Reefer 350

[HarryPotter]

19 minutes ago, KW NANOREEF said:

That’s like the price of my whole setup haha

 

 

Different scale of things when you have big/multiple tanks and also are selling corals on the side.   Right now, getting a very high quality (used)  light to grow a hundred more frags is a great investment that should pay for itself in a couple months. The rack has 99 spots, with generous spacing. The stability of 300 gallon volume will make stuff grow even faster than in my current tank, and using LEDs will likely lead to improved coloration. 

 

Ive also had budget reefs in high school, when I started I had a used 28 nanocube.

 

A note on stability- my tank ranges 77 to 81 degrees most days. The big tank ranges 77.3 to 77.6. The same concept with other parameters- I think this could double my growth rate. 

[HarryPotter]

Reef porn! Might add a few corals tonight 👀👀

 

i can can still lower the lights so that you don’t see the water reflection, but this looks pretty sick! 

 

[mitten_reef]

That looks very nice Harry. 

[This guy is extra salty]

Now you’re making me want to upgrade!

lol I’m about to setup up a couple of frag tanks instead.😝

[DaveFason]

Looks great man. Still not sure if you really know how much light is over that tank! 😛

-D

[HarryPotter]

6 minutes ago, DaveFason said:

Looks great man. Still not sure if you really know how much light is over that tank! 😛

-D

 

Enough power that it pulls the VOLTAGE from 117 to 110. That’s insane....  I think. My battery backup was beeping due to low voltage condition. Definitely need that second circuit. 

 

I like my schedule now, and both units are synced. I took out my dads iPad and downloaded the app there so that it was easy to copy over the data.

 

This tank is NOT easy to mount corals into. You need to take the canopy off to reach the sand bed. So some time next week I will take the canopy off and mount a bunch of sticks 👀😄.

 

This weekend I’m headed to Boston, will bring my buddy @mooker some corals for his new 25 lagoon.

[DaveFason]

3 minutes ago, HarryPotter said:

 

Enough power that it pulls the VOLTAGE from 117 to 110. That’s insane....  I think. My battery backup was beeping due to low voltage condition. Definitely need that second circuit. 

 

I like my schedule now, and both units are synced. I took out my dads iPad and downloaded the app there so that it was easy to copy over the data.

Yes sir. Not to mention all the other equipment on there. Think of 6x 54w ballasts, two LED power supplies and two fans. BEAST. 

 

Hope your dad is enjoying it as well. 

[HarryPotter]

1 hour ago, DaveFason said:

Yes sir. Not to mention all the other equipment on there. Think of 6x 54w ballasts, two LED power supplies and two fans. BEAST. 

 

Hope your dad is enjoying it as well. 

 

    Oh my dad is stunned by the whole setup. He has no words. His old reef (12 years ago?) was using “power compacts” or something. Very successful with leathers and fish, but that’s it. I keep finding him watching the tank during the rampdown at nights 🙂. He also now does his legal work in the living room where the tank is, Ive noticed. 

 

 

Edited August 15, 2018 by HarryPotter
Deleted some stuff

[HarryPotter]

300 Gallon update:

 

Got a big hole saw to add ventilation to the stand, @DaveFason as we talked about. 

 

 

Here is the fan I’ll be using:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00KFCR0PQ/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=A1Z5H6ZGWCMTNX&psc=1

 

 

Reefer 350 update:

 

Back home, coral colors look awesome but I am not seeing nearly as many growth tips as I did a few months back. Attempting a parameter reset via 20g (25%) water changes every other day using Red Sea blue bucket. Only other thing I can think of is that the tank runs warm at 81. @markalot, do you think it’s safe to do daily 25% or is that too aggressive? 

[markalot]

Not sure on the water changes since I don't do them anymore.  :o   Warmer temps usually result in more growth so I suspect something else is up, maybe just some slight instability or lack of food causes a pause in growth?  Do all tests, react if one is really off, otherwise IMO a couple of 10% water changes will probably be best.  Three daily 10% changes better for stability than one 25% change, again just IMO.

