Snappy's Glass Boxes of Fun

[xlzerolx]

Hi Greg!
Great shots!
I don't know if this was posted anywhere but can you give us a rundown of the equipment you use? If it was posted elsewhere I apologize
Lights: T5, MH, LED?
Dosing method: Calcium reactor, 2 part etc.
Controller
Flow
Filtration
etc etc

[Snappy]

Originally Posted by xlzerolx

Hi Greg!
Great shots!
I don't know if this was posted anywhere but can you give us a rundown of the equipment you use? If it was posted elsewhere I apologize
Lights: T5, MH, LED?
Dosing method: Calcium reactor, 2 part etc.
Controller
Flow
Filtration
etc etc

Display system totals about 650 gal. Display tank is about 400 gal - 96 wide x 36 deep x 27 high & the soft coral tank is 130 gal and both drain to a common sump of about 120 gal. Lighting is a mix of MH & T5's.
No CA reactor - I dose with Fauna Marin auto dosers using Randy Holmes Farley's 2 part recipe except I use quality calcium & magnesium not Dow flakes. I make my own "soda ash" for the alk by baking sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to turn it to sodium carbonate to help keep my PH levels up.
Flow is supplied by Vortechs: 5 MP40W & 1 MP60W
Filtration is about 400 lbs of live rock & Euroreef RC500 skimmer. I also use Prodibio for nitrate control. I also run a carbon reactor & have a small "ghetto" refugium with cheato in the sump.
Return pump is a Reeflo Dart.
Fish in the display are as follows:
mandarins - 3
dragon pipes - 2
banded pipes - 2
coral beauty
chromis - 6
copperband butterfly
yellow tang
purple tang
sailfin tang
naso tang
powder bue tang
regal tang
kole tang
marine beta
leopard wrasses - 2
melinaris wrasse
cleaner wrasse (had since 2009)
orange spot gobies - 2
watchman goby
percula clowns - 2
foxface
firefish
purple firefish
royal grama
tail spot blenny
(that's all I can think of off the top of my head)
Corals are a mixed bag but the main display tank is sps dominant.
Thanks for looking and your interest in my system.

[xlzerolx]

Thanks Greg!
Wow! 6 Vortechs! The flow in there must be awesome! How often do you find yourself doing (or not doing)water changes on that beast?

[Snappy]

Originally Posted by xlzerolx

Thanks Greg!
Wow! 6 Vortechs! The flow in there must be awesome! How often do you find yourself doing (or not doing)water changes on that beast?

The flow is very good for the most part but with the amount of rock in the display along with aquascape having a few canyons & lots of caves there is still the odd dead spot. I would like to add another MP40W on the back wall but as luck would have it the external overflow box is in the way of where I need to put it.
Generally water changes are done on a 2 week schedule typically just before a new prodibio dosing.

[Snappy]

Here's a few tank shots but please keep in mind I had to pretty much start the display from scratch in March this year so it has a long way to go.
Lh mid front

RH front

RH side shot

[lastlight]

awesome stuff greg. i still prefer being on-site though!

[Snappy]

Originally Posted by lastlight

awesome stuff greg. i still prefer being on-site though!

I need another year or so without problems and it should start looking pretty good.

[Jaws]

Originally Posted by Snappy

Generally water changes are done on a 2 week schedule typically just before a new prodibio dosing.

I'm just curious, do you think it makes more sense to dose the prodibio to the new salt water to allow the bacteria to grow in there before doing a water change, after you do the water change, or do you think it doesn't really matter?
I am not an expert on the subject but I would assume that bacteria settles throughout the reef and doesn't simply stay in the water column therefore I would guess that it would be best to dose after a water change to help "recharge" the reef.

[Snappy]

[quote]

Originally Posted by Jaws

I'm just curious, do you think it makes more sense to dose the prodibio to the new salt water to allow the bacteria to grow in there before doing a water change, after you do the water change, or do you think it doesn't really matter?
quote]

I am not an expert on the subject but I would assume that bacteria settles throughout the reef and doesn't simply stay in the water column therefore I would guess that it would be best to dose after a water change to help "recharge" the reef.

[Snappy]