Mike's 300 Double-D - Page 51

prop-frags · 02/26/2013, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newbie Aquarist

You have some great color going on there. Amazing tank.

Thank you, Wayne. The colors are a little hit and miss. Some of the corals are coloring up nicely, others are still really slow going. I need to get Terry to snap a nice pic of the purple monster; it's been growing uncharacteristically fast and has an awesome color.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmooresf

Those shots are amazing. Congrats!

Thanks Kris!! We appreciate the kind words and that you stopped by for a spell.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy_Beaver

Great tank and some amazing photo skills!

Thanks CB. It's a great team effort - Terry is getting pretty handy with the camera.

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummereef

Gah! Your colors are making me drool.

I don't run any float switch controls directly from my Apex. The only "float" control I have is my Tunze Osmolator. I wanted to keep my top-off control separate from my main system control just for redundancy. And I like the built in safety backup of the Osmolator.

Brett, you and I are thinking alike on this. We are still using the Reef Fanatic ATO and not really wanting to move off. Similarly, I still am using dedicated controllers for O3 as well. As much as I like the Apex, it is still a consumer-grade product in my view. When it flakes out like it recently did, swapping variables in the outlet programs, that is just too crazy for me to ever feel like I can completely depend on it. Are there any "pro-grade" or "industrial strength" controllers out there?

Quote:

Originally Posted by biecacka

Great looking photos man! What lens are you using?
Corey

Thanks Corey! Terry is blushing, no really - she seriously is. We have been slowly adding to our collection of "glass". You can take out a second mortgage on some of these lenses...but it makes a huge difference in getting a so-so shot and getting a really excellent shot. Right now, the king is probably the new Nikkor 105mm micro 1:2.8 lens that Santa brought.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 110galreef

Radiums to Ushio 14k's.....
what are your thoughts? Did you change any of the acctinics?
So what all bulbs you have now?

Yeah, the Radiums were just some spare bulbs we had when the last Ushio 14Ks needed replacing, so we were a little short on cash and decided to use them. I REALLY like the Ushio 14ks. We get better growth with them, no question about it. The only thing is that some of the green corals don't pop quite as well as with the Radiums, but I can certainly live with it. Those bulbs are very nice, but just too blue for our tastes. We did change out the VHOs - but kept the same type - 454s. VHOs don't last long. Even with moderate usage on our light schedule, they're toast in about 8 months.

prop-frags · 02/28/2013, 01:42 AM

How about some coral shots:

biodegraded · 02/28/2013, 10:54 AM

Woah, is this a marking variant of Z. desjardini? Beautiful! Want!

Quote:

Originally Posted by prop-frags

rorroreef · 02/28/2013, 11:54 PM

Your tank is such an inspiration to us new people in the hobby

Newbie Aquarist · 03/01/2013, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prop-frags

How about some coral shots:

Now that's just plain showing off. Which is a good thing. Beautiful corals.

drummereef · 03/01/2013, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prop-frags

Brett, you and I are thinking alike on this. We are still using the Reef Fanatic ATO and not really wanting to move off. Similarly, I still am using dedicated controllers for O3 as well. As much as I like the Apex, it is still a consumer-grade product in my view. When it flakes out like it recently did, swapping variables in the outlet programs, that is just too crazy for me to ever feel like I can completely depend on it. Are there any "pro-grade" or "industrial strength" controllers out there?

You know, I don't know if there's any pro-grade controllers available - or at least any more "reliable" than the ones common to our hobby. Good question though. I think the best we can do, unless we have the time/knowlege/patience to make an Arduino device, is just to have redundancy... which is difficult sometimes and requires $$$.

I think anything that involves electricity or electronics is subject to error/failure at some point. It's just kind of the nature of the beast I guess.

biecacka · 03/01/2013, 10:26 PM

One day......

Corey

prop-frags · 03/08/2013, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummereef

You know, I don't know if there's any pro-grade controllers available - or at least any more "reliable" than the ones common to our hobby. Good question though. I think the best we can do, unless we have the time/knowlege/patience to make an Arduino device, is just to have redundancy... which is difficult sometimes and requires $$$.

I think anything that involves electricity or electronics is subject to error/failure at some point. It's just kind of the nature of the beast I guess.

Agree Brett. I don't know that I would trust myself on a DIY controller...there's just so much at stake when you control critical systems like dosing or ATO. And yes, we're big fans of the redundancy approach and fault tolerant design. Maybe I'll just get a litermeter or some such dedicated controller. It is just that it's so much more desirable to have dosing controls that can evaluate probe values, etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by biecacka

One day......

