Maddevil1 Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 I'm using Oceanic. I bought a whole bunch when I first started. I'm considering trying a few different salts. Well, I did it. I ordered my new lights today. I ended up deciding on the Nanotuners LED Retrofit kit with the CREE option added. It wasn't cheap, but I love this hobby so much, so why not? Each color has its own dimmer so I can control the variance of blue/white ratio. I also wanted the colors on separate drivers so I can eventually have auto-dimming with a Reefkeeper further down the road. It's SPS time. There's a local guy who has several Blue Hawkins Echinata frags for cheap. I also paid $1000 on my credit card in the same fell swoop, so my parents don't ##### at me. Hahaha. Nice! Yes, lighting in this hobby is where it all begins. Like I said, I hope you have better luck than I did with lights in the hood. I havent done much with my tank lately. I did upgrade my MP10 to a MP10ES, for $55, not bad. I also just purchased an Apogee sensor so I can measure PAR, again at $150 not bad. The Apogee PAR meter cost around $400. All I need to do is connect the senor to my meter, multiply by 5 and BAM - PAR reading! Should be here on Monday Link to comment
rb1685 Posted March 17, 2011 Author Share Posted March 17, 2011 Nice! Yes, lighting in this hobby is where it all begins. Like I said, I hope you have better luck than I did with lights in the hood. I havent done much with my tank lately. I did upgrade my MP10 to a MP10ES, for $55, not bad. I also just purchased an Apogee sensor so I can measure PAR, again at $150 not bad. The Apogee PAR meter cost around $400. All I need to do is connect the senor to my meter, multiply by 5 and BAM - PAR reading! Should be here on Monday Yeah I'm super excited. No more limitations on to what I can keep. The guy at Nanotuners said that the CREEs at full blast would be more output than a 150w MH, but with dimmers I can bring it down so I don't bleach everything. I might consider an MP10ES for my birthday or something later this year, but I'm through buying equipment for now. PAR Meter huh? I might just have to hire you to come out and test my tank one day. Hahaha. Oh by the way, that Pink Birdsnest is starting to get some pink again. It was almost totally white in its lower location, but since I moved to the top it seems to be doing a lot better. It should do really well under new lights. Link to comment
rO.oster Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 yes the Nanotuners 5.6 is super sweeeeeet, but damn that bill is quite a lot. Im trying to decide for myself as well! paying interest on tank items = Link to comment
rb1685 Posted March 17, 2011 Author Share Posted March 17, 2011 yes the Nanotuners 5.6 is super sweeeeeet, but damn that bill is quite a lot. Im trying to decide for myself as well! paying interest on tank items = Yeah I got a bonus this week at work, so that's how I was able to fund this addiction some more. No way I'd charge my toys. Link to comment
oncorhynchus Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 Sweet. Can't wait to see this upgrade in action. I have a feeling once I do, I'll have to order one as well... Link to comment
rb1685 Posted March 17, 2011 Author Share Posted March 17, 2011 Sweet. Can't wait to see this upgrade in action. I have a feeling once I do, I'll have to order one as well... I'll try to take pics of the upgrade process. They give detailed instructions on the website, but I'll try to make my posts a suppliment to that. They're saying three week lead-time on delivery. Oh well, all good things are worth waiting for! Link to comment
naughty Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 hey guys so i'm going to maybe be looking into some lighting upgrades for my bc14, but i really don't want to take the AIO look away from it, do these crees fit in the hood? Link to comment
rb1685 Posted March 21, 2011 Author Share Posted March 21, 2011 hey guys so i'm going to maybe be looking into some lighting upgrades for my bc14, but i really don't want to take the AIO look away from it, do these crees fit in the hood? Here's the kit we're talking about. It is specifically made for the BC14, so yes it does fit in the hood. In fact, I believe the clear plastic shield goes back over the whole assembly. At the bottom of the page you can select some options. The CREE upgrade is an extra $99, but I think it'll be worth it. Here's their detailed instructions to give you an idea of how it is installed. Link to comment
rb1685 Posted March 29, 2011 Author Share Posted March 29, 2011 A couple of new aquisitions this weekend: ORA Scripp's Greentip Staghorn Red Monti Cap Bi-Color Blenny (a.k.a. Lenny) 3/28/2011 FTS Link to comment
rb1685 Posted March 29, 2011 Author Share Posted March 29, 2011 Update on the LED upgrade - they're saying mid-April. So about two more weeks. GAWD I CAN'T WAIT! Link to comment
rb1685 Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 Some new pics I took this weekend: Lenny the Blenny is becoming much less shy every day: One of my zoanthid polyps (not sure of the name) managed to catch a brine shrimp during feeding. It took the polyp (on the left) about 10 minutes to swallow it. Pretty cool to watch. New zoanthid colonies I bought this weekend. These are still under PC, but the color still manages to "pop" I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my new LEDs will ship this week. The suspense is killing me. The tank is doing well overall. I'm still fighting the flatworms, but their population has diminished significantly. I've noticed a considerable increase in hitchhickers. Especially with the Chitons -- their population is booming. I'm wondering if this is because of the increase in feeding with the addition of the new fish. I have also seen a few bubbles of Red Bubble Algae. It doesn't seem to be spreading, but I'm keeping a very close eye on it (two eyes in fact). I heard a Red Mithrax crab can eat this stuff, so I'll keep that in mind. Link to comment