[HarryPotter]

Debating on mounting this blue guy here:

 

 

 

Or remaking an acropora platform to the left... something like this:

 

[HarryPotter]

1 hour ago, markalot said:

Not sure on the water changes since I don't do them anymore.  😮  Warmer temps usually result in more growth so I suspect something else is up, maybe just some slight instability or lack of food causes a pause in growth?  Do all tests, react if one is really off, otherwise IMO a couple of 10% water changes will probably be best.  Three daily 10% changes better for stability than one 25% change, again just IMO.

 

Jealous of no water changes XD 

 

I don’t have a great breadth of tests; Alk, Ca, Mg, PO4. Those look good. My thinking is that if something trace is a problem, WC will dilute it. 

 

Should be stable as far as I’m aware. ATO and dosing have been spot on

[markalot]

17 hours ago, HarryPotter said:

 

Jealous of no water changes XD 

 

I don’t have a great breadth of tests; Alk, Ca, Mg, PO4. Those look good. My thinking is that if something trace is a problem, WC will dilute it. 

 

Should be stable as far as I’m aware. ATO and dosing have been spot on

 

Usually it's because something not tested is low, but regardless the water changes will do a good job of fixing it.   I've been lucky with low dosing of trace elements, lucking in that I haven't had a buildup of anything bad yet.   

[mitten_reef]

18 hours ago, HarryPotter said:

My thinking is that if something trace is a problem, WC will dilute it.

Actually the opposite would be correct. If trace is low, you’re adding - albeit a small volume - newly mixed saltwater at higher trace concentration, then it should help raise the concentration of trace in the main volume.

It’s the opposite of “dilution as a solution” for nitrate and phosphate export. 

[HarryPotter]

38 minutes ago, micoastreefing said:

Actually the opposite would be correct. If trace is low, you’re adding - albeit a small volume - newly mixed saltwater at higher trace concentration, then it should help raise the concentration of trace in the main volume.

It’s the opposite of “dilution as a solution” for nitrate and phosphate export. 

 

Just my bad phrasing, when I said “trace problem”, I intended to convey both potential issues- a lack of, or a buildup of a trace element. However if there is a buildup of an element, can I still refer to it still trace?!? 😂😂 🧐

 

Pretty familiar with concentrations, I do a ton of that with chem minor.  So many conversations! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitten_reef]

23 minutes ago, HarryPotter said:

 

Just my bad phrasing, when I said “trace problem”, I intended to convey both potential issues- a lack of, or a buildup of a trace element. However if there is a buildup of an element, can I still refer to it still trace?!? 😂😂 🧐

 

Pretty familiar with concentrations, I do a ton of that with chem minor.  So many conversations! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

welp, OK, I guess I had to put it out there. thanks for clarifying your comment. Do you think trace buildup will inhibit growth?  I guess too much of anything could always have ill effect.

 

For me, I feel like that is one biggest positive about RSCP (slightly higher parameters on everything).  every time I do waterchange, I get noticeable growth within 2-3 days following wc.  And I dose two-part daily, so the only thing that wc does is re-introduce/adding trace elements.  I guess removal of nitrate and phosphate which are also known to inhibit growth too probably help, HA. 

 

How are you liking your new fancy lights? 

[HarryPotter]

28 minutes ago, micoastreefing said:

welp, OK, I guess I had to put it out there. thanks for clarifying your comment. Do you think trace buildup will inhibit growth?  I guess too much of anything could always have ill effect.

 

For me, I feel like that is one biggest positive about RSCP (slightly higher parameters on everything).  every time I do waterchange, I get noticeable growth within 2-3 days following wc.  And I dose two-part daily, so the only thing that wc does is re-introduce/adding trace elements.  I guess removal of nitrate and phosphate which are also known to inhibit growth too probably help, HA. 

 

How are you liking your new fancy lights? 