Corey

Thanks for stopping by Corey.

drummereef · 03/08/2013, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prop-frags

Agree Brett. I don't know that I would trust myself on a DIY controller...there's just so much at stake when you control critical systems like dosing or ATO. And yes, we're big fans of the redundancy approach and fault tolerant design. Maybe I'll just get a litermeter or some such dedicated controller. It is just that it's so much more desirable to have dosing controls that can evaluate probe values, etc.

Most definitely. I'll be looking forward to seeing what you end up doing. Keep us posted.

prop-frags · 03/08/2013, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biodegraded

Woah, is this a marking variant of Z. desjardini? Beautiful! Want!

Thank you! He's not a variant. He's been with us for almost 10 years now and was a "free to good home" rescue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rorroreef

Your tank is such an inspiration to us new people in the hobby

Thank you for that awesome compliment and for taking the time to post in our thread!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newbie Aquarist

Now that's just plain showing off. Which is a good thing. Beautiful corals.

LOL! You are too kind...

prop-frags · 03/09/2013, 06:43 AM

How about a top down shot of our A. desalwii and it's resident acro crab:

drummereef · 03/09/2013, 01:28 PM

What the heck, that looks amazing!

Newbie Aquarist · 03/09/2013, 03:46 PM

What nice pickup. Love that acro.

Sent from my iPhone using Siri and Tapatalk.

prop-frags · 03/12/2013, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummereef

What the heck, that looks amazing!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newbie Aquarist

What nice pickup. Love that acro.

Sent from my iPhone using Siri and Tapatalk.

Thanks guys!

prop-frags · 03/12/2013, 09:07 AM

We had quite a scare Sunday when our little female C. earlei went missing. After searching the tank, overflow and filter sock in the sump with no sign of her, we were really upset and just knew she was toast.

Flash forward 4 hours later and Mike comes in from the garage and says he has some "good news"... Little Miss Houdini is alive and tooling around the 150g sump vat (sump #2). Our drain line is plumbed to allow us to bypass either sump for maintenance purposes. We keep a filter sock on our shallow acrylic sump (sump #1) where the majority of water dumps and allow a trickle of water from the drain to flow into sump #2. How she managed to avoid the first drain outlet to sump #1 is a mystery and thankfully, she stayed away from the return inlet after she landed in the stock vat. We dropped some NLS pellets into the bottom of a Dip and Pour container, waited 3 or 4 minutes for her to swim inside and then moved her back to the display.

Our overflow box is covered with an acrylic top, but she is small and somehow slipped between the teeth before taking the joy ride down to the sump. She is no worse for wear after the adventure and, thankfully, she wasn't gone long enough for her tank mates to pay any attention when we put her back in the display.

I tried to snag some pics of both of the Earl's, but neither were being very cooperative, LOL. I did manage to get this one of the male:

-Terry

Reef Happy · 03/16/2013, 01:52 PM

Very nice coral pics Mike.

maddmaxx · 03/16/2013, 03:47 PM

lol...i can picture looking for the fish, finding it, and be like how the heck did u make it here...ive been that guy before...

launchnukes · 03/16/2013, 08:32 PM

Hey Mike & Terry,

It's been a while but I'm glad to see the corals and fish look as good as ever. Great pics!

kinlayan · 03/18/2013, 09:47 AM

Everything looks amazing and glad you rescued the Earlei

well done !

Sander_Bos · 03/18/2013, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prop-frags

How about a top down shot of our A. desalwii and it's resident acro crab:

I also had that acro crab! Do you know it's latin name?

ps. He has a large house

d3hree · 03/18/2013, 10:29 AM

Hi Mike/Terry
Did the magazine show up?

ipaul · 03/18/2013, 11:17 AM

WOW the acros so good, very beautiful

OKDOHK · 03/18/2013, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sander_Bos

I also had that acro crab! Do you know it's latin name?

ps. He has a large house

Not sure if i should chime in. But i believe the crab is Trapezia cymodoce.

http://www.poppe-images.com/?t=17&photoid=924106

Chucks addiction mislabeled it Tetralia cymodoce but it is the same crab.
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/coral_crabs-6.html

Tim Duncan · 03/18/2013, 03:19 PM

Looking great, like always......I am always jealous when I see Mike and Terry's tank

coralreefdoc · 03/20/2013, 07:07 PM

Beautiful, excellently conditioned A. desalwii, guys ...

