d2mini's "Essential Focus" Mixed Reef Build

[Member No. 1]

Originally Posted by d2mini

Thanks!

The coral lab paper was done years ago. Their new findings on DLI have been talked about here and there in youtube vids. I don't know of any updates to the original paper.

The issue I had with some of my coral ended up being a salinity issue. Probe was off calibration and my salt levels went through the roof. Once I got that under control everything bounced back. Tank is looking good, diffusers are still installed. It's hard for me to get my hands on a par meter so no, I haven't updated. I just increased my intensity a bit after adding the diffusers. The diffusers are just blending the color channels better and creating a more even spread of light. Other than intensity, there should be no effect on your coral.

The youtube vid I put together was for processing your pics in lightroom.
Here it is...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH6ngLb4XL4


Speaking of vids... here is a new vid of tumbling Dragon's Breath macro in my fuge.

https://youtu.be/DfUD5a8LObI

Thanks for the info.

I didn't want to think it was related to the diffusers as I also liked the increased spread, plus taking the glare out of the light. But everything started looking bad after I put them on. Then you had a unrelated similar issue.
I will have to look for the newer DLI findings. Were they produced by ETM?
I hope to get some PAR readings this weekend w/o the diffusers. I plan on running that way for a bit.
Since you did a great job with your other PAR value report, I'd be interested to see what you get now, all things being equal.
With that said, I would be willing to loan you my SQ-520. It doesn't have a meter, it connects to your MAC (or PC )
via USB. You download Apogee's free data recording software.

Thanks for the processing link. I'll take a look later. I need to brush up on my skills.
LR keeps locking up my Mac Pro. I can use it on my 27" iMac, but it's a dog!

That tumbling vid is crazy! Mesmerizing!

On another note... LR SVS3-24 on order.

[Misled]

Originally Posted by d2mini

Thanks!
Speaking of vids... here is a new vid of tumbling Dragon's Breath macro in my fuge.

https://youtu.be/DfUD5a8LObI

Very cool. We need to discuss this at some point.

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by Member No. 1

Thanks for the info.

I didn't want to think it was related to the diffusers as I also liked the increased spread, plus taking the glare out of the light. But everything started looking bad after I put them on. Then you had a unrelated similar issue.
I will have to look for the newer DLI findings. Were they produced by ETM?
I hope to get some PAR readings this weekend w/o the diffusers. I plan on running that way for a bit.
Since you did a great job with your other PAR value report, I'd be interested to see what you get now, all things being equal.
With that said, I would be willing to loan you my SQ-520. It doesn't have a meter, it connects to your MAC (or PC )
via USB. You download Apogee's free data recording software.

Thanks for the processing link. I'll take a look later. I need to brush up on my skills.
LR keeps locking up my Mac Pro. I can use it on my 27" iMac, but it's a dog!

That tumbling vid is crazy! Mesmerizing!

On another note... LR SVS3-24 on order.

I just need to borrow the meter from my local club at some point. Its just not at the top of my list. lol

Congrats on the skimmer. Mine's humming along.

Originally Posted by Misled

Very cool. We need to discuss this at some point.

I'll pencil you in for sometime in 2022. You should be ready by then.

[Misled]

That's cold!!!

[2_zoa]

Set the time machine for post 538 I think it was......

How did you mount the interface and run the USB cable for the touch screen?
Is the touch module inside your stand, or did you run the PAB cable outside the stand to the touch module remotely, and then. Run the USB to the touch screen?

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by 2_zoa

Set the time machine for post 538 I think it was......

How did you mount the interface and run the USB cable for the touch screen?
Is the touch module inside your stand, or did you run the PAB cable outside the stand to the touch module remotely, and then. Run the USB to the touch screen?

The module is inside the stand, just the USB cable is running through the wall and out through a small hole behind the display.
In my previous build, i inset the display into the wall so it was flush mounted and just ran some simple trim around it to hide the rough edge of sheetrock.
I didn't want to bother with that this time especially with the display mounted around the corner from my tank rather than right next to it on the same wall.

[2_zoa]

Originally Posted by d2mini

The module is inside the stand, just the USB cable is running through the wall and out through a small hole behind the display.
In my previous build, i inset the display into the wall so it was flush mounted and just ran some simple trim around it to hide the rough edge of sheetrock.
I didn't want to bother with that this time especially with the display mounted around the corner from my tank rather than right next to it on the same wall.

