tsouth Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 5/11/2016 5/7/2016 FTS 5/3/2016 FTS Hey NR, I hope all is well with you. First and foremost, I'd like to say that I appreciate any and all constructive insight and feedback towards this tank. I've done a fair share of browsing and the community here seems top notch. I look forwards to the next meet up!Background: My name is Thomas and I am currently going through the motions on a new Fluval Spec V, my third reef tank over the years. I have recently moved to New York from NE Florida and am a Software Engineer in Testing (QA) at LittleBits! I'd happily trade computer services for frags I'm going to do my best to keep this tank somewhat simple. I am a fan of open spaces and minimalist design as well as architecture, and believe that the aquascapes we create are most definitely unique to each of personal vision. It's really great to see what everyone creates. Filtration: Started with Dry RockOolitic SandFilter Floss (1st Chamber)LR Rubble (2nd)ChemiPure Blue & Frag Plugs(3rd) Equipment: Nanobox TideInTank Media BasketAqueon 600 Series ReturnNeotherm 25wMame Protein Skimmer + Whisper 20 Smart Micro Ato Stock: Frostbite ClownMidas BlennyBlue Porcelain crabPedersoni Shrimp soon to comeMostly LPS, zoas, yuma's & with a dash of sps Link to comment
tsouth Posted May 4, 2016 Author Share Posted May 4, 2016 One of the luxury's of working at a Tech Edu company is the availability of tools and resources. We have a laser cutter in house and one of our product designers was gracious enough to create a custom lid for me. I picked up the acrylic and we let the cutter do it's magic. Attach some clear netting and voila. I'm thinking of making a different version that uses no netting, and just slits in the lid instead. If you're not familiar with littleBits, littleBits is a platform of easy-to-use electronic building blocks that empower you to invent anything, from your own remote controlled car, to a smart home device. The Bits snap together with magnets, no soldering, no wiring, no programming needed. For my fuge light, I used: 3 x Bright LED's, overclocked in house 1 x CloudBit 1 x USB Power bit These are snapped together and stabilized using adhesive feet and controlled with a web interface as well as IFTTT. The cloud control web interface allows me to access and control the lighting through the web interface or my smartphone, as well as setup recipes from IFTTT. The recipes I have running at the moment: If 9 PM, then activate cloudbit (at 9 PM, turn on the fuge light at xx% intensity) If 9 AM, then deactivate cloudbit (at 9 AM, turn off the fuge light) If cloudbit is disconnected from power, then send a text to my personal phone number (This also serves as a safety net in case power goes out) If cloudbit is reconnected to power, then send a text to my personal phone number (If this is triggered directly after the disconnect, then I know all is safe) Link to comment
RIP Sebastian Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 One of the luxury's of working at a Tech Edu company is the availability of tools and resources. We have a laser cutter in house and one of our product designers was gracious enough to create a custom lid for me. I picked up the acrylic and we let the cutter do it's magic. Attach some clear netting and voila. I'm thinking of making a different version that uses no netting, and just slits in the lid instead. If you're not familiar with littleBits, littleBits is a platform of easy-to-use electronic building blocks that empower you to invent anything, from your own remote controlled car, to a smart home device. The Bits snap together with magnets, no soldering, no wiring, no programming needed. For my fuge light, I used: 3 x Bright LED's, overclocked in house 1 x CloudBit 1 x USB Power bit These are snapped together and stabilized using adhesive feet and controlled with a web interface as well as IFTTT. The cloud control web interface allows me to access and control the lighting through the web interface or my smartphone, as well as setup recipes from IFTTT. The recipes I have running at the moment: If 9 PM, then activate cloudbit (at 9 PM, turn on the fuge light at xx% intensity) If 9 AM, then deactivate cloudbit (at 9 AM, turn off the fuge light) If cloudbit is disconnected from power, then send a text to my personal phone number (This also serves as a safety net in case power goes out) If cloudbit is reconnected to power, then send a text to my personal phone number (If this is triggered directly after the disconnect, then I know all is safe) Cool! You're off to a great start! Clowns are very dirty fish. As such, you'll have a high bioload in there. Midas blennyies creat a lot of poop, too. May i suggest a tail spot blenny? They've got a great personality, low bioload, and they eat algae. Hope this helps, Nick Link to comment
tsouth Posted May 4, 2016 Author Share Posted May 4, 2016 Cool! You're off to a great start! Clowns are very dirty fish. As such, you'll have a high bioload in there. Midas blennyies creat a lot of poop, too. May i suggest a tail spot blenny? They've got a great personality, low bioload, and they eat algae. Hope this helps, Nick Hey Thanks Nick! But...too late My husbandry is well kept and water changes are always on the dot, so hopefully this will be enough to cater to the livestock. I do agree though, the inhabitants are down right filthy. If parameters are unbearable, I'll swap out asap. I'll keep an eye on my nitrates water change to water change. Aren't going heavy into sps and don't need ultra clean water, but I am considering a skimmer nonetheless. Ty for your insight Link to comment
metrokat Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 You don't mess around! I really like that lid. Looking forward to seeing you Friday. Link to comment
Matteo Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 Ahhhh yeaaah love this setup so far! Link to comment
RIP Sebastian Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 Hey Thanks Nick! But...too late My husbandry is well kept and water changes are always on the dot, so hopefully this will be enough to cater to the livestock. I do agree though, the inhabitants are down right filthy. If parameters are unbearable, I'll swap out asap. I'll keep an eye on my nitrates water change to water change. Aren't going heavy into sps and don't need ultra clean water, but I am considering a skimmer nonetheless. Ty for your insight It seems like you know what you're doing. I just wanted to make sure you knew. Nick Link to comment
