Snow's 60G Secret Predatory Sanctum 🐲🐉 - Shutting Down

[Tamberav]

Everything looks happy. Even the Aiptasia 🙂 

[Snow_Phoenix]

I checked the AI Hydra 32 HD prices. Simply put, I can't afford it. Even the AI Prime 16HD is making me cringe a little - since the mount is sold separately, the light + mount would be extremely expensive.

 

I kept hunting around for something similar, which was more or less lower than the same price range, but powerful and can still be accessed via my phone. Have any of you heard of the AL 150 LED Jebao light (CREE + Semiled)? The mount is included in the total price. I was looking at it, and the coverage is enough for a 90cm tank, length-wise. But since I still have my current older AI Prime, that light + this new light *should provide adequate coverage for a tank with these dimensions. 
 

I'm not stocking SPS, and mostly leaning towards the Softy route with a few LPS, so I don't need an overly powerful light. 

 

I'll think about it a bit more. Have to chip into my savings for this - but I don't really have a choice. My InLed R60 is flickering and sometimes random (functional LEDs) flare up at the worst of times - the unprecedented flashes are actually triggering my seizures, which is very bad. I have to manually turn off the light (and sometimes unplug it) before manually turning it on again day after day, because it once went flashed bright red in the middle of the night and caused me to scream uncontrollably. 😞 

 

I've been having unrestful sleep since then. Now that I've identified the cause, I can finally find a solution to fix this mess. 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Also just remembered I have a 50W PAR 38 LED sitting around in the dust under one of my racks in the bedroom. Might be worth hauling that over the tank and seeing it is suitable for the tank. The mount is quite tall, will have to angle it a little so that I don't accidently fry anything. It's still a better option than what I currently have. 😢

[Tamberav]

Not sure but most Chinese lights seem ok?

 

Do they have nicecrew pucks there? They are super cheap here. Smatfarm's is another. 

[Snow_Phoenix]

1 hour ago, Tamberav said:

Not sure but most Chinese lights seem ok?

 

Do they have nicecrew pucks there? They are super cheap here. Smatfarm's is another. 

I'm not entirely sure. Will have to double check. 

 

I actually looked through this online vendor's store more closely and I realized they are also selling AI lights at slightly cheaper prices. The vendor is very reputable though, and has had multiple sales & 5-star reviews. My usual vendor however, has increased prices - a lot. 😔

 

If I stretch my wallet a *bit more, I can actually grab 1 unit of AI Prime 16HD + 18" mount. So I *think I might do that. I'll see if I can make payments directly online - otherwise, might need to nip down to the bank tomorrow on Monday. 🤔

[Tamberav]

Ya I would get a second prime over a hydra. That way you can control spread. 

[Snow_Phoenix]

1 hour ago, Tamberav said:

Ya I would get a second prime over a hydra. That way you can control spread. 

Yep! Thanks for the insight. 🌺

[Snow_Phoenix]

I decided to write out my entire findings on a piece of paper to do a comparison between both vendors. 

 

Once shipping costs are taken into account, this new, second vendor I'm eyeing on is actually more expensive because the light is being shipped from one of the northern states of the peninsula. 

 

My original first vendor is actually located in the same state/district as me, and has lower shipping costs. Also, I forgot one crucial thing - over the years, I have purchased various things from this store on and off, so I have accumulated some points in my online account which can be redeemed for a cash deduction on my next purchase at this store. So all in all, I'll be saving money. 

 

It's not much, but I need to be frugal. I just texted the store to double confirm if the 18" flex arm mount (listed for AI Prime - older model) is compatible with the newer model (AI Prime 16HD). 

 

My research indicates yes, but I just want to make sure because the mount is pricey. 

 

So I guess I'll just have to wait a bit. Feeling a tad anxious though. Luckily I don't have too many corals in my tank yet, and they're all frags which can be easily re-fragged from my nano if they shrink away due to the lack of light in one side of the tank. 

 

I will move my R60 back into storage once the new light arrives. It's still partially functional (even though it stresses me) and the mount is still solid. 👍

[Snow_Phoenix]

Store just confirmed the older flex mount can accomodate the newer light. So new light, here I come! 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Order placed! New light + mount (and also threw in an extra bottle of Mg buffer too, while I was at it) should eventually be on the way. 

 

My R60 just shut itself off. Guess it pretty much gave up on life. 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Mr. Prickles is up early this morning:

 

 

Fuzzy leptastrea:

 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Throwback to a year ago - my dragonets:

 

 

 

 

 

Definitely still miss them. 😭

 

Hoping I'll be able to keep more little dragons in this reef again by the end of the year, and this time for multiple years as opposed to only 2. Velvet sucks. 😔

[Snow_Phoenix]

Throwback to my first two elegances that I kept when I first entered the hobby:

 

 

 

Also, the original rainbow yuma in this tank (the predecessor of the tiny yuma on the rocks that is currently making a slow comeback) :

 

 

 

Tank overall is doing fine. Still no WCs yet. My new mangrove propagules have already arrived at the local courier center (according to tracking), so I *think they'll be delivered tomorrow. 

