Brad's 525xl Super-Sized Reef Adventure.. come join us! - Page 3

asrpdoc · 10/03/2016, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brad65ford

lol good, personally i love the tank/system wishing it was larger thats all since we want more fish.

Thank you. How many fishes do you think can be kept in the 525XL?

brad65ford · 10/03/2016, 12:32 PM

At the moment we have 5 tangs and 4 other fish and cleaner shrimp.
Fish really depending on waste removal / feeding basically making the fish happy. My bb system and high flow with socks and big skimmer all while feeding 8 -10 times a day and i'm still not seeing any no3 or p04! lol

brad65ford · 10/10/2016, 11:47 AM

Unfortunately I accidentally started two threads on this system, today I didn't notice someone asking a question on the other thread I didn't so i posted the update there by mistake. Need to get the other one closed. Anyway here is the update.

Finished moving over all the LPS's and rest of some SPS's from another system. In doing this we've added more rock that we had in the sump for these corals. Some of the corals will surely sting the sps's as they grow and sweepers sweep Also moved over two antithesis to join the gang, fish load and feeding seem to be spot on though i'm still in belief i will need to run the skimmer part time for better coral color (dirtier tank). All the SPS's are doing very well by attaching and encrusting nicely. Some have better coral then others and I can already tell which like more intense light then others. Hoping in time all will settle in as the tank matures. Going to change and lower white lighting to see the effect on coral growth and color.

TheReefKeeper · 10/10/2016, 07:37 PM

Subscribed

brad65ford · 10/17/2016, 03:00 PM

Thought this was pretty cool to share. This was seed from one of my other tank sumps but blew up when it put it in this tank. Looks as though if i had more of this mess bag material i could spread more of it. Crazy to see that many feather dusters and sponges in a few months lol.

brad65ford · 10/20/2016, 02:00 PM

Used our Canon SX700 HS today, not the best photos since the looking glass was dirty and I was lazy about not cleaning it before pic's

Reflecting on the only changes thus far we are running skimmer only 8hrs at night and brought white led's down to 2 hours a day now. No water changes as well since I'm trying to get to see some No3 or po4 (still all 0). Alk and Cal are steady at 8.4 and 400. Colors are starting to come back though I'm still not fully happy with the color rendition even though they are attaching and growing well. The orphek's mix in some blues in the whites which I'd rather them be on the blue channels, maybe its just be a time thing who knows. I know I want faster growth but I always know its going to take time. Positive thing is we are seeing coraline growing everywhere which is a great sign.

[URL=http://s30.photobucket.com/user/brad65ford/media/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-20%20at%203.08.08%20PM.png.jpg.html]

brad65ford · 10/20/2016, 02:01 PM

TheReefKeeper · 12/03/2016, 10:00 AM

Do you have any details on how you attached your lights to that AI Rail would love to copy ya

[QUOTE=brad65ford;24485706]

brad65ford · 12/03/2016, 10:40 AM

In that first photo you can see that I spaced the nuts away from each other and slide the rail in. Since this i've raised the light 15" away from surface so I could increase spread and intensity. Need to post pic's of corals soon to update.

TheReefKeeper · 12/03/2016, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brad65ford

In that first photo you can see that I spaced the nuts away from each other and slide the rail in. Since this i've raised the light 15" away from surface so I could increase spread and intensity. Need to post pic's of corals soon to update.

So you used two Nuts or a whole new bolt and nuts? Looks like two nuts hart to see the top of it tho not sure if its a nut or a whole bolt lol.

And what was the tread 4-5mm thought I saw somewhere?

brad65ford · 12/03/2016, 10:52 AM

Correct basically extended the stock setup so the bolt is longer and you use the nut to hold inside the slot of the rail. Personally i'd advise against running any led this close to the water line.

TheReefKeeper · 12/03/2016, 10:57 AM

Really I have the same light and was going to do the same your saying they're too close?

brad65ford · 12/03/2016, 11:01 AM

Yes the spread is so much better, color mixing and no hot spots either. Though it did look good i wasn't happy with it. Wife isn't happy with my ugly mounting but wanted to test at 15" above water line first, so far corals are loving 100 percent intensity on all 4 channels seeing 330-350 par mid tank. Had to squeeze the answer out of Orphek what the suggested height to run these bad boys, they said 12-15" above the water. So in short i would run them low to the water.

TheReefKeeper · 12/03/2016, 11:05 AM

So what is this mounting setup how high? and is this where it still is today?

brad65ford · 12/03/2016, 11:07 AM

just some alum legs i bent and mounted, not pretty by any means.

TheReefKeeper · 12/03/2016, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brad65ford

just some alum legs i bent and mounted, not pretty by any means.

Got some pics LOL.

brad65ford · 12/04/2016, 02:37 PM

pic of the quick mounts to raise the units 15 1/2" over the water surface

ReefCowboy · 12/04/2016, 03:00 PM

Good job on the tank Brad, I have my V3+ way high at least 18" above the water and running some channels at 85%. I find crazy that you have your lights so close to the water without cooking your corals LOL.

Im moving to a larger, 60"x24"x24" tank and will get a second unit as well, but think will keep them hung high, these light pack serious par man

brad65ford · 12/04/2016, 03:02 PM

some random pics

brad65ford · 12/04/2016, 03:04 PM

come new frags, some corals have taken off while others are slower to grow. Some have doubled in size from a month ago. Very please with the coral health from raising the lights and increasing intensity.

brad65ford · 12/04/2016, 03:06 PM

more, if anyone knows any of the names yet please share.

brad65ford · 12/04/2016, 03:08 PM

More random pics

brad65ford · 12/04/2016, 03:11 PM

I know my corals are small which suck and boring at this time, hopefully after a year or so it will start to take off since they are encrusting and basing very nicely. Thanks again guys for the support!

brad65ford · 12/04/2016, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefCowboy

Good job on the tank Brad, I have my V3+ way high at least 18" above the water and running some channels at 85%. I find crazy that you have your lights so close to the water without cooking your corals LOL.

