Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 8 Jan 2018: Hey Guys..........So after shutting down my VLEIS NANO, i wanted to exit the whole reefing scene for a while. But the Vaalies just convinced me to stay in the game, even if its with a PICO.......PICO = ULIMATE CHALLANGE ACCEPTED............................So @RealReefer built us both a pico tank......Size : 300mm (l) x 350mm (w) x 300mm (h)Light : Zetlight 1201L (overclock addition, cuz standard is boring) @Claundyke thank brushkiFiltration : Rubble rock , filter sponge, Filter Whool & some REALREEF carbon...Rock : Purple man made rock from @JungleAquaticsATO : Single dosing head with float switch, @RealReefer will be building that for us/meStock list:Fish:Manderin...... Like i said, i dnt want it easy.Heheheh Mandy is on frozen foods so didnt want to let hom go.False black clown..... KIA unfortunately, went over the overflow.... RIPCorals:DuncansGreen TorchGreen HammerheadOrange baby RicsBlastosOrange ZoasOrange Fungia PlateLumo Green Candy CaneFew photos to follow.. 8 Jan 2018: Photos.Initial setup..... Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 8 Jan 2018: Im doing a 5l (20%) water change every Sunday. I hope that will keep the parameters in check..... Not much consuming at the moment 8 Jan 2018: With me trying to keep the temp to 25deg, i added a little usb fan (powered by the TV)...... BIG PROBLEM. hehehehe I had a lot of evaporation & almost resorted to a DIY ATO, had to top up every 4hrs.. Return chamber to small for that kind of waterloss Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 Just 2 pics 17 Jan 2018: FTS Feeding the nassariius snails since i dnt feed frozen foods anymore now that i dnt have fish Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 25 Jan 2018:Hey ya all,Got myself some new goodies today from @Marine Aquatics.SPS Frag: Mr Pacman Arco or Green Tip Dragon Acro.Its a bit pale compared to internet pics, but we know the internet. Lets see how it grows out LPS Frag: Super Ultra Aussie AcanSo So gorgeous under the blue. I had to redecorate a bit....... Also added a Mangrove Shweet 3 Feb 2018:Some random photos. Not best but ow well.Fungia plate is recovering nicely. Wasnt very fleshy when I got it, today it was all puffed up & it started to show signs of tenticals View attachment 191381 Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 6 Mar 2018: Just a update... everything is healty i THINK.. i do see growth on the corals. Just the acan not expa ding like i would like, but its not going backwards...Added my 1st proper acro today & also few weeks ago added a purple yellow rim turbanaria.Turban: Aquacultured Acropora:Green/yellow glow with pink/red areas (i cant describe) Pink Rainbow Lord Acans: FTS: Acro looks more brown under whiter lights Ill give it time & see if i can keep it alive in the pico...... Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 14 Mar 2018 Okay,bad news. I lost the acro. Could be a variety of things in the pico. Lack of flow, lack of light or the pico experienced a swing somewhere. Temp does fluc by 0.3 deg during the day.....I personally think the acro was just too stressed after going through 3 tanks in a week (Supplier,shipping, petshop & vleis pico). There was alot of new parameters & light spectrums for this poor acro to handle I guess, just because this is the MASTER PICO after all the problem not lying with me. heheheheh.I just feel bad for the ACRO crab that stayed behind on the dead acro frag.While being upset with that, i got myself a new frag too sooth the pain.GOLDEN LEPTASTREA: Encrusting LPS it seems Thank @'D' Peace. 22 Mar 2018 50% WC done yesterday & my acan have not been open as big as they were tonight (dnt have a pic).Everything is very happy except the fungia plate, slowly going bacwards FTS: Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 2 Apr 2018 Maybe time for another pico on the right with obly infernos. Mmmmmm 2 April 2018 Small rescape.Pixed the poci’s together & also fixed the birdsnest bit more to the side....Everythifb sulking a bit now, hope this “aquamend” putty doesnt tilt parameters in the tank. Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 14 April 2018 So i bought a mates take with all his frags......The tank i think the tank is full now. They just need to grow out now.Added coralsBali slimerGreen acroPurple digitadaFavitaTubanaria (sold)Green pocci (sold)AcroOrgan pipe (sold) Polyp extension of the slimer & acro great after an hour & the new fico fir the INFERNO PICO 15 April 2018 Picked uo the new light today.....Cant wait for the nee tank to run & start cycling. Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 15 April 2018 Just some pics, eveything SEEMS VERY HAPPY 15 April 2018 #2 Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 23 April 2018 Inferno Update.....Got the Rock in a bucket for it to start cycling.....Checked List.....Tank - CheckLight - CheckSubstrate - CheckRock - CheckHeater & Pump - CheckMulti plug - FORGOT ABOUT IT.Dammit, wanted to start it sunday. Forgot about plug space. LOLI have a biggish flat piece of rock om gonna have at the bottom to create a zoa garden & a small piece of rock for the anemone. Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 19 May 2018 Just some pics.Tank is happy, just struggling a bit with the temp with the small water volumn Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 26 May 2018 Been a nerve wrecking week people.....Thursday: Heater uppluged some way & temp dropped from 25.5 to 22.7 & i got a fright....Friday morning6:30am : Power in the whole Vaalpark was out till 9 because of a rat in the BUSBAR in the town transformer..9am: Power come on & im relieved cuz temp dropped ti 22.8 again, yay now it can go back to 25.5... Wife says everything is fine14:30pm: Wife calls me distressed say the power tripped & the tank temp is on 18.8deg (my heart stops). She cant get the house power on again cuz it keeps ok tripping, so she plugs each item in to se what is tripping the power & see my heater is blown to pieces in the sump at the back... luckily i had a spare heater & she commected it up, set the temp to 23deg. Got home & immediately do a 50% WC & dose bac...I thought im gonna come gome to a dead & crashed tank...All is back to normal today & doesn’t look like there will be any short term damage.....SPS all got polyp extension again & SEEM happy.Ill throw a bit of pics Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 24 June 2018 Best algea scraper on the market i think. 25 June 2018 Pico #2. Was treating#1 for red planaria flatworm & also noticed #2 infested. Will sort out with Flatworm Exit with the help of a buddy of mine @Phoenix who doesnt mind me using all his exit. 16 July 2018 Ahooooi.So for a while i have been dosing Aquaforest & have been overdosing. 1drop is 5x more than what is recommended.So have been looking for a syringe that can dose 0.01ml instead (1/5th of a drop) & saw they cost about R600 in SA. #foooookthat. LOL... Alixpress has them for R150, i was about to order one & my mate @RealReefer said he has one that he will not be using anymore...........Been dosing 0.01ml of the following:AF VitalityAF Amino MixAF BuildAF Energy (This has been a challange as it is a bit thick with small "pieces" in it, syringe doesnt suck that up so we got problems) I still get brown film on my tank glass so will be reducing dosage to 0.005ml. PICO DOSING IS CRAZY, feel like a microbioligestAttached is the GLASS SYRINGE & a Video Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 18 July 2018 FTS: Duncan feeding 6 Aug 2018 6 Aug 2018 Sup guys,Got myself a new addition as im struggling to get a gold torch into SA. LOL.......So with the disappointment of one coral not landing i got exited about a diff one, i introduce to you RED AUSSIE MICROMUSSAAAAAAAAaaaaaaa Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 15 Aug 2018 Both tank going.Main tank still a bit upset, i did stop the AF dosing as i thought maybe its just not working in such a small tank with me trying to dose 0.01ml at a time. But still seems like the sps is going backwards.Stupid me, i havent tested ANY parameters yet, but ill do so tonight. Im thinking maybe my No3 & Po4 are to low with the 15% WC every 3days & i got NO FISH. Heheheheh.Anyway.DUAL PICOS. Both tanks Lighs are connected to A200 & I200 WIFI now, easily controlled via phones. Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 29 Sept 2018 Njoy the colours most at night #nightlife 10 Oct 2018 Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo LAZY REEFING issues... HehehehehThe last few weeks things havent been looking 100% in the tank & i just blamed it on power outages i had & some other stuff....I started the pico cuz i dnt want a high maintenance tank right now, life is way to busy right now ( playing PUBG LOL).I was doing 15% WC every 3 days & hoped that will keep everything in check, dammit they recommend doing 10% every week & i was way clear of that. I did every 3days to keep nutrients down.......Well Yesterday for the 1st time in 10/11 months my TURBANARIA asked my very nicely to test water, she flashed me with some white skin, but i like purple more... So yeah something not leke....Mg - 1320Ca - 440Testing went well till i came to DKH DKH = 5.6.. Reading might be lower as i was confused by all the shades of pink (what is considered BRIGHT pink)So i am gonna start a new experiment that i have been thinking about this week... 500ml WC every day which accounts for 1.666666666666667 % of my water volume & i will do a BIG 50% every month for nutrients if need be (internet called me out & said its not efficient for nutrient export to do 1% everyday)Im gonna do 10% WC everyday till my DKH is up & then the experiment will start.Ill have a 20l bucket with premix salt & just scoop 500ml out everyday, dnt worry ill check sg in the bucket as well (evaporation will obviously occur there as well)THANK YOU COME AGAIN Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 13 Oct 2018 The INFERNO PICO atlast living up to its name..... Also baby sitting a frag for a mate till he starts next month. Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 28 Oct 2018 Just a fee random pic.Turbanaria def not doing good & i dnt think its gonna make it.... But also trying to stabilize my KH. Been up & down too much... Just not findinf a constant KH constumption... But ill keep ok testing till we hit the sweet spot....KH Swings Random Pics: Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 9 May 2019 One of the 2 tanks i decided to shUt down, that one just had issues.I lost a bit of drive to the tanks after that shut down unfortunately & neglected the tank a bit......BUT, got some new energy going for the tank again, doing my routine WC & Maintinance like I should... Will post some pics the weekend...Thanks for the Interest 10 May 2019 Added a SW4 to the tank last night for some flow......Clowns def not use to it. They swimming like a mad person now. 13 May 2019 So i replaced the 24v PSU with a 12v PSU on the SW4. Flow neems perfect right now....I also premixed myself 10L of saltwater & will be doing a 1l WC everyday & then a 30-50% WC every 2 weeks.Just think it will bring in a bot more stability to the tank.... WELL THAT IS WHAT I HOPE Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 4 July 2019 Sup Guys.I feel the tank is doing a bit better with me giving it a bit more attention i guess... Im doing a strict 1L wc everyday & 10-15L WC every 2nd week.Started dosing my AF Amino mix & Vitality again. 1 drop every 5 days.....Slowly coming back to me.Nee addition is a Bali slimer with some DOUBLE PE & some sort of encrusting something (ill goo google a bit)EDIT: Encrusting something might be a REVERSE SUNSET MONTI (google says so)Photos, we all know i like my LSD. Who like white fotos anywayThanks for watching.Come again 10 Oct 2019 Been a while guys.But got very exited yesterday as I got myself a Radion XR15w Pro G3.PICO GOT AN UPGRADE... Hahahahhaha Well in actual fact, this light is for a Reefer170 im busy restoring, but thats for another Thread.Radion guys, this is what the program looks like now. Set on the PRESET AB+ The ZET i had was only 17w. So in my head if the radion is 85w & I run it at only 40%, ill be utelisinzing only 34w. With that I set the acclimation to start off at 30% of the 35w (10w) & ramp up over 6weeks to 35w. I believe the corals should be fine with that or do you guys think im gonna roast them by doubling the wattage at the end..Here is a pic of the light with my current light. Atleast the radion is sitting a bit higher, but the pico is WAY less than the recommended smallest size. Peace out. 11 Oct 2019 I see some people run their radions at only 50% on big ass tanks. I worries im gonna fry my corals. Ill drop intensity to 30% tonight i think Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 