DaveFason Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 tidewhiteredcustom by David Fason, on Flickr Link to comment
sanfordcam Posted May 7, 2016 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Ooooh! Love your spec mods, looks great! Link to comment
Mariaface Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 Tuning in! Though, seriously. The gadgets. Link to comment
DaveFason Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 I really enjoyed building the light for you. It was a challenge getting the right angle to fit perfect over the tank but looks incredible! -Dave Link to comment
Matteo Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 This also makes me want to setup my spec v. Really digging that Tide too Link to comment
tsouth Posted May 9, 2016 Author Share Posted May 9, 2016 I really enjoyed building the light for you. It was a challenge getting the right angle to fit perfect over the tank but looks incredible! -Dave Wouldn't have had it any other way brotha. Doesn't get any better than the best. I'd like to thank the rest of you for your kind and gracious compliments. Very much appreciated! Link to comment
holy carp Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 This tank is looking great - I love the red on that nanobox. Did you put special lenses in to get it focused on such a narrow tank or does it spill much? You've gotta put this thread into your sig. (and now I'm thinkin' what littleBits does my tank need) Link to comment
tsouth Posted May 9, 2016 Author Share Posted May 9, 2016 This tank is looking great - I love the red on that nanobox. Did you put special lenses in to get it focused on such a narrow tank or does it spill much? You've gotta put this thread into your sig. (and now I'm thinkin' what littleBits does my tank need) Thanks brotha. I don't have any lenses on it, wasn't aware that was an option. The spillage isn't that bad, but surely there's improvements to be made from optics. I keep thinking about upgrading Should've bought the duo! Link to comment
holy carp Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 Thanks brotha. I don't have any lenses on it, wasn't aware that was an option. The spillage isn't that bad, but surely there's improvements to be made from optics. I keep thinking about upgrading Should've bought the duo! Ha ha. No, I just meant in the photo it looked like you weren't losing as much light as I thought you might. I'm guessing you'll have enough PAR with this. What kinds of coral are you planning to fill it with? Link to comment
ninjamyst Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 would it have been better spread if the tide is vertical over the tank instead of horizontal? i keep forgetting if the LED array is a square or a rectangle... Link to comment
tsouth Posted May 9, 2016 Author Share Posted May 9, 2016 Ha ha. No, I just meant in the photo it looked like you weren't losing as much light as I thought you might. I'm guessing you'll have enough PAR with this. What kinds of coral are you planning to fill it with? Going to want to be LPS heavy. With a tank this small, I have to be picky. Currently there's three zoa frags in the tank: Utter chaos, BBEB, and Red Hornets, but I find myself wanting some of the higher end ones like hallucinations. I'll pickup a centerpiece soon, a nice scoly/trachy or green bubble down the road as well as some euphyllia's. Acan's as well. The usual stuff, just the nicer variants. I'll grab a stick or two, and probably a monti cap and see how it fares on a frag rack. I'll give the tank 3-6 more months before I put a maxima & deresa in. Done with equipment now so I can start spending money where it counts. I'll be up and skimming Wednesday, with the ATO on the way and a frag rack next week. Quick update from the littleBits HQ! Putting our 3d printers to use, I've printed a 3 piece frag plug. The plug consist of the anchor, plate, and cage. The cage holds finicky corals onto the plate eg rics/yumas etc and is held in place purely by tension. The anchor is detachable and can be used as a stake in the sandbed or rocks, or even as a plate itself for sps frags. This would be perfect to anchor them into large holes in your rockwork. Thankfully our office allows unlimited use and printing. Material currently being used is PET+ . Credit to Maui's Reef for providing me with the ability to make these plugs happen. The true innovator of the softy smasher! Link to comment
DaveFason Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 No optics. You would be surprised when done correctly how well it fits tanks. With proper height you can have minimal spillage. And more than enough PAR for anything he wants. This tank is looking great - I love the red on that nanobox. Did you put special lenses in to get it focused on such a narrow tank or does it spill much? You've gotta put this thread into your sig. (and now I'm thinkin' what littleBits does my tank need) No difference. Arrays are square. would it have been better spread if the tide is vertical over the tank instead of horizontal? i keep forgetting if the LED array is a square or a rectangle... Link to comment
rickztahone Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 Where is your return? I can't see it from these pics Link to comment
ninjamyst Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 No difference. Arrays are square. just checked my tide...it's rectangle =P. i have one LED on the far end of each side. Link to comment
tsouth Posted May 10, 2016 Author Share Posted May 10, 2016 Where is your return? I can't see it from these pics Hey Rick, the return is in the top left of the tank. If you look at the FTS on 5/3, you'll see a black nozzle that is right under the light fixture. Link to comment
rickztahone Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 Hey Rick, the return is in the top left of the tank. If you look at the FTS on 5/3, you'll see a black nozzle that is right under the light fixture. I kind of see it there. I cam currently having a problem trying to figure how to route my return in my build and yours seemed similar. Link to comment
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