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TSouth's Spec V - Corals incoming. Teasers!


tsouth

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5/11/2016

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5/7/2016 FTS

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5/3/2016 FTS

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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 Rock
Oolitic Sand
Filter Floss (1st Chamber)
LR Rubble (2nd)
ChemiPure Blue & Frag Plugs(3rd)



Equipment:


Nanobox Tide
InTank Media Basket
Aqueon 600 Series Return
Neotherm 25w
Mame Protein Skimmer + Whisper 20

Smart Micro Ato



Stock:


Frostbite Clown
Midas Blenny
Blue Porcelain crab
Pedersoni Shrimp soon to come
Mostly LPS, zoas, yuma's & with a dash of sps

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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.

 

434Sgps.jpg

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

 

GOKKiZb.jpg

 

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)

 

D44Zqrd.jpg

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RIP Sebastian

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.

 

434Sgps.jpg

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

 

GOKKiZb.jpg

 

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)

 

D44Zqrd.jpg

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

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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 :P 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

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RIP Sebastian

Hey Thanks Nick! But...too late :P 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

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DaveFason

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

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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!

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holy carp

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)

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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!

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holy carp

 

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?

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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!

 

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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!

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DaveFason

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...

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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.

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rickztahone

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.

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