seabass Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 rock scaping is driving me NUTS!!! I cant get it right, the rocks are just a little too big for a column tank.You can always break off a little, so that they fit. A chisel (or old flat head screwdriver) and hammer should do the trick. Quote Link to comment
no694terry Posted January 13, 2016 Author Share Posted January 13, 2016 i settled on this, i wanted the "fiji" peice on top so i can just stick sps frags in it like a pin cushion. Also wanted bigger caves for shrimp/crabs/fish.I'm not super happy with it but once it all colors up I'll fell better. Hoping my heater and test kit come in today. shown with the 5k bulb on min. it will be off during cycle. I still need a 18/20k bulb 1 Quote Link to comment
no694terry Posted January 13, 2016 Author Share Posted January 13, 2016 all the par38 reviews here seem pretty dated, and half the bulbs arent sold anymore. Guess I'm going to keep looking at that coral compulsion G2, but they're out of stock and i cant decide between the 24w 20k full spectrum or the 35w 18k trucolor Quote Link to comment
supertech99 Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 After being frustrated with my scape on the same tank i just got some aquarium putty and a hammer and coal chisel and went to town. I put together the main rock then piled others next to it to make a little cave/bridge. it was a pain, but now is the time to do it if your not happy with the scape! Quote Link to comment
seabass Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 ... i cant decide between the 24w 20k full spectrum or the 35w 18k trucolor Personally I prefer 18,000K over 20,000K (plus it's 35W vs 24W). 2 Quote Link to comment
no694terry Posted January 13, 2016 Author Share Posted January 13, 2016 Personally I prefer 18,000K over 20,000K (plus it's 35W vs 24W). I agree. 18k 35w it is. Quote Link to comment
no694terry Posted January 14, 2016 Author Share Posted January 14, 2016 I just ordered that bulb, apparently it was the last one in existence since they are now out of stock EVERYWHERE. http://coralcompulsion.com/led/35w-18k-trucolor-par38 Quote Link to comment
no694terry Posted January 14, 2016 Author Share Posted January 14, 2016 when i filled tank i added 1/2 cup of reef crystals per gallon, after i was done i checked SG and it was 1.024 but water was 66°, today its 78° but the SG is down to 1.018? I added another 1/2 cup diluted in water and I'm up to 1.019. Something seems off, but the hydrometer reads a perfect 1.000 in tap water Quote Link to comment
seabass Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 There's a bit of an art to using swing arm hydrometers. It can take multiple tries to get a good reading. Often there are bubbles (sometimes very small) that can affect the readings. In general, hydrometers aren't as reliable as a calibrated refractometer; however, I still use hydrometers more than I use a refractometer. Quote Link to comment
no694terry Posted January 14, 2016 Author Share Posted January 14, 2016 so im looking at 75gpd rodi sytstems. its between a typhoon or brs, any recomendations? it would be for my 90 at home as well as bringing in water to work for the 15 and on a budget here, prefer to keep it around 175 Quote Link to comment
seabass Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 so im looking at 75gpd rodi sytstems. its between a typhoon or brs, any recomendations? it would be for my 90 at home as well as bringing in water to work for the 15 and on a budget here, prefer to keep it around 175 SpectraPure 90-GPD refurbished ($125): http://spectrapure.com/Refurbished-90-GPD-RODI-System Quote Link to comment
no694terry Posted January 15, 2016 Author Share Posted January 15, 2016 bulbs here, pretty sure its the 18k, looks awfully blue though and i cant really see the UV's looks like 3 blues and a white in each cell ~25% full blast wait now i can see the UV's when i use camera, I'll have to bring DSLR in next week and do a proper WB shot. Quote Link to comment
seabass Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 bulbs here, pretty sure its the 18k, looks awfully blue though and i cant really see the UV's looks like 3 blues and a white in each cell Yeah, 18,000K is very blue/purple (but not as much as a 20,000K bulb). I tend to prefer a spectrum closer to 14,000K. Quote Link to comment
no694terry Posted January 15, 2016 Author Share Posted January 15, 2016 now what to do with my old 5k led bulbs. Might aim the 20w at my grill so i can cook at night, then put the 13w on my 90 gallons sump and try growing chaeto again Quote Link to comment
no694terry Posted January 15, 2016 Author Share Posted January 15, 2016 test kit came. 5 days in im at ph 8.0 ammonia 0.5 nitrite 0 nitrate 0 and i spotted living fan worms on some of the live rock i brought in as seed Quote Link to comment