 

I will need to pick up more LS from my LFS the next time I visit - I only have 2kg left and that'll be enough for planting *2 mangroves (I ordered 3). 🤔

 

Also wonder how my brain coral is doing at the shop. I'll be picking it up next month, along with 1 or 2 fish, and a shrimp (if they're all available). 

 

The tank should be ready to host dragonets again very soon. Just waiting for the cactus caulerpa to thicken, although the fuge is already full of pods. 👍

[Snow_Phoenix]

The current status of the refugium:

 

 

 

 

 

Besides Mg, Alk & Ca (which is dosed directly into the DT), I dose half a cap of Chaetogro directly into the fuge daily. 

 

The macro has become thicker and healthier as a result. Pod population has increased and is stable as well. 

 

The serrulata (cactus caulerpa) is currently the most dominant strain, followed by the chaeto. The grape and blade caulerpa exist too, but in much smaller strands. I'm thinking of converting the second, larger compartment fully to another refugium too in the future. 🤔

[Snow_Phoenix]

A few updates! 😊

 

My mangrove propagules have finally arrived! I ordered 3, but the seller tossed in a freebie, which unfortunately didn't make it due to a delay by the courier company. 😕

 

 

I cleaned the 3 healthy ones and inserted them into my fuge. I had no time to set up the sand bottles yet this afternoon, but I plan on doing so either this evening or tomorrow morning. 🌱

 

Also, my light, 18" holder & extra Mg+ buffer bottle have finally arrived! 

 

 

 

The seller was also gracious enough to include a freebie K+ buffer bottle and a free, older copy of the ReefHobbyist magazine. 🥰

 

 

 

I especially loved, loved the magazine because one of the features includes Tigahboy's macroalgae tank(s), which I've always admired. 🥰

 

 

I haven't even opened the box of the new AI Prime 16HD yet, but I'll either set it up tonight or tomorrow. So stoked! 

[Murphs_Reef]

Its a shame aiptasia are so stingy and invasive.. I really don't mind how they look in a Scape at all.. 

[Snow_Phoenix]

2 hours ago, Murphych said:

Its a shame aiptasia are so stingy and invasive.. I really don't mind how they look in a Scape at all.. 

I agree - but I find the brown ones hideous. The other white, partially-translucent ones that I have look oddly beautiful - almost had no heart to eradicate it, so I left it. 

 

(Plus, I can now say I do have nems in this tank! )

[Zer0]

3 hours ago, Murphych said:

Its a shame aiptasia are so stingy and invasive.. I really don't mind how they look in a Scape at all.. 

That’s how I feel about majanos lol, they are very pretty little nems.

[Snow_Phoenix]

Finally! 😅

 

 

Had to spend around 30+ mins just to get my phone to *find the light and pair with it. Such a pain. All in all, setting it up only took me ~1.5 hours (slow for the average person, but reasonably quick for someone like me! 😅 ). Have to say, I'm feeling a *bit happy that I didn't need to ask anyone in the house for help to set it up and fix it together. 

 

I've moved the R60 back in storage. Only the adaptor and stand is salvageable - the light is a goner though. Once I unscrew the stand from the light, I think I'll either keep it (as a backup?) or sell it off since it's in very good condition. Still mulling over this one. 🤔

[Snow_Phoenix]

Something nice to wake up to. 😊

 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Drop-dead exhausted. Just dropping in some pics with regards to tank, if that's okay. 👍

 

Absolutely loving the new light. It's currently on acclimation mode though! 😊

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Next set of pics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[debbeach13]

It is so nice to see things progressing well in here. 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Last set of pics, including an overall topview under the new light:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My apologies for not posting individual captions per pic, as I always do. 

 

I ran into some trouble with my discus tank this morning and it took me 2.5+ hours of intensive clean up to sort it out. I lost a flying fox this morning, and that sent up a very large red flag that something was wrong with my water quality. 

 

So I pushed myself, did a 85% WC on a 70G tank, removed excessive loose plants and cleaned the modified filter box + hosed down each individual filter media block (which was clogged with filth because my intake pipe was clogged). It was very stressful, and my body is aching. 

 

But I managed to save all my other fish & inverts, including my discus. Definitely a helluva morning/afternoon. 

 

No plans to clean any tanks for a while until I rest & recover fully. 👍

[Snow_Phoenix]

1 minute ago, debbeach13 said:

It is so nice to see things progressing well in here. 

Thanks, Deb. Coral growth slowed down when the R60 malfunctioned, but I'm hoping it'll pick up again. Once I'm able, I'll try to frag more corals from my nano and add them to this tank. 👍