Outstanding piece !

All the best,

02/28/2013, 01:42 AM	#1252
prop-frags SPS Slave Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,388	How about some coral shots: __________________ - Mike & Terry "Less technology, more biology ... indeed." - Gary White Current Tank Info: 200g temp garage tank

03/09/2013, 06:43 AM	#1261
prop-frags SPS Slave Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,388	How about a top down shot of our A. desalwii and it's resident acro crab: __________________ - Mike & Terry "Less technology, more biology ... indeed." - Gary White Current Tank Info: 200g temp garage tank

03/09/2013, 01:28 PM	#1262
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	What the heck, that looks amazing! __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

03/12/2013, 09:07 AM	#1265
prop-frags SPS Slave Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,388	We had quite a scare Sunday when our little female C. earlei went missing. After searching the tank, overflow and filter sock in the sump with no sign of her, we were really upset and just knew she was toast. Flash forward 4 hours later and Mike comes in from the garage and says he has some "good news"... Little Miss Houdini is alive and tooling around the 150g sump vat (sump #2). Our drain line is plumbed to allow us to bypass either sump for maintenance purposes. We keep a filter sock on our shallow acrylic sump (sump #1) where the majority of water dumps and allow a trickle of water from the drain to flow into sump #2. How she managed to avoid the first drain outlet to sump #1 is a mystery and thankfully, she stayed away from the return inlet after she landed in the stock vat. We dropped some NLS pellets into the bottom of a Dip and Pour container, waited 3 or 4 minutes for her to swim inside and then moved her back to the display. Our overflow box is covered with an acrylic top, but she is small and somehow slipped between the teeth before taking the joy ride down to the sump. She is no worse for wear after the adventure and, thankfully, she wasn't gone long enough for her tank mates to pay any attention when we put her back in the display. I tried to snag some pics of both of the Earl's, but neither were being very cooperative, LOL. I did manage to get this one of the male: -Terry __________________ - Mike & Terry "Less technology, more biology ... indeed." - Gary White Current Tank Info: 200g temp garage tank

03/16/2013, 01:52 PM	#1266
Reef Happy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Yukon, Oklahoma Posts: 1,908	Very nice coral pics Mike. __________________ Doug G. "We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone" Ronald Reagan (Eagles) LIFE'S BEEN GOOD Current Tank Info: 300 Gal starfire Reef Tank, SPS, LPS and zoas, 3-LumenMax MH fixtures driven by 250 watt icecap's and Radium bulbs, 2-Tunze 6105 controllable pumps with 7095 multi controller, 100 gal sump/refugium... 100 gal tank with T-5's

02/28/2013, 11:54 PM	#1254
rorroreef Resident Wise Guy Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 1,215	Your tank is such an inspiration to us new people in the hobby

03/01/2013, 10:26 PM	#1257
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	One day...... Corey

03/09/2013, 03:46 PM	#1263
Newbie Aquarist Reefing is my middle name Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 5,796	What nice pickup. Love that acro. Sent from my iPhone using Siri and Tapatalk.

03/16/2013, 03:47 PM	#1267
maddmaxx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,003	lol...i can picture looking for the fish, finding it, and be like how the heck did u make it here...ive been that guy before... __________________ One Life One Shot Current Tank Info: 40B Mixed reef

03/16/2013, 08:32 PM	#1268
launchnukes Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vero Beach, FL Posts: 703	Hey Mike & Terry, It's been a while but I'm glad to see the corals and fish look as good as ever. Great pics! __________________ Red Sea Reefer 750xxl Previous Tank: 300DD Display 500g system.

03/18/2013, 09:47 AM	#1269
kinlayan Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cape Town , South Africa Posts: 822	Everything looks amazing and glad you rescued the Earlei well done !

03/18/2013, 10:29 AM	#1271
d3hree Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Lancashire, UK Posts: 773	Hi Mike/Terry Did the magazine show up?

03/18/2013, 11:17 AM	#1272
ipaul Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Jakarta Posts: 33	WOW the acros so good, very beautiful

03/18/2013, 03:19 PM	#1274
Tim Duncan Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 60	Looking great, like always......I am always jealous when I see Mike and Terry's tank

03/20/2013, 07:07 PM	#1275
coralreefdoc Moved On Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cavitation Bubble Posts: 776	Beautiful, excellently conditioned A. desalwii, guys ... Outstanding piece ! All the best,