Lucky. Your close enough to have just the USB cable to run it sounds like.

I’m about to move my electronics cabinet into the closet on the other side of the wall that my tank is on. I want the extra cabinet beside my tank stand gone from sight. My run is just a touch long for the USB so I’m going to have to run a PAB cable out of the cabinet and mount the module to the wall. In the end not a big deal. But the OCD of what I was hoping to accomplish in an area 95% of people will never see. Has got my left eye twitching. Vinny has told me not to make the USB cable any longer.

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by 2_zoa

Lucky. Your close enough to have just the USB cable to run it sounds like.

I’m about to move my electronics cabinet into the closet on the other side of the wall that my tank is on. I want the extra cabinet beside my tank stand gone from sight. My run is just a touch long for the USB so I’m going to have to run a PAB cable out of the cabinet and mount the module to the wall. In the end not a big deal. But the OCD of what I was hoping to accomplish in an area 95% of people will never see. Has got my left eye twitching. Vinny has told me not to make the USB cable any longer.

That previous build I posted pics of above, I used a USB extension cable. No issues.

[2_zoa]

Originally Posted by d2mini

That previous build I posted pics of above, I used a USB extension cable. No issues.

Really?
I know your last build. Like many others...

How far did you extend the USB? That part I don’t know.

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by 2_zoa

Really?
I know your last build. Like many others...

How far did you extend the USB? That part I don’t know.

I don't recall the length of the extension cable... several feet.
I think it was an Apple keyboard extension cable I had laying around.

[d2mini]

This was a loooooong time coming.
Rainy day today so finally got off my butt and did something about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4g-NbRodqI

[mr9iron]

Originally Posted by d2mini

This was a loooooong time coming.
Rainy day today so finally got off my butt and did something about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4g-NbRodqI

Your tank is stunning and an example of what a took should be. Just out of curiosity what salt do you use?

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by mr9iron

Your tank is stunning and an example of what a took should be. Just out of curiosity what salt do you use?

Thank you.
I use Aquavitro Salinity.

[mr9iron]

Originally Posted by d2mini

Thank you.
I use Aquavitro Salinity.

Thanks Dennis. I've been using RC and am thinking of switching to something else after all of these years.

[Misled]

Very nice Dennis!!!

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by Misled

Very nice Dennis!!!

Thanks!

[d2mini]

Found this on my sand bed this morning.
What the heck is it????

[d2mini]

Ends up it was a big chiton. A dead one.

Ok, who's the wiseguy who took a chiton on my sand bed!

EDIT: Correction.... I'm seeing Limpet but calling it a Chiton for some reason. It was a Limpet.

But that's not funny! lol

[saf1]

Originally Posted by d2mini

Ends up it was a big chiton. A dead one.

Ok, who's the wiseguy who took a chiton on my sand bed!

EDIT: Correction.... I'm seeing Limpet but calling it a Chiton for some reason. It was a Limpet.

But that's not funny! lol

Now you need to go watch a old movie:

The Incredible Mr. Limpet

[2_zoa]

Isn’t there a large flat worm in the planira(spelling?) species?



Edit;
A polyclad flatworm

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by 2_zoa

Isn’t there a large flat worm in the planira(spelling?) species?



Edit;
A polyclad flatworm

If you turned mine over, it had a shell like this.
Limpet. Pretty common.

[2_zoa]

That’s pretty cool. I’ve necer seen them before. My limpits have always had cone shaped shells.

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by 2_zoa

That’s pretty cool. I’ve necer seen them before. My limpits have always had cone shaped shells.

Yeah, conical shape with a hole on top (keyhole limpet).

[ddrueckh]

Your tank keeps looking nicer and nicer! When you ordered the package from TBS, did you get all the hermit crabs and snails that they normally include? Thanks.

[JoeTSI]

Dennis, do you have any issues with finding gorilla crabs and pistol shrimp? I poured seltzer water over holes from my latest build and still had a few (and two that are quite large). Just curious if you had dealt with eliminating the crabs, I can live with the snapping. Beautiful tank as well!