mseepman's 16" starfire nano

[mseepman]

Well, it's been a while since I updated this...mostly because my picture taking just leaves so much to be desired.

Here's a FTS of my nano...I've been away for a bit so it needs a scraping that will come this weekend.


Here's a closeup of one of the SPS in the tank that's doing quite well.



And lastly, in trying to deal with the unknown algae that has plagued this tank so badly, I've added a fuge recently. I know the light is ghetto but it's made from parts of a coralife light that simply fell apart on my last fuge.



It's gravity fed back to the tank. As I haven't figure out how to stop the chaeto from plugging the return, I've got it locked in a breeder box for now.

[Myka]

Cool little fuge! Have you thought of using egg crate to hold the chaeto back?

[mseepman]

Thanks Myka, I have thought about using the eggcrate but what is to stop little bits from clogging the return. I know Chaeto usually sticks together but I wasn't sure I wanted to take the risk.

I have the eggcrate so maybe I'll give it a try.

[Boomboy]

try cheato with some filter floss if your that worried about it. make a layer of eggcrate so that the floss can just sit in between and you can replace it.

[mseepman]

Ahhh...now that is an ingenius idea!!

Now that you've suggested it...what about maybe using one of the charcoal pads or nitrate pads?

[Myka]

Those pads are not a good idea imo since they are essentially made from media dust and too much gets into the water.

Originally Posted by mseepman

my picture taking just leaves so much to be desired.

Try turning your ISO to 200 or less, then adjust the "F" setting to wide open. Then turn down the shutter speed (I think it is lol) to 1/4 or 1/8 or so to really darken up the pic. Then use a photo adjusting program to fine tune. I use Picasa (free) even though people say it's horrible, it's easy to use!! Take a read through a picture taking thread I posted up a little while ago. They really helped me!! http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=53743

How is the Pom Pom doing? Does it still have both pom poms? I'm still thinking of adding one or two to my tank. I see my Emerald crabs all the time, so I think I would see Pom Poms too...maybe not?

[mseepman]

Thanks Myka. I had a feeling that they were too good to be true.

The pompom is doing great...he has both pom poms and comes out regularly.

I read your thread on taking pictures and I need to do it again. I will try what you have suggested.

[mseepman]

So today after much debate over the last few months I got an urchin (tuxedo) which I hope will help tackle my algae problem. I spent some of the morning epoxying down any loose corals and then picked him/her up in the afternoon. I'm acclimating it now so I will try to get pictures tonight or tomorrow.

Got the fingers crossed that it might help.

[Myka]

That's not a bad idea. If all else fails the urchin will do well in your 70.

[mseepman]

Well, here's my new little Urchin buddy. Hopefully he does what I've read elsewhere on the net and mows down all my algae.


You can see that ugly red stuff all over the rocks above him in the pic.