 

 

     I think any buildup can inhibit growth. Of non-utilized trace elements, metals, detritus, etc. Everything in moderation. Just like a real reef, where the current whisks aways .  For all I know, a powerhead is leaking copper. But a WC with proper RODI is a universal dilution (of the problem, whether an excess  or dearth)  back to optimal conditions. 

 

This all assumes that the salt mix consists of optimal conditions (ignore alkalinity here), we just have to trust the brand’s research and the results it gives. For my 25% normal WCs, the alkalinity barely rises 1 dkh. Totally fine for a WC, but not if I’m doing it daily as I mentioned before. 

 

Re the lights: they look sweet- no issues with control or setup,  and the frogspawn coral is happy. But that doesn’t say much in terms about SPS growth or coloration, which is what we both are interested in. It’s definitly more powerful than my units; just running th LEDs is about the same brightness as my tank, and that’s without the bulbs. 

 

Dave offered a discount on a DIY retrofit for my existing unit on the reefer- SUPER tempting.

 

i should probably swap units with the big tank for a month or two first, to see the difference the LEDs make before spending the $$$. 

[Nano Nano Boo Boo]

20 hours ago, HarryPotter said:

Debating on mounting this blue guy here:

 

 

 

Or remaking an acropora platform to the left... something like this:

 

That anemone is fantastic! Turning out unreal, makes me want bigger tanks. Lol. 

[HarryPotter]

15 minutes ago, Nano Nano Boo Boo said:

That anemone is fantastic! Turning out unreal, makes me want bigger tanks. Lol. 

 

Haha yeah I love it. There are three or four. I’d like to remove one or two, to put in the big tank or sell. But they immediately disappear into the rock when I touch them, and I can’t remove the rockwork. 

 

PMd you regarding the group order- too many people saying different things. I would like to treat it as an individual order, only make arrangements (collect payment and shipping) with you, and anything you do with the corals is none of my beeswax xD. Too confusing and time consuming for me to do otherwise. 

[Nano Nano Boo Boo]

16 minutes ago, HarryPotter said:

 

Haha yeah I love it. There are three or four. I’d like to remove one or two, to put in the big tank or sell. But they immediately disappear into the rock when I touch them, and I can’t remove the rockwork. 

 

PMd you regarding the group order- too many people saying different things. I would like to treat it as an individual order, only make arrangements (collect payment and shipping) with you, and anything you do with the corals is none of my beeswax xD. Too confusing and time consuming for me to do otherwise. 

Just messaged you and Steve. If you get your hands on one I will gladly take it off your hands.  My LFS has similar he keeps talking about putting for sale from their main display but haven't yet. He has about 12 now and I think really enjoys them. Coloration is off the charts...very cool.

[HarryPotter]

Next time I break this, I should do it lower 🤬. That’s gonna be a chunky piece! 

 

[uwdanno]

Haven't checked in on your tank in awhile. Much change, such cool!

 

Looks great! I am jealous. 

[mitten_reef]

52 minutes ago, HarryPotter said:

Next time I break this, I should do it lower 🤬. That’s gonna be a chunky piece! 

 

screw the stag!  what's shooting up all the tips on the frag rack?  Those montis (all of them really) are pretty sick too!

[HarryPotter]

1 hour ago, micoastreefing said:

screw the stag!  what's shooting up all the tips on the frag rack?  Those montis (all of them really) are pretty sick too!

 

This ugly guy- photo from March, it is now branching a ton as you see. No namer 🙂 

 

 

@xiaoxiy has a flat frag of it. Im really pleased that it is branching so much- it will be a dense colony. I have a frag or three of complete flat encrystment over the 3/4 plug. 

 

I will trim back the cap ASAP, just noticed it is trying to grow over it. 

[A Little Blue]

It’s cute. I would get it off your hands but to make shipping worthwhile, I would have to pick handful of other frags. Lol

Besides, I don’t do PP crap since they f....ked me several years ago.