14 Oct 2019 1st weekend with the Radion & im loving it.I did play a bit with the spectrum. I use AB+ SPS from 9-16 & then AB+ LPS/Coral from 16-21 for viewing purposes all will max out at 45% intensity after the 5 week acclimation period is done. Lets see how it goes.Also added a ROCK FLOWER NEMFew bad pics Cheers 16 Oct 2019 I got it ATLAST......INDO GOLD TROCH Will take a propper pic tonight 16 Oct 2019 Aussie Toxic Torch Indo Gold Torch (still baby) Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 21 OCt 2019 So Friday i was chillin & saw a group msg from @ScubaLover22, casually running thru the stocklist till i spotted the name Discordipinna griessingeri Heheheheh FLAME PRAWN GOBY.. I just had to get it, as i think its a GORGEOUS fishy & perfect for the pic.These were the last pics i got of him, seems like they are shy fish & dnt come out alot or he is just still getting used to the new environment .He is super small, prob 1cm or less, those wooden pegs are the small pegs, just for size indication.Thanks NIC 29 Oct 2019: New Additions Thank you come again 5 Nov 2019 Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 5 Nov 2019 Just a few pics Conti........ last bit. 11 Nov 2019 So after my fellow vaalies reefer @RealReefer was giving me grief about testing my parameter, i went & tested it during the weekend.......Ignorant me thought a 1L a day WC will sort me out, oh how wrong i was...Friday 18:00KH - 5.2CA - 440MG - 1425Got some Bicarbonate Soda & mixed 2.5g into a 700ml Container. Dose bit by bit (300ml) till the next morning & tested when the lights came on.WHOOOOOOP i created a BIG swing or first test was way wrong (tested it 3 time). HehehehSaturday Morning 10:00KH -7.4Left the manual dosing alone now & tested at 18:00 the evening againSaturday Evening 18:00KH - 7.0I adjusted my auto WC to 150ml every 2hrs & left everything alone. (currently 1.8L WC during 24hrs)Sunday evening 18:00KH - 6.55CA - 425I honestly thought EVERYDAY WC would keep my Parameters up, I WAS VERY WRONG...... I did buy a kalk stirrer for the RS170, which i will add to the pico for now or i will just dose KH on its own, we will see....Anyway..... Alotof typing for info that is actually only important to me. HAHAHAHAHPeace out.. @Christo dnt forget about my kh moetie neh. Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 8 Dec 2019 Some Sunday Foties...Got myself a nice Hammer from @ScubaLover22 & dev a contender for the fav piece in my tank.....Dnt judge my photography. Space is def becoming a problem now..... 11 Dec 2019 After doing some further research i decided to ramp up the intensity of the radion to 85%.... I noticed the wattage was only like 24w (this does not mean it is not enough) but since i dnt have a par meter I jumped to BRS Videos for some info Also looking at my tank i noticed my DIGI on the frag rack higher up was getting growth while the rest of the SPS was just being alive. Hehehehe. I do have a ACAN on this frag rack which blows up like a balloon during the day which im taking as an indication that the PAR is pretty sweet for him there but then that means the par at the SPS might be a bit low.... Ramping the light from 24w to 40 over a week & will watch the tank closely..... BRS STUDY: Obviously the pico isnt 24" but only like 12" so im just looking at the par levels in the centre where the par seems to be between 197 - 340 (100% intensity) Stability in our tanks these last few days (loadshedding) obviously also out of wack since our dosers might miss some dosing times, but atleast the lights are alos off Anyway that was just a small update. Comment/ suggestions welcome. Vleis 22 Dec 2019 Got myself the Orphek Lense Kit. Quote Link to comment
Vleis Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 20 Jan 2020 Things looking wat betwr since KALK STIRRER was added. Coraline growing all of a sudden like crazy as well.... 22 Jan 2020 Im a LSD BLUE LIGHT GUYHATERS WILL HATE 26 Jan 2020 Little things get me exited...14-26 Jan Growth at the base. Everything growing quicker since the kalkstirrer.KH & Ca a bit low at 6.4 & 380 but everything still happy... 300ml of kalk a day. Adding about 1.2dkh a day.I think the 8.6ph peaks is adding to the growth spurs.... Quote Link to comment
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