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Unread 06/20/2017, 06:11 PM   #126
jmiotke
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Quote:
Originally Posted by easybee View Post
What rock and sand did you use in this new aquascape?
I used Tropic Eden Meso flakes and reef flakes. The rock came from the local reef club. It was a donation that they received. I think it is a mix of different types of reef rock that had been in someone's tank, pulled out and bleached before being donated.


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Unread 06/21/2017, 09:10 PM   #127
HighLife
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I love planted tanks and was going to do a iwgumi style setup, but cleaned up my salt water setup instead.

Very very nice work on the aquascaping. I have seen some of these tanks on the net and on planted tanks forum.


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Unread 07/07/2017, 07:54 AM   #128
frederik_
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How did you do the background of this tank?
It looks like white glass?
Aren't the Red Sea Reefer's with black background?


Keep up the great work!


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Unread 07/07/2017, 08:35 AM   #129
jmiotke
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Quote:
Originally Posted by frederik_ View Post
How did you do the background of this tank?
It looks like white glass?
Aren't the Red Sea Reefer's with black background?


Keep up the great work!
Yes. The tank comes with a black vinyl on the backwall. I simply peeled it off. Then applied a frosted white film (no adhesive). And then mounted a used LED in the back to backlight the tank.


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Unread 07/07/2017, 09:00 AM   #130
jmiotke
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All is well and starting to breath a bit easier after fighting the crazy issues Ive had with the startup of this tank.

Tank is going through the uglies now. Diatoms/cyano and start of some gha. All good signs that the cycle is progressing normally with the new rock/sand. The tank no longer looks sterile either. Water chemistry is also now rock solid. Alkalinity no longer drops and has been holding in the 8s for over a month. So quite confident that the rock/sand originally used was the root cause of the issue.

Best indicator that the tank is on the right track now is that the corals are doing fine. Previously they would slowly shrink/die. I believe the bacteria colonies were likely composed of ureolytic bacteria that were in the original rock/sand and were stripping the water of all nutrients and the corals were starving. The wildly fluctuating alkalinity/calcium as well wasn't helping.




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Unread 07/07/2017, 10:45 AM   #131
frederik_
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jmiotke View Post
Yes. The tank comes with a black vinyl on the backwall. I simply peeled it off. Then applied a frosted white film (no adhesive). And then mounted a used LED in the back to backlight the tank.
Thanks for the explanation, I see now.
Any idea where i can get such a film?
And do you use an LED bar?


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Unread 07/07/2017, 11:39 AM   #132
jmiotke
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Quote:
Originally Posted by frederik_ View Post
Thanks for the explanation, I see now.
Any idea where i can get such a film?
And do you use an LED bar?
I know Home Depot sells it by the roll. It is sold as window film. The LED bar is a used Current Marine LED I picked up from a friend.


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Unread 08/04/2017, 03:33 PM   #133
jmiotke
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Reef tank is really doing well now. Very stable. Corals growing quickly. Decided to rip out the manifold out and make room for a refugium in the sump. Just got my hands on some chaeto and have the Kessil H380 light coming. So pretty simply setup now, just protein skimmer and chaeto and a gac reactor. Plan on doing 40 gallon water changes every 3 weeks.






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Unread 08/05/2017, 02:41 PM   #134
Marclex
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Love seeing the progress. Keep up the good work!


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Unread 08/06/2017, 10:17 AM   #135
jmiotke
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Had some time to finish working on the reef aquascape. Added some much needed balance and better visual flow.








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Unread 08/07/2017, 12:30 PM   #136
jmiotke
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Finished the sump and ready for Cheato.






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Unread 08/11/2017, 11:57 AM   #137
bk.
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Loving the updates and changes to the rock work. Any particular reason you're going with a refrugium now that the parameters are stable?


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Unread 08/11/2017, 12:47 PM   #138
jmiotke
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bk. View Post
Loving the updates and changes to the rock work. Any particular reason you're going with a refrugium now that the parameters are stable?
Thanks. I was originally going to use carbon dosing for nitrate/phosphate control. Ive decided to go with the fuge instead. So only filtration I have now is protein skimmer and the fuge.


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Unread 08/12/2017, 12:14 AM   #139
br88dy
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The tank looks awesome. I'm envious of the scape. Really glad to hear your chemistry problems were fixed. Looking forward to even more updates!


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Unread 08/12/2017, 04:04 PM   #140
LuizW13
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In love with that scape, looks fantastic!


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Unread 09/16/2017, 12:26 AM   #141
Mebeknob
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Do you frost the glass on any of your tanks?
I've always liked the look of the back light on planted scapes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


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Unread 09/26/2017, 12:12 PM   #142
jmiotke
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mebeknob View Post
Do you frost the glass on any of your tanks?
I've always liked the look of the back light on planted scapes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yes. Exactly, and then back light with a inexpensive LED strip.


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Unread 09/26/2017, 12:14 PM   #143
jmiotke
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Unread 10/21/2017, 06:30 AM   #144
hunterfl
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Great looking tank. I always preferred well-scaped tanks and I really enjoyed the changes you made.


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Unread 10/24/2017, 09:46 AM   #145
jmiotke
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Unread 10/25/2017, 03:10 AM   #146
McPuff
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Ugh, it's hideous. Tear it down.

Kidding! I love it. Great 'scaping and beautiful fish!


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Unread 11/13/2017, 05:06 PM   #147
wertoiuy
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Any updates? I want to see how the corals fill in that scape!


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Unread 11/23/2017, 12:36 AM   #148
AlexVFR
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Well... after reading all your thread... I am speechless.

You did an amazing setup, but the Caribsea rocks and sand seemed to ruin it. And this is probably the exact problem I can face in the future, as I have a Reefer 250 with only Life Rock from Caribsea. Now I am really scared about those rocks.

I will need to replace them somehow. For the moment, as my tank is quite new (only 2 months) there is no live there except one emerald crab and one snail.

I've heard some other people stories, about having issues with the Caribsea. After I started my tank, I met a guy with a Marine Fish Store and said I was going to have problems with phosphates if my tank was only Life Rock. I am sorry for all the problems you have been through, but congratulations, it seems you have found the right direction. It must be difficult for a guy that had built all those nice planted tanks to face those problems.

Keep us posted!


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Unread 11/27/2017, 07:05 AM   #149
jdantunes
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Great build so far... The depletion of your Kh & Ca levels in the past is strange. Did you contact Caribsea about it?

How did you apply the led strip against the back of the tank? Is just pointing up or is it in an angle? Could you possibly post a picture of the back of the tank?

Thanks


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Unread 12/02/2017, 09:36 AM   #150
Esh1
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Great tank! how you keep the glass spotless is beyond me. Nice work!


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