rb1685 Posted April 21, 2011 Author Share Posted April 21, 2011 Update. I've seen a recent population growth in Polycorynactis anenomes. I originally had just one, but now I have probably over ten. They are really cool looking, but I don't want them to get out of hand. The tank has also developed a small problem with red bubble algae. There are only a few bulbs of it here and there, but I'm scared to attempt to pick them out manually, lest they burst and spread their spores. My Scarlet Hermit died, so to fill his alge-eating shoes, I bought an emerald crab. He's hasn't stopped eating since I put him in the tank (even though I can't see what he's eating). I do think I need a few more snails, as my glass continuously has a film on it. I'm still having issues with my Alk, but I think my Alk test is at fault, though. I've noticed that the drops are really sloppy and somewhat inconsistent. I addKent Marine Alk buffer every couple of days, but it won't rise above 7 degrees. I'll try another test soon. Link to comment
oleolson1 Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Is this the light setup you bought? I also have a biocube 14 and I was wondering what would be best; to go with the additional light upgrade to spring for the LED setup. http://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php...products_id=620 Link to comment
rb1685 Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 Is this the light setup you bought? I also have a biocube 14 and I was wondering what would be best; to go with the additional light upgrade to spring for the LED setup. http://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php...products_id=620 Yep. That's it. I updated to the CREE LED's though. It is supposed to ship tomorrow! Link to comment
rb1685 Posted May 9, 2011 Author Share Posted May 9, 2011 So with my new lights coming soon (hopefully they'll ship this week), I'm looking at some more stocking plans. I fully intend to have at least one black ocellaris (perhaps a pair), so my initial thought is to have something flowy like a frogspawn or a hammer coral growing on the "Plateau" as I call it. It is a large flat space that would be a nice eyecatching spot for a coral with some movement. Any suggestions? On a side note. I'm really thinking about getting rid of the GSP shelf. It takes up a whole lot of space in the tank and it really casts a big shadow on the sandbed. It really makes my tank unique though, so I'm rather indecisive. Thoughts? Link to comment
rb1685 Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 My Blasto has a new head!!!! It has taken almost two months of being in the tank, but it seems it is comfy enough to reproduce. Yay! Link to comment
Matsu49 Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Your GSP is super bright. Mine are no where near that fluorescent in my tank. Were they always that bright since you added it to your tank? Link to comment
rb1685 Posted May 18, 2011 Author Share Posted May 18, 2011 Your GSP is super bright. Mine are no where near that fluorescent in my tank. Were they always that bright since you added it to your tank? Yeah. It's always been a great specimen. It has tripled in size since I got in January. I need to update with some new pics of it. It is starting to wrap around the edge of the shelf. Link to comment
Maddevil1 Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 Your GSP is super bright. Mine are no where near that fluorescent in my tank. Were they always that bright since you added it to your tank? Do you live in Houston? You too can have super fluorescent GSP in your tank for the all low price of FREE! Link to comment
Matsu49 Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Thanks for the offer but I don't. Maybe we can work something out as I wouldn't mind a frag of your GSP. PM me and we can work out the shipping costs. Link to comment
rb1685 Posted May 19, 2011 Author Share Posted May 19, 2011 Do you live in Houston? You too can have super fluorescent GSP in your tank for the all low price of FREE! Link to comment
rb1685 Posted May 26, 2011 Author Share Posted May 26, 2011 I haz LEDs. Pics coming soon! Link to comment
rb1685 Posted June 7, 2011 Author Share Posted June 7, 2011 So the LEDs are AWESOME. Nanotuners makes a very fine product, which was well worth the wait. Everything was harnessed, so there was no soldering or electrical tape needed, and the total install took about an hour. Since they produce almost no heat, my temps have really stabilized, only fluctuating about +/- 1 degree throughout the day. I'm still acclimating the tank to the new lights, so I have the dimmable drivers set about 50%. The pics below were taken last week when I had the both the RB's and Cool Whites set at about 30%. BamBams surrounded by Blue Anthelia (noxious weed) Purdy zoa garden Green Trumpetses. One of my many rics has produced babies Zoa garden from the opposite side of the tank. No that's not my thumb, but the underside of my Monti Cap. All in all the livestock is doing well. I'm now feeding my Emerald Crab small bits of table shrimp once a week. I'm afraid if I don't, he'll go for some corals or my fish. Lenny the Blenny is one of the most entertaining fish I've seen. He hops around the tank following me around the room and has a voracious appetite. I found a new snail in the tank too. I think it's a Collinista, but I'm unsure. I'm looking to get a pair of small Black & White Percula Clowns in the very near future. Has anyone had experience with these? Link to comment
rO.oster Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 /drool on your LEDS, edison strips or CREE? (sorry, only read the last page here) your tanks looking really nice, plan for room to allow things to grow and get bigger! Link to comment
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