no694terry Posted January 15, 2016 Author Share Posted January 15, 2016 SpectraPure 90-GPD refurbished ($125): http://spectrapure.com/Refurbished-90-GPD-RODI-System do i need that extra $70 kit for auto shut off? the brs one has it built it, just needs a float valve Quote Link to comment
seabass Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Hmm, I don't see it listed as included. If not, you can get one for $13 (http://spectrapure.com/PARTS-SUPPLIES/VALVES/Automatic-Shut-Off-Valve-1-4in-Quick-Connect-fittings). Quote Link to comment
olemanwinter Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 So, no filtration whatsoever and 2 fish planned in a 15 gallon tall tank? I think your oxygen levels are going to be a problem. Surface agitation is helpful but can only do so much. IMO 2 clowns would be a lot of bioload for a 15 gallon tank with no filtration and that's not counting the dank dimensions problem. If I were you I'd be looking at something like 2 tiny gobies or something instead considering your plans. This is just my opinion and I wish you luck, but the tank you are setting up seems "challenging" to put it lightly imo. Quote Link to comment
no694terry Posted January 16, 2016 Author Share Posted January 16, 2016 i dunno if id call 30+ pounds of rock and sand no filtratrion, and i used bigger rocks to try and get more anearobic areas. For my office this is whats worked best for me, i trt and rely less on mechanics and more on water changes. When i switched from a 5 gallon to a 20gal and added a, sump, skimmer and reactor, it was all down hill. So im back to basics. 1 Quote Link to comment
vlangel Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 i dunno if id call 30+ pounds of rock and sand no filtratrion, and i used bigger rocks to try and get more anearobic areas. For my office this is whats worked best for me, i trt and rely less on mechanics and more on water changes. When i switched from a 5 gallon to a 20gal and added a, sump, skimmer and reactor, it was all down hill. So im back to basics. I think you will be ok. I used to maintenance tanks for a lfs and if the return pumps crapped out I was forced to rely on powerheads and LR along with WCs to keep the tanks viable until the pumps could be ordered. When tanks went down as a result of power outages, tripped circuits ect.. I found clowns, cardinal fish and puffers could survive the oxygen deprivation better than other fishes. They are a lower respiration fish. Just make sure you have surface agitation and are regimented about your WC schedule and you should be fine. Quote Link to comment
no694terry Posted January 16, 2016 Author Share Posted January 16, 2016 one thing im kixking myself over is that theres room on left side of tank for a HOB, but i set tank up with the trim cut out for the HOB in the back, so id have to remove paint from glass and redo rocks. OR just make my own cutout on the left side for a HOB, i may try and find on deep enough to hold my heater and some carbon 1 Quote Link to comment
vlangel Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Yes, its always nice to hide equipment and I am a fan of carbon as it absorbs toxins and tanins. Quote Link to comment
no694terry Posted January 16, 2016 Author Share Posted January 16, 2016 swung by petco and saltwater santuary today. kids wanted a bigger bedroom tank so petco, while i was there i picked up a tiny clown for my big clown. they seem to be getting along in the 90. then all that looking made me want a pistol shrimp again. so i went to saltwater santuary. while there i found a couple canidates for my 15. A Sharknose Goby and a Talbot Damsel. 1 Quote Link to comment
seabass Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 swung by petco and saltwater santuary today. kids wanted a bigger bedroom tank so petco, while i was there i picked up a tiny clown for my big clown. they seem to be getting along in the 90. I would quarantine fish from Petco. Hope everything is fine with him. Quote Link to comment
vlangel Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 swung by petco and saltwater santuary today. kids wanted a bigger bedroom tank so petco, while i was there i picked up a tiny clown for my big clown. they seem to be getting along in the 90. then all that looking made me want a pistol shrimp again. so i went to saltwater santuary. while there i found a couple canidates for my 15. A Sharknose Goby and a Talbot Damsel. I did a double take when you said you went to Saltwater Sanctuary. I forgot you lived in the Pittsburgh area although I feel like we already talked about that. Your Petco must be nicer than mine, it barely has anything saltwater, not even much dry goods. Quote Link to comment
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