Im moving to a larger, 60"x24"x24" tank and will get a second unit as well, but think will keep them hung high, these light pack serious par man

Sorry didn't see this when i was posting. You may be able to bring them down. I'm at 15 1/2 inches running 100% on all changes for 8 hours full intensity.

TheReefKeeper · 12/05/2016, 07:46 PM

Oh wow that high hu good to know looks like I'm going to mount them on the rack then suspend the rack with wires I would knock those legs in the take in a day lol

Thanks for sharing

10/03/2016, 12:32 PM	#52
brad65ford Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: SWFL Posts: 1,219	At the moment we have 5 tangs and 4 other fish and cleaner shrimp. Fish really depending on waste removal / feeding basically making the fish happy. My bb system and high flow with socks and big skimmer all while feeding 8 -10 times a day and i'm still not seeing any no3 or p04! lol __________________ 525xl BB

10/17/2016, 03:00 PM	#55
brad65ford Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: SWFL Posts: 1,219	Feather dusters and sponges in sump Thought this was pretty cool to share. This was seed from one of my other tank sumps but blew up when it put it in this tank. Looks as though if i had more of this mess bag material i could spread more of it. Crazy to see that many feather dusters and sponges in a few months lol. __________________ 525xl BB

10/20/2016, 02:00 PM	#56
brad65ford Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: SWFL Posts: 1,219	Oct 20th 2016 quick pic update Used our Canon SX700 HS today, not the best photos since the looking glass was dirty and I was lazy about not cleaning it before pic's Reflecting on the only changes thus far we are running skimmer only 8hrs at night and brought white led's down to 2 hours a day now. No water changes as well since I'm trying to get to see some No3 or po4 (still all 0). Alk and Cal are steady at 8.4 and 400. Colors are starting to come back though I'm still not fully happy with the color rendition even though they are attaching and growing well. The orphek's mix in some blues in the whites which I'd rather them be on the blue channels, maybe its just be a time thing who knows. I know I want faster growth but I always know its going to take time. Positive thing is we are seeing coraline growing everywhere which is a great sign. [URL=http://s30.photobucket.com/user/brad65ford/media/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-20%20at%203.08.08%20PM.png.jpg.html] __________________ 525xl BB Last edited by brad65ford; 10/20/2016 at 02:06 PM.

10/20/2016, 02:01 PM	#57
brad65ford Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: SWFL Posts: 1,219	2nd pic's __________________ 525xl BB

12/03/2016, 10:40 AM	#59
brad65ford Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: SWFL Posts: 1,219	In that first photo you can see that I spaced the nuts away from each other and slide the rail in. Since this i've raised the light 15" away from surface so I could increase spread and intensity. Need to post pic's of corals soon to update. __________________ 525xl BB

10/10/2016, 07:37 PM	#54
TheReefKeeper Aquaholic Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere Posts: 800	Subscribed

12/03/2016, 10:00 AM	#58
TheReefKeeper Aquaholic Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere Posts: 800	Do you have any details on how you attached your lights to that AI Rail would love to copy ya [QUOTE=brad65ford;24485706]

12/03/2016, 10:52 AM	#61
brad65ford Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: SWFL Posts: 1,219	Correct basically extended the stock setup so the bolt is longer and you use the nut to hold inside the slot of the rail. Personally i'd advise against running any led this close to the water line. __________________ 525xl BB

12/03/2016, 10:57 AM	#62
TheReefKeeper Aquaholic Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere Posts: 800	Really I have the same light and was going to do the same your saying they're too close?

12/03/2016, 11:01 AM	#63
brad65ford Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: SWFL Posts: 1,219	Yes the spread is so much better, color mixing and no hot spots either. Though it did look good i wasn't happy with it. Wife isn't happy with my ugly mounting but wanted to test at 15" above water line first, so far corals are loving 100 percent intensity on all 4 channels seeing 330-350 par mid tank. Had to squeeze the answer out of Orphek what the suggested height to run these bad boys, they said 12-15" above the water. So in short i would run them low to the water. __________________ 525xl BB

12/03/2016, 11:05 AM	#64
TheReefKeeper Aquaholic Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere Posts: 800	So what is this mounting setup how high? and is this where it still is today?

12/03/2016, 11:07 AM	#65
brad65ford Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: SWFL Posts: 1,219	just some alum legs i bent and mounted, not pretty by any means. __________________ 525xl BB

12/04/2016, 03:00 PM	#68
ReefCowboy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 1,742	Good job on the tank Brad, I have my V3+ way high at least 18" above the water and running some channels at 85%. I find crazy that you have your lights so close to the water without cooking your corals LOL. Im moving to a larger, 60"x24"x24" tank and will get a second unit as well, but think will keep them hung high, these light pack serious par man __________________ Rimless 150 Gal Sps System: Giesemann Spectra/New Apex/2x MP40qd's+ 2x Gyre XF250's/Cor20/Custom Stand, Sump and Algae Scrubber/2x DOS dosing/Skimz Octa 205i Skimmer

12/05/2016, 07:46 PM	#75
TheReefKeeper Aquaholic Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere Posts: 800	Oh wow that high hu good to know looks like I'm going to mount them on the rack then suspend the rack with wires I would knock those legs in the take in a day lol Thanks for sharing