Zmeny Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 I still consider myself a newb and probably always will be, but love the hobby and wish to join the show. EQUIPMENT: - Elos Mini 17x17x16 with white gloss pedestal stand and Elos sump - Aqua Illumination 12" SOL Superblue with custom mount and AI Controller - Vortech MP10 ES set on lagoon mode at about 50% - Elos Skimmer - Elos Osmocontroller Digital - Finnex 100w Heater MAINTENANCE: - Tropic Marin Sea Salt - Filter Guys Ocean Reef +1 RO/DI - 20 lbs Bali Live Rock (Cured) from Premium Aquatics - Bag of Oolite Caribbean White Live Sand - Running Chemipure & ESV Carbon - ESV 2-part Calcium & Alkalinity - Salifert Testing Equipment - Premium Aquatics Refractometer LIVESTOCK: Just finished Cycling Probably will wait to get my hands on a pair of Black Ice Clownfish Looking to establish mixed reef, sps on top, zoas, rics, & acans on bottom PICTURES: My first fish!!! Sorry Tang Police... Before I could add a CUC, I had to get rid of two Xanthid crabs. I tried to reason with them, I really did. I offered them bait in a glass cup...they denied. I offered them some Seltzer water...the didn't like the bubbly. I even tried giving them a dance lesson out of my live rock...no takers. Needless to say, I took care of it. See if you can find one hiding in this pic... So here's what I've got so far...3 weeks in...a lot of hiding wires and organizing to still do, but all in time. Feel Free To Comment...Thanks Guys!!! More Pics Soon... Link to comment
Zer0 Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 First person i've seen with an AI Sol. It looks awesome. And that tank is awesome! Ya done good kid.. ya done good. I'm following this one for sure. Link to comment
mavjoy Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Awesome set up Zmeny! I just got my Elos mini and still gathering hardware and really interested how you did your light hanger for the AI and want to see the different light settings of the AI above the mini..with pics please! How's the skimmer performing for you? Any micro bubbles? Sorry for all the questions..hehe. Looking forward of seeing more of your tank and hopefully mine can get set up soon. Link to comment
Lawnman Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Looking good I hope you like the skimmer more than I did. I tossed mine in the garbage the 2nd day.But I love my mini I have had mine for a year.It is truly a great tank. Link to comment
Blue Demp Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 I like it! very clean. Is your tank cycled yet? I don't see any diatom or algae. Link to comment
cameraman_2 Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Very nice and clean tank. Can't wait to watch it progress. Link to comment
steve 2 Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Thats a very nice set up. I recently returned to the hobby (obsession) and am very impressed with the new tank styles. This time around I went led. I have the same AI fixture and love it so far. Steve also-cute kid.....unfortunately my 17 yr old does not fit in my tank.....often I'd like to put him there =) Link to comment
Zmeny Posted January 17, 2011 Author Share Posted January 17, 2011 MavJoy: Minimal microbubbles...not sure if they are bubbles or just particles during the diatom/algea bloom. I am realy anal about water clarity and they don't bother me, so not bad. The lighting fixture is made from 1/2" conduit with two 90 degree bends mounting to the back of the tank and painted with white enamel paint. The skimmer is very touchy and has a mind of its own. In the picture of my sump you can see 4 days worth of skimmate, tea colored, which is fine. I don't know whether the light bioload and cured live rock are helping (I am at 3-5 nitrate at the end of cycling), so I will wait it out some more and see. Ohh and the lightning storm via AI controller is pretty sweet, makes my friends and family giggle. More pics to come once I start putting stuff in it. Camera man2: The tank is cycled and has gone through the diatom, now dealing with some hair algae and macro growth. Pics are from iphone so not too good, plus actinics were on and you can't clearly see the rock...hopefully cuc will help. Steve 2: If your 17-year-old doesn't fit in the tank that just means you need a bigger tank...LOL All water testing is within normal parameters (tested 3 days ago). I will post current parameters tonight. Thanks guys and gals, keep the comments coming...this is fun. Link to comment
mavjoy Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 MavJoy: Minimal microbubbles...not sure if they are bubbles or just particles during the diatom/algea bloom. I am realy anal about water clarity and they don't bother me, so not bad. The lighting fixture is made from 1/2" conduit with two 90 degree bends mounting to the back of the tank and painted with white enamel paint. The skimmer is very touchy and has a mind of its own. In the picture of my sump you can see 4 days worth of skimmate, tea colored, which is fine. I don't know whether the light bioload and cured live rock are helping (I am at 3-5 nitrate at the end of cycling), so I will wait it out some more and see. Ohh and the lightning storm via AI controller is pretty sweet, makes my friends and family giggle. More pics to come once I start putting stuff in it. Thanks for the info about the set up and might just try the skimmer for now but definitely copying your light hanger. I'm also planning of getting the same lights. A video of the tank would look sweet with all the different effects of the lights...hint hint...hehe. Thanks! Link to comment
Zmeny Posted January 18, 2011 Author Share Posted January 18, 2011 I have a hard enough time figuring out how to add pictures, much less a video, lol, but I will try my best. Link to comment
