how come you replaced the lights

I think the lighting change story is the previous page, maybe the last post on the 7th page.

With the SPS that I currently have in my tank doing well, I decided to give the ORA Red Planet another go. I got it from Divers Den, I hate to order online since shipping is so much, but I really liked this one since it has many branches and stubs coming off of it. Most of the ones I have seen in the past had a main body, and maybe one or two little stubs on it. This has many, and I hope that it will branch out, table and grow faster. I have a rock right in the middle of my tank that is pretty flat on top, so I mounted it there, and hopefully this can become the centerpiece of my tank.

i read it and understand now. i use the same light on my 20long although im using a cheesy ebay bulb, the color is pretty blue but i always wonder what im missing out on if i were to buy a nicer more expensive bulb. is it worth it?

New SPS:


Seeing as how I have lost my mind and am getting back into SPS, I thought I would post a couple of new coral that I picked up today.



Pink Mille:




ORA Plum Crazy:

purrty

Looks good. Great colors. What about that FTS you promised?

Thanks. Still kinda of bare till I get some more coral, or my SPS grows out, but I am happy with the way it is going right now. New Full Tank Shot:








I added a Koralia Wavemaker Controller a few days ago. It has two #3 Koralias running on it. It is set in "Alternate Mode" and switches between pumps every 15 seconds. That combined with my Sea Swirl, is giving lots of random flow. The Controller is able to shut the pumps down to minimum flow at night, and also a standby mode for feeding, in which it shuts down to minimum flow for 5 minutes, then resumes to my set flow pattern.

Your tank is coming along nicely, I'm sure it will become that SPS forest you talked about. Keep it up.

It may have been mentioned before in this thread and I've missed it - but what kind of Reef Octopus skimmer is that? I'm looking at one myself and want to know if it's worth the expense to get one for my 75 that I'll be shortly setting up..

EDIT: I need my eyes checked so much, seriously. I'm still curious what you think of the Reef Octopus skimmers though :]

It is the Reef Octopus Extreme 160. I like it, I think Reef Octopus makes a great skimmer at an affordable price. Mine does not pull out tons of junk, simply because I do not have a large bioload. But for what I have in my tank, it does nicely. I think it could handle a tank larger than 75g if you needed it to.

See, that's the response I was hoping for. For so long I've heard that there's no point buying a skimmer unless it was a Daltec and ridiculously expensive (which kinda go hand in hand come to think of it), but I've seen more and more people using the Reef Octopus and wondered how they stacked up. I've been intending to get one bigger than my system needs to allow me an upgrade later (I've been looking at one which will service an upgrade to a 180), though I'm tossing up which model to go with.

Nice to hear some good feedback on the products though

H20,

I'm curious way back when you had your Watchmen Goby, you got rid of it cause it caused a lot of dust storms and clouded up the water right? You have Fiji Pink sand, I just noticed on the CaribSea website it says Fiji Pink is not "burrower" friendly, I wonder if its cause it gets stirred up easy? And clouds?

I'm trying to make a decision on a sand/substrate and I like a mix of fine sand and some of the little crushed corals too, and like it to be bright white. Have you been happy with the Pink Fiji? I probably wont get it based on your experience, as I like the watchman goby and might get one in my 34 gallon Solana.

I'm leaning towards West Caribbean Reef or Original Grade, or a mixture of both?

On my next tank, I will probably use a little larger grain than the Fiji Pink. It is ok, but you have to really work with the powerheads to angle them just right so as not to stir the sand up and dig holes with your flow. I think Carib-Sea makes a good reef sand, I think it is Arag-Alive 'Special Reef Grade'. That is their 'live sand'. I used it in my old Aquapod, and will probably use it in my next tank (whenever that may be).

As far as the Goby, I am not sure on the best grain for them. Maybe a larger grain would work better as keeping it settled, but if you get too large, they will have problems passing it through their gills.

New Palys:


Picked these up at the LFS today since they were unusual. Has about 25 heads on the frag disc.

How much was that?

They were selling it for $75, but I traded a maze brain for it.

those are beautiful. lucky grab there.

Hello H2O. What is new and exciting here since the last update in March????

Sorry so long since updates. Actually, I have done quite alot. Will try to post some new pics and updates tonight.

How is that Octopus skimmer holding out? I just bought a NWB-200 for my 75g. Overkill is an understatement. Its HUGE!!!!!

It has been doing well. I just did an overhaul on it yesterday. I soaked the pump in vinegar to clean it up, cleaned out the volute and airline that had gotten stopped up with salt and calcium, and replaced the stock plastic pinwheel with the new ATB large purple pinwheel. It is pulling more air and making more and finer bubbles. Seems to work much better now.

BTW, I hope to do a picture update of the tank soon, just haven't found the time yet.

Did you find the time yet???

Picture update please!

Picture update would be nice .

Hey h20 what more can I say than omg one cool tank just read all your thread
Know how you feel that you won't it right I am starting a 50g and won't it right as I have a 10 g that has rubbish scape and no room ect
Any way looking good will be reading more

I have been posting more at RC since it has a bigger crowd for the larger tanks. Here is where I have been updating my thread.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthre...hreadid=1350278

RC? seriously? there are plenty of people with large tanks here. i myself have a 75g and DCG has a 120g. NRF is also building a 75g and we all have good followings here.
I was wondering what happened to you...i subscribed to your thread about whenever you started it.
Keep us updated over here!

Lol, you are right. I need to catch up on my posting here. Nano-reef is where I started my reefing career, and owe alot to the folks on here for their help..

YAY!
welcome back H20!

Yay!! an update!! tank looks great H2O

Bro??? Come on now! You can't!!! Keep us in the loop!!!

H20! come back!


How have the SPS been growing under the 150w halides vs the 250w? I'm considering building up my 75g as a reef and debating between the 150 and 250. i want to keep my softies, LPS and just a few SPS.