. That's not bad, right? :-). I'm actually more concerned about my fish as I'm more attached to them than my corals. They seem to be quite resilient and so far they appear to have all pulled through. Phew !

[Aquattro]

It has been worse actually. I once lost 100% of my corals. This time I'll probably lose maybe half my corals. That's not bad, right? :-). I'm actually more concerned about my fish as I'm more attached to them than my corals. They seem to be quite resilient and so far they appear to have all pulled through. Phew !

Agreed, corals can all be replaced, and lots of people willing to donate frags to a good cause. Fish are pets, and harder to frag.

[kien]

Agreed, corals can all be replaced, and lots of people willing to donate frags to a good cause. Fish are pets, and harder to frag.

Exactly. They are definitely family pets. They have their own personality. Sure, I could go get another Hippo tang, but the new one just won't be quite the same as the one I currently care for. The one that I've had for over ten years now. The one that my daughter loves watching because it likes to suck air from the surface and blow it out its gills making it look like its farting. Corals I've gotten used to losing and replacing. They have zero personality :lol: The fish I would be devastated if I lost.

[Reef Pilot]

Corals I've gotten used to losing and replacing. They have zero personality :lol: The fish I would be devastated if I lost.
Totally agree. I lost 4 fish during our August freak storm and power outage (didn't have my backup power packs on hand) here, and felt really bad (still do) about that. But my corals came through OK.

[riceboy]

Sorry to hear man

[WarDog]

Just caught up with your thread Kien... oh man. Hope the losses are not too big.

[Myka]

Sorry to hear Kien. I hope things pull through for you.

Sent from my SM-G870W using Tapatalk

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

What a terrible way to "celebrate" Christmas. Hopefully your beloved fishes will survive and you can get everything back in order again soon. Sorry to hear my friend.

Anthony

[hillegom]

Sorry to hear of this mishap. I'm sure you will do the best you can to straighten things out. Hopefully the fish will pull through

[Howie]

Sorry to hear of the bad luck, lol I would be also interested in a ranco if people do a group buy.

[cbrine]

so sorry to hear about your recent lack of luck.
But your kitchen looks simply stunning!!! You are totally hired to develop our basement lol If needed, I have a reef keeper lite you can use until you get something more perm. I still remember coming to get my first frags from you and standing in total awe at your tank. Hopefully your tank pulls thru, its simply gorgeous!! Between you and Vic, I have a long way to go to even attempt to catch up.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20151201%20FTS/FTS_20151201_001_zps3tc5x2ww.jpg


Kien,

How long have you had the Red Flowerpot coral? I'm guessing you would recommend placing it on the sandbed, as opposed to on the rock work closer to the lights? Do you feed it? Any special additives? Just a very spectacular red goniopora you have there and I'm Mad Jelly.

Thanks,

Anthony

[kien]

Kien,

How long have you had the Red Flowerpot coral? I'm guessing you would recommend placing it on the sandbed, as opposed to on the rock work closer to the lights? Do you feed it? Any special additives? Just a very spectacular red goniopora you have there and I'm Mad Jelly.

Thanks,

Anthony

Hey Anthony! I've had that goni for about 5 years now. Got it off ZoaElite actually, and he had it for some time before me, so it's pretty hardy, for a Goni. I do not feed it or do anything special. Over the years I have learned that it doesn't like high flow or high light so I keep it in medium to low flow and medium to low light. The lower the flow and the lower the light (but not total darkness) the longer its polyps reach out. Where it sits down it is kinda shaded from the Halides and mostly just gets T5 lighting it. Aside from that, it's just pure luck I think. I am no goni expert by any stretch of the imagination :-)

[kien]

Well, it looks like the tank has managed to turn around since the December incident (with the crashed Profilux Controller). It took a few months but things have stabilized, colour has returned, growth is happening and all-in-all the tank seems to be back in its groove.

I had a few questions about the crapped out controller.. in the end, I ended up giving it away. I tried to diagnose it but I really couldn't get it to stabilize. After debugging it (factory reset, unplugging and plugging stuff back into it, etc) I did manage to get it to run for a period of time (a few hours) but it just kept rebooting itself and not starting up properly for no apparently reason. I finally decided to ditch all my Profilux stuff and went with just timers for my lights and a Ranco temperature controller for my heater(s), and a standalone doser. I did try to contact GHL customer support and the rep said they wouldn't bother to try and fix it as it wasn't worth it. I was, "better off buying a new one." Gee, thanks guys! Seriously though, no thanks.

Anyway.. here are some pics courtesy of my new underwater camera (Olympus TG-4) that I bought for a recent trip to Cancun (for spring break).

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_064_zps1t6wtvo3.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_063_zpsd7hl19ma.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_062_zpsbkauidey.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_061_zpss1n9aehq.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_059_zpsaxpngosi.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_058_zpswmg59mld.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_057_zpsorajesxc.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_056_zpsh8165d7s.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_055_zpsoruhxfes.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_054_zpsmx1so9h2.jpg

[kien]

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_053_zpsdmy8ftvi.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_052_zpsppakgqxl.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_051_zps3a9qdode.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_050_zpsso183wv7.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_049_zpsfouhqo23.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_048_zpsj6qonhcs.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_047_zpsua6ca3lq.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_044_zpsur7chzjt.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_043_zpst5grlkyg.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_042_zpswmmns3a4.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_041_zpsfvpyhd1g.jpg

[FishyFishy!]

Lookin good Kiener!!!

Love that blasto colony.

[kien]

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_040_zpseg4ba9jh.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_039_zpsxxerul0j.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_038_zps5yluwiya.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_037_zpsrilzfwjt.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_036_zpscxj2cdbe.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_035_zpsd8kdnc3m.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_034_zpsujvzuttu.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_033_zpswbo49cqt.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_032_zpsfeezusjk.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_031_zpsqewod1mq.jpg

[kien]

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_030_zpsdrpcvuet.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_029_zpsgjufj3dl.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_028_zpstx83w0bm.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_026_zpsj8m7rwyj.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_025_zpsvmctvbtp.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_024_zps3zvsvyzh.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_023_zpsasndvurh.jpg

stupid shrimp photobomers..

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_022_zpsmmxoyzxq.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_021_zpsvzwybpni.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_020_zpst6s02ey7.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_019_zpsol31xiw6.jpg

[kien]

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_018_zpske8xvdsi.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_017_zpsypowxcqv.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_016_zpsa35qtrci.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_015_zpsrxeste5c.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_014_zpspmjhhpu0.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_013_zpsyw0r0fjo.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_012_zps1qunjnht.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_011_zpsy6v660qp.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_010_zpsenscl1gb.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_009_zpsoxl0oxoc.jpg

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/muzanji/20160328%20Tank/TANK_20160328_008_zpshi2vyqke.jpg