Arcus Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Very clean and good made. I like your tank and I will copy your cabinet one day! Waiting for news... Link to comment
Zmeny Posted January 19, 2011 Author Share Posted January 19, 2011 Latest water parameters: pH: 8.2 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: 0 Calcium: 320 Magnesium: 1470 KH: 11.5 Alkalinity: 4.11 Ammonia: 0 Phosphate: 0 Copper: 0 Any suggestions on water quality? I think it's good, but not enough experience yet...(little over three weeks in, cycle has gone through diatom bloom, turned to algae and macro growth, now looks like algae is beginning to recede) Thanks for the help...pictures and video of the AI light spectrums soon... Link to comment
amored Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 sea water has an alkalinity of 7-8 dKH/2.5-2.9 meq/L. you will need to buffer once or twice a week to slowly lower this, it's pretty high. this should help raise your calcium a bit too (should be around 450-500 for stony corals/inverts). i love the look of this tank though! Link to comment
Lawnman Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Your parameters have me a little confused.Did you purchase your tank from Premium Aquatics?That is where I got my mini from. Link to comment
Zmeny Posted January 19, 2011 Author Share Posted January 19, 2011 Lawnman: bought my mini from aquarium specialty, everything else from premium Aquatics. What is confusing about my parameters? Help!!! : ) Link to comment
Zmeny Posted January 21, 2011 Author Share Posted January 21, 2011 AJ: you may love mine, but yours makes me drool...ridiculous. Link to comment
J-Ranko Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 You have my dream nano set-up: Elos mini with A.I. Sol!!! (I have other dream tanks but they're not nano. ) Love how you mounted the Sol. Link to comment
Zmeny Posted January 21, 2011 Author Share Posted January 21, 2011 Let's just hope over time it can be as clean looking as your 15g...I knew I got the pipe idea from someone, but couldn't remember who. Thanks indirectly...or subliminally...haha Link to comment
Zmeny Posted January 31, 2011 Author Share Posted January 31, 2011 Update Tank is doing great. Added some livestock recently: Pair of Onyx Clownfish (Sold as "Rod's", but I have my doubts) Tailspot Blenny Fire Shrimp CUC Crew Halloween Hermit Eagle Eye Zoa Frag Bright Orange Ric Yuma Frogspawn Frag More to come... Pros: Clownfish are beautiful AI Sol is simply amazing!! Livestock is doing great, already showing growth Fire shrimp had babies everywhere, which the clowns loved 30% chance of programmed lighting storm (How do I post a video?) Cons: Battling an algae issue, not sure what type, suggestions needed!!! Microbubble Issue, but not too bad Syphoned 4 Neon Green Nudibranches off the zoas Camera sucks, so showing off the AI's lighting setups is not possible at this time. Sorry guys Picture Update: Clownfish are about 1.5 inches long and are already super dark Zoas growing fast Orange Ric Algae HELP WANTED...It seems to be receding, but still ugly. Is it post-cycle algae or "you've got a problem" algae? Blenny seems to love it Link to comment
Zer0 Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 First algae pictures looks like hair algae. No clue what the second one is. Great tank dude. Link to comment
qwuintus Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Clean. Nice eye for design. Did you have any previous tanks? I'm about to mount an ecoray 60wled but I'm a but reluctant as 7lbs might as well be 100lbs as I plan to mount it in a similar fashion to you. Can you tell me how much the sol weighs and what hardware you use? I'm thinking about using electical conduit myself for the light bar and diy something. Link to comment
Zmeny Posted January 31, 2011 Author Share Posted January 31, 2011 I think the AI unit weighs about 5lbs or less, its pretty light. I had an 80 gallon bowfront 5 years ago, full coral and halides, but I started out with the wrong stuff, pc's, horrible skimmer, so on and so on, buying all types of filtration, lights. So this time around I figured I would do it right the first time and I am happy with the layout, but trying to clear up the algae and microbubble issues. Don't know what type of algae it is, but blenny loves it. Hair algae, I thought, was bristly and thick, but some of this stuff is thin, wavy. IDK, you guys think an emerald crab would be benefitial, cut down the lighting schedule, buy a reactor, let it go as it seems to be receding slowly? Link to comment
Zmeny Posted February 6, 2011 Author Share Posted February 6, 2011 Thought the clownfish may host the frowspawn...but someone else called dibs first. I've never heard of a blenny host a coral, but he just loves sitting right on top of it. Link to comment
Zmeny Posted February 17, 2011 Author Share Posted February 17, 2011 UPDATE NEW PHOTOS AND NEW CORAL: Added: Ultra Acan Frag GARF Bonsai Red Montipora Cap Frag Purple Montipora Digitata Acropora Colony Blue/Green Algae issue is almost gone, but now red hair algae is showing up. I didn't know red hair algae was fluorescent though...oh well... Also still some diatom on sand bed, want to stir it up with the Vortech, but small grains will cause a sandstorm...I know... it's a process... Switched salt to Tropin Marin Reef Pro to increase Calcium levels. I am increasing the water changes to twice a week, 5 gallon per change to help the algae issue...any other suggestions? Water parameters posted by the end of the week. FTS OVERHEAD REFLECTION This thing is just ridiculous... Link to comment
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